Asking for a planned c-section?

[KellyJellyfish]

Hi all,

just wondering if anyone has experienced requesting an elective c-section for non-medical reasons and what your experience was? Did you have to fight for it? Were you turned down? Or was it ok?

I’m 30 weeks, I don’t have any huge glaring medical problems requiring a c-section, but I do have several little things that mean my likelihood of needing an emergency one is higher than average - thyroid disease, fibroid (small increased risk of placenta abruption, plus excessive bleeding after delivery meaning they’ll have to intervene with 3rd stage), family history of breach birth, family history of stillbirth, and mental health issues.

For these reasons, and after talking with family and friends who’ve experience elective c-section (medical), emergency c-section and natural birth, I’ve decided that an elective c-section is the best route for me. I’m well aware of the risks, slower recovery time, impact it can have on breast milk etc.

I’m very nervous about having to fight for it though, because I don’t have a singular slam-dunk medical problem requiring one, I’m worried I’ll be fobbed off or they’ll think this is just anxiety about labour or ‘too posh to push’ which is not the case.

So, anyone here gone the non-medical elective c-section route? How much of a battle was it to get? And how was your overall experience?

thanks!

This will be at the Hampshire hospitals, I’m already nervous about it because for whatever reason my midwife’s referral requests aren’t getting though, she has no idea why, when I call they claim to have no record, I managed to book an appointment with the consultant my self but this whole debacle isn’t helping with the nerves!

I'm having an elective in 2 weeks (assuming that this one stays in that long) and I had similar concerns. This is my 2nd and I had a section with my first (athough emergent).

I had an appointment with an obstetrician and their main concern was that I understood the risks involved and weren't sort of sweeping them under the carpet.

She was very supportive of me making my own mind up about everything as long as it was an informed choice. I wouldn't worry. Just for your peace of mind have your reasons ready just in case but I don't think you'll need to argue. Good luck!

Thanks for this, I just hope my reasons are ‘good enough’, as I’m sure my medical reasons can be easily dismissed as not that serious, and my mental health reasons can may be dismissed as general birth anxiety

I also asked for a cesarean by maternal request (ie not medically indicated), although I am in Australia so obviously not directly relevant, here too it is not widely known at all that this is an available option and I was very worried that I would have to fight hard to get it.

I raised it at my first midwife appointment and I could tell she didn't think much of it, but she said she would refer me to a consultant and then it would be taken to a panel etc etc. Made it sound like a huge ordeal!

When I spoke to the (female) obs consultant , she was immediately on board as soon as I stated that I understood both the risks of vaginal delivery and c-section delivery, but preferred those associated with c-section. She still talked me through it and I had to sign something, but that was it. I had come in with pages of data and statistics to support my argument (on my phone!) but did not need to refer to it. Two weeks later I had my date booked in :)

You sound well informed about what the risks could be for you, so hopefully if you get the right consultant you should be fine. I think you can also request another consultant if the first one is not open to it, and in UK and they have NICE guidelines apparently which you can refer your healthcare provider to.

Good luck and I hope that it is easy for you to access!