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Original poster

In hospital over Christmas time whats it like (maternity) ?

27 replies

Dunnodontknow · 14/10/2022 21:34

Hi I have csection planned and its going to be either 22/23rd December I have has 3 previously and stayed in between 2/3 days with each so expecting similar this time ,
Has anyone been in around Christmas time ? How did you find it was it much the same as other times of year , was visiting less restricted ? How was the food 🤣 ?

OP posts:
Oysterbabe · 14/10/2022 21:35

I had DS on 21st December. The salvation army band were playing Christmas carols in the foyer just outside and it was lovely 😊

Poppasocks · 14/10/2022 21:49

I had DD1 by EMCS on 22nd December. Then she spent 3 nights on NICU

If anything, visiting was more relaxed food was standard hospital roast but I made DH bring all my sweets and chocolate up!

NICU gave each baby a stocking too!

OurChristmasMiracle · 14/10/2022 21:51

My midwife informs me my hospital does a Xmas dinner on Xmas day (i am due Boxing Day!) no idea on visitors because Covid etc at the moment. She was hopeful it wouldn’t be as limited as it currently is

fitnessmummy · 14/10/2022 21:52

I was out just shy of 24 hours!!

greensnail · 14/10/2022 21:54

I had a baby Christmas Eve and came home on boxing day. Santa visited Christmas morning and gave gifts to the babies and mums. Christmas dinner was the absolutely worst thing I have ever tasted in my life, although all the other meals I had were fine.

AgathaMystery · 14/10/2022 21:58

It’s just the same except we are all in stupid earrings and you and your baby get a pressie if you’re in hospital when Father Christmas has been! Happy Christmas, I had DC 21st was home 23rd.

Tallulasdancingshoes · 14/10/2022 22:14

Hopefully you’ll be out a bit sooner this time. With dd I was out the following evening so only in for a day.

Original poster
Dunnodontknow · 14/10/2022 22:17

Tallulasdancingshoes · 14/10/2022 22:14

Hopefully you’ll be out a bit sooner this time. With dd I was out the following evening so only in for a day.

I'm hoping so 🤞 getting sterilised during the section aswell ,but don't think that will effect recovery hopefully . I'm hoping 2 days at most.

OP posts:
Tidypidy · 14/10/2022 22:23

DS1 was born Christmas Eve. Came home Christmas Day after an enormous Christmas dinner on the ward- tasted fantastic! Wards were very quiet as most electives avoided 23-26 December. Midwife had a tinsel necklace and flashy earrings! We told Dd that baby had arrived in a stocking from Santa. She told everyone I'd gone to hospital to give birth to baby Jesus!

MoChridhe · 14/10/2022 22:29

It was a horrible time for me. Only 2 nurses were on duty on Christmas day looking after about 30 of us in the c,-section recovery ward. I was in so much pain. Didn't get any pain relief for about 16 hours despite calling for the nurse. When one eventually turned up, she said they were busy and it was just 2 of them working on the day and had to do other things as well such as discharging mums and admitting new c section mums. She then later told me that the best time of year to give birth is spring time cos there are fewer births and hence more nurses looking after you. This was 2012.

Food was bland. I only remember Brussel sprouts.

Tootsweets84 · 14/10/2022 23:51

I had DD on the 22nd by c section. I was also sterilised as 3rd section and high risk and it didn't add to recovery at all. It was actually really straight forward and I keep wondering if they actually did anything because I don't feel any different .
Personally I found being on the maternity ward over xmas really lonely, but I would imagine that was almost entirely down to the fact I was covid positive and abandoned in a side room where I couldn't infect anyone 😫. I cried my eyes out to the poor HCA who dared to enter my room and begged to go home so was discharged on Xmas Eve! I imagine on the actual ward where there are people to talk to it's probably quite a nice, festive atmosphere! My only advice is don't get covid 😂and maybe take some mince pies and tinsel just in case

CharlotteFlax · 15/10/2022 02:17

I had a Christmas Day baby. We got presents from every ward we were on! I had two delicious roast dinners and visiting was unrestricted all day.

Laney79 · 15/10/2022 04:04

See if your hospital does an enhanced recovery programme for c section or if not speak to your midwife/dr now if you want to be home sooner.

I had an elective section on New Year's Eve in 2019 and for various reasons was desperate to get home asap and I knew that would be the case in advance.

I made it really clear that if baby was ok, I wanted out so they did all they could in advance to make it happen (I think they can do stuff like getting any discharge drugs they know you'll need ready etc). I had my boy just after 11am on NYE, and was at home by 3.30pm on New Year's Day (and I lost a lot of blood in theatre) so it is possible to be out for Xmas if that's what you want

Tinitiny · 15/10/2022 05:07

I had DD via planned c-section on NYE in 2019 about half past ten and were out after lunch the next day.
The hospital do an enhanced recovery programme so that helped - they were as keen to get us out as we were - speak to you midwife upfront so they know and organise stuff.

Food was fine, we watched the fireworks over the city at midnight and celebrated with a cuppa, chocs and a painkiller.

Lb603 · 15/10/2022 05:21

I was inducted with DD on boxing Day 2020. I'd been in and out of hosp in the 2 weeks running up to the induction (37 weeks) due to pre eclampsia.

The hospital itself was fine, maternity wards are still not the best. I

Wibbli · 15/10/2022 05:25

I was in at DD born Christmas Eve. The staff were lovely - I woke up to one of the nurses putting a little gift at the bottom of the cot (a hat for DD and some socks and moisturiser for me). I think the normal rules of visiting hours applied, but it wasn’t bad at all. We had decorations up and Christmas music. My DS came in on Christmas morning and bought some gifts to open. I remember being so upset that I would be in on Christmas Day, but I did leave about 10pm Christmas Day and it wasn’t a terrible experience - just a different one. The Christmas food was ok too

Lb603 · 15/10/2022 05:39

Sorry posted too soon. I was one of only 3 labouring women in the ward. It was really quiet which was lovely, I'd been in previously and seen how busy it could get and the midwives were non stop. But the midwives weren't the best on the ward for my induction unfortunately. They spent most of the day sitting in their bay talking about Christmas then their plans for new year and didn't really interact with the patents (I was the only one on the ward for 24 hours at one point). I could hear all of their conversations it was that quiet.

They tried to send me away to triage when I arrived but my consultant walked past and told them I needed to be in and was on the board (but they 'missed' it). Felt like a massive inconvenience to the ward from the get go.

The actual labour suite midwives were absolutely incredible, ended up with an emergency section because of reduced movements and dd was in distress. I was out 2 days later.

I'm sure if you ask before hand, and there are no massive issues with you/the baby you'd get away very quickly, they seem to like you in and out as quickly as possible.

I had DS in march this year and it was a much better experience, wards were much busier and they've mixed the ward so that it's pre and post labour mixed, whereas before you went to a different ward after having your baby.

starrynight21 · 15/10/2022 05:52

I had DS on Christmas Eve, it wasn't any different from any other time really. More visitors than normal but nothing special happened.

Rosesandteacups · 15/10/2022 06:09

I had an awful experience. Went into labour on Christmas Day and finally gave birth on Boxing Day. 6 midwives had called in sick. Staffing levels at absolute bare bones meant a distinct lack of support. Didn’t pick up that dd had jaundice or a tongue tie. Stayed in for 2 nights to get feeding help and ended up back in after another 24 hours due to the jaundice issue and still no help with the tongue tie. If you feel you need something make sure to insist and have a partner who is a good advocate for you xx

73nat · 15/10/2022 06:41

I was in from 23rd Dec to 2nd Jan and other than the midwives wearing Xmas tinsel and earrings etc you wouldn't have known it was Christmas.
It was pretty depressing being in over Christmas and NYE I did get my OH to bring all the chocolates and my parents did us sandwiches etc but it wasn't great. It's just the same I'd guess but quieter than usual as leas people want to be in/less staff

KatherineofGaunt · 15/10/2022 06:44

Christmas Eve birth. Got a gift for baby on the ward and the Christmas Dinner was nice. Downside was it took ages to be discharged as they had to find someone to open the pharmacy. Upside was it was free parking over that period so my parents and DH could come and go as they pleased! Also fewer scheduled appointments so lots of space in the car park.

babyno2isdue · 15/10/2022 06:52

Had dd early hours Christmas Day had been in since 22nd the run up was depressing for other reasons (failed induction) but other than missing my ds Christmas day was actually lovely, Christmas dinner, my dd met Santa at just 5 hours old, Christmas songs on the radio. I managed to get out for Boxing Day.

babyno2isdue · 15/10/2022 06:56

Forgot to add during some pretty uncomfortable contractions I heard loads of cheering from the corridors and asked my midwife what was going on, she said ah it's just gone midnight it's Christmas Day dear, and in walked a consultant wearing a santas hat Grin

nettytree · 15/10/2022 07:53

I got induced on the 23rd, but baby wasn't born till the 25th. As he was the 1st born that day his cot was specially decorated. I was so tired I barely remember the day itself. But I do remember having a Christmas dinner. The local paper also printed his photo. He's going to be 16 this year.

Marmite27 · 15/10/2022 07:58

MoChridhe · 14/10/2022 22:29

It was a horrible time for me. Only 2 nurses were on duty on Christmas day looking after about 30 of us in the c,-section recovery ward. I was in so much pain. Didn't get any pain relief for about 16 hours despite calling for the nurse. When one eventually turned up, she said they were busy and it was just 2 of them working on the day and had to do other things as well such as discharging mums and admitting new c section mums. She then later told me that the best time of year to give birth is spring time cos there are fewer births and hence more nurses looking after you. This was 2012.

Food was bland. I only remember Brussel sprouts.

She wasn’t wrong, DC1 was a late September baby and it was heaving. With DC2 in April, I commented that I felt like Rick Grimes in the Walking Dead when he woke up in the hospital it was that quiet!