C-Section keeps getting cancelled

TTCbabynumber22025 · 2026-06-13T07:52:02+00:00

Has anyone had any experience with their c section keep getting cancelled? This is the third day I’ve been cancelled, they said maybe this afternoon but I’m not hopeful. I’m 40 years old, second baby, and I’m 40+6. The problem is, we don’t have loads of strings to pull in regards to work and childcare and we pulled those to make some time to have it done this week. If they say next week to me there are some days where I will have to go in on my own. They said I’m low priority as I’m an elective (EMCS with my first due to failed induction) and I get that if urgent cases come in, I would expect them to go in first, I’d only want the same if there was an issue with my baby, I get that. I won’t go into labour on my own I’m fairly sure, I was two weeks over with my daughter, never had so much as a twinge or lost a bit of mucus in either pregnancy, they tried to do a sweep and could barely do one because baby wasn’t even engaged properly. Is anyone available for a hand hold or has had similar experiences? And what happened? I’m miserable and I’m so frightened that they’re just going to keep kicking me down the road until I have to go in on my own or something has gone wrong with the baby

TheHateUGive · 13/06/2026 08:56

I don't mean to frighten you, but warn you. I recently read that some hospitals are now doing all elective caesareans as emergencies. Some funding related thing. So basically, they are waiting until people due for an elective go into labour and then they do an emergency caesarean at that point rather than having an appointment for one. Partly because they can't keep this appointments.

I will say that some argued that it is better for baby as the baby has given the signal that they are ready to be born.

Original poster

TTCbabynumber22025 · 13/06/2026 09:11

TheHateUGive · 13/06/2026 08:56

I don't mean to frighten you, but warn you. I recently read that some hospitals are now doing all elective caesareans as emergencies. Some funding related thing. So basically, they are waiting until people due for an elective go into labour and then they do an emergency caesarean at that point rather than having an appointment for one. Partly because they can't keep this appointments.

I will say that some argued that it is better for baby as the baby has given the signal that they are ready to be born.

Yes I do think that’s what they would like to happen, that’s the impression I get, they keep saying if I go into labour they will do it as emergency. I just am fairly certain I won’t go into labour on my own, based on my experience with my daughter and the fact that the baby isn’t even properly engaged and I’m already a week overdue

OP posts:

Paisifr · 13/06/2026 09:31

This happened to me although only cancelled once and the second day I was so anxious hanging around worrying it would be cancelled that I was sick so definitely understand how you feel.

Greybeardy · 13/06/2026 10:16

TheHateUGive · 13/06/2026 08:56

I don't mean to frighten you, but warn you. I recently read that some hospitals are now doing all elective caesareans as emergencies. Some funding related thing. So basically, they are waiting until people due for an elective go into labour and then they do an emergency caesarean at that point rather than having an appointment for one. Partly because they can't keep this appointments.

I will say that some argued that it is better for baby as the baby has given the signal that they are ready to be born.

You read a load of nonsense.

Original poster

TTCbabynumber22025 · 13/06/2026 10:48

Paisifr · 13/06/2026 09:31

This happened to me although only cancelled once and the second day I was so anxious hanging around worrying it would be cancelled that I was sick so definitely understand how you feel.

That’s how I am. I’m miserable. I had a horrible birth experience with my first and now this with my second. I’ve hardly slept for three days, had to starve each day in preparation. I’m so scared and anxious for the baby. It’s awful.

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ThisAmpleCritic · 13/06/2026 10:58

TheHateUGive · 13/06/2026 08:56

I don't mean to frighten you, but warn you. I recently read that some hospitals are now doing all elective caesareans as emergencies. Some funding related thing. So basically, they are waiting until people due for an elective go into labour and then they do an emergency caesarean at that point rather than having an appointment for one. Partly because they can't keep this appointments.

I will say that some argued that it is better for baby as the baby has given the signal that they are ready to be born.

What a load of BS. Elective CS is a mother’s right, and in the majority of situations, an elective is safer than an emergency. Stop the fear-mongering. Maternity services are doing the best they can for women and families in a dire situation due to poor facilities, not enough staff, and too many complex pregnancies. They are not intentionally making anyone’s experiences more difficult than they need to be.

TheHateUGive · 13/06/2026 11:11

ThisAmpleCritic · 13/06/2026 10:58

What a load of BS. Elective CS is a mother’s right, and in the majority of situations, an elective is safer than an emergency. Stop the fear-mongering. Maternity services are doing the best they can for women and families in a dire situation due to poor facilities, not enough staff, and too many complex pregnancies. They are not intentionally making anyone’s experiences more difficult than they need to be.

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It isnt fearmongering at all. Many women have reported it and staff have confirmed why they are finding it difficult to make appointments for electives.

Original poster

TTCbabynumber22025 · 13/06/2026 11:14

ThisAmpleCritic · 13/06/2026 10:58

What a load of BS. Elective CS is a mother’s right, and in the majority of situations, an elective is safer than an emergency. Stop the fear-mongering. Maternity services are doing the best they can for women and families in a dire situation due to poor facilities, not enough staff, and too many complex pregnancies. They are not intentionally making anyone’s experiences more difficult than they need to be.

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I don’t know if I 100% agree with that. I do appreciate that a lot of struggles are funding but I don’t believe there isn’t more they could do, my whole pregnancy I’ve had to beg for anything and still get ignored, I had issues with my iron and being sick all the time and losing weight and it was a one off appointment with a diabetes nurse that helped me out, and I finally felt much better, that could have been easily fixed because I told my community midwife and the consultants at every appointment I saw someone who just ignored me. I feel like I’ve just been ignored and the proverbial can that gets kicked down the road at every moment this pregnancy.

OP posts:

Paisifr · 13/06/2026 11:34

To reassure you despite the cancellation and the miserable couple of days my planned c section was a very positive experience after a very traumatic first birth and those couple if days were forgotten quickly

Greybeardy · 13/06/2026 11:35

There are no hospitals anywhere intentionally leaving elective sections until they go into labour as a planned manoeuvre. Obstetrics is a dynamic specialty and not always that easy to predict what’s going to happen even hour by hour. There is finite operating capacity in every hospital but most are absolutely bending over backwards to get as much operating done in the time available. Sections on elective lists have to be ordered in clinical priority and for various reasons there are increasing numbers of complex sections that do have to be done. An emergency section isn’t always as straightforward as an elective section even when it’s a ‘straightforward’ mat request procedure and there are no hospitals intentionally taking a punt on doing higher risk surgery that may come in out of hours when there are fewer staff just because they want to cut costs. There will always be some women who do go into labour before their date or who need to change plan for medical reasons however many elective lists there are, but that is not because Trusts are just trying to cut costs it’s because childbirth is unpredictable.

mrssunshinexxx · 13/06/2026 11:47

Kick off !! The risks of still birth increase the older you are and the more overdue

ThisAmpleCritic · 13/06/2026 12:18

Greybeardy · 13/06/2026 11:35

There are no hospitals anywhere intentionally leaving elective sections until they go into labour as a planned manoeuvre. Obstetrics is a dynamic specialty and not always that easy to predict what’s going to happen even hour by hour. There is finite operating capacity in every hospital but most are absolutely bending over backwards to get as much operating done in the time available. Sections on elective lists have to be ordered in clinical priority and for various reasons there are increasing numbers of complex sections that do have to be done. An emergency section isn’t always as straightforward as an elective section even when it’s a ‘straightforward’ mat request procedure and there are no hospitals intentionally taking a punt on doing higher risk surgery that may come in out of hours when there are fewer staff just because they want to cut costs. There will always be some women who do go into labour before their date or who need to change plan for medical reasons however many elective lists there are, but that is not because Trusts are just trying to cut costs it’s because childbirth is unpredictable.

100%

TheHateUGive · 13/06/2026 18:11

TTCbabynumber22025 · 13/06/2026 11:14

I don’t know if I 100% agree with that. I do appreciate that a lot of struggles are funding but I don’t believe there isn’t more they could do, my whole pregnancy I’ve had to beg for anything and still get ignored, I had issues with my iron and being sick all the time and losing weight and it was a one off appointment with a diabetes nurse that helped me out, and I finally felt much better, that could have been easily fixed because I told my community midwife and the consultants at every appointment I saw someone who just ignored me. I feel like I’ve just been ignored and the proverbial can that gets kicked down the road at every moment this pregnancy.

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Trust your instincts.

It isnt that hospitals are maliciously not offering the surgery time to women having elective sections. They lack the capacity to accommodate the number of people who want or need them and then keep cancelling appointments like they do for you. In some places, it seems like they've opted to stop giving the appointments because they reckon it is better to not keep canceling and aim for a section in early labour. It's trying to make the best of a shit situation.

FTMJul26 · 13/06/2026 18:29

@TTCbabynumber22025 do you have gestational diabetes? At my hospital this would put you on a priority list I would ask why you aren’t being prioritised due to this