Hello, sorry for delay in replying, my baby seems to have woken from 'the big sleep' and now is a little unputdownable, so anything that involves 2 hands has generally been shunned!
Well I have to say that over all, I was really happy with the care I received at UCH. I needed a c-sec due to a low lying placenta which they discovered quite late in the pregnancy when I went if for a scan at 36 weeks (Obs was concerned baby was a little small). They said if the placenta hadn't moved by the following week, they would book me in for a c/s, which it hadn't and they did, so I knew at 37 weeks.
To answer your questions yoyogirl, I don't think there was anything I wished I had known before. I read some excellent threads on here, I'll try and link you to them, but have never done this before so let me know if it does work and I'll give you the posters name and you can search for them.
this page
this page
this page
I also brought a couple of books on c/sec (let me know if you would like the names), so felt pretty informed.
I stayed in hospital from Thurs - Sun, however all things going ok, they usually turf you out after 48 hours, but I had a bit of a temperature and it also took them 24 hours to find a Dr to discharge me. I don't know who my consultant was because I saw so many of them leading up to the birth. I didn't get skin to skin in theatre but didn't ask for it and was pleased I didn't as to be honest, as the screen is quite high up, you have numerous leads and wires coming from heart monitors, blood pressure cuffs etc, it would have been quite difficult. Also, I was quite woozy from the morphine and couldn't stop yawning, so it may have not been very safe me holding her when she was all slippery. I did have her on my chest (over the gown) when she was wrapped up which was lovely and then skin to skin in recovery where she started feeding. And no there didn't appear to be any problems with her breathing when she was delivered (my partner can't remember if they needed to suction her or not).
The procedure itself is pretty weird, there is lots of pulling and tugging to get the baby out which is quite surreal, not to mention not being able to feel your legs (however I hasten to add, the feeling came back very quickly in recovery), but the theatre staff were great, knowing that most people are very nervous, they were very chatty and humourous through out. I was up very tentatively that evening and walking about reasonably normally by day 2. The pain was well managed with paracetamol, codeine and anti-inflam's.
Oh and I can't recommend the amenity rooms enough!! I was on the ward the first night only to be beside a mother who's snoring nearly brought the hospital down! So we opted to pay the money (not cheap at £250 per night) and have a private room, with an ensuite, and where my partner could stay the night - albeit in a pull out chair/bed. But it was well worth the money. But it is a first come first served basis, so if you want one, ask as soon as you are admitted. Also, you have to spend the first night on the ward so they can monitor you.
Now, two weeks on, I feel well. I totally over did it on the first day home, watering my garden, etc and my scar really started to ache by the evening, so I learnt quickly to stagger any physical activities. I still get twinges when I turn quickly, cough or sneeze but that is to be expected I guess. The wound has healed well and it doesn't look like the scar will be too unsightly.
Whew, that was quite a post, sorry if it was a little long winded, but I hoped I answered you questions!
xxx