What to expect at consultant appointment

[Yakadee]

Hi ladies, just that really.

I really feel that a planned section would be best to get my baby here safely and so have been referred to a consultant by my midwife.

My appointment isn't for a little while yet but I'm wondering what to expect?

Thanks xxx

Depends on your medical history. I had consultant appointment due to being on anti depressants and having a clotting disorder so that's what we covered. They were very helpful and reassuring. They also listened to the heartbeat on the Doppler- more for my benefit than their's.

You may well have a fight on your hands. Read up on the Birth Rights website and the NICE guidelines. Some trusts are better with maternal request c sections than others, mine give out letters at booking saying they won’t do MR c sections at all (which isn’t true, but I guess it scares some people off asking 🙄)

It really depends on why you want/need one. If if it's not for a standard reason be ready to fight your case. I was consultant led because of having slightly high blood pressure before falling pregnant. My appointments were very much 'so your bp is fine, off you go' to begin with. Then I developed separate complications and needed extra scans and appointments. Prepare to be told contradictory information by different consultants. My bp went up and I saw one consultant who said I'd definitely be having a c-section, two weeks later I saw the lead consultant who said the other doctor was talking bollocks. I'd mentally geared up for a c-section and told everyone so it was really frustrating. Baby was breech in the end so did have a (lovely) c-section.

Thanks everyone. I've already done research and my midwife has agreed that they can't simply refuse and that it's my right to have one if I feel it's the right choice.

I assure you it's not a choice I've made lightly, I know it's not 'the easy option'.

Briefly my first labour was simply awful, crap induction, terrible episiotomy followed by forceps, a LOT of stitches without pain relief because I haemorrhaged, ripping my placenta out, infections, stay in hospital, long recovery and even physio because of the terrible scar I have from the episiotomy.

I simply don't think I will be able to give birth to my child naturally safely. (And to be honest I don't know how it will be physically possible as the reason I needed physio was because tampons hurt - tmi sorry).

I'll do what has to be done of course to get my baby here safely however I think the control that comes with a planned section is a such safer option than the sham that was my first labour x

Good luck. Be forceful (if necessary).

Thanks @seven201 - that was quite an essay! Lol. X