Elective C-Section John Radcliffe

[HappyMummy2020]

Hello,

Has anybody had an elective c-section at John Radcliffe hospital.
This is something I’m opting for and I have many reasons I just need to talk to my midwife.

But I wondered if anyone had experienced it through John Radcliffe and how they got on… not just with requesting it but the whole start to finish (when baby arrives) xx

Hi! I didn’t have a section but I did give birth at the JR in June 2020. The delivery suite staff were excellent. The infant feeding team is also brilliant with breastfeeding support. Level 5 (the general postnatal ward) is hit and miss. If you give birth on a weekend, the staffing levels are much lower and will need to be inventive about getting the help and support you’ll need. One tip is to phone the front desk if your buzzer isn’t answered. Hopefully your experience will be better than mine in that respect!

I know several women who have had sections at the JR and they found it a positive experience (or as positive as major surgery can be). The section women on the ward with me were supported to have showers and mobilise whereas I was not

So all in all there are good and bad bits at the JR but generally I think they’ll do a super job for you. I’m going back in May to give birth again so it can’t have been that bad Good luck! x

@LabradorFiasco
Thank you so much for your comment.

That has helped tbh even if you didn’t have a Cs.
Just good to perspective.
I have children already but had them at a different hospital so it is good to hear difference experiences.

Good luck with your second lol not you need it I’m sure!
I have a while to go yet.. Feb 22 but want to make sure I have made the right choices xx

www.birthrights.org.uk/2021/03/02/oxford-university-hospitals-finally-agree-to-offer-maternal-request-caesareans/ OUH have only recently begun to offer maternal request CS at the JR. Birthrights will be interested to hear if they don’t follow their own published procedure.

@ThanksItHasPockets thank you, yeah I did read that also which is why I wondered if any one has ha done at JR and how it’s was/how they got on xx

I had requested an elective at the JR in 2020. I was first talked to by the midwife, then referred to a consultant doctor, then referred onward to the consultant midwife. At every stage, I knew my rights and tried to speak to them about my reasons, but I was rebuffed and they used covid and safety issues against my case. You have to be extremely pushy I feel. In the end, it didn't really matter, because my baby was breech, and I ended up with the planned section I wanted to begin with. I found the 'on the day' process really good. My anaesthesiologist was perfect in placing the epidural, the midwife in theatre was AMAZING - making it super soothing, and the actual doctor doing the section was efficient and left me with minimal scarring. They also dropped the curtain almost completely so I could watch my LO being born, and we had music being played. The midwife immediately had us doing skin to skin as soon as LO was born, and she was put to my breast to suck within minutes. It really was amazing and sort of shocking how smooth it was. Aftercare was something else - but that was because of covid and they sent my husband home, and basically made me walk about and care for my baby within 6 hours of my section. I thought I was going to die to be honest. But it all worked out in the end. The section itself was very very well managed.

I tried in 2017 (dc1) and ended up having to go out of area because they wouldn't do it. It was less of a problem for dc2 as previous section is considered a "good enough" reason - they do push vbac quite hard but I think could see it was hopeless in my case as I has been so set on cs for dc1. They were unable to refer out of area due to COVID when I had dc3 this year. Not sure if that is still in force.

@Hawse thank you so much that’s what I was looking to hear, the process etc and the procedure.
Although I grateful for everyone opinions and advice of course.
I wonder why they sent you through that process of talking to all those people just to then be a pain although the end achievement was what you wanted and I’m so pleased it went smoothly for you.
I guess COVID was a nightmare and got in the way for the usual process.
I have read that JR are open to it more so in 2021 and agreed for them but we shall soon see as you still have to follow the process you went through.
Were you lucky to recover quickly!? Xx

@namechanged1235 thank you so much for commenting.
It makes you feel so much better hearing other people’s views.
I do feel it’s a mother’s choice if they understand the risks, every parents situation is different isn’t it so they should look at that.
Will see how I got on as apparently they are more open to it as of mid this year!! But we shall see….
Hope you had a speedy recovery this year with dc3 💜

Hi, I wanted to see how you got on with the whole process since they changed their official stance.

Did you end up having the C at the JR?

What was the process?

Was it stressful or was everyone supportive?

I have my booking appointment on Monday and have written a letter specifying all of my many reasons for requesting a C, but quite nervous about all of it tbh!

I keep having nightmares that they will just force me into a vaginal delivery against my will, if I go I to labour early! And I'm not due until Jan 2023! So I have a long time to go with these worries!!!

Not the OP, but I sadly ended up having an cat 1 EMCS at the JR in May with DC2. Responding though because during my consultant appts where I explained that I wanted a spontaneous vaginal delivery as with my first, the consultant pointed out several times that I could have a c-section ‘if I wanted one’. No reason beyond just wanting to opt out of vaginal delivery. Obviously I didn’t want one but the offer was there, repeatedly. So the new policy is clearly very much in force and you should have no problem getting what you want. You won’t need a letter!
Good luck with your pregnancy.

I am sorry to hear that things didn't go the way you wanted, but glad everything is okay.

Thanks so much for this feedback though :) it is really good to hear.

So far on my side I just mentioned it in my booking appointment and the midwife was very supportive and has referred me to a consultant to discuss.

I might start a thread just to let people know the process and how I get on with it all!

Hi I’m new here and am 22 weeks and 2 days pregnant with my DD and am a FTM. I also want an elective c section due to vaginismus and am certain I have tokophobia to some extent. I’ve read horror stories about being left in labour for days on end and want to avoid this if I can. I had a consultant appt up at the Jr yesterday because our pregnancy is consultant/midwife led and I wrote down in a notebook all my fears and the reason I want a c section and I found the doctor to be really helpful she said she would put the request in for me with the c section team and also explained the risks and benefits and I decided after hearing this I still want to have one she did caution that I do have a 10 % chance of going in to labour beforehand and said if I do experience this then to come in and they will give me pain meds such as epidural to keep me comfortable until I can have the surgery. She said in some cases labour can progress too quickly for this but they will endeavour for this not to be the case but if it does “maybe it’s meant to be”. I just have to keep going over my birth plan with my midwives now and I won’t hear about a date until closer to the time. As it’s not a medical reason it won’t be as high priority so will either be 39 weeks or 41 weeks she said and I’m really hoping I don’t go in to labour before then! I just wondered was this anyone else’s experience when requesting an elective c section? TIA :)