Elective c section - quick turn around

[Madaleinerw]

Hello all

Yesterday I had a growth scan that resulted in the decision to be induced on Saturday at 38+6 as baby is showing to be small.

It was all kind of sprung on me and I went away feeling so overwhelmed and pressured into being induced with no other option.
I was induced with my first and although I coped well, it haunts me to this day at the thought of going through it again.
My mental Heath surrounding this pregnancy has been poor due to it being totally unplanned, it being rather soon after my first and severe HG.

My question is how do I go about discussing the possibility of an elective section when I can't get hold of my midwife and the Maternity Day Unit appear completely disinterested. With my induction booked in 3 days I'm panicking that I won't even have the option to discuss it.

I have been told that it's quite likely I'll end up having an emcs due to baby being small and the fact I'm a week early.

Feeling so overwhelmed

Firstly I had an elective section last month and omg it was the best day of my life! I had fully built myself up to practically die during it and it turned out to be absolutely amazing. It was so lovely, everything I could of hoped for and virtually painless (even the recovery was fine). So I’d 100% say go for the section if that’s the birth you’re swaying towards.

Secondly, I got my section for no reason other than sheer terror of giving birth. Long story but I’d had a lifelong fear and it was the only way I’d consider giving birth (and I’m sooo pleased I ‘pushed’ for it). Everyone has the right to choose how they give birth so if you don’t want the induction you can outright refuse it. Id look on birth rights on the maternal request page and see how your hospital rates on how well they follow nice guidelines (red, Amber or green). Look up the nice guidelines and maybe even print them out - I did. You need to speak to a consultant but to do that your midwife will need to refer you. I wasn’t taken seriously at first and they tried to just leave the decision as late as possible to the point I was waking up during the night worrying about it. I eventually stood up for myself and phoned my midwife to tell her the state I was getting myself into over it all. She then referred me almost instantly. So tell any midwife who will listen. If need be phone up the hospital number or midwife number you have and play on the anxiety side of it if no one will listen. Say you want a c-section booked asap. If anyone tells you no, say under the nice guidelines you want referred to a different consultant who will perform it for you. Be very firm and don’t let them scare you with the risks either (as you’ve said you know you’re likely to end up with an emergency section, with much higher risks). Basically get some notes printed so they can’t tell you no and do not back down if that’s what you want. I think you can contact PALS if you’re concerned about the care you’re receiving.

Good luck, hope you get it and it all goes as easily as mine!

@sarah13xx

Thank you so so much for your reply. It's been so valuable. I've honestly been non stop crying after finding out last night.

I feel so lost with who can help me as everyone just keeps saying it needs to go through a consultant but no one will make that referral. My actual midwife is a nightmare to get hold of so I've been trying labour ward at my hospital and they just keep saying I must speak to my midwife. All fair enough but the induction is booked in 3 days time!

I am going to call tomorrow again and ask what will happen if I don't manage to speak to someone before Saturday. I don't want to compromise my babies Heath but I honestly don't feel I could cope with another induction. It will set me off onto an even worse start with my baby and I don't need any extra help with that.

I have just checked my hsptl and they are rated amber. Is that bad? I mean how long can they say no for? I'll be 40 weeks next week and they are the ones who say they need the baby out

Finally I am so glad you had a positive experience. Congratulations xx

Hi I was induced at 38 was but after two days wasn't working for me so they gave me an option of a section. Just to add the inducement was fine and not traumatic for me as they had to keep stopping after a couple of hours on the two previous days. Anyway the section was great .. calm .. the staff were amazing and supportive and a laugh actually .. yes it's painful after but not for that long and I was up and about fully after 5 days as in walking to shops etc.. and driving after a couple of weeks. I thought the section was a great experience but that was mine. Not had a v birth so can't compare .. good luck x

Firstly I had an elective section last month and omg it was the best day of my life! I had fully built myself up to practically die during it and it turned out to be absolutely amazing. It was so lovely, everything I could of hoped for and virtually painless (even the recovery was fine). So I’d 100% say go for the section if that’s the birth you’re swaying towards

I agree with this, had mine Monday and was an amazing experience and I was so surprised by how quick and pain free it was. I am struggling slightly with the recovery but it’s absolutely more than bareable

No amber isn’t awful, mine was amber and I got it quite easily (when I eventually got to speak to the consultant). I found the consultant was really quite supportive and without me even quoting the nice guidelines she said it wasn’t her job to tell me no. I had looked up the risks myself on the nhs website and I knew how likely each one was (more are rare or uncommon) but she read out risks obviously to try and put me off that were highly unlikely to happen but she made it sound like I was signing up for all of them. She didn’t say any of the risks of a vaginal birth either and just said I could have a nice easy birth or I could have a section 🙄 eh, section please! 😃😂

You just need to somehow get through the initial barrier to be able to speak to a consultant. I had to wait a while for a telephone appointment with one but with the timescale you’re working with I’m sure they’ll need to get someone to speak to you ASAP. I would just continually pester them. I was so conscious of being annoying at first but then I realised other people I knew phoned up far more than I did so I decided just to be selfish and tell them what I wanted to happen and didn’t accept anything other than that, even when they tried to fob me off with hypnobirthing instead 🤔🙈

@Thefaceofboe glad you had a good one too 😊 the recovery will get easier so quickly, by 2 weeks I felt almost normal

Thank you girls for all your replies. They have all been so helpful with my decision. @Zelda93 @Thefaceofboe @sarah13xx

I have an appointment with the consultant midwife today. I'm so relieved I could cry. I expect I've still got a way to go with requesting to go ahead with the section but it's a start and hopefully I'll be able to get my point across.

Hi @Madaleinerw , I hope everything goes ok for you! Did you manage to get the answers and results you were looking for from your appointment today? I am due to have an elective c section on the 29th due to baby measuring large and severe anxiety! Wishing you all the best and I really hope they listen to your concerns! I must admit, I did have to battle with the consultant a little but after expressing my concerns and standing my ground, she eventually understood where I was coming from! You're well within your rights to request a change in birth plan and you know your body and baby best. :) good luck and best wishes! xxx

@AJK23

Hey! Thank you for replying

My appt went ok actually. The consultant midwife was really understanding and completely supported my reasonings but has said there aren't any slots available for an elective section so she has advised that when I go in for my induction tomorrow, I discuss it with the doctor ok duty and go from there.
The more I think about it the more an induction is just not the right way forward to me. I just don't think I'll be able to have a section this weekend by what they are saying. Which is contradicting because they want baby out early.

We shall see but I'm definitely feeling much better about standing up for my choices now.

I'm so glad you got your section booked in and I hope it all goes well x

@Madaleinerw , aww thats fantastic news! It sounds promising to me :) good luck with the birth of your beautiful baby! :) xx