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Original poster

Elective C Section - timings, chance of getting bumped?

48 replies

ShirleyPhallus · 26/07/2022 12:01

Hi, I’ll be having an ELCS soon. I’ve been told the hospital books up to 3 ELCSs a day and uses the same theatre as the EMCSs. I’m very low risk and have no particular factors so assume I’ll be the last one in on the day.

I was just wondering if you had an ELCS what your timings were (particularly if you were so low risk) and if you got bumped to the next day?

TIA

OP posts:

Norma27 · 26/07/2022 15:10

My second c-section was an elected one because I have a very narrow pelvis so no urgent medical risk.
As we didn’t have any priority ones I was chosen to go down and little one born at 9.38am.
I think I was chosen first as I had a late pregnancy loss the previous year and on the day nobody needed to go before me.
Good luck

Hereforaccountability · 26/07/2022 16:06

Had to be there at 7am but wasn't taken to theatre until nearly 3pm. Just the lowest risk person that day I think. Dh and I were given celebrity gossip magazines I suggest taking a book!

Original poster

ShirleyPhallus · 26/07/2022 17:22

Hereforaccountability · 26/07/2022 16:06

Had to be there at 7am but wasn't taken to theatre until nearly 3pm. Just the lowest risk person that day I think. Dh and I were given celebrity gossip magazines I suggest taking a book!

Definitely! I’ll take a book, something interesting to watch on my iPad and my phone to pass the time!

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

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3rd trimester Childbirth General pregnancy

Vg92 · 03/08/2022 07:15

Hi lovely mums,
Is there anyone located in the UK that had or is planning elective c section? I have few questions.
TIA

TheBatwoman · 03/08/2022 07:24

Yes I had an elective c-section in the UK @Vg92

Teadrinkingmumofone · 03/08/2022 07:28

Went into hospital at 7am...sat and sat and sat. Eventually got told I was next, got gowned up and waited to be taken to theatre. This was about midday. Nurse came in only to say they couldn't now do it and to come in the next day. Because of that I didn't have to go in till 11am and went to theatre at half 2 ish.

KEG05 · 03/08/2022 07:36

Hi Op I’ve worked in theatres for 5 years and I’ve only known electives to be bumped twice. We try really hard to get them done. If the labour ward theatre is busy we will open a theatre in the main theatre suite staff allowing as all the staff cover out of ours which is usually obstetrics. It isn’t a separate team in our hospital. Everyone takes their turn. It’s been very very busy especially since covid with sometimes 7 or 8 sections a day including emergencies and the elective ladies still nearly always get done.

Vg92 · 03/08/2022 07:47

@Teadrinkingmumofone thank you for sharing your experience.

@TheBatwoman may I ask you about the name of your hospital? I am currently located in West Yorkshire, but I am considering relocation.
Did you have your c section at 39 weeks or could be done a bit earlier? Do you have epidural anesthesia? Thank you very much!

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 03/08/2022 07:51

I had to go in early, nothing to eat or drink from the night before.
Was still sat waiting at 4pm. Kept hearing them talking about the 'fibroid lady' (me) and how they'd leave me until last because there'd likely be a problem. Then they came to ask if I'd just go home and book another slot - I said no. I'd been booked in because I was high risk of cord prolapse and live too far from the hospital to be allowed to go back home in case of emergency and they had no beds to book me into.
They said a staff member had to go home early and no one works past 5 on a Friday. A nurse kindly offered to stay so that I could have it done.

There were no complications at all and it was done swiftly. Everyone was very disappointed my DS didn't break the 10lb mark (nowhere near) as predicted and he looked enormous. It was all very un-dramatic and for some reason the staff were all dancing around the room the whole time I was in there.

Turned out the woman they'd switched my time slot with ended up needing a blood transfusion and because she didn't speak English they spent ages looking for a translator to explain things to her and needed consent (she refused).

The worst part of being last is you don't get much time in the recovery bay. Everyone else had their partners with them for hours. By the time I'd had my checks it was kicking out time and they couldn't get me anything to eat either. I also didn't get breakfast as all my hospital provide is jam on bread, which I can't stand. I was bloody starving by the time my DP was allowed to visit in the morning.

TheBatwoman · 03/08/2022 08:47

@Vg92 we live in wales, so it was the Grange university hospital. My section was at 37 weeks, as I had twins. Yes I did have an epidural and found it fine.

Sandsnake · 03/08/2022 08:54

Two low risk ELCS here. Both times asked to come in for 8am. Both times first on the list, taken down at 9 and with babies by 9.30am! I have no idea whether my hospital had separate theatres for emergencies or not.

germsandcoffee · 03/08/2022 09:00

First time booked in for 8.30 had to wait until 11.30 but that's because I'd started making antibodies and there was a delay with my blood being delivered to the hospital or it would have been on time.( all the staff we're waiting around.)
Second time booked for 11 but an emergency section obviously took priority and had to wait until 4

MassiveSalad22 · 03/08/2022 09:02

Good luck @ShirleyPhallus , how long to go now?

I had 2 ELCS, on the morning list both times so in hosp for 7:30. Baby 1 was born at 9:55 and that was early as poss as I was the first section of the day (my midwife was on the ball and got all the prep done early so I was bumped up from slot number 2).

Section 2 in April this year, I was again on morning list and totally paranoid of being bumped as it was a Friday and didn’t want to have to wait until Monday!! In at 7:30 am again and baby born at…. 11:30 I think? I was bumped from slot 1 to slot 2 because they were slow getting blood ready from the fridge/freezer. Was silently fuming as obviously the world revolves around me! But that c section was amazing and very healing for reasons I won’t go into!

MsSquishy · 03/08/2022 09:05

Good luck OP, I had one recently and found it a really good experience. I was originally booked for a Thursday, but had a call Tuesday afternoon to ask me to come in on Wednesday as they had a high risk lady now coming in on the Thursday, so it looks like they manage it quite carefully at my hospital.

Three of us arrived at 7am on Wednesday, and all went through to the recovery room about 7:30, so fortunately a bit more of a comfortable wait for those going later. I went first as had gestational diabetes and my glucose was a bit low. Baby was born at 9:45.

Best wishes for your new arrival 💐

Original poster

ShirleyPhallus · 03/08/2022 09:22

Thanks everyone, baby girl was born earlier this week 🥰

We ended up being 3rd on the list so finally went in at about midday which was actually ok as they put us in a private room while waiting and I got to have a nap

The post natal ward was like 7th circle of hell with the snoring husbands / people on their phones / watching YouTube without headphones but we are home now and doing well

OP posts:

TheBatwoman · 03/08/2022 09:31

Congratulations on your new arrival @ShirleyPhallus! Hope you’re all settling into family life at home and you’re getting plenty of support.

MassiveSalad22 · 03/08/2022 10:14

Oh lovely, congratulations! Wishing you a swift recovery.

usernotfound0000 · 03/08/2022 11:21

@Vg92 I am in West Yorkshire, I had both my babies at LGI. One emergency section and one elective.

MsSquishy · 03/08/2022 11:50

Congratulations OP!

Vg92 · 03/08/2022 20:06

@usernotfound0000 what week did you have the elective c section? I am hoping to have it at 38 weeks but it may be a bit early.

usernotfound0000 · 03/08/2022 20:08

It was originally booked for bang on 39 weeks then pushed forward a day so she was born on 39+1

JAC76 · 03/08/2022 20:12

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at request

EEB1989 · 15/09/2025 19:10

Vg92 · 03/08/2022 07:47

@Teadrinkingmumofone thank you for sharing your experience.

I’m in West Yorkshire and going for my consultation in the next few weeks.

Please may I ask what your experience was? I’m hoping to get a date soon. I’m 36 weeks.

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