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Original poster

Refused c section?

70 replies

WindFlower92 · 30/03/2021 15:07

Not happened to me, but I've just read on another thread that someone with a 3rd degree tear was refused a c section and now has to have a vbac this time round. I had a 3rd degree tear two years ago so am having a meeting in two weeks to discuss an elective c section. I know it says that they have to refer you to someone else if they don't agree to it, but has anyone been in the situation where no one at all agrees to it and you have to have a vaginal birth? What happens if no one is willing to perform a c section on you at all? I was feeling quite calm about this as my midwife said a 3rd degree tear was a good reason to request a c section, but maybe it isn't? Aagh and now I'm stressed again, for a change!

OP posts:
LadyBillyBon · 30/03/2021 15:30

A vaginal birth after a tear isn't a Vbac. A Vbac is a vaginal birth after a csection.

I have always found that it is something you have to fight for.
You have to have the guts to stand your ground and somebody will accept you.
You have to be prepared to be rejected by several.
But they can't reject you completely based on NHS. They have to find someone to accept you. So you might end up seeing many consultants.
Or you may be lucky and be accepted straight away.

LadyBillyBon · 30/03/2021 15:33

I was given one in the end but I had a 3c tear. Very close to a 4th. But I still had to fight for it. I ended up seeing 5 different consultants before it was agreed.

Original poster
WindFlower92 · 30/03/2021 15:39

You're right @LadyBillyBon I feel silly now! Thanks for the replies, feel very anxious now.

OP posts:
Needingsupportplease · 30/03/2021 15:48

I find it disgusting a woman can't have whatever birth she wants its so sad and so wrong. I had reduced movements for weeks, many monitorings and scans. I had an EMCS after a 5 day induction, started dilating Monday after induction they left me until Friday (lost fluid in this time was ignored and told it was wee) did 23 hours on Friday, 10cm, 3 hours of pushing, then emcs to a poorly baby with sepsis. 11 day stay in total. Felt ignored during pregnancy, labour and beyond. Now pregnant again and praying for an elective!

Greenmarmalade · 30/03/2021 15:51

Find out what your rights are and what the hospital/Nhs’ policies are.
Decide what you want and write it down.
Insist they follow their guidelines and procedures and get booked in for a csection (if in line with nhs policy).

Ask your midwife for support if you face any challenges.

TH22 · 30/03/2021 15:54

I had an elective c section, my reason listed as simply maternal request. No issues with sign off whatsoever. It's not always a battle!

WaitingForNormality · 30/03/2021 16:06

I've recently had ELCS signed-off. I was a real battle - and caused lots of anxiety and (IMO, totally unnecessary, stress). This is for baby #2, I had a VB for #1 but have suffered issues since that birth - hence my asking for a ELCS this time around.

In the end, the only thing that worked was consistently quoting NICE guidelines and making it clear this was a maternal request. The trust were continuously kicking the decision further down the line, for no reason, and making me attend many different consultant appointments and speaking to various registrars too. It was just a PITA. I honestly think their tactic was to wear down the patient so they eventually just drop the request and go with a VB instead.

SnooperTrooper12345 · 30/03/2021 16:20

@WaitingForNormality

I've recently had ELCS signed-off. I was a real battle - and caused lots of anxiety and (IMO, totally unnecessary, stress). This is for baby #2, I had a VB for #1 but have suffered issues since that birth - hence my asking for a ELCS this time around.

In the end, the only thing that worked was consistently quoting NICE guidelines and making it clear this was a maternal request. The trust were continuously kicking the decision further down the line, for no reason, and making me attend many different consultant appointments and speaking to various registrars too. It was just a PITA. I honestly think their tactic was to wear down the patient so they eventually just drop the request and go with a VB instead.

This is exactly what I had! I lost confidence in the end in fighting for it. I was already having panic attacks about birth which was one of my reasons for requesting a csection this time after a 3rd degree. And it made it all so much worse. After seeing 3 people are battling with them all to be sent to another, I just couldn't do it anymore!
brushlaptop · 30/03/2021 16:21

FFS what is the deal with women being refused c sections? You don't need a reason if you want one! Literally the woman's choice and hers alone.

Volcanoexplorer · 30/03/2021 16:23

Gosh, this is terrible. I had a 3rd degree tear with dc1 and requested a c-section for dc2 which was no problem at all. I was never told no or that it was a bad idea.

daisyducky · 30/03/2021 16:32

I'd only a 2nd degree tear and I got a c section no problem. I was told within my hospital it was difficult to get one but not in my experience.

Mammyofasuperbaby · 30/03/2021 16:34

It isnt always a fight, but I do think a lot of it has to do with the opinions of consultants
I had an emcs for my first and elcs for my second.
I just asked for it, it was signed off and I had my baby 9 days later.
I do however have a long history of very serious and life threatening complications so i imagine they were agreements due to that but my elcs was maternal preference rather than medical need

DuggeeHugPlease · 30/03/2021 16:35

I had a csection for breech baby and have just had my elcs signed off for next baby. I'm a good candidate for vbac but had no trouble at all getting them to agree to section.
I was all ready for a fight but the consultant just asked me why I wanted one said that's fine and filled out the paperwork there and then.

Original poster
WindFlower92 · 30/03/2021 16:36

I'm getting so angry for everyone who's had to fight for one, maternal choice is surely a reason in itself?

@Greenmarmalade I've had a look for my trust's policy and can't find anything, where should I be looking? They just seem to have covid policies and nothing else Hmm I'm with Portsmouth Hospitals (Queen Alexandra) if by chance anyone has any experience with them!

OP posts:
Cafeaulait27 · 30/03/2021 16:39

I think if you’ve had a vaginal birth before, or seem any way undecided, they try to sway you away from a c section. I’m not sure but that’s what it seems like from reading lots of threads on the subject!

This will be my first baby and I have always wanted a c section - my mum had a c section and although both methods of childbirth scare me, a c section feels less scary to me. I said I wanted one at my booking appointment and the midwife was fine about it! But I do have a phone call on the 12th to discuss ‘bitch options’ so I assume this is where they will check I know all the risks.

Just remember - you are allowed to have a c section even without a medical need now. They have to find you a consultant who will allow it. Stand your ground.

I think it’s awful that it’s such a battle now. I found this article really interesting. Basically the level of risk for vaginal and c section are basically the same these days, but there are different risks for each. The main difference appears to be that c sections are more expensive, which must be why some women get so much resistance!

www.theguardian.com/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2011/nov/23/health

ThatOtherPoster · 30/03/2021 16:46

I was so lucky and had c-sections both times. The first for a medical reason and the second because I’d had the first.

I noticed it was SO HARD to request a section, even when all the midwives I asked admitted they’d had a section themselves.

Someone did say that you can get a section if your MH isn’t strong enough to d fire a vaginas birth. If I hadn’t developed the medical need for one (DS1 was late and induction didn’t work), then I’d gave gone down that route. Just wailed and sobbed and said I couldn’t face a vagina birth.

Good luck. Do ask the doctor what they’d had, if they’ve had DC.

Original poster
WindFlower92 · 30/03/2021 17:20

What are 'bitch options' @Cafeaulait27? Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
WindFlower92 · 30/03/2021 17:21

Okay so I'm prepared for a fight but determined enough to see every consultant at that hospital if I need to. Will print off all the guidelines I can find and repeat as if I'm a robot!

OP posts:
Cafeaulait27 · 30/03/2021 18:11

@WindFlower92 hahahah wooopsssss!!! BIRTH options!!! Clearly I must write the word bitch a lot and my phone always thinks that’s what I’m trying to type haha!

Hope you don’t have to fight too much xx

Inkpaperstars · 30/03/2021 18:26

I have an elcs booked and it wasn’t a battle, probably because I have so many risk factors, one of the doctors just looked at my file and said if she were me she would definitely do elcs. That said there had been some doctors before who just changed the subject and that delayed things a bit, 8 should have been clearer. What probably helped too is that due to various things I have to deliver a bit early so I can’t just wait for labour, it was a choice of induction or section which is a much easier choice for me.

They can’t refuse you I don’t think, you may just have to jump through some hoops like seeing a second doctor or having a session with a specialist midwife so they can say you were counselled on it first. But ultimately you can get it, just be a broken record.

Inkpaperstars · 30/03/2021 18:26

8? I

DuggeeHugPlease · 30/03/2021 18:37

@WindFlower92 I'm also at QA and they signed mine off no problem just last week! Good luck!

Original poster
WindFlower92 · 30/03/2021 19:10

Ah that's good to hear @DuggeeHugPlease! I'd started to read bad things about them but I need to stop stressing myself out!

OP posts:
Carycy · 30/03/2021 19:15

Had a third degree year. Asked to have a c-section with second. Wasn’t questioned at all. They just explained the risks and asked if I was happy. That was it.

Didiplanthis · 30/03/2021 19:21

I changed consultant when the first declined me a c-section for twins one of which was breech...second consultant didn't query it at all and signed it straight off.

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