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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

C Section - can I do it alone?

23 replies

ChachiChichi · 14/02/2022 20:22

There's a chance that my partner may test positive for covid before my C section at the end of the week (currently negative, but has symptoms). I need my mum to collect my daughter from nursery if partner is positive. We have no other help.
Has anyone had a C section alone? Was it ok? I don't feel too stressed at the thought of it to be honest, as long as baby gets here safely I don't care. Just wondered if I'd be able to manage with baby immediately after the procedure on my own.

OP posts:

IsolaPribby · 14/02/2022 20:27

I did it on my own and it was fine. All the staff were so kind, especially the anaesthetist. I didn't have to worry about DH not being able to stomach things, and once they put DD next to me, all else was forgotten as I gazed at how perfect she was. There was also lots of help on the ward after.
I know that hospitals differ, and this was 12 years ago, but I think that you will be fine 🙂

GAW19 · 14/02/2022 20:27

My partner was with me however, we had baby at 10:42am and he had to leave at 2pm due to covid.
The midwives were absolutely amazing, I buzzed them for absolutely everything. They left my catheter in all night so that I wouldn't have to get out of bed on my own.
I didn't have to change one nappy, whenever I said she needed changing they got the nappy, wipes and did it all for me.
Are for the actual C-section, the staff in there spoke to me the whole time and were brilliant!

I hope you will be okay!

GucciBear · 14/02/2022 20:31

Easier to give birth by c-section alone than a normal birth, I imagine.! There will be medics there all the time which is not the case with vaginal ones.

Original poster

ChachiChichi · 14/02/2022 20:32

Thankyou both so much for your responses, that's really reassuring to hear! I'm glad your experiences were so positive with the support you had. Fingers crossed I'll be the same!! Thankyou again.

OP posts:

sageandbasil · 14/02/2022 20:32

I had a section at 5.30 and my husband left at around 9. I couldn't get out of bed because of the spinal so they midwifes had to pass her to me and change her anyway xx

MsChatterbox · 14/02/2022 20:34

I did it alone honestly it's fine. The c section is so so fast and before you know it you have a baby to keep you busy!

MsChatterbox · 14/02/2022 20:35

Oh and I was able to manage with baby fine after! Used her cot to pull myself up and get her out for nappy changes etc!

MrsH497 · 14/02/2022 20:35

My husband was there for the op but had to leave immediately after (lockdown 1) the midwives and HCA were amazing. I was a FTM and had no clue what I was doing with a baby. They were wonderful. Best of luck x

BeanAnTae · 14/02/2022 20:37

My husband had shingles so couldn't attend. You'll be fine! I had an all female theatre so ds was born into a very hi tech female environment. The Anaesthetist cuddled him and said 'welcome to the world'!

Bananarice · 14/02/2022 20:37

Dh was very helpful (I was scared) before and during c-section. But ds3 was born when no birth partner was allowed in postnatal ward. Ok, ds3 went to nicu for few days but when he was transferred to me the midwifies were great! They were also helpful for other mothers. Two mothers said there been improvements in the care since covid. They liked that there were no men!
Funnily, they made those remarks when this particular helpful midwife was on shift.

RedCandyApple · 14/02/2022 20:38

Yes I did. I was a single parent from pregnancy

Watto1 · 14/02/2022 20:40

Another one saying you’ll be fine! Don’t be afraid to press your buzzer for help. I needed someone to lift dd out of her little plastic cot and hand her to me for a feed. The staff were fabulous.

MelCat · 14/02/2022 20:42

I did. Honestly, it was lovely. Wasn’t worried about DH (squeamish and during my 1st I was so worried about him passing out, I was constantly going, “are you ok?”). Staff were so lovely. Midwife held my hand through out. Really calm.

Vampirethriller · 14/02/2022 20:43

I did, it was fine.

LizzieSiddal · 14/02/2022 20:44

Yes I did it alone when having both dds. Unfortunately dh faints with anything gory and whilst he was going to try to be there for a vaginal birth, when we found out I needed a C-section, he almost fainted there and then. I decided I needed to focus on me and the baby not him, so I decided to go it alone. Everyone was so lovely to me, it was absolutely fine.

Bubbles1st · 14/02/2022 20:46

I would just consider leaving your catheter in until the morning so you don't have to worry about getting out of bed for a wee in the night 🤣

MsChatterbox · 14/02/2022 20:52

Agree with bubbles. They offered to take it out or leave it overnight. Best decision ever to leave it and not have to worry about getting up to pee!

toddybell · 14/02/2022 20:54

I did. Had a very young DC1 at home and no childcare. Husband stayed at home to make sure everything was perfect for DC1 and all routines would be followed, etc. and I went it alone. The doctors were amazing and it was so straightforward. I would've hated the thought of DC1 being left with someone random and husband faffing around me! Fast forward, husband still feels he missed out on that initial connection with the baby that he had for DC1. All things considered, we had no choice and things worked out perfectly so no regrets.

Undecided1985 · 14/02/2022 20:58

yes i did because we had no childcare and the planned section became an emcs and didn't fit into school hours it was fine it was an emcs in that it needed to be brought forward by a few weeks but it was very calm and pleasant

i felt slightly odd explaining why my partner couldn't have been there (why is it so hard for some people to comprehend not everyone has endless family on tap for babysitting?) but other than that slight awkwardness it was fine

WotsitMum · 14/02/2022 21:01

Id reccomend speaking with people who have recently had a c-section at the hospital your going to. I had the oppicite experience from other posters on this group, partner was made to leave a few hours after the c-section and not one midwife even offered to help change LO bum,resulting in him not having a bum change for 10 hours, they took my catheter out first thing in the morning at 7am and told me to walk round the other side of the bed and change LO bum and then left me on my own to do it, no support, i waited for my partner to come in to support my first walk, nobody came back to see if i had done a walk. Throughout the night it took a good 10 minutes each time i pressed my buzzer for a midwife to come, i felt so helpless to my crying baby, it broke me and i struggled mentaly for some time after. My partner was with me during the c-section but looking back it wouldnt be a big deal to me him not beeing there (support wise) as the whole team were so lovely and chatty the whole time and partner wasant allowed in untill all the scary prep like the injection in the back was done

nildesparandum · 14/02/2022 21:04

Fifty two and forty nine years ago I did it alone both times.I had to as was under GA for both sections and no husbands or partners were allowed in theatre under any circumstances.
The second time my DH went and joined the merchant navy when I was 3 months pregnant and decided to return when baby was two months old
I know that was a hell of a long time ago now and things certainly have changed but I came through it all, amazing what you can do on your own when you have to.
In those days you also got two weeks in hospital afterwards and got every help as sections were very rare compared to now you were a special patient. Went home back on your feet and all stitches and clips out. The NHS was excellent then, no relying on relatives to help.
All the best to you everything will be ok, you did it alone

Original poster

ChachiChichi · 15/02/2022 07:29

Thankyou so much to everyone who has taken the time to share their experiences, I really appreciate it. I now feel prepared with lots of helpful tips, I'll definitely be asking to keep the catheter in overnight and it's been very reassuring to know that it was a positive experience for many of you!

OP posts:

Jeffers5 · 15/02/2022 07:38

@WotsitMum I had a c-section last week and had a really similar experience to you :(
The op was great, the couple of hours in recovery were great. The ward broke me. Crying baby and no way to get her, buzzing was taking forever, in the end a lady who’d just given birth got up to hand her to me and then I kept her on me without sleeping a wink until my partner was allowed back the next day. It’s such a shame as my care up until that point and after that point had been excellent.

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