Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

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

Original poster

Hospital staff help post emergency csection

48 replies

CaseofEllen · 29/03/2019 23:54

Does anyone know how much help hospital expect to provide to mum overnight? I had failed forceps/cup delivery ending up in emergency section.

Partner is here during the day from about 9am-10pm but I feel like at night time I'm always pressing my buzzer asking for things.

I can't pick him up on my own/change his bum/prepare his formula in kitchen. I'm 3 days post section and feel like I'm doing so shit and getting on the staffs last nerve! Am I asking too much from them?

OP posts:
snitzelvoncrumb · 30/03/2019 00:00

I was only in two nights after my C sections, I got help for the first night then limited help if I asked for it. I would talk to someone about pain medication if you are still unable to move. Congratulations on your new baby.

Anotherdayanotherdollar · 30/03/2019 00:01

I think that a lot of women would have gone home already 3 days post section so I'm guessing that you have some complications? Keep ringing if you need help I suppose. Is there a particular reason you can't pick him up (bending etc), or is it that you can't physically get out of bed to get to him?
You've had major surgery anyway, go easy on yourself

Yakadee · 30/03/2019 08:17

I didn't really receive that much help to be honest, however I had a planned section a felt up to it (as much as you can at least following surgery!). I certainly did buzz them when I needed though - you shouldn't feel bad at all.

Wishing you a speedy recovery xx

ApplestheHare · 30/03/2019 08:24

CaseofEllen don't ask too much from yourself. You've been through such a lot. No shame asking for help when you need it. Hope you start to feel better soonFlowers

Hollowvictory · 30/03/2019 08:25

It's unusual not to be able to pick up, do nappy change, formula etc 3 days post section so perhaps they're underestimated the amount of help you need but yes it's normal to press the buzzer when you need help. I remember a midwife on my ward fainted as she was so busy she hadn't eaten all day. It's really tough on you when you're feeling so rubbish hope you get better soon. I was in hospital for a month after my section, lots of complications and had an operation and it was a tough time 💐

SwayingInTime · 30/03/2019 08:30

Could your partner get you a pack of ready made bottles on the way in to visit today if you are to be in overnight again. You're expected to pick up and change baby if you are well enough which you should be, as you're not, is that being investigated? I think that making bottles is a bit too tiring though and easily solved with the prepacked bottles.

Pieceofpurplesky · 30/03/2019 08:35

I felt like this. Very traumatic experience as I had a catheter for a couple of days and could not do a thing . It is normal to feel helpless and the nurses are there to help. Keep buzzing and remember you are not asking too much of them Thanks

Thesearmsofmine · 30/03/2019 08:40

It really depends on your recovery. I’ve had 3 c sections and each recovery is different. You have had major surgery and if there are things you can’t do then buzz away because that what the buzzer is there for. Do you have complications?

You are not doing badly, it is really awful being stuck in hospital for several days, no doubt you are exhausted, have had major surgery and are in pain,’recovering from labour as well as a c section and you have a tiny human to look after which is a big shock to the system. I always felt so much better when I got home. Have they said when you will be able to leave?

Thesearmsofmine · 30/03/2019 08:40

Plus you are the exact stage where baby blues kicks in, be kind to yourself x

PoshPenny · 30/03/2019 08:43

Going by my own experiences (2 EMCS) I would be concerned that you are still really struggling to get up and do these tasks yourself so I would keep on buzzing for help as required. Don't get me wrong it wasn't easy by any stretch, but with effort and very slow and steady I (and the other women I saw in the same situation) could manage to get out of bed and get to the baby and out to the kitchen and or toilet. So the staff need to know that you can't.

Fraula · 30/03/2019 08:48

To repeat pp, at 3-5 days your hormones cause a really weepy, anxious state. Ignore any ill feelings from midwives. Postnatal care is sadly lacking in the uk and you SHOULD be being looked after. You're doing absolutely fine, and when you get home things should hopefully be easier with your partner's help.

I found keeping all the stuff I needed really close to the bed helped.

Fraula · 30/03/2019 08:49

Peppermint tea and prunes will help to avoid trapped wind and constipation after csection which can be awful a few days afterwards.

WhatALearningCurve · 30/03/2019 08:57

Hi, I had a similar birth to yours, I was kept in for 5 days post c section.

24 hours after they were encouraging me to get up and start moving when I could but at night I still needed help because i struggled to sit up and get out of bed in less than ten minutes!

I found that most of the time it was HCA's who responds to the buzzer rather than the midwives but either way they were more than happy to help with changes and handing him to me for cuddles.

I would recommend trying to get up and walking around (if you're able) by the time I went home at day 5 I felt pretty much recovered and I think the fact I was up and moving helped a lot with that

Congrats on your little one!!

Chocolatecoffeeaddict · 30/03/2019 09:11

I've had four sections and they have always just left me to it, even after an emergency one. They are there to help if you need it, but it is unusual that you need this much help, unless you've had severe compilations.
They normally try and get you out after one night if everythings straight forward but I've always had 2 to 3, not for extra help with the baby, just stronger painkillers.

ShowOfHands · 30/03/2019 09:13

I had dd at 10pm and was on the ward by 12.30am. I had no overnight help at all as they were too busy and was discharged at 11am the following morning (so 12hrs post surgery). It was very difficult.

DS was born at 3pm and I was up and about by 6pm and had a shower. I didn't need to use my buzzer at all. In fact, out of the 6 women on the ward, only one used their buzzer (all had emcs), and that was to request pain relief. We all had our babies in the bed with us and nappies and wipes to hand. I got up at 3am and helped another woman clean up a poonami! Didn't occur to us to ask the staff to help.

All that said, if you need help, you need help.

HoldOnToHope · 30/03/2019 09:21

I had an emcs with a lot of complications (significant blood loss, meaning I had to go under general anaesthetic once baby was delivered) and stayed in hospital for 3 nights afterwards, but I didn't get any help during the night - even the first night. Baby was delivered around 7:30pm, I was unconscious until around 9:30pm and my partner left around 11pm - I had to lift baby from the crib on to my bed to feed or change him.
I did get bottles brought in to me by midwives that first night as I wasn't mobile, but was expected to get up for them by the next afternoon.

Chocolatecoffeeaddict · 30/03/2019 09:42

The starter packs of formula are easier, if you can get any of those you won't need to get up to make bottles. Have you been out of bed yet to go to the toilet and have a shower?

elliejjtiny · 30/03/2019 10:02

You poor thing. I was given help when I had my catheter in (24 hours after my elcs, 36 hours after my elcs). After that I was expected to get on with it, making my own breakfast, making up bottles, walking to scbu etc. I remember crying with the pain and feeling so alone. My dh got more help after his vasectomy.

flumpybear · 30/03/2019 10:02

I had two sections in for five nights with both - midwives were supportive but I did most of it, encouraged to get up and active quickly after section too whixh is the right thing to do as you need to start moving

My husband only stayed a few hours perhaps twice a day too - I just cracked on, but I do get thst some surgeries affect people differently

Ask for support but start making active attempts to do things yourself.
Use the bed to change your baby as you can raise it to the height you need

With both my children I was struggling with sleep and they did have my babies for a few hours, once each, so I could sleep a little but it was actually quite horrible as I felt bereft!

toasterstrudle · 30/03/2019 10:46

I had very little help from the minute I was in and it was really difficult! I discharged myself after one night (despite them protesting) as I knew DS would be looked after at home by my husband and parents! I couldn't stand without support, had a catheter but was expected to change and lift baby to feed etc. It was hideous!

whatswithtodaytoday · 30/03/2019 10:53

I had very little help, and felt bad buzzing the nurses because they were so busy and I didn't want to disturb the rest of the ward. Silly looking back, but I wasn't exactly thinking clearly at the time. I was only in one night but it was hideous.

Celebelly · 30/03/2019 10:59

Definitely ring for help whenever you need. I was able to pick her up and get around reasonably well the same day as my section so I didn't actually need help in that respect, but if you're still in three days later you've obviously had a rough rideSad

WhiskersOnCats · 30/03/2019 16:25

I didn't get much help at all but I didn't give birth here. I was also a single mother.

I was breast-feeding but the ones bottle feeding (5 out of 6 on my ward - me being the only idiot doing it the hard way). My aunt (and birthing partner) was the lactation consultant in the hospital so she helped me on her off duty times - another one came once I think.

I was in a bed where the thing that hangs over the bed to pull you up to get you out of the bed was broken, so I sort of rolled out of the bed and rolled back into it. I was in 6 nights (typical is 5, but I requested another night and my consultant had no issue - he was lovely - plus I had every risk factor and showing every sign of developing PND).

I recall the nurses taking dd one night (maybe night 2 or 3) so that I could sleep. I think I had a particularly kind nurse that night. They may have given dd a bottle, I haven't a clue, nor do I care.

I do remember asking for stronger painkillers than paracetamol on the day after - I couldn't have difene as I'm asthmatic. I screamed so loudly at the nurse that I fainted. She begrudgingly gave me pethidine and crossly told me 'now stay in that bed!'. Well............ That was like a red rag to a bull. So when another aunt came in to visit, I went down for a cigarette and promptly fainted again! Lol. I am the worst patient ever.

They sort of throw you in at the deep end! If you've a partner and are bottle feeding, I'd get home asap.

WhiskersOnCats · 30/03/2019 16:28

My recovery was pretty textbook. I was 27 at the time and I think relative youth can help with recovery. I have not repeated the performance! Grin

WhiskersOnCats · 30/03/2019 16:29

Apologies - I was breast-feeding but the ones bottle feeding (5 out of 6 on my ward - me being the only idiot doing it the hard way). Should read

I was breast-feeding but the ones bottle feeding (5 out of 6 on my ward - me being the only idiot doing it the hard way) were all given prepacked bottles.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.