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Original poster

Elective C Section

29 replies

Rebekah120517 · 12/12/2017 16:12

Was at midwife today and had asked her about having an elective c section. She told me that midwives don’t promote sections and it’s not her place to say. Due to get another scan on at the 28th of December at 33 weeks with the consultant and she said to speak to him about it. My mind won’t change on wanting a section. Is there anyway he can actually refuse me getting one?

OP posts:
JoJoSM2 · 12/12/2017 17:15

I’m not sure if they can refuse but have you looked into pros and cons? A CSection is an operation and it takes a while to recover etc.

WildlifeMag · 12/12/2017 17:18

Do you have a clinical need for a c section (e.g previous section, breech baby, mental health issue)? If not, you may find it hard to find a consultant willing to perform surgery. Like Jojo says, it is major surgery and recovery can be grim. Have you spoken to your midwife about this?

WildlifeMag · 12/12/2017 17:19

Sorry, I can see from your post you have spoken to the midwife. Check your hosiptal policy on maternal request c sections.

Heregoeseverything · 12/12/2017 17:24

I feel exactly the same, Rebekah.

Catsshoes777 · 12/12/2017 17:24

MWs will always promote 'natural ' birth. The consultant will be more likely to consider it (and if you're seeing one then there are presumably some issues which make it a potential birth option).

Neverexpected2 · 12/12/2017 17:24

You may struggle to get a consultant to agree. I was down as needing one as had twins with presenting twin breech. Despite This, having gone into labour earlier than set section date they still had me scanned before being wheeled down to theatre, to see if the breech baby had turned so they could avoid surgery. She hadn't and it had to go ahead. But it was clear throughout my appointments (she was breech through all) that they would really Have preferred to avoid it possible and that was with medical need

Heregoeseverything · 12/12/2017 17:28

I know I'll get flamed, but I really think it should be a woman's (informed) choice how she gets the baby out of her body.

Timeforanamochango · 12/12/2017 17:37

My consultant tried to refuse me one, bought in the registrars etc to try an talk me out of it. Despite the fact it was most definitely the best option and I’d had a previous EMCS and left in intensive care from my previous baby.

I sat there for 20 mins and refused to leave until they confirmed I would have one, eventually started crying saying I could not go through the trauma again. She agreed at this point and wrote on the notes ‘ELCS agreed due to maternal mental health’

I am not crazy, I promise! But if they refuse you or get funny about it, it might be worth crying. None of my very valid reasons worked but that did!

PersianCatLady · 12/12/2017 17:40

Although ideally everybody should be able to have an elective c section on request, how would the NHS cope if they actually did?

If you go private then j think that you are free to choose.

Original poster
Rebekah120517 · 12/12/2017 17:43

My sister got stuck when my mum was deliverying her resulting in lack of oxygen at birth and her swallowing loads of gunk, she had to get her stomach washed out twice. This was 20 years ago and I know that the likelihood of this happening to me is slim to none but has always been a worry of mine even before getting pregnant.

We see he consultant as I have a low placenta and had a blood clot which resulted in me bleeding at 25 & 27 weeks and admitted to hospital for a few days. If the placenta moves to 4cm or above they want you to go ahead with a normal delivery. I was scanned at 29 weeks and the placenta was sitting at 3cm.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rebekah120517 · 12/12/2017 17:46

My sister has cerebal palsy and microcelphaly which is the result of the lack of oxygen. I thought I had added that.

OP posts:
Mumagain2017 · 12/12/2017 17:50

Hey OP
I had an elective c section due my bring 42 and having a traumatic first labour.

I totally understand why you want one and it was amazing to get my baby girl out so quickly and safely.
However with hindsight I think I would have gone natural as the recovery was fairly horrendous and far harder than after my first birth.

Manctart · 12/12/2017 17:51

Hi, I can't answer your question but I am also supposed to have an elective c section as I have Crohn's Disease with a lot of scar tissue towards the end of my bowel (so much more potential for tearing or prolapsed bowel etc which I am keen to avoid)! The colorectal surgeon I Am under has recommended this. I still think my obs consultant will try to talk me out of it though. Hope you are able to have one of you think it's best.

Catsshoes777 · 12/12/2017 17:57

Then you have understandable reasons for considering a C section OP. They are major surgery but they can also be the safest way for mum and baby. Just set out your thoughts and reasons.

Good luck!!

Rayraybt2006 · 12/12/2017 18:01

Hey OP

I have a 6 day old boy after an elective c section. I had a really bad emergency section with DD1. I said from my 12 weeks scan I wanted an elective this time and they never tried to stop me or change my mind. I've found it much easier recovery-wise this time and aside from being unable to lift
Heavy objects feel pretty much back to normal 6 days later.
If it's something you want I think you just need to convey your reasons why to your doctor. They do prefer natural deliveries but at the end of the days it's about what's best for you and your baby and what you're comfortable with! X

PersianCatLady · 12/12/2017 18:04

Do you have a particular reason for wanting a c section that you can tell the doctor?

Original poster
Rebekah120517 · 12/12/2017 18:08

Yeah PersianCatLady I’ve wrote it in the post.

OP posts:
Heregoeseverything · 12/12/2017 18:15

@PersianCatLady In my experience, most people do not want an elective C section, so the NHS would never have to fund these for all.

The NHS funding argument would work better if it were applied to everything that relates to bodily autonomy, but it isn't. If eg someone wants to refuse a blood transfusion which would easily cure something, even if as a result of that refusal he will suffer unnecessary illness that is expensive for the NHS to treat, he is entitled to do so, because it is his body. Similarly if someone has a bad shoulder injury that could be most cheaply and effectively treated by surgical insertion of metal, the patient is entitled to refuse surgery, and cause additional costs to be incurred in the pursuance of alternative options. I don't see why not wanting to risk incontinence, prolapse, genital tears, potential trauma etc in childbirth should be treated any differently.

Sunshinegirl82 · 12/12/2017 18:22

I think there are some official guidelines on maternal request sections that you might want to locate and refer to? Possibly by NICE or RCOG.

I had an emcs with DS, if I have another baby I will insist on an elective. If you have a straightforward vaginal birth then recovery will be quicker than a section that's true but a complicated vaginal birth can have a long recovery too. Unfortunately no-one can guarantee you what you'll end up with unfortunately.

A friend had a vaginal birth with forceps and still couldn't climb the stairs two weeks later, she had to sleep on the sofa. By contrast I was up and operating fairly normally (albeit slowly!) Recovery from birth (however it happens) is very individual.

I don't blame you for wanting a section but I suspect you'll have to push hard if there is no medical need so I'd get as much info as possible in advance to support your argument. Good luck!

PersianCatLady · 12/12/2017 18:26

HereGoes
I didn't say I agree with the NHS policy on c sections.

Heregoeseverything · 12/12/2017 18:45

@PersianCatLady It was clearly implicit in your first comment that you didn't think women should be able to choose.

PersianCatLady · 12/12/2017 18:47

Don't think I did,read my comment again.

I did say that going private gets your choice but that is a fact, isn't it?

Heregoeseverything · 12/12/2017 19:02

@PersianCatLady

*Although ideally everybody should be able to have an elective c section on request, how would the NHS cope if they actually did?

If you go private then j think that you are free to choose.*

Clear implication of this is: "In a perfect world, everyone could choose, but the NHS can't afford it. If you want to be able to choose a C section, go private, don't expect it on the NHS."

I would genuinely be interested to hear arguments against choice and consider them, but don't pretend you didn't say what you said.

PersianCatLady · 12/12/2017 19:28

No implication at all.

I write and sat exactly what I mean.

I don't understand how people can imply something that isn't there.

I get this all the time, friend asks are you enjoying it here.

I say yes it is good.

She then says you don't like it do you, shall we go.

Does my head in.

I appreciate that other people say something different to what they mean but I don't.

PersianCatLady · 12/12/2017 19:29

HereGoes
Please stop making up things that I clearly have not said.