C-Section Questions

[Batgin]

Hi, I am currently 12 weeks pregnant with my 4th baby. I am high risk due to a past large post-partum hemorrhage with my second and then having a massive deep vein thrombosis (blood clot) in my leg last year. I am currently on the blood thinning injections, and with my previous PPH, the thought of going into labour narurally terrifies me.

I also don't want an induction, as I had one with my third baby and it took 3 days (in covid with my husband not being allowed to be with me until delivery) before I was moved to delivery, and I don't want to be off my blood thinners that long, and also possibly have another PPH. I also suffered from 3rd degree tears with that delivery and recovery was hard with it and also my second with the PPH.

Given my previous deliveries, and this pregnancy, I want a c-section, no doubt, but I've never had one before. I'm consultant led, but have no idea when I will first meet my consultant. I have my 15 week midwife appointment booked in, and I'm wondering when do I inform people that I wish to have a c-section?

Also any other tips would be great!

Bring it up At your midwife appointment and literally every appointment you have , stand your ground and there's no reason you can't have what you want .

Thank you @sleepandcoffee :) I wasn't sure if they were the right person the tell, or if I should wait until my consultant. I worry I'll have to fight for it as the midwife team are very pro home birthsand natural births, and I can't go through a natural delivery again, it terrifies me and I just need to safty and comfort of knowing everything is planned and things like my clotting factor will be monitored and I can come off the blood thinners in a controlled way and then go back on them.

I requested and got a elective C-section with absolutely no quibble and my reasons were much less 'serious' than yours.

Maybe have a prepared broken record phrase in case you do get push back e.g. "Thank you, I understand but I would still like an ELCS".

Fwiw my ELCS was a wonderful calm experience and the recovery was fine.

I think mine was discussed around 30wks.

Pro-tip: pack lots of massive comfy pants that won't sit on your scar!

Mention it at every single apt you have and ask your midwife to request an apt regarding electing a csection

in my head I thought I’d have a fight on my hands. I had a phone call apt with the consultant and she asked my reasons why so I explained, she then went through the risks of csections but ultimately said it was my choice and if I wanted to go ahead then she would book me in. One thing though, if you look on the NICE website there is a list of hospitals in green and red, those under green tend to agree easily to elective csections whereas those under red tend to make it more difficult, however, as per NICE guidelines you are entitled to a C-section if that’s what you wish. A consultant can say no but they have to refer you to someone else who will agree, however this may mean at another hospital

I mentioned it at my booking in appointment for my second child after an EMCS for my first and there was no push back and I was referred to a consultant who I saw at 21 weeks after my 20 weeks scan and she didn’t try and convince me otherwise and I got my C section date in the post a week later at 22 weeks

I didn't get my lovely smooth planned c section though as on my c section date I went into labour while waiting to be taken into theatre and it turned into an EMCS as contractions came thick and fast (4 mins apart from the start) and she proceeded to get stuck and had an even more traumatic birth than my first. Luckily I was already in the hospital when labour started. I had my c section at 39+2 as 39 weeks was a Saturday. They had bought be fine to wait as my first was 8 days late 🤦🏻‍♀️

Thank you all! I will definitely be saying it is what I want at my 15 week appointment then!

I'm very nervous as I asked my midwife if they know when I will meet my consultant and have been told by them that it'll be discussed when I have my 15 week appointment as they don't feel I may even need a consultant... Despite being very high risk. So I feel already this will be a battle 😞

Hi I told my midwife at my booking appointment that I wanted a c section this time round and I definitely don't want an induction ever again she never questioned it just said that was fine we will get that sorted for u.
Definitely say at your appointment x