No c sections available

[RunningAlong]

My partner is 35 weeks pregnant and due to gestational diabetes has been told that the baby has to come out by 37 weeks. The baby is breach and we requested a c section right at the start however none was booked. When we saw a consultant yesterday we were told there are no dates available until February which would put my partner at 43 weeks. What happens now? We are getting no answers from anyone.

OP, they will find a slot for your partner to have this C Section. It’s been deemed medically necessary. The fact that there’s apparently no slots available until your partner will be 43weeks does not mean they won’t be doing a section at 37weeks. You’re just going to get less warning than is ideal. And it might not be in the hospital you are registered with. Don’t let them forget you exist until it is sorted, but trust that someone will sort it.

They're not going to let a diabetic mother go to 43 weeks without a section/induction. Are you sure they're not waiting to see if baby turns by 37 weeks before booking a date? It's still a possibility. What about an ecv, has that been offered? If a section is still indicated, they'll fit you in. If they have to do elective sections overnight, they will. Please don't panic. It's not worth the risk to them to not deliver the baby as the guidelines suggest.

It sounds odd but I’d also call your mp - there not going to be much they can they can do I terms of getting you booked in obviously- but if they’re a good mp (!?) then what they might be able to help with is getting answers and information for you

I’d really ask to see their guidelines that says baby ‘has to’ come out via section at 37 weeks?

Most trusts have a policy for induction at 38 weeks for GD so if baby is breech then the recommendation would surely be a section at 38. Electives sections don’t typically take place before 39 weeks due to the fact section babies have higher risk of breathing complications. Is your partner having growth scans?

Has no ecv been offered? Spinning babies is meant to be quite effective too as is acupuncture

Have you been seen by or referred to the breech clinic yet? They may be able to help make further referral for planned C-sec? If you haven't been referred to breech clinic- most don't take referrals til 35+5 then push for that via midwife. So sorry you and your partner are in this position- it's horrendously stressful when you need it least.

Id escalate to PALs now with all the history and make it very clear that if anything goes wrong they will be accountable.

There are other reasons why a c section is required and we were told yesterday by the diabetes nurse that due to size baby would need to be delivered by 37 weeks. We have managed to get a telephone appointment tomorrow morning with a different consultant

this is awful! can you change hospitals?

@RunningAlong

There are other reasons why a c section is required and we were told yesterday by the diabetes nurse that due to size baby would need to be delivered by 37 weeks. We have managed to get a telephone appointment tomorrow morning with a different consultant

How big is baby? Just because large size alone isn’t part of the NICE guidelines for early delivery, plus if baby is definitely coming by section the size worry is sort of negated.

Does blood flow to and from placenta look ok? Obviously I don’t know your partners medical history, sometimes they make it feel like you have no choice In how and when you deliver baby and it can be super stressful. Bottom line though, IF there is a real medical need to deliver baby at that gestation and by section, then they’ll find a slot for you.

@Funmum34

Go private, the aftercare is amazing compared to NHS

That’s a brilliant idea. I can’t believe the OP didn’t think of it. You are genius. Please hop onto as many threads as possible as deploy your insightful wisdom before other people make crippling mistakes because they are not as clever as you.

Go to PALS, complain.

My baby was breech and I don’t think I got a section date until the 36th week.

Have you tried Tommy's ? It's a midwife/childbirth charity they might give some new advice?

I am following as I am high risk and will need a cs this time and nearly died in emcs (and nearly lost our son) so the thought of them simply saying "no" is beyond appalling.

Just keep trying every channel to get some answers

This is absolutely shocking! Where that world we used to had gone to?…..
Pls update us of tomorrow.
I had CS in 2011 due to my child being breech and her position was footling breech- meaning - I was told by the midwife if my waters broken anytime before I was told I had to be in theatre in 10 mins otherwise the baby would not survive as her umbilical cord would get stuck in my cervix. It was so frightening at that time, I can’t imagine this happening these days..

Thanks everyone mostly we have had great care other than no sign of a date for c section. However we have seen this one consultant twice and both times it seems like she had no interest in us and what we wanted or indeed needed.

@Funmum34

Go private, the aftercare is amazing compared to NHS

Sure, everyone has the money for that

I have a feeling that if it was men that gave birth they'd never get told 'there are no csection slots available'

I'd kick up such a stink, OP. Contact PALS, your local MP and make it clear in writing that you will sue if there are any complications as a result of their negligence

@Funmum34

Go private, the aftercare is amazing compared to NHS

not everyone can afford up to £20k for private care

Something doesn’t sound right. Call the antenatal team and request a phone appointment- they will give you one.
If baby is breech, you will be offered a ECV. Have you discussed this? You are able to decline this and request a section as that’s a perfectly viable alternative for someone who has had an emergency section previously and currently has a breech baby. I can’t imagine a consultant would decline a section for a breech baby, something isn’t adding up. It sounds like a communication error.
There very well not be any appointments now to book into, but you should get an appointment closer to the time. I didn’t get my appointment until 37 weeks as they hadn’t done the staff Rota that far in advance

@IDontDrinkTea

It would be quite early to get your date already here - normally electives are only booked a few days before at the hospital where I work

This is what everyone seems to be missing. Not giving you a date is the way that the NHS ensures that those in most urgent need (I.e. risk to mum or baby) get one.

If one is needed, you will get one, but they won't prioritise you right now and book in the theatre space just because the baby is currently breach necessarily

I wouldn't attempt ecv with gd, history of prev emcs and measuring big for dates. Just based on my clinical background

There not going to let your diabetic and breech baby wife go past a gestation what is dangerous. Once she's closer to the time I'm
sure a date will come up. As well as everything else is looking normal eg growth, blood sugars etc they may push it to 38 weeks.

This sounds so stressful for you and your partner. I really hope you get some answers soon.
I had a consultant appointment at 20 weeks and was booked in for a C-section in March (I wasn't expecting to be given a date so soon) and even then, the first 2 days were already fully booked!

@Dmsandfloatydress

That sounds terrifying! Can you take out a loan or credit card and go private? Lord knows you should never be in such a position. I'm so sorry! I had a similar pregnancy and had a c section at 37 weeks. I cant imagine being told I couldn't get one.

I'd be doing this and then suing the NHS to recover the cost, given that they have acknowledged they are endangering both the mother and child. It's disgusting.

Hopefully my story can help calm your nerves a little - I was in a similar situation until today.

Couple of weeks ago it was decided I will need to deliver by 39 weeks due to hypertension/preeclampsia risk. They wanted to induce me originally but I have refused this so elective c section was eventually agreed.

I was told they had no slots available until February(!!), and they have put me on a waiting list for a slot. There were already 47 women on this waiting list, and I was advised to just wait for the phone call and it might be a very short notice.

I'm 39 weeks next Tuesday and was starting to get really stressed as no one has contacted me yet, and I was planning on starting to call them daily from tomorrow.

And then I received a phone call this lunchtime to let me know they have booked me in for Tuesday with pre op appointment couple of days before! Such a relief!

My point is they will definitely find a slot for you nearer the time if there's a medical reason, just be patient (I know that's easy to say, I was definitely not feeling patient myself this morning haha).

Please listen to @MKSlava and the other sensible posters on this thread. If you medically need a section you'll get one. So much misinformation on here.

Remember all hospitals have different procedures etc regarding giving dates and it's not unusual to not have a date at your stage. Also you can be given a date and then moved. Someone booked already may be shuffled to accommodate you. All hospitals should have a theatre available for obstetric emergencies at all times so it's not usually a case of a pre booked elective being cancelled to accommodate an emergency. I'm sure things will work out fine. That said if you're unhappy with the treatment from the staff please do contact pals.