Elective c section

[Jeca8]

Hi ladies,
I am due in august and was hoping for an elective csection for mental health reasons.

I know it is in the NICE guidelines that a woman can request one without medical reason but with covid19 I’m wondering if hospitals are using the pandemic to push back on these requests.

I just wanted to ask for any of you that have requested one during the whole corona situation for non medical reasons how has it gone?

Thanks

I want a elective c section for mental health reasons aswell I spoke to my midwife once but she didnt corporate and said they wont offer it to me just because of mental health and all I asked that quite early on I am going to speak to her about this though I am not sure how your midwife would react some are understanding some are not I guess

You need to speak to a consultant.
Contact the supervisor of Midwives at your hospital. Speak to them and insist on a consultants appointment ASAP. A midwife should not be fobbing you off.

You can also contact birthrights for help (second time I’ve recommended them on here today, I don’t work for them I promise!)

I spoke to my consultant about a csection for a few reasons including mental health/anxiety and he has allowed it based on the anxiety alone. Booked in for 27/05 !

I mentioned one earlier in the pregnancy (about 28 weeks) and was encouraged to try for a natural birth first and they talked through the risks of the things that were worrying me to see if it gave me peace of mind.

I was still freaking out by 32 weeks so discussed it again but written everything down before the appointment and explained I have looked into the risks and I was aware. He said he was more than happy to accept a maternal request as long as I was making an informed decision.

Hopefully this helps? X

That’s really helpful ladies thanks 😊

I asked at an earlier stage of pregnancy and was initially fobbed off by one midwife, and so asked the next time to another midwife and was sent to a birth choices workshop which was excellent- it was to explain the risks of c sections so was a little biased but not pushy or preachy. My plan since then has been for a maternal request caesarean.

However a few weeks ago I was due to have my follow up call with an obstetrician and was told quite abruptly that the pathway is now closed because of Covid and elective caesareans are not being carried out. I contacted the charity Birthrights as recommended by a poster above who were excellent, and have been pushing with the hospital to get my c section. I have had some traction and as a result of complaining at how it had been communicated to me am a little more on their radar.

I'm due in 5 weeks' time and still don't know if they will agree to it or not, though what I'd say is that you need to push and advocate for yourself because if you don't it's easy to be ignored. Hope it goes well for you. Fingers crossed there might be a little more certainty by August.