private room post c section?

[katekate3]

Just wondering if anyone has had a private room immediately after c section?

I have been refused both times, and likely to have 3rd section in April. Really keen to have some rest in hospital on night 1. Last time discharged myself 24hours post birth as so distressed at noise levels.

Yes, but only because they felt so sorry for me as so many things were going wrong! I think its just the lot of the draw really as to whether they are available or not. No harm in trying to book one as soon as you know you're going in. And earplugs are fantastic if not!

I can understand the wish to have a private room - I only stayed in one night after my section because I wanted the peace and quiet of home (but that was my first pregnancy, it's rather different if you have two LOs at home already).

My mum had a private room after her second section with my sister (it didn't turn out too well for her as her stitches burst and she wasn't found as quickly as if she'd been on the open ward but this was back in the late 70s when they used the classic incision which was far weaker than the bikini line they use now).

I wish! No chance - the private rooms were used by women who had had particularly distressing births (fair enough) or relatives of a consultant.
I personally would even consider going private if I had a 3rd baby (which I won't) to avoid ever having to spend another night on a maternity ward....

Worth asking though, you never know....

As a nurse who used to work on a surgical ward,I would say that having a private room isn't the best idea.
You may not be able to move very much/at all. And you can get "left" until those who are in sight are dealt with IYKWIM.
Everyone is pooped after having a baby,section or not. There may be others who need privacy or solitude more.
But after both my DCs I would have loved a private room for some peace and quiet. We always tried to have the lights off,TVs off,and minimal noise by 10-10.30pm. And we whispered when we spoke-something that seems alien to many HC staff it seems! Sigh.

i had one after first 2 sections but not available after my 3rd. plus side, you will get some sleep, downside if you need any help (ime) you are unlikely to get it no matter how much you press buzzers or yell to passing midwives.

I got a private room after my EMCS but only because I kicked up a bit of a stink and there were loads of rooms free. I was on a ward for the first night after being in intensive care (severe pre eclampsia) with a bunch of foul mouthed chavs who thought it would be good to talk in loud voices all night swearing and intimidating other mums . I hadn't even met my ds as he was in Scbu and they were shouting at night that they couldn't give a fuck if they kept everyone awake. I told dh that if I wasn't moved I was discharging myself as there was no way I was spending another night on that ward feeling intimidated. Such a horrible experience. I did get moved to a private room after offering to pay so that I could have some peace and quiet. They did say though that the reason they dont give private rooms to mums who've had a section is because they can keep a better eye on you.

Someone said on another thread that they won't let you have a private room for first 24hrs usually so they can keep an eye on you, but you can pay to have a private room after that if there's one available.

I'm hoping for one too

I was in a private room after emcs because the twines were in special care .
Would have preferred it on the ward to be honest. Sorry not helping

As Hugo said. At my hospital you had to stay on the ward for first night for observation and then could pay for a private room.

Sorry to post and run- busy looking after DC. I was offered a side room after DC1 after going back to theatre to have a drain removed (after 6- yes 6 people tried to pull it out on my 6 bedded ward with only curtains for privacy). Offered side room after DC2 when announced was self discharging, suddenly one was available when the answer had been definitely no not possible. Still went home though.

Am v light sleeper, and had no sleep at all. Am scared that won't be able to cope when I come home this time as DC are 4 and 3 and don't sleep in day (and not always at night, but that's a whole different matter).

I guess what I am trying to figure out is why different hospitals have different policies. Either it puts patient at risk or it doesn't? Surely the staff really can't rely on other patients to alert them if there is problem with another patient? I spent practically the whole time with curtains drawn. Practically no help given
with baby even when used buzzer.

I didn't after my EMCS. Result, shit recovery, dreadful experience .

I had a private room 24hrs after my planned cs and it was wonderful. Rather like being in a hotel TBH. DD breastfed well straight from birth so I was able to relax about that and just concentrate on lazing around and resting. I even managed to get through the weekend papers in peace. And I buzzed for help with nappy changing too, I wasn't prepared to repeat my rotten recovery after my first cs.

Would really recommend pestering the staff until they give in. Which is what I did.

My local maternity unit doesn't have a post natal ward any more - it is all private rooms (new build). I was sent to a post-op side ward after EMCS but once I came round (had GA) they wheeled me to a private room.

It was lonely and I didn't sleep anyway, so I don't think I would be too bothered if I was told that I would be on a ward if I had another baby. If you really want a private room then can you pay for one? It was good having a private bathroom I suppose - no problems with leaving the baby to have a shower etc. And it feels more secure to be in a room that you can lock I suppose, although the post natal 'ward' is locked and alarmed anyway.

I was given a private room after having ds by elcs, because he was in SCBU, and they thought it would be better for me. I have to say, i don't understand the whole better for keeping an eye on patients on a ward thing. When I had dd1 and 2 I was totally ignored, my buzzer went unanswered, the only time a MW came to me was when a woman opposite complained that my baby was crying (I had had a spinal, and couldn't pick her up from the crib). My catheter bag overflowed onto my bed and I was left for ages, I was given no help to get to the toilet, despite barely being able to walk. When I was in a private room, someone came into check on me regularly and keep up pain relief, and my buzzer was answered straight away.

Thanks everyone for your replies. It has made me realise how different experiences are post childbirth, even within the same hospital. I am seeing the consultant in 2 weeks so will discuss then (maybe even try VBAC).

I wanted to get my head around the reason behind the policy, but there just doesn't appear to be any. For example if it is for patient safety, then the fact that your baby is in special care would make no difference, because it is the mum who needs to be checked on...

Any further thought gratefully received.

I had vaginal delivery so no experience of post c section feelings. However, I would have hated to be in a private room! Our hospital had them available (1 with own toilet & shower, others without) and if you are happy to pay around £60 a night you are usually able to get one! I considered it but couldn't justify the money for it and I'm so glad I didn't, although I know I was lucky with where I was. My post natal ward never had more than 3 mums in it, and it was nice to be able to talk to other people if I wanted to but quiet enough if I wanted to doze off. Midwives came if you pressed the buzzer, and just to check up on you regularly. Please don't think all wards are awful, they really aren't!

I got one two days after DC1 was born by EMCS after I broke down on the ward because I was full of raging hormones and everyone else was being discharged with their babies and I didn't know what was wrong with mine and why he was in SCBU. I also had one after DC2 was born by EMCS and was told that if anyone else had greater need for it I'd get moved onto a ward. I had no problems with that - it was so hard to see everyone else with their babies when I had DC1 that I thought anyone whose baby was in SCBU was in greater need of it than me.

I got a private room after my ELCS with DD this year. I have M.E. and tinnitus and I absolutely cannot cope with lots of noise. After DS, I was on the ward for the first night, only 3 other mums but it was unbearable and I got no rest at all and was barely functioning. It was worse than the 3rd degree tear and forceps birth I had just had. The second night they gave me my own room as they said I needed to rest, it was amazing! With DD she was breech so I was booked for an ELCS. I asked about a private rooms straight away and was told about "not the first night after a section so we can keep a better eye on you etc" As it turned out, I was taken from recovery too soon and my bed on the ward wasn't ready. The only option was to put me in a private room with an en suite. I was told I would be moving soon but I explained about my M.E. and my previous experience. I also said that if I didn't get enough rest I would rely more heavily on the MWs and they said I have made my case and let me stay there. It was heaven!!! People did come when I buzzed, in fact I think they came quicker than when I was on the ward the first time around and they were busier the second time around. Although the second night I had a great night with DD latching on beautifully and I didn't need anything except pain meds, I wasn't checked on so it was a good job I wasn't bleeding on the floor, but then it was the second night and I had been fine all day.

I do think my M.E. had a factor in it though as without adequate rest, I simply cannot function, let alone take care of a newborn and they were very receptive to that - luckily!

Potter- sounds like your team were being sensible and allocating a side room on a needs basis. Not a nice feeling to not be able to care either for your new born or yourself. Glad you had better experience after your second birth- did it make you feel that you were able to cope more at home?

Will just have to keep my fingers crossed. Seeing consultant in 10 days and will discuss option of VBAC with him then, and maybe the private room thing won't be an issue.

I had one after my ELCS. It was brilliant.

thebigkahuna- were you a private patient somewhere? Or you just asked for room and got one? No issues from midwives about safety etc etc?

Glad you got the rest you needed. What an excellent start to having a baby.

Nope, not a private patient. Was in an NHS hospital - they have a few private rooms which you can book on the day if they aren't full at that hospital.

On the day I went in I requested a private room and they allocated it to me for the 2 days I was in.

We had brought in the cash to pay for the private room as there was a charge - I think around £75 per night. But once I was in they said the ward was so busy I would have ended up in that room anyway and we weren't charged for it.

It was amazing! So much better than my experience with my firstborn when I was moved onto a ward at midnight into a bay next to the loudest snorer in the world!

No issues for me in terms of being checked on but I had a really good recovery and was also on my second DC and kind of knew what to expect and wasn't phased about things like breastfeeding and changing nappies.

I was offered one after my 1st emergency c-section, but declined it.
I asked for one after my second C-section and got it. I had to be on ward for the 1st night and day, but the next 2 nights I has my own room with a window-bliss as hospitals as so flipping hot.

I am in somerset and the rule seemed to be, if they have a room they are happy to give it to you as long as you have the 1st night on the main ward.The MW just asked me not to shut my door completely at night time and leave a small night light on, so when they came in to give me meds they didn't have to crash in.

I can recommend Bio Ears ear plugs which are very effective, and I co-slept so no danger of not hearing my baby.

I got one. DH just asked one of the nurses, when I was in recovery, and she said she'd see what she could do. It was great - they gave us a mattress for DH so he could sleep on the floor and spend the night with us. Perfect first night for us as a family, when we were expecting DH to be sent away in the evening.

Only for one night - second night I was moved to the ward, although I was offered a side-room but DH wasn't allowed to stay, as the policy is that it's a woman-only ward. I refused the room as I didn't want to be alone. It was just for one night.