is it worth getting a private room (I'll be at UCH) after ELCS?

[duzida]

Probably having ELCS on NHS at UCH for DC2, following EMCS there with DC1. I was fairly happy with medical and other aftercare there first time - but 3 nights on maternity ward with new baby was pretty exhausting, and all the other women were talking on their mobiles throughout the night. Plus, of course, very little space around bed inside tiny curtains for visitors and all the stuff you need to bring for a 3 day stay (endless nappies, babygrows, clean clothes for him, non-stained towels...)

I haven't asked MW yet about price and availability, and we're not hugely well off, but I am thinking a separate room would be worth it if we can afford it, and we'll have toddler DC1 coming to visit. Has anyone else had good/bad experience of this, and is it worth it?
thanks!

I would say go for it, if it won't break the bank.

I was very lucky to get a side room after my emcs at the royal London (who were superb for the record). We had 2 relatively peaceful nights and even managed to nap during the day!

Good luck with number 2.

I was in for 4 nights after having DS because of high blood loss and infection - even though I felt fine.
Some women only stayed on the ward for a matter of hours post birth so it was annoying hearing people coming and going all night! But on night 2/4 there was a woman net to me who I became very good friends with. Visiting for partners was 10-8, between 8pm at night and 10am is a longtime when you're up with a newborn!
Although its nice having privacy, i'd think its pretty lonely in a side room!

ooh I loved having a side room with ensuite, I had one with my 1st and my 2nd lot of twins (they tend to with twins as need more space for a proper cot, my first set of twins I left after 24 hours (they were in scbu) but they said it would be a private room then aswell. Ive never paid for any of them, I obviously get lucky on timing! Apparently its about £60 a night - which I would happily pay!!

I had a private room both times and never paid. Would have happily paid. Go for it!

duzida Oh I am quite interested in you story. I had EMCS in UCH which left me quite traumatised. When I think about it now it was mainly the nurses at the reception and the postnatal ward. I am not going to go into too much detail but arriving at the postnatal ward 12 hours after such an operation + 2 days in labour the last thing I wanted was a loud TV opposite my bed with Eastenders on (nothing against Eastenders :) ) and probably around 8 loud relatives being all excited, shouting etc. Another woman next to me was all the time arguing with her husband either on the phone or in person. It was really too much so I can understand you. But I heard that women are not allowed being on their own after CS. So I will be interested to see whether you manage the get a private room. That's exactly what I would like to do when I have another baby.
Also if you don't mind me asking, was it difficult to be booked for ELCS in UCH for your second child? After my traumatic experience I would probably go for ELCS, but am worried they will refuse.
Thank you

i was given an "amenity" room at the Whittington about 24 hours after EMCS. Ensuite and no charge. Really nice. I think they prefer to have you on the ward for the first 24 hours if you have had CS so they can monitor you and help with your baby more easily as you need really to stay in bed until your catheter is out.

First dc was a c-section and I got a room. Second dc was vbac, needed 3 bags of blood transfusion, baby in scbu and was given private room too.

Thanks for all this feedback, I will enquire and if it's not too expensive and rooms are available, I think I'll go for it - I can see the thing about it being nice to have company, but it really depends who's on the ward I think - last time, the poor woman next to me had her baby whisked off to Great Ormond Street immediately after birth and she was (understandably) in tears all the time, and was in no mood to talk - I felt really bad for her, she should have been put in a private room, I think, not made to share with women who had their babies with them!

I wouldn't mind being on the ward for the first 24 hours, it's the 2nd and 3rd day/night that got really frustrating, because I felt much better by then and just wanted a bit of peace and quiet and space.

Hope88 I haven't been definitely told I can have an ELCS yet, midwives have said that it should be OK, because of what labour with DC1 was like, but I have yet to have the meeting/conversation with consultant. Really hoping they say yes. And how did you find the staff on postnatal ward? There was one really lovely woman, this was in 2009, I think she was called Amanda, but I remember another horrible one, making this disgusted face at me as I tried to clean up blood and other gross things the morning after my EMCS. I thought she was in the wrong job if she liked making women feel bad about bodily fluids/functions...silly cow. My main impression was that medical care was good and thorough, but some of the midwives and other staff were very rude and uncaring.

Hi,
I had an 'amenity' room -free! -at UCH with DD1 (this was in the old building, so quality of facilities prob irrelevent). Disadvantages: I didn't get any breakfast as no one told me you had to go out on to the ward an help yourself! Advantages: DD and I both slept, had a nice quiet time.
I was an a ward after elective CS at UCH (also old building) with DTs. I was told that I wasn't eligible for a side-room as I'd had a section and they like to keep a closer eye on you. Policy may have changed in the new building, but don't get your hopes up till you've spoken to them. But if you can, I'd say def worth it!! Good luck

duzida I was there in 2009 as well. I had exactly the same impression as you. I could not fault the doctors at all. The EMCS was done very well and even though I bled A LOT (was quite serious) they carried on in a very calm and professional manner. But the nurses/stuff at the reception and postnatal ward was something else. Not all of them but a lot of them just seemed to have lost basic manners. So rude and offensive. It's really upsetting to endure this after an operation when you still have to look after your baby. I gave birth early morning and was transferred on the postnatal ward at around 8pm. My husband tried to get me some water at 9.45pm and after asking some stuff where he can get some he was shouted at that he had to leave by 10pm. Noone else brought me some water. The first night as I was getting up to pick up my baby there was suddenly a pool of blood underneath me, I fainted a bit but when the nurse came he (male) was quite horrible while clearing the blood as if I disturbed him in the middle of the night. I felt uncomfortable and tried not to buzz them to come and help me which they are meant to do the first night. I thought nurses supposed to be caring but I didn't get that much. I was there for 4 days. One nurse was nice but I didn't see her much. I think it is a busy hospital. Apparently 40 births a day so they are stressed out.