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.

Yes, but the risks are greater with a c-section for both mother and baby. You don't seem to acknowledge this.

yes it is mental wellbeing which is incredibly important

Ema76 - I was at Royal Gwent for dd, but this time am going to Neville Hall under Mr Dawson...I was told by the consultant whom I saw privately that this was my best choice cos its twins...

As you are still quite early on, I would see Gareth Edwards at Royal Gwent, state your case, and get a feel for him and the surroundings.
A lot of people slag off the Gwent - hell people slag off all hospitals (as you have probably gathered!!), but the care I received from them afterwards was all I expected - not to the standard of private, but I had a relatively straight forward birth on gas and air and pethedine.
Although I will just point out that I should have had a planned c-section due to the large ovarian cyst which was found at my 20 week scan. Unfortunately madam decided she was coming out at 37 weeks (4 days before planned section) and everything was ok.

I did have the cyst out 6 months later and was shocked at how long it took me to recover, it is major surgery and obviously has its risks. However you have to make the decision of what is best for you and baby - stress / worry can also have devastating effects on you and your baby...

Anyway (sorry for waffling...) if you want to chat etc spell out email address and I will contact you...

for me those risks are outweighed by the positives that is why.

poorbuthappy - my email is [email protected]

i went to the royal gwent for an emergency hernia op and found it great. all hospitals have good and bad press as you say. will investigate mr dawson at nevill hall if g edwards declines.

c-section statistics re death rates can be seen as scary but remember many c-sections emergency or elective are carried out because of a huge range of complications/anticipated complications and these can contribute to the death itself.

at the dig about "ensuring that you had the funds to pay for a private delivery before you got pregnant might have been prident and would have caused you a lot less stress/worry"....... there are MN posters deliberately getting pregnant when they are already in a very tight financial position, likely to get PND (had it before) and it's unlikely to be pointed out that they should have saved up for the maternity leave period or been a bit more careful with contraception or postponed another pregnancy until they were mentally or financially ready for it.

It seems some women just don't want others to be able to give birth by c-section on the NHS unless the baby/mother's life is gravely at risk.

i'll take my chances on a c-section themildmanneredjanitor.

i agree with sitdownpleasegeorge - it just seems that some women like to think of others not having the choice and being refused c-sections. why it is not you going through it for goodness sake? we are all different!

No- the risks aren't outweighed by the positives. The physical risks from a c-section are always greater than from a vaginal birth. You will have to show the consultant that you understand that - and despite understanding that you are exposing yourself to a greater risk you still cannot bear the idea of a VB.

There may be a wait if you go into labour naturally and you need to prepare for that. For example when it was decided to switch me from VB to CS when having ds3 I still had to wait for over an hour (with only gas an air) because they needed the results of blood tests. It wasn't an emergency- it was a switch for non-progression so they were not going ahead without the blood test results. Had it been the middle of the night it would have been a longer wait.

Go for the counselling,I'd really ask the consultant about it it will also show that you recognise it is a phobia.

I'm sorry ema, but you have asked for people's opinions yet you seem to be ignoring/not taking on board any advice other than the "go ahead love you're right" stuff.

I agree with Soupdragon, you need to acknowledge that you understand the risks of the operation. And I don't think it's as easy as ignoring a respected professional's advice and moving onto the next one till you find someone prepared to carry it out, if that professional's advice is that a CS is too risky in your case. As you have said you aren't in a big city and as such the pit of available consultants isn't bottomless.

It also isn't a case of them recheduling the list as gladders said. Perhaps in a big London hospital where they have dedicated teams doing electives and others doing emergencies, but in smaller hospitals (althought the hospital where I had Dd wasn't exactly small) you will be put behind a woman whose baby is in danger and needs to be gotten out or a woman with severe preeclampsia or other life threatening condition. As such you need to be prepared that you may well be in labour for some amount of time. They will not do you first just because you are scared.

I started reading this thread feeling sorry for your predicament but am increasingly finding your attitude arrogant and more than a little blinkered.

ok jimjam the risks aren't outweighed by the positives, whatever. i am still having a cs!!!!!!!!!!!

I've got nothing against c-sections. I just think (having had 3) that if you go into them thinking its all a breeze you are opening yourself to all sorts of potential problems.

A lot of the fall out from mine didn't really become apparent until I had my second (when the scar tissue from the first caused lots of problems).

no i don't live in a city but am willing to go to one to get a c-section.

i know they are not painless fiofio. thank you

i really don't think it is a breeze jimjam.
i just hope tomorrow goes well and i can then relax and enjoy things a bit or if it is not agreed then i can know how to move forward.

If you want a c-section on the nhs for mental health grounds then you will almost certainly have to go through counselling in order to support the need for one. I would imagine that any consultant would struggle to sign off if you were not at least prepared to go to counselling given the relatively high proportion of women who suffer from some degree of pnd.

lackadiasy, just read your post again and i didn't ask for opnions. i asked for advice on getting a c-section in wales on the nhs or privately if necessary. i know my own mind and am sorry if this comes across badly as i did not intend it to and my fears are real, very real. it is the same as someone who is adamant they want no painrelief and tranquil music playing even if they change their mind half way through - their decision, body and mind at the end of the day.

ladymuck - i will say yes if requested to do counselling.

I've had two c-sections. One emergency and one elective although my consultant advised I was 80% likely to need another c-section with my second pregnancy. I recovered from both very well and felt little pain. Maybe I was lucky. But I do know that my emergency section (after 20-hours labour) impacted at least one lady who had wanted an elective - not paid for. She had to wait. So unless you do go private you should be aware of that. My second, elective, was booked in and went according to plan but I was told that if there was an emergency I'd have to wait - understandably.

It's not the same because there are no risks from refusing pain relief and playing music.

Put blunty the consultant doesn't want you or the baby to die on him or her. Therefore you will need to justify why you want to expose yourself to a riskier option without medical need. Yes many will understand the issues surrounding mental health and many will be sympathetic, but these are all questions you may well be asked.

I would go for the counselling. I don't know anyone who had a birth similar to their mother's to be honest (my mum had two great, quick VBs and I had a hideous 3 day labour and emergency c section!). Much as a c section is painless and detatched from the birth process, it really hurts afterwards and limits you so much in the weeks following. It really did take me 6 weeks to get back to normal and it's so horrid not being able to go for walks with the baby because I couldn't walk further than the front door. Also I found that I didn't bond with the baby so much as it didn't really seem real (I have now but it took weeks). As for breastfeeding - well the baby wouldn't latch on at all and I know that BF is more difficult in CS. I would have given anything for a VB but understand your reasons. You may feel differently after counselling however eve3n if you are adamant that you think you will not. Good luck.

I think it's reasonably likely that they won't agree to anything at 10 weeks tbh so you need to be prepared for a 'well decide nearer the time'. Are you sure you're seeing a consultant tomorrow? Is this a booking in appointment? Be prepared that if it is you're more likely to see a midwife and may not get to see a consultant until 30 odd weeks.

i am aware of the recovery and it can be different for different people. from taking weeks and weeks to a weekend. know of several people who have had elective cs and the vast majority had a quick recovery. hope i am one of them but if not i have to live with the consequences of my own decision.
i am already bonded with my baby and love my baby very much. i personally do not feel that i need that experience vb to bond thoroughly. i am sorry that you amber had problems and I hope that you are fully recovered and enjoying your baby.

i am 32 weeks and still not discussed the birth yet!