Can I request to have a csection?

[gymbunny2222222]

Pregnant with my 1st baby and the thought of a vaginal birth terrifies me. I don’t have a diagnosed fear of childbirth? But I am terrified and with what comes after too

I suffer with my mental health anyway, but I’m scared if I do have a vaginal birth and it’s traumatic (which most people say your first is more like to be due to intervention etc) I’ll get PND and I really don’t want this as I want my becoming a mother to be the happiest time of my life

Also please don’t be judgemental in comments, I have my reasons for wanting this I just want to know can I request it or will they just shoot me down because it’s my first baby?

Bumping

I'm trying really hard not to write an essay here!
Yes you can; I did last year. On a MW recommendation at 35 weeks. So it all happened very fast. NHS were superb.
Check birthrights first for your area. Talk it through with MW & do your research.
Take control early & enjoy your pregnancy. I regret that i didn't have one day not crying with fear. Once CS was booked, the weight of the world was taken off my shoulders.
I did have PND; it can be linked to your mental well being in pregnancy (mine was dire) so even more reason for you to get things in order early doors, get MH support & enjoy your pregnancy as best you can.
I went into labour before my CS date, so got a bit of both, contractions and a section. One thing I wish I'd grasped - personally, my fear of birth was far worse than the reality; all those very real fears disappeared & all I could think about was getting through one contraction & enjoying the bliss of being pain-free in-between. The idea that I could actually get through birth seemed unfathomable, but I did it. You will get through this.
Ps- however you give birth, being a mother will be the hardest time of your life, interspersed with little moments of happiness! Sorry... just don't put too much pressure on yourself, or you will struggle when the reality doesn't match expectation.

Yes you can, do it early though and be firm. They will probably try to change your mind, so prepare what you are going to say in advance.
You made need to change hospitals /obstetricians, so better to do it earlier.
If you plan to breast feed let your MW know you’ll be having a c section as it can affect milk (mine didn’t come in for five days and my MW said she could’ve helped earlier if she had known.
Good luck with your birth.

OP you could have been me. I wanted one but felt like I couldn't ask and that anxiety wasn't enough. I also worry that c section might be worse for me because I can't even manage a blood test without fainting. I am terrified and I mean tears anxious about Canulas and am feeling awful just writing this. However if I have a C section I need one and also if I have a VB. I don't know what to advise but if you genuinely feel a C section is the best then go for if. I'd just like a magic wand.

Yes! I’m the exact same as you and have harped on about wanting/needing one at every midwife appointment since 6 weeks. Finally at 22 weeks I was referred to a consultant after saying I was waking up during the night worrying about it and really needed to know what was happening. Had my consultant appointment about 29 weeks, she approved it with very little hassle! Have an appointment to get my date booked in at 33 weeks 😊 how many weeks are you? Mention it to your community midwife whenever you next see her!

Also look up your hospital here and see what their reply was to the freedom of information request, it should also tell you how many maternal request c-sections for no medical reason they have performed
www.birthrights.org.uk/campaigns-research/maternal-request-caesarean/

Also I was at a dinner with the consultant who is in charge of the obstetrics guidelines at my hospital and he confirmed that if a woman asks for it then it should be granted if possible. He was lovely. Unfortunately midwives don't always feel this way which is why it can become awkward.

First baby you have no idea what will happen. All I can say is, the epidural saved me. I would need that again.

Yes and I would urge you to if you feel this way. I wish I had with my first but I was too scared that I would be made to feel silly and told I don't need one. Had an awful traumatic birth in the end, I got severe ptsd and had 20 counselling sessions on the NHS eventually... Second time around I told the midwife at booking in appointment that I was having a c section. It was agreed with a doctor at 12 weeks and booked in at 20 weeks. No problems and no suggestion of another mode of birth. It was a lovely positive experience, much better than the first one in all aspects, before during and after.

It's your body and your choice. Hope it all goes well for you. Wishing you all the best.

Yes you can, I did purely for anxiety reasons. Make sure you bring it up at every midwife appointment and reiterate that you are sure about your decision. They will first refer to a birth options clinic to discuss all types of birth and to make sure you know your options. Just keep repeating that it's definitely what you want, and ask exactly when you can see the consultant to get it signed off.

I found that they kept saying "let's see how you feel at the next appt" until it was actually very late in the day, I ended up writing down all my reasons and asking the midwife to read it... By which time she said ok well it's too late for the birth options clinic now so I'll refer you to the consultant. When I finally saw the consultant, she talked through all the risks of a c section (they have to) but I was still absolutely sure. Felt like a weight was lifted when I got my date. My only other advice is to try and relax on c section day, I was still quite anxious about it all but it was actually magical! Good luck!

Yes you absolutely can choose a c section

I did for my first as I was so anxious. My midwife wasn't keen but referred me to an obstetrician who agreed straight away. I'd written down all my reasons which helped.

Had my next 2 dc by section as well. Lovely calm experiences. Does hurt a bit after when the epidural wears off and they make you start walking about. but just take ALL the painkillers 😉