Opted C-section

[Leannej1986]

Due to having rheumatoid arthritis I was always advised I would most probably end up having a c-section due to having flare ups in my hips and pelvis, and to be fair I was happy to go down that route after seeing my sister go through two c-sections.
Today I was told by my RA consultant I could have a natural delivery, and it's thrown me abit, I'd like to opt for a c-section.
Has anyone opted for a c-section is this allowed nowadays?
I feel I'm going to get a lot of grief when I bring this up to my midwife and obstetrics next month.

What does your consultant recommend? Women with R/A (and other autoimmune conditions) are more likely to get high blood pressure (and strokes) and Preclamsia during pregnancy; so if you are considered at risk for those conditions a vaginal birth may be more appropriate.

I have RA and currently pregnant on number 4. For my other 3 I hadn't been diagnosed so had 3 natural births, 2 were horrific & 1 was ok as they gave me high doses of oxytocin to hurry me along because of previous births. When i did get diagnosed my consultant said I SHOULD have have sections on all due to my RA, I have it particularly bad in my hips & pelvis.
Have my first appointment with them next week but I'll be pushing for a section also & can't see my consultant disagreeing, the midwives may just do as per my consultant in RA!
Can you not ask RA doctor to request a section for you? Get them to give you a letter? I'd ask for a second opinion with another RA doc as forme natural labour always slowed at pushing stage as my hips & pelvis can't go into position properly

@starflake I'm 12 weeks pregnant tomorrow and this is my 1st, since finding out I've been pregnant my flares have come every week lasting 3 days, I told her this and she just said it's not my RA but the pregnancy causing the discomfort to my bones and muscles, and said I was to stop my medication, which is a god send,the medication I am on is classed as safe whilst pregnant I got that checked before trying to get pregnant and she just wants me to come off of it as said I'd have no flares whilst pregnant even tho I had just said I've had loads more than usual. She then said she would send her notes to my obsectric ready for next month but I'm not happy with her diagnose she hasn't seen me in 4 years and was only because my gp flagged it up that I got an appointment with her. I'm just very annoyed with the appointment.

I'd ask for another doctor TBH, I'm flaring since becoming pregnant also, it's unusual but not unheard of. I'm off my medication also but next week I'm hoping they will start me on it again. My usual hospital for RA have referred me on to a specialist RA consultant who deals with pregnant women & pain management through pregnancy and after birth. Can your GP not refer you to some place like that?

@starflake I'm just going to tell this Dr I'm booked in to see next month my concerns and push for a c-section and hope for the best.

You can opt for a c section even with no medical reason. Some consultants will fight against it, but it is absolutely your choice.

It's your choice, I'm sure it's all about patient advocacy.

To put it bluntly I was told don't be daft baby can fit anywhere, as well as RA & have back stuffs, baby never went cephalic, I wonder why...

The only thing I would say about sections, they're difficult to recover from. I'm not sure really what happened, I was corpse like the last couple of months really took it from me.

Although if you have a comfy sofa, you have a new bedroom for when baby is born. DH just took the cushions off other chairs to make himself a bed. The MW must see if a lot with post section Mums, as it didn't seem in the least bit odd to her.

@bambamber I've been trying to read up on choosing a c-section and all I've come across is you can request one but they do advise not to and send you through lots of different channels, I just hope it's not that much trouble.

@turquoiseturtle I've seen my sister go through 2 c-sections and friends have had to have them, but I've also had friends who went natural and the state there in after sometimes suffering worse than the c-sections so either way pregnancy and labour is tough, fair play to each and every one of you.
Did you chose to have one or was advise too?

Go for c-section. I was waiting for replacement hip all the way through pregnancy, mine had given up the ghost due to osteoarthritis.
Consultant all the way through said c-section as would be easier for me to mobilise...even when midwife said I should put up with the pain and have natural delivery. Consultant pointed out to the daft mare that I wouldn't be able to open my legs wide enough to get the baby out safely...she stomped off at this point!

As a patient you are completely within your rights to request a c-section. You may find you need to fight your corner though.
It might help to write down any issues you want to raise with your clinician, so just as examples:
What are my risks of vaginal birth given RA
What are my risks of a section and likely recovery
What is the possibility of a failed vaginal birth and emergency section
Given RA will I be able to mobilise/consider water birth etc etc
What are the risks of a planned v emergency section
Good luck!

Check out birthrights -fab organisation that campaigns for women's rights in birth. Lots of info on elective sections. I'd also ask for a second opinion though, that dr sounds a bit rubbish!

@Deadheadstickeronacadilac yes I definitely want a c-section for me my worry is on the day having a flare up in my hips and like you have stated my legs won't be able to open up wide. I just don't want the stress or pressure of my RA on the day aswell as Labour. I cannot believe your midwife said deal with the pain!!! I would love this people to experience it....

@Hall84 very good idea, I have a few weeks before my appointment so will put together a good case for myself. I just don't want the pressure or worry from my RA on the day aswell as Labour. Thankyou

@Laney79 I will definitely look into that thankyou, and yes totally agree I am still fuming about the whole ordeal, I waited over an hour to see her just for her to see me for 10mins and not really pay any attention to what I was saying...husband was not happy when I informed him and thankful he will be coming to my next appointments.

I have RA and have been through two pregnancies with it.
For the 1st I had a shit rheumatologist and their crapness during my pregnancy was the final straw and I ended up making an official complaint and swapped to my current Rheumy who is fab and was fab in my 2nd pregnancy.
I was told that 1/3rd of pregnant women with RA find their RA gets better in pregnancy, 1/3rd find no change, and a 1/3rd get worse. Unfortunately I'm in the latter one and had two awful pregnancies and as I'm on MTX I had to come off it for both of them however steroids are considered safe in pregnancy so I took them throughout (has its own draw backs but safe for baby) which gave me enough relief to just about function.
I am surprised your consultant hasn't seen you for 4yrs - even when my condition is under control I've seen mine every 6mths. I think if you are not happy I would seek another opinion. I would also ask your GP if you've got a good one for support and make sure you are flagged for 'high' risk for obstetrics so they can keep an eye on you & you are referred to a consultant , then also raise your concerns with them.
I was told that they would assess how I gave birth as my pregnancy progressed and with my 1st no decision was made until the end and as my DS1 came early he forced the decision anyway (Sod's law he came in the day I was supposed to be deciding if I wanted a c-section or not)
With DS2 my obstetrician asked me early on what I wanted to do as they would support my decision and said she breathed a sigh of relief when I said planned section as my difficulties with birth no1 and the deterioration of my hips since last time would have been more difficult. He also came early but they just pushed up the section.
I really struggled towards the end of pregnancy and it really helped that I was referred for hydrotherapy - if this is available in your area it's amazing.
I would also speak to your community MW and when you get one your health visitor as they can offer some support after birth as at about 6wks some women with RA experience a big flare due to the change in hormones - some MWs & HVs are really good with this and others less so (I've had both) but it's worth asking anyway.

By the way there are usually some pregnancy threads on the Arthritis care (now Versus arthritis I think) chat board so you can chat to people going through the same thing. It really helped with my first pregnancy as I felt a bit helpless.
If you have any questions or want some support please also feel free to message me as I know it sometimes helps to have advice from people who have been through the same thing. Pregnancy can be daunting even more so when you have RA.

@Leannej1986 I was on high levels of morphine for the hip as well, !
You have good reason for the surgery, you have to ignore anyone who tries to guilt you into 'natural' birth. My consultant and I discussed it at 12 weeks and he just continually over ruled anyone who said differently.
I was not railroaded into anything I didn't want and recovered from it well (despite haemorrhaging on the table, but that is another story ).

In your situation you should definitely be able to get one. Also I might be wrong but I noticed since my first (2 years ago), c sections have become a bit easier to request.

@wonkylegs thankyou so much for your response, it really helps having people with RA during pregnancy give me advice.

@Deadheadstickeronacadilac oh wow sounds like you really went through it!!! that's how I feel guilty for wanting a c-section, thankyou for making me feel it's ok.

PeggySuehadababy I am hoping that is the case 🤞