What is happening during pandemic

[crazybutkind]

Good Morning,

I am 28 weeks pregnant and beginning to think about what will happen during birth in the pandemic.

Looking for some answers from ladies who have given birth in the last 2 weeks.

The realisation that I am going to be alone during birth is setting in.

I am being told...
"husbands are not allowed in"
"They make dad leave after 30 mins of birth"
"If you have a runny nose you will be separated from baby for 2 weeks"
"They are not allowed to give gas and air"

The list goes on,

So I ask for some real truths from new mums themselves preferably in the UK.

Please share your stories and experiences as scary as they are I need some straight honest answers

Thankyou x

@Nolie100

I'm glad you found it helpful! I hope things don't change too much from my experience for those still due to give birth. Especially as I've read there seems to be some variations between trusts.

We had a paediatrician visit within 24 hours and she checked baby's heart rate, reflexes, etc. We also had the hearing test done as normal. Once those were complete and I'd spoken to the infant feeding team they were happy to discharge us.

Although it's my first baby so have no comparison, I wouldn't say my time on the ward was any different to what it would have been before, except the lack of visitors! The midwives were very attentive and explained the checks really well and I didn't feel either rushed to leave or pressured to stay. I still had all the support available to me from the other teams (IE the infant feeding team).

Hope that helps!

You're a star Luna! Thank you, helps me manage my expectations.

@Ready4abreak I'm due to have an ELCS in 8 weeks, can I just ask, how long after the
c-section was your partner allowed to stay?
How long until they took you upto the ward?
Do they carry your bags?
Thanks

I’m replying having given birth to my first baby 5 days ago. I was induced on Monday husband couldn’t come with me for first bit. I had a pessary put in at 11am and at 1am Tuesday morning my waters went and I was 3cm dilated and classed as active labour with contractions being regular. I phoned my DH and he was at the hospital by 2am. He stayed the whole way through the labour. Baby was born at 6am. I had to go to theatre for a repair to a big tear. Baby stayed with my DH. Once recovered from theatre and moved to a recovery ward my DH had to leave. This was around 11am Tuesday morning.

The staff were absolutely brilliant and acutely aware of the fact that ladies with not have their partners with them AFTER birth and I felt incredibly well looked after.

For a straight forward birth they are looking to discharge within 3hrs so dads wouldn’t have to leave at all. I had to stay over night due to tear and surgery.

Hope that helps

@HayleyD84 my husband was allowed stay about 40 mins after the section. Just whilst in recovery while a bed in the ward was being organised.

The hospital then took bags from delivery room to ward. When ready to go home my husband had to meet us at the door and a midwife took my bags down whilst I carried my DS.

Good luck with your section and don't worry. I was apprehensive going in esp as we would be left in there on our own once my husband left but the whole experience was really pretty positive.

Good evening for anyone still around,

I have been told my baby is breech and they are going to try and turn her if unsuccessful I will be having a c section on the 5th.

I was ready for labour, I was ready to do it alone, I was prepared for a short stay in hospital and now I have gone into full panic mode.

I can't get round being in hospital, alone, numb from the waist down, with a newborn!

For any ladies who recently had a c section

How helpful were the midwives?

How long did you stay?

Did you have visitors?

I am desperate for some kind of idea how this is going to go

Thankyou x

If your baby is breech, it is well worth going on Spinning Babies website and looking up Forward Leaning inversion, this can be done multiple times per day to turn the baby, worth a go.