Elective C Section

[LKH27]

How far in advance can you book a C Section? Assuming you don't go private.

I imagine it will vary depending on the area.

I’m due to have one next week and was told I’ll get 2-4 days notice of what day I’ll be in.

I think last time I was told on Monday that I was going to have it on Thursday.

I had an appointment with a consultant when I was 22 weeks and I was booked in and given the date there and then.

I booked mine at 25 weeks at consultant apt

Had a discussion with the consultant about it at 16 weeks, then met with Perineal specialist at 24 weeks for further discussion, then booked it in for 39+ 2 at my 28 week appt.

I've had one booked in incase I don't go into labour myself before by 41 weeks although the intention is for a VBAC before then, it was booked in at my 28 week scan/consultant apt.

I had twins and severe tokophobia. They refused to discuss it until 32 weeks when DH refused to leave until they booked it. I got a date later that day (although I ended up having an emcs at 35+1)

I think it was decided around 30 weeks baby was very big so scheduled it for 38 weeks. Baby decided to come at 37 weeks (waters broke) so had to get emergency section and he was well over 10lbs already.

Thanks everyone for your replies. Thankfully that doesn't sound like you have to wait and see too much. I feared it would be last minute which would make my anxiety worse! Will try and bring it up again at my next appt - even thought they kept trying to sway me from it last time.

Hi, I may sound really stupid here but can you actually choose to have a c section without any medical reasoning?
I am currently TTC and have always much preferred the idea of a c section but thought there had to be a medical reason for one.

Depends. With a 2nd c section, my hospital were happy to agree at booking in appointment, although I don’t imagine they would’ve booked the date in until later. My BF, at another hospital was put off until her due date when they booked her in for a few days later (that hospital has a low c section rate )

With a first baby, you’ll struggle more to get it agreed or booked in unless there is a clear medical reason why you can’t give birth vaginally. They have to take your wishes into account but don’t have to get it all booked up and agreed early on.

I started the ball rolling at 20 weeks but it was 37 weeks until they booked it in. I had lots of arguments with various consultants before they agreed and I wanted one due to previous traumatic deliveries. Be prepared to fight for it, they don’t make it easy. They even tried talking me out of it just before the section when DP and I were in our scrubs.

Booked in at 32 weeks. But mine was a second pregnancy after an emcs. Generally speaking unless there is a medical reason they will try to discourage elective sections, defintely for first pregnancies with no risk factors.

My local CCG tells women that maternal request C sections are out of the question. Fortunately that’s bollocks. They can make you jump through a lot of hoops, but if they refuse one they need to refer you to somewhere else that will do it.

Look up the NICE guidelines and the Birth Rights information on maternal request c sections.

They absolutely made my anxiety worse by not just agreeing earlier on in my pregnancy. I was having daily panic attacks and constantly worrying about birth, I was having weekly specialist counselling. I saw a consultant every 4 weeks from 20 weeks and they patronised and dismissed my concerns at every opportunity. It took my husband standing up for me and saying it needed to be arranged for it to actually happen. I am an assertive person but the way they phrase it makes it very difficult to advocate for yourself.

I was fortunate and my midwives and consultant were very supportive of my request and had me booked up at 20 something weeks. Really helped with my anxiety. Only person that tried to put me off was the consultant midwife, and even she didn't push too hard. Sadly it seems there is no hard and fast rule, and it is up to individual hospitals.

I was very lucky. This is my second pregnancy and a c section has been booked in since my 12 week scan. I was preparing myself for a battle after having a traumatic first delivery but the consultant suggested it before I got chance to ask!

Think it was booked at about 16 weeks scan (twins)

I asked for one at my booking appointment and so they made a note of it then, got my date probably around 37 weeks for a 39 week c section. Exciting!

Mine was booked and confirmed at 37 weeks.

I want a c-section too as I am extremely anxious about the birth, I mentioned it at booking and a note has been made as well as an appointment with the consultant midwife, but they also otherwise put me on the birthing centre track without explaining what that was and my anxiety has gone through the roof as a result. I have tried to contact my antenatal team multiple times to discuss it and have been completely ignored, no response at all. I have now said I want a referral to a consultant obstetrician, also ignored, but am going in for a scan on Friday and am going to get very assertive.
I just don't understand why they put mothers through so much anxiety tbh, in my case the way they've been has absolutely confirmed to me that there is no way I'm leaving the birth in the hands of the midwives...

C section is a major operation, plus it costs the NHS a lot of money compared to vaginal birth.

Whilst very few of us bounce straight back from birth, a c- section is harder to recover from. It makes it hard to even lift your baby, plus you can't drive for 6 weeks. And you still bleed for weeks after just, maybe a bit less than a natural birth.

Yes, you can request a C-section and you're perfectly within your rights to. Vaginal birth will be heavily pushed, but you need to be firm and stick to your guns. If the thought of vaginal birth is affecting your mental health, then make sure your midwife knows that.

As to which is 'better', that can (and often is on here) be debated all day. A straightforward vaginal delivery with no significant tearing will be much easier to recover from than a section. But a planned section will usually be much easier to recover from than some birth injuries. You don't know which experience you'll have, which is why childbirth is such a terrifying thought for many people. Neither one is an 'easy' option.

I was in hospital for a month after my c section and had to have a further operation.was then attached to a machine via a tube in my section wound for 2 weeks. I've been off plastic surgery on my scar but I can't face another op.
It's not an easy option.

After the birth of my first child which was a VB the consultant agreed to a section should I fall pregnant again. This time round, saw another consultant at 20 weeks who agreed it, was sent a date when I was 37 weeks (talk about leaving it last minute). Due to have my section at 39+2 weeks!

I was talked into a CS for my first DD with horror stories about how she would be too big (gestational diabetes) and get stuck and then need her shoulder breaking (I forget the technical term) to get her out. I had the CS and she was 8lb3oz and long rather than big. Second time around I opted for elective CA due to the best chances of a VBAC being 75% (plus gestational diabetes again) and they tried to talk out of it. It really depends on the hospital and on the consultant.

I will be asking for it to be confirmed ASAP. If they will not allow me to have an elective c section, I will have to give serious consideration to ending a much wanted pregnancy. Leaving it until 20 weeks just isn't going to work. No c-section, no baby. I will need them to guarantee I can have one at my first appointment, otherwise they are effectively holding me to ransom. (I also plan to have saved up enough for a private c section if necessary, but that's my backup plan)