amenity/private room post caesarean

[Viola82]

just wondering if it’s worth it, really. It’s £300 a night minimum (London). Or will I be so tired/on painkillers I won’t really mind if I’m in a shared room with other mummies for a few days?

If I’ll get the private room will my DH be able to stay for a night (on the chair) and help me out with the baby? If not, will the nurses/midwifes help me please if I’ll be able to feed?
Would the painkillers affect ability to feed (is it safe to take strong painkillers and breastfeed)?
Apologies for so many questions but I'm getting stressed and worried..

[Jammycustard]

Which hospital is this? Sounds very expensive.

[MyKingdomForBrie]

I was given a private room on the MLU (must have just been lucky as I didn’t pay!) DH wasn’t allowed to stay but the midwives were all on hand. I hadn’t had a section though so I don’t know if the rules are different then. I was very grateful for a private room, it made a big difference to be able to just be dd and I in our little cocoon.

Just talk your concerns through with the midwife and the hospital before you decide.

[StruggsToFunc]

Which hospital? That seems expensive for an NHS hospital.

You need to check if your hospital allows overnight visitors. Some do on all wards; some do in private rooms only; some chuck everyone out at 10pm.

[Viola82]

Chelsea and Wesminister but from what I understand most of London's hospitals and charging similar amounts.. As this will be a minimum 1 night stay I'm wondering if it's worth it.. I can cheeky book in for one night and see if they will move me later ;)

[Soph88]

I had my own room after my 3rd degree tear repair. I had a spinal block and couldn't feel my legs and had a catheter in. I did like having my own room. Much quieter and did liked the privacy. My DH had to go home after visiting hours were up. If I wanted to feed or hold my baby I had to call a midwife/HCA to pass her to me.
I was given ibuprofen and paracetamol for pain relief and breastfed while taking them. I'm not sure if they give anything stronger for a section.

[Ljgstorm]

I didn't have a c section but had surgery due to retained placenter. Was placed on a ward with four other women but partners were allowed to stay. Was good as I wasn't able to move for twelve hours after surgery. Each person on ward had curtains for privacy and didn't seem too crowded

[mcqueencar]

I had my own room at St. George’s, I’m sure it was under £100. Defo worth it, allowed much needed privacy & space after CS.

[Spidermansthong]

I had my own room at Kingston. I believe it was £100 but as the hospital was quiet I was lucky enough to not need to pay. I would just add that whilst it was nice not being on the ward, I didn't actually get as much rest as I anticipated as I constantly had knocks on the door from midwives checking on me, tests on dd, offers of coffee (feel mean whinging about this but I was so tired I'd of preferred to have been left alone) and the bloody bounty girl who I think I terrified so much snapping at her (she really was the last straw of the constant door knocks) that she gave me the pack despite not obtaining my details.

[sohypnotic]

If you can afford it, then do it. I had ELCS and was given a private room by chance - possibly because my baby had to go to special care for a few hours post birth. Was definitely nice to have some privacy whilst catheter was still in, and when first trying to move around and get out of bed after bleeding through. Room had own bathroom which was a massive plus. I was in 2 nights, but that was partly due to baby having antibiotics.

Although obviously quieter than the ward, the downside was I was firthest away from everything, and it could take midwives a while to respond to being called. At the hospital I was in they only bought dinner and breakfast to my room the evening and morning after section. After that they rang a bell and I had to go get it - which was impossible for me, luckily I had family around to go most of the time - but still missed a few meals.

Husband wasn't allowed to stay. First night I couldn't get baby in and out of cot on own, so she slept on me and I stayed up all night, as she was having problems feeding. 2nd night I could just about get out bed and pick her up with difficulty- had some help from midwives but not as much as really needed. As for pain relief I had oramorph and was still allowed to breastfeed. All my NCT friends who were in wards, after vaginal and c-sections, seemed to have pretty bad experiences for a multitude of reasons - although usually because of other patients!

[SluttyButty]

I had my own room after a uterine rupture, so free. But if you have the money and it's not going to stretch your budget then I'd say do it. I liked the relative peace because my baby wasn't a crier and the privacy was just what was needed.

[YouAndMeAreGoingToFallOut]

I can't advise on the private room (although I didn't have one and the postnatal ward was shit so maybe it's worth it!) but for pain relief after my EMCS I had paracetamol and tramadol - so pretty heavy duty stuff - and breastfed successfully.

[Levithecat]

We got an amenity room, but the fee was a flat fee so you would pay the same whether staying one or five nights. Might be worth double checking if this is the same for you?

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

I had a semi emcs on Thursday (in Scotland so can't pay for a private room) and was offered one, we jumped at it and they produced a camp bed for dh.

3 years ago when I had ds, (also emcs but an actual emergency that time) I had to stay on the ward.

Based on both experiences and even though I have healed quickly both times (walking to NICU within 24 hours with ds/discharged after a day 1 this time... didn't need pain relief with either), I'd still have paid thousands to guarantee a private room if that was possible.

Just not having to share showers/toilets made a difference. Who wants to be climbing over complete strangers bloody urine in buckets if they don't have to... (that might just a unique quirk of the hospital in which I've had both dc).