Second opinion about ELCS Portland hospital

[saratustra]

Due to several big fibroids (biggest 12cm), I've been told I have risk of hemorrhage during VB and also read that large fibroids + my age (39) make EMCS likely. Despite this, consultant is insisting I should "try" VB as CS with fibroids has risk of hemorrhage as well.
As many, I just dread the thought of ending up having an EMCS, I had quite a horrendous pregnancy (30 weeks now) and don't want to take extra risks. I don't feel they are taking me seriously and also suspect they are pushing the VB for non medical reasons.

I would like to have a second opinion, as I don't want to be narrow minded (I'm not a doctor after all!). Can anyone recommend a doctor at Portland hospital, just for a consultation?

Thanks all

I was under Mr Miskry throughout pregnancy and he did my elective c section. I'd recommend him.

Thank you I'll look it up!

Chrissie Yu, she's great

You DON'T want to be in a private hospital and have a major haemorrhage. They just don't have the facility for emergencies that NHS hospitals do. UCH would be better.

Agree! Just want to see a private consultant to explain all the risks and options to me so I'm equipped to fight the NHS if I finally decide to go for and ELCS - which is likely.

Thanks all for your replies

I am honestly so bloody tired of how many women - many of whom, like you, have damn good medical reasons for requesting them - being bullied and finagled out of caesarian sections for what are mostly (according to the surgeon in my family) wholly ideological reasons. It's deeply chauvinistic and tbh quite creepy.

Best of luck to you OP - and by the way, you have every right to a section anyway, even if you'd no reason really at all. It may be an uphill battle for a bit, although less likely to be in your case, and in any case, please don't be deterred.

I too have heard good things about Mr Miskry. Hope it all goes well.

saratustra im sorry you have a complicated pregnancy. i did too, i had a 12cm ovarian tumour and had to have it cut out at 24 weeks gestation. My consultant Ms Claire Mellon did it and she looked after me until i had elective c section. i had it at portland hospital. couldnt speak highly enough of the care i received. when i had my second baby, thankfully complications free, i had ms mellon again at portland.
so go see her.

Thanks all. It's exhausting to be constantly infantilised. Just came from my midwife appointment and she saw protein in my urine, looked concerned and ordered blood tests but refused to tell me what was going on - I asked several times and she just refused. I guess they prefer us to google the sh*t out of everything...

Ozmum so glad everything went well for you in the end - it must have been so stressful!

Incidentally, I had my elective CS at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's, so basically within reach of a major NHS A&E.

And likewise, I can't recommend Mr Miskry's surgical skills highly enough (not that I'm a dr or surgeon either so I can't give you a professional view!)

Half the time midwives don’t give you information because they don’t know! If it’s remotely medical/clinical they are totally lost.

It's not usually ideological reasons - it's financial. CS come out of surgical budget, not maternal.

I had an ELCS at Lindo too (a large part being because I knew my NHS hospital would fight me on it and make me have an induction instead, which I didn't want). I was under Guy Thorpe Beeston and can't recommend him highly enough.

FYI if you have health insurance many cover CS at a private hospital for medical reasons - if you did want to go to the Lindo.

I had my ELCS at The Portland under Claire Mellon. She was fantastic and I don't hesitate to recommend her

Thanks all x