Elective C Section options

[Greenwichgirl25]

I want to have an elective section for my second baby due to horrific first birth which has left me with constant painful episiotomy scar etc. I have seen a gynae here who has written to my GP suggesting further deliveries are sections. I had my first baby in Ireland privately and am very scared about NHS post natal care. My local hospitals are Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth and I have heard more than an average amount of horror stories about the postnatal care in both. My question is, I would be prepared to pay for a doula/private midwife to care for me in the hospital but will the hospital allow them to stay? I don't want to go home too early as we will have a (very demanding) toddler, a husband working long hours and no family in the country.
Also, has anyone had any experience of requesting a section in these hospitals?
thanks in advance xx

Hi,
We are very close to Lewisham but I too had heard horror stories. We chose Kings in the end it was fantastic. Post natal care not fantastic, but ok, during birth however it was great. I cant really answer your question regarding the doula. Have you asked the hospitals directly??

Im in scotland but can tell u that being private or nhs midwives doesnt determine the skills of the mw. I myself am a nhs mw and i was private for several years but returned to nhs due to missing the hustle bustle of the hospital. And u tend to loose ur skills abit by being private as most births are straight forward.

I wouldnt say that having a private midwife would make ur postnatal experience any easier and doulas are not allowed to use midwifery skills to look after ladies and babies

Alot of private midwives arent allowed to stay in the ward to look after their lady postnataly.

I dont mean to sound negative about private care as i workex in that sector for a while.

But either way u will be looked after the best by private or nhs

Hope this helps
Zoe xxx

No experience of those two hospitals, but how about hiring help for when you get home from hospital instead, if your oh won't have paternity leave? I had an elcs a couple of years ago and although the postnatal ward was grim the first couple of days passed in a blur - care will be adequate at least and you will have a buzzer by your bed to pester the staff as much as you like. Looking after a toddler alone would be hard in the first couple of weeks at home though.

I would go to another hospital, but agree with others re care, you wont need that much TBH, if your DH can bring you food in, as ling as you get your drugs,...there isnt that much they will be doing for you.

I don't know about Lewisham, but avoid QEH. They're massively underresourced so even if you did get a wonderful team looking after you (I didn't for my natural birth) the postnatal ward experience is dire. Especially as you're in for longer with a section.

Kings is a little better, and they have brilliant doctors there too. Or St Thomas'.

Thanks all..I really appreciate the replies. I'm just dreading being one of those women I've spoken to who have been left in agony in a bed with nobody to help them get to their baby for feeding etc. It seems to have been the experience of about 3 people I met through NCT in those hospitals after a section, hence my thought that if I had someone there privately, I would at least get some support. Fingers crossed it'll work itself out!

If you feel well enough and baby is ok, I'd discharge myself the following morning. After my elective I totally could have gone home the next morning. But didn't as baby was is NiCU. Once you are home you can pay for whatever help you want.