Childbirth - before, during and after

[Newmummytobe79]

I've just popped over to childbirth for the first time and have darted back here as some of the threads scare the hell out of me! I've ignored the fact I have to give birth ... until now (nearly 31 weeks), but realise reading up on it may help a bit! :)

Please can any mums on here tell me what it's like afterwards? I will gradually move on to things like the actual pain/experience, but I'd want to know things like:

How long do DH and me get with baby before we're moved to a ward?
How long until you can have a shower?
If I had baby one hour before visiting ... would they be allowed in?

I know these q's are a bit daft in the context of birth ... but I'd like to know thanks :)

I had DD at 11.30am, so just before lunch, we stayed in the room until about 10pm, when we went home, so we got to stay there almost 11hours.
I was never offered a shower and so didn't have one, just stayed gross until I went home

My DD was born at 12.02am, and I was moved to the ward at about 5am. I had to have stitches, so that's why it took so long. In that time, we had skin to skin contact with her, and I breast fed and also had a full body wipe down with warm wet flannels by one of the nurses, which was one of the most selfless things anyone had ever done for me. We were given tea, toast with jam and then we were taken to the ward.

I had a shower when I was ready - at about 3pm the same day. I had visitors at 9am the same day too. I think every hospital has different rules, but when my nieces and nephews were born we were allowed into the delivery suite to meet the baby. You may want to ask if this is allowed.