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Original poster

Can I have an elective CS just because I want one?

155 replies

Selmaandpatty · 21/07/2023 21:58

Sorry if this sounds very naive, don't have any children yet and don't know of many women who've had a CS.
I have been doing a lot of reading but the answers seem to vary. I personally would like to have a CS rather than a natural birth, I know the recovery will be harder, but the thought of being in labour for 36 hours and the pain terrifies me.
However I'm not sure if they would do it without a valid reason? Or do they?

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USaYwHatNow · 21/07/2023 22:40

There's a lot of out dated info on this thread. I'm sorry that previously women have had to fight for a c section but the NICE guidelines have recently changed, and hospitals are no longer penalised/investigated (for want of a better word) for their c section rates. You absolutely can request a c section because you want one. They will still discuss the pros and cons, like any good Consultant should, as this is so you can provide informed consent. If you decide you want a c section and they decline your request (which they bloody well shouldn't!) then ask to see another Consultant.

Mumtothreegirlies · 21/07/2023 22:40

CuriousLadyBird · 21/07/2023 22:35

@Mumtothreegirlies - I wouldn't call having trauma due to sexual assault lucky.

I didn't kick up a stink, my midwife wasn't very helpful so I spoke to her manager at the birthing centre and she booked me in with a consultant.

My second c section was a lot easier because I already had one with the first.

However, you absolutely can request a c section just because you want one. As PPs have posted there's guidelines regarding it.

Well i and had 2 very long traumatic complicated births where myself and my babies were in critical conditions and I sustained a lot of bodily damage. Yet the consultants I saw always refused and told me you cannot opt for an elective C-section on the nhs. This was in 2012.
my baby had to be born naturally, had a genetic condition and needed emergency care. She wasn’t planned and I never had another child because I was always told there was no such thing as elective C-section in the uk.

YoSof · 21/07/2023 22:41

Guidelines are just that - guidelines. They are not the law and it really is down to the luck of the trust you are in and who you come up against.

I was refused (after my first child nearly died in childbirth). Ask for one, push as hard for one as you can but don’t think because you ask it’s an automatic yes. Good luck!

Loops1987 · 21/07/2023 22:41

I requested a c-section for my second after a fairly rough vaginal birth with my first. There was no stink kicked up here! I asked for it, the consultant got the diary and I was booked in.
I did have a catheter but it was fine, I also had some funky inflatable leg things but both were removed the next morning.

I didn't need injections after. They did give me one in hospital but then it was decided, I think due to my bmi, that I didn't need them after all.

namechangedforthis9 · 21/07/2023 22:42

Go for the c section! I had one and It was fine. I don't have any complications that many many friends had after natural births. I was under the care of a professor of uro gynae for something unrelated and he told me (quietly) that he was very pleased I was planning on a section and would always recommend them if he could!

Mumtothreegirlies · 21/07/2023 22:43

Loops1987 · 21/07/2023 22:41

I requested a c-section for my second after a fairly rough vaginal birth with my first. There was no stink kicked up here! I asked for it, the consultant got the diary and I was booked in.
I did have a catheter but it was fine, I also had some funky inflatable leg things but both were removed the next morning.

I didn't need injections after. They did give me one in hospital but then it was decided, I think due to my bmi, that I didn't need them after all.

Maybe the consultant felt that due to your bmi mixed with your previous birth was a good enough reason to need one on medical grounds.

Thatcat · 21/07/2023 22:44

I had an elective C-section on my first a short while ago. I didn’t fight, kick up any stink or shout. I just advocated my preference and was willing to go to another trust if my choice wasn’t honoured, but didn’t need to.

It was honestly a really lovely, calm and joyful experience. The loveliest of my life. I was discharged the next day with painkillers. Yes it was uncomfortable for a few weeks, but I was never bed bound or in agony.

CuriousLadyBird · 21/07/2023 22:44

@Mumtothreegirlies I'm really sorry you were misinformed and had a really bad experience. It may be that 10 years ago things were very different but now you can request c sections. Doesn't automatically mean you'll be given one but you certainly can request them.

My son also had a genetic condition but that wasn't found until later so didn't have an impact on the birthing choice.

It seems labour and birth has come a long way even in 10 years.

TomatoSandwiches · 21/07/2023 22:45

Yes, I've had 3 on request, although my last one would have been a section even if I hadn't wanted one.
Check out rhe NICE guidelines and make sure you are correctly informed before talking to a consultant.

BlueKaftan · 21/07/2023 22:46

In America you can have an elective c section without having to explain yourself. In Britain they want you to feel the pain.

OnceUponAThread · 21/07/2023 22:46

Bakedbeansandtoast · 21/07/2023 22:00

No, you would need a proper reason to have one or else you can pay for one privately.

This is categorically not true. Every woman can elect to have a c section on the NHS. Here is the NHS website explaining. www.nhs.uk/conditions/caesarean-section/

monsteramunch · 21/07/2023 22:48

@Mumtothreegirlies

You seem reluctant to acknowledge that some mums do have purely elective c sections, without having medical reasons for them, without huge resistance from medical professionals.

I know in my trust it's a case of discussing all options, the risks and benefits of each of them, then is very much the mum's decision what kind of birth they would like to plan for. No pressure or guilt tripping, just a series of conversations.

It may be that in 2012 that wasn't the case but it certainly is now and your post in response to someone sharing that their reason was sexual trauma was ever so dismissive. I'm sure you didn't mean for it to come across that way but on reflection perhaps you can see the tone was uncalled for.

YoSof · 21/07/2023 22:48

BlueKaftan · 21/07/2023 22:46

In America you can have an elective c section without having to explain yourself. In Britain they want you to feel the pain.

in England you can have a section if you go private and therefore pay for it yourself….like they have to in America.

Friendshipissue · 21/07/2023 22:50

www.birthrights.org.uk/factsheets/right-to-a-c-section/

Totaly · 21/07/2023 22:50

You are free to pay for one.

NadjaCravensworth1 · 21/07/2023 22:51

Rainbowx90 · 21/07/2023 22:03

I promise you, having a csection is 1000x worse than a natural birth, even with the pain of labour.
I had my first child 9 years ago via csection, even now I still have issues with it that require going to the GP and I have had to go to A&E countless times because of it. It really isn't an easy way out.
You have to think about things like not being able to drive for 6 weeks (if you do) when I had mine I had staples to close it, the pain of them being pulled out was horrific. The infections, the need to have to ask everyone to do everything for you because you can barely move.
Of course this is my experience, it may well be different for you.
I had my 2nd via vaginal birth and I was up and about half an hour later going to the loo. No pain, no infections afterwards. As soon as baby is here you'll forget all about the labour pain.

Well....people have different experiences don't they? My c-section was so smooth sailing and I have at least 5 friends/nct members who had extremely tricky vaginal births that ended up in emcs and have many issues relating to the trauma of it. Last week my best friend went through 5 days of labour only to have a section at the end of it and she was utterly broken. There are many benefits to a planned section. The decision is completely up to you, it's not an easy way out. It's just a different way. It might depend on where you are in the country but you should be clear and firm about what you want and I'm pretty sure they have to offer you one. I had medical reasons but I have a another close friend who didn't but was quite anxious about a vb and after a little pushing she had a section. Be strong, it's your body and should be your decision.

WoolyMammoth55 · 21/07/2023 22:52

Selmaandpatty · 21/07/2023 22:19

Thanks a lot.
Does everybody have to have the regular warfarin injections for several days/weeks after? Wear compression stockings? Use a catheter?

Hi OP, I had a elective for DC2 after birth injuries with my 'natural' birth with DC1.

I did have warfarin for 2 weeks, I think because my BMI is high and I was 40 when I had him. The jabs were not the best but not the worst, I was pretty numb close to the incision so just injected in the numb area and that was fine!

I did't have any compression stockings after leaving hospital (24 hours after delivery) and the catheter was removed at my request before midnight on the day of the op, I wanted to move a bit and it was in the way...

Didn't notice the catheter going in or it being removed so I wouldn't worry about that, honestly!

I was another one with a lucky, easy c-section recovery and having experienced both types of birth (not sure if all PPs have or not?) I would recommend ELCS over VB any day of the week.

Wish you all the best!

BluNomad · 21/07/2023 22:52

Yes, I wanted one & I got one. Very simple for me so should be for you

monsteramunch · 21/07/2023 22:53

Totaly · 21/07/2023 22:50

You are free to pay for one.

If OP is based in the UK, she doesn't need to pay privately in order to have an elective c section.

National guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that if you ask for a caesarean birth, the hospital should support this if they are satisfied you are making an informed choice.
The guidance says that the hospital should discuss with you why you want a caesarean birth and the risks and benefits of caesarean and vaginal birth.
If your request is due to anxiety about childbirth, the hospital should refer you to a healthcare professional who is an expert in perinatal mental health. You do not have to accept this offer of support.
The guidance says that if you still want a caesarean birth after you and the hospital have talked about it, and you have been offered support, the hospital should offer you a caesarean.

Loops1987 · 21/07/2023 22:53

@Mumtothreegirlies no, my bmi was 'normal' that's why they said I didn't need the injections after

Friendshipissue · 21/07/2023 22:53

I had an awful delivery that ended up emergency c-section. I wish I had an elective, I was in labor for 36 hours and was heavily drugged the whole time and took me months to recover from the trauma.
Pain and recovery was fine, when I kept on top of pain killers and I have a low pain threshold. I was actively on my feet going out and about in less than a week.
I spoke to my trust afterwards to during the assessment of the labor and they said they would give me an elective caesarean if I requested one and there were other women who were given one.

Superunknown1 · 21/07/2023 22:53

As mentioned by some previous posters, anyone saying that you can’t or have to pay private unless you’re at risk of death if you try to deliver vaginally is talking bollocks. ‘Because I want to’ is enough of a valid reason, and even though you will have to likely have a couple of meetings with consultants where you may get a doctor who tries to dissuade you (I am currently going through this process and they can be quite pushy for you to explore avenues like therapy, a midwife-led unit instead etc. but I refused) they should allow you to as per NICE guidelines and I believe you have the right to speak to a different consultant if the first refuses.

Just a word of warning that this subject can bring up some weird replies, I posted recently as I’m going through the process of getting my ELCS booked in (second consultant appt in a couple of weeks where they set a date, all I’ve had to do was read through some leaflets) and I got several responses that were quite upsetting or just downright strange. It’s your body and your choice, just make sure you know your rights and go well-armed with knowledge on pros and cons etc.!

TomatoSandwiches · 21/07/2023 22:54

I hate to break it to some of you but I didn't have to pay for my 3 elective sections on the NHS. I requested one and was asked a few questions about why I wanted one and it was booked in that day, infact even my consultant agreed and said it's what she chose as her birthing option!

Op, you are perfectly well within your right to ask for an elective section on the NHS.

monsteramunch · 21/07/2023 22:54

@Rainbowx90

I promise you, having a csection is 1000x worse than a natural birth, even with the pain of labour.

This is such a serious thing to state so confidently as if fact. You later follow up with the fact that people have different experiences, so I'm unsure why you so confidently asserted that you can promise c sections are '1000x worse' than a natural birth.

It's not a promise you can or should make to a woman making a birth choice of any kind tbh.

BluNomad · 21/07/2023 22:56

monsteramunch · 21/07/2023 22:54

@Rainbowx90

I promise you, having a csection is 1000x worse than a natural birth, even with the pain of labour.

This is such a serious thing to state so confidently as if fact. You later follow up with the fact that people have different experiences, so I'm unsure why you so confidently asserted that you can promise c sections are '1000x worse' than a natural birth.

It's not a promise you can or should make to a woman making a birth choice of any kind tbh.

Absolutely correct