Post Birth Discussion with MW, can I ask for certain things to be in place for my next pregnancy?

[GrumpyBear]

Hello,

I've got an appointment with my MW to go over the birth notes. Long story short, long labour ending in forceps and an episotomy as my LO's head was in a funny position. The thing was I had a late scan as they thought my LO was breech and I remember the sonographer couldn't find their head as they said their head was tucked into my hip (when they did find it).

I never ever ever want to go through that experience again, ever.

I've been thinking about this a lot and I want to ask them to do a late presentation scan to check the positioning of the head when I next get pregnant. I don't want to go into labour with the thought that I could end up having forceps again.

I know things happen and you can't predict labour but I feel that maybe if I'd have been better informed my whole labour experience would have been different iyswim.

Do you think this is reasonable?

Ask them when you're next pregnant.

Hmm I don't know really. I also had forceps delivery for an OP baby, but she turned after I was induced (I feel, due to having to lie down for monitoring - I won't be submitting to that next time!) so not sure if having a late scan would ensure anything.

Someone who knows better will be along shortly I hope!

To be honest there is no point asking for this to be considered now other than as part of the feedback process. It will need to be in your new notes that will be started up when you get pregnant again. Given that extra scans take up time and money what I would suggest is rather than asking for an extra one that is not medically necessary, you put in your birth plan (and discuss with MW in advance) how you feel and that if a forceps delivery is looking likely you would rather skip to a CS. You will be better prepared this time because you know that things CAN go wonky. Best of luck

Not sure a presentation scan would avoid this. I had a scan during my labour because DS wasn't coming after 3 hours of pushing and the junior doctor said he was in a good position and was possibly stuck on my pelvis but will come out soon. It was only when the Consultant on call was requested 30 minutes later that he did an internal and diagnosed that DS was brow and was not coming and I needed an EMCS.
My point I think is that even with a scan it isn't possible to be certain of the head position.

I don't think they'll agree to it in advance, no.

I had a debrief and a lot of counselling (long labour, 6hrs of pushing, episiotomy, attempted ventouse, attempted manual rotation, emcs) and it turned out dd was in something called deep transverse arrest and asynclitic. The thing is a scan a few hours into labour may not hve showed this. It's not a preventative measure.

What did come of it all was I met a cons who told me what would happen next time. How long I would be allowed to push for, how they would manage it, how decisions would be made, when they would make decisions etc. And he also made a note of the fact that I would be give an elcs should that be my choice. So I know how labour would be managed and know that I have 'choices'. That's important to me.

Babies move and alter position as they manoeuvre
through the pelvis so a late scan nay not predict the outcome unfortunately.

Thank you for your replies, you've been very helpful.

SOH Did you request the meeting with the consultant or was it done as a matter of course as a result of the counselling?

I had a panic attack in a family planning clinic of all places. The doctor there knew the consultant and referred me to see him believing- correctly -that it would help me move on.

Thanks for that SOH, you've been very helpful.

My hospital has a postnatal counselling clinic with a consultant for debriefs -you just get a GP referral.

I had a debrief but was under consultant care anyway. He went through what should be done next time, but it can't be put into place until I'm pregnant again.