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Pregnancy

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Original poster

For a c-section, would you strongly advise to go to a nearby hospital?

19 replies

commuters30 · 27/08/2019 12:59

I heard that it can be uncomfortable afterwards if there is a long car journey home (e.g. an hour) and therefore some recommend choosing a hospital nearby.

However I'm concerned about the local hospital due to overcrowding, dirty, etc. Would I be making a very bad decision to go to another hospital (either NHS or the Kensington Wing for private) and accept the 1 - 1hr30 car journey there and home afterwards?

It's such a hard decision so keen to hear from people who's experienced it and your worldly wisdom. Thank you so much.

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AllFourOfThem · 27/08/2019 13:01

As long as the car journey is slow and the driver avoids bumps or going round corners quickly, I don’t think the distance makes a huge difference. I’ve had four and the getting in/out of the car is what can be painful rather than the drive itself.

littleduckeggblue · 27/08/2019 13:04

I was in for 3 days after my csection (because of my DD) and I made a very fast recovery. However, I do remember feeling uncomfortable on the drive home due to bumps in the road

queenofmycastlex · 27/08/2019 13:08

I found the drive uncomfortable (mine was about 20 minutes) but it was getting in and out that was the worst. I recommend taking a pillow that you can put between the seatbelt and your scar, that helped a lot.

NerrSnerr · 27/08/2019 13:09

I'm not 100% sure of current guidelines but don't they recommend that tiny babies should only be in the car seat for 30 minutes at a time?

I had planned C sections booked for both my children and I ended up with two emergency sections because I went into labour. I was in and out of triage for my first child because they couldn't decide if I was in labour or not. I had to stay in for about 3 days after as I had a PPH and was unwell so my husband was visiting daily. My second child I was admitted 3 days before the emergency section because I was unwell with a UTI and HG. I would factor in visiting and how many 3 hour round trips your partner may need to do if you have to stay in and if you need to go to triage and get sent home.

Celebelly · 27/08/2019 13:10

I think car seat rules are more of an issue. That's far too long in a car seat for a newborn unless it's a lie flat seat.

peamad · 27/08/2019 13:16

I agree with posters above, main issue is that a newborn should absolutely not be in a car seat for 1hr30, their airway would be dangerously compromised unless you have a lie flat seat (very rare). I traveled 25 mins home after my EMCS and found the journey excruciating, even with a very careful slow driver. I would definitely not want to travel that far.

Celebelly · 27/08/2019 13:16

Posted too soon...

You'll need to take breaks every 30 mins or so and get baby out of seat for a while, etc. so it will take you a lot longer to get back.

Original poster

commuters30 · 27/08/2019 13:29

Hi, thanks so much - it's amazing how much experience there is here. It sounds like it's a really stupid thing if I were to choose a further hospital then. So really I should stick with my local one.

I'm hearing historically awful things about Croydon University Hospital (despite recent positive news about the hospital) so based on the above I think I might decide not to move there on the basis that I don't want to give birth there.

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Expressedways · 27/08/2019 13:41

I went private and had a longer journey home of about 45 minutes as a result. I don’t remember the car journey home being particularly uncomfortable. Plenty of people that live more rurally face a journey that long just to their nearest NHS maternity, it’s also very common if you go private to travel a bit further. Just buy a car seat that can lie flat in the car if you’re worried about the baby spending too long in their seat; we had a Kiddy one. I wouldn’t go to a hospital that I know had a bad reputation if I could avoid it.

Original poster

commuters30 · 27/08/2019 14:11

I didn't know about the safety issue of not having newborns in carseats that long - ok so the distance option is now again out!

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neverornow · 27/08/2019 15:00

I had a 45 minute drive home and don't remember it being particularly uncomfortable.
Getting in and out of the car itself was uncomfortable alright but once sat down I was fine.
If you drive slowly and avoid bumpy roads if possible it should be fine.
If it's your first c section, source a little pillow for yourself to hold against your scar when getting up and down and have it with you in case you do hit a few speed bumps on the way home

yikesanotherbooboo · 27/08/2019 16:40

I had no discomfort really after c section . I would ,however,be greatly put off by the general inconvenience of going to central London for any out patient appointments and for my partner and close family around the time of the delivery.
I am unaware of any better outcomes for mother or baby in the private sector so cannot really see the point in your case. Don't forget that there is still a chance of spontaneous labour and then the dash across town looking for the on call gynaecologist and anaesthetist etc whilst uncomfortably travelling for however long it takes depending on time of day.

Pineappleofmyeye · 27/08/2019 17:49

You could hire a lie flat newborn car seat for the journey home. Baby Loft do them for £30-£60 if it was a scheduled c section that might work

Lolimax · 27/08/2019 17:53

How on earth do people manage who live rurally and have no choice but an hours drive from a hospital?

Celebelly · 27/08/2019 18:55

We live an hour from the hospital, but we bought a lie-flat car seat so it wasn't an issue. Shame Kiddy have gone bust as we have theirs and I think it was the best one on market.

Otherwise you just need to stop and get baby out for a bit and then carry on, I guess.

Original poster

commuters30 · 27/08/2019 18:56

thanks so much everyone I don't know what I would do without you!

I think I won't risk it and will go to the local one - choosing between Epsom and Croydon, a no brainer and will go for Epsom

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boomboom1234 · 27/08/2019 19:01

The car journey home can be very painful whether it's short or long as you feel every bump in the rd or brake.. you MUST take a pillow with you. Sounds stupid but hold the pillow right across your tummy firmly and you won't feel the bumps as bad. It really really helped me after both my c sections.

Morgan12 · 27/08/2019 19:07

Yep the car journey home was very painful. I don't think I could have coped for an hour tbh.

Celebelly · 27/08/2019 19:33

The journey home for me was OK except the stretch of road leaving the hospital which had SO MANY POTHOLES. Almost wrote an angry letter to council.

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