Is this a valid enough reason for an ELCS?

[thunderonlyhappenswhenits]

I have my first face to face tomorrow with a consultant about maternal request c section.
I've already spoken to a member of her team (a junior doctor) and he said I can go ahead with it but worrying now I'll get some push back tomorrow.

Have requested a c section this time due to not wanting to be induced which I might be if I haven't gone into labour by my due date (due to Gd) also if I do go into spontaneous labour I might not be allowed an epidural because I inject blood thinners. Does this sound reasonable enough ? I'm 36 weeks now so dreading having to jump through hoops

Yes, sounds reasonable.

Prepare for push back (you should be ok but just in case). Be firm.
They have to give you what you want, but I was heavily persuaded by more than one doc to have ECV (breech baby) and a vaginal birth. I was quite surprised as I was classed as a geriatric pregnancy.

More than reasonable to me.

As pp, stay firm.

I know someone who asked for a section for her first baby, no real reason other than she just preferred to give birth that way.
She got as she wished, like any women we have a right to birth how we want.

Don't over think it and worry all night.

You don’t have to have a reason. It boils my blood that women are made to beg and plead for the birth they are entitled to! Be firm.

Thanks ladies. It annoys me too that I'm feeling anxious and worrying about something I should just really be allowed to have. I understand the risks and I am confident in my decision. I'm just worried I'll crumble tomorrow once I'm there and not be able to explain myself properly

I didnt get any pushback for my request, in fact they were very understanding and accommodating. All I got was a list of pros and cons but they were honestly great. Don't assume that your experience will be bad, more and more Trusts are getting better with this, especially since the Ockenden review

That's good to know hopefully I'm worrying for nothing.

I have another question - I have been on 50mg sertraline for a few months now due to anxiety that got quite bad and instrusive thoughts. The last few weeks I've felt my anxiety picking back up and the intrusive thoughts coming back in, I told my gp and he refused to up my dose. Do you think if I mention this to my consultant they could intervene ?

Bump

I think doctors sometimes avoid interfering with one another's treatment plans, so that would be a question for the consultant

One question - if you're on blood thinners doesn't that make a cesarean more risky?

(just out of interest! I know nothing!)

@Batbatbatty Yeah it does, the doctor who called initially said risk of major bleeding but because it would be planned we can time my injections around it. So I'd stop them a day or two before I think.

That's the thing about going into spontaneous labour too, there has to be a margin of 12 hours or so before you can have an epidural after injecting blood thinners so there is no guarantee I could have one

Ah I see.
Tricky business, this pregnancy and giving birth lark! 😣

Stay firm, I had someone talk at me for an hour to persuade me to have an induction I didn't want rather than a cesarean. I caved and the induction went just as badly as I'd feared and I ended up with an emergency cesarean instead of a planned one.

I didnt get any push back at all.

I just explained that I understood the complications if there were any and they were very accommodating.

I did worry about asking though. So I understand.

You have obviously given this a great deal of thought and reached your decision. Please try to remain firm on your request. You could screen shot your post OP and have it to hand if it would help you to explain your reasons for choosing to have an elective CS.
Midwives have a role to play in acting as an an advocate for the Women they care for. You could ask to speak to a Midwife before seeing the Consultant and explain your situation and ask that the Midwife acts as your advocate. Do mention your Sertraline dosage with your Consultant, they may well alter your dosage after discussing this with you.
Sending you positivity vibes.

Thanks everyone, it's not til later this afternoon so I will come back and update later 🤞🏻🤞🏻

So had my face to face, all okay to go ahead, he just asked me why I wanted it and didn't bat an eyelid. I said I wanted to sign the consent forms there and then which he said wasn't needed but I still insisted, I need to see it there in black and white.

Been given a date which he said I will get through the post confirming

Of course it's a valid reason.

"This is my choice" is a valid reason.

You do not have to explain yourself. It is your body and your right to choose.

Well done for standing up for yourself, great that you have it all agreed now. Although it still makes me mad that you need anybody to "agree" about your choice for your own body.

If you get to the consultant rather than a midwife, I think you'll find it an awful lot easier.