'Enhanced' recovery

[BeanCalledPickle]

Saw the consultant this morning. I have a section booked for 1st may. I've had one before and the two ward days were the worst ever. Sleep deprived, screaming babies. People coming and going throughout the night. However I know that's to be expected. And just assumed it would be the same this time.
So today they told me they now offer enhanced recovery and I could leave after 24 hours all being well. Has anyone else done this? What's enhanced about this recovery? How did you find being at home, stairs etc? I figured if I could get home and up the stairs then I could just stay in bed and feed which is all I'd do in hospital?!

[elliejjtiny]

It's definitely a cost cutting bed freeing up thing. I've had 2 C-sections and I found that when I had the catheter in the care was good but after that I was basically taking care of myself and my baby on my own. Baby was in scbu first time so I had to express, sterilize, walk down endless corridors with the milk every 4 hours day and night. Make my own breakfast, get lunch and tea, jugs of water from the kitchen on a tray and carry the tray back to my bed. Not allowed morphine after the catheter was out because it made me too sleepy, just paracetamol and ibuprofen (I take stronger drugs than that for period pains). It wasn't too bad for the women who had their partners there to fetch food for them etc but I was on my own most of the time and it was awful. I complained a lot and got a private room for the first couple of days second time round but it was still horrible. If it wasn't for my babies being too ill to go home I would have discharged myself when the catheter was taken out.

[Alwaysinahurrynow]

2 c-secs and 2 very different post natal experiences. With the 1st, lady next to me snored very loudly and I got no sleep at night for the first three nights and then they would not let me go home as b/feeding was not established. On the fourth night, I was put in a side room, peace and quiet was all we needed and everything was then better.

2nd section, I had a much better experience. The only night of the four that was really an issue was the last as was on a bay with four mothers whose partners stayed late and generally buzzed the midwives constantly so I got no sleep.

[WrappedInABlankie]

Bean - that's what I did I had my c-section at 7:50 by 9 I told her to take the catheter and iv out, I'd showered, cleaned myself up and was walking round the room un-hunched I would of gone home then but my heart rate was to fast they were waiting on a cardiologist who never came anyway

I told them I was going home the next morning and she laughed, told me not to be ridiculous as I was packing my suitcase as I need to be in there for 5 days, the next morning My son had his checks, my heart rate was normal and they said I can go if I want to so I did. I would of gone even if I had a private room for me there was no need to stay.

the midwives we're lovely and I never had morphine just codeine and ibrupofen anyway so everything they did I could do at home without being told to get back in bed and then stabbing clexain into my leg

[zoemaguire]

I was sent home after 24 hours with instructions to take paracetamol . While I was desperate to leave the hellhole of the postnatal ward,I was in a piteous state. I almost collapsed trying to walk to the other side of our kitchen (4 metres!). I was readmitted after two hours at home with a rising temperature and spent the next four days in hospital on iv antibiotics. The silver lining was that I'd been 'contaminated' by going home so couldn't be readmitted to the pn ward. I got a private room on a different ward, decent painkillers at last and midwives who answered the call bell. In short, I got the postnatal experience every woman SHOULD be entitled to, but only by the ridiculous route of escaping the hideous, hideous postnatal ward, thanks to their total incompetence. So I have very mixed feelings about enhanced recovery!!

[Kristingle]

I'm confused as to how you coudl have an CS at 7:50 and be walking around and showering at 9. I'm sure I was still in recovery an hour after the operation . How could you walk an hour after getting an epidural or having a general anaesthetic ? I wasn't checking my watch but I'm sure it was more than 12 hours before I could move my legs properly. And didn't you have a drip ?

Or am I a big wimp?

And did you have a relative there to watch the baby while you showered? The ward I was on would not let you eat ( you had to go to another room to collect your food ) or shower until you had provided a person to " watch your baby " . What they thought the babies might do, I have no idea .

[Kristingle]

Zoe - although I left after 24 hours I got discharged with Really Good Drugs. Dh made up a little chart and dispensed them to me religiously , whether I needed them or not .

[divingoffthebalcony]

I think the timings might be misleading Kristingle. Maybe 7.50am and 9pm (or 7.50pm and 9am)? No one is up and about one hour after abdominal surgery

[Kristingle]

Thanks diving, I thought it was just me . Though I AM a bit of a wimp TBH

[WrappedInABlankie]

I was out of recovery after half hour I thought that was normal? every op I've had they only kept me for half hour before taking me to my room again.

Defiantly not 12 hours for walking though I had my epidural put in at around 1am as they were hoping it would reduce my bp but it didn't nether dos the injection or the tablets! I had vibrating/massager things on my legs though so don't know if that helped?

I had a drip and a catheter but they all came out when I showered the drip just pushed the fluid into my arm as it had slipped so wasn't doing much and I could walk so didn't need the catheter.

My mum and nurse was watching my son when I showered. I was told its best to get up and moving/walking around with your back straight to aid recovery so went for it.

I have to decide between a vBac or elcs this time and if I go for a elcs in hoping to be out within the same time frame too

[Kristingle]

I'm most impressed you had your own room AND your own nurse!

[WrappedInABlankie]

Didn't you give birth in your own room? Or am I missing something lol I was out back in that room, i was moved onto the 4 bedroom room later that day.

She came in to take the bits out so stayed whilst I showered in case I needed assistance and to check my dressing after. I have a brain condition as well as getting hypertension so I had my own consultant in the room most of the labour to lol

[stargirl1701]

Not really. You can choose to come to the MLU here from the hospital. So, 24 hours on post natal and then to the MLU for up to 7 days. So, relevant.

[PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom]

That is a very unusual set up Star. sounds a lovely option.

[BeanCalledPickle]

That sounds amazing!

[Mummymidwife87]

Enhanced recovery is partly to free beds up due to heavy activity but also to Improve outcome of women.

Getting out of bed early and mobilising reduces infection, dvt and quickens healing. Showering rather than bed baths. Own bed vs hospital bed. Through surveys of women, a significant majority wanted early discharge where possible.

However, it should only be used for low risk ELCS. If you are not able to mobilise, had a large blood loss, medical problems which need monitored, then you should not be going home.

Also the comments re. Partners staying until midnight reducing work for staff... Family members often create work and don't help with breastfeeding. This has started again due to women requesting partners staying either later or over night

[Tranquilitybaby]

My last two section 13 and 10 years ago, I had to stay for two night and the second night reduced me to tears both times. No sleep and barely saw a midwife, except to offer to take my baby to the nursery so I could get some sleep (which I didn't want).

I'm glad they now offer the enhanced system, IF we are both feeling well enough, I'll be out of there like a shot the next day!!