Baby due in January and worried about NHS strikes

[HereComesBaby2]

Let me start this off by saying I completely understand the need to strike and this isn't a complaint against nurses

Baby is due via elective C section in January and with all the talks of strikes this winter (and the likelihood that covid will rear it's ugly head again disturbing things even further) I'm feeling really worried. The birth of my first baby was stressful due to staff shortages and mistakes made, ultimately leading to an emergency c section that could have been avoided.

Is it likely that the strikes will impact antenatal services? I know no one can know for sure 😔

Stressful. If you know that you want or need a c-section. Is it possible to save up and have that operation privately?

It's worrying, isn't it? And depending on where you live, the only private midwifery services available are in London. It's tough, I know.

A strike by midwives hasn't been announced yet.

I don’t know but I suspect that, in the event of a strike, labour and delivery (including planned sections) would be prioritised and it would be things like community care that would be affected. But I’m just assuming. I just had a baby OP and worried about the staffing throughout my pregnancy but thankfully the staff were fantastic on the day and I felt completely safe and cared for. Postnatal was not great & that was where i could really see the staffing issue - so make sure they stay on top of your post section pain relief!!

You realise the average cost of a C-section privately is 7k and that's if nothing goes wrong

I think basic maternity services will be the same, if stretched. If you're planning to breastfeed, i would book a lactation consultant for after the birth, as postnatal care will probably be sparse (more than usual). I guess they might stop home births as well, but I wouldn't like to say for sure. I don't think anyone is actually going to go without care, I'd just make sure you have a solid family support system in place in case the post natal care is affected.