ELCS Queen Charlotte's Hammersmith

[studentvera]

I just wondered if anyone had had one at Queen Charlotte's and can give me an idea of what to expect about preparation/day of and aftercare
Thank you in advance

I have just had an ELCS at QCCH. The general prep is to attend the Day Unit the day before to discuss anaesthesia with the anaesthetist and the procedure with a doctor. From midnight the night before you will be nil by mouth. You will have to be at the labour ward at 7am on the morning of your surgery. Afterwards you will go to recovery which is next to the theatre, then once they are happy you are well enough you will be transferred down to the post-natal ward. You will not be able to be fully mobile on the first day and will have to use the call bell to get midwives or HCA's to help you with nappy changes and passing baby to you for a feed. You will have a catheter in for 24 hours after surgery and will be allowed home once you pass urine if everything else is ok. Make sure you take lactulose from before your surgery to soften your stool as bowel movements post c-section are difficult and try to open your bowels before your ELCS as it will make things easier afterwards if you are not backed up or constipated.

Any other Q's feel free to ask. I had my second there in 2012 by EMCS and then my third just before Christmas after several months as an inpatient on the antenatal ward. I visited labour ward over ten times during my stay and met many of the consultants and midwives there.

Thank you so much for your reply. Really helps me reading your experience. Is a partner allowed to come to recovery and can they stay on post natal ward or are there strict times?

Your partner can be in recovery, it is one person only to visit at a time and only two named people allowed on to labour ward, they can swap over to see you on recovery. Your partner can be with you all the time on labour ward and in recovery if you have just delivered.

On post-natal ward the visiting times are 9am to 8pm for your partner, one other person and any other children you may have. Two people at a time plus your kids at the bedside so if there are others that want to visit they will have to swap over.

One more question! Do they give self administered injections when you leave to stop blood clots?

Yes you will be prescribed 7-10 days worth of Clexane injections, they give you the box to take home when you are discharged along with pain relief and iron tablets if you need them.