Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if your c section was canceled on the day?

52 replies

022828MAN · 08/10/2020 04:58

Shamessly posting here for traffic...

I am booked for an ELCS today and was told at the pre op that there's always a chance that it could be cancelled on the day, due to emergencies or complications with other patients. I totally get this and appreciate that in those circumstances there's nothing they can do about it and just to roll with it.
But as I've barely slept thinning about it, it's obviously playing on my mind.
So i was just wondering how common this is - if this has happened to you at what point in the day did they let you know you'd have to go home and under what circumstances? Were you then first on the list the next day?
For context, I'm apparently last on the PM list as it is so I just feel like if anyone is at risk of being cancelled it'd be me (if everyone else was pushed back). I'm also just anxious as we've managed to get 2 days childcare for DD 3yrs and so I worry that if it's delayed it won't be that easy to rearrange!
Thanks!

OP posts:
Suzi888 · 08/10/2020 05:04

It didn’t happen to me, but it happened to every other woman going in the same day as me. The doctors said lots of emergencies had come in and they only had space for one. They chose me as I was the only non elective c section. The other ladies went down the following day (I think). I’m not sure how many they take on one slot.

pookypup · 08/10/2020 05:05

My 2 weren’t delayed, but just wanted to wish you the best of luck today Flowers

No wonder you are awake early!

My hospital only book in 3 elcs each day, so there is plenty of time to fit them in along with emergency ones. You may have to wait a while, but It’s likely they will see you today.

BoomBoomsCousin · 08/10/2020 05:56

Mine was booked for first of the day (9 am IIRC). Didn’t go ahead until about 2 pm, but it wasn’t cancelled.

Original poster
022828MAN · 08/10/2020 05:59

Thanks for all of the input. DH is super excited about it all today and honestly I just feel like it's not going to happen, I've convinced myself it's going to be cancelled (?!), so going through the motions of getting ready but not particularly excited at all. Trying to gear myself up for holding our little one by the end of the day, but I'm not going to believe it till I see it!

OP posts:
Spinakker · 08/10/2020 06:01

I've had 2 ELCs and both of them went ahead as planned. In fact I think I went in first both times. You can tell them on the day you are worried sbout getting childcare on another day. The consultants usually come round first thing in the morning and have a chat with everyone. Try not to worry. I've had 3 c sections now and all have been ok experiences.

Jemma2907 · 08/10/2020 06:06

It didnt happen to me but like the other poster above, everyone else got cancelled on the day I went for mine. They'd had an issue with heating the Opersting rooms and they were out all morning. By the time they were able to operate, it was 2pm - I had Pre-eclampsia so was top of the list. Its rare though, my first c-section was elective due to breech and I was first in with him. Its so horrible the waiting ans not knowing so I understand why you're anxious. There is really nothing you can do about it though so try and focus on the fact that your little one will be here very very soon.

Lonecatwithkitten · 08/10/2020 06:10

I caused people to to be cancelled. I had been in labour for 36 hours and then my baby was stuck due to LOP presentation. So I took a theatre slot, they managed a forceps delivery, but I tore. I believe two sections were cancelled because of my emergency.

TattyMcBab · 08/10/2020 06:12

Good luck OP!

chutneypig · 08/10/2020 06:13

I had a ELCS booked for the Thursday. When I arrived they said it may be pushed back to the following Tuesday as they’d had lots of emergencies in. I was having twins so needed two sets of midwives etc. Just as I thought they were about to send us home they sent me down around noon. I was very grateful as I was enormous by that stage, one of the twins was over 9lb.

Hopefully it’s a rare event and you’ll keep your slot today. I’m the same as you, believe it when I see it, so wouldn’t follow my own advice to try and relax and enjoy, but I hope you can.

Doliv63 · 08/10/2020 06:13

I have had two ELCS and there wasn’t any delays . Both boys botn at about 11am . Good luck and now try and get excited and stop worrying. 💐X

PossiblyPFB · 08/10/2020 06:18

Mine was. I was 3rd in the morning slot & all gowned up and had ultrasound etc when they came in to say the NICU was unexpectedly full.
And on the off chance we needed help my Dd would be blue lighted elsewhere without me. The soonest they could rebook us was 5 days later, saying I would be given priority if I went into labour in the intervening time. I didn’t and so we had her 5 days later - we were given the first slot on that day.

KEG05 · 08/10/2020 06:20

Hi I work in theatres. It does happen but honestly I’ve worked there three years a d think it’s happened twice and both of those ladies were then first the following morning. Good luck and congratulations on the imminent arrival of your littlie ❤️

SuzieQQQ · 08/10/2020 08:05

It happens on a weekly basis at the hospital I work at. Hopefully not to you though. All the best!

Itllbeaninterestingchristmas · 08/10/2020 08:10

There will be ladies like me who had a section booked and then VBAC a day or so before so free up a theatre slot.

goldeline · 08/10/2020 08:17

Mine went ahead as planned, but I totally understand your anxiety as I felt the same.

Good luck for today. My planned section was an amazing experience that I'd relive in a heartbeat.

MakeLemonade · 08/10/2020 08:22

I had mine cancelled on the day - I had to call at 7am, they asked me to call back at 11, then asked me to come in and after I had been there about 20 mins they very apologetically sent me home to come back the next morning. Quite common where I live and they do warn about it, next time I thought it would happen again but I called at 7, straight in, prepped and in theatre by 9! I’d left DH to do school run and he would have missed it if they weren’t happy to wait! Good luck.

Merryoldgoat · 08/10/2020 08:25

I had 1 ELCS - I was second and was wheeled through around midday.

Good luck!!

PolarBearStrength · 08/10/2020 08:31

Good luck OP!

At my hospital we have two theatres running - one for emergencies and one for electives, so there are rarely delays or cancellations. However sometimes it is unavoidable. Sometimes an elective can turn into an emergency or take much longer than planned, or there can be a serious or multiple emergencies on delivery suite that are ‘all hands on deck’.

wondering24 · 08/10/2020 08:38

Yes, I was last on the list and got to about 4pm and was told it wasn't going to happen.

I was asked to stay in overnight (no idea why) and was 1st on the list the next morning.

It was awful at the time as I'd been NBM since 6am and wearing the stupid gown and stockings since 7- but in the grand scheme, I had my baby and all was fine. He's just a day younger than we thought he'd be.

Don't be disheartened- it truly can't be helped as there are often emergencies. My thinking was that if I was an emergency I'd hope to take priority over an ELCS, and that mindset really helped.

Good luck! Smile

ValiaH · 08/10/2020 08:42

First elcs - no delays at att
Second one-the hospital had lots of emergencies and lots of babies were born at the same time, so I went from first on the list on Monday, to waiting all day to be told at 4.30pm that I would be back the next day and first on the list again, then I was delayed that day as well due to emergencies, told around 4pm that day, and finally had my c section in the first slot on the 3rd day.

SockQueen · 08/10/2020 08:47

I work on delivery suite. Our electives are done in a dedicated theatre with a separate team from the one running labour ward. We virtually never need to cancel due to emergencies, as they have two theatres of their own for that. Occasionally if the elective list overruns because one of the ops is more complicated than expected, we have to cancel one, but it's pretty rare.

Anjo2011 · 08/10/2020 08:50

Two elcs, on time and I was first down into theatre both times. Best wishes

ShirleyPhallus · 08/10/2020 08:51

Good luck OP!! Make sure to come back and update us and provide a squishy new baby pic!

@chutneypig that’s incredible that one of your twins was over 9lb! I’ve never heard of that, is it rare to have twins go so big? Did you feel huge? (I had an over 9lb baby and felt enormous, can’t imagine having two inside!)

PurpleWave · 08/10/2020 08:58

I've had a CS delayed until the next day. I was waiting all day with nothing to eat, then they cancelled and asked me to stay in overnight and I was one of the first ones in the next day.

user1493413286 · 08/10/2020 09:02

Sorry to say but it did happen to me; one woman was sent home at lunchtime and I was sent home at 7pm and had mine at 3.30 the next day. They said I’d be first on the list but it was a different doctor who made a different decision. Although I was gutted on the first day it was obvious that the first one in the morning had not gone to plan and the doctors had experienced a very long day and I preferred to come back the next day when they were fresh than have them do it tired and wanting to get home.

Swipe left for the next trending thread