Could you have coped with a 5 hour car journey 3 days post C-section?

[Daya]

I have a ELCS booked at a London hospital, I have for long and complicated reasons got to move to the North of England and have being told this morning that the hospital I am transferring to in the North will not give me a ELCS!

They do not do them on 'maternal request' and was advised that my only choice was to either not transfer my care from London and go to London for the ELCS or have a natural delivery at the new hospital.

I feel totally shaken up by this, really upset, I wouldn't be driving myself but would obviously have a new baby in the car with me. This is my first birth and don't know what to do?

Could you have coped sitting / laying in the back of the car for 5 hours post CS? Is it really unrealistic to plan this - at the moment I feel like I can't face having a natural birth now i've planned a CS for so long.

Never!!!!! I was discharged 5 days post cs and struggled in the 15 min journey home. Every bump in the road was agony and I couldn't wear the seatbelt proper and it hurt every dh used the breaks

Sioda - I totally agree that everyones recovery will be different and that it can depend on whether the c-section was planned or not.

However as I said in an earlier post, I had an elective c-section and didn't go in to labour at all, but I still had to stay in hospital for 7 days afterwards. Even then I was in alot of pain and my milk came in late, was psychologically traumatised and developed a phobia of having another c -section. I personally don't know anyone that found it was an easy thing to recover from whether elective or emergency and all say that they were in alot of pain for the first three weeks and that after that it got abit less painful. So I still think a 5 hour journey would be awful for a few weeks after a c-section whether you have an an elective or not.

My hospital asks everyone that has a c-section to be stay for atleast 5 days.

Colin, I did agree that 5 hours after 3 days seems to be pushing it regardless of how well your recovery goes. But, beyond the travel issue, from the broader perspective of the recovery the OP can expect it's important that she takes into account that EMCS recoveries are generally harder. That doesn't negate in any way the risk that she could end up with an experience like yours. It's just one important factor to take into account.

I do think you're making a bit of a leap though from your personal experience and that of people you know about the kind of recovery in the first few weeks that the OP can expect. There are women who find their CS was easier to recover from than their VBs and there are women who were not in a lot of pain for the first few weeks. Some even say they had no pain at all, just discomfort, if they kept on top of the pain meds. Like everything to do with childbirth, there's huge variety. Surely the more helpful thing is for her to know the full range of experiences to be prepared for rather than basing her expectations on a limited range of personal experiences.

1st cs no way I could have managed. 2nd cs (planned) maybe could have managed myself but not with 3day old baby I think... Sorry you are in this awful position :(

I had an emcs and a really good recovery - up and walking to scbu fairly quickly etc but would def not have liked to do a 5 hour journey - it really is sore for a while even after a good recovery.

I also got the 'blues' on day 3 - milk coming in and had a complete breakdown for about 4 hours - crying / saying I was a crap Mam / couldn't cope etc. (God I cringe at the memory of me sitting with a breast pump attached howling because I couldn't express what I thought was enough - DP didn't have a clue what to do with me! disclaimer though - baby was in scbu and I'd just been discharged!!) I'm the world's biggest champion of 'just get on with it' and never get stressed etc usually but apparently these blues are quite common and lots of women have a teary day at day 3 or 4 - would have hated to be stuck on a long journey and DP would have been to take away - lol!

Could you ask to be kept in longer / stay with friends for a week or so then maybe go on the train (with someone to carry everything) First Class?? Maybe smoother than the road and no need for a seat belt?? x

Would I have managed it - yes.

First section I was in2 nights, 2nd section I discharged myself after 24 hours as babies in scbu and 3rd section was the worst and we were in 4 nights (1 baby in scbu the other with me)

What about a car seat that is more like a carrycot for the journey? If not then stop every hour and get out and move for a bit and get baby out for a stretch.

It's only once and I wouldn't hesitate to be honest.

Hope the excellent advice on here gets you the ELC that you need.

Think you need to rule out the travelling north for 5 hours, barring any motorway delays once and for all. Even if you had an amazing recovery, and no issues with dc, you'd be let out on day 3. With the C section wound still raw and healing you don't want to sit in a upright position for too long. You'll want to recline as a) it's far more comfortable pain wise b) it helps keep the area cooler and be less itchy and c) have read that laying flat in the early days helps reduce getting a CS 'overhang'. I had a text book recovery from an excellent ELC and I could not have done what you are contemplating without some damage.

No.

Would not have been able to do it after my EMCS or ELCS. The seat belt was too uncomfortable and even a 2 mile drive home made me wince.

All I wanted to do was stretch out in bed or the sofa and rest. I wouldn't put a baby in a car seat for long either.

I wouldn't want to take a 3 day old baby on that length of journey regardless of type of birth - especially if you want to breastfeed.

With feeding & nappy stops you will be travelling all day. Throw in c-section recovery and how emotional and overwhelmed you may feel as a new mum and it becomes an even worse idea!

I would definitely be pushing for ELCS at a local hospital. Good luck.

Yes I would have been fine, I was shopping in Bluewater 6 days post op and driving myself 10 days post op. DD was formula fed from birth so I could have fed her in the car if needs be. In your place with an ELCS agreed I would do what ever it takes to have it and then get home afterwards. As for the 2 hour car seat thing for a 1 off like this I would just do it with comfort breaks along the way.

Good luck x

Coming rom a different angle here:

I can totally see why the new consulant is not agreeing to carrying out a ELCS that another doctor has agreed to. When a doctor agrees to a procedre liek this they are signing also that they have counselled you in the risks associated with ELCS, and risks outweighing benefits yada yada yada. I wouldnt be happy to agree to carrying out a procedure just on the word of another doctor. No way.

ALso NICE guidelines are just that, guidelines. So many women have been dissapointed since these guidelines have been published, as they have been lead to believe can have a CS on demand. It just isnt that simple.

Check out teh birth discussion/debriefing in your local unit, I have seen a few women be benefitted from this service (ones without any children).

I am not in the least saying you are wrong for your reasons, and I wish you luck in finding a resolve.

From a personal angle: I couldnt have sat for more than 30 mins after my CS. Also the females in my family have all birthed their babies like shelling peas, yet I was the opposite and ended up with 2 EMCS. I still am considering the vbac this time.

*from

Not read all the answers but I think it's a bad idea.

If you're planning to bf, surely giving formula bottles for a day on day 3 will a)mess up your own milk supply (milk will just be coming in then) and b) could cause nipple confusion in the baby so will make breastfeeding afterwards so much harder.

With all the stops you need, I think this 5-hour car journey can quickly turn into 8 or 9 hours!

I hope you get the situation resolved in some other way!!!

I went home from an emergency C Section on day 3 . The journey is about 10 normally and it took about 30 mins. DH had to drive really slowly, find a route without speed bumps and stop because it really difficult. I really would not recommend travelling for 5 hours in a car.

You need to kick up a massive fuss.

I had a similar situation back in Feb - could not get an ELCS where I live (Nottingham) as the Nott NHS trust is v anti-CS and "don't care about the NICE guidelines as they are only guidelines and we don't have to follow them" (response of Nott consulant when I mentioned the NICE guidelines).

So I ended up organising to have an ELCS down in Kent where my parents live but like you had the issue of a longish car journey to get back home.

I travelled back on day 7 (birth on Friday, travelled the following Thursday) but I think I would have been fine to travel back on the Tues or Wed. The car journey would take about 3.5 to 4 hrs with no stopping but we stopped halfway so I could feed the baby and stretch my legs so total journey time was prob between 4 and 5 hours. The baby travelled fine as we timed it to leave just after I had fed her but I think it was made easier by the fact she was jaundiced and sleepy from the jaundice and that I had bf established by then. Personally I was very comfortable travelling and no less comfortable then if I had been sitting at home. I just put a pillow across my lap so that the seatbelt didnt rub on my tummy and kept moving my legs to prevent DVT.

I agree with the other posters that day 3 would be too soon esp if you are trying to bf as it is such an important time for getting it established and your boobs will be very uncomfortable the day your milk comes in.

Could you rent a hotel room in London that is near to your hospital for a few days or else break your journey in two with a hotel stop halfway? I think if you did this it would be much more manageable.

PM me if you want any advice - my birth experience was lovely and I found the recovery very easy.

Hope you manage to sort something out soon

x

I was only discharged on day 3 after my ELCS.

I was very sore and found a ten-minute car journey home very painful. The car's vibrations really got to my wound and I felt very insecure, physically, as if the wound might open. At the end of the journey I was shaky and had to be helped into the house.

I wasn't particularly used to sitting, having laid out flat when in hospital. Sitting its pressure on the wound and I needed to be able to shuffle around a lot, use cushions etc to get comfortable.

Your baby might want to feed repeatedly in that five-hour stretch, and I think it would be stressful for you to be dealing with getting off the motorway and stopping at inconvenient times.

Could you stay in a hotel for a week or so after the op?

I definitely wouldn't have liked to travel in a car after mind, think the idea of it would have stressed me out - you have enough to think about when the big day comes. Your baby also will be sleeping a lot - not sure if he/she will take to long journey in car seat?

So many interesting anecdotal views here that do seem compelling towards it not being possible. However, I would just like to reinforce a PP's view that everyone's recovery is very very different. I had an EMCS after a 24 hour labour and failed ventouse delivery. I also had a PPH after an angle tear in my uterus. I was left on my own on the ward at 8pm (partner had to go home) after having my daughter at 5pm. I had no help from the nurses with feeding all night and had to raise the bed automatically to reach the crib to get to her. Not a great time!

However, I also had no pain (taking the prescribed meds) and was able to get around very easily the next day. I was discharged on day 3 and was very comfortable on the journey home. Moreover, I was driving myself around after 2 weeks and I did a 4 hour journey when DD was 10 days old (she slept for three hours straight in a carrycot, approved for use in cars).

I think the OP needs to have several plans in place, from the worse case scenario to the best. Accepting a natural delivery at a different hospital is probably too traumatic to comprehend and may well affect how labour progresses. If delivery by ELCS at the London hospital is preferable, the journey needs to be planned accordingly. Firstly there is no way you can guarantee being discharged by day 3 as lots of things can happen. Secondly, could you break the journey into three parts and stay in hotels/premier inns? I know it's far from ideal but nothing about this situation is ideal! Travelling with a baby in a car seat for any length of time is not a good idea, but I can definitely recommend using a carrycot - it was just like my DD being in a moses basket - in fact, it was an overnight carrycot from my pram which meant it was perfect for a long journey.

I think there are ways round this problem and there need to be, because being told you have to accept a natural delivery four weeks from your DD is awful and not something I think you should have to go through.

With the levels of stress this is probably putting you under, there's probably a high chance of you ending up with an EMCS anyway for failure to progress!

I wouldn't do a journey like that with a newborn, (reasons have already been given on here re length of time in car seat, risking messing up breastfeeding etc) so personally think its a choice of:

Having VB at North East hospital

Fighting for ELCS at North East hospital

Or having ELCS in London and staying in a hotel for a week or so until you feel you could cope with the drive.

Only you know what is right for you. I was terrified of birth but also terrified of CS. Also have family history of bad deliveries. I went for vaginal delivery and I'm so glad I did (although obviously I had a lot longer to psyche myself up for it). Although it was by no means easy, I felt back to normal a lot quicker than friends who had sections, and for me that was important as I was able to do more for DS a lot quicker.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Just to update that today I got a c-section agreed in the North East.

After been told no by the first consultant, then at the midwife appointment yesterday been told it was very unlikely if I tried another hospital I would get offered anything.,I stood my ground and got an appointment today for a hospital in Northumberland and got a c-section date. The consultant was sympathetic, though did try to me to change my mind and would only agree to 40 weeks not 39 but still... i'm happy.

Thank you all for your fab advice and sharing your experiences it was very helpful.

oh that's great news Daya. You should not have had this worry over your head - very, very pleased for you. Good for you for standing your ground - but grrrrr that we have to fight for what we want to happen to our own bodies.

Well done you for standing your ground

I had to do the same thing here (Brighton) having had an emergency C-section with DD1. The surgeon came down to see me afterwards and told me to ask for an elective C-section for any subsequent births. She said she would put this on my notes.

When pg with DD2 the consultant initially refused to consider an elective, but when I asked if he'd read my notes where I'd been told by the surgeon to have one for medical reasons he backed down and agreed to a date - albeit at just under 40 weeks.

I asked what would happen if I went into labour prior to the scheduled date and was told that I would be able to have a C-section still, but would obviously have to request it at the time

Anyhoo, I did have it, as planned on the date I was given and it was wonderful. So I hope yours is too.

Best wishes and good luck

Thanks treefumaster & PestoSansVesto, after a weekend of despair i'm so relieved and don't have to plan the journey from hell in the back of the car. I met with a doula over the weekend but felt no more ok with doing a natural birth than I did at 20 weeks so was planning to have the c-section in London.

The attitude of the GP and the consultant were so rude and I felt today I got lucky with a sympathetic consultant rather than there been any consistency across the board.

I've been told probably won't get a c-section if I go into labour before as they are only done on a tues to thurs (elec c sections I think) so I hope it is not early!!! But still am going to take my chances - eek!

So glad it's sorted!

Well hopefully you'll hold out till your date