Appt re elective section. What do I need to know?

[littleoldme]

I'm currently 14weeks. On Tues I'm seeing a consultant as I want have an elective section this time. With DS I had an ECS after 3 and half days of 'non' established (ha ha) labour' Ds was distressed and it was very traumatic.

I absoultely want to insist on an elective this time but not quite sure what to expect from consultant or what is the best info to have to hand.

Any advice much appreciated.

Bring your old notes from the last delivery and say you have mde your mind up you want an ELCS. Say you will stand firm because it was a deeply traumatic experience and stick to your guns. Don't let him/her talk you into anything else or make you wait it out.

Your body, your fanny, your choice.

Thanks Kitty. I don;t have notes from my previous delivery but you are right; I will be assertive. I might even quote your closing comments (grin)

Hi,

I have just been through the same process. Had prepared an entire speech, half way through which the consultant interrupted me to say "just to be clear, you can have the ELCS, you don't need to justify yourself to me". So relieved.

I think the bottom line is it will come down to the "policy" at your hospital but also very much the personal view your consultant has about CSs - mine said several times "I'm meant to advise you to have a VBAC but actually I think it's wrong to make you have one if you don't want."

I don't think I even had a particularly strong case, medically speaking, for an ELCS as the reasons I ended up with an EMCS last time are apparently classed as "non-recurring". My "argument" (which in the end wasn't needed) was mostly based on the psychological effect that going through labour plus an EMCS had on me.

In case your consultant isn't as understanding as mine, I would research the risks of a VBAC versus an ELCS and be prepared to make it clear at your appointment that you've done this and are prepared to accept the risks of the ELCS.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

Littleold - good luck. There's lots of helpful/interesting stuff in this very recent thread here.

Thanks everyone, all really useful. I'll let you know how I get along. GULP!

I had an awful time with my consultant over this. I too had a really traumatic emergency section first time round, to cut a long story short, got to 10 days overdue, eventually went into labour and dilated fully only to find out baby was breech. By which time he and I were both distressed and anaesthetist failed to get the epidural in after 3 attempts so I had to have general anaesthetic. Missed birth, hubby also missed birth, and by the time I was fully conscious baby had been weighed, dressed, fed and winded by hubby at direction of midwife much to my annoyance (though I was planning to bottle feed)!

Anyway, went in all geared up for this woman who ranted and raved at me for about 10 minutes about having 100% success rate for women having VBAC after a section for breech babies. She then tried the guilt tactic by telling me it was much riskier and I wasn't making the right decision for myself and my baby. In the end, when she couldn't make me budge, she scribbled her consent for elective section onto my notes and stomped out of the room slamming the door! I know lots of women who've seen this woman during pregnancy, labour and delivery, and frankly not one of them had a decent word to say about her. I have no faith in her either since she examined me in labour with my son and missed him being breech.

Anyway, ramble over, the moral of the story is go in strong and stand your ground whatever they throw at you. You may be lucky and get a supportive consultant anyway, but at the end of the day, your body, your decision.

Leonora - my EMCS was also as a result of no-one noticing DS was breech until I was pushing!

Anyway, back to the original point, it makes me v. that we are all totally at the whim of the particular consultants we see.

Let's hope you get a reasonable one, littleoldme.

littleoldme, just to add that you can get your birth notes from the hospital. I did at least - I am sure it is the same as all of them (though included with my photocopied notes was someone else's medical history - unbelievable!).

I had my appointment for the same thing last week at Addebrooke's. My so-called consultant appointment turned out to be an appointment with a midwife. My notes from DD1 were attached to my current notes so your may be too.

I had ELCS with DD1 as had too much fluid (polyhydramnious) and she was breach. DD2 is the right way round - so far - but the midwife couldn't say whether the fluid issue would happen again or not so I've booked in for another ELCS at the end of July and told them I want a scan at week 36 to re-assess.

I didn't get any grief - just be sure of what you want and make yourself clear.

Thanks for your advice and support everyone. saw the consultant this am who agreed without argument (grin)

littleoldme thats fantastic news, i have been following your thread with interest as i am 16 weeks and planning on the same path as you - anything in particular swing yours or did they agree quite easily?

If you've had a section already, you are entitled to opt for an ELCS 2nd time round. I wanted an elective after a long labour followed by emergency section with DS1. One registrar I saw at my consultant's clinic at about 22 weeks tried to convince me to go for a VBAC (mainly on the grounds of cost!) but when I saw the consultant herself at 337 weeks she just said 'What do YOU want?' and booked me in for a section then. Simple.

at leonora's experience.

twolittlemonkeys is that the case? From what I had researched I thought no-one is entitled to demand an ELCS (even after an EMCS)??

(PMSL at "337 weeks" BTW - presumably a
freudian slip i.e. it felt that long! )

Great news littleoldme!

Hevster - I just told her and she said ok. Very straight forward, oh, and I looked like I was about to cry! I think that once she realised I was firm in my decision she didn;t try to argue. Good Luck

littleoldme chhers for that, am planning to get my GP on side next week and take it from there - so glad you got yours

I had an elective c section with my dc2 after an emergency one with dd1 where i had to have a general.
I am now expecting Dc3 and was told at 12 week scan by consultant that i would defs be having another c-section. No bartering or justifying involved!!!! hope it all goes well for you xxxx