Tips for surviving a week on post natal ward

[Thefaceofboe]

I’m going in for a c section in 3 weeks, followed by a weeks stay for a pre-estimating medical condition. I’m not nervous about the section but the thought of a week without the support of my partner, family etc is really scaring me. Visiting is only 2 hours a day for 1 person

It’s my first baby and really worried about the long nights on my own and the unknown really.

Any advice?

Take books, magazines, plenty of snacks. A handheld fan. Tablet or phone and chargers for FaceTime.
Is there an option of a private room instead of a ward?

Bring either books or fully loaded kindle, loads of snacks, possibly some ready meals. More baby grows and nappies

Beg borrow or steal the money for a private room if possible.

@RussianSpy101 thank you, I have my kindle stocked with lots of booked but I’m just hoping I’ll be able to relax a bit. I asked about a private room and was told it’s unlikely and will have to see what it’s like at the time. My stay is more for monitoring rather than an actual illness so I doubt I’d be a priority.

I actually found it to be very helpful, in the past it was normal to stay a week to get to know your baby.
You have nothing else to worry about, no cooking or cleaning or general house jobs just learning all about your new baby. It's a precious time and I promise that although it won't feel like it at the time it will be gone in a flash.

I’d really pin down what the actual monitoring is and whether it can be done at home by community midwife or in the day assessment unit (or similarly named service). Possibly get second/ third opinions from your next two nearest maternity units?

@SwayingInTime It’s a cardiac condition so nothing to do my actual birth. I’m very high risk after the birth so I have to be on a monitor etc with daily scans to make sure things are stable, so going home really isn’t an option.

I’m sure you will. Baby will sleep a lot so make sure you have a comfortable pillow to help feeding and don’t be hesitant to buzz the midwifes if you need help getting baby out of the cot.

Slippers
Wet wipes
Sweets
Book
Eye mask

And if you need a midwifes help dont be afraid to ask for it. They might be busy but you have as much right to help as the next person so just ask and they'll get to you.

Good luck

I actually would have gone mad in a private room. I found postnatal very very hard because of a non-feeding baby but being around other people was good for me. I was in a private room for half a day (baby born at midnight, transferred to side bay on birth suite at 2, woke up at 7am, not transferred until lunch) and I found it completely disorientating, no sense of time passing and felt a bit like prison! Not saying that you shouldn’t jump at a private room just saying how I felt :)

I have a kindle fire and I loaded lots of stuff to read and watch on there. An extra long phone charger so you’re not stuck sat next to the plug.

I know this sounds daft but one of my friends who had a CS took a litter picker so she could grab things out of her bag! I didn’t have a CS but I had an epidural and episiotomy and really wished I’d taken one when DH wasn’t allowed on the ward much.

Flip flops so you can get to the shower without feeling grimy. All the usual stuff people recommend like big pants, more pads than you could imagine, etc.

I got very hot on the ward and found a little fan, dry shampoo wet wipes invaluable to feeling a bit more human.

DD was wonderful, she just needed blankets and baby gros and nappies and cotton wool so make sure you focus on you.

A tip I heard, bring two bags, one for you and one for baby so you know where stuff is. And I put a hospital sticker from my notes on the tag for each bag so if I got transferred in an emergency they could track me down easily (but I was a medical records clerk in my first job and am a bit obsessive!!)

Make it a point of entry that other half calls you from the shop before coming up to ask what you want. The shop at ours was an M&S… I had a lotttt of Percy Pigs

@Sowingbees That’s true, I will definitely try and enjoy the time with my new baby, it’s just the fear of the unknown I suppose

Take ear plugs.
When I had my second, I had the misfortune to be on a 4 bay ward with the most inconsiderate bunch of women I have ever met. Thankfully it was only 1 night but I was feeling murderous by the time I left.

Ear plugs.
It will be very very noisy with several newborns all crying at different times.

Find out from locals what the food is like. I spent five days on the ward and it was horrid food. Next time I packed those long life tuna meals you can get, mountains of dried fruit, chocolate and cereal bars “just in case” I had a repeat performance.

Oh and one last thing. Some hospitals won't give you formula unless you ask for it, so if you're trying to BF but want to give them some of their emergancy backup formula you might have to specifically ask for it.

@Dollywilde haha I love the litter picker idea!! Thank you that’s really helpful. I’m very prepared in terms of my hospital bag (i think) with long phone charger, kindle, iPad, comfy clothes, flip flops etc so hopefully I’ll have everything I need. Hopefully I have enough outfits for baby as no idea how much a newborn really goes through?

Drooling at the thought of Percy pigs already, might have to add them to my bag!

Earplugs
Kindle
iPad
Neck fan
Your own pillow

Just treat it as something you need to get through

@IWasBornInAThunderstorm I don’t know why but didn’t think of an eye mask , thanks I did buy some of the bottles of formula with a teet to bring with me but hopefully BF will go okay.

A sippy water bottle (if you are breastfeeding, you will get thirsty) and a sleep mask! Plus snacks, amusement and a kindle. For my first, I was forever lugging DS in and out of his crib which really hurt my C-section scar! With DD, I had the knowledge and confidence to safely co sleep in the bed with her - it made a huge difference.

I am not necessarily advocating that for you, but don't feel compelled to put your baby straight back in the crib every time in the daytime - feel free to let them linger (safely) cuddled on your chest if you are awake & just reading your Kindle. There's not that many intervals between feeding, nappy changes and general reassurance.

Take pain killers with you, because you'll end up getting them hours late if you rely on the nurses for them! Also take salt because hospital food never has it in and they only have the weird tasting low sodium substitute available.

Your own pillow, noise cancelling headphones, some nice shower gel, slippers, comfy clothes and maternity bras. I made up a tupperware tub full of loads of sweets and chocolate. Chat to the other mums on your ward too

I have to say that found it quite the reverse of relaxing — it was noisy, hot, busy, non-private, a bit like being stuck in an under-ventilated lift. If you need to be there for a week, and clearly you do, (I discharged myself early after a CS) I think in your shoes I’d resign myself to it being fairly trying, and trudge on through, looking forward to the peace and cooler temperatures of your own home afterwards. Get your other half to bring decent food.

Noise cancelling headphones. The constant noise of chatting/crying babies/bins slamming/cleaners/etc when you are sleep deprived sends you loopy. It really helps to be able to tune it out

I'd still ask for a private room. It totally kept me sane with my second. I made it clear that I knew I needed to pay (about £40) and I would happily move if someone else had a medical need for it.
With my first I was in the ward for 5 days and honestly it was horiffic. So busy and noisy and I was really anxious. Dad's were allowed in all day, all TVs blaring. The babies barely made a sound compared to all that! My baby wasn't feeding got jaundice and needed light therapy so slept all of the time but I barely slept a wink. I was moved after 4 days as the midwives could see how bad it was for me.

But anyway...
Earplugs
Water bottles
Snacks
Magazine/book/kindle