Elective C Section at UCLH - waiting list for date

[Bamboo4321]

I have been offered an elective C Section at UCLH as my baby was confirmed to still be breech at 36 week scan (now 37.5 wks). So far I have been told that I am on a waiting list for a c section to take place between 39-40 weeks as all slots are currently fully booked. I have been told I may get a call next week or maybe not until the day before a space becomes available....or if I go into labour first to just go in and have an emergency op. All sounds a bit vague!

Just wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience and, if so, how far in advance did you get offered a firm date in the end?

[Jenjen2016]

Hi Bamboo4321 - this is exactly my position now with UCLH. Can you please tell me how you got on? Did you get much notice? Do they list on certain days? Any advice and info on your experience greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Bamboo4321]

Hi Jenjen, sorry to hear you are also waiting. I got a call in the end two weeks before my due date to say i had been given a slot for c section the date before my due date :-(

I was really upset about this as my first child arrived a couple of days early and I did not want to be hanging on for so long - I think my hormones got the better of me and I ended up bawling down the phone at the woman who had called to tell me about the appointment. I asked to be kept on the waiting list for an earlier slot which she said she would do (although they won't go earlier than 39 weeks).

Anyway, I ended up going into labour 12 days early so had an emergency c section in the end which was okay because my contractions stayed quite mild. I went in on the Sat night and had c section at 2pm the next day. Funnily enough I got another call from the elective c section team whilst I was recovering in hospital (10 days before due date) to say my elective c section appointment had been moved forward to 6 days before due date, so perhaps the emotional outburst helped a little :-)

The impression I got is that UCLH is massively popular and the elective dates get booked up far in advance...which isn't great when you find out you need one a few weeks before due. I felt really anxious about not being given a date for several weeks and whenever I called I only got told that the woman I needed to speak to about getting a date would call me back....which she didn't for ages! But i guess their lists change all the time as people - like me - end up going into labour early so slots do become available. Try not to worry and do keep pestering them. Good luck!

[Jenjen2016]

Many thanks for sharing your experience! Fingers crossed they give me a date soon... I'm nearly 38 weeks now. First baby, no idea what to expect.

[mammmamia]

Hi
I had elective at UCLH at 38 weeks but I got the slot probably because I had breech twins and they don't let you go beyond 38 weeks with twins. Again they said if I went into labour they would have done an emergency section. However they did say that if I wasn't showing any signs of labour on the day and all was ok they may bump me to after the weekend for emergencies (it was a Friday). That didn't happen and all was fine. That was 6 years ago though.

[YorkieDorkie]

Have you been offered an ECV?

[Finsa]

I had an elective at UCLH ( for medical reasons) about 18 months ago. I was on a waiting list too. They called me on a Friday and offered me a choice of either the following Wednesday or Friday. They also said if I was in labour, I would get an emergency c section. The elective section was by far the best experience out of my two experiences of childbirth. Hope you get a date soon.

[Jenjen2016]

Hi YorkieDorkie, they did discuss ECV but as the fluid is very low end of normal, first pregnancy, and coupled with my hesitation, they didn't think it would even be worth trying. I have tried moxibustion/acupuncture/webster method/yoga/swimming/handstand in water since 34 weeks. Bub has been breach since 20 week scan confirmed by monthly scans. I feel I've given it a good chance to turn, and not keen to force it around after hearing of several friends horrible experiences with ECV.
I spoke to UCLH bookings yesterday and they 'promised' a call back today... But I'm not holding my breath!

[AveADayOffWillYa]

I was booked in for 39+6 at UCLH, but also did the 'hormonal crying down the phone to the consultants secretary' thing (I had obstetric cholestasis and was worried about reduced movements). They gave me a slot 6 days earlier.

In the end, I went into labour at 37+5 and had an emergency section.

UCLH does seem to be a very popular choice for elective sections,