If there are no medical or emotional indications for a section should women pay? or are we just taking away choice? when is an emotional indication enough? is fear? is anxiety? how far do or dont we go to give women the birth experience they want?

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I don't think they should pay, but I also don't think they should be done without good reason.

At our trust, women can't opt for LCSC as far as I'm aware for no real reason.
I know we had a woman request one at her bookin appointment and the midwife refered her to the consultatnt, but told the woman it's was highly unlikely that she would get it. She did explain why it was unlikely to the woman and also explained the implications of having one.

We have one very scary consultant who, if you have a women who is for c/s and its not clear straight away why, you know what consultant she is under. The consultant is the same with IOL. She will do c/s and IOL's way too easy. Its so frustrating.

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It is a difficult one. When a woman has experienced a previous traumatic delivery I can see why next time she would like a C/S. And for some women this would be in their best interest as they may not be psychologically able to deal with anything else. I think the important thing is to ensure someone adequately informed and trained to assess a persons emotional state does so.

I think it is also important that women are more informed about the reality of the LSCS and all the potential outcomes and implications of doing so inorder that they come to an Informed Choice.

Like Tink I to have heard of people all to willing to allow social EL/LSCS and IOLs.

As for making women pay?? Thats is controversial!!!!! LOL!! Women with the means do have the option to go private I suppose but it would be taking the choice away from those unable to do so. I cant say its something I feel comfortable with. It would be like charging women for misusing Ambulances to get to the hospital.

These women at that moment felt like that was the right thing to do and its the same for requesting electives in a way isnt it???
There is really only so much we can do antenatally and postnatally for these women with a service so stretched and pushed.

Urmmm what does LSCs stand for?

Lower Segment Caesarean Section

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Thanks smwife. thought it was something to do with csection but couldnt work out the LS part.

Interesting topic, and one I had looked into for my interview.

I don't know how I feel, but something has to change and I think most of the LSCS's are performed in hospital due to 'fetal distress' or 'delayed second stage' or a myriad of other reasons to perform it. Lack of staff to provide one to one midwifery care and the persistent use of the medical model does nothing to help the problem

At a cost of over £4000 per procedure that is a hefty bill.

I really think it is about time that maternity services were invested in heavily, that home birth was the default option for most healthy women and perhaps this would significantly impact on women and the incidence of C/S . At 25% the rate is too high.

Antenatal education is now underfunded when it has a huge impact on labour, birth and postnatal outcome. No-one should have to pay anything for this, and it is unfair that those who can afford it are then possibly more likely to have a better experience because of being able to access it.

I digress, no I don't think women should, it is the fault of maternity services and also media influence that affect women's ability to judge whether caesarean is the best option. Until those are massively invested in and improved things will not change only get worse

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That's alright, had to think myself. As it is so often written in abbreviations!

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I agree with you Smwife. The media has a lot to answer for!!!