Feeling let down by hospital - how did your section for breech baby go?

[redxlondon]

I’m waiting for a call from hospital following a complaint I made. Nearly every appointment I’ve had since finding out about pregnancy has been with a different consultant or midwife. I think this may be why I have fallen through the cracks.

I’m high risk because of a uterus abnormality and my baby is breech and unlikely to change.

I was told I’d get my section date at 36 weeks. I posted recently about hospital being fully booked so they couldn’t book me in.

A midwife called me today said the reason I’d missed out is because my section should have been booked 10 weeks ago. But the midwives and consultants all said it would be booked only at my 36 week appointment.

My options now are moving hospital (they’ve found me a slot somewhere else). I feel so unsettled going to a hospital I’ve never been to before. And it seems that no one has thought about my care plan.

Not sure why I’m posting. I was going to ask about people’s experience of sections for breech babies, and maybe curious if you had follow up appointments between your 36 week and section date?

Hello,
interestingly enough today I had an appointment at a private hospital for a scan. This was abroad, however, the doctor I spoke to told me that she’s got a close friend who’s an obstetrician in the UK and works in NHS. She said her friend said that they already know wether someone is going to be able to deliver naturally or will require a cesarian by 31st…32nd week, but they just don’t do anything about it because they don’t want to spend money on people. Pure systematical neglect. She said many people find out last minute they will not be given a C section even though they need it and are left no choice but to opt for private sector last moment. You’re not the only one.

I was supposed to be booked to deliver by c section at 38 weeks but they didn't have a slot available. They booked me for 39 weeks but told me that at the first signs of going into labour I would be taken into theatre as an emergency. My hospital has 2 theatres, an elective section theatre and emergency theatre.

As it happened I made it to 39 weeks but it was unnerving. DD was footling breech and I had a blood clotting abnormality that I was on blood thinners for so it would have been hugely stressful had I gone into labour before I made it to my booked date.

If I were you, unless the new hospital has serious issues, I'd go with getting booked in there so that at least you have some control over the situation.

Thanks, I have accepted the other hospital booking just so I have it as a backup. And maybe they’re actually better organised, so I’ve also asked for clarity on which is the best hospital in terms of care and experience with my condition.

Hi, my baby was born in September. I kept attending the maternity assessment unit due to reduced moved, finally given an ultrasound and at 38wks found out my baby was completely breech with bum in my pelvis. Opted for planned section the following week. Personally I found it amazing.
I had a meeting with consultant to discuss uvc and breech birth. I also had a pre op assessment the day before.

As your baby is breech make sure you ask for a scan for Hip Dysplasia. Your hospital may be organised and be on it but all babies who are breech should be scanned for HD.

My baby was breech which was discovered in the final month and after a failed ECV a section was booked for 39+1. They routinely book them for 39 weeks with your first baby, not sure the plan beyond that.

Exactly, this is what they’ve messed up 😞

After birth yes?

Sorry that may have made no sense, I was assuming / confirming that this scan would be after birth?

@redxlondon recognise you from the Feb group. When are you due? In my hospital it’s not unusual to get “planned” section dates released the week before (so you don’t know which day/time until you are 38+ weeks). I’ve a date for early Feb BUT also have a series of meetings at the end of Jan that I’ve been told “could mean I am out on the list for the following day” (due to risk).

Sounds so stressful for you. I’m guessing what you had wanted/expected was a date at around 38/39 weeks in your own hospital for a planned ELCS? Have you contacted PALS?

In London trusts - I don’t know anyone who had a section “booked” at late 20 weeks pregnant. It’s all 36 weeks plus!

This seems madness as with a lot of planned sections you won't know until the last minute because of breech presentation. I think I only booked mine in a week and a half or something before the date.

I’m due on 15th February…

Who are you meeting with between now and then? I have zero appointments now, the 36 week one was meant to be my last to have everything sorted.

Yes after birth. They normally do them within 6 weeks as standard for breech babies but wouldn't want you to fall through the cracks with what has happened to you. If baby has more symptoms such as clicky hips, talipes, leg length discrepancy they may scan sooner.

Don't panic if baby does have HD. A harness can fix 95% of HD xxxxx

(I'm an ex harness mum and my daughter was in harness for 24 weeks from 2 weeks old).

You should have a 38 week and a 40 week midwife appointment still to come surely?

contact PALS, if you need a section they need to facilitate that.

Hi, my baby is currently breech, I am only 30 weeks but am likely to need a section due to other reasons even if he does turn. When I saw my consultant last week he said let’s book you a section date at your next appointment (I’ll be 33 weeks)

Yes I do but the midwives don’t do anything because of my complexities - they just say I have to call the hospital or consultants to sort everything myself. PALS also useless, so I’ve contacted the heads of department and they’ve come back to me and said they’re coordinating a response, so I’m hoping to get an update tomorrow and a review of the care I’ve received to make sure no other errors or things missed. I just don’t need this, I just want me and baby to be safe and healthy.

@redxlondon which hospital is this? It sounds like they’ve let you down and need to put something in place to give you the confidence to go forward with them. By way of comparison I’m currently 39 weeks and at my 38 week appointment they organised a reassurance scan to make sure my placenta is ok to go longer than 41 weeks so I have more time to persue a vaginal birth. However I previously had a very traumatic birth so they are responding much better to my needs this time. It’s a different hospital. But at both hospitals I have only seen one midwife twice and the rest have been new each time. It’s been awkward to say to a new person each time “I have birth trauma and was treated for ptsd as a result” but this time the follow up between midwives has been consistent and I can’t fault them. Your confidence going into birth is very important and they owe you an explanation as to why balls have been dropped and how they will make up for it.

I was booked for c section at 40+2!

Would a natural delivery have been possible for you? If not, that seems crazy, why did they leave it?

It’s one in London. Sorry you had such an awful time. That’s really good advice about needing to be able to go in with confidence.

I can’t see how they could book 10 weeks in advance? Sometimes babies present breach quite late (after being head down).

I had an ECV which was unsuccessful and as I was lying on the bed sorting myself out the midwife literally opened a diary up and said how does a week Tuesday sound for an ELCS? She was born at 39 weeks.

Hello, I think this is pretty normal sadly. Do your own research on c sections so you know what to expect, but on the day you'll meet all the staff who will be in the room and they'll explain what they do. I had same issue and everything was fine, just need to reassure yourself really!

thanks for the kind words. Both hospitals I attended are London hospitals - the first was Queens in Romford. The c section was the best part of the birth there, everything else was horrifically below standard so please be careful if that’s your hospital. No need to share which one it is if not, just wanted to give you a heads up. My friend recently had a very good elective section experience at UCL hospital and another had a great birth experience at Homerton. Good luck and I hope you get the reassurance you need.