Consultant appointment not until 37+3

[BarryTheKestrel]

Back story:
Traumatic first birth, when I got pregnant again have been suffering from severe birth related anxiety and have been, upon advice of my midwife, engaging with the perinatal mental health team etc. We have decided that to manage my anxiety I should have an elective c section this time.

I'm currently 33+3. I was referred to the consultant to discuss and sign off on my ELCS at my 30 week appointment( as they wanted to wait and see if the counselling and CBT calmed my anxiety enough). I've received the appointment letter and by the time of the appointment I'll be 37+3.

In my mind this is leaving it all very late, and I'm concerned about what happens if I go into labour early or if I get to the appointment and end up having to fight for the ELCS and potentially be referred on to another consultant. I'm envisioning a lot of stress leading to the final few weeks of my pregnancy due to this.

Anyone else been in this situation and have some positive stories/wisdom to add?

My Perinatal mental health midwife is now on leave for 10 days, but is aware of the appointment date I've been given. I'm due to see her a few days after she gets back and I'm hoping she'll know something I don't as I'm now completely freaking out that everything we have planned in our sessions to deal with my anxiety will not happen and I won't cope.

Not really sure what I'm posting for. Maybe reassurance. Maybe advice. Maybe just because I need to get it down and out of my head before I end up over thinking myself into a massive panic!

I am sure it will be fine but I can see how it’s increasing your anxiety. If someone’s off I don’t see why there isn’t an alternative to call, even triage at the hospital, to be put in touch with someone sooner. I have been consultant led and it was rare to see the same doctor twice so I don’t think that should matter.

I’d imagine it’s ok, i had a traumatic birth with DC1 and was over 38 weeks when I saw the consultant and requested a section for DC2, it was scheduled for 39+3. This time saw her at 36 +2 and scheduled for 39+2. They would rather ELCS carried out just after 39 weeks rather than just before, but if I was to go into labour any sooner it wouldn’t cause a problem. Good luck

Do you have to go to counselling before the consultant will sign off on a ELCS?

I was under the impression that if that's what you wanted, they had to honour your decision.

Sorry I've been out with my DD all day.

I'm hoping that when I see my mental health midwife on the 7th she'll be able to reassure me but who knows at the moment!

@myotherbagisgucci I have been made to go through counselling since mentioning wanting an elective at my first midwife appointment. In my area if you request an elective for a non medical reason they ask you to undertake counselling, presumably because for some people with some CBT they will overcome their anxiety etc and no longer want an elective. From my point of view however it's focused me on everything that went wrong last time and how much I don't want to risk going through that again.

They make you jump through lots of hoops sometimes to get an ELCS. I got the ball rolling at the 20 week consultant appointment, am now 29 weeks and still not had it confirmed. My trust don’t confirm ELCS’s until 36 weeks anyway. I also have to meet with a consultant midwife next week and then the consultant again. It’s a real rigmarole, you have my sympathy. 37 weeks is definitely leaving it late, I would give them a call and see if there’s any way they can see you sooner just in case you’re already in labour by then but you probably won’t be.