Private consultants for caesarean

[martha7731]

This question is not dissimilar to Kitstwins' question about consultants below, but with a slightly different emphasis!

Last October, I had an early miscarriage - it was my first pregnancy. Though I obviously can't know this, I'm convinced that part of the reason I miscarried was that I was in a state of terror about the whole process, particularly the birth part - to the point where I couldn't really eat/sleep/function at all.

I am now considering getting pregnant again - and also seeing a psychotherapist to try and deal with some of my issues beforehand so I don't go quite as mental this time! But what has become apparent is that the only way I could ever have a baby is by elective caesarean - and I don't say this lightly by any means, as I do know all of the many disadvantages and risks involved.

If I did get pregnant again, I would seriously consider going private (I'm based in London), so what I wanted to know was if anyone had any recommendations of private consultants who would be suitable given my various anxieties? I know that if I pay for a caesarean I can get one, but I would like a consultant who took my fears and choices seriously rather than simply writing me off as 'too posh to push'. Ideally within a private wing of an NHS hospital, but am willing to consider all options.

[margoandjerry]

but lulumama, everyone of my friends (every single one) ended up with an emergency CS (apart from my sister who ended up with fourth degree tears).

We all have different pools of knowledge and experience to draw upon.

[Lulumama]

failure to progress is a bugbear of mine as it is very often to do with the way labour is managed

early induciotn with low bishops score

immobility

epidural given too early

etc..

it is more than luck that dictates our birth experience

anyway, good luck to the OP, i have every confidence she can get what she wants on the NHS due to her tokophobia.

[Rochwen]

Just a quick word about Martha's situation. I understand the reason she wants to go private is because she doesn't want her choice to be questioned. She's already doing that with her gp and psychotherapist. I think she realises that this would stress her even more and she wants to avoid it and I can understand that. SHe just wants a guaranteed el/cs and is looking for the best way to get that. I hope she can get that on the NHS.

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

You have to remember with cs, that it's not just about the delivery of the baby, it's also about the knock-on effects.

Scar infections, future fertility issues, internal adhesions to other organs, a possible limit to the amount of children you can have (you can only have so many sections), I could go on and on. And I have had a cs.

[pruners]

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[slinkiemalinki]

I don't think many consultants would write you off as too posh to push. I remember reading recently that a high number of female consultant OBs would choose an elective section anyway - probably because they see the worst side far more than the normal childbirth side and thus probably have a bit of a skewed view themselves!
Also think about why you want to go private in view of what others have said about getting a section on the NHS- I had a natural birth first time and hopefully will do again, but I am still going private (at Chelsea) because the facilities are nicer, and the MWs not overworked and overstressed like is sadly the case on the NHS. But it is a lot to pay for that luxury. I had two MWs at my daughter's birth. It wasn't that I didn't have criticisms of them and the process, I did- but at least I didn't have some of the horrible first-time London birth experiences some of my friends did. Although a large part of that could be luck!
Read the "list of private consultants at C&W" thread - somewhere down on Pregnancy board I think - and ask around. There are some good recommendations on that thread but in the end I have opted for the consultant who I saw briefly prior to having my daughter.

[pruners]

Message withdrawn

[eleusis]

I think it is also very clear in the OP's post that she want to know how to get a section and is not seeking to debate whether or not she should have one.

My words are pretty strong because I think she doesn't want a debate, but rather wants advice on how to get one, hence the feet stomping advice.

Mears, I'm sorry if I offended you. I really do think you are a fab midwife (as far as I can know from reading your posts on here over the years). But, sadly, not every midwife in every hospital is as wise as you are. Anyway, sorry about my blanket statements about midwives. I'm sure some are lovely.

Oh, and it has not been my experience that all obstetricians are happy to jump into a c-section plan. I found I had to convince them too.

Martha, if you are determined that you want a section, you can probably get it on the NHS. If I am wrong and you actually want to discuss whether or not it's the right thing to do, than feel free to ignore my posts.

[Lulumama]

i think it would be very remiss to simply say yes, have a c.s, without any mention of the reasons not to. or at least consider why not. and i have stated firmly i think she should and could get one on the NHS.

[eleusis]

Pruners, do you think that the NHS offers "well managed" vaginal births to all the pregnant women who come through their doors? I don't. I think that especially on the NHS, a planned section is safer.

[VictorianSqualor]

Ladies, can I ask that we continue this conversation over here rather than on this thread?
I think we've all given the OP the advice we would/can now it's time to take the debate elsewhere.
Thankyou.

[eleusis]

Agree with VS. This thread is about how to get a section.

The other thread is the place to discuss whether or not a first time mum should have one.

[NAB3wishesfor2008]

I have had section and vaginal birth and I know which I would have next time, but of course there can't be a next time becasue of my section. Think very carefully before you plump for a major operation. It will effect everything, not least your options for future children.

[pruners]

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[expatinscotland]

I'd trust mears.

But anyone around here? NO WAY.

It's all the luck of the draw and you're SOL in some locations.

[Mintpurple]

Just cant resist a comment!

To a certain extent I agree with a lot of the comments on here actually, however to lump all midwives into the 'natural birth at all costs' basket is quite wrong. Some m/w are more than happy to advise a c/s, more so than some docs. Quite often I see m/ws arguing with docs to do a c/s for a patient when we know that labour is going nowhere and 'another 4 hours' is just prolonging the whole scenario.
Of course intervention, immobility and inductions are heavily to blame for increasing the c/s rate, and to some extent poor midwifery and medical care will also contribute.

It is well documented that a c/s is generally not a safer option for mother and baby than a VB, but in some cases it will be safer, and in hindsight, some women who have had a VB would have been better off with a c/s, but hindsight is a great thing

To the poster who noted the disagreement between m/w and drs, it is only to be expected really, as we both view birth from different perspectives, m/ws from a prespective of birth being a natural event in your life, drs from birth being a condition to be cured viewpoint so naturally there is going to be divergence of opinion. As a m/w, it does piss me off slightly when a doc breezes in to a normal birth and makes pronouncements which may be in conflict with my own or the womans views, and it would be wrong of me as a m/w not to voice a disagreement.

To the OP who wants a c/s - I think that it would be worth going down the NHS route first and see how it goes. I think it would be negligent of any doc or m/w to just say 'you want a c/s - no problem' without at least exploring the reasons why, and you must expect that, but with supporting evidence from your gp I think you have a good case for an el c/s. You may have no problems at all convincing the consultant, or you may have to stamp your feet, but at the end of the day, if you dont get what you want, you know you can get it privately elsewhere if you are prepared to pay, so try the NHS route first.

Good luck with with whatever you choose

[slinkiemalinki]

The OP did ask for recommendations for consultants, not whether she could get a section on the NHS. Maybe there are other reasons she wants to go private.
While it does not discuss OP's worries specifically - although note some consultants are not praised for their bedside manner! - here is the long thread on C&W doctors here if you are still interested in recommendations!

[martha7731]

Thanks for all your messages everyone. I'd been offline for a day or so, and came back to a long thread!

As I suspected would happen, this has turned into a thread debating the rights and wrongs of elective sections. So I just wanted to clarify: to those who say that I need to know the disadvantages of having a caesarean: I do know them, and have (as you can imagine) researched this topic in some detail. I know it may be difficult but you'll just have to take my word for it when I say that vaginal birth is not an option for me.

Re private vs. NHS: I am aware that I could probably get a section on the NHS if I caused a fuss. But last time I was pregnant, as I said, I was not able to eat, sleep or function, never mind 'make a fuss' with a stroppy midwife. (And I normally am quite an assertive person.)

So that's why I was talking about private consultants. I also think that with all my anxieties, going private may be a better option anyway, just because of the usual NHS problems and issues. But I'm very aware that I need to tackle my fears anyway and I am trying to do this - as one poster said, it's always possible I would go into labour early.

To those in this thread (Orangina?) who do have recommendations of private consultants, I would really appreciate if you could either post those here, or pass them on to me in some other way - how does that work?

[VictorianSqualor]

Martha, can I suggest that when you do get pg you at least make on appointment with the NHS consultant and see how they are about you asking for an el cs first.
It's possible you could get your cs without much hassle and end up paying through the teeth for the same consultant if you go private.
I do understand not wanting to fight for it though, As I mentioned previously I'm in the opposite situation and hate the fact that I have to really stand my ground to get my VBA2C.

[martha7731]

Yes I would definitely ask to see an NHS consultant first. I've already spoken to my GP about this after I had my miscarriage so she knows about my issues.

I'm just a bit unclear about how early you have to confirm if you want to go private? (particularly in an NHS hospital) and I wouldn't want to spend months pursuing the NHS option only to find it was too late. If anyone knows any more about this - i.e. how early you have to confirm you're going private - that info would be v. welcome too.

[Rolf]

I can see that the idea of being processed through the normal booking-in system would be distressing for you, if you are worrying about when and how to raise your request to have a c-section. It would obviously be much less frightening to know, from your first appointment, that you will be treated gently and that your fears are respected.

There is every chance you would get this on the NHS but you could also get unlucky and end up with a long wait in a claustrophobic waiting room, a midwife you don't connect with and a doctor who doesn't listen to your worries.

I had my 1st two babies under the "normal" NHS system. My 3rd baby died at 19 weeks and thereafter (another baby, and currently 26 weeks pregnant) I've had the "red carpet" NHS treatment. I've seen my consultant from the beginning of each pregnancy, and always had very experienced and caring midwives. I had a counsellor at the hospital last time, too, which was very helpful. My notes have big stickers on them alerting anyone dealing with me that I have a complicated history and to be nice to me.

A friend recently had an elective section at Queen Charlotte's for her first baby. Her previous obstetric history was very sad and she was nervous about the whole thing.

Would it be worth seeing if your GP would refer you to an obstetric consultant (once you've got some good recommendations from other mnetters) and try to get onto that sort of NHS care where you get much more tlc?

[VictorianSqualor]

That's just it though starlight, I think if you're lucky enough to get a good midwife then you will be supported. Extreme fear of birth is a real and recognised phobia that has to be treated the same as any physical medical condition and if your mw recognises that in you it should be easy enough to get an el cs.
Should being the operative word here of course.

[Mum1369]

Hi Martha
I have a lovely private consultant you might want to use. I had lots of issues with my pregnancies, he was great. If you CAT me I will mail you the details. I think you do this by clicking on my name ?? Not sure.

[orangina]

Hi Martha,
If you want to contact me, you can either CAT me (I think by clicking on my name?) or email me on july dot nanny at yahoo dot co dot uk. Would recommend you contact consultant as soon as you now youj are pregnant. You could of course contact him or her beforehand to have a consultation to discuss your issues etc, in preparation of getting pg, if that would help with anxieties etc. Let me know if you do email me as i don't always check that email account!