Questions asked in consultant/reg appointment about c-section?

[Librashavinganotherbiscuit]

If you have had an appointment with a consultant about having a c-section for your next birth what questions do they ask? Want to be prepared!

TIA

I went into my meeting with a list of the concerns I had about another vb (traumatic forceps delivery with DC1 leaving longterm damage).

I had read up on the risks of an elcs and also on the risks of a vb for my areas of damage. My bladder has not worked properly since DC1's birth so I was clear that I was especially keen to avoid worsening that incontinence, and particularly to avoid double incontinence from another bad tear or from needing forceps again.

To be honest my consultant had agreed to an elcs a couple of months after DC1's birth when I was clearly traumatised and still undergoing a lot of treatment as an outpatient. When it came to my booking in appointment 10 months later it was a formality for me to confirm that I wished to take him up on that plan, that I understood he thought I could have a fine vb second time around, and that I understood it was a case of my choosing one set of risks over another - not avoiding risk altogether.

I was transferred to another consultant as the hospital merged and met with her also. Again I took my list of points, gave a brief history of the traumatic labour, delivery and recovery and repeated my request for an elcs. She didn't try to talk me round at all - just referred me to maternity psychology for some extra support (I think it was all the crying on her that did it!).

Hope it goes smoothly for you. If your consultant is very anti you can ask to be moved to another consultant immediately to have a second opinion.

Oh - meant to add, also consider the longterm v.shortterm risks.

I have been told often of the much better chance I have of a nice recovery in days from a vb rather than certain surgical recovery of weeks. I agree - would love a waterbirth and quick recovery, but ...

... at the same time those same people then fail to acknowledge that bladder issues worsen with the menopause as hormones change and that in the longterm I am risking far greater incontinence (in my case, as I have damage already) if I were to tear/need forceps again than from a more controlled elcs (which I know is not risk free for my bladder either).

Thanks for your experience lovethesea.