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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Going to baby clinic 5 days after c section. Whatever happened to home visits???

28 replies

comboofletters · 19/11/2016 00:10

I recently moved from one London borough to another. I gave birth to my 3rd child on Monday and had my first c section. All went smoothly and I was well cared for at the hospital although I've been in agony all week. I came back home on Wednesday and was visited by a midwife on Thursday. She told me my next appointment would be at the baby clinic 20 minutes walk from my house on Saturday- tomorrow- morning. Has anyone else been asked to do this -as in go to a health centre with a newborn 5 days after major abdominal surgery? Considering I'm one of the lucky ones- I had no major problems with the birth , we've managed to sort out childcare for the morning and my husband will help me there and back, how on earth do people do it if they've got no family support, or any post birth issues?I'm pissed off I have to go tomorrow as I really don't feel up to it, but it makes me feel really angry about what's happening to maternity services in this country. Any one else?

OP posts:
Pineappletastic · 19/11/2016 00:24

I had home visits until I was discharged from midwife care after 12 days (vaginal birth with 2nd degree tear and extensive stitching). I did have to go to the doctors on Day 5 to get antibiotics (stitches infected).

I think it's unreasonable to expect you to go to baby clinic on Day 5 after a c section, you're supposed to be resting!

GoldenWorld · 19/11/2016 00:35

Clinics are becoming more and more popular now due to petrol costs, plus they can see much more women in a shorter space of time. It's not right but it's all about cost cutting I'm afraid. I think it's reasonable for someone who's had a straight forward time to be asked to go to a clinic but not for a c-section.

user1471950254 · 19/11/2016 00:37

I had home visits until discharged from HV @ 6 weeks and saw GP for my 6 week checkup. I've never heard of visits outwith the gone within the first 6 weeks!

CanIKondo · 19/11/2016 00:40

Sounds crazy to me. Surely the midwife should come to see you for at least the first 10 days. It would be ok if you had someone to drop you down, and I'm sure some people would manage fine, but I think it's unreasonable to expect everyone to be able to walk to an appt that soon after giving birth.

Original poster
comboofletters · 19/11/2016 00:48

What's crazy is that it's for essential stuff- heel prick test, weighing baby for first time since birth and removing c section stitches. I'm (hopefully not literally) busting a gut to be there, but I think loads of people will fall through the cracks with such skeletal services at such an important time.

OP posts:
oldlaundbooth · 19/11/2016 00:53

What if you didn't have the support? They just wouldn't see you? Would they arrange a home visit?

mayhew · 19/11/2016 01:09

This is becoming more common as community midwife staffing levels are run into the ground. It's rarely the midwives choice.

Mummyme87 · 20/11/2016 20:41

Financial cuts, short staffed. Postnatal care is the Cinderella service unfortunately. You can see 12 women is a 3hr clinic but only a few if home visiting... its shit, blame the government

Luckystar1 · 20/11/2016 20:50

My midwifery aftercare after my first child was exemplary. Daily visits for (I think) 5 days.

This time (having moved to a different county close by), I had 1, 10 minute home visit, were the midwife didn't take my blood pressure as 'I was alright, wasn't I?' And ticked boxes in my book. Then shoved DD's face into my boob for no apparent reason.

At 10 days I went to a clinic and was discharged with not a second glance at either me or the baby.

But who gives a fuck about the women raising the next generation eh?

Honeybee79 · 21/11/2016 14:18

Madness. I had an EMCS with DS and am due to have an elective with DD this Friday. I could not have got myself to the clinic 5 days after my EMCS.

Like you OP I had support from DH and he would have got me there. Without help, no hope! I was in a right state! Midwives came to me thank goodness and will do so again this time.

Cuts. Sigh.

mrsmonkey14 · 21/11/2016 14:27

This happens where I am too. Struggled along after first c section. After 2nd c section home visit midwife told me to go to weekend clinic and I just said no (very politely). There was a bit of open mouth shocked face, I just kept quiet and smiled sweetly and eventually they said ok we'll send someone on Monday...
If you don't feel up to it don't go.
(Ps. I know the services are overstretched. I would have gone if I felt I could. But I didn't.)

mrsmonkey14 · 21/11/2016 14:29

Pps. Just seen it's for day 5 visit! Awful. Even here they take stitches out at home. It was the visit after they wanted me to go to clinic. No way could I have managed on day 5, and I recovered v well from both sections. Hope you're ok OP

SpecialStains · 21/11/2016 14:45

My DS is 3months and my care has been fab.

Almost daily visits from midwife/breastfeeding support worker for first 14days (problems breastfeeding and then they couldn't discharge me until the baby's umbilical cord fell off).

Health visitor has come round three times so far. I've only had to go to one weigh in clinic at two months.

Honestly, I wish the NHS could be this good for everyone.

Brown76 · 21/11/2016 15:04

Say you need home visit. I was asked to go into clinic (only 5 mins walk) the day after giving birth. I should have refused as I really struggled to walk back and I think this contributed to slow healing of my stitches.

Hunan123 · 21/11/2016 15:27

I had to go to the clinic at day 5 with my first DS to have stitches removed. St the time my husband couldn't drive because of an injury somit was a right pain organising transport.

jellycat · 21/11/2016 15:42

12 years ago, after my second, I only got 1 home visit. After that I had to go to a clinic at our local hospital. So it's not anything recent. I hadn't had a section though, although it was a pretty difficult and exhausting delivery with a lot of stitches, but at least I was able to drive myself there (dh had gone back to work - no paid paternity leave then). I do think it's unreasonable to expect someone who's had a section to go out at this stage, but at least you had your dh to help you. BTW I took dc1 with me - I had no choice really.

wafflesandpeas · 22/11/2016 16:07

I had a clinic visit the day after I got home from hospital. Had rough 4 day induction, ending in e-cs. Had catheter in. Not had time to get painkillers. Didn't have anything to wear with c section, catheter and that I could breast feed. Nipples bleeding...
Dh literally dumped the car outside the clinic door, I cried in pain as I walked into clinic past all the other mums that were waiting.
Horrible horrible experience...

TurquoiseDress · 25/11/2016 18:58

Hi OP

Seems a bir t crazy to ask ANY new mum to come to a clinic 5 days after the baby is born, surely the MW should be coming out to see you- with my LO they came round and did the weighing, heel prick etc

It was just over 2 weeks later that we went to the post-natal clinic based in the local hospital. Can't really remember what the appointment involved, but I got discharged from MW care.

I think a MW looked at my CS scar to see how it was healing, she then watched DH expertly change the nappy & clothe/unclothe LO and that was about it!

Definitely would have been pissed off to have had to venture out at day 5 for all that.

Mummyme87 · 26/11/2016 09:31

Unfortunately there just isn't the staff to cover visiting everyone at home anymore. However, a CS day 5 coming to clinic is a bit rough going and unusual, must be a very very stretched area. Some women want all checks done in a clinic as it's more convenient, some women post CS want to come out aswell.

Jodie1982 · 26/11/2016 16:44

Tell them you can't go. That's ridiculous Confused

2boysnamedR · 26/11/2016 16:53

I have always had home visits with all four of mine. I have had blood pressure issues so wasn't discharged for weeks.
To be honest I would go if I had to go to clinic.
It's the cutbacks. Same with the health visiting service. I have two kids with Sen. One is non verbal with ASD. My health visitor said they needed to keep a close on my dd. But I never saw her again. No two year or 2.5 year check. It's so cut back its useless.

Fieldsandgrasses · 26/11/2016 18:34

What about getting a taxi?Not ideal, I agree.

Marmalade85 · 26/11/2016 18:38

I had home visits and had my son and a c section last year and I'm also in London

WotsitWig · 26/11/2016 18:39

I had to go to clinic five days after my c-section, too. It really wasn't great, I hobbled in there feeling rough and very sore. Luckily my DH has been around to help and take DD and I to clinic appointments. Don't know what I'm going to do when he is back at work.

Hope you're recovering well, OP.

nephrofox · 27/11/2016 20:53

I had to go to a random hospital (not the one I'd delivered in) for my day 5 check after a c section. It was hideous, they were closing up as I got there and made it clear they didn't really want me there. They were horrible about baby's weight loss and said if I didn't agree to buying formula on the way home my baby would starve. Awful, awful, awful