Has anyone requested a c-section?

[loverrrr]

For a variety of reasons, I think I would prefer a c- section for my upcoming birth. Has anyone requested this in the NHS? Is it something that is optional? Any shared experiences would be appreciated!

Yes. Maternal request.

You don’t ask with ‘prefer’. You really have to with certainty tell them you want a c section and are having a c section.

No dilly dallying about.

If you are in two minds or there’s any inch of uncertainty then they will not approve it.

I haven’t done this myself but I know people who have. It definitely is an option for you. The midwife/doctors will need to go over the risks with you, but if you still want a c section you should be offered one.

Thankyou for responding, thats very useful. Is it a request via midwife & do you have to give a reason?

Depends on your trust, where I am I just said I would like to be put down for a maternal request c section at one of my routine appointments, then a few weeks ahead of my due date I had to have a chat with a consultant midwife who signed it off formally and that was that. My trust are very pro C-section though. I have heard elsewhere that people experience pushback so I would just echo a pp and say you would like to be put down for an elective section

Yes, I had one in 2019 and I believe it's easier to request now. I told my midwife at my booking in appointment that I intended to request one, and it was absolutely fine. Mine was for mental health reasons and I actually was able to access mental health support because of the request, which was really valuable. I was referred to a consultant, explained why I wanted it, and she opened the appointment book there and then to book me in.

How far along are you and when is your next midwife appointment?

Are they made of money?

You can access mental health support because of your mental health, not because you requested a C-section

I did and was told no. Ended up with an emergency one anyway! So my second was a planned section.

I understand elective c sections actually work out cheaper for the NHS on average. A vaginal birth generally takes much longer and in many cases there will be complications of some kind, and of course in some cases an emergency c section may be required anyway.

I guess so! I requested mine because after my previous birth I was advised to consider it second time around, tbh in hindsight I regret it but that's not the point of this thread. I do think overall the NHS perform too many sections but over medicalizing birth is another huge conversation and ultimately I feel more strongly that women should be able to birth the way they want!

I have, twice. Two different trusts. There were no issues.

They can’t refuse it, but I have heard of people getting pushback. I’d advise you to read the NICE and RCOG guidance beforehand.

So you had a medical reason and not elective

Well, yes... that was the reason I made the request (among other things). But the request for an elective c section gave me access to mental health care I wasn't able to access from the NHS prior to the pregnancy. I'm not saying everyone who requests an elective will get mental health support, that would be daft.

Clearly you are anti elective c sections, for some reason. If you include aftercare for vaginal birth injuries there's actually very little difference in cost, so it's not a case of a trust being made of money. Some women are desperate to experience vaginal birth and avoid a c section, some women are terrified of vaginal birth. Best we are all able to access what works best for us, no?

They aren’t allowed to refuse you a c-section. I’m very sorry this happened to you.

Ok, in our trust it was simply a maternal request section. I was supported to have a VBAC if I wanted one but on the balance of previous advice and my own preference I chose the section. Plenty of my friends have also had electives for all manner of reasons including preference

Thankyou for all your advice, and good to hear you can request based on preference rather than a specific/ medical reason. Im 14 weeks currently so plenty of time, next appt ina couple of weeks & will raise it with midwife then.

I only know one mum who has done this but she said it was straightforward. If you would like to breastfeed, do look into things you can do to support this because there is a link between planned c-sections and breastfeeding issues.

Yes I requested a CS during my first pregnancy, I was in the 3rd trimester by then

I tried to discuss it with my midwife who just didn’t seem to take my request seriously so I went to see a lovely GP who did an urgent referral to the local Obstetrics team in the hospital where I was booked

Then had to meet a consultant to discuss my request- then I had to meet with a consultant psychiatrist who explored my reasons for maternal request CS & essentially ‘approved’ it and then I went back to see another consultant obstetrician who booked me in for a CS at 39 weeks.

The whole process started when I was around 35/36 weeks pregnant so it was lucky I didn’t go into labour early before it was all agreed

This was over 10 years ago in SE London hospital

For my 2nd baby I was luckily given the option to choose mode of delivery- I went with another elective CS- I listened to their chat re a VBAC but I always knew what I wanted

Good Luck with it all

I requested mine! The consultant was ghastly and so patronising - but she still agreed.

Turns out DC was sideways anyway so needed one regardless.

Over a decade ago now!

Just to add- I have no chronic medical conditions or anything significant in my history which meant I may require a CS, no phobia etc

I simply felt that it was the best way for me to deliver my baby- and it was
And I managed to breastfeed for a several weeks after the birth until we combined fed/switched to formula…don’t listen to others who say you may not be able to breastfeed after having a CS

Oh and mine was classed as ‘elective CS for maternal request’…I certainly got some judgement/shit from midwives for that on the postnatal ward!

Likely not as it’s NHS…

They sound like they are pro-giving the pregnant woman some choices over the mode of delivery…and that can only be a good thing in my opinion!

I did. My first birth was horrendous (28hr ended in emergency theatre and traumatised me) after telling the mw whilst pregnant with my second about it I was put forward for elective c section. I had to meet the consultant that allowed it. But I also know someone that also tried for the same reason and denied (same time/hospital) I think you need a lot of evidence to get one on the nhs

Aftercare for vaginal injuries is not very common I don’t think. Of all the women I know who’ve had vaginal births, I only know one who needed some repair surgery afterwards. And we sadly don’t get specialist pelvic floor physio like they do in France.

Maybe their spending is less from fewer complications. I'm sure they've spent a lot on me trying to sort the problems caused by an instrumental birth. It's a shame my trust pushed an induction on me, when I asked about a c section and was quickly fobbed off 🤷🏻‍♀️