c-section a must, if refused i'll need to pay, advise on getting c-section on nhs or paying the nhs in wales, or private c-section in wales

[Ema76]

a c-section is a must for me.
i am really worried that i will be refused one on the nhs. if so i have to have options. can i pay the nhs to give me one? really want to have my baby in wales too which restricts me as it seems more private c-sections are done in London.
Does anyone know of a good private hospital in wales (south in particular) and how much it would cost?

Many thanks for your help.

Anyway you may be OK. I was expecting to have to fight to try a VBA2C- in fact my consultant offered it to me without me asking.

not if you are me and would go into such total panic you'd prob end up with an emergency cs jimjam

Just one thing (haven't read all the posts). If NHS say no to a csection then as faras I know you will not be able to pay to have one "on the NHS" if that makes sense. You owuld have to go private - which I would say is probably pretty risky for such a major op as a c sec?

And I disagree that "ultimately i should choose how i give birth when fully informed of the risks and benefits". If you have an elective c sec on NHS then its my taxes that are paying for it. If you go private to have one and (god forbid) there should be any complications it will be my taxes that pay to put it right.

Do you think there are two issues here? Anxiety plus a rational (due to your previous family history) fear of birth?

My anxiety was linked to fear of DS1 dying, totally rational, as SIDs exists, but OTT because of my anxiety. I still worry, I still check him too much, I still wouldn't let him anywhere near a smoker etc because these things are said to increase the risk, but am more in control of it now the anxiety is gone iyswim, so I think the counselling would be really beneficial.

Ema76 - this is a real issue for you. Believe me when I say most consultants will understand such fear. Your mental health has to be taken into account when planning delivery and just as some women decide they don't want internals others fear vaginal birth so much that the only real option is a CS.

When all is said and done you need to be able to look forward to becoming a Mum - and if a planned CS is what that takes then so be it. I hope your consultant is supportive tomorrow - as an ex midwife I've not known many consultants who are not supportive to women in your position.
The liklihood is your consultant will agree a CS as soon as he's discussed it with you. There is also the possibility that he/she may say "have counselling and then if you still want a CS after that then we'll do it". Either way you WILL get a CS agreed for the sake of your own health. So try not to worry too much (easy for me to say I know). You are having a baby and it should be a happy and exciting time for you.

I had postnatal depression after a CS (classed as emergency, but wasn't in labour), and as for my pelvic floor after having DS1........well - lets just say I made damn sure I practiced my pelvic excercise LOTS before I had anymore children, and still do frequently.

Also had piles before he was even born

nervousal i pay taxes too and lots of them!!

I don't think it's about money (one of the few cases in the NHS where I really don't think it factors). Consultants are happy to switch to c-section at the slightest sign of complications- the problem is usually getting them to agree to a VB in less than perfect situations.

The reality is that the mother is twice as likely to die if she has a c-section, the baby is so many times more likely to have breathing problems (and I think that is more likely to electives iirc), the baby is less likely to breatfeed etc etc.

Bladder problems (mention because you've mentioned it above) are one of the risk factors for c-sections.I had to sign before mine to say that I udnerstood I could end up incontinent. I think prolapses come from pregnancy itself rather than VB.

Ema76

Do not feel that you need to hold back emotionally, I didn't, the tears were in my eyes as I discussed wanting a c-section.

It was agreed by a member of the obstetric medical team at a hospital appointment at about 34 weeks but he was not a consultant. We decided that I would not have an early c-section (section was booked for due date) to minimise any breathing difficulties and I insisted that it was written in my notes that if I went into labour early (before due date) they would still do a c-section.

The female consultant on duty on the day of the c-section however tried to talk me out of it and wanted to send me home but I remained strong and it went ahead anyway. Midwives on ward were rude about the "unecessary c-section" but after my dh defended me and put them in their place I was left alone to recover in peace.

How many weeks pregnant are you ?

thank you fedupandisolated.

thank you sitdownpleasegeorge.
i too want it in my notes that i want a section if i went into labour early and want to have the planned section as close to the duedate for the baby and possible breathing difficulties. can handle rude midwives - as long as i achieve a cs.
and i will probably cry!! am just thinking of it all now.

am only 10 weeks at the moment. have had early scan too and seen heartbeat.

The argument from the consultant will be that if you are offered an epidural, it's the same pain relief as a c-section.

Just so you're prepared....

Ema76 - where are you in south wales? I'm around the Newport area and have had a little bit of private care due to twins and the NHS not offering the nuchal bloods etc.

I've seen 2 consultants (1 NHS and 1 private) and both are wonderful and have very good reputations...

Which consultant are you seeing?
(sure we can converse via email if you don't want that much information on public forum...)

can get to newport easily as in monmouth poorbuthappy. am booked to see gareth edwards at the royal gwent. what you think? can give you my email.

ema, I can understand how frightened you must feel as this comes across quite firmly in your posts, but your insistence that you will have it your way or the highway will perhaps come over as a tad arrogant if you talk like this to the consultant. I would also advise on the counselling; if anything it will prepare you for the unlikely event of premature labour.

I had an elective section with my second child after an emergency with the first, and I asked about what would happen if i went into labour naturally before that CS date. I was told that I would still get my CS, but that I would be at the back of the queue in as far as anyone else needing an em section would be done first, so there was a chance that I would be in laboour for a good while before the section was carried out.

It's worth pointing out that my recovery after that section was not good and it was nearly four weeks before I could stand for any length of time without suffereing axcruciating pain due to a very nasty wound infection. In fact my expereince with my second section has scarred me so much that the thought of that recovery is worse than the thought of the same complications as caused my first section happening again that this time around (I'm 29 weeks) I am going all out for a vaginal birth.

Your issues sound very deep and complicated and I think that you will benefit from the counselling regardless of how you eventually give birth.

I would also add that if you felt this strongly about your childbirth options, then ensuring you had the funds to go privately before getting pregnant might have been prudent and would have caused you a lot less stress and worry.

I hope you get the birth experience you want.

nervousal, ridiculous argument - we ALL pay taxes ! Some of us pay a considerable amount in tax and national insurance. I probably pay double the average amount. You are either for women having a choice in how they deliver their babies or against it and it sounds like you just want other people to be forced into the "cheapest" option, because you are concerned about the use of your taxes money. You clearly consider an elective c-section to be a waste of resources rather than a valid personal choice for someone who has fully researhed the matter in relation to their own particular circumstances. So much for women supporting each other.

Smokers/drinkers/drug addicts get NHS treatment free at the point of delivery and some of them are incapable of holding down a job and paying taxes, some of them draw benefits funded by taxes money too. No-one denies them NHS services.

Women who want a home birth although potentially cheaper in total costs, actually cause staff shortages elsewhere (and associated distress/worry to women labouring in understaffed maternity units) due to their being a midwife required for later stages of labour on a one to one basis and 2 midwives required for the actually delivery plus travel time.

i know that it is not the easy option.

lackadiasy - "your insistence that you will have it your way or the highway will perhaps come over as a tad arrogant if you talk like this to the consultant."

i will obviously thank them for their time whatever they say and then investigate another consultant who will say yes, i will not use terminology that might make them think i am arrogant or that i think i can change their mind. i respect their decision as professionals but will find a consultant who will perform a c-section. it is as simple as that

ema - you sound like you ahve researched sections and have valid reasons. i do know someone who had an elective on the nhs but again it was in london.

my top tip would be to take someone with you tomorrow? partner? friend? it just really helps to have someone to back you up calmly if you're emotional (been there myself!!)

FWIW, if you have an elective agreed, then if your waters go ahead of the date, you just head straight into hospital - no drama - and the schedule gets adjusted. (it's happened twice to me!)

thank you sitdowngeorge - was upset and angry at the taxes argument and completely agree with you. my partner and i pay a huge amount in tax and feel that no one will have to pay for me as i'll be paying for myself.
i also agree about the cheapest option argument, thanks

thank you gladders.

I think you need to accept and acknowledge that the risks of a CS are greater than those of VB otherwise you are going to come across as ill informed when you speak to the consultant.

what I mean is that you have to stress that it is for your mental well being that you need the CS and despite the actual balance of risks, you are still too terrified of "natural" childbirth to consider a VB.

there are risks in both soupdragon