Elective C Section

[Lauraaax]

Hi all!
I’m only in first trimester however due to ongoing mental health issues I had already planned my explanation for wanting an ELCS months ago 🤦🏼‍♀️ I’m fully aware this is not an easy route and have done a lot of research. Below I have included briefly why I want one. I am keen to hear stories from others about how they got theirs and if they had it refused initially by consultants etc! Many thanks x

Mental health issues - want to enjoy pregnancy
Need to know what is happening and when
Aware of risks but not willing to take risk on - epi not working, tearing, ecs, assisted
Aware of right to have one - NICE guidelines

Lower risk of trauma to baby
Lower risk of baby being oxygen deprived

Not wanting an assisted delivery (RCOG - 1 in 3 FTM need assisted delivery) - risk of haemorrhage, bruising (cephalohematoma), nerve damage, cuts, jaundice, bleeding in the brain

Anxiety around intimate examinations - history of abuse

Thank you so so much everyone for sharing your positive experiences, it’s so reassuring. I’ll definitely mention it at my booking appointment in the hope that they’re just as supportive as many of you have had!! Good luck to you all 💗

I'm also in Ireland and I'm with Rotunda for my current pregnancy. I had a previous elective section with the Coombe and was public. If you tell them straight out you want a elective section you can choose and have 'doctor led care' instead of 'midwife led care'. The difference is with private you get the same consultant every time and extra scans during pregnancy. Whereas with public it could be any doctor at appointments or on the day of c-section. Its just easier to navigate the system in a private patient as I believe you get treated a bit better. I would love to go private for the extra scans and chance of a private room, but can't afford it.

I had one for medical reasons. I was under consultant care for a pre existing condition so I went direct to them. I went prepared with my notes and reasons but there was no question, good choice we'll add you to the list. I told my midwife at my appt and she seemed quite off with me about it. It was quite uncomfortable!

I was granted an elective due to previous traumatic labour. I was already consultant led so brought it up at my first appointment with him, so that hurdle was fine. The consultant listened to my reasons, he did try and talk me out of it but after a long discussion he was happy to grant the section and I had to go back at 36 weeks to make a final decision and book in. I think they have to make sure you’re sure before approving anything as it isn’t a minor procedure without risk.

My midwives were brilliant and told me it was my decision and not to let the consultants bully me into thinking I can’t have one.

Be prepared though. I was booked in for my elective at 39+1, but he said that if I go into labour early and arrive at the hospital in late stage labour they won’t do the section. My waters actually broke at 36 weeks and I had a ‘semi’ emergency c section at 37weeks. Because of my waters going I still had to have internal examinations and my baby was on oxygen for a week because of trouble breathing from being too mucusy following the section (the mucous is usually pushed out of the lungs during abvaginal delivery). Please don’t think I’m trying to worry you, but it’s best to be aware that these things happen as I wasn’t aware and was upset about it when the time came. Recovery has been tough but now almost 11 weeks pp and baby and me are doing great.

I should say that they can* happen but doesn’t necessarily mean they will.

I had my first section scheduled for 39+5 (rotunda in Dublin) but baby decided to come at 38+4 so I had to rush to hospital but becouse I was private there was never a risk of someone refusing to do it, I was 100% guaranteed someone will do it. This time I have my section scheduled at 38+2 as my consultant says the history likes to repeat itself… I’m a bit hesitant as I know 38 weeks is early… and maybe baby would like to happily sit until 40 weeks? Anyway I’m scheduled at 38 +2. Everyone’s story is different, and even between hospitals/consultants/midwives there are differences in the approach. All it matters is that babies and mum are healthy in the end ❤️

@Lauraaax I’ve just had my consultant appointment and c-section is approved, will get my date at 32 weeks. Based on my history (CSA) they won’t question it which was great. If you want to chat about it in more detail drop me a PM.

If you have a look at Birthrights website you can choose your trust and they should have information on their maternal request c section rates etc.

www.birthrights.org.uk/campaigns-research/maternal-request-caesarean/

Thankfully mine are green, and their policy is to talk through other options but ultimately if you want a section you have a section x

@Elisemum

Great to hear that elective sections is becoming more and more popular and easier to get. Everyone should have a choice- it is that simple. I cannot imagine anyone wanting to have viganal birth, I mean why would you go through all of this? For what sake? It’s so horrific. Section is so much nicer, safer, overall better for woman

Everyone should have a choice but I'll say women who chose a vaginal birth are making the wrong choice .... ok then.

For balance sake. It would have been stupid for me to risk a section when I had my daughter. Her birth was beautiful, very quick, manageable pain (some contractions were totally pain free with gas and air) no complications during birth, no tear, in the water, she was totally healthy and fed beautifully from the first one. I was only in hospital for 6 hours. Most of that was me drinking tons so I could do the required wee to be discharged and having a shower after. I've been left with no issues with bladder control, no traumatic memories, nothing. Why would I risk surgery?

Informed choice is the key here. Your risks from either type of birth are very individual to you.

Agree Twizbe that it's about choice and that is individual. My mother had a large family, no issues at all with births, last baby she finished her meal at home, put a wash on, went to hospital, baby born a couple of hours later. She'd be horrified at my ELCS.
My sister with the prolapse and my friend with continence issues less so.

If I could have a birth like my mother had I would attempt a vaginal birth. I'm not actually afraid of the pain, at all, I know I could handle it. It's the potential after effects of a vaginal birth that initially meant I was willing to take my chances with major surgery. There's no sliding doors moment where I'll know whether I could have had one of those straightforward vaginal births where you're home in bed a few hours later with no stitches.
But if other people roll that dice and get that outcome I'm happy for them.

What is really needed is better care during labour and some women wouldn't be risking so much by attempting a vaginal birth.

@Cafeaulait27 good luck, not long to go now 🙌🏼 It’s the best day ever!

Amazed that there’s a whole two pages of comments on this post and you haven’t had the negative Nancy on saying you’ll die having a section and how dare you ask for one etc, every single post I’ve read or posted about elective c-sections these type of people have appeared! I had people posting really unhelpful comments on mine when I was at my absolute most anxious saying I probably wouldn’t make it to my date and I should prepare for a vaginal birth as it’s likely when they say they can’t do it if I’m already in labour. There’s still time yet for one of these types to appear and put a dampener on everything but how refreshing to see so many people respecting your informed choice, the same way the informed choice of a vaginal birth is respected if that’s how people want to give birth 😊

@Arecklessmanor Informed choice is so important here and I think it's the informed part that is often missing. Lots of assumptions about both types of birth do the rounds.

The poster I was quoting seemed to be saying that it's choice, but not if you're stupid enough to choose a vaginal birth. Perhaps I misread it.