C section recovery

[beesbaby]

Hey everyone. Due to have my second DS via elective c section.
The hospital we're under doesn't allow partners to stay overnight.
However how does it work when you're still numb and in pain when your baby is crying or needs changing or a feed etc? Would the midwifes help?
I've read a thread before where people were saying they almost had to beg for the midwives to help, and they would attend a buzzer hours later.. and it was very difficult for them.
Only asking so that I'm mentally prepared 😂 (we make big babies first DS was 10lbs10 & I remember how hard it was to pick him up during the first 24 hours)
TIA

Following with interest as I'm due to have an ELCS in 10 days time due to large baby and have been wondering the exact same thing!

Where I was the midwives were lovely. I don't remember having to wait long at all for them to come and help pick DD up. Obviously others have had different experiences, but that was mine.

It was pre-covid but partners weren’t allowed to stay overnight at my hospital anyway, DH had to leave about 9pm. All elective c-sections were done in the morning, so by the night time I wasn’t completely immobile, but I made sure I had nappies and wipes and anything else I needed out of my case before DH left. The midwives and support staff were really responsive, and being in the tilted up hospital bed it wasn’t as hard to get up to sitting as from fully laid down, so I don’t remember it being a huge problem.

I've had 2, pre covid. I rang for everything, I was rarely kept waiting longer than a couple of minutes. First night someone did any changes required, passed baby to me for feeding, return baby after feeding, passed baby when crying. I still had a catheter in, so no state to do anything.

I was actually quite impressed. The hospital I was at seemed to have properly set up their post natal word as pretty much a post surgery ward. All be help I needed, all the drugs, and on night 2 of no sleep, they took the baby for a couple of hours for me to sleep.

I had one 4 weeks ago, DH could stay for 2 hours. I had help from midwives but I did wait a long time for them to come. I mostly kept hold of the baby as he didn't sleep much during the night anyway. I had help with one nappy change, I managed to do the rest myself by keeping nappies/wipes/clothes at the end of my bed and my case propped up ontop of a Chair next to my bed. I had the midwife put the cot as physically close to the bed as it could go too

I had a c section during covid lockdown. My partner wasn't allowed on the ward at any stage - he left once I was moved out of recovery a couple of hours after surgery. Midwives were great. I buzzed when I needed to although I kept baby with me on the bed in some shape or form during the day to save a lot of passing back and forth. They dressed him for me and changed his nappy when I asked them to. (I did try to change a nappy on my knee, which would have been possible physically had it not unexpectedly been that first awful bowel movement one! Thankfully they came very quickly when I buzzed and took him off and sorted it out for me!) My experience was that midwives knew we were on our own and largely incapacitated by surgery and pain - and they therefore fully expected to be helping us more than they would usually have to. Buzz when you need to and don't feel bad! X

I was really worried about this and had no idea how it was going to go. My hospital is quite strict on visitors due to covid so I knew I’d only get an hour with DH there before he’d be sent home. I was taken up to the ward around 6pm, got dinner brought in on a tray then DH was allowed in for his one hour visit. I’d just say get him to set everything up for you. I had a 3m phone charger which he plugged in for me behind the bed. He sat out everything I’d need on the bedside table and the bigger things in my bags sitting on the chair. Make sure they’re off the floor as even when you can walk, having to bend down to the floor isn’t ideal. I wish I’d had things like pants and a spare nightie at the top of my big bag because I needed to change during the night and I was about crying feeling sorry for myself trying not to make any noise or wake anyone on the ward but I was raking through my big bag unable to find my pants 🙈😭

The staff were really helpful while I couldn’t move. My section was at 2pm and by 10pm they helped me stand up and walk to the chair. The catheter came out in the early hours of the morning. Even after I could stand up they still told me to ring the buzzer if I wanted the baby passed to me. Every time he cried (or every 3 hours if he didn’t) I rang the buzzer and they passed him over to me to feed. I don’t think I actually changed a nappy til the following morning because they were so helpful they just changed it in the crib every time they came in.

Good luck! I’m only 1 month post section and it really wasn’t as bad as I was expecting at all!

I also buzzed as the feeling was coming back and I was just becoming aware of some sort of sensation in that area (not pain as such yet) and asked for pain killers because I remember people on here saying to ask before you start to feel pain. The girl next to me did the same and we both got liquid morphine. I think if we hadn’t they would of came round with the drugs trolley and given us something less strong a while later so I just asked again at another point during the night and literally didn’t feel any pain!

By the sounds of things it all depends on the hospital. I had a emergency c-section at 5.39pm and my partner was sent home at 9pm and i was still in the recovery ward. He was allowed to visit 9am-9pm each day. I spent 2 nights alone (was in for a week) before i refused to let him go home. The seccond night i pressed my buzzer as i was struggling to pick up my baby and he was crying for a feed and i was also so tired i was scared i would fall asleep whilst feeding him, 20 minuets later (pressed the buzzer several times) a midwife came and said theres 30 women on the ward and only 2 midwifes shes unable to stay with me or help me feed my baby and could i call in my partner to help me, this was at 4am! I refused to let him leave after that! For that reason i have decided not to have any more babies as i am mentaly scared from the lack of care i had!

Covid times. Emcs, couldn't move for 4 days or hold my daughter. She was left to cry 😢.

I had an emergency csection 2 years ago, husband couldn't stay overnight but was allowed all day. I could put baby in and out of his cot and change him fine, I only buzzed when I needed more painkillers. I made sure I had everything I'd need (change bag, water etc) on my table right next to me.

I had a c section at the end of March. It was at 4pm and my husband stayed until they moved me to the ward at about 11pm. My midwives were very responsive when I pressed the button and they happily passed me my son to breastfeed or change him. Once my feeling came back in my legs and I'd moved from the bed to the chair etc I felt confident picking him up myself.

I've had two, both late morning and I wasn't mobile by evening. First time the staff did everything - took her in and out of the cot and nappy changes. Second time I was feeling a bit more together and was able to get her in and out myself, although the staff helped sometimes. I think I rang the buzzer for nappy changes although I can't remember for sure.

Our hospital is fantastic and I never felt a burden or like I was asking for more than they were willing to give. Second time around DD refused to sleep in the cot and a lovely student midwife tried to hold her so I could rest. Didn't work alas, she wanted to feed, but it was so lovely of her to offer.

Meant to say my first was pre covid but no partners overnight, second was last summer so partners for an hour a day only. It was fine

Had mine 6 weeks ago. Husband stayed until midnight and then I did 2-3 feeds in the night on my own. Was on strong pain relief so took it slow but was fine... Didn't see a midwife until about 9am the next day!