Sibling introduction post ELCS - advice needed

[stinkypinky]

Hello, oh wise ones...
DD is nearly 4, and I have an ELCS booked for Wednesday. I have been told that I should hopefully be 'done' by midday. Is it realistic for me to hope that DD could visit us that evening, or would that be too unsettling for her (if mummy looks like s**t etc.)
Any other tips and advice would be gratefully received (have arnica and gift for DD from baby)

When DD was born, DS met her the next day. We had a rather longer wait than anticipated (didn't get to theatre until 6 in the evening - lots of emergencies that day - just bad luck).

It is likely that you will have a drip (with lovely drugs), a catheter (they like to keep these in until you are mobilising) for a few hours - which are possibly a bit worrying looking. They also make it harder to change out of surgical gown etc. So you might want to think about that.

Other tips - BIG pants with comfy waistbands; mint tea for wind; nighties may be more comfy than pjs.

Good luck!

I would say the next day just to be sure.
I had to have a GA after 5 ATTEMPTS at my spinal block not working and i was useless for the rest of the day/evening, i couldn't even keep my eyes open, and actually fell asleep when visitors came!

plus the next day you can move about more and have the drips and cathater taken out, which is less alarming for a small child i would think

Thank you for your replies... she is a sensitive little soul at the best of times

I am pondering the same question. After my ELCS with ds I felt absolutely fine and I had visitors waiting for me when I arrived back on the ward from recovery. This time round I'm not so sure, if I recover as quicky as I did first time I will be absolutely fine to see ds, I'll just wait and see how I'm feeling.

FWIW everyone looks like shit after giving birth, and ELCS might make it a bit better lol
My EMCS was at 3.22am and the dc's came in with dh about 10am. Id had a wash and it was lovely to see them (having already been in for 5 days of induction) and for them to meet their baby brother

I had an el cs at 9am and 22mo ds was allowed to visit at tea time while I was still in high dependency. His dad kept a tight hold on him though just in case he started dashing around but he was fine.

I ignored dd while he was there, apart from a quick "here is your new little sister" introduction. I looked fine after the op BTW.

No other visitors in hospital though as I'd had a crap time after my first cs.

I had an ELCS 7 weeks ago. DD2 was born at 4pm and DD1 came in with granny and grandad at 7pm. I was still hooked up to drips, catheter etc and in hospital gown and looked like shit but really wanted to see my big girl (she is 2 BTW). I don't think she really noticed what I looked like she just seemed pretty excited about the whole thing and they didn't stay too long as MIL wanted to visit too and evening visting is only for an hour at our hospital. (Parnters and siblings are allowed anytime though 9am -10pm)

Thank you all... will 'play it by ear' tomorrow.

I know its not quite the same thing but I thought it might be helpful anyway. Last spring DH had to have spinal surgery. At the time DS was nearly 4 so the same age as yours. We went to visit DH as soon as he was out of recovery so he had a catheter and a morphine pump and was looking very poorly and could hardly move. DS is very close to his Dad and a sensitive little lad so like you I had mixed feelings about him seeing Daddy in that state but actually he looked beyond all the medical baggage and was just thrilled to see him. We only stayed about 10-15 minutes on that first visit for their sakes but it definitely benefitted DS as I'm sure that he found seeing Daddy awake and talking more reassuring than people saying he couldn't go to hospital yet as Daddy was too poorly.
Good luck for tomorrow and I'm sure you'll know instinctively what is right for your little one.

Just to let you know all went well - DD2 born 12.21hrs on Wednesday. DD1 visited 6pm, and was very reassured to see me looking and feeling remarkably well, and was delighted to find she had a little sister. Home within 48 hours. She cried when she had to go home at 8pm, and was a bit unsettled overnight, but was fine after that.

Thank you again x

Hi there

I had an ELCS five weeks ago and my four and half year old DD came in to see me that afternoon. We'd already given her basic info about the cs, so she knew the baby was being cut out of my tummy and she was fine with it. She is quite grown up for her age having said that. TBH I was way more concerned about her reaction to her new sister, but that was fine too!

Goood luck!

Oops, sorry just realised this reply is too late!

Congratulations!

thank you MLM