Hospital experience

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Hi

I live in London not far from UCLH. I have PCOS and it took me 3 years to conceive. My early pregnancy wasn’t smooth. An appointment and seeing a midwife were good. At 30 weeks into pregnancy, I started to notice reduced movement. 36 weeks midwife appointment my fundal height was measuring small which was an indication that something was not going right. The midwife requested a scan. Which to get an appointment for the scan wasn’t easy. Finally, when I had the scan it turned out my baby was not growing as he should have. So the plan was to deliver him in 39 weeks. I was booked for induction of labour. Get a phone call from the hospital to come at noon which I did by 14 induction process started which was prostaglandin gel unfortunately first try felt my cervix was high up and closed. I was getting strong contractions. Got a second gel again contractions were bad with only the fingertip opening of the cervix. I was given no painkillers just paracetamol because I wasn’t 4 cm dilated. I had 4 cervical examinations without painkillers and is fair to say that was painful. My option was to get C C-section. I was told not to eat and drink at 16:40 I was told to eat as they couldn’t do the C-section that day because of other emergency cases. The next day the same thing happened. I was so upset and I was emotional I discharged myself from that hospital i don’t safe to give birth there. How can I change hospitals now that I am 39 weeks plus? Did any of you have, a similar experience and what was your outcome, please?

Thanks, ladies I am lost

I’m sorry that you’re having such a bad experience. I too had dreadful birth experiences and it is a national scandal how bad maternity care is.
I would say it’s probably a bit late to change hospitals just get back there and get them to do the C-section.
Do you have anyone else there who can go with you and advocate for you?
Can you tell them you can’t feel any movement and feel it’s an emergency?

Re-engage with the hospital. Explain that you do not feel safe or appropriately cared for, but that you would like an elective caesarean.

Be quietly persistent. Calm. Polite.

Good luck with the birth.

molotovcupcakes, thanks for replying to me. Got my husband with me. They know my concern about the baby movement all they are willing to do is put me on monitor be at bottom of their list for C section. Had the consultant to told me they can’t grantee when they will do it. I have been crying all night not knowing what to do next

Deep breaths OP. Similar happened to me, what’s important now that baby comes out and is delivered safely. You will be seen but you need to go back to the hospital and speak to them.

Honestly everything they did was right, I was pushed back for a twin pregnancy and then a further emergency. So my EMCS was at 2am when it was supposed to be in the morning before.

PS have you had your waters broken? You need to be mindful of infection.

You've been seen by a consultant, monitored and four exams. They clearly aren't concerned about baby's immediate arrival, so I think you accept the offer of a monitor and listing for C-section.

I had my baby at UCLH and it's a very safe hospital to have your baby (one of THEE best in the country I believe). I would advise you to go back.

I agree with the above posters that this is now more safely a complaint afterwards rather than changing now. I would ask for enhanced monitoring whilst you wait, and present immediately at MAU for any reduced movement concerns ASAP

@Meadowfinch I have been come and polite they were also apologetic. I haven’t got anything bad to say about the staff. When I asked to book an elective C-section they rejected it as it was full book for weeks which meant I will be 43 + weeks pregnant

@AirportObs my water is not broken but my mucus plug came off yesterday.

What would your complaint be apart from the lack of pain relief? Is it the availability of the section?

If they were concerned they would move you up the list - the fact they are not doing the c section earlier typically means they're satisfied with the current position and monitoring.

Please get as much rest as you can so you can enjoy your baby when it arrives.

@OMGsamesame

my concern are the fact they advice to deliver baby 39 weeks because of growth restriction and started induction process but fail to completed. I was told to get C section but fast all day be told oh you can eat now because they can do it maybe tomorrow.

Did you have to sign papers to discharge yourself against medical advice? I would go back to the hospital and wait on the list for a c-section. They won’t let you go to 43 weeks, after 40/41 weeks I imagine you would get moved onto the emergency list. The problem is that at the moment there are bigger emergencies than you so they are obviously happy with your baby although hard for you. The situation needs monitoring though which is why I would go back to the hospital.

OP I can totally understand why this is frustrating and upsetting. When you’re that close to term all of this just adds to an already anxious situation.

my understanding is that your c section is going to be classed as ‘urgent’ rather than emergency so if other life threatening situations come in then yours will be bumped last minute but they cannot leave you hanging on indefinitely as eventually it would become an emergency if that makes sense.

id go back today (call them first) and get back on their list. It may well be a very stressful couple of days but at this point you just want you and baby to be safe and the best way to do that is to stick with UCLH (which as far as I know and have heard is a very safe place).

bless you and hope it all goes well, you’ll meet your little one very soon x

That is just surgery though unfortunately. Emergencies have to be prioritised, surely you understand that? I know it's awful and stressful, but someone else could be in danger of death if they don't have a C-section. You just have to be patient.

I had to wait 10 days for my semi elective section while I waited in hospital!

That’s how NHS medical care works. You have to wait if your case isn’t urgent, and you get bumped for emergency cases. I’m not sure what you were expecting? Go back to hospital, be monitored and wait your turn. No other hospital is going to prioritise you either.

I have had horrible both experiences. That fucking no painkillers till 4cm rule is evil.

It's a national problem there was a report about it recently. We are women and this is woman's health those in power don't care about us

You need to get back to the hospital asap , get readmitted and sit on the antenatal ward. I get it’s frustrating and worrying to have not got your section. But if you are there today you have a chance of getting it. If you are at home you won’t get it. It’s unusual for you to not make the list two days in a row. Ask to speak to the ward manager/shift coordinator and tell them you want your concerns about the baby’s safety documenting. At least while on the ward you can be monitored.

Yes, you could change hospital but normally booking at a different hospital takes some time, I’m not sure how fast you could be sorted if you present there……do London hospitals share the same electronic notes! They’d probably want to do their own scans which probably wouldn’t happen on a Sunday. And their section lists might be just as full.

And tell them you want gas and air for examinations, there is no reason why you can’t have it. Although if you’re going down the section route you probably won’t need any more.

The induction failing isn't a hospital failure though, it happens a lot. I realise this makes it no less frustrating and uncomfortable for you. I echo PP saying go back to hospital and let them monitor and get you back on the c section list.

UCLH is an excellent hospital. They may be stretched but they do know what they are doing maternity-wise.

Hi op, i’m a little unclear on your next steps if you’ve self discharged. Are you now waiting for a section? Surely you know that emergencies have to come first?

I’m sorry to say I also don’t believe it’s the norm to be offered pain relief for cervical examinations. I had 2 of them at a midwife appointment.

I would contact the hospital immediately and confirm the next steps.

I am going in for an induction next week and have been pre warned I may need to wait and sometimes this can be days if they are busy, but will be monitored in the meantime. Unfortunately the NHS is stretched and they have to prioritise according to need. You'll probably find it the same at any NHS hospital. It's difficult but in these situations I think you have to try and trust the process.

I hate to say it, but none of that sounds out of the norm.

The induction failing is rotten, but that's sometimes the way it goes. Nothing you or the doctors can do to change that. The waiting is entirely normal too. I was waiting for 4 days for space to become free on the labour ward with pre-eclampsia. It's truly unfortunate you were nil by mouth for 2 days, but not unheard of. The situation can fluctuate throughout the day. The consultants have to consider the bigger picture and do what is best and safest for everyone with the staff and beds they have. No-one is making you wait for fun. It's just the nature of triage. If it's too busy, then it's senseless to add to it when monitoring is showing there's no emergent need.

As for the pain relief, there's not much they can offer on the ward unfortunately. It would require 1 to 1 care for some of it, which they just don't have the staffing for. Pregnancy in itself limits what can be given too. I'm afraid I don't know if there's any good answer to it. Gas+air should be available for cervical examinations, but it isn't offered. You need to ask for it and be firm about it.

Either you need to go back to UCLH, or try a different hospital. But there's no guarantee it will happen any quicker. I get you're worried, but at least you'll be in a place you and baby can be monitored