First consultation for birth plan

It's not done at the scan, you won't see a consultant for your first birth unless you have an issue and have been referred, you will have an appointment with your midwife to discuss your birth preferences at around 36 weeks iirc. :)

I believe you can request at your midwife appts to see a consultant re an elective csection. I did this very early on and an appt was made for when I was just over 36 weeks to discuss options x

@Bee my midwife has told me it needs to be discussed at the RUH at the scans?? As they don’t work in sync with each other because my catchment area is a whole district over and my closest hospital is Bath so I had to choose a different hospital to the one joined to my midwife…. This is what I’m worried about as I’ve been told not to leave it too long to discuss my concerns am otherwise they might not offer my a C-section ….. that was from the RUH midwife at my last scan and she said I should see someone this scan?!!

@Charli thank you- this is what I’m worried about as my midwife has told me I have to talk to the RUH and I have done but they keep brushing it off and my midwife does too because the are linked with southmead not the RUH

Aah okay, I was Chippenham but gave birth at Bath, perhaps you could call your midwife unit to ask if the referral was made and if not how to get one? It's possible you would need to call Bath and arrange it yourself but I would have thought that unlikely. They can't refuse your choice, elective c-section is a right, btw. The most they can do is have an individual doctor refuse to carry it out (they have to have a solid reason to refuse) and if this happens they should refer you to another doctor who is happy to do it. So don't be scared!

@Bee thank you I’ve tried on numerous occasions and they have said they have emailed RUH in my behalf but when I ask RUH they don’t seem to know anything and I just don’t know how to resolve this. I’ve tried speaking to all of them, ringing all of them and nothing seems to be getting organised. I will attempt to try again tomorrow at the scan and also calling my midwife but I have already tried and I feel at a completely loss of nothing gets sorted 😒

Ohh okay, I asked at my scans if an appt had been made but they couldn't see! I just got a letter in the post with the date on once they had arranged it. Try not to worry, it will get sorted and you will get the birth you want, they can't refuse that you want an elective section. Also finding out the date of the csection is very last minute too, you get a text the week before xx

Hmm that's not great, the worry is not helpful! I had an elective c section at the ruh but was already being followed up by the consultant due to cervix checks... I had scans and consultant appointments together. Is the scan you are having a routine one for gestational diabetes? Just thinking you might see a consultant tomorrow? If not i would definitely ask to speak to the midwife in charge or whatever they might be called. If that's a no go- I'd go to PALS and they should be able to sort out who you need to speak to https://www.nhs.uk/services/service-directory/royal-united-hospitals-bath/N10866604

@Marianne thank you Marianne, every time I’ve spoken to the midwives at the RUH before my scans (in those rooms where they do the blood tests and things) they do keep saying I’ll have my consultation and at my last scan (growth scan) she said it should be linked to this scan but then I received my letter and they said I have my growth scan and then my gestational diabetes appointment with no mention of my consultation. My midwife keeps telling me (at Yate) that they should sort it out anyway and it’s almost as if no one wants to actually organise it for me?? I will check out PALS if I get no further tomorrow and ask again tomorrow, if they don’t have anything else for my at the RUH I will ring my midwives and see what I can do.

Hope it goes well tomorrow! Enjoy seeing your little one on the scan, although hard to see their elbow from their knees at this stage🙈🤣 (I was also having growth scans) Hope you get some answers to put your mind at ease xx

Hmm I definitely had growth scans and appointments with the consultant after but it's too long ago to remember what was on the letter. Fingers crossed it's straight forward for you tomorrow. Just to share my experience of having the c section to add a positive note about the ruh... I found the ruh great with my c section. The staff were so in control and kind, in particular in theatre. I also found the consultants before really supportive. So hopefully once you get your conversation with the consultant it'll all start going more smoothly for you. All the best!!

@Marianne I’ve heard so many good things and they’re honestly all so lovely there it’s not through any fault of theirs but it’s just nerves at this stage as I know it’s hard to coordinate because my midwives and hospital aren’t linked. Thank you so much again for the link, I’ve just emailed them to explain my concerns and who knows I might end up getting a chat tomorrow 😂😂

@Charli I can’t wait! He is being seen at prime mummy kicking time tomorrow so they’re gonna have fun trying to measure him! 😂😂😂