Planned C section during Covid times

[molemummy]

I had a planned c section 3 years ago and my husband was able to stay the 2 days/nights with me which was invaluable due to having a catheter and not being able to move, turn or get up properly.

I am due to have a planned c section in a couple of months. This time it looks as if he won't be able to stay. If you've had a planned c section recently please can you share stories of what it was like. Are the nurses/midwives helpful, do you have to leave your baby on the ward if you go for a shower/to the toilet?

I'm panicking slightly at the prospect of being on my own with the a newborn and totally helpless having just had major surgery!

I’ve had 3 c sections, never had my husband to stay, was out 24 hrs after the last one. I think you’ve been lucky to have the extra help before as I assume it’s the norm. General advice is getting up and mobile helps recovery I think.

Yes, I was up and about quickly after the first one, but until they remove the catheter you are immobile!

I believe midwives at the moment are very stretched (even more so than usual), so I'm concerned at how much they will be able to support.

I'm in the same situation as you OP, I read a good tip on here to take a dressing gown tie in and tie it to the bed so you have something to help pull yourself up with

@flossiegrippiter that's a good tip- thanks!

I had an elective section nearly three weeks ago. I was lucky and had a side room with en-suite, but the midwives were amazing. They know you're alone and don't have help, and that if you've had a section you will need more help than a lot of the other ladies.

My section was at 3pm, I was in recovery by about 4 and in my room by 6.30pm. Had the catheter out in the morning, on my feet by 7am. Discharge was slow but I made it out by 8pm the next day. DH was in theatre with me, he had to wear a mask I did not. He had to leave when I went up to the ward, but they had just started relaxing visiting so he did get to come and see us for two hours on the wars the day after. Midwives had said to buzz for anything eg. Getting baby from cot, changing baby, which I did and they came and did everything. It was the next morning after I was up and about that I changed my first nappy!

@EnglishRain that is a really positive experience, thank you for sharing. I know my husband will be allowed in surgery and on the recovery ward but won't be allowed in the post natal ward at all. Just going to be such a different experience from my first where my family were all there immediately to celebrate and see their nephew/grandson and my husband got to spend the first days with his child!

@molemummy there had been no visits allowed on the ward where I had my section until the day before my section. Things can change quickly, hopefully he might be allowed to visit on the ward if you have to stay for long

I started a thread sbout discharging myself after my c-section because DH wasn't allowed to stay and help me and I was paranoid about being so helpless on my own.

Anyway, had my c-section 2 weeks ago, DH had to leave 2 hours after birth. I cried my eyes out. But it all turned out fine, midwives were fantastic, lovely and helpful. Baby and I were well looked after. I was discharged 21 hours after section. Was a great all round experience that I had unecessarily worked myself up over.

I would say in a few months it will be even better. Good luck!

@SingingWren that's exactly how I'm feeling! So nice to hear all of these positive experiences! Thank you.

@EnglishRain @SingingWren quick (maybe silly) question- when you had to go to the toilet/have a shower, where was the baby?

Not during Covid, but when I had my first section my DH wasn’t allowed to stay over. Midwives were fairly unhelpful. I managed. Once the catheter was out I trollied the baby with me to the loo and shower. It was okay.

I had an (un)planned c section very early in Covid. Went to the loo once and left the baby sleeping perfectly safe, and got a firm telling off from a midwife when I got back. so had to wheel the baby with me every time. Normally obv that would be ok, but I was in a lot of pain and v swollen feet so it wasn’t great.

@molemummy because I had a side room I left her just outside. The midwives had said to me that they would watch her for me though, or that I could wheel her in with me.

When I had a shower baby was sleeping in his crib next to my hospital bed. Midwives were aware I was showeing and kept an eye on baby.

They were really good I must say. I couldn't feed/move/stay awake the first 5 or 6 hrs after section and baby was well looked after.

I had him at 2pm and was home by lunch time the next day x

I had a planned section 7 weeks ago

I left the baby when I had my shower and to go and get meals. You weren't allowed to wheel the babies anywhere actually because of Covid even if you had wanted to.

The midwives / HCAs were helpful while I was immobile - rang the buzzer and they passed me the baby to feed and even changed her nappy a couple of times.

Once mobile they weren't really around as much apart from delivering much needed pain meds.

I argued to be discharged at 24 hrs though as I couldn't face being solely responsible for another overnight when I was so exhausted and in pain and desperately wanted DH's help.

Some other women were having a very rough time - one had to stay in for a week alone as a FTM due to health complications and she was distraught and really struggling

At our local nhs hospital you can ask if there are any private rooms available, you won’t know until the day, but I did this with my second and got an en-suite, the cost wasn’t massive and it makes toilet/showering so much easier. I also asked for a cot that hooks onto the bed, which meant I could get baby in and out to feed, it made a huge difference to me. Good luck, second time around c-section recovery was a lot easier than 1st as I knew what to expect so I’m sure you will do great.

Just to let you know, you can mobilise with a catheter, just unhook it and take it with you! Ask someone to show you how if you need help

@Groundhogdayzz that's what I did the first time around and it was much appreciated! However the NHS hospital I'm having my c section in has stopped pay per night private rooms. The only way to get one is to opt for a £10k+ fully private c section!

Just had an elective section this week and it’s been an absolute dream! Baby born just after 9am in recovery for a few hours with a midwife and student who were so helpful, round on the ward there were plenty of staff who were awesome, nothing was too much trouble and they were really sympathetic to the fact it’s strange times. Up and about by 8pm with catheter out. Excellent care again overnight staff getting baby in/out of cot helping with nappy changes and plenty of cups of tea! Discharged early afternoon next day and I can honestly say it’s been a lovely experience with excellent care! At my hospital DP was able to be there for section, in recovery and on the ward for shorter visiting hours in the afternoon but no other visitors still.

@molymummy
Had section 6 weeks ago had catheter removed about 3 hours after husband left didn't feel ready but was encouraged to and to shower I was in quite a small hospital and luckily the ward was quiet I had a private room and was right opposite a bathroom so the midwife stood in door way and watched baby and me whilst I showered incase I fainted she was so so lovely stayed in just over 24 hours just had to get up and get on really even though it's agony x

@molemummy
In my hospital the bed had remote to move it higher / lower for getting in and out and to sit you up

I had an elective c section 2 weeks ago. I was very lucky as my husband could be with me during the section and from 10am until 830pm however please check your hospital guidelines as all are different at present and we were very lucky. The nights were difficult. Both spent on a very loud ward. The midwives were great but some of the other staff not so much which was a real shame. I managed to manoeuvre myself whilst catheterised to feed and change my baby but I wouldn't recommend it, very messy and quite painful. All in all, section very positive, days amazing (with hubby) nights a noisy nightmare lol x

I think it depends on your hospital . I had an emergency C section 4.5 weeks ago . FTM so I was a bit of a rabbit in headlights when I was taken to the ward. Hubby only allowed go stay when I was in recovery so roughly an hour or so.

My care till that point had been amazing . Quickly became apparent my hospital was understaffed and over subscribed! Not the midwives fault at all but it was a nightmare. I couldn't move for the first 12 hours and there was just no one to help. It took ages for anyone to respond to call bell and I ended up getting up long before I should have.

Friend gave birth next hospital along ( diff trust ) hubby could be with her on ward. Totally different experience . I think it's luck of the draw at the moment

My sister had a section during lockdown and her OH couldn’t go to the postnatal ward... she was so anxious about it, but all worked out well. She said the MWs were extra lovely and helpful, got her cups of tea, changed her babies nappies, picked baby up to pass to her to feed. Just don’t be shy and ring the buzzer if you need help, even if it seems like a silly ask like to pass baby to you. She went home within 24 hours.

I have a choice of two hospitals - one is allowing partners in the recovery room but not on the ward; the other is allowing partners to visit on the ward for 4 hours a day but not in the recovery room (he'd leave immediately after the surgery).

Which should I choose?