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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Has anyone traveled a long distance for a c section?

26 replies

nubguess · 17/10/2021 07:14

I have name changed because this might be a bit of a contentious subject:

I'm thinking of having this baby in London either at an NHS hospital (for scbu) or at the princess Charlotte where it is attached to an NHS hospital. I live 2 hours drive away from these places, in Kent

Is it mad to think I could have a section, a night in hospital (this will be my third ive only had one night with the other two and been ok) stay in a hotel for a night by the hospital and then travel home? I feel very bad about the baby being in the car for 2 hours to get home?

The thing is I live in Margate and the hospital is on its knees in general. I could have the baby in Ashford but the trust is the same and the maternity care is at breaking point at the moment

Has anyone travelled? It would be a planned c section unless I went into labour earlier. Perhaps I could have it at 38 weeks to avoid the labour factor. I had a baby at 35 weeks which was supposed to be a c section at 38 but he was prem, I had a planned c section 39 weeks but I was in labour that day and my son was born covered in meconium?

Wondering what I do

Private birth will mean asking my family for money I think.

OP posts:
T0rt0ise · 17/10/2021 07:33

Newborns shouldn't travel more than half an hour in a stint due to the risk of anoxia so it's going to take you a long time to get home safely.

Personally I wouldn't have wanted to be driving two hours a couple of days after my section, I found every bump in the road back from the hospital bad enough!

Elllicam · 17/10/2021 07:41

I came home from the hospital yesterday after a section on Friday and it was a really uncomfortable 15 minute drive. I think 2 hours would be horrible

Original poster
nubguess · 17/10/2021 07:59

That's what I was thinking
I live 5 minutes from Margate Qeqm where I had my other two babies
I wasn't in pain after the second one but the first was was dreadful

OP posts:
EnidFrighten · 17/10/2021 07:59

If I was in the hotel room next to you, I would not be impressed by a newborn crying through the whole night.

Original poster
nubguess · 17/10/2021 08:00

@enidfrighton

Not sure that was the question

Neither of my other two babies cried through the night..

You sound like a peach

A lot of hotels beside hospitals are used by patients. HTH

OP posts:
Twinwife1018 · 17/10/2021 08:02

Have you considered Medway? The maternity care there is excellent

WheelieBinPrincess · 17/10/2021 08:02

@EnidFrighten shows what you know about newborns Hmm

Original poster
nubguess · 17/10/2021 08:04

@Twinwife1018

Have you considered Medway? The maternity care there is excellent
I hadn't actually, I will have a look at that

I'm just very worried about staffing levels in Margate I know it sounds a bit extreme to not want to have a baby there but the latest press coverage and the thread by MWs has made me really worried

OP posts:
Nowisthemonthofmaying · 17/10/2021 08:04

Could you travel back on the train, with help? Less bumpy and the baby wouldn't need to be in a seat then. It might be a bit too much though with the transfers etc.

MinaPop · 17/10/2021 08:05

It's 2.5 hours to my nearest hospital (Highlands) so I don't have a choice. So it can be done, but it's not fun! If you do it, I'd plan a route home with places to stop every 30-60 mins (depending on your car seat) so at least you have a plan.
It probably will be uncomfortable for you too, but take some painkillers and stop as often as you need.
I guess you have to weigh up the risks of a traumatic birth in your understaffed local unit, vs the inconvenience and cost of London. Tricky one!

WheelieBinPrincess · 17/10/2021 08:07

I just had a planned c-section at Queen Charlotte’s Op- is that the one you mean?

The section itself was brilliant (as these things go!) and went without a hitch but the ‘care’ after on the ward…not so much. They had a lot of staffing issues too.

Ughmaybenot · 17/10/2021 08:08

Well my nearest hospital is 1.5 hours away and I’m scheduled in for for a c section in three weeks so I’d personally argue it’s not that crazy. You just have to do what you feel is right… and probably plan to stop once or twice on the way home, for a break for you and for baby. Best of luck x

Bolognesedoc · 17/10/2021 08:10

I don't know what the problems are exactly at your local hospital but surely with a planned csection you will be guaranteed a level of care for the op or they couldn't do it? Aftercare might not be great but it wouldn't be in London either if you're checking out after a night?

Vindo · 17/10/2021 08:18

I live in a very rural area and our nearest hospital is just over 2 hours away. My partner drove us home after my c section as we had no alternative and it was totally fine. I'm not sure I would do it if there was an closer hospital though as it's a long time for a newborn in a car seat.

If you do decide to do it just take painkillers before you leave, take a pillow in the car so you can get comfortable and make a couple of stops to feed/cuddle your baby and give them a break from the car seat. We went home directly from the hospital, I wouldn't bother with the night in a hotel.

gogohm · 17/10/2021 08:23

My friends had to fly with their newborn after a section 48 hours pp (Scotland normal there) journey was 8 hours due to fog. Drive from airport is nearly an hour too. But with your situation I would go local, everyone has a different experience remember, a few bad ones doesn't mean you will plus there's no guarantee that these London hospitals will be better

talkalarm · 17/10/2021 08:35

Is your concern the after care? I don't know if this is an option but could you hire someone like a private midwife to be with you at the local hospital instead? Are you a single parent?

olderthanyouthink · 17/10/2021 08:45

I was with St thomas for my first (wasn't a great experience btw so mind that green grass) and they said they had people from a long way out use them and stay in hotels in the area.

I lie flat car seat would lessen but not eliminate the risk of low oxygen level in baby for a long drive but you should still be stopping

Original poster
nubguess · 17/10/2021 10:11

No I'm not a single parent I'm married but the after care wasn't good last time or the first time

The section itself was fine. It was the night in hospital and also the run up to the birth which was questionable.

The nearest hospital is Margate and they are in very very hot waters at the moment

In fact I've participated in the enquiry, with Bill Kirkup regarding my first birth and pregnancy

OP posts:
Original poster
nubguess · 17/10/2021 10:12

I don't know if an IM would be allowed on the ward due to covid restrictions 🥺 I used an IM after my first son was born and she was amazing

OP posts:
TakeYourFinalPosition · 17/10/2021 10:30

@nubguess It might be worth asking… where I am at the moment, they’d be allowed, but they’d count as your one birthing partner. Some places are a bit more flexible now.

I’ve had the same worries, my local hospital is really struggling and has major midwife shortages on top, now. My nearest other options are only really an hour away if traffic is okay, but we’d have to stop three times on the way home with the baby to take them out or the car seat, and to be honest, I can’t find any hospitals that seem to be coping well at the moment. I’m really worried about the aftercare… I’m quite worried about what happens before and during!

You’re not alone Flowers

MadamMaltesers · 17/10/2021 10:35

i had to travel 150 miles by ambulance for an emergency sec because the neonat uni was closed in my nearest manor hosp when i was having my baby. It was very stressful to say the least.

Bells3032 · 17/10/2021 10:36

I can't tell you whether the two hour drive would be too much but I am planning to go to Queen charlotte privately and was told for a c section to expect a stay of 4-5 nights (with only the first night being included in the package and other nights charged at £800 a night).

Costs are around £8500 for the doctor
£7k for the delivery at the hospital
£1-2k for an aenethatist (I'm. Not sure on the price of this but that's what we have budgeteted for)
£3.5k for additional nights.

So around £20k in total to budget for.

@wheeliebinprincess. Did you have the baby privately or NHS?

WheelieBinPrincess · 17/10/2021 11:27

@Bells3032 it was NHS. I hear the private care there is fantastic.

I did request a private room post-section fir £150 a night but unfortunately there were none available because they keep them free for women who are giving birth but are covid-positive, they said.

The op and recovery ward were amazing but the ward I was on was boiling hot, understaffed, cramped, DH not permitted
apart from very small visiting window- )I did understand that but I needed the help) just not a good experience- they put all my things out of reach and I obviously had just had surgery and had a catheter in. I arrived too late to the ward to get anything to eat either, they had nothing to give me until breakfast at 9 the next day.

Thankfully I seemed to be doing well enough to persuade them to put me on the ‘fast track’ (ie get out because we need the bed and your husband can help you at home) recovery and was out by 7pm the next day.

ImStayingInside · 17/10/2021 12:29

Also be aware, that you might not be able to request a c section at 38 weeks for your convenience.
The consultant would definitely take into account your premature birth, but they might still want to pencil you in for 39 weeks and then change it if you go into labour yourself earlier.

WildBluebell · 17/10/2021 13:03

I live 1.5 hours away from the nearest hospital, so didn't have a choice, and it was fine. Then, in the first few weeks, I had to travel a few times with the baby to the same hospital for various checks. Again, no issues.