For election section, how long?

BiscuitLover3678 · 2023-12-05T21:46:40+00:00

I’ve just done another very similar thread on induction (weighing up my options). If you decided to go for an elective section second time round instead of a vbac, how long did the whole thing take? Like once you were given your date, how long after you arrived were you all done and home? Also when did you get your date? I’m talking about if I’m overdue as an alternative to induction.

Random30 · 05/12/2023 21:50

Had planned section for twins at 37+1.

was given date at 36+3

arrived 7am on Wednesday, had section at 11, and home Sunday morning.

Diamondshmiamond · 05/12/2023 21:50

I had an elcs for other reasons, so might be different if youre overdue, but I got the date a week or so before I think. I didn't realise though that they give you a date, then you turn up for 8am, then they do them in an order so I had to wait til 4pm (horrible waiting room with just a hard wooden chair). I was next to last, but the last person got rolled over to the next day as they ran out of time.

They couldn't get me out fast enough! Ds born at 4pm, I was d/c in the afternoon the next day. Can't fault the actual surgery though.

Summermeadowflowers · 05/12/2023 21:51

I didn’t get my date until I was about 38 weeks. I suspect the hospital forgot me though as I had to ring up!

we went into the hospital at midday and I had to wait while another lady had her section. That was nerve wracking. But we went into theatre at just gone 3 and DD was born at just before 4. I was home the following day (but I did keep asking!) Good luck, I hope it all goes well for you

Original poster

BiscuitLover3678 · 05/12/2023 22:00

Diamondshmiamond · 05/12/2023 21:50

I had an elcs for other reasons, so might be different if youre overdue, but I got the date a week or so before I think. I didn't realise though that they give you a date, then you turn up for 8am, then they do them in an order so I had to wait til 4pm (horrible waiting room with just a hard wooden chair). I was next to last, but the last person got rolled over to the next day as they ran out of time.

They couldn't get me out fast enough! Ds born at 4pm, I was d/c in the afternoon the next day. Can't fault the actual surgery though.

how do they decide the order?

OP posts:

Ttcmumof · 05/12/2023 22:01

Order of priority/emergency level! Electives usually last on list.

Original poster

BiscuitLover3678 · 05/12/2023 22:02

Ttcmumof · 05/12/2023 22:01

Order of priority/emergency level! Electives usually last on list.

So you just get a day and not rough time?

OP posts:

GreatGateauxsby · 05/12/2023 22:07

You get a day and they decide the order.

Any emergencies mean your ELCS pushes back.

if there are no emergencies they will decide who goes first based on clinical priority (any pregnancy complications like GD, preeclampsia etc push you up the list)

I was elective and got first slot of the day

Ttcmumof · 05/12/2023 22:07

Typically yes. You could be told to come at 7am, wait all day and still be asked to come back tomorrow. Emergencies are emergencies and life threatening. Electives are important too, but in a priority list with limited surgeons - life threatening comes first.

Lavender14 · 05/12/2023 22:12

I decided late on, got my date for 39+4 and was taken first that morning due to having gestational diabetes and having fasted from the night before. Started at 7.30am with a covid test. Then waited for a while until was ready to be prepped which was about 8.30am. Taken to surgery for about 9, ds was born at 9.30 about 10 minutes after first cut was made. Closing took 30 minutes and then I had an hour in recovery and then was on the ward for 10.45.

Got out at lunchtime the next day which was dependent on my ability to pass enough urine. Obviously it'll depend on who else is booked in or in crisis on the day as to how quickly you'll be seen. For me it was very smooth and I felt I made the right choice.

Original poster

BiscuitLover3678 · 05/12/2023 22:14

Ttcmumof · 05/12/2023 22:07

Typically yes. You could be told to come at 7am, wait all day and still be asked to come back tomorrow. Emergencies are emergencies and life threatening. Electives are important too, but in a priority list with limited surgeons - life threatening comes first.

That’s ok I understand emergencies are always first, was more wondering how they decided between electives but that makes sense.

OP posts:

Original poster

BiscuitLover3678 · 05/12/2023 22:16

Lavender14 · 05/12/2023 22:12

I decided late on, got my date for 39+4 and was taken first that morning due to having gestational diabetes and having fasted from the night before. Started at 7.30am with a covid test. Then waited for a while until was ready to be prepped which was about 8.30am. Taken to surgery for about 9, ds was born at 9.30 about 10 minutes after first cut was made. Closing took 30 minutes and then I had an hour in recovery and then was on the ward for 10.45.

Got out at lunchtime the next day which was dependent on my ability to pass enough urine. Obviously it'll depend on who else is booked in or in crisis on the day as to how quickly you'll be seen. For me it was very smooth and I felt I made the right choice.

I love how quick this was. Might sound crazy but it’s making me think more about an elective.

OP posts:

SausageShop · 05/12/2023 22:21

At my hospital the elective list has its own theatre team so emergencies don't affect the electives.

The order on the day depends on the reasons for elective with (generally) the medical reasons ones first.
Also might depend on the estimated time they'll take / how complicated they think the surgery might be - twins, very large BMI, high risk of haemorrhage, someone also opting for sterilisation are examples of ones which would go first.

If you're all in for low risk reasons then it could well be in order of bed number!

BurbageBrook · 05/12/2023 22:24

OP I'm commenting on both threads because once I gave up on my induction we moved to a semi-planned C section. For me I was given a C section in the afternoon then out of hospital two days later. I had to have some extra monitoring due to complications. Some lucky people only have to stay overnight one night. However it is always unpredictable to an extent.

Torganer · 05/12/2023 22:25

I was booked in for an ELCS, but I went into labour a week before. Was in at 2pm, had to wait for a slot, had the section at 7pm, was out at 3pm the next day.

BurbageBrook · 05/12/2023 22:26

By the way I'm not saying the complications because they are outing, but they arose during the surgery and were manageable and just meant I had to have some extra monitoring. Still glad I eventually had the C section, though recovery was tough.

CantCatchaBreak · 05/12/2023 22:32

Had 2 electives. Went into labour before my scheduled date both times. My waters broke and I was 4cm dilated when I arrive at hospital with my first so was taken to theatre straight away. With my second, contractions started at 8pm, went to hospital at 1am and was examined but I was only 1cm dilated and waters hadn't gone so had to wait until 10.30am before I was taken. Was home the following day both times.

Babyboomtastic · 05/12/2023 22:40

Mine were elective sections by choice (kind of - phobia of vaginal childbirth)

For my first I got a provisional date at 12w, but it was confirmed at 30 something weeks. For my second it was similar. The surgeon and I literally got our diaries out and worked out a date that suited us.

For both I arrived at 8, was taken to a side room with a bed etc. My husband was given a cup of tea. Baby was born at 10 for my first, 11 for my second (they wanted to wait until a particular lady had given birth first so a slight delay).

With both I was back on the ward by lunch time. I was given the option of going home the following day but opted for an extra night as I wasn't quite ready. Also my hospital is awesome with decent food and it felt like a bit of a pamper, though I did post for a private room the second night (about £70).

Recovery was great.

Original poster

BiscuitLover3678 · 05/12/2023 22:45

Babyboomtastic · 05/12/2023 22:40

Mine were elective sections by choice (kind of - phobia of vaginal childbirth)

For my first I got a provisional date at 12w, but it was confirmed at 30 something weeks. For my second it was similar. The surgeon and I literally got our diaries out and worked out a date that suited us.

For both I arrived at 8, was taken to a side room with a bed etc. My husband was given a cup of tea. Baby was born at 10 for my first, 11 for my second (they wanted to wait until a particular lady had given birth first so a slight delay).

With both I was back on the ward by lunch time. I was given the option of going home the following day but opted for an extra night as I wasn't quite ready. Also my hospital is awesome with decent food and it felt like a bit of a pamper, though I did post for a private room the second night (about £70).

Recovery was great.

This sounds ideal

OP posts:

Snowconecanfly · 05/12/2023 22:55

At my hospital, all C-Section patients go onto a bay with 4-6 beds, not allowed single or private rooms. They try to discharge as soon as possible, most in one night unless complications.

I was allocated a day, order decided on actual day.

defintely no pampering - have to care for baby and walk pushing a cot to get meals if want them! No Dad’s allowed to stay overnight.

sadly, I had complications post surgery so was in 4 nights.

Babyboomtastic · 06/12/2023 00:23

Crikey in my trust everyone gets brought their meal irrespective of delivery type. Also cups of tea, fresh jugs of water etc. They even did nappies for me on the first night after section (I didn't ask, they just offered). One nurse had even cooked up some spaghetti Bolognese at home and brought it in for the ladies who had missed dinner!

I have a friend who when having her second even managed to wangle 3 nights because it was a nice break from her toddler 😂

Obviously its not like that everywhere but pockets of loveliness do still exist thankfully.

Tiedtoatwat · 06/12/2023 01:09

It's 20+ years ago since I had my children but I don't imagine that much has changed, really, apart from the fact that new mums seem to be sent out home asap! I was kept in around a week after my three were born and it was so good in establishing breastfeeding!

My first had basically used up all the placenta so needed to come out sooner than later though not an emergency. My consultant (attended and paid for as a private patient but NHS once I went into hospital) tried several times to induce labour but it didn't work. He reckoned that my 8lbs 7.5 oz baby was too big anyway for my small pelvis. My other two were bigger.

After my first c/s, I knew that my consultant's delivery day was a Wednesday and knew that I'd be having my baby at 38 weeks, so I knew from the start when my baby would be born, same with my third (different consultant, as my first one had retired but they were best buddies).

I had a severe infection after my first birth, where I had midwives packing my wound with ice, and again after my second one, only I immediately recognised the signs and got antibiotics, so with my third, I had antibiotics through my epidural.

I was in hospital literally for a week after each birth! Not sure why. Probably because of the infections after the first two births, and the fact that both babies were jaundiced (probably because they were early). 3rd was also jaundiced, plus I was sterilised, and had an apronectomy on top of a c/section!!!

I lived to tell the tale! 😃

Original poster

BiscuitLover3678 · 06/12/2023 13:19

If you had a section booked for going overdue, when was it?

OP posts:

KombuchaKalling · 06/12/2023 13:30

Got the date about 2 weeks before and plan was for it to be done at 37 +1 -it was twins, l was 43 and IVF pregnancy. Arrived on the Wednesday at 7am, got told at 11am it might not happen as there were no neonatal beds in the entire county. Eventually told at 4pm it definitely wasn’t happening that day and nil by mouth could stop. Staff faffed for 4 HOURS to discharge me and if l was or wasn’t going to be scanned. I ran out of patience and said discharge me in the next 15 minutes or lm leaving anyway after they decided l wasn’t getting a scan. Came back the next day which was a Thursday feeling increasingly unwell (pre-eclampsia in hindsight), was a few down the list, twin 1 got out at 1pm and a few minutes later twin 2 was out. Went home on the Friday afternoon, as the noise and heat was too much

Hot tip: don’t expect much sympathy on her, l posted on here part of the way through the 1st day and got a world of shit. People don’t seem to like c sections and IVF. Must be great being easily fertile and having babies that aren’t breech (both of mine were!)

Chanhedforthis · 06/12/2023 13:39

I got my date around 36 weeks for exactly 39 weeks section date.

Arrived 7am and had my section 1ish.

It went well but recovery was brutal, was discharged in 24 hours and sent home with painkillers and blood thinners.

Good luck op.

GreenAventurinee · 06/12/2023 13:53

Had section at 37+2.
Arrived at 8am. Baby was born at 9.29am. We were home the next day at 10.30.

Best experience ever.