Hospital transfers after c-section-help!

[WheresTheAuPair]

I just had a tour of my maternity hospital today by a very young NVQ support worker who has left me slightly concerned by her responses to some of my questions.

I know that I will need a c-section in 2 weeks time and I initially asked my community midwife if I could transfer out of the main high risk hospital and into one of the local birthing centres/low risk quiet maternity units for the postnatal care afterwards. (I had a horrific experience the 1st time round with DS and keen not to be left in the main hospital for the postnatal care this time)

My community midwife said that it was fine and after 24hr if all ok then I could be transferred by ambulance to one of the local units.

This person doing the tour today said that I could leave after 12 hours but would have to make my own transfer by car! Is this right?!

Has anyone else had any experience with being transferred post c-section to another unit? Surely 12 hrs after major surgery you are not expected to make the move yourself? That sounds very dangerous to me IFKWIM.

Any experiences would be a great help- this has gotten me really worried!

oh dearie me.your transfer is a clinical decision based on your obs and stability and progress.that decion is not made by suppoet worker

no you wouldn't be expected to drive
nor would you lift bags/cases post op

congrats on pg btw

I think the assumption is that if you have a partner who can drive you - they will let you do that. FYI I was up and about within a hour of a caesarian and completely mobile by two hours so there's no reason I couldn't have walked to a car and got in. Though obviously lifting the baby/bags etc is not possible.

I think the assumption is that if you have a partner who can drive you - they will let you do that. FYI I was up and about within a hour of a caesarian and completely mobile by two hours so there's no reason I couldn't have walked to a car and got in. Though obviously lifting the baby/bags etc is not possible.

But i'm now wondering if DH is meant to transfer me? I know I won't be able to drive as last time I had a section I was very ill and weak for a long time afterwards.

I can't help but wonder that following the surgery i'd be under the duty of their care for the 3 days that I'm meant to be in?

Surely, if your meant to be under postnatal care for at least 3 days following a section- any transfers between hospitals should be the hospitals responsibility? It just seems very risky otherwise?

Plus what would be stopping me scooting off home if i'm just being left to transfer myself?!

This may actually be true
The decision to let you transfer wouldnt be made by someone so junior, and you wouldnt be driving yourself. but the rest of it is very possible.
When I had my last C section the woman in the bed opposite had had an emergency CS in the night. She was from a nearby town which had a midwife unit. The morning after her CS it was suggested to her that her DH should drive her to the midwife unit.
It didnt seem right to me, the poor woman looked completely tramatised, and didnt look like she wanted to move at all, she didnt look up to a car journey at all.

Ok then i'm assuming that an elective is a different kettle of fish in terms of recovery than an emergency then? I'm basing my reaction here on the fact I was completely out of it for 12 hrs after the 1st section and could barely move for 24 hrs after!!

p.s thanks scottishmummy!

My local hospital are happy for people to be discharged sooner than 3 days after section.

I did bugger off home and fed the cat and dropped off DD during a transfer . You are technically under your own care during the transfer unless you are in the care of the ambulance service.

This just seems crazy to me. I am happy to get the postnatal care afterwards as I have a v.demanding 2y old DS at home. I wouldn't mind some recovery time after the section so I xcan cope with both when I get home. Am just a bit at the thought of moving myself!!

She also said that the canteen has no regular opening hours and many of the ladies (i'm assuming NOT c-sections ones lol) walk to the local Tescos for food!!

I keep telling myself that the care in this hospital can't possibly be as bad as the experience in last hospital that I had DS in . What has kept me positive was the thought of being transferred.

OOO why can't I have a homebirth?!

whomovedmychocolate can i ask- what time did you opt to have your section? I'm wondering if its better to have one in the morning or night?

Am really hoping for a speedy recovery this time around. Last time I had 4 days of failed induced labour and no sleep at all which I'm sure helped make me so ill post surgery.

could you chat to MW and discuss your queries and concerns get their policies etc

that's a good idea- i'd like to get this straight before being at the mercy of the MW in the hospital!

The decision wouldnt be made by a support worker you've seen on a visit to the hospital! It would definitely depend on your condition - you wouldnt be discharged from their care unless the doctor was happy. And no you wouldnt be expected to drive yourself - not allowed after a csection!!
There is no reason why your partner shouldnt take you though - although in my area it is dependent on their being surplus space in the local birthing unit. Women who deliver there have priority (it's a small unit with about 8 rooms) so for instance, if 7 rooms are full and they have a woman booked in to give birth at the birthing unit, then they don't allow women to transfer after giving birth in the big regional hospital.

Sorry, maybe that post wasnt very clear: if a woman booked in to give birth at the local unit is due, then they are likely to keep the room free, even though they obviously dont know exactly when she'll go into labour. It's just worth remembering so you're not disappointed. I had my first in our local unit, and other friends of mine who had babies at the big hospital expected to be able to transfer back, and were sometimes disappointed as there wasnt room.

No I assumed that the decision would be made by a doctor but even so- am just a bit surprised by the self transfer idea. If memory serves, at 12 hrs post op I was still wired up to a drip and catheter anyway!

Hmm might be easier to just stay in and try and get a private room instead..

decision will be Dr and midwives.discussion of obs and if stable,safe to transfer.

all trusts have different policies etc but essentially completely clinically driven

this has really troubled you what a shame.you dont need additional worry

Have it in the morning - you get fresh doctors - have it at 3am and you get the knackered registrar who has done four already and been up for 48 hours.

If you can, get the first spot of the day too. If you are a planned caesarian, if you are complex they do you first, so I'm always first in the clue because I'm shite at pregnancy. But apparently if you book in early you can ask for the first slot and they will try and oblige.

The earlier it's done the earlier you get tea and toast too!

I wish I hadn't bothered with the hospital tour tbh. The girl doing it seemed so liaise faire (sp ?) and as if it was all a big inconvenience to her busy life

Her attitude really irritated me TBH.

For me, the treatment this time round is a big deal as my first experience was so bad I said I was never having another one!!

Thanks WMMC I'm seeing the consultant on Tuesday to get the date confirmed. I'll ask for the early slot then

I was due to transfer to my local unit after a planed c-section last year.

I had DD on the monday and was told I could transfer on the Tuesday but DP would have to drive me. Unfortunately our only car is a VW transporter so not the easiest thing to haul yourself into 24 hrs after a section but it would be the only option.

In the end there were no beds at my local unit and they were busy at the main hospital so sent me home on the thursday.

I do know one woman had her c-section at the main hospital one morning and arrived back at the local unit 9pm the same evening.

I was moved in a hospital bus. I had no dp or dh though and had to make the lunchtime trip or stay in the main hospital. The decision seemed to be based on whether I had managed to pee without the catheter.