Postnatal care cancelled ‘due to covid’ (c-section)

[sarah13xx]

Has anyone else experienced very little post natal care since leaving the hospital after their c-section? Everything seems to be cancelled with the excuse that it’s due to covid. The midwife was supposed to come every day at first but came twice and phoned once instead of coming. When you’re a new mum, don’t have a clue what you’re doing and have an incision that you have no way of telling whether it’s infected or not, how is a phone call any use? 🤷🏼‍♀️ I was told to take the dressing off it myself because they don’t have time to do it. The health visitor then came after day 10 and comes once a week. She’s lovely and very helpful but hasn’t checked me at all, it’s just for the baby really. My car insurance says I need to have a doctor check me at 6 weeks and say I’m fit to drive. I phoned the doctors to book my 6 week check-up and was told they won’t be doing postnatal checks just now ‘due to covid’. I questioned this and asked if this was even if you’d had a c-section but was told they won’t be doing it. If I really want to speak to a doctor at 6 weeks I can phone and get a telephone appointment 🤦🏼‍♀️ How am I medically trained to assess whether or not my wound is infected, my uterus has gone back down, my ab muscles haven’t split etc? It just seems complete madness!

@Babyboomtastic

Obstetrician who delivered baby will come and check on you in your (private) room before you are discharged (usually 48 hours after a routine vaginal delivery)

You can oay for a private room, so I had one both times. The first time i got a visit from my surgeon, both times i was checked by a doctor before discharge

- Obstetrician will see you again around 5 days later in their clinic to check any stitches, check on your bleeding etc

We don't get this, but we get several visits from a midwife to check these. Some are now by phone due to covid.

- Obstetrician will answer WhatsApp’s, emails etc to discuss any concerns before doing a final 6 week check at which point they will do things like an ultrasound to check your womb is clear and then also write you a referral to a Women’s Health Physio who will check you for diastasis recti, pelvic floor function, general aches and pains etc

We can phone up the midwife/postnatal care at any point in the first 10 days or so until officially discharged from their care. GP appointment 6 weeks later which can be a bit hit and miss tbh. They don't scan women routinely, but would i guess if there is a problem evident.

- Baby will have a check up with pediatrician before discharge from hospital

We have this.

- Baby will be seen as much as you want in the baby clinic for the first 18 months (I quite literally went daily for the first week with DS1) and they will do things like clean the cord stump, weigh and measure the baby, administer vaccinations, provide breastfeeding support, provide emotional support etc

There are local clinics several times a week for the things you mention, and in my area daily bf support groups. All of these are drop in. Many haven't been running because of covid

- The midwives that run the baby clinic will also do home visits if requested and will happily provide support via phone, email and WhatsApp

So will our health visitors if requested or they think its necessary. Again, things haven't been normal because of covid.

But how the hell can someone check your stitches, bleeding etc over the phone? I get that they can ask you questions to gauge if there is anything concerning, but that’s the whole point - when you’re a first time mum, you have no idea what is ‘normal’. For me personally as well, I would also have been far more reluctant to discuss things like any mental health concerns over the phone.

I get the whole Covid thing to a degree, but how many women are suffering/struggling in silence as a result?!

Pre covid I think it was a bit of a lottery. I had mw coming to see me every few days for two weeks but I did have high BP so I normally got discharged on day 4 and readmitted on day 7.

My mw I managed to 100% avoid. She didnt chase me and I didnt seek her out. After my non verbal child with ASD passed his two year check ( hv said his language was fine - he didnt talk until he turned 7!)

I agree it shouldn't be a race to the bottom. I kept on being told with my pfb that woman gave birth alone in trees in disaster zones like floods. But that's not a aspirational gold standard.

I'm currently day 6 post c-section. Discharged on day 1 (day after surgery/birth).

I saw the midwife yesterday (day 5) and will see her again on day 10. She weighed baby and discussed how feeding was going... I replied I thought it was going fairly badly and was told to carry on doing what I'm doing (I don't know what I'm doing)!

Will see the GP at 6 weeks.

I've been treated better than I was when I had a section in 2017.

Women's health is utter shit in this country.

The UK is awful with care for women post birth. And healthcare in general tbh. When I lived in the UK and didn't know any different I'd have defended the NHS as the best possible option but honestly it could be so much better.

Where I live the public system has two nurses come out to visit you very regularly for the first three weeks or so (this is free for everyone, even if you delivered privately). I can't remember how often they visit but at least three times a week for a first baby. They check the baby's weight, cord stump and general appearance, check the mothers uterus is going down, check any stitches and assist with breastfeeding, just make sure everything is going ok. Part health check for mother and baby and part welfare check for the baby.

Privately, you get seen by an obstetrician every day you're in hospital then one week post delivery but that's it (I'm sure more appointments could be requested but that's what's standard). Baby sees the paediatrician every day they're in hospital, 5 days and one week after birth then you go to monthly checks for the first two years - weight, vaccines etc as standard.

I had to WhatsApp my doctor pictures of my scar/wound when I’d just finished a round of antibiotics when it was infected.

it wasn’t healing at all at the sides, turns out when I FINALLY was examined two weeks later I had undissolved stitches that had to be removed 🤦🏻‍♀️

As for the driving I just got told as long as I could do an emergency stop, they don’t have anything written or formal to clear for driving.

Sorry just to continue. I think the main problem with the NHS is that it can be so difficult to access care - either because staffing is not adequate or because of gatekeeping. I wish that it was easier to see a HCP if you have concerns (even if you have to pay a nominal fee for it).

I had a similar experience last November - just a phone call with the doctor at six weeks which is not very helpful for having the scar checked. The health visitor was supposed to come at a more frequent schedule (set by the pediatrician as DD was unexpectedly small at birth) so I did see her more, but as you say, that was for DD, not me. Even that was a bit shambolic though - there seemed to be no mechanism for the pediatrician to tell the health visitors how often to come, so I had to tell them what she'd said (I didn't mind this but thought it was strange!) They also missed appointments even though I'd told them the correct schedule from the pediatrician - I was constantly having to ring them up to chase.

I got one phone call from a midwife 7 years ago, so ... 🤷‍♀️

Honestly, it's not to do with covid. We get almost no postnatal care following a c section - no one ever checked my wound. The 6 week check was solely focussed on the baby. It's rubbish.

Sounds standard to be honest, actually more than many people. I had midwife come Once at 5 days who checked baby but not me. She didn't discharge me but never showed up a few days later- I had to chase her and she eventually showed up again 14 days post birth- again she didn't check me. I had one visit from the health visitor.

At no point did a single person check my scar, until it got infected 5 weeks post partum.

I honestly didn't think I needed more though- and the infection was nothing to do with my scar not being checked.

@TheLovleyChebbyMcGee health visitors are trained nurses! Sorry to derail!

I had infected stitches (from VB) 4 days after DS was born 9 years ago and spent all of the Friday afternoon crying to the midwives/gp receptionist until the gp made a post 5pm appointment to see me and prescribed antibiotics.

It’s rubbish. Not covid, just underfunded.

NHS isn’t fit for purpose and hasn’t been for years. OP isn’t expecting too much, she shouldn’t be checking herself for diastasis recti and self-diagnosing
Anyone who has lived in a country with decent health care realises very quickly that the NHS is failing, we just aren’t allowed to say so because it’s treated like a sacred cow in this country. It’s a post code lottery for most types of treatment which is completely unacceptable. Just because it is free at the point of contact, doesn’t mean we have to be grateful for whatever pathetic scraps of poor excuses for «care» are handed out.
I pay for private health because I’ve completely lost faith in the NHS who would have let me die of a twisted bowel in 2014 while telling me the pain was in my head and that my 20kg weight loss and inability to eat was not too concerning as long as I kept drinking plenty of fluids. This was over a period of 9 months so the neglect and failure was down to many different doctors and teams, not just one person. It’s a disgrace.

I had my second baby in September. Following a complicated section I had two days in maternity recovery with one on one Midwife care. Following discharge I was visited on day 2, 5, 7 and 14. Then the HV took over and visited a couple of times.

I had a full six week check with the GP.

So it’s clearly very trust dependant. It’s such a shame the women are encouraged to accept such a poor standard of care. Having a baby is such an overwhelming experience and new Mum’s need support.

I would also say the my MIL, after having a section in the 80s had two weeks in the post natal ward to recover. This sub standard care is purely about a lack of resources and women and children shouldn’t be neglected for the sake of efficiency.

I had DS2 last summer - my postnatal check was done over the phone but I was then invited in for an assessment as there was something I was concerned about. I would book a doctors appointment at 6 weeks and then I'm sure (hope!) they'll invite you in if deemed necessary.

Also - if you can afford it, I'd really recommend a Mummy MOT. Lots of women's health physios do them - I think they cost about £60. They'll check for and give advice around healing, prolapse, diastasis recti, posture etc.

Post natal care has been poor for a long time in this country. I had DD 10 years ago by C Section. Had one midwife visit, one HV visit. 6 week check was focused on baby. I had an infection which was dealt with over the phone.

I suspect it's partly because women's health care just isn't prioritised

I'm really sorry to hear you've had this experience. I can't help with your actual question; however, I'm currently 29 weeks with my first - and all antenatal classes are still off due to covid. Just wanted to sympathise with you but someone should be able to have a look, because as you say, you aren't a medical professional to know if you are healing correctly or not.

@Spinxsta sorry your experience of them hasn’t been great either 🤦🏼‍♀️ It was as quick as the midwife could get in and out when she came for a visit. I had a few concerns about my little one (jaundice, blocked tear duct etc) and every time I mentioned them she’d fob it off saying it looked better now, it definitely didn’t at all!

@Dipsydoodlenoodle yip I found that a bit bizarre too. Whoever originally took the classes could surely do some classes online or worst comes to worst even record what they’d say in the class and email it out to women before birth. Just seems mad to be able to completely take things away that clearly existed for a reason 🤔

@MinesAPintOfTea jeez that’s terrible, lucky you managed to get seen eventually to catch it in time 🤦🏼‍♀️

@Pikamoo definitely! Yesterday when I was told ‘no’ by the gatekeeper, I mean receptionist, I was thinking I will no doubt be fine but there must be so many people in my town worried about a possible cancer symptom or any vaguely embarrassing issue that won’t be able to get through this barrier she’s built to get an appointment. If there’s something like that you’re easily put off going to the gp anyway but to think you’ve to phone and divulge every detail to someone who’s just going to play it down and tell you you don’t need an appointment would definitely put people off phoning or being seen. It’s such a shame

[quote sarah13xx]@Dipsydoodlenoodle yip I found that a bit bizarre too. Whoever originally took the classes could surely do some classes online or worst comes to worst even record what they’d say in the class and email it out to women before birth. Just seems mad to be able to completely take things away that clearly existed for a reason 🤔[/quote]
Exactly.

I did wonder why they couldn't just do a recording and stick it online somewhere.

My local hospital have done a few short videos (how to bath a baby, hospital bag, etc) but nothing more than that. They are 'planning' on doing a hospital visit video because obviously we can't tour the wards.

I am supposed to be doing a 1hr online antenatal class tomorrow (not ran by the NHS but referred by the NHS to a local place) but I've heard nothing and in all honesty I'm not going to chase it up as I really don't think a 1 hr online class will make much difference to me. I have watched a million youtube videos which have been a great help.

Regarding driving - I had a c section in 2017. Made a GP appt after 6 weeks. She said I have never heard of anyone being signed off to drive. She then googled "driving after casarian section" that is how she spelt it. She then started reading a mumsnet thread on the subject 🤣. I wish I was making it up! I left none the wiser and ending up calling my insurance company and they had no set policy. My friends insurance said she had to wait 6 weeks. So when you feel ready just check with your insurers. Hope this helps and makes you feel less let down.

My midwife didn't ever do 'a cursory glance' my midwife after both of mine helped latch problems, checked my stitches/wounds etc, check my stomach too 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think that’s appalling. I had my first in summer 2019 (pre-Covid obviously) on the NHS. A midwife came to see me and check my stitches (third degree year) every 48 hours. I saw a GP at my 6 week check who spotted a problem and was referred to gynaecology - I ended up needing some further surgery. I got lots of help with breastfeeding too.

I honestly don’t know how I’d have coped without that support and it seems to me that lots of problems are going to be missed which will ultimately lead to more pressure on the health service rather than less.