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Childbirth

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

Original poster

If you're not allowed partners to stay overnight on the ward after a c sec....

46 replies

Bubblesbubblesmybubbles · 11/03/2020 20:10

How do you get out of bed? DC1 he stayed and pulled me out of bed whenever i needed the loo or fancied a wander. He needed to do that the first few nights at home too.

Giving birth somewhere else this time and partners can't stay (I'm pretty upset about this - all the men on the post natal ward last time behaved faultlessly). How on earth do i get up?

OP posts:
Dizzywizz · 11/03/2020 20:15

You’ll have to ring your buzzer for a nurse. I had 2 c-sections and dh didn’t stay , the nurses made it clear to ring the buzzer if I needed the loo and for when the baby woke.

Good luck, when is your baby coming?

FlaskMaster · 11/03/2020 20:16

You don't much! My friend had a C-section in a hospital where they didn't bring you food to your bed, you had to go down the hall to a room and get it. All the C-section women were missing meals.

IWantT0BreakFree · 11/03/2020 20:18

I had my baby very late at night and was catheterised through the night. Whenever the baby cried I had to press my buzzer for a nurse to pass her to me, and then again for her to be put back in her crib. Second night I was able to stand and make my way to the bathroom, but still needed help to pick up the baby. Needed DH to help with this for quite a long time after returning home actually.

Stroller15 · 11/03/2020 20:19

Depends where your hospital is. Up in Scotland, after my C-section DH also had to leave at 10pm but a midwife or assistant checked on baby and me about every hour through the night.

Lazydaisydaydream · 11/03/2020 20:22

I'll be honest.... It was horrendous. They told me the ring the buzzer, but it would take them 20 minutes to come and my son would be crying in his cot the entire time (I was still numb from the spinal block and was unable to sit up, never mind stand).

I would ask for a private room so that he can stay. Or ask for a cosleeping bed so the baby is within arms reach (not available at all hospitals though).

Also don't let them move stuff and then leave the room without moving it back... They did this multiple times where they would move the table away and then leave and I'd be unable to reach the buzzer/my drink etc.

Lazydaisydaydream · 11/03/2020 20:24

Oh I also agree with the comment above about meals. I couldn't get out of bed, so asked if someone could bring me some food and was told if I couldn't make it to the kitchen then I would have to do without asking they were too busy Sad so after an emergency c section I Was expected to go without any food Confused

fifig87 · 11/03/2020 20:24

Honestly you just get on with it. I had two and I just got in out and slowly of bed. Nurses didn't have time to help me. It actually wasn't that bad!

Ilovethekitties · 11/03/2020 20:29

I was asked to ring the buzzer. They took so long to get to my son and I fhat I dragged myself up to pick up and feed him myself. This was after an emergency c section with an serious infection caught afterwards.

They also did not bring my food, I had to go and get it so if my partner wasnt there of an evening then I went without.

We were on a particularly busy ward though where the men could stay, but my partner couldn't always stay as there were only sit up chairs (no recliners) and he suffers with chronic migraines.

The men on our ward (to make things harder) were NOT well behaved, watching football with no headphones, moaning about not being allowed food and doing loud smelly farts. One man I had to ask three times to take him 3am video chat conversation off of the ward! The third time I was not polite 😂

FATEdestiny · 11/03/2020 20:29

I don't understand why some women are so immobile after a c section.

My 4th child was EMCS (after 3 virginal births) and I was perfectly capable to stand up, walk around and so on within an hour of the general anaesthetic wearing off. As for getting baby in/out of the cot - I was able to pull the crib (on casters) within arms reach and make sure my bed height allowed for reaching into cot. There was never anything wrong with my upper body after the csection.

Original poster
Bubblesbubblesmybubbles · 11/03/2020 20:30

Oh wow! I didnt really get much warning i needed a wee post c sec so waiting 20 mins wouldnt have worked at all!

Happy to pay for a private room so he can stay but they dont let you use them for the first night and i plan to be home after that like last time.

I literally couldn't get myself up for 4 days, i tried, but once up i could walk for ages, juat couldnt get the technique sorted.

Now wondering if its too late to transfer to the hospital we used last time so he can stay!!

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NeilTheBaby · 11/03/2020 20:32

I just rang the buzzer each time I wanted them to pass me baby or put baby back. I was ok to do it myself by the second day though.

Original poster
Bubblesbubblesmybubbles · 11/03/2020 20:36

@neilthebaby its less the baby, more me needing a wee and being stuck unable to get out. If last time is anything to go buy baby will just be cuddled for ages as i couldnt bring myself to stop staring at DC1

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Mammyofasuperbaby · 11/03/2020 20:36

I'm panicking about this as last time I was unable to walk for 2 days and the beds are too high for me, even on the lowest setting. Plus due to a health condition I have I am given opioid pain relief but it makes me disorientated and confused. Thankfully (in a way) last baby was in the nicu so I didn't have to look after anyone but if I go term I'll have my baby with me and no help.

Wheresthebiffer2 · 11/03/2020 20:36

I had a catheter, and a pee-handbag for the first couple of days - so I didn't need to go to the toilet.

Bcause I had a spinal, I couldn't move (or walk or get out of bed) for several hours after the birth.

Of course, my upper body was unaffected, but the stomach muscles were non-existant, and scar was scary and sore, so sitting up was difficult. I had to ring the buzzer, and wait for help.

It was the worst time of my life - that time spent in hospital after a c-section, when DH was not allowed to be there for 12 hour stretches, leaving me alone, frightened and vulnerable.

Lazydaisydaydream · 11/03/2020 20:37

@FATEdestiny presumably depends on the anaesthetic used, whether you still have a catheter in and specific circumstances of the c section. Not all emergency c sections are the same, not everyone's experience is the same.

I didn't have any feeling from my chest down until over 12 hours after the c section, my catheter was left in for 24 hours and my legs were in those stupid inflatable compressing things for those 24 hours. I wasn't even allowed to sit up, I definitely wouldn't have been able to pick my baby up as I couldn't twist or reach with my upper body.

I've heard from friends who've had planned c sections that they were much more mobile and encouraged to get up sooner etc.

thismeansnothing · 11/03/2020 20:39

Well the first night I was still bed bound from the anaesthetic. So used the buzzer and HCA or MW passed me the baby... Second night I'd had the catheter removed and had little walks so managed by myself.

Original poster
Bubblesbubblesmybubbles · 11/03/2020 20:40

I was up after 5/6 hours last time with the catheter out and using the bathroom as normal - as soon as i could feel my feet i asked them to take it out

OP posts:
Lazydaisydaydream · 11/03/2020 20:42

@bubblesbubblesmybubbles can you ask for DH to stay until at least you are able to move/stand? At whatever time that is based on the time of the c section? Youd hope the midwives would be willing to agree to that as means they have one less person to look after! But I would push for a private room so he can stay with you.

Original poster
Bubblesbubblesmybubbles · 11/03/2020 20:45

They have said they don't allow you in a private room so they can keep an eye on you the first night. Seems illogical as last time i had the curtain around us all night so how is that different?!

I will ask nicely. Its more i want to be able to get up for a wee or a wander as and when i like. I did that last time and I'm sure it helped recovery

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Squirrelfan · 11/03/2020 20:46

@FATEdestiny, doubtless you are a rarity, as evidenced by your three virginal births! Grin

thenightfury · 11/03/2020 20:47

I had to get up and get him. They told me to ring the buzzer but like others have said they took 20-30 mins to get to you and I couldn't cope with DS crying for that time. It was horrible but you just manage. I think online you can get a wrap for them so you can pick them up out of the crib easier. I don't know the name but hopefully some recognises what I'm talking about and they can help!

Paperdollss · 11/03/2020 20:47

Are you having a planned c section this time?
IME that alone makes a heck of a difference in your recovery, emergency c section I was laid up for days, planned c section I was up and about within a few hours and home after 24 hours

Lovewinemorethanhusband · 11/03/2020 20:49

I've had 3 sections and never had ym husband stay, you ring the bell if baby is out of your reach but as soon as you can walk again you should be up and moving around, if your taking the correct painkillers you shouldn't be in to much pain that you can't even get yourself out of bed as it's adjustable

Original poster
Bubblesbubblesmybubbles · 11/03/2020 20:49

It was planned last time and will be this time too. I was up and about quickly and home the next day last time, I'm literally just worried about overnight.

I could not get myself up, no matter how hard I tried! Although maybe DP being there meant i gave up quicker.....just dont want to wet myself being unable to get up!!

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Original poster
Bubblesbubblesmybubbles · 11/03/2020 20:50

I only took paracetamol and ibuprofen after my last c sec as i wanted to go home ASAP. Maybe that had an impact.

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