Does it matter that the hospital has lost my birth notes?

[EarlGrayT]

I am under the consultant at the hospital for problems following my sons birth last year. At all of my appointments my notes have been missing and they have been unable to find them.

I have been having a chat to my friend who is having her second baby and she has been talking to her consultant about her second birth and they have gone into a lot of detail about what happened first time and what she should do next. Every time I go to hospital I have to explain what happened as my notes were lost.

I would like to have a second baby. Will it make a difference to my care if they don’t have the notes from the first pregnancy?

I should add,that I had a natural birth last time but if I had another baby I would want to have a caesarean. I know that you need to have a fight to have a caesarean and they might say you had a natural birth last time so you should have one again.

If they haven't got the notes they can only go by your recollection then - really stress (don't exaggerate or exacerbate) but be firm that you are only considering a CS because of problems you had after the birth. Good luck!

I would make a complaint to PALS. They should contact the medical records department who can search for your notes. I used to work in medical records and we had notes filed incorrectly all the time.

I'd write down everything that happened , everything you can remember. Your GP may have received a summary of your care from the hospital - ask if they can check on that . Good luck !

Thank you. The GP did get a summary so that’s a good way place to ask.
I am seeing a consultant and I might get the same one if I get pregnant so I won’t have to explain all my problems again. I am just worried that it would be a problem,

I had a traumatic birth after my first. Not long after this I told my GP that I needed the hospital to confirm I could have a ceasarean section next time or I wouldn't be able to have another child. They referred me to a Consultant who listened and said I could have a C section. Throughout my next pregnancy various HCPs tried to convince me to deliver vaginally but I was firm that I was having a C section. It was my right to choose as it is yours. The C section went very well and took away some (not all) of the trauma from the first time around. Good luck, stay firm :)

• traumatic birth WITH my first - I've only got 2 kids!

Lovestonap that sounds good. I didn’t know you could do that. I could possibly ask the consultant I see if she could do that.

I would like to have another baby but I don’t want my problems to get worse.