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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to want a cup of tea after giving birth?

42 replies

starkadder · 23/08/2009 19:25

Am counting my chickens a bit here as am only 10 wks (tomorrow) pregnant so there is a looooong way to go and a lot of wood to be touched but still -

Having this baby in Madrid, like DS1. After DS1, having completely gone off tea and coffee throughout pregnancy, I was DESPERATE for a cup of tea wihtin about 5 mins of giving birth. I have never felt so British. Anyway, the hospital staff REFUSED to let me have even so much as a sip of water for about 3 or 4 hrs. It was torture. Birth was fairly uncomplicated - DS1 was induced and I had an epidural and some stitches, but nothing very traumatic and I felt fine, really. I just REALLY wanted a cup of tea.

I think this time, if all goes well of course, and I get there (very traumatic start to this pregnancy, including misdiagnosed miscarriage and was sent for D&C, so lots of touching wood needed) I might just demand one (i.e. get DH to bring one in thermos) and drink it in flagrant disregard of Spanish hospital regulations - but is this unreasonable? Am I being ignorant and are there good reasons why I shouldn't have my cup of tea??

OP posts:
Pingpong · 23/08/2009 19:28

you have my sympathy. I had em-cs (after labouring for hours and throwing up) and wasn't allowed anything bar sips of water for hours. I felt cheated that I didn't get my cup of tea afterwards.
I will be taking emergency snacks next time and maybe even a thermos but TBH a thermos of tea just isn't quite the same as fresh.
GL with everything sounds like it's been a very rocky start.

izyboy · 23/08/2009 19:33

Oh god that cuppa is the BEST cuppa EVER. I was given 2 pots of tea and lots of lovely digestives by the fab midwives at the Royal Glamorgan. Get your birthing partner to bring along a flask of the stuff!

mumface · 23/08/2009 19:43

Mmm reminds me after nearly 24 hours of induced labour and 1 hours sleep since the day before.I had the best cup of tea and cheese sandwich I have ever had in my whole life..never wanted it so badly after they starved me.
I think the reason is in case there is an emergency & you need a general anaesthetic. But not sure what the chances of that happening 3 or 4 hours after birth are? Retained placenta or something like that?Just being extra carefull I suppose.

GirlsAreLoud · 23/08/2009 19:47

YANBU.

I was brought a cup of tea by the staff who then left us to it. DH was holding the baby who literally screamed for four hours solid after the birth and did not feel competent to pass tea whilst holding a baby for the first time .

I just sort of lay there, covered in gunk, looking at my cup of tea but not able to reach it (could not walk).

Morloth · 23/08/2009 19:48

How come you are not allowed anything? After I had had DS, I scoffed the biggest bowl of spag bowl, then ate the pudding and then sent DH down the cafeteria to get me some chips.

IwishIhadtimetoreadnewspapers · 23/08/2009 19:48

Oooh yes - the Royal Glamorgan are great at providing tea and biscuits!

Not sure why they are happy to but the Spanish aren't though.

A thermos sounds like a good idea, even a 2nd rate cuppa would be better than none at all!

cheshirekitty · 23/08/2009 19:51

I always gave parents tea and toast following birth. Unless you have to go to theatre for retained placenta, or have a 3rd degree tear that requires suturing in theatre there is no reason not to have that cuppa.

Its your human right to have a cuppa after all the hard work you've just done!!!

Original poster
starkadder · 23/08/2009 19:55

thanks guys Also for your understanding that thermos tea is second rate. It IS but not as second rate as Spansih hospital cafeteria tea (which probably doesn't even exist, actally). Maybe I'll make him bring the whole kettle.

Thanks also cheshirekitty for reassuring me that there isn't really a good medical reason why not!

OP posts:
zipzap · 23/08/2009 21:28

Could you take a couple of thermos flasks, one with boiling water, one with cold milk, then a tea bag, tea spoon and cup/mug of the preferred variety (not that I can stand tea myself but I understand from dh and those others that do that having the right sort of drinking vessel is v important too) so that you can make it when you get there and need it, so it won't be quite so stewed?

mathanxiety · 23/08/2009 22:17

There are all kinds of funny quirks in different countries (US for example..) and different things you can and cannot do. Bring your own in a Thermos. What are they going to do about it -- throw you out and tell you to never come back?

earplugs · 23/08/2009 22:19

Starkadder I know your pain! I was almost looking forward to that 'post birth' cuppa more than the prospect of seeing the baby (only joking) but to my horror wasn't allowed so much as a sip of water for hours! I did have pre-eclampsia so I can understand why but I still feel like I've been hard done by years later! I can remember having a mouth like the bottom of a birdcage,it was vile but I got around it by having a few sneaky sips of the water whilst in the shower (now realises could have come down with some hideous legionnaires type disease)
NBU at all, but might be worth just checking first why they don't/didn't allow it before sneaking in the thermos!

KEAWYED · 23/08/2009 22:21

I'm not normally a tea drinker but it's fab.

At Bolton hospital they brought us tea, orange juice, sandwhiches, yoghurts and bananas.

The midwives were great

Blackduck · 23/08/2009 22:23

I got tea and toast (which I had to fight dp for!) at 8 in the evening - never wanted a cup of tea so badly!

TheMysticMasseuse · 23/08/2009 22:25

funny starkadder. I am italian and gave birth here in London. After dd1 i was desperate for some stitches, strong painkillers, a blanket, someone to help me clean myself up and a bed in whcih to recover. I got none of the above for approximately 6 hours, but one thing that kept on coming was cups of tea...

lizziemun · 24/08/2009 06:59

TheMysticMasseuse

That's because we British can not function without tea on the hour, every hour .

FWIW the hospital i had all my DC had those tea/coffee machine which you and partner could help yourself as much as you liked. Also the midwife brought tea and toast after the birth.

melmog · 24/08/2009 07:05

Yanbu at all.

Oh, they were fantastic at Lancaster hospital. After bringing me tea and toast within minutes, the lovely lovely lady ran me a bath, laid out my clothes, put a pad in my knickers ready for me to step in to, and while I was soaking she nappied and dressed dd2.

Bloody marvelous.

I wanted to take her home!

GColdtimer · 24/08/2009 07:21

YANBU - the tea and toast they brought me at the JR in Oxford after having DD felt like the best thing I had ever tasted.

I can't imagine Spanish hospital cafe's do tea very well so I would take your own!

BubbaAndBump · 24/08/2009 07:33

I scoffed Biscuit Boosts (and lucozade - yuck!) throughout and after labour with DD1, had an emergency C with second and so had to wait to secretly scoff it after DD2 came along! Most midwives v. understanding but one was REALLY cross with me

diddl · 24/08/2009 08:38

Well, I can understand that the Spanish "custom" might not be tea & biccies, but you are most certainly NBU to expect something!

Pitchounette · 24/08/2009 08:49

Message withdrawn

elmofan · 24/08/2009 09:03

oh i know what you mean , i was in labour throughout the night & the midwife brought in a tray of tea & toast & said it was for dh WTF he took 1 look at me & said no thanks , but took the tray & put it out of sight , bless him , probably just as well as i ended up having an emergency c-section .
but in our hospital if you have a normal delivery you get tea & toast straight after the birth ,

bunnyfrance · 24/08/2009 09:33

I know how you feel - I'm in France, due beginning of September, and I've actually packed a little kettle in my hospital bag...can't wait to see their faces when I haul it out!

becky7000 · 24/08/2009 10:57

YANBU- The tea and toast they brought me after I had DCs was the best I have ever had. I would take a flask with you!

SpawnChorus · 24/08/2009 11:05

YANBU. I had the same thing with DC2, although that was because they had to give me a spinal block for the repair. I was SO hungry and thirsty. I think I eventually managed to scrounge a cup of tea and piece of toast many hours later at about 1am. I was literally counting the hours until breakfast time!

I packed by hosp bag yesterday and have included two packs of jam tarts A thermos of tea sounds like a v good idea.

ExtraFancy · 24/08/2009 11:13

I got tea and toast straight after DS was born - unfortunately I was off my tits on pethidine and threw up after one mouthful - DH ate it instead.

I was moved to a ward shortly afterwards, and was given a 3-course lunch. Sloppy shepherd's pie and half-melted ice cream had NEVER tasted so good. I also remember shovelling Tracker bars out of my hospital bag - I was starving.

Haven't eaten a Tracker bar since, mind you