Elective C section Birmingham Heartlands

[sania84]

Hi all

I have just found out I am pregnant and will go to Heartlands soon. I have always wanted to have a c section when I get pregnant and I know I will have to fight for it, I guess it all depends on a midwife and consultant. However, I am ready for it and will start requesting it from my first appointment. I have also read a few times NICE guidelines and I just confirmed to myself that a c section is the best for me. I am taking these guidelines to all of my appointments :-) I have a a few questions for you:

1. Can you choose your own consultant or are you just given one?
2. I have been told by Solihull hospital that if I wish to have anything done privately that the best place to go to is MUMS - mums.me.uk/

Has any of you been there or used their services?

1. The recommended consultant is Mr Mike Wyldes. Did you have any experience with him? Can you recommend any one else for me to consider?
2. I am afraid I cannot afford a private c section which is nearly £8k at MUMS. Therefore, will have to be on NHS, I have paid enough NI and tax for this.

I know it may be a lot of questions, however, I wanted to make sure I ask everything that interests me :-)

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sania

What are your reasons for wanting one?

I had a emergency section with dc1', I wanted a section with dc2, they said no, try for vbac, ended up with worse section.

Good luck with that. I doubt unless you have some pretty good reasons, all medical, you will get a big fat no.

Hi Sania

Have no experience with Heartlands hospital, however, I had an elective CS earlier on this month, it was classed as maternal request although my baby was breech as well.

I bypassed the midwives and went direct to my lovely GP who wrote a letter to the O&G consultant- neither of us knew any of them so just picked the lead consultant from the list on the website.

First appointment we went through all my reasons, they peniciled in my CS date (!) then I had to see one of the psychiatry team to check I was of 'sound mind' to make the decision- yes I was thank you very much!- and that was it really.

A lot easier than anticipated...I think it really varies depending on what local policy is eg some trusts have a blanket ban on all ELCS.

Definitely use all the experiences & resources on here, it really helped me get ready for my appointments and put a solid case together.
Good luck!

PS I gave up trying to go via midwife as every time I tried to discuss my fears & broach the subject of ELCS it was as if they really didn't want to hear what I was saying

By the way I live in London.

I simply have a fear of delivering my baby vaginally. I have always had this fear. My mom fainted during delivering me and lost a lot of blood. She doesn't even remember how they squeezed me out of her. At one point she had a few crazy midwifes trying to push me out of her belly and had a lot of stitches 'down there'. She was all ripped. She saw me the following day. I just do not want to expect unexpected.

I have been married for 5 years and been delaying this pregnancy for ages. I have never got pregnant before and this is my first time ever. Therefore, an abortion even crossed my mind. We even discussed adopting a child. I am of a sound mind and will fight for what I am entitled to. However, I also would like to bypass midwifes. I am going to see my GP next week where I will discuss my fears. I will ask him to write a letter to an obstetrician there and see what happens next. If I get that big fat no, I will then have to complain. I read somewhere that someone even threatened with litigation and eventually got what she wanted. I guess perfect timing to use my law degree. :-)

Thank you both for your messages.

Sania

Hi

Just wondered whether you managed to get mike wyldes on the nhs?

I had my son last year by c section under mike wyldes.

Both of my children were delivered by c section by him. First one was emergency but second I opted for it and he listened to my reasons and gave me reasons for a normal delivery.

Thanks

Laura

I am struggling to get induced or a c-section, I was told by my go that as I have osteoporosis arthritis in my hip and spine I would be induced at 36wks as long as baby was healthy, I am now 38wks and every time I raise the subject with consultants at Sandwell or my midwife I am told that it is to risky to do, I am in constant agony can no longer climb the stairs and have to have help in out of bath and can not stand long enough to cook. Any suggestions how I can make them reverse there opinion and help rather than just offer sympathy and platitudes

Hi OP.

I was under heartlands for both my dc. I was consultant led for medical reasons. Solihull and Heartlands are pretty much same hispital and drs but at a different site. You can have all your appts at solihull if you prefer but section will need to be at heartlands.

I have no complaints at all about Heartlands. They saved my dd2's life. She was delivered by a section. I was asked a couple if times by a consultant (before pregnancy went wrong) what I would prefer. But like I said, I had a medical condition.
To warn you it is a massively busy maternity unit. The midwives however and drs have always been amazing to me.

I have also been to MUMS in solihull. I went for a 4d scan. It was this scan that found the problems with my pregnancy and baby was delivered that week. The service there was excellent. A consultant did my scan and I believe he is responsible for possibly saving my dd.

All glowing reports here.
if you get what you want, personally I'd have appts at solihull. Heartlands is a nightmare to park at. Be open minded about the sheer number of women in the waiting rooms! And i often had long waits at appts (at Heartlands).

Oh. And i only saw a community midwife a couple of times through both pregnancies As under care of hospital instead.

HTH

I wanted and got an elcs for my second (first was emcs). They tried to convince me to try for a vbac but we nearly lost my daughter and I was extremely anxious during the pregnancy, and it increased as we went on to the point I was referred for emergency counselling. I was in tears most consultant appts as well. I would not be swayed and it was classed as maternal request but baby ended up breech (head down at every scan but flipped breach when they cut me open!).

I have had all 4 DC at Heartlands. The 4th was EMCS.
I requested Heartlands every time.
Yes it's busy. And everybody is rushed but they all are great up there.