Lost faith in hospital!

[laurieleigh]

OK, long story, but here goes...
At my 20 week scan it was noted that I had a low lying placenta so was booked in for repeat scan at 36 weeks. I had this scan on Monday and the sonographer also did an internal scan and said the placenta was still very low (7mm) so I was told I needed a C section.
She had trouble getting measurements of the abdomen as LO wouldn't drink and fill her stomach so she could see clearly. We were there for a few hours in the end before a 2nd sonographer found the stomach supposedly tucked up under the heart in the chest cavity - she referred us to a consultant, saying baby had a possible hiatus hernia or congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Following a very upsetting and stressful week, we saw the consultant yesterday and she couldn't even find the stomach so referred us to Kings in London. She also booked me in for the C sec next week.
At Kings today they've now told us there's nothing wrong whatsoever with our little girl, which is obviously brilliant news - she also did an internal scan and said the placenta is high (and showed us on the normal scan where it is) - so now no C section needed.

Our problem now, is whether to give birth in our local hospital where they've managed to get things so wrong and really upset us or to go somewhere else. I realise with the stomach problem they were probably just erring on the side of caution, but how can they not even figure out where my placenta is?!

What would you do??

[upsandowns]

Is it too late to ask for a home birth? If your trust has gone at the hosp that might be an option? Or can you speak to the hospital and ask them how this series if mistakes could have happened? I would speak to your midwives too and explain how concerned you are, they should be able to advise of your best option.

[Catsycat]

Hi, so sorry they have messed you around - it must have been so stressful and frightening. I changed hospital with DD2 at 20-something weeks, as I was getting more and more unhappy with the original choice. I had a bad experience with DD1's birth at a different hospital and was determined not to engage with people who would basically make my life a misery! I recently mc and changed hospital (to the one I used for DD2's birth) once I realised something was actually wrong, as again our "default" hospital for the area were tactless and conveyor-belt like.

I would therefore usually be very much of the opinion you should change if you're unhappy, because I would feel they had lost my trust, and find it very hard to entrust the birth of my child to them. I am also genuinely phobic about medical stuff, so tend to go into panic attacks when anything provokes me! The only thing I would be cautious about is that it's quite late in the day. However I know of people who changed hospital literally once in labour, because their original choice of hospital was unexpectedly closed, and it caused no problem. After all, you have your maternity notes.

Do you have another choice in mind, which you feel would be better, perhaps one that friends have had good experiences in? Can you ring your midwife and discuss whether it is possible to change?

That is what I would do, but obviously it's up to you and your OH to discuss and choose the best option for you. Good luck!

[Beccabop]

Omg you dont need that kind of stress. This is one of the reasons Im having a home birth, wonder ff this is something youve considered...?

[Beccabop]

...wonder *if

[edwinbear]

Personally, I would go back to the original hospital and ask them to explain to you exactly why they made the mistakes that they did. If they have a genuine, well reasoned explanation then I would probably be happy to stay with them. If they don't then I would ask to transfer.

[laurieleigh]

Thanks for all the advice ladies... A home birth isn't something we'd considered - I think I'd just be too nervous with first baby. We also haven't been given any info about home births and I don't know anyone who's had one. We're now considering our local midwife led birthing centre so I'm going to get some more info on that next week.

[roundtable]

Oh my gosh, I wonder if we are at the same hospital? Had so many problems, my health and baby's health needed checking out and being send from hospital to hospital.

Went to ucl to be told my placenta was up high, my local hospital 1 week before said it was over my cervix. How can they get it so wrong? I scared of giving birth at my local now as they've said they are not specialised enough to deal with me. I have also heard a lot of scary stories about bad labours happening there too, with women with far less wrong with them than me.

I hope you get things sorted op.