Any Recent Planned/Elective C-Section Mummy's?

[BeeBear2019]

Has anyone recently had a planned/elective c-section?

I am due mine in around 11 weeks time, so know things may be different then, but wondering what people's experiences were with regards to your Partner being there, visiting slots etc?

Thank you! x

I’m due to have one in 6 weeks and my friend has just had one at the same hospital. I’m in Scotland and the rules here seem to be more strict than England in hospitals. My partners allowed to come in with me then stays until I leave recovery to go to the ward. He then has to go home and was originally allowed a 30 minute visiting slot per day (so could maybe come back that night) but now it’s been increased so he’ll be able to visit for an hour

I am so confused by how it will work. I had an unplanned csection with my first and my spinal block didn't wear off for a good 6-8 hours after birth. Surely it's more efficient for Partners to stay and be on hand for this time than Midwives having to be at your constant call! xx

@BeeBear2019 that’s what I don’t get and I’m not great at being annoying and requesting help every 5 minutes 🙈 The rules are even more confusing for people being induced at my hospital. They’re allowed their partner in for the first two hours then they’ve to go away and can come back for an hour later on.. surely it would be safer and less likely for them to catch/pass on covid if they just stayed? 🤷🏼‍♀️

It really does baffle me - your partner could leave for an hour and go and sit in the pub whilst he waits, but yet can't stay in the hospital with you!

I am hoping in 6 weeks time, for your section and 11 weeks for mine, the rules are a bit more flexible with regards to partners staying after c-sections xx

I had an elective section in April after a previous emergency. I'm in the North West. I had to go in alone and then my partner could meet me in the corridor on the way to theatre, he was then allowed to recovery which I was only in for about 40 minutes and then he was allowed back to the ward for 2 hours only. It wasn't pleasant being left alone I still had the catheter in and was still numb from the spinal block. I couldn't understand the logic of him only being allowed for 2 hours but I was just grateful he could come at all. Hopefully by time it comes to your section the rules will have been relaxed significantly. Good luck!

@BeeBear2019 I know, it’s crazy! Yeah hopefully the rules will change again. It would seem like an absolute dream to be allowed a private room and for him to stay with me or at least be allowed to be there 1-8 or the normal visiting times. It makes me want to get out of hospital earlier but that’s not really what I want if I’m going to be struggling to get about at home, at least he will be there though!

@hels1987 Definitely good that you had those few hours with him there, but it doesn't make sense for them to leave before your spinal wears off does it?

@sarah13xx A private room would be amazing, and I am hoping to get one, but at the moment they are closed to covid patients only on my Hospitals Maternity Unit :( xx

I had mine today. Amazing experience.

My partner was there from when I went in, until end of visiting for birth partners at 8pm. They actually let him stay until around 10.

He set up everything I will need for the evening in arms reach - however I am a lot more mobile than I was with my previous EMCS and not anywhere near as tired.

Midwives at hand if I buzz them and have been amazing. Looking forward to partner coming back rested in the morning and taking over again.

Good luck x

I had an ELCS planned but my DS was premature and had other ideas so I don't have personal experience with recovery etc - but from what I saw, ladies who had had an EMCS or ELCS were on the wards, private rooms only for covid.

Visitors were only allowed for two hours and 45 mins a day no matter how you delivered (this was in Leicester, April 2021).

The nurses and healthcare assistants seemed pretty attentive post-CS, checking in lots, pain relief options and helping with dressings and showering etc. A couple of the mums with more mobility after birth helped out the CS mums by picking up the baby or fetching something/picking up dropped items off the floor etc if needed - but this is not strictly allowed.

(...I worry this makes me sound really nosey!! This is just my perception from being in hospital for a week when I had DS and from becoming friendly with two ladies on the ward who had had a CS).

There also may unofficially be some wiggle room in visiting hours, as @DJS88 mentions...in my case, DH was allowed to stay an extra hour to hold DS after I broke down when our not-sleeping, not-eating preemie became unwell (he's fine now thank goodness ).

I'm having an elective this Thursday (also Leicester!) They now have 2 visiting slots, so hubby can come in from 7am for the section, into recovery with me, then depending what time it is, he'll get to stay 11-2.45 or be sent away shortly to return after recovery 3.15-7pm.

He'll have the same slot the next day also. I am a bit gutted, like some people have said, surely an attentive husband relieves the pressures on MCA's and midwifes, and if we get the early slot which is likely that's still 19 hours by ourselves

I'm just hoping we get released the next day

ELCS in 10 weeks. Due to living 3 hours away from the hospital and already having a DD my partner won't be able to visit daily so I'm really hoping he gets to stay a few hours after rather than being kicked out straight after recovery. It's not really fair on dads at all. These are their babies too and they should be allowed that bonding time too.

@BeeBear2019 it's definitely more sensible for women to have their partners the dads of the babies when they can't get out of bed but for some reason the government thinks otherwise it's beyond a joke now ! Having a section in October and hoping restrictions will be better but also am preparing myself for winter to be another shitshow x

I had an elective section 4wks ago.

Had pre-op 2 days before and they gave me a covid test. On the day partner was with me all day - I didn't have to wear a mask (as had been tested) but he had to. He was allowed to stay with me during recovery, and also when transferred to postnatal ward. Visiting hours in the ward were 8am-8pm so he was around to help me with baby most the time. During the evening j had to press the buzzer and rely on midwives to help me with baby as I couldn't get out of bed (catheter still in).

Should say too... although official visiting hours finish at 8pm DH actually stayed until about 9:30pm and no one tried to kick him out. Other partners also overstayed but I think midwives didn't mind as the partners helping mothers makes it easier for them!