Elective C- Sections during the Coronavirus peak

[SouthLDNer]

I have a planned C-section for medical reasons which will occur during the coronavirus peak in London. Wondering whether to go privately for the operation instead, as NHS hospital services will be stretched and I'd hate for the operation to be cancelled or for me to be an added burden to the already busy system. The challenge is private healthcare is so expensive! Anyone else worried about elective C sections?

Following! X

I am in the same position (London too) and was concerned and seriously considered going private. Two consultants I spoke to did reassure me that the NHS would still be fine, as it's not like a hernia operation that can be postponed.

I'm still worried, but in the end as the current situation developed I became more worried that the private hospital may not admit me in the event that I caught the virus around delivery date, whereas the NHS would still deliver. Difficult times!

Unless you go to the Portland, it probably doesn’t matter. I had a private c-section for medical reasons at a London hospital and they use the same operating theatre as the NHS patients. I would imagine this is the same at all NHS hospitals with private maternity wings.

I’m 38 weeks and had a chat with a midwife today as she double checked my booking etc for my c section. She said you will get your care, even though it’s an elective section it’s not like we can postpone it for a month! You would still need staff when you give birth if you do it in a hospital anyway. My hospital just said if you have any symptoms or anyone in your household does then let them know before you come in so they can care for you safely with appropriate PPE etc. Let’s be honest that’s pretty much how they would be dressed in theatre anyway.

So pleased to follow this thread. I’m in the same situation but only 28 weeks so got a while to wait. No idea if the situation will be better or worse by June.

I looked online and the costs for a private c section is over £14k if you add up consultant and hospital fee. That’s a lot...

I’m worried about staff availability at the peak.

Anaesthetists only particular

I spoke to my antenatal clinic today at the hospital and she assured me the anaesthetists assigned to maternity ward don’t also cover other departments. I was sobbing down the phone and asked her to list everyone we would need. Obstetricians Midwife’s and anaesthetists are separate. For now at least

I’m worried about this too. I will most likely need to have a c section due to medical reasons as well but I haven’t actually had the chance to ask a consultant yet, only got an approving message from the midwife so far which isn’t very helpful in terms of getting anything sorted. So I’m worrying I will automatically be told no now because of the current pandemic . Very anxiety inducing !!!

I’m the same. I’m supposed to have a csection as my DD was born via emergency c-section and I don’t want the additional risks of attempting a VBAC.

I’m going to follow up with my midwife I think as I understood it had all been agreed but I’m concerned it will be cancelled given the strain on the NHS...

If you can afford to go private, do so. Make sure you have a highly reputable consultant and a good place to have your baby. Your C section is not elective, you deserve the best.

In astate of emergency the state can requisition private hospitals. In Spain all private hospitals were nationalised a few days ago. You might be wasting your time and money going private.

I asked at my last appointment and they reassured me this won't happen. Obviously things can change but so far they don't seem to be planning to do this.

Thanks everyone your responses are reassuring. I guess having to worry about C sections are challenging in normal times, let alone during a global health pandemic. Keep strong everyone and I hope everything works out for you amazing mums to be! I have a consultant appointment soon so I’ll post back what she says too

Please do update with what your consultant says. Fingers crossed things go smoothly for all of us🤞

Following as I have the same worry. Like you @Catlover10 my OB appointment hasn’t come through yet and I’m already 29+1. Midwife was also understanding of my request due to previous birth injury and referred me at booking appointment. I followed it up on my 28w appointment and she resent the referral request again but still nothing. Next midwife appointment is at 34 weeks - if I don’t get this appointment by then I’m afraid I’m just going to go into labour without having the chance to discuss and get an ELCS approved and scheduled with an OB!

At which point in your pregnancy does this get approved normally?

@lillianfullstop I actually do have an appointment with my consultant scheduled in (I have seen her once before due to mental health issues) and I have my next one on March 30th, when I will be 28+4. However I really have no idea if this will go ahead, or if it will just change to a telephone appointment or just be cancelled completely, and even then I’m not sure they will entertain the request of a c section 🤷🏻‍♀️ It is concerning you haven’t even got an appointment through though- personally I would keep ringing up and being annoying until I heard something because you’re right, you can’t go that long without sorting out a plan!

I had a consultant appointment and c-section date at 15 weeks, however the more I read the more I am learning this is very uncommon xx

Just my personal opinion, but I think you'd be better in an NHS hospital than in a private one during a pandemic.
Also I don't think that corona patients will take priority over labouring women. Women and newborns will be treated separately in their own wards. Staff from those wards will hopefully be less likely to catch the virus. They won't be redeploying midwives to care for corona patients, labour can't be delayed or postponed so those wards will remain separate and fully operational. This is what I hope at least...

Really no point with private in a pandemic. The private hospitals are to be used for the overflow of patients from the NHS hospitals so they arent going to exist from next week anyway.

Plus most of the staff at the private hospitals tend to also work at the NHS hospitals too and they are all being redeployed to the NHS....

@Catlover10 I finally got my appointment through and it is in a couple of weeks I'll be 33w.

Also re private I think they are no longer taking bookings because the private rooms will be used for mothers that need to be isolated (obviously they can't be in the wards). It depends on the hospital though - some have closed their birthing centres and using it for covid patients.

Also I don't think that corona patients will take priority over labouring women.

They already have - my hospital has closed its MLU to cater for coronavirus patients.

I was given my section date today for the 19th of May. If there is any problems in the mean time it would get brought forward as their main priority is delivering a healthy baby.

@LillianFullStop glad you finally got an appointment though, hope you can argue your case and you can get them to agree to a section.

My previous consultant appointment was changed to the phone and now I have one through for in person but that is now on the 20th April, so I will be coming up to 32 weeks so fairly similar. No idea if it will actually help get me anywhere yet- at the moment it’s just for a “chat”.

So pleased to be following this thread since I am at the same situation pregnant with twins booked in for NHS C -section .
Saw the consultant today who informed me that private wings at NHS hospitals no longer accept bookings. Portland is still taking bookings but not sure if this going to be the case in few weeks time. He reassured me that no NHS C sections are going to be cancelled but unfortunately the situation at the wards is hectic.