Can you request a c section?

[Givemethesun]

Hello. It’s really early days but I had a traumatic emcs for dc1 (after 4 days of labouring). I’d really like to consider an elective c section this time. I can’t go through what happened last time again. Do you have to have a valid medical reason for an elected c section? Or does it depend on nhs trust? How early do they do c sections? I’d be scared of going into labour early (dc1 came on due date… eventually)

yes you can request a c section they ask you a reason why of course to make sure you have considered the risks but ultimately it's down to you. they don't like to do them before 39 weeks unless there is a medical reason/ risk to baby

Yes you can request one. They are normally done in the 39th week.

My sister had one for the reasons you describe

Hi there. I've been wondering the same. Also had a horrific time with my first labour with my son. He was back to back and got stuck. Forceps etc etc. Won't give all those details here! But he came naturally at 38 weeks. Do they take that into consideration if you elect for a c section? Or if you go into natural labour prior to the 39 week mark, do they still let you have a c section or expect you to go for it vaginally?

@jelliebean9 I actually posted the same question on the general chat thread this evening too (didn’t know how to delete the duplication!) qnd there are some answers on there that are quite helpful for your question. It should be one of the recent chains on the chat thread as obly posted it an hour ago x

re. the question of what happens if someone goes into labour before their elective, while it is usually still possible to have a c-section (it would be a cat 3 section unless there were medical concerns about either you or the baby that made it cat 2 or 1), it is worth bearing in mind that very occasionally, if things progress quickly, and the theatres are already in use, it isn't always possible to get to theatre before delivering. In addition if someone were labouring and got to fully before getting to theatre then that can change some of the risks of a section vs vaginal delivery - it may be worth talking to the surgeons in advance about the relative pros and cons in that scenario.

My friend requested a c section for similar reason - though she was given the choice at her appointment.

i had an emergency c section and was given the choice on my 2nd baby. The consultant asked me when I was about 33 weeks. I didn’t opt for a 2nd c section but my point is because I’d had 1 they offered me the choice.

Yes- you have the right to an elective for non medical reasons. Most trusts are good with this, some make you work for it and try to put you off but stand your ground and know your rights. If you go into labour before the elective they will do what they can to ensure you get your c-section. This happened to me and I got my c-section but did have to wait about 12 hours for it. Once I was in established labour and demanding an epidural they were quick to get me to theatre.
Same happened with my SIL. Went into labour a few days before the c-section date, still got the c-section.

Thanks everyone for that 😊

My daughter had an elective c section, the female consultant was very dismissive of her reasons and really tried to put her off, dd stuck to her guns and had it done at 39 weeks. Thank goodness she did because the baby had an undetected heart defect and would not have survived a vaginal birth.

Just beware that some midwives either don’t know the up to date process or will try to dissuade you.

My midwife is semi-retired and doesn’t seam to know much about recent events- eg rsv vaccine. She asked me if I had made a birth choice yet and I said I would like a Csection. She said ‘what is your medical reason? If you don’t have one then they won’t let you have a csection…. What is your reason?’

It threw me and I wasn’t prepared. I just stared at her. I had an emcs previously. I had preeclampsia and I was stable enough to attempt induction, but DS went downhill before I was induced with zero movements and poor ctg - static heart rate. They said he possibly wouldn’t cope well with contractions.

To me the above isn’t a medical reason for needing another in terms of preeclampsia and the ctg is baby specific. My reason is because I had a emcs first, I’m very concerned about uterine rupture. I have already stated multiple times I am refusing induction, I don’t like the 1/100 odds. I was open to natural labour and if it didn’t happen csection. However after many weeks I’m coming around to choosing csection.

I’m also a bit worried that because I had my son at 35 weeks, will reaching 39-40 weeks already be putting some strain on the scar? Because my uterus didn’t stretch that much before? So by that point a csection might be safer at 39-40 weeks vs that point and then labour/contractions on top?

Yes you can and they aren’t allowed to say no. If they refuse your request they must refer you to someone else. I threw a massive wobbly at 31 weeks after my requests for C section were ignored and wrote an email of complaint which I requested was added to my medical record.

phone call 2 hours later to confirm my request for a section was agreed. The consultant was really nice and she said that we have a right to give birth however we want, where we want and to some extent when we want, I insisted on a c section slightly earlier than my health authority usually did them in my second pregnancy, but they still agreed to it. There was a medical reason but they could have pushed for 39 weeks if they disagreed with me. What they couldn’t do is refuse my request for a c section.

absolutely the right choice for me. Wouldn’t entertain the thought of trying the other way.

Thanks everyone really helpful replies. Gosh it’s hard isn’t it

You absolutely can choose and they may try hard to discourage you but by law you cannot be refused an elective Caesarian. Make sure you are firm and clear in advocating for yourself.