Annoyed at Elective c-section date- will be overdue

[sarahken]

Hi, everyone. I have just had an appointment with my obstretican at the hospital for my 34 week anti-natal check. I am having an elective c-section due to complications in my last labour which resulted in me needing an emergency c-sec. I was told at my 12 week obsetrician appointment my c-sec would most like be 12th May (39+3 weeks), and so my husband has booked his paternity leave at work from 12-26th May to coincide with this.

However today when I went to be formally booked in for my section I was told that they are now not doing sections on the 12th May for some reason I don't know, and all the places have been taken for the week before (5th May), so I will have to have my section on the 19th May, which will make me 3 days overdue.My local hospital only performs elective c-sects on Tuesdays! When I asked what would happen if I went in to labour before then or if my blood pressure went sky high again, I was told not to worry and they would simply perform an elective c-section. I just accepted what they told me and agreed, but now I have got home I feel really annoyed.

I don't want an emergency section, with all the problems last time, and the fact that this baby is also breech, I don't want to go into labour.Plus last time I had an emergency c-section I had to be put to sleep as they didn't have enough time to keep trying to get the spinal block in, so me and my dh missed the birth. Plus, I will not get out of hospital till saturday 23rd, which means I will only get 1 day of help from my hubby before he is back at work. This happened last time, and it was very hard work after a c-sec, this time I have a toddler to look after also.

What really annoys me, is that a lady I know had a section at 37 weeks, last month at the same hospital, just because the day they had given her clashed with her step-son's birthday. This lady happens to be a midwife. It seems totally unfair that someone can choose like this for non-medical reasons just because they know the consultant. I have booked to see my community midwife on Wednesday to see if I can get it changed to 28th April (37 +3 weeks) as this is still classed a full term isn't it? but I wasn't given this option at the hospital. Sorry for the long rant, just feel really het up after having this date in my head for the best part of 6 months. Anyone any experience of this?

No but I think I would be throwing a polite tantrum if told my elective c-section was 3 days after my due date and pointing out the statistics between an elective c-section and an emergency c-section. Whilst the hospital can't build your c-section around your husbands paternity leave (and I don't think he is actually allowed to take it before the baby is born whatever dates he has booked) I do think you have a strong case to get your c-section on another day before your due date.

Its not like me to throw a tantrum with people like this I tend to bottle it up, thats why I accepted it at the hospital, but as they day has gone on I feel more and more annoyed, and thats why I have booked to see my midwife on Wednesday. Just don't want to go in there and get so annoyed I start crying (usually what happens when I let things get to me ). Do you know if my husband then has the right to refuse to go on paternity leave until after the baby arrives, I'm not too hot on Paternity leave rights?

Your Obstetrician is crazy surely? Sounds like they are totally missing the point of why you are having an planned CS. I had a em CS last time, sounds like similar situation to you - to late for spinal block etc. You need to kick up a fuss! Or get your mw too if you don't feel up to it.

On a brighter side, look here at info on paternity leave. Dads can't take it before the baby is born, so his employers will just have to deal with it. At least with an elective CS then they will know when he is going to start. Most men just don't show up one day - in my DH's case 2 weeks before he and his boss thought he might.

paternity rights

Kick up a big fat stink. Get your husband on board. Don't wait until Weds. Ring up the consultant's secretary and say you have had a chance to think about this over the weekend and it is totally unacceptable to you. Be assertive.

Most babies are overdue, so you have a pretty good chance of making it to T+3, and the later you leave it the more ready the baby will be. If you do end up having the section done once labour has started the the baby will be ready to be born.

Is there any reason for you to stay in hosptial until the saturday - that seems like a fairly prolonged stay? Where I live 48-36 hours is routine.

FWIW I would much rather have a section at 40+3 than 37+3.

I know where I live the consultant would not do elective c-sections before 38 weeks if they could avoid it.

Agree better to have it later than early

To be honest they won't book you in for an elective before 39 weeks because baby is more likely to have breathing difficulties.

I'll be booked in this time at 39w2days. Now with ds1 i had him by emergency c-section at 39wks and ds2 was booked in for elective but went into labour and had him by c-section at 37 weeks.

However with second c-section - i had a few contractions but as soon as they started i went to hospital and they just said - fine we'll do your c-section now and it was very calm.

I don't think theres much chance i'll get to 39 weeks this time but if i go into labour early will just go to hospital and know they'll do the c-section then.

Were you on time last time?

No expert on paternity leave but surely your DH just lets them know the rough due date and then takes the time off when the baby is born??

Cobblers.

my DS was born, on the consultant's advice 2 weeks early because I was engaged and had a show.

I wanted DS on a Saturday (another story, that I'm not getting into here). It was agreed that I wouldn't get to the Saturday after (39 weeks) so he was born at 38 weeks.

Perfectly fine and without any problems.

A CS without labour is a VERY diffrent thing to an Em CS after labour IMHO.

Well ds2 born at 37 weeks did have breathing difficulties and a week in NICU and i'd love to avoid that again.

I'd love to get to 39 weeks personally.

Do know of a couple of friends who were booked in at 40 weeks because their first babies had been 2 weeks late.

Was that cobblers aimed at my post by the way Haribosmummy? Because i can assure you the research about babies having more breathing difficulties before 39 weeks is there and widely followed nowadays.

Thanks for your help. Will definately be pushing to get an earlier section, just hope I can be assertive. Will look online for some emergency/elective section statistics and fetal development at 37 weeks and paternity rights.My hubby's boss will just have to let him have the time off. Wish I had known this with my last pregnancy as I only had one day with hubby before he had to return to work.

Oh, no, sorry.

I can see how that came across.

I didn't mean it like that, and it wasn't directed at you, Tracey.

Apologies. I can see how it must seem. I really didn't mean it to look like that.

[apology emoticon!]

What I meant was that, in the case of an El CS, a consultant will usually keep a check on progress and book a CS in as close to the 'natural' birth date as possible.

The 'cobblers' comments was meant to refer to the idea of 'planning' a CS date in advance.

I'm really sorry - I should re-read my posts!!!

Oh don't worry - i didn't think it was really - just checking

I think its all down to the stupid practice they have of when they book you in.

I went for 20 week consultant appointment where i saw hilarious registrar who knew less about c-sections than me. Went to book me in the diary and then saw the pages in july were empty so told me to come back at 34 weeks and they'd write my name in then.

Why couldn't he write my name then?? Are blank pages scarey or something?? Just seems such a waste of everyones time really.

I know what you mean traceybath, why tell me at 12 weeks I would be having a section on 12th May and then not booking it in. If they bothered to look in the diary at this time they could have seen the day was not available for any c-sections and could have put me in for the 5th to save all this trouble. Will have to see what is said on Wednesday, but if I have to wait till 19th then I have to wait as my next local hospital is 1hr 10 away, whereas this one is within walking distance.

I would rather have a section at term+3 than 37+3.

Round here they won't book electives before 38 weeks minimum as the risks are greater before then.

Even if you went into labour, you would probably have hours to get to hospital and if you phone them first they will be expecting you. Very different scenario from labouring for hours, then having an emergency section as the baby is stuck/distressed/you're not dilating.

I can understand your annoyance but think you need to think about going for T+3 and get your husband to rearrange his paternity leave slightly if possible.

I think you should have a proper chat with the consultant about this. Get him/her to outline the risks involved if you did go into labour. Ask why it is normal to have a planned section at 39+ weeks and why they are not doing this.

My hospital always does planned c-sections at 39+ weeks.

They only do sections once a week? Maybe try booking in a bigger hospital where they have more experience of doing sections!

Your baby has a much higher risk of going to the neonatal unit if a section is done before term, the risk keeps on decreasing until you are overdue. Even some babies born by elective at 39 or 40 weeks have breathing probs due to not having the stimulation of the labour hormones and the contractions.

If you go in to labour earlier then you will go in to hospital as soon as you think things are happening and they will do a section, it will probably be much more relaxed and easier than last time, although I can totally understand why you are worried about that.

Thats terrible... I do however know that at 37 weeks you are only classed as full term if you naturally go into labour.
However this is comletely unacceptable leaving you to go over you due date...

Is there another hospital you can go to nearby? Maybe talk to your midwife or GP.
I cant believe they only do elective sections on 1 day a week!!!!!!

Hope you get it sorted though xxx

Both my DC's were breech babies. Both times my waters went prior to the elective section date. Although both births were classed as emergency sections, I was sectioned within a couple of hours of arriving at the hospital and it was very calm and relaxed. If you have a planned elective they will not let you labour but can understand your concerns.

BTW a bit odd about only doing them one day a week. As they must have people in all week to do any emergencies that come in.

I agree that a polite tantrum (love that term!) is the way forward. Tell them you are not happy going past your due date and throw the ball back in their court. Best of luck with the discussion and the birth

I am having my second elective due to about 5 different things wrong or that have happened previously.

I begged at 21 weeks to be able to book in my date. The lovely young female doctor that saw me was very sympathetic and gave me a date there and then. I will be 38+1 .

My issue is childcare and the fact my parents live abroad. We have no childcare other than my single childless sister who will be taking up to a week off work to look after my other two and she doesn't live nearby.

I was shocked and suprised that I was able to be accomadated so easily but very grateful .

Yeah its rubbish, section day at my hospital is a Tuesday, and they only book in 4 sections per week, so don't even know if the 28th April is booked up or not anyway. I had my last section on a wednesday as it was an emergency, so as you say they have the staff to perform sections if necessary. They have cancelled all sections on the 12th May, but made no other dates available, so all the people wanting this date have now taken the other weeks allocation What do they want us pregnant women to do, just cross our legs for a few weeks!!

sarahken!!
Dont do anything to bring your labour on because we all know when were gonna go into labour dont we ladies...

How very very silly

My hosp have been great about my elective c section. I got booked in at my appointment on Friday. My due date is the 23 May and our hosp normally only books in from 39 weeks. Which means my 39 weeks falls on a Sat they were going to take me in on the Monday. When I explained i was going to have childcare issues if i was in hosp mid week she did not bat an eye lid and booked me in for the friday 38+6, and i should be out by the sunday.

I cant believe they only do electives one day a week - surely if people are getting electives it is because they have had problems in the past - so why are they risking letting people go into labour by leaving it so long, and then they will need to perform the section there and then?? think i would be looking to move hosps!

I had an elective section at 10 days overdue. I was told that if I happened to go into labour that I just had to come straight in and they could still do the section. As it was even 10 days late dd2 was still showing no sign of coming.

You do not really want a section at 37 weeks if it can be avoided. Much better at 38/39 weeks or even later in terms of your childs development especially lungs etc.