Elective c section

[Bellaamore]

Just a quick question, have any of you requested a section?
If so, and you don't mind sharing, what were your reasons for it and how did the hospital respond?
Thanks a lot 😊

Hi there, I requested an elective for my (now) 9 week old daughter. My son was an emergency caesarean after a failed induction because he was charting big.
The reasons for my decision this time was because DD was also on the larger side, I was terrified of having a VBAC incase there were complications and was sure it would end up in a section anyway. The consultants were pretty easy going and told me it was my choice. I found it was the midwives who were more encouraging of a natural birth but not to the point where I felt pressured or uncomfortable.

Many people had told me that a planned section is much calmer and mine certainly was.
With DS I’d been awake Wed - Sat for the induction so I was knackered by the time he was born but this time felt like I had a little more energy. I also took a lot more in and enjoyed the birth because it was planned.
The only downside was obviously the recovery and my daughter had a tummy full of mucus which babies expel during a natural birthing process I am told. It meant she was slow to latch on and feed because her tummy was full up but we’ve conquered that now. She is so greedy!
Hope that helps xxx

I did. I was 10 days late and my baby was measuring 9lb 5. They were going to induce me the next day but I was scared of the baby getting stuck. Midwives agreed to get the consultant. The consultant said it was a legitimate concern and really, while he could be up to a pound smaller, he could also be a pound bigger.

She signed off on the c section for me, and delivered my baby the next morning. He weighed 10lb 5, so she was spot on!

I’ve requested a CS. I’m due next month and have already met with the consultant once. I had a very long and difficult labour with DD who was very large. The main issue being her size and my inability to progress. I’m expecting another large baby and don’t want to repeat the experience and put myself and the baby in danger. The consultant was not particularly supportive and very much tried to persuade me to change my mind and go natural. Luckily I was dead set on my decision before I went in so felt relatively confident in fighting my corner. He’s now suggested I come back again next week to discuss it again and I’ll be insisting that this is the right decision for me during that conversation aswell. I would advise that you have your arguments ready and be prepared for a lot of push back. At the end of the day you you’re entitled to choose to proceed with a CS as your preferred birth option.

I'm 19+4 with my first and have requested an ELCS.

I suffer from health anxiety and the thought of going into spontaneous labour and having no control over what's happening to me is not an option. I know a c section isn't 'the easy option' but I've done my research and I'm more comfortable with the associated potential risks of this than a vaginal birth.

My midwife is referring me to a consultant at my 22 week appointment.

I'm 24 + 2, first-time mum and had my ELCS confirmed at 16 weeks (not got a date yet though).

I was already consultant led due to medications I take but my c-section was booked due to childhood sexual abuse and therefore severe PTSD. I simply cannot imagine giving birth vaginally due to my trauma.

The hospital and my midwife have been very understanding and it was all first discussed at my 8-week booking in appointment and then with my consultant at our first appointment at 16 weeks.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Previous shoulder dystocia, episiotomy and hemorrhage - this baby expected to be bigger than the first. Midwife suggested seeing the consultant and consultant suggested csection 2 weeks early would be safest.

I requested ione with my second as I had a very traumatic first birth that had a knock on impact on my epilepsy

This is super helpful for me as I want a C Section but been told they don't do elected C Sections anymore? Clearly I've been misinformed!
I suffer with anxiety and depression (not medicated for it) and also Herpes and stress causes flare ups. I do not want to put my child at risk though they said I would be put on suppression medication.
I've always been terrified of a natural birth and I'm terrified that my anxiety is going to put my baby under unnecessary stress.
My DH has already said I need to have a natural birth, but I'm already feeling the pressure and I haven't gotten out of my first trimester yet!
I feel this pregnancy is going to be soooooooo stressful! I feel like I'm going to have conform to what others want me to do and not what I want and what's best for me! 😭😭😭😭
Apologies for the long post! I haven't told anyone I'm pregnant yet so this is my only place to vent

I think it is easier to get an elected c section if you have had prior c section due to the risks of vbac. I've requested one because I had a failed induction and emergency c section and I don't want to go through that traumatic experience again. Turns out baby is breech anyhow so looks like I may have no choice. Apparently there's still a chance he will turn, but I reckon not. They've pretty much agreed I can have one, but I won't see the consuktant and agree a date until 36 weeks apparently.

@Ginge35 what do you mean your DH has told you that you have to have natural?

100% talk to your consultant/midwife about your concerns. They have to listen and they have to take in to account what you want.

@Ginge35 Where did you hear that elective c sections were no longer allowed? That has sent my anxiety through the roof.
I'm 14 weeks and haven't said anything to my midwife about it yet as I thought it was too early.
I had my first child at 17, very traumatic birth, huge cut, massive blood loss (blood transfusion) and it's taken me 20 years to feel ready for another baby. And even then I only wanted another because I was under the impression that I can choose a c section this time

@Ginge35 have a look at the NICE Guidelines. You can absolutely choose an elective section and it doesn't have to be for medical reasons. You have a right to maternal choice. If your consultant won't agree to sign off on it then you can request to be referred to another consultant.

The NHS website even states that ELCS is your choice and should be granted.

Do not be pushed into a vaginal birth if you're not comfortable with it. You will need to demonstrate that you understand the risks associated with a section but this is easy to familiarise yourself with with a bit of research.

@mywrencalls ⬆️

They may try to talk you out of it, but according to NICE guidelines, if you want a c section, they should present all the reasons why you shouldn't (unless there's a medical reason why you should), but if you stick to your guns, the obstetrician should either offer you a c section themselves, or refer you to one who will.

As a PP said, my difficulty was getting past the midwives to speak to an obstetrician, as I voiced concerns a few times and felt fobbed off. I think you need to stick to your guns.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg132/chapter/1-Guidance#planned-cs

You absolutely have the rig to request a section and your hospital should grant it (although you may have to jump through hoops). And, because I think this often gets overlooked, mental health reasons are just as valid as physical health reasons. I had an ELCS for a number of reasons but primarily because of anxiety/PTSD. There was never any argument from my hospital but I also made it clear that I wasn't having the baby vaginally.

Thank you everyone, I'm going to do a bit more research and then at my 16 week appointment I shall mention it to my midwife.
Sorry @Bellaamore for panicking on your thread!

Yes thank you ladies! I appreciate all of the advice and the link. I'll definitely be doing my research for sure and when I get to the point about discussing the birth then I'll be ready for it. I work in a solicitors so I can argue my case that's for sure! 😝

Sorry that I haven't been back on since posting but I appreciate all of your replies.
I feel so cheeky asking for a section, how silly is that? But the more I think about giving birth the worse my anxiety becomes. I have a number of mental health issues and I require everything to be planned and done perfectly to feel remotely comfortable but labour can't be planned and it sure as hell can't be perfectly organised but I just don't feel like my reasoning is good enough to request a csection.

Your reasoning is very similar to mine and my medical team were totally supportive. Reducing stress and anxiety both during pregnancy and the birth is so super important both for you and the baby.

Anxiety is a valid reason. They will try to dissuade you with very scary sounding statistics, stay strong!

I'm weighing up the pros and cons at the moment. I'm worried that I'm going to have a huge baby (my partner is 6'10" and a big lad. He was born bigger than I was (full term) and he was premature 😟).
Obviously I'm going to have to see if the baby actually measures big but it's a very real fear right now. So reading this has been helpful!

I requested one due to vulvodynia, but also had gestational diabetes and awful PGP as contributory factors. I spoke to my midwife about it initially at an early stage, and she referred me to a consultant who discussed my options very honestly with me over several appointments. She told me that I'd either be looking at an elective section or a vaginal delivery with an epidural but was unable to 100% guarantee that an epidural would be available when needed. I opted for the elective. It was a wonderfully calm, straightforward birth and I'm so glad I was supported to make an informed choice by my consultant.

Yep, agreed with the consultant at 38w that he was nowhere near engaged and posterior which was the reason for my previous emcs.

Procedure was a dream, got a full night's sleep beforehand, organised childcare, knew what i was in for. Easier recovery as a result. Do it.

I requested csection as maternal request and my midwife arranged a meeting with a consultant. In the meeting with the consultant I explained to him both risks with csection and natural birth and I told him that I prefer the risks with csection. The whole meeting took about 15 mins and he agreed and set a date for me. I told him I'm not scared of natural birth, I just don't like the risks associated with it.

You have all made me feel so much better, I don't know if it is the anxiety or the fact that I'm a bit of a softie but I'm so scared to ask for this. I don't know who to approach or when to ask, any tips on not being such a wimpy push over? 😂