How do I ask for an elective C section?

[PigeonDuckGoose]

I am currently 30 weeks pregnant, it's been a very long journey to get here after 1 successful pregnancy followed by multiple losses, loss of my left tube and D&C.

My first was an emergency C section after 60 plus hours of labour. I was hospitalized for a week after but much of this was not related to the actual c section, just how unwell I was with other issues. (Baby was completely fine).

After the research, hearing others stories on VBAC and how I personally feel I want to ask for an elective section. I believe my next midwife appointment is when we will start talking about birth plans. How do I ask? I keep seeing women being told they can't choose, they have to have a VBAC.

Have you not seen a consultant in this pregnancy? It’s probably different in different areas, but where I am you’d normally be referred for an appointment and they’d talk you through VBAC vs repeat caesarean. Ultimately it’s a doctor who will need to book you for a caesarean and do all the consent process. I’d ask your midwife at your next appointment and push for a referral asap, again it’s probably different in different areas but it can get pretty booked up so you want to make your wishes known as soon as possible so it can be booked in for you.

I had a traumatic birth with my first (but nowhere near what you’ve been through) so I mentioned to my midwife that I wanted a caesarean. Then I had a phone call from someone, I forget who, and I was prepared to fight for it, but he just agreed straight away.

So, just tell your midwife as soon as possible.

The NICE guidelines changed in 2021 and maternal choice is now a ‘valid’ choice (charming terminology, but basically means you can choose a CS now if you want one and you can’t be refused). If your MW says no or tries to talk you out of it, I believe that legally you have to be referred to someone who will agree to it.

I wanted a CS and was ready to argue for it (can you tell 😄), but my DS was breech so it was recommended in the end. A planned CS is an absolute dream, so calm, the staff were lovely and we could choose our own music etc. I have genuinely really really happy memories of it and could talk about it for days.

I’m pregnant with my second (EMCS) on my first and told my midwife on my booking in appointment. She said they would likely support it but I would have a meeting with a hospital midwife called “birth choices” to talk it through. She said don’t be surprised if they push for VBAC but ultimately it’s my choice and they will listen especially since I’ve had one before. My meeting isn’t for a couple of weeks so I’m hoping they won’t make me push too much for it. I get anxious thinking of a natural/induced birth plan after the last time. They should definitely listen to you.

We have seen lots of consultants but not for the birth process, it was due to previous losses and some anomalies on our 12 week scan so we were referred to FMU.

No one has mentioned the birth yet.

“I’ve been doing some reading on pros and cons of elcs vs vbac and I would like an elective section this time around. How do I go about getting one booked in?”

Oh right, in that case I’d bring it up at your next appointment! If you’re sure that’s what you want to do then don’t wait for them to ask you.

I have a planned CS this month, and was absolutely terrified to ask for one, because I am not a very argumentative person by nature. But I always knew that this is what I wanted. I asked my midwife around the 28th week appt I think, told her I was very anxious about this because I know some people will try to talk me out of it, but she just said not to worry at all, if I want a CS I will have one. She arranged an appt for me with a consultant (I was 30 weeks then), the consultant asked me for the reasons why I wanted it. You have to explain yourself calmly and clearly. He then proceeded to talk about all possible risks and asked if I still wanted the CS after hearing all them, I said yes, I was already aware of the risks as I have done a lot of reading about this. Then we signed the consent form and that was it. So easy. I was so relieved.
Ask for that appointment sooner rather than later, so a suitable delivery date can be given to you. Mine is at exactly 39 weeks.

“no one has mentioned the birth yet”

You have to advocate for yourself mama. I’ve been there after previous losses. You need to bring this up with your midwife, don’t wait for them to ask you what your plan is. Next time you go into your midwife appointment, you tell them that you’d like a c section. The sooner the better becuase they have to refer you to talk to a consultant. I kept telling my friend to speak up, she didn’t until 37 weeks and they were a bit annoyed and rushed. Your 31 or 32 week appointment is a great time to mention this.

I have a MW appointment Tuesday so will be way by then my wishes. Thank you all.

I had an unplanned c section with my first. Don’t like calling it an emergency because it really wasn’t but it’s classed as one. Anyway at my Mw app I said I want another c section- my Mw was fully supportive as was the consultant I had to see beforehand. All fine and no problems!

Midwife has referred me for an elective C section.

Growth scan Thursday.

Im 33 weeks and yet to discuss birth choices.
Midwide at my booking appointment back when I was 9 weeks told me to have a section because my previous birth was a disaster.
Ive been consultant led this time around and nobody has mentioned a thing.
We have complications with both myself and baby and have been under fetal medicine who were horrified when I said I had no plan in place and wasnt seeing my consultant until 37 ish weeks.
They put a referral through for a birth options meeting and scan with a different consultant which i should have in the next couple of weeks.
Ive learnt now that I need to advocate for myself as nobody else seems to be organising anything!

I am so sorry you are going through this, we also have been under fetal medicine care due to complications. Then at about 25 weeks were sent back to being under the standard midwife care which hasn't been the best transition (midwife wasn't aware of all the tests and complications we had).

I've had to advocate for myself so much on this journey from making sure it was acknowledged this is our 7th pregnancy but we only have one living child, all the way through to birth plans.

It does make it more stressful than it needs to be I think.