Experience of ELCS in terms of safe delivery of baby

[Summerdaydreams]

Brief history, my last dd was born at 27 weeks, which resulted in cerebral palsy being diagnosed.
Although, I know this was not caused directly 'at' birth, I am very, very nervous of this pregnancy ending in a traumatic birth, possible lack of oxygen and brain injury. I know the chances are low, but I also know it happens, and with one disabled child, I want to take every step I can to ensure that this baby arrives safely.

For the above reasons, I thought an ELCS would be the safest Delivery. I mentioned it at consultant appointment at 16 weeks, it was pretty much dismissed, Dr concluded vaginal birth is far safer as I have done it twice before so I should do it again. And that cs has risk of blood loss and infection.
Does anyone have any experience? My rights to request a ELCS??
Thanks in advance.

You have a right to request a CS, full stop.

Anxiety/mental health reasons are a perfectly valid justification for one. Do you feel like the pregnancy will be blighted with fear if you feel "forced" into a vaginal birth? Well, that's probably the way you'd have to explain it (and that's pretty much what I said when I requested - and got the green light for - a CS, but for different reasons).

Try speaking to a sympathetic midwife before going back to the consultant. Be prepared for repeated attempts to get you to change your mind, but stick to your guns if it's what you really want and need.

Thanks sea I think it will blight my pregnancy. In no way do I think a cs is the easy option, far from it, in many ways I can see the positives of a vaginal delivery (recovery time) but the last thing I want is to get to full term and it all go wrong during the labour.

I feel she totally disregarded my fears.
I can't help but think that cost is a reason why they often want to put people off of CS.

I posted a little further down about my scheduled section. Long story short, my
Mental health is a mess due to lots of different reasons and for this reason my psychiatrist, mid wife and doctor have all agreed to an elective section at 38 and 2 - 18 days to go and counting every second and praying baby arrives safely. Good luck and hope you manage to find understanding doctors xx

Under the NICE guidelines you have a lot of choices and no consultant in his/her right mind will deny you an ELCS. You may have to speak to a mental health person or a consultant midwife first, but if you want it you will get it.

If you're not happy, or not getting anywhere, call or email the consultant midwife and explain you're story. That's what I did and it worked a wonder.

Although not comparable, my twins were born at 29 wks and one did not survive labour, so I know how you feel, sort of.

It feels like a struggle to get the NHS to step away from protocol and look at the actual person they're dealing with. Good luck. x

Thank you for your experiences, it's good to know that I do have the right for an ELCS, even though it seems you have to push for it.
halle good luck with your delivery.
Dildals sorry for you loss.

Glad you got what you needed /wanted in the end. You are right in that it feels like a struggle and now I am doubting if this would be the right thing for me because of her attitude I do think my reasons are valid

The thing that is making my decision harder is that I don't actually know what would be the safer way of delivery because I feel the doctors give the advice based on what the NHS want .i.e vaginal over CS. I just wanted to scream at them "what would you be advising for your wife or daughter"

I had a traumatic first birth which resulted in a lot of damage from forceps, 2nd pregnancy they asked me would I like a ELCS which I accepted and was a wonderful experience.
This time, my consultant seems rather gung-ho that I "try a VBAC" and that I've got a "70% chance of a normal delivery", to which he meant there was a 30% chance I would require an emergency section on the day... he was unable to give me a percentage chance within that 70% normal delivery category of another stuck baby and forceps.
Needless to say, I have now realised the ONLY thing I need to say in regards to my delivery is that I have decided on an ELCS. Your reasons are perfectly valid Summer.