Consultants at St. Thomas's

[farfallarocks]

It looks as though I will have to have a c section for various reasons (previous shoulder dystocia, carrying a boy who may have haemophilia and therefore no instrumental deliveries allowed) and having had a pretty appalling stay on the NHS post natal ward I am keen to avoid a similar experience.
I am keen to have a very experienced surgeon if I know I am going to have to have c section.

Did anyone transfer at the last minute from NHS to private care? I am not sure how to co-ordinate my ante natal care if not as I am being seen by all sorts of different departments (haematology, endocrinology) given all my various issues!

And does anyone have a recommendation for consultants that are particularly good at c sections (neat scars and recovery!)

thanks in advance

I had my CS 21 days ago at St Thomas. I had mine scheduled for the 3rd of Sept but baby had other plans so we ended up having the CS on the 1st. The Dr who was going to do it had done the pre-op chat with me when all of a sudden my consultant (Gabby Grey) showed up at my bedside and said 'I'll get changed and see you in 20 mins in theatre'. So nice of her to take time out of her day (I guess she was on call or doing rounds?) to do my operation.

I have a beautiful scar, an amazing recovery (and a beautiful, albeit v hungry, baby boy).

I really can't fault St Thomas, Dr Grey or my midwife. I should add that my MW was amazing and really paved the way for me to make the experience the way I wanted it, rather than to go with the 'guidelines'. (For example my waters broke early, and normally they would advise to stay in hospital for monitoring, but I was adamant I wanted to stay home, I was happy to monitor my temp and am sensible enough to go in to hospital if smth was wrong or things started to progress. I personally found it hard to put that across to the obstetrician on shift so my MW came in to hospital and had a private word with him. Brilliant.)

Wrt the postnatal ward - I didn't find that too bad either. I mean, there's four babies in a room, that's never going to give you a good nights sleep but the midwives on the ward were happy to help me with whatever I needed and brought round jugs of water (I was v thirsty!). I didn't really need anything more. The husbands can stay, but I didn't really hear anyone (apart from the babies).

Again my MW was fab in that I had told her that I didn't plan on staying more than one night (I REALLY dislike hospitals). She told the postnatal MW that I was going to only stay one night, the postnatal MW was fine with that and started the paperwork immediately. I was happily discharged after one night. (Being at home is much better. Depending on how you're feeling you don't need to be in there for more than one night.)

I was just coming back to update this thread and what a lovely surprise to see your update dildals, huge congratulations on your lovely little boy! Great to hear you have a neat scar and recovery too!

I had an appointment with Gaby Grey and I was so impressed with her, great bedside manner and knows a lot about haematology which is reassuring!

Lauretta, congratulations on your baby, good to hear you also had a good experience, I am thinking of going private for postnatal.

Congrats I have and apologies I have not been back to this thread, it dropped off my list!

I am currently 31 weeks and looks like another big baby! Having gone through my notes, the dystocia was quite serious and we were very lucky my dd did not have any lasting effects so I think my mind is made up to have a section his time.

Sorry meant to say congrats I want!

Inspired by this update, I have just booked in with Gaby Gray for a section, she was lovely and so accessible when I saw her so I am now excited rather than terrified of this birth! Will be back to update in November with a positive story I hope!

Who did your c section?