What to expect immediately after birth?

[domuch]

The Childbirth section seemed quiet, so I thought I'd post here.

How long was it before you were able to get cleaned up etc? Were you left alone or was there always someone about? How did you feel physically? When did you let people know baby was here?

I know it will be different for everyone and complications can happen, but general pointers would be great. I don't really know what to expect.

3 csections and never ever had to pee into a bedpan as mentioned up above here, how odd.

With my first, it was quite a gruelling labour but he eventually arrived, I was stitched up, had a bloodbath shower etc.

They put me in a wheelchair to take us up to the ward (I was knackered and felt like I had been in a car crash).

Unfortunately I then noticed that they had put the wrong date of birth on his hospital bands (he was born 1am ish, they had put previous days date). Unfortunately I also pointed this out to them. It took TWO HOURS of paperwork in the delivery ward to sort this out, including loads of safety checks to re-label us both while confirming the baby was not being stolen or swapped. Omg. I always wish I had just taken the wrong dob for him!

Forgot to say, you may experience a sense of euphoria within a few hours of giving birth, like you're on top of the world!

I was cleaned up there and then as I had stitches and forceps.

I was asking for a carrier bag to be sick in because I didn't want to ruin the sheets. They were wrecked anyway I'd just given birth.

I remember not being there that long and then taken to a room on my own because the wards were full. I had a four bed room for myself and dd.

So I had a pool birth. I had to get out and they left me to cuddle baby for a few minutes but they had to get the placenta out as I was heavily bleeding. After that they left me alone for an hour with hubby and baby. Saying they'd need to come back and get me stitched up then. They wheeled me out and stitched me which took about 40 minutes while OH was holding baby. I went back and stayed in the room for around 12 hours before being allowed to go home, I didn't want to go to the ward. I felt like I was on drugs (I'd had gas and air). I couldn't sleep and it all felt like a huge blur and I had no sense of time at all. I felt happy but not rhat wave of love that some experience, I felt in a huge daze. So I wouldn't worry about timings. Ask the midwives to take a video of the two of you (I treasure these much more than photos) so you feel you can remember.

First birth I was showering about 2-3 hours after birth (mainly because I had to have stitches before then). I didn't go to the ward but went straight home

Second time, I was very faint after birth due to loss of blood. It was 6 hours before I felt well enough to get up to go to the toilet, then I went up to the ward where I had a shower about 9 hours post birth.

Both times I was left alone pretty much straight after birth, but second time I asked a student midwife to stay with me for a few hours as I didn't have a birth partner and felt like shit/was still throwing up and couldn't even hold my baby

This is really good advice. As I'm a single mum I used a doula and because I had an EMCS she ended up not being needed but the one thing I got out of that was photos! Make sure you have someone taking photos!

I had two pretty opposite experiences.

1st one was pretty rough. I remember getting about a hour to cuddle baby, get stitched up, and just come to terms with everything. Then it was late and my partner had to leave and a midwife helped me to stand and waddle to the toilet, and had to have help to get in the shower. When I finished, I distinctly remember trying to sort out my maternity pad in my massive underwear and being in pain and I couldn’t bend to pull my pants up. I don’t think the epidural had fully worn off.
The midwife was gone doing checks with baby at this point, so I literally had to stand there for about 10 minutes bleeding everywhere as I couldn’t move or help myself.
I then went in a wheelchair and was taken to a private room (I was so lucky to have this) and stayed in hospital for the next 4 nights. Even with some other issues, I have fond memories of being in this little bubble with my first born.

For my second, I cuddled him for about 20 minutes, breastfed, then I was up and walking to the toilet. Couldn’t believe how normal I felt really. Was taken to a ward which was absoloute hell as I obviously needed sleep and I didn’t get any at all which was pure torture. Managed to get out the next day after constantly badgering them to sign me and baby off.

Slightly different for me, I had hyperemesis with both pregnancies and was still vomiting the days I gave birth.

I felt fantastic, I cuddled my babies, breastfed, ate the worlds best toast and tea, showered and went home as soon as I was allowed.

The sickness lifted as soon as i had given birth, I'd been vomiting since just before positive pregnancy tests both times. I'd forgotten what it was like when I wasn't sick.

I pushed baby out and immediately started nagging to go home I think legally you have to stay for 4 hours which we did in the delivery room just chilling with baby and eating snacks. I waited until I got home to shower as the ones on the delivery ward were GRIM and I actually didn't get very sweaty or messy surprisingly! Currently 32 weeks with no 2 and going for a home birth this time

First was born at 9:32pm. I was all stitched up and cleaned up by about 11pm. We were left alone on the labour ward to rest. I did expect someone to come and tell me to feed my baby. They don't do that...

We were discharged from labour ward the next morning at around 11am.

Second was born at 5:30am. She was born in water so I came out pretty clean already lol. She was ready for her first feed 45 mins later. Then I had a shower. We were discharge at 10:30am from the midwife led unit.

These are actually making me feel almost excited! Thank you for sharing.

I gave birth in the summer and it was always really hot on the wards. You usually can't open windows much if at all, so be prepared with things to cool you down if you have to stay for longer than a few hours.

Things that I'd somehow missed in all the birth prep I did first time round was night sweats being a possibility. They took me by surprise. Also after pains every time you breastfeed, which were almost as painful as contractions.

Just an alternative experience to most of these...not to frighten anyone but it's the reality sometimes.

First birth I stayed on the labour ward in the same room I gave birth in for about 18 hours before being moved to a private room on the ward. This was because I'd haemorrhaged and was semi conscious. Staff came in and checked my temperature, blood pressure, bleeding etc every hour or so, gave me regular injections and things through a drip. Was able to hold my baby a little bit after about 6 hours. Left the hospital in a wheelchair a couple of days later and was finally strong enough to wash about 4 days after birth.

Second child was the typical 2 hours of cuddling, up to the ward, toast, shower, home the next day. It was lovely! I felt amazing.

So sorry you had this the whole pregnancy. What a hero - seriously it sounds hardcore. X

With my first I needed a ventouse delivery and was cut.(Labour 6hrs)
I was sent to theatre after having an epidural to be stitched up.(Dad cuddled and fed baby)
I stayed overnight and hated every minute,felt lonely and could not sleep for all the noise on the ward,I couldn't feel my legs and struggled to get out of bed so the nurses took my Son to the Nursery overnight.
I had a shower the morning after and shown how to bath Son etc...
7yrs later I had my 2nd Son I had a water birth in the Midwife Unit,quickly cleaned myself up after and back home 2hrs later.

Also despite having no drugs I was literally high as a kite on hormones it was the best feeling ever I'm looking forward to doing it again. Yes to being prepared for the night sweats I was wet through every night for about 6 weeks which was annoying and if you have stitches spritz for bitz is the best stuff ever so soothing

I mostly remember being soooo cold! I had ended up completely naked during the birth as I laboured unexpectedly fast and started to give birth in the bath in the hospital. I guess the cold was shock but there is no amount of hospital blankets that will keep you warm in that moment. They are paper thin and they kept piling them up on me and I could not warm up. Maybe take a nice fluffy one with you if you have room in the bag. I had probably an hour left to just cuddle the baby before I got up for a shower. Then whilst I was in the shower someone arrived to take me up to the ward. They waited patiently and took me up in a wheelchair and I remember feeling very weird about being pushed about in a wheelchair like I was an imposter!

Giving birth is the most amazing experience, I just couldn’t believe it. With my first DS 10hr labour, no pain relief other than a tens machine, second labour again natural birth 2hrs went home from the delivery suite at 6am. I would honestly prefer to give birth than have a coil fitted.

It depends really what state you and the baby are in. Both of my births were very different but with both I wasn’t rushed out of the labour suite.

with no.1 I had an instrumental and a PPH. It took a fair amount of time to stitch me up and I had the catheter in overnight. I think the midwives tried to mobilise me for a shower but I was very shakey and unstable. I then remember having regular obs for and baby at least 24 hours and going slightly mad as between the obs and the baby I didn’t sleep at all.

With my second I had a water birth. Stitching was much quicker and done by midwife and not dr. My husband fell asleep while I was being stitched up (still remember the midwives being a bit shocked). I went to ward a bit quicker and was left alone until morning when we tried to get ourselves discharged asap.

I don’t remember any of this miraculous tea and toast so many people talk about. Fairly sure I wasn’t fed after both.

This was me with my second. They were ready for us to go by about 9am (so 3h ish from birth) but I hadn't done a big enough wee.

I had an epidural, I was up about 4 hours later then home a few hours after that

Then it was just life as normal really

These posts are making me SO broody 😅 I want to do it again!!

I was in a birth centre who were very quiet when I gave birth. I had my son at about 7am and we were allowed to stay in the room all day. We would have been sent home however only sent to the ward cos he hadn't had a wee yet. So if all is fine, you will be sent home - however if you are not comfortable to go yet, speak up - the midwives were absolute angels with me and were so welcoming and willing to help with anything we needed.

I don't remember being cold - they wacked the heating up just before baby was born so that he was nice and warm - and I remember being bloody boiling while in labour, and asking for fans!

I think my husband text both families shortly after he was born - I was in labour for 52 hours so people were starting to worry, so it was more responding to texts to let them all know everything was OK!

Oh the other thing I wasn’t expecting was to have to wee in a jugs and give it to the midwives. Can’t remember if I had to do it for both but definitely handed multiple jugs over with my first.