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Original poster

I want an ELCS, is it possible?

22 replies

pinkclip · 19/07/2023 15:05

Had my first midwife appointment today for my second baby.

First birth was an induction which was absolutely horrendous and eventually ended in an EMCS. The whole thing was pretty traumatic and ruined my experience.

This time around I would really like an elective if possible, I don't want to risk a VBAC just because of the complications which occurred last time but the midwife has already said this morning they will want me to have a VBAC.

Do I have any say in this whatsoever!? Can I push back and ask for an elective?

OP posts:
K37529 · 19/07/2023 15:08

I had an induction with my second baby which ended in emc. I was offered ELC with this one but told I'm good candidate for vbac so could choose whichever I wanted. I think its standard to offer ELC if you've had a previous section but if they don't offer just ask, I seriously doubt you will be turned down.

JenniferBarkley · 19/07/2023 15:12

Should be absolutely fine with a previous EMCS. Mention it at your next appointment.

At my 12 week appointment they said they'd let me try a VBAC, I said I'd rather just have an ELCS and they agreed straight away with no further questions.

Original poster
pinkclip · 19/07/2023 15:13

Thanks @K37529. Have you decided you will be having an elective this time around?

I think I've definitely already made my mind up, I'm determined to have a better experience than my first. Prefer the control that I would have over an elective rather than the spontaneity of a VBAC

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkclip · 19/07/2023 15:14

Ah thanks @JenniferBarkley. With the complications last time it would be silly to risk it happening again. Will definitely ask and see what they say

OP posts:
TheBirdintheCave · 19/07/2023 15:15

Of course you have a say. You can 100% choose an ELCS if you want one. They can't tell you no.

Original poster
pinkclip · 19/07/2023 15:17

I am still curious about experiencing a VBAC, just so worried though that it will all go wrong again Sad

OP posts:
HowcanIhelp123 · 19/07/2023 15:17

You're entitled to a C section if you want one, irregardless of previous birth. NICE guidelines. Tell them you don't care if they will want you to have a VBAC, you want a section and they have to agree to do it or refer you to someone that will.

K37529 · 19/07/2023 15:21

@pinkclip I'm going to try for vbac. My first was a vaginal birth and I found the recovery much easier with VB than the emc, but I have heard that recovery from elcs are easier than emcs. Also I was told after opting for a vbac that if I changed my mind they would book me in for ELC, so nothings set in stone you can always change your decision if you feel different closer to the time.

Original poster
pinkclip · 19/07/2023 15:24

@K37529 Good luck, hope all goes well for you! Good to know also there's time if I want to change my mind.

OP posts:
K37529 · 19/07/2023 15:25

@pinkclip I know exactly how you feel, I'm so worried my vbac will be unsuccessful and will end in another emc, but going for it anyways because the recovery from emc was awful. I'm due next week so won't have long to find out

Original poster
pinkclip · 19/07/2023 15:27

@K37529 Please let me know how it goes.

I actually found the recovery from my EMCS really easy, I know I'm lucky though as heard many people say how difficult theirs was. My scar healed really well and I had minimal pain. Not sure what the recovery might be the second time around though

OP posts:
Notellinganyone · 19/07/2023 15:27

OO Nice guidelines state that a mother wanting an ECS is enough reason to have one. Judy be quietly and firmly insistent. I had they same issue the other way round with homebirth for my first. They often don’t actually tell the truth about your rights.

K37529 · 19/07/2023 15:36

@pinkclip Will do and good luck

What3words · 19/07/2023 15:39

If I could do it again I'd do a vbac but with no induction. If it doesn't happen naturally I'd want a c section.

Elttek · 19/07/2023 19:43

You're in the same boat as me. I was induced first time round which ended in an EMCS. I'm almost fully set on an ELCS this time to avoid any risk of an emcs again. The midwife in the booking appointment kept going on about VBAC, but at my 26 week appointment she said unprompted about speaking to a consultant about an ELCS.
To be honest, I'm a bit scared of either 🙈

K37529 · 28/07/2023 00:29

@pinkclip I had my baby a few days ago. My vbac went great, I went into labour naturally after a sweep. Me and baby were home the next day. The birth was really straightforward, only thing I wish I had turned down the sweep and just waited for labour to start naturally because it caused false starts so I was contracting on and off all day the day before I actually properly went into labour. Good luck with whatever you decide 🙂

stardust40 · 28/07/2023 00:57

I decided to have elective cs with dd2 after failed induction and emergency with dd1. They said as I'd had a cs before it was up to me x

Nellie1209 · 28/07/2023 06:09

They can’t legally deny you an elective, whether you’ve had a previous CS or not. There was loads in the news about this a couple of years ago and every woman is well within their rights to ask for one, even if this is their first child. I’ve added a link here to an article that Tommys posted a while ago xx https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/blogs-and-stories/im-pregnant/tommys-midwives/your-right-planned-c-section

Your right to a planned c-section

A survey has revealed that 75% of UK maternity units are denying women their right to choose a caesarean. We take a look behind the story.

https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/blogs-and-stories/im-pregnant/tommys-midwives/your-right-planned-c-section

Nellie1209 · 28/07/2023 06:11

Sorry that should have said that they can’t legally just deny your request without a further discussion**

ShadowPuppets · 28/07/2023 06:19

Just echoing that you absolutely have a right to an ELCS but do bear in mind you will need to wang on about it every appointment to get it on your notes and get you in the system. Even if your MW tells you it’s far too early to talk about birth choices, ask her when you need to see the consultant and ask if that appt has been made yet every time you see them.

May be different for others but my experience was that they weren’t very motivated despite the fact I was dead set on avoiding another traumatic delivery (failed epidural, episiotomy and forceps, unable to hold DD for quite a while after birth as I went into shock) from pretty much the moment I saw a second line!

My ELCS went a long way towards helping me come to terms with my first birth, it might not be for everyone but I knew I couldn’t go through that again.

olympicsrock · 28/07/2023 06:21

I was in exactly your situation re induction and Emcs.
I had no problem at all being offered ELCS in the NHS.

Fist I went to a debrief clinic where a midwife went through my notes and answered questions for me. There were things I had misremembered like timeframes and it was a useful experience.
Then I went to a VBAC clinic where a senior midwife discussed VBAC vs ELCS. At the end she said - I wonder if ELCS would be better for you taking into account fears and preferences.

I then saw the consultant who was great and said that they agreed that ELCS was right for me .

Although there were three appointments in total they did all add value and helped me feel that I had made a good decision.

BertieBotts · 28/07/2023 06:22

They normally offer the choice if you've had a previous section I thought.

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