Revovery after c section

[ladymelo]

I am booked in next week to have a c section due to baby being breech and failed ecv. I'm just wondering how long your kept in recovery (not yet had pre op appointment) and if you are allowed to have visitors in recovery? My reason for asking I would like time with baby alone/with spouse before other visitors can see is?

I didn't have any visitors in recovery except DH. Only partners are allowed to stay outside day time visiting hours. And any other visitors had to wait until the afternoon visiting slot. If you are not out of recovery by then, they would need to wait until the next normal visiting.

I think there would only be very special circumstances where you'd be permitted other visitors in recovery (and probably not particularly nice special circumstances at that).

That makes sense!! How long were you in recovery for?

No visitors in recovery for me either. About an hour(ish) I think?

With dd2 I was first on the list but visiting hours for anyone other than dh / siblings weren't until 5pm so we had the whole day just us. Doesn't matter how excited people are, they've got to stick to visiting hours

Its all a bit hazy now but I think I was in recovery for an hour or so. Then they moved us back to the room (in the birthing area) to do more tests and checks, then we were moved up to the ward. DS was born at 1343 - we didn't get up to the ward till around 8pm iirc.

There are no visitors in the birthing area or recovery, just you and your birthing partner. And if you are transferred back to the ward and visiting time is over, then you have to wait till the next day.

My midwife sneeked my mum into recovery after my c section, my ds was taken to scbu I was so distraught, middle of the night in the snow my mum waited in the hospital foyer so she got sneeked in but not sure if thats normal for every hospital

Recovery was around an hour. They don't allow anybody but Dad/other birthing partner in. I then went straight to the ward. With my first it was late at night and visitors weren't allowed until 11am the next day but I was home by then. With my second I was desperate for dc1 to visit so she was allowed onto the ward around 90 minutes post delivery. It's your choice, visiting hours permitting.

I was in recovery for about 3 hours last time but that was after an emcs. Only DH was slowed in and he said it was really wierd because as soon as it was over we both fell asleep for 2 hours. I think you have to be awake and if you are planning bf they like you to do that before you go to the ward.

Recovery was quick - about an hour but it wasn't a crash section or anything so I guess they give you the minimum of drugs. DH had our baby while I was being cleaned up after the op and then a midwife brought her through to me to do some more skin to skin and see if she would feed. I was pretty out of it though after 48 hours in labour. I think we were on the ward by 6am maybe - DH was sent home by then. So a scheduled ELCS will at least give you lots of on hand support while you sort yourself out and can get some sleep for the night ahead.

No one will be allowed on the ward potentially including your husband unless it is visiting hours.

In reality your "scheduled" op could be bumped by an emergency and could easily be moved out a day or too depending on resources at your hospital so it's easiest to simply tell family that we will let you know when the baby is there safe and well. Though let close family know if you've been bumped or they will hassle by text worrying that you are dead or something.

Practical stuff :
Maternity below the bump or elasticated trousers were right on the scar and painful to wear. I lived in these for several weeks and loose pj's.
www.thewhitecompany.com/clothing/activewear/straight-leg-roll-top-trousers--black/

I was in recovery for an hour or two. They let my mum and dad come in briefly as well as dh. Then dh was allowed as far as the door of the ward.b

No visitors in recovery here. We were there for a few hours, as I refused to go to the ward sooner than that because it was the evening and I knew that OH would be kicked out as soon as we got there and not allowed back til the next morning.

Depending on the time of day, you will have to wait for visitors the next day. Play by ear to see how you feel though, I felt so grim the next day. Pain relief wearing off, still having catheter in, not been able to shower yet and no sleep at all the night before. Not to alarm you but you really might not want to see anyone. Also take some peppermint tea bags with you, to help with trapped wind the next day.

Thank you for all of your responses it's really good to know what to expect!! I really wanted to have time for just me baby and hubby to bond before relatives come so I'm glad of the recovery time and like many of you have said I may not want to see any!!

How long did it take for you to recover fully from the section? I know it's different for everyone just interested how long for you guys?

To speed up recovery it's a good idea to get up and get moving. With dd I had a planned section and in the am and was walking around (albeit very gingerly) in the early evening. As you may have a wound drain, catheter and drip (had dd over 10 years ago - so not sure what is normal now) you will need someone to help you for this first excursion! Catheter and wound drain came out the following morning.
It does take time to heal and you can experience some painful twinges several weeks after the birth, but in general recovery is pretty quick. I found it a struggle to get the pram up and down high pavement kerbs at first and you need to be careful with lifting.
Good advice re trapped wind - had this after ds who was born by emergency section. The pain was worse than anything associated with the section!
Good luck!

I've just had my second section. Was only in recovery for about 30mins both times. First was EMCS second was planned section. No visitors until the next day with my planned section. DS was born at 11am and first visitors apart from DS were 4pm the next day.
Felt well about a week after section and pretty much back to normal after two weeks. Sections are great!

I had my catheter out within 3hrs each time and was up and showering within 5hrs. Home after 12hrs with my first. I never needed pain relief once home and was back to normal within a couple of weeks.

Just listen to your body.

Recovery was quick for me too - felt fine a couple of days later. Some individual tasks were difficult though - as a pp said, bumping th pram down curbs and pulling our over head pulley up took a while. And cornering in the car wasn't massively comfy - it probably was 6 weeks before I was 100% happy in the car, but if I had to go anywhere it was put-uppable with iyswim.

Do they put the catheter in once you have had the spinal?

Also I wonder why trapped wind is a thing after the op?! Thanks for the advice tho I will get some peppermint tea ready

You don't have to let anyone know that the baby has been born for a little while..... Excellent way of stopping visitors.

I had catheter put in before spinal.

I had the catheter post spinal on both occasions.

The trapped wind - which can present as shoulder pain - is because of air in the abdominal cavity during surgery, sluggish bowels and the drugs. It is surprisingly uncomfortable.

The shoulder pain was the worst pain of the whole experience for me- absolutely no exaggeration.

My second night in hospital a very kind MW came on shift and immediately gave me peppermint water I could have kissed her. It worked. Everyone I saw before that point looked bemused at the shoulder agony I was in

If I ever have another I will take my own peppermint.

Me too. It felt like I'd slept funny but much worse. My shoulder throbbed. A brilliant midwife took one look at me rubbing my aching shoulder and fetched peppermint water. It was a miracle cure.

How strange it comes out as shoulder pain I'm feeling a bit better about all of it now I know a few experiences

I was in recovery for over 10 hours but I had twins and a PPH. No one was there apart from DHL. My relatives didn't come until the following evening then I was home the day after that.

If you mean recovery as in the room you go to straight out of theatre, it's very unusual for anyone to be let in who hasn't been in theatre with you or isn't a medical professional as you are kept there generally until they are happy for you to go to a ward/room. This is to make it easier for you to be transferred straight back to theatre if needed (I asked as my husband needed to leave to go to the loo and get a drink and was told he have to scrub up again). Once you make it out (I was there for a few hours as no room on ward - a good thing as I got one on one care from midwife as DH went home to see DS1) and into the ward, it's generally only your partner who is allowed to be there outside of main visiting hours.