Turned down for elective caesarean 18 weeks

[kedooo]

Hi, so I spoke to a consultant about a maternal choice elective caesarean and he said as I have no health conditions I have no need for one. I explained my reasons for wanting one, understand the risks of cesarean delivery, happy to take them, quoted statistics. He said it's too early to be asking at 18 weeks, I asked if I can be referred to another health board or consultant then and he said this is something that would be considered much further down the line when I'm 32-36 weeks, won't it be too late then though?

I already spoke to my midwife who said no as it's too expensive for the nhs, I said this isn't her decision to make, so she referred me to this consultant.

On the NHS website it says it's a mother's choice, and the NICE guidelines say this too. I quoted this and the consultant said it's something they'd consider much further down the line closer to the end of my pregnancy.

Is this correct or am I being fobbed off? Understand things are difficult now with covid. I may talk to the Midwife's when I go for my 20 week scan in 2 weeks or call up my midwife and ask if I can speak to another consultant (although she wasn't very nice when I said I wanted an elective cesarean the first time around). Or is this all a waste of time right now as I've read about other women on here having their elective cesareans cancelled due to covid.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

I think it's normal to wait until you're much further along. I mentioned at my booking appointment that I would be requesting a c section this time, but my first consultant appointment isnt until 28 weeks and I don't expect it to be booked in and formally agreed until 36 weeks. Third baby, first was emcs, second vbac, but failed ventouse and forceps. For my vbac the final decision was made at 36 weeks, so I think it will be the same this time around.

I requested a c section for my second birth as I was upset at the outcome of my first. It was made as difficult as possible and didn’t happen for me. Midwife first referred me to PALS to speak about why I wanted one and go through the last labour. The lady there then referred me to a consultant. When I spoke to him be burst out laughing and said “were not giving you a cesersian” I cried when I came out at the fact he was laughing when he said it. Completely minimised my feelings despite it being mothers choice according to NICE guidelines like you say. I didn’t ask anyone again and was pretty much fobbed off. If it’s really what you want you will have to fight for it. Don’t give up on the first consultant to say no. (Although I was induced with dd2 and I’m glad now as it went fine and without the section recovery) however that’s besides the point, if this is what you want you have every right to try for it

It all depends on the Trust. The previous trust I worked at had no c-sections for maternal choice. Medical reasons only. The one 20 miles up the road did, so patient would transfer to there.
They normally discuss around 32-36 weeks.

Thank you everyone for the replies, I spoke to the birthrights charity who said that most trusts won't allow you to change after 28 weeks so surely if I leave it till I'm 36 weeks to arrange the elective cesarean it could be too late if all the available consultants I speak to at my trust don't want to do a cesarean. Just seems like in theory and on the nhs site it's meant to be a woman's choice but the reality is far from this

@kedooo - I don't want to go against what Birthrights say as they are generally really knowledgeable, but I don't think that's the case in my trust at least.

I would suggest that you mention your preferences at every appointment (with midwife/consultant etc) and get them to write it down in your notes (i.e. actually say: "could you note that down please"). Also get it in writing that the official appointment re birth choices is at X weeks.

Obviously keep an open mind re what they say (and stay calm and polite!) but be firm and ask to be referred to a different consultant if they ultimately refuse. Maybe bring a copy of the NICE guidelines with you to the appointment if that makes you feel more secure in your rights.

Good luck!

@quarantinevibes that is awful, I'm really sorry that happened to you . Glad the birth went ok in the end though.

Just echoing what the previous poster said about Birthrights and transferring Trusts, I'm not sure that's accurate either. A lot of Trusts have a self referral process so you don't even need midwife/consultant to sort it. Do you have a better,more women centered Trust nearby that you would want to transfer to? I'd only do it if you know for definite that it will be better than your current trust.