What happens after birth?

[Mum2beSept2020]

Sorry if this is a stupid question (first time mum) but I’m finding I’m worrying about the small stuff rather than the big things (actually giving birth!). Can you give me your experiences of what happens in the hospital after giving birth? Things like how long are you in the delivery room for, when do you shower/change? Anything else that may put my overactive mind at rest!! Thanks 🙂

Also during labour do you you wear a hospital gown or normal clothes? Thanks

Totally depends on what sort of labour you have! My friend gave birth in 4 hours flat in a birthing pool and was home 6 hours after that, I was induced and in labour for 36 hours ending in EMCS and a week in hospital. You won’t know how it’s going to go until you’re doing it. You can wear whatever you like to labour in, even if that’s nothing at all, I just had a couple of strappy nursing nighties so it was easy access for skin to skin afterwards. You can normally have a shower as soon as you feel able to but this is dependent on whether or not you have an epidural as obviously you need to be able to feel your legs

My personal experience:
I gave birth in my own clothes which ended up just being a top. After I'd given birth at approx 10pm and delivered the placenta I had to wait a while (can't say how long but maybe 40min-1hr) for stitches as the midwife wanted a second opinion. I didn't mind, I was cuddling my baby. Then the midwife ran me a shallow bath in the en suite so I could clean up a bit. After that I think I got in Pajamas and moved down in a wheelchair to the ward in a room of 3 other mums who'd just given birth. There were also a couple of dads there. My mum used to be a midwife so she helped me with breastfeeding, and I tried to get a little bit of sleep but that didn't really happen.

A doctor came round to check everything was fine with the baby and a nurse came round to administer pain relief (paracetamol) which I wasn't allowed because I had my 24hr quota during contractions. I was meant to wait to be discharged but at 5pm I just really wanted to go home where I'd be able to rest more comfortably so I walked to the front desk and asked if I could go home. They said yes and that was that :)

I was super worried about this too! Moreso than the labour itself. My labour was 9 hours long (I had to have oxytocin to get me going as there was meconium in my waters and they wanted baby out). I had my own t-shirt on during labour, I whipped it off the second DS was born (I had sweated through it from pushing! How lovely) and sat there with nothing on, midwives cover you with blanket. Fed baby, had tea and toast, rang parents/family, about an hour after birth I showered and DP had DS for skin to skin. I was dressed once out of shower. I didn't leave the delivery room as the wards were completely full, that was really nice as it was just the 3 of us the whole time. Doctor came and done the baby check to send us home and I was home by 5pm that night. It all goes by super quick though and you cannot even guess how your labour will go! I wanted a water birth in the midwife lead unit but didn't happen due to the meconium situation. Hope this helps!

I gave birth 8 days ago. I was admitted to the ward in slow labour so slept in my usual pjs whilst having internittent contractions. Had a nice bath about 2am. They were lovely and accommodating.

My waters broke at 5am and had merconium in them so was admitted to delivery suite and husband came in. I was in pjs still. Eventually took bottoms off for examinations but kept top on. I'd have given birth like that had in it then been rushed to theatre for forceps delivery - they whipped my top off and threw a hospital gown on me.

Afterwards I stayed in hospital gown and was wheeled to post natal, was in recovery for about 90 mins. Only got into my pjs/leggings when my legs were working again and could manage a shower.

I was in for 48 hours post delivery

I wore my normal clothes in labour sans bottom half once things really got going. IME you only get a hospital gown if you come to theatre.

I delivered a bit before 5pm. Placenta took ages (nearly 2 hours) coming out despite the injection. Then I needed stitching up, but had to wait for a doctor to assess first. Then I had a crack at breastfeeding and got my tea and toast. Once all that was done, it was 11pm and time to head to the postnatal ward. Naturally I was more than a bit knackered by this point, so I opted to sleep over showering. I eventually got my shower the next day when my husband arrived and could take the baby.

I was in for ~48 hours post delivery. But only because baby and I needed some monitoring due to pre-eclampsia. If I'd had my way, I'd have gone home the following morning.

During labour I wore a variety- started in a nightie, then had a vest in the pool, then a gown.

After birth I was stitched up in the delivery room (whilst cuddling baby), midwife helped baby to latch on for a little feed, and had some tea and toast. After a couple of hours I had a shower in the ensuite. Ended up staying in the delivery room for a few hours as they didn't have space on the postnatal ward - was lovely as it was quiet and obvs just me and my partner with baby. Then moved onto the postnatal ward for the night and home the following day.

Like a previous poster I wore a variety of my own clothes and then ended up in a hospital gown - can’t really remember how it happened but think my clothes were wet when I got out the pool and my OH didn’t know where to look for dry clothes so the midwife got a gown! It was quite comfy! After baby was born I had lots of cuddles then baby went for cuddles with dad whilst I got stitched up (I could have totally kept hold but I was off my face on gas and air and was worried I’d drop him!). There was no space on the postnatal ward at that point so we stayed in the delivery room for several hours which was lovely as partner could stay. After stitches etc the midwife helped me to the shower which was an amazing relief and then we were just left alone in the delivery room - napping and cuddling really. Eventually I was moved to postnatal where I had to stay for a week - this was less fun but we got home eventually!

Had DD2 in a midwife led unit. After she came out the midwives caught her and put her down so I could pick her up and see she was a she! I laboured naked; second child, all dignity long since lost. Straight on chest. Midwives helped me get onto my back as I'd been on all fours. Covered us with loose sheets and I cuddled her and immediately put her on the boob, she was feeding within 20 minutes. They'll do a check whilst you're cuddling to check for damage - unfortunately I had a fair bit and a transfer to another hospital for assessment and repair was agreed for me. In light of that after an hour a midwife held DD (didn't have a birth partner due to restrictions unfortunately) whilst I had a plain shower to get the worst of the ick off, and a first wee. I then got sent off in the ambulance but if I hadn't needed repairs I could've gone home after some paperwork! Only thing that went wrong was I didn't get my tea and toast before transfer and they knew I was ketonic from a test in labour which they apologised for; I did get fed at the hospital after the repairs and had allll the jam on the toast and sugar in my tea though

My first experience was spontaneous labour so everything was very quick for me. I had my own pj top on and was naked the rest. After baby was out, I got an injection to help my placenta along and that just felt like jelly coming out. Standing up was the worst though. The room looked like a murder scene but completely normal for a vaginal birth. I was allowed to stay in the labour suite for a few hours, I had a shower, some food and then we moved upto the ward and had visitors 😊

19 hour labour, moved into ward after an hour left in a huge pile of blood for 12 hours as couldn't feel my legs then the called the psych team as I was kneeling on the floor in pain as I had not been given any meds so I was being sarcastic when they asked why I was on the floor oh and 72 stitches down there

I was induced mid afternoon- stayed in my own clothes for the most part as was on a ward in maternity assessment. Once things started to kick off, I was moved into a delivery room late evening and I was in my PJs. Things then took a bit of a turn and I was in a hospital gown prior to having an EMCS.

Birth was just after 1am, out of theatre around 2am and onto the recovery ward. It was empty apart from two midwives checking on us. I think we were there for a few hours as they were doing obs every 15mins. I had lots of skin to skin but as I had a spinal I was useless for anything else! I wasn't allowed to eat anything and could only sip water (which was good as I later took a huge mouthful of water by accident and threw up!) Around 4 or 5am they moved us onto the postnatal ward and by that point my spinal was wearing off. By mid morning it was all worn off and one of the surgical team came to check on me and helped me sit up. Around midday they took out my catheter and I coild start moving around, although very very very slowly. I don't think I showered until the next day though- can't quite remember! I don't think I was steady enough on my feet until the following morning...!

Overall I went in on the Wednesday, baby arrived early hours Thursday and was out mid Friday afternoon.

Good luck - you'll find you end up going with the flow and after the birth everything is a bit blurry apart from when you're sat staring at your baby and you have no idea what's going on around you!

With all 3 of mine I've had the baby in just a nightie or just my top on.
I can't speak for csection or a medical birth but for a normal vaginal delivery , You have the baby.
They then offer you an injection to get the placenta out straight away.
I've always said yes so it just comes out, they inspect it and have a look, then they look at your bits and see if you need stitches.
Once they are satisfied your ok, you can have a shower if you want.
I've always had one straight away as I love putting on new pjs and feeling clean again!
Then they give you tea and toast and write up all your birth notes on the computer.
You may be in the delivery room for half an hour after, or a few hours.
They then take you down on to the ward and settle you in.
You either stay the night or you can be discharged home.

My experience:
I went into hospital in labour for the 3rd time, 1st time sent home 1cm, 2nd time at 02:30 sent home 2cm, 3rd time just a few hours after at 09:15 I went in and was 10cm and he was on his way. I was wearing leggings and a moschino top. 😂 I was pushing in my moschino top!! Then ended up taking that off and being completely naked as I was boiling. I had certain nighties packed for labour and all sorts, never in my wildest dreams did I think my labour would go how it did (good way though!) so be prepared for anything. My hospital bags were still in the car and baby was naked wrapped in a towel for 45 mins until hubby could go down and fetch them.
After baby came out I had the injection for placenta and that was pulled out 15 mins later. I was laid cuddling baby during that time and just couldnt believe he was finally here. Then they check you and I only had a small 2nd degree tear and needed 1 stitch done on gas & air.
Laid cuddling baby for about 30-45 mins with hubs and then the midwife ran me a bath as I was covered in blood and fluid etc.
Got out the bath and felt SOOO much better. Then had some toast
Snuggled some more. Baby had his weight etc checked then we dressed him and fed first bottle.
Hubby stayed in labour room until around 1pm (baby born at 09:42) then I got moved onto the maternity ward for baby to have health check. Prewarned I was the last person on the list and would be a long wait. I sat on ward on my own (hubs had to leave due to covid) and facetimed everyone all afternoon. Had his checks at 7pm and left straight after :)

It will depend of what kind of delivery you have as to how soon you can take a shower etc but I can tell you that the Tea and Toast you get after delivery is absolutely the best tea and toast you will ever eat

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences, I never knew the tea and toast was a thing!