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Childbirth

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

Elective C-section!

14 replies

btownmum · 02/07/2021 20:29

Has anyone had an elective C-section recently and can tell me how long your birthing partner was allowed to stay with you afterwards? Booked in for one on Wednesday and I'm worried babies dad is going to be made to leave almost immediately after! How am I meant to get things out of my bag, such as nappies, bottles ect when I'm still very numb or in pain??
What do I do when I need the toilet after catheter has come out? Surely I'm going to need help? Who will watch the baby?
Very stressed out and panicked!!
I had an emergency c-section in 2017 and was not left alone once, my sons dad was allowed to stay overnight and didn't leave my side the whole time and even then I struggled doing things SadSad
Thank you!!

OP posts:
Bksjshsbbev2737 · 02/07/2021 20:38

I didn’t have mine during covid so hopefully someone can tell you but I just wanted to offer a bit of reassurance as after my elective c section my DH had to go home once I was moved up to the ward due to visiting times and before he went he set everything up for me on the table within reach and I managed to get my DS out of the cot confidently to feed and change his nappy and just rang for help to get him back in. A healthcare assistant helped me the first time I stood up and I could go to the toilet and get things very carefully from then. They’ve gotten used to having to help mums more after c sections so try not to worry.

btownmum · 02/07/2021 20:49

Thank you! Yes that does make sense having everything placed in arms reach on the table, can I ask how many nights you had to stay in for? I've heard mixed things on wether it's one or two nights. How soon after was you made to get up and walk to the toilet? Because my sons was an emergency and I ended up having him in the middle of the night my catheter didn't come out until midday and I wasn't made to stand up till then either. Confused

OP posts:
HappyAsASandboy · 03/07/2021 02:30

I had a c section during the pandemic. My husband was allowed to be with me from arriving in the hospital up until I moved from Recovery Room to Postnatal Ward.

I find it ok to get my things and look after my baby on postnatal alone. Pack your bag carefully - put things into smaller bags within your main bag so that it is easier to find things and you don't end up turfing through all your stuff to find a babygrow!

I put my bag on the big chair next to my bed. I found I couldn't reach the main bedside table once I had made the hospital bed zigzag into a comfy shape, and you need the over-bed table to eat off, for the water jug, your phone, snacks etc.

I found the pain relief so much better in 2020 than in 2010! This time I got out of bed and put my nighty on while in the Recovery Room, so within 3 hours of surgery. Catheter stayed in until the following morning and I was then able to go to the loo etc alone. I'm not trying to make it sound a walk in the park; you know it won't be, but it is possible.

If you need help to reach anything, for someone to watch baby while you shower, for someone to come to the loo with you etc then you ring the buzzer and the midwives or HCA come to help. It is as it was before they extended the visiting hours to all day (and night!), and it works just fine. You can take the baby with you into the ward bay bathrooms by pushing them there in the fish tank cot - the cot is also good to lean on to walk there!

You will be fine, I promise Smile

NoNameIdeas · 03/07/2021 03:06

I had an energy section in December last year. Some of it will depend on your hospital's policy but I had mine early evening and was back on the ward by about 830/9. My husband went home at this point so had been able to stay whilst we were in recovery area. He was then not allowed back until the following afternoon's visiting hour (3-4pm), although I was able to go home then so he didn't actually visit!

As already mentioned, I packed my bag in smaller packs (which I labelled!) so it was easy for me to find things, the hospital staff were also amazing at helping out and happy to get things for me/plug in charger etc.

Pain relief was well managed and I felt comfortable and confident enough to pick up/feed/change baby myself after the first couple of times where they helped, but they were also fab at coming to help if you buzzed them/just checking in. I had my catheter out early in the morning and then just pushed the baby to the bathroom when I needed to.

Hope it all goes well, enjoy those new baby cuddles!

sarah13xx · 03/07/2021 08:27

I’m having one in 5 weeks and my friend just had one. Her partner was allowed to stay until she left recovery, which was a few hours. They’re then only allowed an hours visit later on that night at my hospital. I hate having to rely on people to help me and I’m usually really independent so I think I’ll really struggle having to press the button every time I even want the baby passed to me

bubblebath62636 · 03/07/2021 08:38

Hey op, i had one 2 weeks ago.

I had my section at 1pm, we were in the recovery room for a while then sent to the ward.

Partners were allowed 10am - 8pm so plenty of time together.

When he was at home I used my buzzer to get the nurses to pass me baby, put her back etc.

Obviously it will vary from each hospital but it was lovely to have dp able to stay with us for 8 hours a day!

Good luck!

Yummymummy2020 · 03/07/2021 08:48

Just to say, I had the exact same fears about who would watch the baby when I went to shower and toilet and the nurse said to me just leave them for the few minutes they will be fine, and they were! I was worried about them screaming the place down but it was totally ok! To be fair half the room was constantly crying anyway 😂😂😂 if you need help the nurses will do it for you, I hadn’t a section but was very unwell after the birth as I had a bad bleed and the nurse helped me shower and I just had to ring my bell if I needed any help!

BastardMonkfish · 03/07/2021 09:26

When I was in the ward pre covid me and the lady in the bed next to me took turns watching baby while we went to the loo outside visiting times.

bubblebath62636 · 03/07/2021 09:34

Forgot to add i had the whole ward to myself for the first night.

Also babies tend to sleep a lot when first born, i had to wake dd 3 hourly to feed. I wouldn't worry about baby crying when you go to the toilet.

btownmum · 03/07/2021 11:28

Thank you everyone! I've read through all your comments and I'm feeling a whole lot better about the situation! Can I ask how many nights you all had to stay in for? Was it 1 night or 2? Thank you!! SmileSmile

OP posts:
PigsEnigma · 03/07/2021 13:22

I had my section at 10am one day and was at home 2pm the next day. My husband left me at 12 on the day of the CS and had a visiting slot booked for 4pm for an hour. At 5pm the staff had the catheter out and me up and walking. On paracetamol and ibuprofen for pain relief and that was adequate. Walking was uncomfortable but not painful and once I had been helped to the bathroom once I had the confidence to shuffle myself there and back no problems. The staff were amazingly attentive.

NoNameIdeas · 03/07/2021 22:20

I stayed in one night. Went into labour ward at about 11am, ended up needing an emergency section and baby born at 5pm-ish and then came home at 4pm the next day.

Curiousmumtobe84 · 06/09/2021 10:28

Hi all
I'm interested in finding out who is currently pregnant and had the Pfizer vaccine? How far into your pregnancy did you get the jab? What advice (other than the standard from WHO and the government) did you receive? Thanks in advance :)

Chanel05 · 07/09/2021 07:20

I had an emergency c section last year and my husband was able to visit for two hours per day and left a couple of hours after birth.

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