Anyone had their Elected C Sections cancelled?

[AbelMartinez]

Mine is booked for 2nd July at Paddington St Marys, my midwife said there are no cancellations she knows of.. but it says on the Imperial Trust website they maybe reviewing them depending on staff availability / anaethetists etc.

Two women in my antenatal group have had them cancelled at Chelsea & Westminster - but I have read they are notoriously tough to get there, particularly maternal choice ones, so doesn't suprise me that they might do that.

But getting very anxious now!

Watching with interest

If they had their elective section cancelled does that mean they will have to attempt vb?

Yes @delbelleber... i'm afraid so. one is terrified, the other has cysts and previous cervical cancer.

Scary times

I wouldn’t scaremonger about this please. Everyone has to discuss their own needs with their consultant. I doubt there is a blanket cancellation policy by hospital and please don’t make people fear this.

There isn’t a lack of NHS anaesthetists as they have to have the same number assigned to maternity vs main general hospital.

They wouldn't do that as a lot of electives are for medical reasons eg I had one for placenta praevia.

Agree stop scaremongering.

Not scaremongering.. just asking if this has happened to anyone as C&W have issued a policy to cancel

I am at ST George’s and they haven't or aren't cancelling any.

Also partners still allowed in theatre.

I'm due my ELCS in 6 weeks (maternal choice). Had my latest midwife appointment last week and she said that my date wasn't set yet but she fully expected it to be within the next 2 weeks. No discussion about possible cancellation.

Ones they deem are medical priorities are going through but they seem to be cancelling others and maternal requests. C'&W have said it's an NHS policy but St Marys have said this is incorrect and theirs are still going ahead as planned. Im trying to work out what is actually going on and if mine is at risk

Thanks for people's comments.. makes me feel reassured! I think it's a C&W thing?!

St Marys website say they may need to review and cancel some elective.. just hard to know what will actually happen

I found it incredibly hard to get my second section at St. Mary’s. They made me see a psychiatrist who just asked me my reason for wanting another section (previous elective one) and what I’d do if I went into labour spontaneously (I’d obviously go straight to the hospital like I did when I went into labour before my previous planned section). It was so bizzare and a waste of everyone’s time.

This time I’m at Birmingham women’s and no one has even asked me about birth choices for my third, they just spoke about a third elective c section from the off. Consultant tried to book me in twice but no one picks up the phone. He emailed them to book when I was there yesterday.

Chelsea and Westminster seem to be taking matters into their own hands with no reasoning behind their decisions. Yet when lots of Trusts were cancelling homebirths,they found a way around it. I have no idea why they're targeting maternal C sections. I'm in Leicester but having a C section with Nottingham and neither Trusts are cancelling them. Back in March, Nottingham withdrew their home birth service,but have no reinstated it,and they also said the date of C sections might changed. Not happened as fair as I know.

I emailed the head of maternity a few weeks back and expressed my concern,she was wonderful and my consultant called me the week after to give me a date for my C section. This was done a few weeks earlier than they would usually. So there are Trusts that are supporting women's choices and mental health

That should say NOW reinstated them

@Layladylay234 that's really great to hear... yes i told the two women to request to change hospitals but C&W said 'it's an NHS policy, will be the same everywhere. clearly not.

Apparentlhy they said that c sections are more dangerous during corona, but in fact the opposite is true. Portugal are ONLY doing c sections now. Anyway, either way it's maternal choice, they need to respect that

Gosh,can't believe they're allowed say that. I follow RCOG and RCM because I had MAJOR worries about my elective being cancelled,have poured over every document/report about pregnant women,deliver and Covid,and I've never seen/heard anything about C sections being more dangerous during Covid. Yes,they are considered more dangerous in general but again,so much of that is down to why you're having one. Physically for me,it's prob safer (by about 1% to have a vaginal birth)...for my mental health,not a chance it's safer.

They can’t force you to have a VBAC against your wishes. VBACs are risky.

They shouldnt be able to force VB anyway even if woman hasnt had previous section? I think C sections are safe just emergancy ones have more risk.. but either way they should respect women's wishes irrespective of corona

I'm having my first at C&W, due in July, and have been told they are not all being cancelled as a blanket rule - it is a very individual process being discussed with each woman. Called up last week to check as had heard similar stories so wanted the facts 👍🏼

That's great, really glad to hear yours is all ok... and thanks for sharing re it not being a blanket rule! i'm debating to take out a loan and go private, obviously really want to avoid that. but worried mine will get cancelled a few days before

I’m really hoping they are still carrying on with x sections in June, I am hoping to have one still due to gestational diabetes and baby being breech and the thought of not having one is making me very anxious because I haven’t signed any forms approving it yet!

My neighbour is an an anaesthetist at our local hospital (Northern England). I just called her to ask what the situation is here and she was amazed that anywhere was cancelling. She says that the staffing for the maternity unit has been completely unchanged here. In fact some general surgery is also starting back up this week. Only cancer surgery to start with but the plan is to increase with time if the situation allows. Obviously different parts of the country are hit more badly than others so there will be different arrangements, but it sounds like there is a move towards starting more normal hospital work again.

Hi @Catlover10 I think gestational diabetes and breech would come under essential cesarean! I've had my ELCS approved and a date confirmed (early June) for reasons of previous birth trauma/injury.

No mention at all of possible cancellation but just the usual caveat of being delayed if there are more urgent emergency cesareans taking priority.

Hope you can get some reassurance from your hospital?

I was due to have a c-section at C&W a week ago at 41 weeks if I hadn’t gone into labour naturally by that point. They moved it to West Middlesex due to it being less over subscribed than C&W however as far as I was aware they were still granting maternal request sections you just had to be flexible on the hospital.

I ended up going into labour naturally and giving birth at C&W. The care was excellent on the labour ward, anaesthetists and doctors were available very quickly when needed. The care I received was just as good as when I had my first child there a few years ago.

They can’t force you to have a VBAC against your wishes. VBACs are risky.

But a VB is the default if they don't operate? What other options are there? The baby will come out eventually.