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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Can i refuse - risk of cord prolapse

116 replies

hbbyno2 · 22/02/2023 12:50

Second baby, gestational hypertension being controlled with meds, also small baby. Was having a planned csec due to previous birth anyway but they have no space to book me in and baby is transverse so they are admitting me Sunday with a plan to fit me in in between emergencies in the consultants words @when they can fit me in some day next week whilst I am already in hospital

I have a child at home already I live 10 mins from hospital I dont want to just be admitted potentially for a whole week before my baby even comes. I also work for myself so wasn't going to go on many leave until baby is here and now losing a weeks pay before I even start when I am having very short mat leave already

Name change as very specific situation lol

OP posts:
Isthisexpected · 22/02/2023 15:29

No reason they can't phone you on the day if you're so close to them. Unless they are suggesting you need continuous monitoring?

TheShellBeach · 22/02/2023 15:41

I'm a midwife.
If your waters break and the cord prolapses your baby will probably die if you're not already in hospital. You need an immediate emergency section. Even then you could lose your baby.
Don't risk it. I've seen babies die because of this.

TheShellBeach · 22/02/2023 15:43

Toddlerteaplease · 22/02/2023 15:05

Could they admit you, then send you on home leave? And you come back when called. Hopefully they keep your bed.

And you come back when your waters break and the cord has prolapsed?
It'll be too late.

Lkydfju · 22/02/2023 15:44

I wouldn’t risk it; I had a small transverse baby and they spoke about the serious risk of sepsis if I went into labour

Original poster
hbbyno2 · 22/02/2023 15:45

USaYwHatNow · 22/02/2023 15:26

@CatherinedeBourgh they won't section a small for gestational age baby who would then also be pre-37 weeks. Which is why they likely want to admit OP. If something happens they can section quickly, but in the meantime OP is in the safest place to wait out until 37 weeks.

They aren't admitting me until I am 37 weeks, on Sunday

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 22/02/2023 15:45

hbbyno2 · 22/02/2023 14:59

Omg 4 mins they didn't tell me that just said the risk was small but significant

Show quote history

What they mean is that the risk of cord prolapse is small but significant.
If you actually have a cord prolapse, even in hospital, it can cause the death of your baby.
Don't risk it.

Original poster
hbbyno2 · 22/02/2023 15:46

If it is so risky and I am having a csection either way why aren't the prioritising me when I turn 37 weeks to having it on Sunday or even Monday if its such an emergency? I feel quite confused

OP posts:
Twinklenoseblows · 22/02/2023 15:48

I had an analogous situation. The thing that persuaded me to go in is knowing that If I went against their advice and my baby died I would never ever forgive myself.

Not ideal, but can you work from the hospital while you're waiting?

Springintoabetterlife · 22/02/2023 15:53

CAT 1 section aim to get the baby out within 30 mins. In our local hospitals they do them in 10 mins from the midwife saying it’s a CAT 1.

notea · 22/02/2023 16:03

I was in your position, admitted at 37 weeks, delivered at 39, and a similar distance from the hospital, though no other children,

The NHS is desperately short of beds - if they are prioritising admitting you, then they must think it's really important.

The reason they aren't delivering the baby now is because of a risk of breathing issues and the baby needing special care, which is common for a c-section at 37 weeks. Those issues are much reduced by 39 weeks. They are doing the best for your baby.

Please go in.

HedgehogB · 22/02/2023 16:03

you are not an emergency until the cord prolapse (if it happens) actually occurs - but then you have minutes. Which is why they want you in there so they can rush to act quickly if needs be. So please don’t take a risk I had cp with my son, extremely traumatic, they had to cut the cord up inside and forceps him out he nearly died and so did I. He was in scbu for a week with hypoxia. It’s a week that your first born left at home may not enjoy, but they won’t remember; and you may suffer a little financially ; but nowhere near as bad as the suffering if you lose your child. I don’t think anyone on here wants to frighten you but it seems like the possible consequences have not been clearly explained to you. Please comply and go in when asked. Good luck with the birth and best wishes

KindlyKanga · 22/02/2023 16:10

hbbyno2 · 22/02/2023 15:46

If it is so risky and I am having a csection either way why aren't the prioritising me when I turn 37 weeks to having it on Sunday or even Monday if its such an emergency? I feel quite confused

Because at the moment it isn't an emergancy. But it could become one.

If you are unsure of their reasoning I would make sure you ask whatever questions you need to to understand it.

Original poster
hbbyno2 · 22/02/2023 16:15

notea · 22/02/2023 16:03

I was in your position, admitted at 37 weeks, delivered at 39, and a similar distance from the hospital, though no other children,

The NHS is desperately short of beds - if they are prioritising admitting you, then they must think it's really important.

The reason they aren't delivering the baby now is because of a risk of breathing issues and the baby needing special care, which is common for a c-section at 37 weeks. Those issues are much reduced by 39 weeks. They are doing the best for your baby.

Please go in.

I will have a csection next week regardless they said at 37 weeks because if my other risk factors so not sure it's that?

OP posts:
Jobsharenightmare · 22/02/2023 16:16

Ok so I would go through BRAIN with my patients:

What are the risks? Get them to say the actual stats*
What are the benefits?
What are the alternatives? (There is often at least one that hasn't been mentioned)
What does my intuition say?
What happens if we do nothing (insert for an hour/day/week etc)?

  • Important because on the wards I often hear X doubles your risk of Y. But the actual stat is from 1/1000 to 2/1000 which may be a palatable risk but "double" might make someone think high risk.
Original poster
hbbyno2 · 22/02/2023 16:18

Jobsharenightmare · 22/02/2023 16:16

Ok so I would go through BRAIN with my patients:

What are the risks? Get them to say the actual stats*
What are the benefits?
What are the alternatives? (There is often at least one that hasn't been mentioned)
What does my intuition say?
What happens if we do nothing (insert for an hour/day/week etc)?

  • Important because on the wards I often hear X doubles your risk of Y. But the actual stat is from 1/1000 to 2/1000 which may be a palatable risk but "double" might make someone think high risk.

This is really helpful thank you so much

OP posts:
Original poster
hbbyno2 · 22/02/2023 16:19

Tbh now convinced my baby is going to die so ringing them first thing to try and push for emergency csection on Sunday as soon as I 37 weeks

OP posts:
GlitteryFarts · 22/02/2023 16:21

As an ex midwife and a mum of 4, I can honestly say at 37 weeks with a transverse baby this would be one if the very few reasons I would leave my children and stay in hospital. The risk is just too great. There is nothing more terrifying than a cord prolapse IN hospital, never mind out. I've been wheeled down the corridor kneeling on a bed under a sheet being pushed full pelt down to theatre with my hand trying to keep a baby's head off a cord more than once and the adrenaline rush is unlike anything else. We literally have minutes to get that baby out. Please don't risk this.

Moonshore4 · 22/02/2023 16:23

I was admitted also due to high risk of cord prolapse. It wasn’t ideal and I had two other small children at home, but there was no way I wasn’t going to take their advice. Imagine if something had happened, I knew I would never forgive myself! I also was told it wasn’t an emergency but still fairly urgent as I was 38 weeks, so they’d fit me in asap - c section was two days later.

Isthisexpected · 22/02/2023 16:31

Lots of people saying high risk here but not defining it. Risk it happening versus risk of fatal outcome are two different numbers.

notea · 22/02/2023 16:33

hbbyno2 · 22/02/2023 16:15

I will have a csection next week regardless they said at 37 weeks because if my other risk factors so not sure it's that?

Show quote history

My apologies, I had misread your original post - 39 weeks is what doctors aim for if there are no other risk factors, but you've mentioned GD and a small baby,, which would change that plan.

I really hope you have a healthy baby, though the next couple of weeks may not be much fun while you wait for surgery,

TimeToFlyNow · 22/02/2023 16:33

Fancysauce · 22/02/2023 13:12

Would you rather have a cord prolapse then?

I had one and my baby nearly died. If i hadn't already been on the ward with a midwife and surgical team a few steps away, my baby would certainly have died. You get minutes to deal with a cord prolapse.

Same, it was absolutely horrendous

MissAtomicBomb1 · 22/02/2023 16:39

Onynx · 22/02/2023 14:58

I was in a similar position and was told that if labour starts and if the cord is 'born' first they have approx 4 mins to get the baby out. They had wanted me to be admitted from 36 wks for that reason but luckily he turned from transverse to breech. Still a section but less stress.

Yes I was told the same. Baby needs to be out in a few minutes.
DS2 was transverse and I was admitted for 3 weeks before he was delivered at 38 weeks. It was rubbish but you do what you have to do. I also had a 3 yr old. He coped just fine with a lot of juggling between family & friends, in fact he was spoilt rotten!
Realistically it may be a 10min drive but in reality by the time you noticed anything was amiss and drove to the hospital (assuming no traffic), got gowned up & into theatre, anaesthetised etc it would be at least 30mins. I personally wouldn't be happy with that level of risk.

MissAtomicBomb1 · 22/02/2023 16:47

Isthisexpected · 22/02/2023 16:31

Lots of people saying high risk here but not defining it. Risk it happening versus risk of fatal outcome are two different numbers.

What statistical risk would make it ok to go against the advice and stay at home when the outcome could mean the death of your baby?
It's only a week when all said and done

SheilaFentiman · 22/02/2023 16:59

Oh op, this must be scary and I feel should have been explained better. Good luck.

SheilaFentiman · 22/02/2023 17:27

They may be thinking, if they admit you Sunday, then you will be right there if any other planned c sections don’t happen and you can go straight away

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