Requesting a c section

[thunderonlyhappenswhenits]

So I spoke to my consultant last week who said I could opt for a maternal request c section if I wished. I think it's due to protein S deficiency that I have but not sure.
So consultant is calling next week and I have to let them know my decision (I never speak to the same one)
But I have a feeling I'm Gona have a fight on my hands, not sure why. It might be my anxiety.
Will I still have to go through hoops even though they've told me I can have one if I wish ? Do I need to talk to anyone else other than the consultant ?
She said they would prefer me to have a vaginal birth but ultimately it's my choice so to think about it and discuss it with my husband and midwife, which I have.

So I've been reading through the NICE guidelines as want to be prepared. Really dumb question but how am I pronouncing NICE? 🤣 I don't want to say it wrong and look like a prat!!

I think it’s just said like have a ‘nice’ day but I could be wrong 😂 I had an elective section (in Scotland) and other than the judgey midwives acting as gatekeepers to the consultants phone number, I didn’t come across much pushback at all. I was literally shaking as she phoned me (was a phone call during covid) and had pages of notes typed out with all the negatives of a vaginal birth that I wanted to avoid, my main reason was my anxiety and humoungous fear of pushing a human out my vag though 😐 which I would consider a very valid reason!

I think I must have came across as much more certain than the usual people who say ‘maybe I will maybe I won’t’ because she obviously expected to say I could let her know my decision at the next phone call but she ended up booking it at the first one due to how panicked I sounded about the possibility of them being fully booked. She wouldn’t tell me the date there and then but let slip at the next appointment that she’d had it in the diary from the first appointment. I didn’t even get to the strongly worded part of my notes though before she quoted the guidelines at me and even said the words ‘it’s not my job to tell you no’. She just wanted to read me the risks (exaggerated slightly) then ask if I wanted to go ahead or not. I had already read the risks 5000X prior to this phone call so just said a quick ‘yip’ to everything she said 😂 Most were the risks of an emergency c-section anyway, which was not what I was asking to have!

If you get a great deal of pushback ask to be referred to someone who is willing to carry it out, they have to move you consultants. Good luck!

Absolutely 100% your choice and I believe the nice guidelines state if the consultant won't do it then they have to refer you to a consultant that will do it.

I opted for a c section, I was told I couldn't go beyond my due date when I as about 26 weeks and I said at that point I wanted a c section. I didn't have any push back other than being asked if I understood the risks but I was worried like you that I would get a lot of push back but I didn't. It was my only option in the end as well.

It’s pronounced nice- as in have a nice day.

My baby was breech and they wanted me to have an ECV and vaginal. I refused, I saw I think three doctors who tired to persuade me not to have a c section . I just stood my ground. Mostly because everyone else from nurses to sonographer were saying do not do the ECV!

They have to give you what you want, or change consultants/hospitals presumably.

I had a ELCS on maternal request and faced no push back, I had perinatal mental health in involvement but had requested before their involvement.
They give you the pros and cons etc however it is your body and your choice.

My c section was a great experience.
Take care op X

Thanks so much for your replies. I just needed to be told ultimately it's my choice and I hopefully won't face much push back.

I have delivered vaginally 8 years ago, I wouldn't say it was traumatic or anything, an uncomplicated pregnancy and labour and very long, 18 hours or so.
But I wasn't being allowed to have an epidural which I had stated from the beginning I wanted, they kept saying "you don't need one, you're nearly there etc" and I just wasn't listened too. In the end my cervix swollen from being told to push to early and I had to be given one then. I don't want any shit like that happening again ! The senior midwife was a real piece of work and made me feel stupid.

This pregnancy has been tough, I have gestational diabetes too and baby is estimated to be 5.7lbs at 33 weeks, I know there is a margin of error with scans but of course that is also playing on my mind aswell worrying about complications of potentially pushing a big baby out.

Do I just need to be confident in my decision and tell them I am well aware of the risks ? For me I'd rather have some kind of 'control' over it if I can. Rather than panicking something could happen and I could end up having a failed induction and need intervention anyway...

If you're sure it's right for you then absolutely be confident in your decision. That's how I felt, I wanted the control, didn't want a failed or traumatic induction etc. My c section was exactly what I wanted. I had a complicated pregnancy, my daughter had complications too but putting that aside my c section really was a calm, controlled experience which was exactly what I wanted. Good luck OP.

No, you literally just request it.

Even if you didn't have a medical reason, you still just request it.

I had a traumatic first birth with my DD, I opted for a CS for DS. I found that the key was just to be firm and clear, keep repeating ‘I want a CS’. I spoke to two different doctors and my midwife, midwife absolutely accepted it straight away. The two doctors really pushed the risks etc but ultimately they can’t deny you one so just keep asserting your choice until the meeting are over!

I had a maternal request c-sec in May with no pushback at all. My midwife made it sound like it would be difficult to get approval and was coaching me to put up a fight and get stubborn, but when I finally met with the consultant she approved it almost before I had a chance to say anything.

Very calm experience btw, fully recommend!