Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Elective c-section - referred to another consultant

49 replies

unsurereallyx1 · 29/07/2023 11:44

Hi,
I got very upset at my 25 week apt due to my fear of giving birth and anxieties ruining my pregnancy. MW was so supportive and referred me to a consultant to discuss options, I had my consultant apt yesterday and advised her I'd decided i'd like an elective c-section. She went through the risks etc and then went to speak to another consultant, came back and offered a planned induction. I declined and stuck to my guns about a c-section... she said it wasn't policy to agree to it and she wouldn't be able to say yes, she said she'll refer me to a second consultant for a second opinion.
I was expecting them to try and put me off but wasn't expecting to be referred to another consultant before they agreed.
Has anyone had similar, or what was your experience of booking an elective c-section?
Thanks so much x

OP posts:

FDxx · 30/07/2023 12:11

@unsurereallyx1 I didn’t ask this time (as I don’t really want to know 😂) but the last time they said if I went into labour early I was just to phone to come in and they’d do the section. The only thing she said was if the baby was premature she’d encourage me not to have a section as their lungs aren’t developed and need the fluid pushed out of them but I tried to just block that possibility out and I have made it to ‘term’ so breathing a huge sigh of relief 😅

The next consultant can only be more helpful than that one. I was originally offered a home birth from the midwife and a hypnobirthing course! I think that was the appointment when I started crying and felt like I couldn’t breathe 🙈 I had heard that they’d try to send you to the birth options clinic first to complete the hypnobirthing and make sure that couldn’t change your mind but I said I wasn’t even willing to do that as it would raise my anxiety so much having to sit and listen to it all when it was so far from what I wanted to do. The csection was absolutely amazing and other than the (big) nip for the cannula to go in my hand it was virtually painless! The recovery was hard but still nothing like I expected and as long as you have help and take it very easy the first week and then still easy the second week it’s definitely manageable

Original poster

unsurereallyx1 · 30/07/2023 16:17

@FDxx ahh amazing, I think the consultant said similar to me - that they would still do the section unless the labour had progressed so quickly and it was too far gone.
Omg😩 I did try a bit of hypnobirthing when I first found out I was pregnant but I found it scared me more in a way. I just think if you have a genuine fear of something then hypnobirthing isn't going to help. At least with a section you can prepare yourself for the recovery, I will have my partner there to help and will be able to rest up as much as possible so for me it really seems the best option! And you could be in for an even worse recovery with a 'normal' birth especially with the chances of tearing etc etc. Good luck with your next c-section!

OP posts:

FDxx · 30/07/2023 18:49

@unsurereallyx1 one midwife told me I would be so tense I probably wouldn’t dilate even if I did go into labour so that’s always reassured me that it won’t happen 😅 yeah i much preferred having to prepare myself a section knowing pretty much how it would go and it couldn’t have been more straightforward. Some people hate the idea of surgery but I would much prefer that than the alternative. Fingers crossed you get somewhere with them

Pointypointything · 30/07/2023 19:02

This happened to me. My midwife was completely supportive but it has to be agreed by a consultant. First time my midwife came with me for the consultant appointment and when she saw who I was seeing she sent me home and said he won't agree, and arranged an appointment with a different consultant. In that appointment there was the senior midwife as well as the consultant and I had to go through all my reasons for wanting a section. I said that I would not have continued with a pregnancy of a section wasn't an option, my fear of childbirth was so severe. I was then referred to a psychologist who agreed it was a phobia. Finally I saw a consultant who literally just said that the risks were higher for me than baby having a section and that if I wanted one I could have one. This was fairly late on, around 28 weeks I think, and she booked the date then and there. Good luck, I think once they know you are serious it will be agreed.

QueefQueen80s · 31/07/2023 22:18

Both times, my waters broke before my section date. Lost loads of water both times, over a day, felt a few contractions the first baby and none the next. Both times I still got my sections

Un7breakable · 31/07/2023 22:28

Going off on a tangent here but are we allowed to request a planned induction? For several reasons I'm very concerned about going overdue and the risk that might present.

Original poster

unsurereallyx1 · 31/07/2023 23:22

@FDxx Fingers crossed for you! Me and you both, I guess everyone has a different idea of how they want their birth to be and everyone should be able to make that choice.
Thank you for all your advice🥰

OP posts:

Original poster

unsurereallyx1 · 31/07/2023 23:24

QueefQueen80s · 31/07/2023 22:18

Both times, my waters broke before my section date. Lost loads of water both times, over a day, felt a few contractions the first baby and none the next. Both times I still got my sections

That's good to know, thankyou! Did you just call the hospital and explain and they tell you to come in for a section? Was it quite quick or did you have to wait a while? Sorry for all the questions! x

OP posts:

Original poster

unsurereallyx1 · 31/07/2023 23:27

Un7breakable · 31/07/2023 22:28

Going off on a tangent here but are we allowed to request a planned induction? For several reasons I'm very concerned about going overdue and the risk that might present.

To be honest I don't know for sure but I haven't heard of it so was surprised when they offered it instead of a planned c-section. It would be worth asking though, maybe it's different at different hospitals.
Sorry I couldn't help more

OP posts:

Un7breakable · 31/07/2023 23:27

Thanks. I'm going to ask the midwife.

QueefQueen80s · 01/08/2023 10:00

@unsurereallyx1 No ask away!
So I called and they asked me to go in with my bag. I didn't have the ops straight away because I believe emergencies go first and any that were already planned that day. And they scheduled me for the next morning (so whoever had theirs planned would have had it pushed back.
While at the hospital there was no attempt to get me to change my mind and I requested no examinations either which was respected.

Both times I went to sleep and woke up with a baby, great births 😆

QueefQueen80s · 01/08/2023 10:03

But I'm maybe unusual in that my waters went first and not really any contractions for the day I was waiting both times, it's usually the other way round. It might be different and quicker to be scheduled in if you are in active labour.
But first babies take a long time to come anyway usually

Original poster

unsurereallyx1 · 01/08/2023 22:17

@QueefQueen80s that's really reassuring thankyou! Sounds like lovely births, were you under general anaesthetic for your sections?

OP posts:

Blueberr · 01/08/2023 22:23

That’s really unfortunate but you’re entitled to a c-section so press on.

Anyusernameidc · 01/08/2023 22:42

Real talk, be firm and stick to making sure they know what you want.
Worst case request mh midwife because you can't cope with thought of vaginal birth.
Carry on narrative how the fear is eating you up inside etc and how you aren't coping. Exaggerate if you have to if they're being reluctant.

I had elective c section under general. Wouldn't recommend due to recovery longer than the awake one and apparently much more pain according to medical staff. Idk how true as I've never had awake c section.

It was a long time ago but I think I also had a meeting with two consultants at different times to be sure its still what I wanted. In meantime midwife tried to talk me into an awake c section, how she'd be there etc and I stuck to my guns and said its not happening.

Although my dc was 2016 idk if much has changed since then.

Anyusernameidc · 01/08/2023 22:44

Also a friend of mine recently birthed and she had multiple plans like plan abc if I change my mind d sort.
My midwife also said I can natural if I change my mind and I said I'd let her know. Went with c section.

watersprites · 01/08/2023 22:50

Going off on a tangent here but are we allowed to request a planned induction? For several reasons I'm very concerned about going overdue and the risk that might present.

I was offered a CS & didn't want one (bit of a control freak) so I said can we try an induction first (worked for dc1) & they were fine with it.

watersprites · 01/08/2023 22:51

that was too @Un7breakable

Anyusernameidc · 01/08/2023 22:57

watersprites · 01/08/2023 22:50

Going off on a tangent here but are we allowed to request a planned induction? For several reasons I'm very concerned about going overdue and the risk that might present.

I was offered a CS & didn't want one (bit of a control freak) so I said can we try an induction first (worked for dc1) & they were fine with it.

@Un7breakable 100% this my abc plan friend had her plan b as induction if plan a natural was overdue and the hospital was fully happy having all plans in place. Unfortunately it moved onto c section for friend but it was easier on all parties having a plan of what they're doing and which order to try. It was her 3rd dc so she was vocal about her plans.

watersprites · 01/08/2023 23:04

@unsurereallyx1 be prepared that every trust has different policies around CS so your recovery can be different. For example I was sent home 24 hrs later without any pain relief. I was really confused about why I was in such pain the first few days but loads of people stay in longer & have stronger pain relief, I just had paracetamol.

RugbyMom123 · 01/08/2023 23:15

watersprites · 01/08/2023 23:04

Yes I would second this. Some trusts are barbaric!

Luckily I ended up with a good one but it was so sad to see and hear about the girls in the other trust (we straddle two trusts here).

We had liquid morphine sent home as standard and we were all up and about, milk coming in no issues, also much better scars as they vacuum packed. In the other trust no vacuum packing, only paracetamol, loads of delayed / reduced milk coming in issues, babies ending up back in hospital within 48 hours with severe dehydration and feeding issues and horrendous scars.

So ask what they offer!!

AnneLovesGilbert · 01/08/2023 23:21

I hope your next appointment is better. I’ve had an EMCS under GA and one scheduled at 37 weeks for medical reasons, so neither my choice. I don’t think any woman should have to jump through stupid hoops to get one if that’s what she wants, it’s ridiculous.

Because the ELCS was my second everyone assumed I’d know what to expect but I’d missed the first one completely. I found the labourpains website very useful in explaining the whole process from start to finish. You might do too if you haven’t come across it. It was recommended by the anaesthetist I spoke to before. One day I’m going to watch a video of how they do it but my baby is only a few months old and I’m not there yet 😆

QueefQueen80s · 01/08/2023 23:55

Yes both under general so no spinals. They both worked out great.

Un7breakable · 02/08/2023 08:58

@Anyusernameidc @watersprites Thanks. That's reassuring to know. I'll speak to my midwife nearer the time.

Flip

1 2