Recent planned C section experience St Thomas’

[Ivf4203]

Hi all

I just received a text message from the hospital to let me know the date of my pre assessmnt however it’s a video appointment. I read on the hospital website that the C-section happens 2-3 days after pre-assessment but wonder if that’s still the case. I thought they will need to give me medicine to take, take my bloods etc? Does this mean I probably won’t have the C-section in 2-3 days after this video appointment? I know it’s not set in stone due to emergencies etc but just trying to plan/predict what week it’ll happen!

I had a planned c-section at St. Thomas' back in October. My experience might've been a bit different as I had PPROM at 32 weeks so was going in to have bloods and obs twice a week in any event, but they used my last blood test two days before as the pre-op bloods and prescribed me the post op meds at that appointment.

My understanding is that you do need that medicine and bloods and get consented before any elective c-section - maybe they'll have the video appointment with you to take consent, prescribe the meds electronically (although the pharmacist told me you can actually just get them OTC more cheaply) and then you'll attend for the bloods via the phlebotomy department (which you can just book online and they have appointments available all the time, as well as walk-in slots)? Hope it all goes well!

@schnowball thank you! I found out that this virtual appointment is a group class delivered by a midwife to educate women about risks etc. So it’s not the proper pre-assessment appt yet - I guess I have to wait for that. May I ask at what weeks did you get your provisional C-section date? I’m 37+ weeks and still have no date, getting a bit restless!

@Ivf4203 I scheduled mine directly with my consultant for 37+ 0 (as that was the point where medically they thought the developmental benefits of keeping the baby in were then outweighed by the infection risks) as I was seeing her twice a week anyway because of the PPROM plus I ended up switching over to have a private birth, but friends who had c-section babies on the NHS found out at around 38 weeks and were scheduled in the course of 39 weeks onwards.