To demand a caesarean

[angel772]

I’m 33 weeks pregnant and have gestational diabetes. I’ve been discussing birth options with my midwife and she’s adamant they should induce me early if the baby’s getting too big, or let me go to 40 weeks if not. I suggested a caesarean but she said induction was the preferred route with an EMCS if required.

Having looked into this, I came across this link and am now absolutely panicking that my baby could have oxygen starvation during birth, leading to severe disabilities:

www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/ceiras-story/

I can’t for the life of me understand why the hospital are even considering making me try for a vaginal birth given the huge risks to my baby, who is already on the large side (5.5lb!!) and so could very easily get stuck. I feel women are offered caesareans for much less and can’t see why it’s not been put forward as an option for me. Why are they risking my baby’s health and WWYD?!

Update - I’ve just checked my hospital trust on the Birthrights website and it says they don’t offer maternal request caesareans.

So what do I do now? Move hospital?!

@Lunafortheloveogod well its good to hear one positive induction story as there are hardly any out there from what I can find! And loads of positive caesarean stories. So the epidural meant you didn’t feel the forceps at all? What’s fragmin jags?

@angel772 move hospital yes. Do what you need to do to get the birth you need.

Nope I literally couldn’t feel anything besides like the movement side of contractions but absolutely no pain. Inductions are really common, I know more induced babies than natural or section, and I suppose pain etc after a c section is more expected and you’re aware of the exact process, whereas you’re more likely to ask for induction experiences since there’s different methods etc.

There’s absolutely no guarantee you’ll have a horrific birth if it’s induced labour, the second ds1 wasn’t turning to come out properly I was taken to theatre for forceps incase they needed to go for a csection, that was the most intense part.. the bloody conversation. I was on the table for 5 minutes two pushes with the forceps.

Fragmin is a blood thinner (I was given it with the epidural, possibly forceps, adding to the risk) you get it with a c section as you’re off your feed for a while so higher risk of a clot.. you do them yourself at home for 10days, well how ever many days you’ve left once you’re out. They nip like buggery if you rub the spot after. I never got them with ds2 but I was in the shower within an hour of his birth, compared to in my bed almost all night from 5pm.

Fragmin is an injection you need for a few days after a section, you have to give it to yourself at home. Prevents blood clots.

Yes, in normal times you can request to move hospitals. No idea if it might be more difficult now.

@VivaLeBeaver and what if I can’t find one who will take me - will I then be forced into a birth (induction) that I don’t want?

If you can’t get your current hospital to agree to a section and you can’t find another hospital to take you then you’ll have to have a vagina birth. Nobody can make you have an induction though and you can decline that.

You start the process of formally requesting one anyway and request a transfer if they refuse. You must begin today, however - you will have to follow certain processes and these take time. Contact your midwife and insist that you want to begin the process of a referral for a CS.

Remember that a CS performed for physical or psychological reasons is not 'maternal request'.

If you can’t get your current hospital to agree to a section and you can’t find another hospital to take you then you’ll have to have a vagina birth. Nobody can make you have an induction though and you can decline that.

I can’t believe the demonisation around the very safe procedure that is an ELCS. It’s absolutely shocking in this day and age that a woman can be denied an ELCS and forced into a birth she doesn’t want, using medieval instruments like forceps which are actually banned in some countries. And yes, I know I can turn it down but I’ve been told that diabetes can cause serious harm to the baby if it stays in the womb too long, so its not like I have a reasonable choice between induction and natural labour is it.

The only other option is to go private but I doubt I will get a bank loan given my finances. I already have debts.

Don't get worked up, OP. You haven't been refused yet.

@angel772 I would speak to a consultant at your own hospital first before moving hospitals - you may find one who is sympathetic and supportive of your decision. How many weeks are you? Will you have time to do this? I’m at a trust which is flagged up as red on the Birthrights site so I was really surprised when the consultant I saw said she’d support my choice. I asked about ELCS before even getting pregnant as I’m terrified of giving birth and posted a thread on mumsnet a few years ago asking for advice. Slightly different situation as I’m pretty sure I have tokophobia, but I’ve also spent a long time (probably 10 years!) reading up on various options and risks so I also think it’s a rational choice too. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever get pregnant, but I’m now 29 weeks. The fact that we’re in the middle of a pandemic hasn’t helped my anxiety levels at all. I’m really worried they won’t honour my decision in the current climate, but have another appointment with the consultant next week to hopefully get a date. I’m measuring big and was tested for GD. I’m at the top end of normal and we had to have Ivf which is another risk factor. I just want my baby to be safe and can understand all your worries. I outlined all of my reasons in a letter before initially meeting the consultant including the risks and the fact that this will be an only child. I hope that you manage to have the birth you want and I hope that I do too. Women should have the right to choose.

Many hospitals do allow you to request one. I had a C section last year even though the reasons felt very valid to me it would have been seen as a non-medical request. Sorry I haven't read the full thread have you ask them and what has been their response? When is your next scan to determine the size of the baby?

Remember that a CS performed for physical or psychological reasons is not 'maternal request'.

Thanks I didn’t know that. Well they disagree with the physical side because they think giving birth to a very large baby isn’t a problem, but they can’t tell me I’m wrong about the effect this is having on my mental health.

Ask your midwife to refer you to the perinatal health team - they have been really supportive at my hospital.

Ask your midwife to refer you to the perinatal health team - they have been really supportive at my hospital.

Yes. My community midwife told me informally that if the perinatal mental health team supported my request then I was more or less guaranteed to have the ELCS approved.

You CAN request a c-section and you are entitled to be referred to another consultant if your consultant is not willing to do it.

But if I can’t find a consultant who will do it (likely if they’re at the same hospital as its the head consultant who’s already turned me down - they’re not gonna go against him) then I have no choice but to be induced. For all the strong words on the Birthrights website, at the end of it all it says “The hospital can only refuse to offer you a c-section if it has balanced all the factors and can show that there are good reasons for refusing and the effect on you is not disproportionate.”

And the NICE guidelines are only a guide, they’re not legally binding.

It’s good there are people like Birthrights out there though - the NHS would probably be even less willing to give caesareans otherwise.

Ime other consultants do not follow the lead consultant at all. You may have less of a battle than you expect. Ask your midwife which consultant is the best bet and ask her if you can get seen by them.

@RunningAwaywiththeCircus I will try my hospital again and if that doesn’t work I have one other option within a reasonable driving distance of my home. Maybe I will pay for a private consultant to look at my notes and see what they think as well, if that could maybe help my case.

I know it’s childish but I won’t be clapping the nhs on Thursdays anymore because I feel I’ve been completely let down by them and am so upset. The health of my baby and me (physical and mental for me) just feels like collateral now. If only I could afford private healthcare.

My daughter was 10lb 10oz and I delivered her naturally.... at 33 weeks she was 7lb so I wouldn't worry too much!! She ended up with them dislocating her shoulder. Follow their advice

@VivaLeBeaver thanks Viva will try that and see where it gets me. It’s shit that I now have to deal with this battle on my hands when late pregnancy in a pandemic is stressful enough!!

She ended up with them dislocating her shoulder. Follow their advice

Follow their advice because it could lead to my baby having a dislocated shoulder?! That makes me even more determined NOT to follow their advice thanks!!

I know this sounds pedantic but a consultant turning you down when you verbally raised ELCS in a consultation is not the same as a hospital trust refusing your formal request. You have to follow formal procedures and get everything in writing.