C-sections and Easter / doctors strike

[Dinkyinkypink]

Is anyone else due an (elective) c-section around Easter or the subsequent doctors strike (11-15 April)? I know they don't do electives on bank holidays, but now with the doctor strike, does that mean they won't schedule any until the 17th April? That would be over a week, surely that's not feasible?

I don't have a date for mine yet, now I'm wondering if I'm going to get one at all and they'll just push me towards a vb instead!

Hi @Dinkyinkypink, I could've written the exact same post. For my last section in 2020 they scheduled it for 39 weeks to try and prevent me going into labour beforehand, but this time with Easter and the strike I think I will be past my due date before I go in. I have an appointment on Monday so should get a date then. Trying (and usually failing!) not to worry...

Isn't it the junior doctors that are striking?
Chances are this won't effect CSections as they will have the more senior doctors/consultants that can do them.

“junior doctors” means anyone who isn’t a consultant, not just the less experienced doctors

Elective sections will still be happening during the strikes - they will be prioritised in order of clinical urgency and that may impact exactly when they get done though depending on the set up at different hospitals.

My Trust continued to run elective section lists through the last strike and I expect they will do so again.

That's not strictly true. The term junior doctor doesn't include the small army of SAS grade doctors (staff and associate specialists) who are also not consultants and are not striking at the moment and will be providing a lot of the cover while the 'junior' doctors (who could be anything from a day 1, week 1 F1 to someone who's just about to CCT and become a consultant) are away.

I was scheduled for c section on 14th March, the week before they rang to rearrange for 16th due to strike, so I was 39 + 4 days. If I had gone into labour I would still have had a c section but it would be classed as emergency.

I’m due to have a c section week commencing 17th April but they have been wanting to move it forward to the week before, I wonder if the strikes mean they will want to keep it where it is…will have to see!

My ELCS has been provisionally booked for 11th April and will be confirmed when I go for pre op on 6th. They aren't doing the pre ops on the Friday like they usually do and aren't doing scheduled sections on the Monday but I've been told it will be that week (I'll be 39 weeks on 11th which is the norm) so I'd say no to bank holidays but yes to the rest of the week

@Barelycopingmum looking like our babies will be birthday twins, my section has been booked for the 11th too 😊. I will be 39+5, consultant wanted it a bit earlier but absolutely no slots available due to the Easter bank holiday. I'm on a cancellation list but presumably so are a lot of others! Good luck to you

Your trust may not even strike

mine Didn’t and my elective C-section at the time of the December strikes went ahead

If it's any comfort to you, I've had an elective and an emergency (failed VB) and my emergency one was a far superior experience in every way. Drugs administered more easily, stitching up much better and more comfortable. I also think it was better for the baby who was more ready to be born. Elective c-sections are great but if you end up needing an emergency one it's the same just with a different title. Good luck

@Lucy304 oh good luck! I'm 37 weeks today and very much looking forward to being able to bend again. Part of me is hoping to go into labour beforehand so I don't have to wait as long 🤣

Hi. I was booked in for a c section on 12 April. I’ve been told today it could be changed due to the strikes! Apparently they are “making a plan” but it could even be cancelled the day before!!