Denied ELCS - is this normal?

[Sk1sk0]

32 weeks, had a consultant appointment today for elective c section and she rejected my request. Did not talk through any data, just brushed through some c section risks, told me second vaginal births have next to no complications and then asked why I’d do something ‘crazy’ like subject my baby to an ‘unnecessary ordeal’. Rushed on to say there were absolutely no medical grounds for my request so she’d obviously be denying it, bye, we won’t need to see you again.

I’d already had a birth choices appointment before this so wasn’t expecting a thorough conversation but is it normal for these appointments to only last about 10 minutes? And can anyone offer any insight into next steps - do I contact my midwife to ask for a different consultant?

Consultant appointment in 1hrs time OP. Will let you know if I get any further..if I'm denied again I'm unsure what the heck I'll do!! I'm 35+2 today and feel like is there even enough time to find another consultant again if this one Denies me?😣

Good luck! Hope this consultant actually listens to you and you get your c-section.

Let your perinatal mental health nurse know too, they should advocate for you. I had an ELCS on maternal mental and physical health grounds and they were so supportive - they told me if one consultant said no just say you need to be referred to someone else. (She didn't say no, she opened the diary there and then and booked me in.)

For me the planned certainty of a c section was far, far preferable to the unknowns of a natural birth. There are risks to both.

@SquigglePigs @Sk1sk0
Well I got my section booked!😅

To my horror when I arrived it was the same consultant as last time!!
There's 2 head consultants running in my local hospital and the other one I was supposed to see is off on annual leave so the other consultant is covering him too

When I see it was him, I went into the midwife and said I'm not willing to speak to him due to him denying me last time and making me feel awful and like I have no choice in how I birth. She said that's fine I'll speak to him and see what we can do. She spoke to him and told him how he made me feel etc and he apologised and said it's fine approve the section for her now and go and book it. So I sat with the midwife and she booked it for me..I have to go back next week when the other consultant is back so we can sign consent forms etc but we have a date atleast!!😆

Awful experience I'd ask for a second opinion. Some hospitals literally can't offer these though as no space so you might need to look into changing hospitals to a bigger city one

Yay!! Omg I would have been bricking it seeing the same one, good on you for advocating for yourself!

That's fantastic news! Well done for standing up for yourself and good on the midwife for having your back.

Hope everything goes nice and smoothly for you from here.

On a positive note - I had an ELCS too and it was a lovely, relaxed experience and the staff were lovely!

Thankyou ladies☺️
@SquigglePigs
Glad it went well for you..I'm absolutely shitting it!😂29 days to go, unless this chunky boy pushes me into labour before then😅

Thank you, my perinatal mh midwife has been able to get me a new consultant appointment for Monday🤞 Glad everything went well for you!

Just to update the thread - I had my second consultant appt today and it was worlds apart from my first experience. She was really kind and informative and booked me in for my section there and then. Thanks for the advice everyone!

So pleased for you!

Thanks so much!

Great result, really pleased for you :)

Thank you! :)

Great news OP! Wishing you a calm, uneventful birth and recovery.

Thank you so much :)

Doctor here who had maternal request elective section. It’s your right.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62433358d3bf7f32b317e8e5/Final-Ockenden-Report-print-ready.pdf

This is the Ockenden report following the Shrewsbury scandal and includes national recommendations. See appendix 2 section 7.

If they are refusing outright I would go via PALS as well as seeking second opinion in another maternity unit (in interests of time I’d do both at same time). Be clear in any appt where they refuse that you want it documented in your notes that your choice is a Caesarean and that they are denying you this choice. Ask to see it.

To be honest, I doubt it will get this heated. Last year/the year before they removed the targets so maternity rates no longer need to keep the c section rate low. I therefore doubt they will put up too much of a fight.

lol just seen your update - great news!

I’ve seen your update, glad you secured it.

Yes, sadly I think it is normal to get told no. My baby was breech and I was told no. Saw same consultant twice, he agreed it. He wanted me to have an ECV. I googled it and said no thanks. The sonographer and nurses told me not to have the ECV and to go back and ask, or rather demand a c section.
If you search you’ll see lots of threads from ladies on this subject, so I think it must happen all the time!

Good luck op. 😊

Great news! I had a 3rd degree tear for my first and whilst I only suffered minimal damage, I opted for an elcs to avoid any more damage. I really didn’t want to poo myself!!

ELCS was the best. Recovery was so so much better than the bad tear. It was so calm. Hope it all goes smoothly for you.