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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

What happens after giving birth at hospital?

37 replies

RattyCatty · 01/12/2015 07:48

FTM here at 31w so sorry if this is a stupid question...

What happens after you give birth? I know you may need stitches etc... but are you cleaned up by someone once you've had baby on your chest (hopefully?) or are you left for a bit? Do you hobble to a shower yourself? What clothes do you put on? I know you still bleed so does someone help you with that or do you hobble to shower leaving a trail of blood??!! Sorry - this only occurred to me this morning and really freaked me out!

OP posts:

Sparklycat · 01/12/2015 19:09

They ignored me and my pain and tried to chuck me out 12 hours after an EMC. Were no help with breastfeeding and didn't check that lo was doing it properly (she wasn't). My advice is to be demanding and ask for help and get out as soon as you feel able.

Kel1234 · 01/12/2015 19:21

I had my baby in the birth centre, which meant I had my own room with ensuite bathroom. LO was born at 6.58am. After the delivery, he was placed on my chest. After that he was taken and cleaned up and he was weighed and measured and whatever else they do after the birth. Then he was handed to me to feed. I fed him, then as far as I can remember he was checked by the professionals again as he had some trouble with his breathing, and my midwife wanted a second opinion (he had a chest infection). While this was going on I delivered the placenta (which took 45 minutes, it didn't want to come out. Hard to believe I delivered my baby within 20 minutes but took 45 for the placenta). After that the midwife done my stitches, and my husband was allowed to hold the baby.

After that unfortunately the doctor came and said my angel had to go to NICU (Neontal Intensive Care Unit/ special care baby unit). It was then that I took a shower and got dressed. Then shortly after that we packed up our things and moved to the post natal ward.

If possible I would recommend a birth centre for giving birth. My one had everything, pool, ball, seat, large comfy bed. And it's more private, relaxed and homely.

Dixiechick17 · 01/12/2015 22:08

I was on the midwife led unit. After I had a small amount of stitches and had latched my DD on for the first time the midwife got her all wrapped up and popped her in thw crib. She gave me a big pad to hold between my legs and my DH helped me to the shower. He stayed with me whilst I showered and dressed, then they wheeled me to the post natal ward with my DD.

embarrasseddoesntcutit · 01/12/2015 22:29

Thank you so much for starting this thread- I had no idea what would happen post delivery. Great to hear people's experience.

blueobsessive · 02/12/2015 07:43

If you are prepping DH it might be an idea to let him know how gory it is. It is full Hollywood horror movie levels. My DH hasn't quite got over me "rolling an organ out of my vagina" followed by buckets of blood (ie. delivering the placenta). He was great, and without him I'd not have managed a shower, but the degree of gore surprised us both.

Bupcake · 02/12/2015 08:53

Also, if you have long hair, teach DH how to tie it back! I could only use one hand as I had a drip and stuff in the other, so had to get DH to fix my hair - disaster! I honestly don't see how someone can't put a bobble around some hair to make a half-decent ponytail, but apparently it's harder than I think! It fell out after about 2 minutes, bobble lost, so hair everywhere for the remainder of the time!

Melmam · 02/12/2015 09:40

I had my baby two weeks ago. I was induced ended up needing forceps they also cut sobwas stitched I got the injection for placenta then the midwives gave me a full body wash on the bed as I had the epidural changed me into a clean nightie pants and pad gave me some tea and toast it was amazing wheeled to postnatal ward about 2am next morning i was able to go have a shower a midwife stay outside waiting for me as I lost alot of blood so very weak. Midwives where great in my hospital very helpful couldn't fault them at all. Good luck

mrsleomcgary · 03/12/2015 11:55

One dd was born and placenta delivered (managed 3rd stage so happened while we was having skin to skin) I was stiched while holding dd. we were then left to cuddle for a while with a midwife pottering about in the room then dd was weighed and midwife put on a nappy and dressed her for us. i'm a type 1 diabetic so had to spend some time in bed before I could move as an insulin infusion had to run through but once that was done I got up and showered. Felt a bit wobbly but managed myself fine,though once I was out I realised i had left my pads in my bag,walked through to get them then had to get back in to rinse the blood from my legs! Once I was up and midwife could see I was ok she left the room,but kept popping in every 15mins or so to make sure we were all doing ok. At somepoint I was also given the best tasting tea and toast i've ever had!

badg3r · 03/12/2015 12:04

If you're worried, could you call where you are due to give birth and ask them what normally happens? And find out if you need to bring your own towels, maternity pads etc. With my DS we were in the midwife led unit, we had an en suite and after the birth I just lay in bed with DS, some clean PJs and several changes of maternity pad The next morning I felt up to a shower so DH helped me with that while keeping an eye on DS too. It was fine.

MurlockedInTheCellarHelpUs · 03/12/2015 12:35

ELCS for breech here.

I knew it would be a while before I could shower, so had a really good wash and blowdry the morning of the section - a definite plus to a breech baby!

After I was stitched up I was wheeled into recovery for a drink and some toast and I got DD latched on while DH and I sat and looked at each other in shock.

Wheeled up to the ward after about an hour, and a lovely MW sat me on a puppy pad and wedged a maternity pad the size of a rolled up hand towel between my legs. I used Simple facewipes to give my upper half a bit of a freshen up, and DH helped me to dry-shampoo my hair and clean my teeth in the bed before he left for the night as I still couldn't walk. Every so often the MW came and changed the pad - I was worried about this in advance, but it was changed very discreetly and I didn't feel embarrassed at all.

The next morning (after catheter removal) I went for a shower, luckily accompanied by a HCA - I fainted on the loo and came round in a puddle of blood and sick with several very worried faces looking at me.

The shower was rubbish, and they wouldn't leave me alone to get clean (understandably, after my fainting eposide!) and I bled ALL over my towels while trying to get my knickers back on afterwards while not splitting my stitches. Not my finest moment, I was a snivelling wreck with the indignity of it all!

The shower the next day once I was home was the best shower ever - just make sure to buy products that hook up, as if you drop something, it's staying on the floor.

whatsoever · 10/12/2015 21:21

Had baby in theatre (forceps under spinal) so DH took DS to recovery while I was stitched and fixed up as I had haemorrhaged.

Then I was taken into recovery after about 45 mins. Attempted to breastfeed. DS not interested.

Wheelchair back to private room on post natal ward as it was about 11.30pm by then. Once settled, DH had to go home. Attempted to sleep (did sleep a bit!) but as had no feeling in my legs & couldn't sit up due to spinal, I had to use the buzzer every time DS cried as I couldn't get up for him. Handily this meant his first 3 nappies were changed for me!

Got tea & toast about 6.30am and then actual breakfast not long after! Good job as I was starving as didn't eat through a long labour as I felt so sick.

DH came back in about 10am for partner visiting hours. I was still catheterised at this point. Soon after that was taken out and a MW came to get me up & showered. Bed was like a murder scene as you can't wear pants with a catheter so the pad they'd put in place for me had shifted around a lot.

Helped to the shower on wobbly legs. Was allowed door shut but MW kept shouting in while changing the bed to check I wasn't fainting! Definitely take your own big towel for that shower. Then changed into big pants, pads and PJs and was back into normal existence rather than that helpless, hooked up in bed kind of state I'd been in since theatre.

Also worth mentioning that as I'd been catheterised I had to 'save' first two wees in a cardboard chamber pot thing to be measured for volume to check bladder function. This seemed standard for everyone who'd been catheterised.

TattieHowkerz · 11/12/2015 14:30

I gave birth at midnight.

Forceps and post partum haemorrhage.

Everything was pretty unhurried. I was given tea and toast. DP held DD while I got a lovely bed bath and clean sheets and nightie. I had a catheter in. Was wheeled up to the ward about 4am. DP was sent packing. I crashed out and was woken in the morning by another baby on the ward crying. Almost forgot I had my own!

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