Directly after childbirth....

[anythingwithagiraffeonit]

Hi Everyone!

I was wondering if people could tell me thier experiences of what happens after your baby is born?

I will be having mine at Epsom, and I know everyones experiences are different..

What I want to know is how long did you stay in the room, and what exactly happened there afterwards?

When did they send your DP/DH away... or was he allowed to stay?

How long did you stay in hospital?

Did you have other visitors to hospital and when and where did they see you?

Also, depending on the birth you had and you were able to, did you care for DC straight away or is anything done for you while you recover?

SIL has given me an image of being abandoned by DH, put on a ward and left to fend for herself....

I'm sure I will cope of this is the case.. but just want to be prepared.. can imagine myself in a highly emotional state clutching onto DH for dear life ;)

xx

With dd, I spent a couple of hours downstairs with dh, getting cleaned up (he helped me into the shower) and getting to know the baby. Then they took me up to the ward, and as it was then 3 o'clock in the morning dh left so I could have some sleep. I spent two or three days in hospital as I had torn quite badly and was having problems getting breastfeeding established.

With ds1 (born at 3.03am) I was wheeled into recovery and dh slept on a spare bed. I had a bed wash then taken to the ward at 9ish. Dh went home for a sleep and came back after a few hours.
My family came at lunchtime after I'd had a bath. I went home at tea time.

With dd (born at 11.47am) I walked down to have a shower, then went up to ward. Family visited at teatime. Had to stay a night due to mecconium in waters. Dh left at 10pm ish. Came back at 9.30 ish next day.

With ds2 (born at 2.24am) I stayed in the room for quite a long time. The placenta took 2 hours to be delivered so I held and bf him for most of that time and then dh held him whilst I was pushing at the end .

Then dh went home to collect my notes (we'd forgotten them). When he got back we had tea and toast and the mw weighed and dressed ds2.

After that I was wheeled round the corner to recovery and did a wee on a bed pan and had more tea and toast! I had a bed wash too. dh said he was surprised how relaxed I was, letting a lady wash me down! Practically nude. But after labour I couldn't care a jot! Could have had a shower but I felt too weak. It was about 7 ish by now.

Then we went upstairs to the ward. I had a grim shower.
My sister, bil, parents and my 2 other dc's came at lunchtime for a visit.

Dh went home at 5ish to get me some more pyjamas as we weren't sure if I was staying in overnight or not. In the end I left at about 7ish - Dancing on Ice was on. Mum was bsitting the dc's and she made me more tea and toast! I actually ate pretty much just that for a few days!!!

Ds was born at 6.30am and we probably stayed in the labour room for a couple of hours during which time we had tea and toast and I had a shower.

Once we got down to the postnatal ward dh went home for a bit and I had a brief sleep. First visitors were my work colleagues during their tea break as we worked in the next building!

Dh was able to be on the ward between (I think) 9am and 9pm and I encouraged visitors for the 3 days I was there as physically I felt fine and I was pretty bored tbh so it was nice to show off ds. It was an advantage getting some of the visits out the way at a fixed time as well.

Nights were tough as ds didn't sleep a lot and I was on my own - midwives few and far between. I'll never forget sitting with ds at 5am waiting for the sun to rise. Was pleased to get home.

ds1 was born at around 7pm, and i then spent some time in theatre being stitched. by the time i was taken back to the delivery suite and sorted out it wa nearly 9, so technically visiting hours were over.
but we begged them to let my mum and dad in as it was first grandchild and they were very close to the hospital, so they were allowed in.
I guess at around 10pm I was taken down to the ward. DP came with me to settle me and ds1 down into bed, but he had to go straight away after that.
It was ok actually, I don't think I slept at all, I just wanted to look at my baby!

I stayed in for 4 days, but that's because ds1 wouldn't feed. if he had fed ok we'd have been out in 24-48hrs
I cared for him myself. they were very keen on mums getting up and out of bed. we all had to go to the dining area for all our meals, pushing our little fishtanks in front of us! lol

It was really, really boring most of the time tbh. I don't have that many friends/family so i didn't have many visitors and I spent a lot of time just sitting around wishing I could go home.

had my next 2 at home, that was fab!

DD1 born just after 10pm, DD2 born 8.45. With both DP baby and I stayed in delivery room for quite a while, did the tea and toast thing, had shower and did all our phonecalls. No pressure to leave room at all. DP came up to ward both times, but left pretty quickly as by then it was late at night.

DP allowed in anytime after 8am, other visitors after 9.

Normal birth in MLU at 9.15am. Baby cleaned up and cuddled by my mum and DP whilst I scoffed some tea and toast, and then got a shower where I threw up my tea and toast

Got taken to a private room about an hour after that, giving me some time for a rest and skin to skin with DD. DP was allowed to stay with me until 7pm that night, then had to leave. He asked if he could stay with me as long as he didn't come out of the room or ask for anything but was told the best they could do was let him stay until 8pm. (later found out that a friend who gave birth at the same hospital a week earlier was allowed to have her DP stay all night!) Family also came in to see us at visiting hours that evening.

He was allowed back in at 8am the next morning, and we went home after the Dr's rounds just after 3pm the next day.

I was terrified of being left along with this tiny new bundle that I knew nothing about, but to be honest, it wasn't bad at all. There was always somebody popping in to check on us and help me with latching, and the next day flew by until it was time to leave.

My meals were broight to my bed btw. I filled in a menu card .

Oops, that day, not the next day! Only in for 30 hours after delivery.

DD was born at about 12.30pm. I'd had an epidural so the midwife washed me afterwards. Sounds a bit odd but actually it felt really nice, like being pampered in a way maybe, and my now EX Dp was allowed to stay throughout. After a while my two best friends turned up and came into the labour room too, I wasn't expecting them so that was a bit of a surprise! Then we all went up to the post labour ward, me, baby, ExDp, my midwife and my two best friends.

IIRC friends were allowed to stay until 8pm and partners until 10pm. Can't remember when everyone left but don't remember any pressure from ward staff for them to not to be there.

I had pre-eclampsia so couldn't leave straight away, I stayed for another 3 days until I couldn't bear it anymore and discharged myself, I just wanted to go home!

With DS (10 months) was given a bit of time to feed him have a cuddle etc. Was given a sandwhich and a cuppa. Agreed DH should go home and come back later with DD. A lovely lady gave me a bed bath (had epidural so legs not working!) helped me into my nighty and dressed DS. Wheeled into the ward. Was helped into shower once epidural worn off. Chose dinner from a little menu and this was bought to me later. DH, DD and MIL came back to visit later. DS cried all night. I buzzed midwifes loads of times for various things. They took him off for a bit (at my request) and tried to settle him (unsucessfully). Left about lunch time the following day. Altogether a good experience - even thought the food was good.

My advice - ask for help or it might not be offered - be pushy.

i stayed in the delivery room for around an hour

wheeled back to the ward

bath and clean up whilst DH went to buy me dinner

ate dinner with DH and birth partners and stared at DD

DH went home - i spent the evening on the ward feeding DD and looking at her in wonderment

i didn't sleep a wink

DH came back at 8 am

discharged by 3 pm

Hey ! I had DD at Epsom

It was nice actually.
DD was born at night. My dad came and stayed with the DSs while DD was born.Very quick burth. Then Dh nipped home to get them.While they were gone I had some stiches and a quick shower.
I remember sitting in bed while DD snoozed. Dh bought in some champagne climbed on the bed and we just chatted and laughed until it was time to go home.

They gave us a large private suite and brought the boys sandwiches and drinks and a telly .
The midwife got DS1 to help bathe DD and dress her for the first time.
They let me leave really quickly. DD was born at 3.00 and I was home before 8.00.
Heaven really

It was lovely. A very happy dat

Had a forceps birth at 2am after long labour. All the delivery rooms in my hospital are also the room you stay in for the duration.
Baby delivered straight onto tummy for immediate skin to skin while I was stitched. After about an hour I was encouraged to try and feed her while the midwife helped me.
Then she was weighed etc and given to DH while I had tea and biscuits. Then threw up tea and biscuits and was given a bed bath!
DH allowed to stay overnight if wanted but he went home to sleep for a bit. Partners allowed in from 8am and supposed to leave at 8pm but they weren't strict about it. Other visitors had to wait til 2pm.
I stayed in for another night due to birth. Thought it might be tough being in room by myself with my first baby but it was great. Midwives and HCAs checked all the time and made sure I knew how to do things, was feeding ok etc.
Only annoying thing was the Bounty woman who kept popping in to sell me photos after I had said I didn't want them!

She wasn't born at night. Don't know what that was all about Born afternoon - two DSs were born at night.

i had dd at 2am, had skin to skin and bf for an hr, had a shower with dps help while lady dressed dd, then at 4am i was taken to the ward with dd and dp was sent home.
dd slept all night and so did i, woke up and panicked that i hadnt fed her/changed her but she had been asleep and was fine.
dp cmae back at 9am and i was helped with bf and we were shown hot to change nappy/bath dd, meals were bought to bed and i showered while dp was there as i didnt want to leave dd.
my mom visited that afternoon and dp had to leave at 8pm, that night dd was up all night feeding and pooing and sicking so i spent the night changing her, changing the cot sheets and rocking her and midwife came and settled her for me once.
next day i was allowed home, stayed 2 nights due to establishing feeding with lots of help and antid injections.

DS was born at midnight, in the MLU. It took around an hour for the 3rd stage (placenta) and then for them to weight him etc etc and, tidy up a little. They said we could stay in the room in the birth centre for 6 hours after the birth and that DH could stay too. There was already a padded mat on the floor from where I had been kneeling, they brought him sheets and blankets and a pillow!

In the end I didn't get much sleep as still full of endorphins etc from the birth plus I was a bit uncomfortable.

I said that I wanted to be discharged straight from the birth centre and that if they needed the room at 6am they would need to discharge me then because I did not want to go to the post natal ward - but that we would be happy to stay (in the birth centre) until the paed did normal rounds at 9am etc.

At around 8am started pushing them to be discharged (DH was still there) and by around 9.30am we went home.

-----------

DD (first birth) was born at 1pm. Again was told could stay in birth centre for 6 hours after birth but would have to stay in hospital for 24 hours because she was distressed when she was born and had to be resucitated so had to be be monitored.

By around 8pm they moved me onto the post natal ward and DH had to leave - he came back at around 9am the next morning.

I didn't get much sleep at all as lots of babies crying on the ward (4 beds) and 2 women arrived in the ward very noisily during the night.

At 8am the lights were on and it was v noisy. By 11am I'd seen obstetrician who had checked stitches and DD had been seen by paed who said she was good to go, so started pushing for discharge. By 1pm no sign of discharge as they'd lost my notes (turned out paed had taken them by mistake) & was so so tired after 2 nights of no sleep that was sobbing with exhasution, so we decided just to leave - we left my mobile number and told them to ring me if they wanted me to come back to be officially discharged.

They did ring me as I needed an anti-D jab (they'd tested DD's blood and she was Rh+, I am Rh-) so we left DD with my MIL and drove to the hospital at around 9pm - we were only out for around an hour and leaving at 1pm when we did was definately the right thing to do.

A lot depends on what time of day you give birth and how busy they are.

I've had two c-sections, both early afternoon. Meant I had the whole day and evening with Dh just gazing at our baby. Both times I was pretty much left to look after my baby myself straight away, although the midwives would come if I buzzed (mostly). Nobody says 'ah, you've been through a lot, let me take your baby and give you a nice rest!' . That's motherhood for you, though.

They were very lax with visiting hours, however, and DH stayed well after midnight both times. the first night after my first birth of first child, being all alone and knackered - that was hard, have to admit.

I stayed in 4 days after first section, and 48 hours on the nose after second section.

Women who had had straightforward vaginal births were gone in 24 hours.

The only women who stayed in longer than a few days were women that had had crash sections or very traumatic births and sustained injuries, or people who's babies needed special care.

They get you out as quick as they can these days!

I had dd at 7pm in theatre. DH cuddled her whilst I was stitched and sorted out, we then went back to the delivery suite I'd been in with DD tucked in next to me in bed. I cuddled DD for a bit and started to breast feed her. I had some tea and toast whilst still holding DD and sent texts and DH made phone calls to family. Then had a wash in bed as couldn't walk as I had a spinal block. Lady who did it was lovely and it made me feel semi-normal again.

DH then went home about 10.30pm and I went up to the ward. I thought I wouldn't want him to leave but was shattered. I didn't sleep though as spent most of the night just staring at DD. As I couldn't get out of bed i had to buzz for everything which was great and I think really helped me getting feeding established.

It was wonderful and although not what I imagined as the birth was complicated and I didn't get to hold DD for about an hour or have skin to skin. It didn't affect bonding or breast feeding - we're still going strong 4 months later .

I was in the delivery room with husband & baby for a couple of hrs after birth then up to ward at 9pm.

That was the end of visiting but husband was allowed to stay whilst I showered & settled in.

I had emcs about 9am after being in labour overnight. We had a private room which we got wheeled back to. All of us, dd included slept all day long. Teatime, they only offered sandwiches on the ward. I was starving as hadn't eaten at all for about 36 hours. DH brought me something back from the canteen then went home. I laid there all night watching dd sleep.

My sister arrived first thing in the morning and tried to help me bf. DH came back in the afternoon. DD finally woke up properly that evening and screamed and screamed. Could not get her to latch on. Nice nurse took her, fed her, changed her and brought her back asleep. Had one more day with visitors, then asked to go home.

Should add, they removed the catheter in the morning and dsis watched over dd whilst I had a shower.

My labour took 10 hours and was normal although DD was back to back so I spent 2 hours pushing her out. This was at one in at noon. I remember being helped up (gave birth on bean bags and mats on the floor) and helped into bed. Once the mws had finished DDs apgar tests etc they brought me some tea and toast and told me to go for a wee when I felt ready but we were left alone mostly while they typed up the notes. This was perfect as we were able to bond as a family.
They all came back when I was unable to wee and just lost loads of blood so I ended up strapped to a bunch of monitors with a canula and a catheter (joy) and DH had DD then. We stayed in the delivery room for quite a while because of this I think. I think we got upstairs to the post natal ward by about 5. DH stayed until kicking out time at 8.

I had dd at a birth centre.
She was born at 14.21 , I had to get up onto a birthing stool to deliver the placenta, then back on the bed (fresh sheets) for over an hour to cuddle and feed dd.
Then DH and midwife held/dressed/weighed dd while I showered. Then I went back to bed for more cuddles.
Visitors came around 18.30 - just our parents, they stayed for around an hour.
Dh and i ordered pizza, my mum stayed for a while longer, I had a nap, the midwife came in to do more checks, then we went home around midnight.

To be honest I wish we'd stayed overnight - this was my first baby and I was still high after the birth when I said I wanted to go home. It would have been good to have the support of the midwives overnight and I keep thinking now I wish I'd discussed my labour with someone as it was really fast and I don't think I took it all in.

Forgot to say I went in Thursday night and didnt leave until Monday morning due to DD having a big ole bruise on her head from bashing against my cervix and they worried she'd get Jaundiced as the bruise broke down. My care was excellent btw, even though I was desperate to leave after one night--just wanted my own home and my husband and my bed!