C section cancelled twice, no end in sight, high risk pregnancy

[Lullylu]

I want to start by saying I more than appreciate the free health care we get in the UK, the care of medical professionals and the current state of staffing. However, I can’t help but feel let down right now.

I am 38+5 days pregnant and have been with a consultant lead team throughout my pregnancy for my blood pressure which has been consistently high, firstly controlled with aspirin now labetelol. This means I’ve been having extra growth scans/apps.

At about 25 weeks we discovered baby was breech and at my 36 week appointment baby was still breech, measuring in the 96th percentile and my BP was raised. Following this, the consultant advised I was high risk and I should have baby before 39 weeks not recommending vaginal birth. I opted to not have an ECV and was booked in for a c section with the consultant team at 38+3.

However, this surgery was cancelled and rebooked for 38+4. I arrived on the day nil by mouth from 6am to be told I was last on the list (absolutely fine I get they prioritise). About 2pm I had my BP taken and it was approx 142/103 which is high, this was overlooked and I took my labetolol and it did come down again somewhat. I then continued to wait. It got to about 17:30 and they came and cancelled my section due to the surgery now being closed.

Obviously I was upset as this was the second time but I would rather a safe procedure than a tired surgeon. The consultant came to see me and said they now have no space on any elective lists for me and don’t know when I can be booked in for the foreseeable. She then advised that I would have to keep coming in everyday hoping the emergency sections aren’t too busy or hope there’s a cancellation.

I asked how this was safe if I had been referred due to being high risk and pushed by the consultant for birth at 38 weeks. She explained I was high risk but due to it being a specialist hospital and a lack of surgeons there’s people who are higher risk who are being prioritised. Again I understand but it seems they are just hoping nothing goes wrong with me and neglecting the risks and fears they’ve advised throughout my pregnancy.

I went home with a BP of 142/96 as they were closing the ward but was reluctantly told I could stay in and they could monitor my BP “if I want”. I’m now back, day 3 waiting to see if there’s a gap with emergengies nil by mouth since 6am again! Meaning the only nutrients my baby is getting throughout the day is the pre op pills, labetelol and paracetamol as I am suffering with a long mild headache.

my question is, what are my rights, at what point does it become inhumane for a pregnant woman to be not eating everyday for the hope of surgery? Likewise, I am not sleeping due to the stress and anxiety. My final thing to add is that since not eating and just taking medication my babies movements have been very irratic which is worrying me!

Any advice would be very much appreciated!

Can you get PALS involved? I have found them helpful in the past

You need to make a complaint or can you be booked into another hospital, not healthy all this waiting

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.?….?

Thanks for replying, could you advise how they helped? I’m definitely going to look into this!

Apologies I’m new to mumsnet, I think I will request to speak the consultant today to make a complaint!

You can talk to pals and see if they can support you in navigating the system. But i would say that in my most recent pregnancy, I had high BP which turned in preeclampsia plus a breech baby and my section wasn't booked until 39+5, due to slots not being available (didnt need it in the end as baby turned herself at 39+2 and i delivered naturally). My BP was 160 something / 112. If you are only taking labetalol, they can add nifedipine to your drug regime. It was only the combination of the two that got my BP under control. So maybe ask them about that whilst you await your section? Especially if you are starting to get headaches.

Make sure you are vocal regarding baby and the change in movement.

I had extremely high BP in my second pregnancy and it got so high when I went in for a check that I wasn’t allowed home and ended up staying in for several days before he was delivered by section at 39+6.

As an obs anaesthetist it seems a bit odd as we operate around the clock for emergencies, so they clearly don't think you're current situation is risky else youd just be done by the emergency team whenever there is space

They should be feeding you as soon as they know there's no opportunity on an elective list. If u ask early at 6am they can see by the board how busy it is going to be and likelihood of it happening, and if unlikely give u breakfast so u can be reconsidered at lunch time. We need u starved 6h for food for elective surgery

If u go into labour they'll do you expedited on the emergency list

I'm assuming u have pregnancy induced hypertension not pre-eclampsia else ud be expedited and need bloods within 6h of csection to allow us to do a spinal (and much less likely they'd be delaying u if pet)

Feel free to complain to pals but I don't think they'll have any say in it. Ask to see if u could go to another hosp if there is another locally, but honeslty if it was dangerous to wait, they wouldn't be. I've literally never left theatre from.back to back cases on many night shifts, if it's an urgent indication it would happen

Based on what? The authority non medics on this site speak with astounds me

I'd ask for an ecv and to be induced if was me

Being nil by mouth for a few days also won't do your baby any harm whatsoever. They still get all@Destiny123the nutrients they need. Even if you can't eat for a few days/weeks with a stomach bug or hyperemesis etc, baby will be fine.

Also what @Destiny123 said. If it's an emergency or urgent it will be prioritised. Especially at a big tertiary referral hospital like you're describing.

Thank you! Glad everything worked out ok for you. I wouldn’t of minded waiting, although it has been the consultants that have almost scaremongered me into a c section early. So the mental strain of the last three days not eating and then to still have no answer seems a lot to bear. I will definitely discuss the medication thanks!

If your partner or a relative with you demand to be seen by consultant. Tell them movements have changed and ask to be scanned. Might have to make a fuss. This is really cruel on you making you wait this long and I’m upset for you 😭

Don’t worry about going into labour as if you do you will have an emergency section. I echo what pp said about being hypervigilant with movements and also being super vocal about any new symptoms, like a headache! Likelihood is they don’t think you’re currently a high enough risk but one of those factors could change at any time to put you on the emergency list.

Thank you. I am now on the emergency ward they say they aren’t able to give me an indication of when I will be seen! Thanks for your advice I can understand if it was urgent they’d rush me down it’s more the waiting around with no update/food and mental strain.

Oh my god don't do this. Christ lying that movements have changed is serious and will mean you get scanned and someone else who may have changed movements have to wait while you waste peoples time with his knows what consequences

Ignore me just reloaded you said movements have changed ! 100 percent tell someone now the babies movements have changed

I think some consultants lay it on a bit thick because they think you won’t take their recommendation. I was told by my consultant I categorically would not be able to go past 38+6 because baby was measuring small.

Well I wasn’t induced until 39+3 because the hospital was full. There was nothing I could do. Hospital were monitoring and measuring baby and they were happy. Baby was fine and has grown fine, she’s on the small side of normal!

PLEASE report if anything doesn’t feel right with movements.

There is no lying? If you read the initial post I advise that movement have changed.

Unfortunately that's the nature of obs. I can sit down for lunch and 2sec lady be wheeling someone to theatre. I've come on to an empty board (noone labouring at all) and spent the entire shift in theatre as they've been going direct from antenatal to theatre as crash sections

Its often quite tricky getting the semi-electives sorted. But they should be feeding u at least twice a day even if u unfortunately have to miss lunch

They admitted me for similar to higher BP levels. I had protein markers too but still was just left on a ward.. They didn't have me fast or anything as there was no chance whatsoever that my section date was changing unless labour started. It didn't so I was almost 40 weeks when my elective happened. I wasn't allowed to leave the hospital though.. Have you really highlighted the headache? I didn't have one but they asked me multiple times a day

We found that PALS advocated for us really well after numerous issues with lost referrals, telephone appointments where no one rang so referral got kicked back to gp etc. We couldn't get hold of anyone to speak to, secretary never answered calls. But when PALS intervened magically f2f appointment was booked and necessary tests and treatment organised

Don’t be a dick and lie like that ever.
You risk your baby and the one that can’t go to theatre because you’ve become an ‘emergency’ what a selfish attitude.

Sending strength op, sounds like a stressful situation