Can I request an elective c-section instead of induction?

[Nam095]

I have an induction booked next week when I’m 37+3 due to hypertension and baby being below 3rd centile. The more I think about it the less I want to have the induction and would rather have an elective c-section. Is this something I can request based on the fact they want the baby out due to their growth? I have my 36 week midwife appointment on the 11th is this something I can query then or do I need to have a separate appointment with a consultant?

In short, YES!

Anyone can make a maternal request for an elective c-section due to the NICE guidelines. The sooner you do it the better as you will need to speak to the consultant, sign consent forms and be booked in. I have requested one due to a severe phobia of giving birth (I didn’t get pregnant til I was sure I could get one). Look on birth rights for your hospital and see if they’re difficult about it or not: www.birthrights.org.uk/campaigns-research/maternal-request-caesarean/

Regardless, you can still have one. If a consultant tells you no, they have to refer you to someone willing to perform it. They will try to scare you with a very one sided version of the risks (which are actually the risks of an emergency c-section in the worst possible circumstances) but I just looked into the risks myself then said yes to everything. Good luck x

You can certainly request an elective section. It would need to be approved by a consultant. I recommend that you contact your midwife tomorrow about this rather than wait a couple of days. You will need to explain why you want an elective c section rather than an induction. Good luck with it all.

Yes. Follow your gut instinct.

Yes, opt for one. I did with all 3. I had medical condition making induction necessary. I had no desire to have a drawn out induction and crash section. Contact your midwives now.

Yes you can. As time is not on your side I would be getting in touch with them ASAP. I was booked for induction for medical reasons for 36 weeks but I also discussed c section and from the impression I got no one would have refused the section if that was what I wanted. The risks of both were discussed but ultimately before I made my decision I went into labour and I decided to proceed with the drip to help things along faster and it all went according to plan but if you are set on a section I would get those wheels in motion now before you get closer to induction or go into labour!

Thanks everyone. I’ll be calling the community midwives first thing tomorrow morning to ask to speak with someone about an elective caesarean. I just hope they don’t shut me down instantly

Yes, they will try to talk you out of it but if you know it's what you want you just need to say so.

Yes!

These are some of the reasons I would rather c-section:

• Induction can be very long and drawn out process especially as first baby, I cannot take pain well at all and I become fatigued very easily I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome I will not be able to handle a long labour
• My baby’s heart rate has been quite high on CTGs (above 180) and would rather she not go through the stress of induction and a long drawn out labour
• Baby is still not in the correct position/ head down and I do not want to go through the process of hoping for her to turn during labour but then end up having emergency c-section anyway because she hasn’t turned
• Induction was booked without my request and I was not given any other option at the time nor was I provided with any information about induction

Do it. I had an awful induction scenario and have always regretted not asking for a caesarean instead

I insisted on one and got one. 4 out of 7 of my NCT group were induced and ended up having emergency c-sections at the same hospital. My experience was much more pleasant!

Your midwife should refer you to the consultant after she’s heard your reasons then you’ll need to repeat them to the consultant. I would add in a bit about anxiety and say it’s affecting your daily life at the moment as you’re so worried about this impending induction. They will possibly be quite firm in trying to put you off but just keep repeating that it’s the only acceptable way for you

I had a very effective induction with baby #1. Cervix was not ready at all, but with a single pessary I gave birth within 11 hours of insertion.

My preference for the future would be to try the induction but to have a very serious discussion with the consultant at what point we would turn to C section of it wasn't working. Personally, I would try 24h of pessary, probably consent to having my waters broken, and if nothing was doing would refuse the drip and want to proceed to C section. You do actually continue to have choices all the way along the "induction pathway", despite what some HCPs imply.

There's a lot of scaremongering about how long it can take and how bad the pain can be - mine was effective and reached the same max pain level as my spontaneous second labour. I had paracetamol, a birth ball, a cold flannel for DH to mop my sweaty brow, and gas and air near the end. Only difference between induction and spontaneous labour for me was length, but second babies are usually quicker anyway and my induction was not excessively long. I don't think people need to be as scared of trying induction as they often are.

However, you don't actually sign your whole life and labour away once you turn up to your induction appointment. Moving along the induction pathway does actually require your ongoing consent. If it's not working, you don't have to carry on, and I think a lot of problems are caused with the sheer length of inductions which are not working effectively. If you're in vague but not progressing labour for days and days, you're going to be absolutely shattered when it's time to push. No wonder there are so many assisted births at the end of drawn out inductions. Sometimes they just don't work very well. Just because you're having some contractions doesn't mean the induction is being effective, and you don't get a medal for having a vaginal birth.

I do think it's worth thinking about the downsides of a C-section. There are upsides, obviously, but also risks and a potentially longer recovery. The important thing to remember is that the choice is in your hands all the way along. Even if you're booked in for a C section you could in theory change your mind at the last minute. Likewise with an induction. HCPs can make strong recommendations, and they don't recommend inductions just for fun, but it is your body and your choice.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. I just rang and the lady who answered sounded nice at first and then after I explained I wanted to speak to a consultant about an elective section her tone got really frosty 🤔 she said she would pass my details to a midwife and they would get back to me. So it begins 😂

I was induced 3 weeks ago and it failed, after 3 days and 3 pessaries nothing had happened and when they asked me to try for a 4th time I said I really didn’t want to and could I have a section. They tried to talk me out of it but I stood firm and the consultant approved the section. It was much more pleasant than what I can imagine an emergency section to be however it’s true when they say the recovery is much harder. This is my third baby and after 2 previous natural births the recovery was a shock to the system this time around. I know I made the right decision though as I was told he would never have came out naturally x

Good luck, just keep at them if you don’t hear back. I was told by my midwife she had referred me then I didn’t hear anything about a telephone appointment with a consultant so I phoned back saying how anxious I was getting not knowing what was happening and suddenly I had an appointment through for it. My consultants words were ‘it’s not my job to tell you you can’t have a c-section’. I thought I was going to have go in all guns blazing quoting the NICE guidelines but there was no need. She just tried to scare me out of it with the one-sided risks instead! 😂

@sarah13xx I feel quite bad about what I posted now about the woman I spoke to as she called me back within 10 minutes and confirmed an appointment has been booked with a consultant on the 14th 🙈 it is very close to my induction date of 16th but she said there was nothing sooner but would keep me in mind if anything comes up so seems positive so far! Just hope the consultant is understanding and listens to my reasons

@Nam095 oh that’s great news! Just be ready to give a quick ‘yes, yes, fine, yes’ to them and sign the form 😂 I think sometimes they can just add you to the list for that week or almost do it as if it was an emergency so hopefully they should be able to fit you in no problem

Hey, I know an old post but wonder if you got a what you wanted? I am in a similar boat and really don’t want an induction..