To ask if I can have a good look at my uterus after my hysterectomy?

[LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance]

I mean, it 's mine, right?

And I'm curious.

They'll think I'm weird, won't they

I want to see my placenta too. I asked DH to look at it last time and he wouldn't. I might write it in my birth plan. Apparently it's as big as the baby, but I'm not sure.

Oh, do ask when you are sober - unfortunately I rambled about seeing my removed tonsils when coming round from anaesthetic & it was too late!
I also asked to see the Mirena coil the Dr removed & she did oblige but it was quite boring as it was really clean & not covered in clots or anything

Will do Fuzzy. Just got to find out when my pre op might be. I'm booked for the op on 9th Oct so they'd best get a wiggle on. The consultant's lovely and I've known him since Freddie were a lad so my luck could be in.

Well it also cuts out all that have-you-had-a-poo-yet palaver that you get before you're allowed home after a GA. The equivalent op. I had in my twenties (same cut, different parts) had me in hospital for nearly two weeks - this time I went home the next day.

Lay on the sofa for the next two weeks, mind, but far better that than the hospital bed.

I'm getting a pile of metalwork taken out of my ankle next week (a plate, 6 screws and 2 pins). I asked the surgeon if I can keep it afterwards and he said he would do his best to get it out intact so that it looks better . I like the thought of medical meccano on my mantelpiece!

Keep their organs?

Keep them?

How? Where?

In the freezer? In a jar in the fridge?

Good tip about the mirror ...I have just the thing.

While there are medical people about...

I had embolisation in 1998 and I got so nervous that my body was shaking. They gave me something in the tube in the back of my hand and all the fear just went and I was myself again.

Any ideas what that was please?

I got to see my placenta with DC3; the midwives seemed very impressed by how big it was so naturally I felt I'd be missing out on some impressive placenta action if I didn't take the opportunity.

I saw an elephant's placenta on TV yesterday. I'd have been preening if I were that elephant. You could have parked a van on it.

Did you feel sedated/a bit out of it? Was it an anaesthetist who gave it to you? May have been something like midazolam??

I saw my appendix - I was a student midwife at the time and hadn't even asked - they just knew I would want to...

They can't actually deny you... And yes you can keep it if you want - how is up to you!

Note on placentas - you can keep it, never mind see it... Lots of people do! In New Zealand it's customary to bury them in the garden to give the baby luck and some cultures eat them...

I think it was a nurse and I wasn't at all woozy. All the fear just left me and I was normal again. I kept wondering if they give it to soldiers and fighter pilots before they go off into danger.

No harm in asking. It is yours after all. I couldn't but that's just me. Good luck with your operation.

Hazel, I'm jealous. I had a kidney out and wanted to see it but was afraid of looking odd so didn't ask.

I've had to make do with google images.

LFTMAD yes ask. It's yours. Why shouldn't you be allowed to look at it?

I got a really good look at my placenta, the poor student midwife had to fish it out of our loo by the cord, she was complaining that they give them leaky cardboard containers instead of plastic ones to put them in! It was much smaller, sort of neater and smoother than I expected! I was expecting something like liver with loads of veins!

I thought I'd want to look at my placentas but when it came to it, I wasn't the slightest bit interested - I couldn't drag my eyes away from my babies. Each time I thought 'bugger - I'll look next time' but nope.

We had a look at my placenta after having DD. I'd asked in advance and amazingly remembered to ask afterwards too. I wanted to see what had kept DD going for all that time.

I saw the cord before the baby (emcs) because the mw got all excited about how chunky it was with a big knot in it and rushed over to show me baby was much cuter.

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance count me in, sympathy and hugs make me cry! I need some pragmatism and some sensible support please

See you there

I've seen my placenta and I've had loads of pictures taken when I had a hip op. just ask! If the medical staff weren't fascinated themselves they wouldn't be there! They won't find it that strange!

My son wanted to see his tonsils after they were removed and the surgeon obliged. They were disgusting, full of stones and well, they STANK!

I've seen all 4 of my placentas. The midwife showed me the first one and after that it became a bit of a tradition . A student midwife delivered DS2 and she got all excited and showed me the blood vessels in the cord and explained how it worked. DS1 was born nearly 2 weeks overdue and the midwife said it looked really good for it's age [preens]. DH sighed at me when I insisted on seeing DS4's placenta for no other reason than I'd seen the others

I keep my GIANT GALLSTONE in a little pot on my dresser. Looks like a raisin. A really big raisin, mind. Wish I'd managed to capture any of my kidney stones though.

I asked to see my gallbladder after it was removed mostly so I could see the pesky gallstones that were causing me so much pain! Doctor said 'ok' but after operation nothing showed up and 'twas all a ruse. Very disappointed.

In the past I understand they would give these parts back to you. Now they're off for inspection and incineration. Ill never know if I had one gallstone or one hundred... Sigh!

I had to google it and (don't click if you're squeamish) it looks like a ram!

I tried to watch my cesarean in the reflection in the light above me but couldn't see anything apart from shapes and shadows.