Can you request a c-section?

[georgie26493]

Just wondering what the process is for requesting a c-section on the NHS. I get the sense that it's something you can't ask for/they put you off, but it says you are able to request one on the NHS website.

I had a bit of a shocker with my first labour. Ended up haemorrhaging and losing a lot of blood and doing some temporary nerve damage. All in all it made recovery incredibly long and pretty hellish and I actually look back on those first two months as a pretty dark time (a lot of which was to do with the hormones too I'm sure!).

Having had some friends who had planned c-sections, they took their recovery seriously and were up and about so much quicker and had a much more positive experience. There's part of me that feels like requesting a c-section is 'cheating' if you don't need it for medical reasons, am I alone in this?

Would be really grateful to hear anyones experience of choosing to have a section and how they went about it. Thank you x

You can absolutely request a c section for any reason in the UK. If a doctor doesn't agree they have to refer you to another who will agree to it.

Are you currently pregnant? With a traumatic first birth you may well be seen by a consultant at some point anyway where it could be discussed. I had a traumatic first birth (3rd degree tear, PPH, large baby) and Ive had no issues requesting a section this time, it's been agreed from the start.

I had a traumatic first birth which ended in a cat1 emcs. I was unsure with my 2nd whether I wanted vbac or elective, I loosely planned for vbac but at 39+2 my community midwife and I both knew my baby was unstable lie, but the consultant said he wasn't because when she scanned me he was head down. I asked for a c section and no one challenged this. I just said I want to book it for the next available slot and they booked it in. when they did the section he was transverse so I'm very glad. the whole experience was totally different to my first. the anaesthetic made me very sick but it was still a million times better. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Hi, so sorry to hear you had a hard first birth. I had an emergency c-section first time which honestly I found a doddle after all the contractions! I said right away if I had another baby I wanted a c-section! I definitely wouldn't consider it cheating, it is still major surgery, and a fairly long recovery time needed. Second time round I requested a c-section and no-one tried to put me off (though I had heard this was a possibility). I believe you are entitled to one, so just keep insisting on it, from the outset, if that's what you choose.

I’ve always said that when I have a baby I will be requesting a c section.
Too many horror stories of tears, prolapses, incontinence and poor and dismissive aftercare.

You can absolutely request a c section

I requested that with my first for no medical reason. Midwife wasn't helping at all and At 35 weeks I asked her to refer me to a consultant she said no way. I showed her the nhs website where it states you can request one.
Then she tried to talk me out of it. I had to remind her it was my foo foo not hers we're talking about 😂

Anyway I got one. Consultant was great and said every woman has a right to have the sort of birth she desires.

Yea you can - my DW did and the hospital were great, no issues at all. If somebody tries to push back ask to see a different consultant, as they aren’t allowed to but some will anyway!

Yes you absolutely can!
I requested a c section for DC1. Absolutely no regrets whatsoever. Delivery was calm, relaxed, and aftercare was brilliant. Told midwife at booking appointment I wanted section and that went in my notes. Around 28ish weeks I had telephone call with consultant who just rattled through the risks to ensure I was fully informed, then asked if I still wanted to go ahead, which I did, and that was it. Got appointment letter through at around 36weeks. DC1 delivered at 39+1 at 3pm and we were discharged next morning.

You can absolutely request a LSCS, however it may be helpful to have a birth reflection appointment to understand specifically why you are concerned and would prefer an elective LSCS. For example, I once cared for a mother who had a massive haemorrhage due to a blood disorder and wanted an LSCS this time to avoid bleeding,and the after effects of low iron and needing a blood transfusion. I explained to her that just because you can't see the blood in a LSCS (as its suctioned straight into a container) doesn't mean you're not bleeding as they have to go through multiple layers of skin, muscle etc. and you could just as equally PPH with an elective. After our conversation she felt better equipped to make an informed decision.

According to the NHS website you can ask, it should be discussed with you and if your dr is unwilling they should refer you to someone who is.

I saw a consultant when I transferred hospitals early in my second who said to me "you know you can have a c section if you want?". It really surprised me as I hadn't raised it at all so I think the attitude towards them electively might vary.

You can absolutely request a c section you case would be stronger due to the first labour you had.
I know it's really hard to shake the feelings and memory of your first labour, it's almost like PTSD. I had a very traumatic first labour too, and it took me many months to talk about it without weeping so I know how you feel.
However, your second labour will most likely be completely different. You probably won't have the same experience at all. My second almost slipped out! 😉 I know you will be feeling nervous as I did, that's totally understandable, but remember that recovering from a section is not to be sniffed at either x
Good luck, rooting for you xx

Wow thank you so much for all your responses. I love this forum! So helpful hearing all your experiences and advice. I'm only 12 weeks so going to sit on it for a bit and make a decision later on xx

My daughter in law requested a C-Section recently for her first baby ( no health reasons at all)
I must admit that I was a bit and thought she would either change her mind or she wouldn't be 'allowed'
But she didn't and they said yes from the start!
She 'bounced back' after the baby was born

It really depends who you see. Ask as soon as possible as mine was really hard to sort out.
I was constantly fobbed off with 'wait until closer to the time to ask'. I had no midwife appointments as mine went off sick and I was forgotten about, then when I kicked up a fuss they couldn't find me any appointments until after the baby was due to be born 🙄.
I managed to contact a specialist midwife team who had dealt with me previously as I have PTSD from my first birth. She pushed on my behalf to speak with the consultant, said she'd come in with me to argue it etc but on the day the consultant rang in sick and the woman covering was running 3hrs late so the specialist midwife had to leave. She said there'd be no issue with it and to just be forceful about what I wanted. Well I got a straight no. She said it was too late to book one in, I couldn't have a booking slot unless it had been agreed right at the start of pregnancy and my baby would likely move out of transverse anyway so tough luck.
The specialist midwife was really angry and got me an appointment with another consultant who agreed it straight away but said that I had to have it done early as I was at risk of cord prolapse. It was done at 37 weeks.

While performing the CS, the doctor made remarks about me not needing this 'elective' CS and there was no reason for me not to have gone through a 'proper' birth. They'd clearly not read the notes about unstable lie and risk of cord prolapse and assumed I couldn't be arsed to go through labour again. It also didn't appear to occur to them that I couldn't have chosen a 37 week CS myself, it has to be booked for medical reasons at that time.

I think you need to be ready to state your case, be very factual about why you want the CS, request it early on in the pregnancy and be ready to ask for another opinion if you're refused.

I understand that there's a lot of cost and involvement with a CS so they shouldn't just be allowing everyone to have one, but my first labour was 4 days with midwives, consultants, many many drugs then a forceps birth so that must have cost far more in comparison.

Yes!
I had a traumatic first birth, and when pregnant with DD2 asked for a maternal request section. There were a few 'hoops' to jump through, mainly a birth debrief with the first midwife to understand what caused the issues with DD1 birth but they then supported my decision. The consultant did say they will always encourage a natural birth and have to make you aware of the 'risks' of a C-section but supported my decision. As it happened I went into labour the morning of my ELCS, arrived at the hospital for my appointment at 9am 2cm dilated, I was 2nd on the list and due to go down at 11.30am-ish so the consultant encouraged me to labour until then and then see how I felt, DD2 arrived in the pool at 11.16am, consultant was a bit shocked to find me holding her when he came to get me for the section! I'm pregnant with DS1 now and will be trying for another natural birth. You've got this! Whatever choice YOU make :) x

Yes, I requested both of mine, and have no regrets, with two easy births and recoveries.

Its not cheating, but even if it was, there's no medal for enduring a vaginal birth, and the prize you get is the same.

Ps: it doesn't actually cost any more for the NHS. With a c section most of the costs are upfront, and they are more (but not as different as you might imagine) but when your factor in reconstruction, physio, and a higher likelihood of litigation, there's basically no difference between a planned section and a vaginal birth.

Not sure if this is still active but would be interested to know what happened!