C-section thoughts and which London hosp to go for?

[charx]

For various medical reasons I've been offered an elective c-section for no.2 child.

C-section is not being pushed on me, but I want some ideas of what a planned c-section is like.

First labour was AWFUL and 2nd should be easier, right?!

Secondly: any thoughts on what London hospital to go to? With No.1 I was a chelsea and westminster (which was okay for labour but shocking in my after care (I was in 6 nights), but I can also choose St Georges, Kings and St Thomas'.

oh and how long do you stay in hosp after elective c-sec?

Never had an elective section but I've heard they are easier to recover from than an emergency section, which I had (ghastly experience). Friends have had electives at C&W and said that ante-natal and section itself was fine but the aftercare was pretty appalling (non existent really), which isn't much fun when you're incapacitated and trying to care for a newborn. But I'm not sure that's any different from any other hospital. And if you KNEW you were having a section you could do a lot to prepare for it (arnica, get help organised for when you got home, etc., etc.).

Stay is recommended at 3 days for a section, although I have heard of people leaving after two days as they just couldn't bear it and felt they'd be better off at home. I stayed in for five as I had complications and probably should have stayed in for longer, but this was unusual. Three tends to be the norm.

It's a very difficult call. If there are major issues and risks with a vaginal delivery and/or a strong risk of difficult labour a second time around then an elective section might well be the kinder option. It's no picnic and much harder to recover from than a straightforward vaginal delivery, but it's also much easier than a traumatic attempt at delivery followed by an emergency section.

And that's the problem really - it makes it so much harder to make a decision as each comes with their own risks of pain and difficulty, etc. I personally would never, ever chose to have a section such was my lousy experience the first time around, but I've read plenty of really positive accounts on here that make me realise that I was just unlucky. A lot of people have found them really positive and with relatively pain-free recoveries.

What does your consultant suggest? Is it worth looking into a doula or private midwife to offer support during a vaginal delivery?

Best of luck with your decision.

My section was supposed to be elective but ended up being emergency as I went into labour the day that we arranged the whole thing!

I was at King's College Hospital and I did have a good experience there. The anaesthetist was lovely and spinal blocks don't hurt at all. The operation took about 1 hour all told (15mins to get my son out and about half an hour to sew me up)

I was in hospital for 2 nights. My catheter was left in for the first day (doesn't hurt having it taken out, just awkward to cart around with you!) and I had to wear some very sexy (not!) DVT stockings while I was there. The midwives on the ward were nice and very helpful with feeding problems (I had a nightmare because my milk was delayed). Food was good too.

My stitches were not dissolving ones and they were taken out at home after 5 days with no problems at all (again, doesn't hurt)

Hope that helps!

CS were pretty much forced on me esp last time. I would have preferred VB but found recovery really easy with elective C-sections. I was in for 3 nights each time. Have no experience of your choice of hospitals - had 1st at Whittington and 2/3rd at Kingston.

I think aftercare is notoriously bad in big London hospitals because they put resources where they are really needed most - during the birth. And they deal with the more difficult cases from all around the country.

That could be being a bit charitable. My own experiences of the aftercare post emergency CS at St Thomas's were pretty grim (better second time round than first - improving?). I was on my feet and out as soon as I possibly could be. I think I only had two nights in.

I should be having an elective there fairly soon and look forward to being on my feet even sooner than with the emergencies so I can grab my baby and leg it the hell out asap.

The private room option at Tommy's is prohibitively expensive, I think the other hospitals might have more reasonable options you could look into.

All mine were born at the Homerton, in East London, none were c-sections although I was offered one for DS2 but declined.

The Hpostnatal wards at the Homerton are not great I have to say although things improved each time I went there and I think have got better since.

I found recovery from an elective c-section very easy, and totally pain-free. However, not everyone has the same experience and I think there's a lot of luck involved and it also depends on which surgeon you get on the day.

Most people stay in for 3 days after a cs. I was told I could leave after 24 hours but chose to stay in for longer as I liked having my meals brought to me and not having to look after my toddler! Sounds weird I know...

I've also had an emergency cs after a long labour, both of which were horrible, and recovery was much longer.

Can't advise on London hospitals I'm afraid. good luck with whatever you decide - it is not an easy decision because there are so many unknowns.

thank you all so much for your advice! Urgh aren't London hospitals awful - there should be a campaign for better post natal care. One of my many hideous overriding memories was on the one occasion a midwife did glance in my direction - she took my boob in her hand and repeatedly crushed it in order to 'teach' me to express (DD born with cleft and unable to breastfeed) as there was an hours queue for the one pump in the massive ward. obviously this whole traumatic encounter did nothing to help with milk supply or confidence/self esteem. I could go on . . . !!

I've had not-very-nice postnatal (post section) experiences at the Royal Free in Hampstead (horrible staff ) and the Homerton in Hackney [filthy].

I'm booked in for an elective at UCH (the EGA) now (2 weeks time...argh!). I haven't heard great things about their postnatal care (seem to be overstretched and bolshy like most big London hospitals) but they have just this week moved to a brand new building on Grafton Way (off Tottenham Court Rd), and the rooms are great, it has to be said. More private rooms, and even the shared potsnatal rooms are nice - bright, spacious, clean, nice big loos with new showers. I don't know if that is important to you? But if so, may be worth checking out.

Good luck!

I had lovely planned c-section at Kingston. Really enjoyed the whole experience - given lots of skin to skin and able to feed whilst still in theatre being sewn uP!

I insisted catheter was taken out the same day and was up on my feet using the bathroom etc 10 hours after section. I stayed in 2 nights (felt well enough to go home after 1 but was having a nice relaxing time and had 2 under 5yrs waiting for me at home!)

Good luck with yours.

Charx - why was your first birth awful? is there anything you could do to ensure same didn't happen again?
I'm in the throes of recovering from a c-section, and it's fairly awful - I had a brilliant procedure (scheduled, not emergency, so I was prepared) and was lucky enough to have my insurance co pay for a private hospital, so the immediate aftercare was wonderful.
but here i am, 3 weeks on, and suffering pretty badly (in fact if any of you other c-sectioners can reassure me re the numbness, coupled with internal pains, and very unsightly "lip" overhanging the top of the scar, I'd be grateful).
I would really avoid a c-section if you can - I know you've heard it a million times, but it really is major major surgery - intensely instrusive, and it takes weeks - sometimes months - to get over. bear in mind also that you'll also have two children to care for afterwards, which will be exhausting at the best of times.
while the procedure is undoubtedly easier than a difficult natural birth, getting over it is so much harder. also, I was in so much pain for a couple of days after that I really couldn't get a proper look at my DS. the amount of help I have needed since - basically having someone else here most of the time - has also affected my bonding time with DS.
not to scare you, and of course not everyone's experience is the same as mine (although none of my c-section friends have had a good recovery) - but don't take it lightly. there's nothing I'd love more now than to be up and about, and able to go for walks with my son, lift him up out of his cot etc. in fact, just being able to get out of bed without feeling like a shuffley old lady would be a bit of a treat...

ps - if you do go for c-section, I'd suggest looking into going to UCH if that's an option - as other posters have said, they've just moved into a new wing which really is great. they also have wonderful consultants who will carry out the procedure, and while the aftercare isn't always the best (we've all heard the horror stories, and it isn't any worse than any other NHS London hospitals ) there's alot you can do to make your stay more comfortable. eg: ignore brutal midwives; bring in two pillows from home; ear plugs and eye-shades a necessity; lots of snacks and bottled water (ignore any nil-by-mouth orders after the op); granny knickers, cotton balls, and arnica 200 (this is all gathered from my friends who had their c-sections at UCH).
Best of luck in whatever you decide, I hope it goes well.

No advice on London hospitals I'm afraid but I've had a v +ve elective cs experience.

I had quite a traumatic em-cs with DC1 and then had the choice to make with DC2 as to whether to try VBAC or el-cs. I found it a v hard decision to make but in the end went for el-cs on the consultant's advice as I was told I was expecting a v large baby and there was the possibility that I could still end up with an em-cs if I tried vaginally. After my last em-cs I was desperate to avoid another so opted for the elective.

The whole thing was very +ve, lovely in fact. I got to have skin2skin with DS which I missed out on the first time, pain relief was excellent (although I got slightly trigger-happy with the self-administered morphine and felt a little sick) and milk still came in OK. It was great to be able to plan everything in advance - including planning for a post-cs recovery. As it was, I healed so much quicker than the first time and was home within 48 hours.

All in all, the whole thing was a completely different experience to the first time and I felt like it finally laid to rest some of the ghosts and regrets I had hanging around from the first time.