Did anyone support you to have a wash after Csection?

[Jamjarcandlestick]

I need to do a birth review but something I’ve been thinking tonight:

Was my experience of post Csection support normal? I felt disgusting dirty due to having dirty/blood stained sheets and not being supported with a wash…

I had an unplanned C-section for failing to progress (I had been transferred in 12 hours prior for potential sepsis from my homebirth). I had been labouring at home for a couple of days by that point.

By the time I had ended up in theatre I was a complete sweaty mess, I had been throwing up since I went into labour and I threw up in my hair continuously during theatre. I ended up being sedated after DD was born due to some complications.

By the time I came around properly on the ward I had leaked through my pad and onto the sheets. I remember thinking the whole day that I just had to be patient as surely somebody would be around soon to help give me a wash and sort my bed out. I have never felt so incredibly disgusting and it didn’t feel sanitary to have DD in with me. We were just given puppy pads to make do.

I get lost in timeframes but I think my sheets were finally changed when I was made to get up in the evening. The emergency buzzer was pressed by the HCA as I blacked out and then blacked out a few times. Definitely in no state (IV in both hands and catheterised too) to be taking myself to the bathroom to give myself a wash.

DH asked the HCA if he could have some support to give me a wash as when I had got out of bed blood had gone everywhere again. He was given one of those disposable sick bowls, and some extra towels as I didn’t bring any flannels (only shower pouf). DH is an amazingly supportive husband and he definitely wanted to do his bit but he was fully supporting my weight and there was just so much blood.

The next day my cannula was blocked and ended up with a fair about of different IV liquids on my sheets. One looked like blood as it was an iron/blood replacement. I still leaked my blood onto my sheets. DH asked for hours for just clean sheets as he didn’t mind changing them but again, spent hours in disgusting sheets, feeling disgusting.

Third day, I managed to use every ounce of my being to drag myself in the shower and gave myself a proper wash before being discharged.

People ask me all the time that surely I’ll skip straight to a planned C section next time. Laying in my own bloody sheets, covered in my own sick with layers of dried on sweat wasn’t the vibe I was going for when it came to bonding with my new born daughter. Cannot imagine doing it again.

Is this normal NHS protocol these days or was it just unlucky?

Oh gosh that whole experience sounds awful!

so I’ve had 3 c sections. Twice I was still numb in the legs and hadn’t realised I was bleeding over the bedsheets, both times an HCA came on their own accord to check my pad, change my pad and change my sheets for me. They also helped me stand up when the time came and put clean knickers on me (I felt so grateful!! I couldn’t have bent over to do it myself).

all three times I went to the showers myself (slow shuffle) to clean myself. But I think if I asked someone would have happily come with me.

sorry you went through that OP, sounds horrible with the sick too

Nobody offered to help me shower but nor did I ask, so not sure what they would have said. I took a shower by myself the next day. No one offered to change the sheets and they did have blood on; after a couple of nights I asked for fresh ones and I was given them but had to change the bed myself. I’ve had two sections in two different hospitals and it was the same both times.

It’s bad. It’s crazy how little nursing in the old fashioned sense there is on post natal wards. Women should all demand better.

No experience but that sounds truly awful.

I would contact PALS and raise your concerns. Nothing will improve if we all suck it up.

I don't think I was offered much help with anything, but I didn't need it. One planned, one emergency. I showered the next day without assistance but was knackered and I remember clearly crying both times looking down at myself. Can't really remember what happened with pads, I must've been changing them myself.

I didn’t have a c section but the woman in the bed next to me in the post natal ward did. She was very woozy and nauseated, kept vomiting over herself because she couldn’t move to get the bowl, and couldn’t pick up the baby. Her partner had been sent home because it was night time, despite the fact that while he was there he was told to not let her hold the baby unless he was right there, because she was so dizzy and lightheaded. She also couldn’t physically pick the baby up from the crib herself anyway due to the dizziness.
It was frankly horrendous the lack of care she and her baby got, because no one helped her for ages. She lay in vomit covered sheets with a crying baby she couldn’t comfort.
I’d have offered but I’d had a PPH so wasn’t feeling too steady myself.

I assume her symptoms were not standard - maybe some other condition, or a reaction to the drugs I don’t know. But it was awful. I’m sure it’s not standard protocol, but until they sort staffing levels out, women in that condition should have partners stay overnight because there was no one else to look after her and her baby.

Not getting clean sheets straight away is not ok. Did nurses see your sheets were bloody and leave them? In terms of showering help, I don’t think they usually help with things like that it would usually be yours or your partners responsibility.

No they didn’t and I was a lone parent from pregnancy so didn’t even have a partner to help.

Oh god you poor thing! That sounds horrendous. I hope the rest of your recovery has been okay and that you’re enjoying your wonderful new baby. I had a c section earlier this year, obviously had numb legs and bag of piss beside me for first night but a nurse came in quite frequently to check pads and change them for me if needed. I didn’t need bed sheets changing as never bled through anything and was able to shower myself on second night I think but I do feel like someone would have helped if I needed it as they were quite attentive - this was at St Thomas. There was also a linen cupboard on the ward that I was able to get spare sheets and towels and blankets from (not actually sure if this was meant for patient access lol but it was very accessible so I think so?).

I would definitely complain to the hospital you went to, perhaps you can influence them to improve their protocol.

I can see why you would be reluctant to undergo that again but please know that you’re unlikely to have such a bad experience twice! Even if they weren’t as attentive I think you had especially bad time due to the labour, vomiting and bleeding, which hopefully wouldn’t happen with a scheduled c section. (Although understand the desire for a VBAC for other reasons of course).

I took myself to the shower. This was easy enough as it was en-suite. I can see how help with the shower part might be something that can’t be accommodated if the ward is busy as although it would be nice, it’s cosmetic not clinical, but they absolutely shouldn’t be leaving you in sheets covered in blood or any other bodily fluids, and helping your husband to sponge off blood is definitely something the HCA should have helped with if asked. Did your DH ask for help washing you, or say he was going to help wash you? Just in case there’s been a communication issue? Definitely worth raising with PALs as it doesn’t sound like it meets the standard of care overall. I know it’s not the experience you hoped for, it sounds horrid, I’m sorry.

I had a planned CS with a spinal anaesthetic and I definitely got a good wipe over with a damp cloth afterwards. I remember because the midwife tutted at me for not having brought a washcloth and she had to get a J-cloth type thing. It hadn't occurred to me to prepare for being washed by someone else.

I didn't get any help with showering, but I'm sure I would have if I'd asked. I wheeled the baby's cot into the wet room with me when I showered. I was really lucky in how quickly I got fully mobile and how little pain I had.

(This was 34 years ago, when it was normal to stay in hospital for a week after even an uncomplicated CS.)

My 4th section was like this. Absolutely horrendous. My husband came in the following morning and nobody had taken any obs for 10 hours! I was lying in blood soaked sheets holding my baby in tears. He helped me to the bathroom and I managed to get cleaned up. Left about an hour later as I knew I’d be better looked after at home!

I had a C-section and two HCA came and gave me a bed bath, they used my shower gel and pouf, but before I could even get up they washed me and changed my clothes for me. They sent DH out of the room. My pads were changed fairly regularly I think, I don’t recall much blood on the sheets. This was a year ago. Sounds like I was lucky.

I’m so sorry that this was your experience. I was given a bed bath by two midwives/HCAs at some point, I think it was later the same day but it’s all very blurry!

I had an emergency c section about labouring for 24 hours (so had no showered since the day before that) and nobody helped me with anything. My cannula also came out and blood was everywhere and they still wouldn't help me change the sheets or the baby (was like 8 hours post surgery!). I thought post birth care was truly shocking. My partner was only allowed to be there for 2 hours due to Covid rules at the time so I was alone for most of it, could barely pick up the baby due to feeling dizzy from tramadol. Awful experience

That sounds like an awful c-section experience, OP. I promise they aren’t all like that. They should absolutely have changed the sheets for you and helped you change pads if you were struggling. I had a shower on day 2 for both my CS’s (one planned, one emergency). My husband came in with me both times…good thing because I fainted having a shower after the first one and DH had to catch me! I think I used dry shampoo for a few days but I didn’t have vomit in my hair. Every time I wanted to hold or feed my baby he/she was passed to me. Feeling dirty must have been so awful when you just wanted to protect your baby. Can you change hospital next time? A planned C Section should be a calmer experience, everything is explained in advance.

That sounds rather like my experience. Though I didn't throw up! The stupid paper knickers I had brought were useless, too stiff to wear with the wound. I couldn't get out of bed for 2 days because of the catheter and drainage tubes attached to me and when I finally made it to the shower it didn't work! There definitely was not enough support in helping with babies either, fortunately I had a private room so my husband was allowed to sleep on the floor to help with babies.

I remember for my first two HCAs came and changed sheets and gave me a bed bath and then my mum who was a midwife helped me in the shower with removing my dressing. My second section i genuinely cant remember but i had a NICU baby so all a bit of a blur

No, no one helped me with anything, same with everyone else on my ward, so it must just be how it is in my hospital, there was a shower you could go to, but after a long labour ending in EMCS, I respect it's hard for us all. Some of my friends gave birth in other countries and were shocked to hear this, as they said it's standard to get helped by nurses, but from other posts, it seems it just depends where you are as some responses said they were helped in the UK. FWIW, the mums I know say that after a planned CS, things are much smoother, but I wouldn't know about that personally and that's just their experience, so it might be worth asking your midwife if a local hospital will help if you choose that.

Two c sections and both times I was sent to the shower on my own by the midwife either the same day or the next morning (depending on when baby was born). They did clean the pad under me when I was still immobile but they very much made it clear I’m expected to look after myself.

Post natal care is absolutely awful here.

Edit to add both of mine were planned sections, although one was unplanned as to the day it happened.

That doesn't sound OK at all OP.
Where I work we help the woman have a bed bath and get in to clean clothes as the spinal is wearing off and the woman is still in recovery. Whilst they're in recovery we are checking blood loss and changing the inco and bed sheets as necessary. On the postnatal ward where it's a lot busier we'd expect women to let us know if they needed assistance, because as PP have said many women are ok with showering themselves. But if anyone has a soiled bed I'd be changing it (or asking support workers to do so). I wouldn't leave anyone in soiled bedding. I'm so sorry your experience was so poor.

I have every sympathy with you.
My dd had emergency CS 200 miles from me 7 years ago in Lincoln, disaster from start to finish, lost pints of blood, really unwell, not medicated properly. It took me a day to get there due to sorting other DC out. Nurses just standing around doing basically nothing. (I am trained so not just knocking them)I asked for meds took ages given 2 paracetamol, didn't touch it, they looked at me in disbelief when I asked for next level pain relief. First time mum wanting to BF no help whatsoever other than being told off for doing it wrong ( obviously didn't continue).
I took her to shower her, I striped down my top half so I didn't get wet, got her clean and dry. Settled in a chair which nurses wanted back,? She was uncomfortable in the bed. We refused. I gave her partner strict instructions to advocate for her BEFORE going into hospital and again when I had to leave them there overnight. She was discharged next day. She was traumatised and won't have another child. Still not happy about her care.
My advice to all pregnant women take a strong advocate with you.

I was offered no help. Ended up pulling the emergency thing in the shower as nearly fainted as my iron was low.

I was actually really upset with the lack of postpartum care in the hospital. The community midwife stuff I couldn’t fault but in the hospital it was awful.

I woke up and asked where the shower was. They showed me and gave me a chair to sit on and offered help.

I’ve had two csections, both emergency but one during Covid. Neither of them were anything like that! It’s all a bit of a blur but honestly, as much as I wanted to just go home the nurses were amazing and couldn’t have done more. I was encouraged to do as much as I felt able to myself but they were there to help and I felt very well looked after. Sorry yours was so different.

This is awful it made me feel so sad reading. I had both my babies at two different hospitals but was always treated with care and dignity.

My first c section was an emergency after a long labour so I was feeling so gross and horrible, I asked the hca if I could have a shower as soon as the spinal wore off and she was so kind she practically stood in the shower with me, I literally just stood there (in a lot of pain) while she washed me and then helped me into clean clothes. I then showered myself the following few days we were in hospital but that first time I was still very shaky from the spinal so wouldn’t have managed myself.

My second was a planned section so I wasn’t feeling too dirty, no one helped me wash but I didn’t ask to be fair. They did come and change my pads for me until I was moving about and they also made sure I had fresh puppy pad things on the bed just to keep the sheets clean.

You should never have been left in dirty bedding, really upsetting to read.