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Original poster

Giving birth over Christmas

22 replies

whitemats · 03/10/2022 08:18

Looking for experiences from other mums and midwives, if there are any around! It's ten years since I last gave birth and I've noticed such a big drop in the level of antenatal care offered by the NHS this time around (I'm incredibly sympathetic to why this is and think it's a travesty, another topic for another day), but I'm really starting to worry about what this means for my birth in December.

I'm booked in for an ELCS on 23rd December (2 c sections previously), and as I have a history of post partum haemorrhage I am concerned there just won't be the staff at the hospital to deal with it if anything happens on Xmas eve/Xmas day. All being well it'll all go to plan and I'll be home later on Xmas eve after spending 24 hours in hospital (though I was in for a week last time, 2.5 days the time before 🤪), but I'd really like to be at home for Christmas if I can.

Is it true that maternity units are run with skeleton staff over the Christmas period? And has anyone experienced being in on delivery ward at that time with a newborn? What was it like?

OP posts:
SwayingInTime · 03/10/2022 08:20

No different to having your section on a Friday I promise. Wards should be a bit quieter if anything which should be nice. My main worry would be being bumped on the day and no elective list until the Wednesday? I’d ask about that but otherwise wouldn’t be concerned.

CleanHankie · 03/10/2022 08:23

My experience was over 10yrs ago but likewise, due to give birth over Christmas and had similar concerns. My midwife assured me that wasn't the case and in fact they argued over who was working that period as its a lovely atmosphere - teeny babies to coo over?! Ended up being Christmas Day & Boxing Day and saw plenty of staff!

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 03/10/2022 08:27

Slightly different but I had DS prematurely just days before Christmas (wasn't due until Feb). First and only child so can't compare but it didn't feel like skeleton staffing. Plenty of people around.

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Original poster
whitemats · 03/10/2022 08:34

This is really reassuring, thank you!! I clearly should not have read This Is Going To Hurt so far along in pregnancy...

I plan on taking lots of Celebrations in with me for the nurses and hoping for as festive a time as poss (as much as you can with a newborn and post-abdominal surgery) but to be honest even if we're home by Xmas day (and with a terrible cook for a husband) I think this Christmas will be very very different!

OP posts:
Dinoteeth · 03/10/2022 08:36

I had a baby on 24th, no difference in the level of care. Must have had about 8 people in the room dealing with a hemorrhage.

TheRookie · 03/10/2022 08:38

Christmas has no bearing on Midwives on the hospital, there will be the same staffing as any other day. Weekdays and weekends should always be the same. Senior consultants will be on call from home but there will always be registrars on site.

dottypencilcase · 03/10/2022 08:40

Boxing Day baby here via elective CS. I found the staff absolutely fantastic and I felt they made more of an effort than usual because it was Christmas and they were trying to recreate the Christmas spirit. My biggest advice is to get yourself a side room off the main ward if possible- the noise in the main recovery ward is beyond frustrating and not what you need when you've come out of having major surgery. But that goes for all year round and not just Christmas!

Kindofcrunchy · 03/10/2022 08:40

I was in over Christmas with my son almost 3 years ago and the wards were packed, both ante and postnatal. The midwives were busy but not more short staffed than usual I think. It'll be a normal day for them!

Solasum · 03/10/2022 08:40

If you are likely to be in on Christmas Day itself, make sure you have some provisions. I was in the delivery room at meal times, so missed out on the normal food round, and then everything was shut.

Original poster
whitemats · 03/10/2022 08:47

dottypencilcase · 03/10/2022 08:40

Boxing Day baby here via elective CS. I found the staff absolutely fantastic and I felt they made more of an effort than usual because it was Christmas and they were trying to recreate the Christmas spirit. My biggest advice is to get yourself a side room off the main ward if possible- the noise in the main recovery ward is beyond frustrating and not what you need when you've come out of having major surgery. But that goes for all year round and not just Christmas!

This is priority if at all possible!!! Last time I was on the ward for a week and it was hell - I had no sleep whatsoever. A private room would be a dream so really hoping they're not being used for Covid births

OP posts:
Tillymint10 · 03/10/2022 09:13

Throughout my pregnancy I was meant to be induced on my due date - 26th Dec but when they came to book it in, the ‘system said no’ it was emergency only 24th-26th, so I was booked in on the 27th instead

I ended up with an emergency c section which the reg started but consultant came down and took over, didn't notice any shortages on the ward, even the dedicated breast feeding support worker was there 24/7 as normal, including over new year when we were there.
Care was still lacking in places but dont think that had anything to do with Xmas.

There was zero festive cheer or feeling though 🤣

DappledThings · 03/10/2022 10:34

I went in early hours of the 23rd and DC2 was born that morning. Went home Xmas Eve. Didn't seem any different to DC1 in terms of staffing etc. There was one very sad tree with stringy tinsel!

Original poster
whitemats · 03/10/2022 19:37

sounds like I'll either need to bring bags of festive cheer or leave it for when I get home 😂

OP posts:
CloseYourMouthLynn · 03/10/2022 19:44

I gave birth to my first on Xmas Eve and was home Xmas day. Might have been luck but I found it was actually a really quiet time of year and the midwives all had a lot more time for me and the other mums on the ward. Good luck!

CloseYourMouthLynn · 03/10/2022 19:48

Also going home with a baby on Xmas day was quite magical and we went straight to my in laws and they made me dinner and I had a wine!

SlatternIsMyMiddleName · 03/10/2022 19:59

I had my DD on the 23rd Dec. I was discharged on Christmas morning and I will never forget how lovely it was on the ward on the 24th and morning of the 25th. Magical.

Original poster
whitemats · 03/10/2022 20:02

You are all making me feel so much better about my worries, thank you so much!

As a final question, if I'm birthing a baby for my DH at Christmas does that mean I get let off buying him a present this year?!

OP posts:
EddieHowesBlackandWhiteArmy · 03/10/2022 20:05

It’s only in the last few years we’ve actually been able to take annual leave over Christmas and new year, before that it was verboten and ironically meant that the festive period was the best staffed time of the year. Our staffing is absolutely no different to any other week of the year now.

chocolatemmmmm · 03/10/2022 20:08

Agree with Eddie. We are still not allowed annual leave over Christmas and nobody dare call in sick because it looks suspicious so staffing is normally the best at Christmas.

stormelf · 03/10/2022 20:08

I had my second on Christmas Eve (he was born in an ambulance and we were then transferred to hospital) and it was a really calm experience. I was the only one on the ward with him and there seemed to be the same number of staff as when I had my oldest in October. My youngest was born second week of December and it was also very calm, just me and one other mother. December seems to be a quiet month for babies in my experience.

Only thing I had with my second was we were discharged before he had his hearing tests as there was no one available until boxing day. This wasn't a problem as an appointment was made for me at my nearest hospital for say after boxing day

stormelf · 03/10/2022 20:10

Oh and we also had to go back to the hospital on boxing Day for pediatrician checks.

ichimedin · 03/10/2022 20:19

my friend had her baby on late Christmas Eve in 2020 and said it was magical! She was in until Boxing Day as far as I remember. The wards were fully staffed and one of the midwives dressed as Santa and brought at the babies and mums a present! her midwife told her they had less patients than usual as they’d all made a big effort to get women home for Christmas but for those for whom that wasn’t possible, it was great 🎅🏼

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