Elective C section for second baby?

[mumto2babiesx]

I’m 31 weeks pregnant and after my first natural (ventouse) labour/birth I’m trying to plan an elective c section.
I called the midwife at 28 weeks and said I’d really like to have an elective c section due to a traumatic first birth and she seemed perfectly happy with my decision, said she will set up an appointment now, was telling me I’d get a date at 36 weeks etc. Two days later I received a letter about having a telephone appointment with an obstetrician, this appointment is coming up soon and I’m nervous that I will be told I can’t have one, I have 9 weeks left and I’m panicking! What if they say it’s too late to have one, or they just refuse me.
Has anybody else had an elective c section and have you been through any of this?

What's your reason for a section @mumto2babiesx

Just had an elective section 2 weeks ago. It was maternal request, purely because I didn’t want to experience any of the awful things any of my friends have. I’ve had a lifelong fear of giving birth and always knew if I got pregnant there was only one way that baby was coming out!

I did A LOT of research before getting pregnant and also during pregnancy to prepare for my consultant appointment to try to ‘convince’ her to approve my section. It was a telephone appointment in the end up and I had 5 pages of printed notes ready to read her 😂 It turned out I didn’t need a single bit of it. She could hear how anxious I was and quoted the NICE guidelines (that I had written down) to me before I got the chance. She said it wasn’t her job to tell me no and I could have a c-section if I wanted! She did then try to put me off by telling me all the risks, many of which related to an emergency c-section or high-risk elective rather than a straightforward one on a healthy person. I had researched all the risks myself and knew what the true risks that would relate to me were so just said yes to everything. She booked it in there and then but didn’t tell me the date until our next appointment at 34 weeks. My section couldn’t have been more straightforward or painless, it was brilliant! Honestly the best day of my whole life 😊 2 weeks on I feel almost completely recovered (although I know inside I’m probably not so going to take it easy-ish for another month).

I’d say go on birth rights website (maternal request c-section part) and look up your hospital to find out whether they’re rated red, amber or green on following the NICE guidelines. My hospital was amber and it was still really quite simple to have it approved so it’s not the end of the world if it’s red. It will also tell you on there how many they’ve carried out. Look up the risks on the NHS page so when they tell you them you know what the odds are (most are uncommon or rare). Have the NICE guidelines written down and if they say no ask to be referred to someone who will perform it. Due to my fear I found I really played on the anxiety aspect of it. The main anxiety inducing thing was trying to get it approved and waiting for the actual appointment itself! So definitely mention mental health and the benefits a c-section will have for you.

They shouldn’t say no! Good luck

@sarah13xx aww congratulations I’m so glad it went so well for you!
Thankyou so much for the information I really appreciate it x

@mumto2babiesx hope you managed to get it approved and booked in quickly 😊x

I had an elective with my second, but I did have an emergency with my first. It's standard practice to see an consultant before being booked in for a csection. They will explain the pros and cons of having a csection and will encourage you to have a vaginal birth because it is still statistically safer with less complications. and its cheaper for the NHS. Even after all of that, I got told a csection was my choice and so I booked it in.