C-section mum's

[Emhead93]

Any UK mum's who have had a C-section with the first pregnancy had to have extra appointments at the hospital if so what happened at them?

Yes, were you fully dilated when the c-section happened? My first pregnancy ended in an emergency c-section at full dilation, apparently this increases the risk of pre-term birth in subsequent pregnancies. With my second pregnancy I had appointments at the pre-term birth clinic to measure cervix length etc. I think it was 3 appointments.

@Sunnysunn no I wasn't dilated at all I had a emergency C-section due to my girl having a knot in her cord so had reduced movement.
I'm now 15 weeks with 2nd Pregnancy and have an appointment on Tuesday at the antenatal clinic with a doctor but wasn't sure what the appointment will be about

In that case I'm not sure, sorry! There was also an appointment with a consultant to discuss birth intentions (vbac or planned c-section) but that wasn't till much later in the pregnancy

I haven't had any extra appointments, I seen my consultant at my 12 week scan and she just asked if I wanted another section or vbac. @Sunnysunn I was fully dilated when I had my c section and they never mentioned that I was at risk of preterm birth 🤔 Im 33 weeks now, I'm glad you said that I'll ask my consultant about it

It's a relatively new practice so perhaps not all hospitals offer it.

www.tommys.org/about-us/charity-news/late-c-sections-increase-risk-future-premature-births#:~:text=When%20done%20at%20full%20dilatation,to%20continue%20in%20future%20pregnancies.

I had a c section with my first as my placenta failed and baby was not thriving.

I had extra appointments the second time because once you have a C-section your classes as high risk.

@WedTheBed were these just consultations?

Just checking they don't do a scan as I actually have a private one booked in for the next day for a father's day present to my partner.
I know that the private place won't do a scan if another one has been done within a week's time though.
The hospital only sent my appointment today so I didn't have a clue it was gonna be as soon as Tuesday

@Emhead93 mine were scans, but that’s not to say yours would be too. As a knot in the cord isn’t one of those things that could ‘happen again’ in a medical sense. I have elevated blood pressure (not quite disorganised with pre-e bh the time she was born), my placenta stopped working properly and DD was very very small for gestational age. So when I got pregnant with DS, I was advised to have regular scans ect to measure baby and ensure the placenta was doing it’s job.

Also, remember after I typed all that out.. my letter always came as a scan letter, plus an extra one for the consultant. So I knew I was definitely going to be having scans. So I’d say if you’ve only had consultant letters then it’s likely just a chat ect.

I had an emergency c section with my first so had a consultants meeting at 20 weeks (a couple days after my scan) and it was just to discuss me wanting a planned c section this time and to go over what happened last time. I had no scan just the heartbeat checked

it’s not true that all pregnancies following an y c section are high risk. I’m down as low risk in this pregnancy and will stay that way as long as everything stays normal. It depends on the reason why you have an emergency c section. Mine was to do with the baby not me so I’m not high risk this time round, not yet anyway (at 29 weeks). I have no further consultant appointments and they agreed right off for the planned c section and I had a date already booked when I was 21 weeks. It all depends on each persons circumstances and your hospital trust.

I just had a phone consultation and then at nearly full term was given some options for the date. It didn’t happen because I had a VBAC instead before the cs date.

@allgoodthings84
just because the complications in your first pregnancy were related to baby and not you does not mean you are not high risk now. It’s not necessarily about what happened in the previous pregnancy.

It’s about the risk of uterine rupture too. You may not have been told you’re high risk, but you are at higher risk.. hence why you have had additional appointments than the standard.

@allgoodthings84 thank you sound alike it will just be a chat. My section was also the baby rather than me. Just got to make the decision of what I want for this one. I think I'd rather a C-section but have no idea how I'd cope with the recovery with a baby and toddler. I'll wait and see what they say hopefully they'll shine a little light on it all.

@WedTheBed I have been told by my midwife and the consultant that I’m low risk this pregnancy. It’s on my notes that I am low risk….I was only in to see the consultant to discuss whether I want a planned c section or not there have been no other appointments apart from that one. I then asked whilst I was there what happened last time as I didn’t know all the ins and outs. I was in for reduced movements yesterday and those midwife’s also said I’m low risk on my notes. As I say not everyone is automatically high risk.

@Emhead93 they will go over all of the risks for all options 😊. My daughter us 8 now so luckily I didn’t need to factor that in as she helps and understands.

At 16 weeks (2 weeks ago) I had an appointment at the hospital. The doctor wanted to discuss birth options I.e. vbac or elective section. If vbac whether labour ward or birth centre was more appropriate and what the risks/advantages either way were. they also booked me in for a growth scan at 30 weeks as my babies were low birth weight (not really a surprise as they were delivered at 35 weeks because they were both starting to struggle! Not an issue this time)