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

IO had mydd at 8am- no complications, only a small 2nd degree tear. Immediately they wiped the baby and gave her to me (after cutting the cord etc)- she then had skin to skin/ bfeed for 2 hours. Still in the same room (they left the 3 of us alone) as it was straight forwards they must have had other priorities.

After 2 hours they checked her again and then let the 3 of us (dd in the wheely cot thing) and dp carrying the bags into the bathroom where I had a bath and was amazed how I could see my bits again!

I then get dried etc and we are led to the upstairs ward (don't try to carry your baby they shouted at me for this) where Dp was allowed to stay all day apart from meal times (where he snoozed in the car)

i was in for exactly 2 hours. i laboured at home but after a while i got a pain in my leg/hip. called mw (i was due to have a home birth) panicked and asked to be admitted (i was gutted when after a day and a half of on off contractions i was only 4 cms dilated).

Ambulance came and was admitted just after 3pm, had my waters broken at 3.15. baby boy born at 3.25pm.After a while dh went home to get some stuff - i was in a dressing gown and we had nothing for the baby. i had a bath. dh came back with a few things, dressed me and baby and discharged ourselves. mw was happy with this as we had intended to home birth.

Pushed my son out at 1am, wiped with towel and put on my chest to admire and start feeding. Partner cut cord. Had stitches whilst I held him. Me, baby, partner and mum were allowed about 2 hours to spend together in delivery room whilst midwife did all her checks, cleaning up, paperwork etc. Then I was wheeled off for a well earned shower while partner was asked to dress baby in a sleepsuit. Then we said goodbye and I was wheeled into the maternity ward for the rest of the night (about 4am, they kindly gave me toast and tea as I hadn't eaten for 30 hours). Weird half sleep, still drugged up and numb from epidural, plus overwhelmed by it all obviously! Being away from my partner was fine because I was just totally in awe of my new baby! Got about 2 hours sleep before breakfast was brought into me, fed baby, lots of help from midwife, chatted to other new mums on the ward, then visiting hours started (visitors came to my bed in the maternity ward, baby in hospital cot next to me). Stayed in for a further night and had to do 2 wees before they'd discharge me (I'd had a catheter). Then transfered to a local midwife led unit which was like a 5 star hotel for 1 more night. Went home for 1 night and then returned to the local MWLU for 4 nights as baby's weight dropped too low. Wow, such an amazing experience, replay it in my head all the time, I want to do it all again! Good luck!