What happens right after you give birth?

[vix1980]

This is my 1st currently half way through and i suddenly started wondering last night what happens during the birth?

I know obviously you push the baby out and all that bit but then what?? do they take the baby away to weigh it and check it? how long for? how does the placenta come out, is it on its own or do you push it out? is it right after the baby is born or later on, and does it hurt? then how long do they leave you alone for? me and my oh are totally clueless about all this so it would be nice to have some kind of idea, even stitches and all, i can take it!

Yeh, I didn't enjoy the first night in hospital either - not enough support or anyone much to talk to, bright lights, not much sleep, not quite sure how to look after dd (not confident anyway), tired, didn't want to leave dd on her own to go to the bathroom - which was a shame as birth had been very good.

So glad to get home next morning !

Good luck anyway to all our readers

Changebags - poor you.

Happiest memory after having DD2 at 4am is lying in bed afterwards cuddling babe and munching toast, and chatting to the auxilliary nurse who was running me a hot bath.

Have you considered doing an nct course? It might help you and DP understand the labour a bit better? There's also a childbirth topic on here that I found very useful in the last few months of my pregnancy.

For me... LO was over two weeks late so I had to go to hospital to be induced (check what the procedure is in your area if you go overdue) I had a pessary inserted at 10am, I had my first contraction around 3pm and was 5cm dilated by about 5pm. At that point I was taken to the delivery suite (this is worth checking out too - if a natural labour, at what point does your hospital want you to contact them?) I was in labour until 6am when they decided to do a caesarean as LO's heartbeat was dropping (again, find out about cesareans as you never know if you'll need one)

After the operation LO was taken to be checked. DP cut the cord and wrapped him up then bought him over to me. They both sat next to me while I was cleaned up / stitched up. The I was taken into the recovery room and finally able to hold my baby. They rolled me onto my side, took LOs blanket off and let him find his way to my nipple. He started feeding straight away (while I sobbed my heart out!!!)

I was moved to the ward quite soon after. DP went home for a shower and LO and I alternated feeding and snoozing till he came back. Because of the surgery I was in a room with just one other person but I still hated it and insisted in leaving the next morning (our hospital says minimum 6 hours after 'normal' delivery and two days after cesarean) Because of the surgery I found it very hard to lift LO so had to call midwives each time. They were very helpful though so this wasn't a problem - I just wanted to be at home!

I second what the others have said, arrange a tour at your hospital and consider nct classes. Good luck

Talk to your MW about how your hospital/wherever does things, as it seems to vary hugely.
In my case, ventouse delivery in theatre, staff gave ds to MrNC to hold while they checked him over, I got a jab to 'stop the haemorrhaging' which included the placenta being got out (had said in birth plan I wanted natural 3rd stage unless good reason not to, whih this was), and some stitches (excellent epidural, so only know because I was told - by end of day 2 I couldn't feel them at all!), then I threw up over everyone repeatedly, then we faffed around in the recovery room for what seemed like ages while they did paperwork and I started really wanting some food, eg the tea and toast.
Eventually get ds plonked on my cleaned-up chest, and eventually get to pn ward, though ds had to detour to SCBU for a few hours. On the postnatal ward I find out that we aren't allowed toast for 'health and safety reasons'...

This time I'm specifying that I want epidurals and catheters removed ASAP, so if we have to stay on the pn ward, I will be able to get to the toilet and look after dc2, as care particularly at night was rather lacking. Also, even after ds was approved to leave by the paediatrician on day 3, there was over 8 hours of people fannying about with paperwork - next time I will just leave as soon as dc2 is cleared to do so!

The best thing I have ever eaten in my life was the toast I had after being nil by mouth for eighteen hours before my Elcs.

I have had 2 babies and was not aware of the placenta being delivered either time. I was not aware of stitches or anything either. I wouldn't worry about that bit too much it all passes very quickly and you'll be holding your baby!!!
Good luck x

This is a great thread! Lots of these posts have reflected our experience after a relatively straightforward hospital birth (not saying it was fun, but think we got off lightly).

One thing that surprised me was that they were in no real hurry to get us out of the delivery room: DS was delivered just after midnight and I think we left for the PN ward at about 5ish (DH said goodbye then). We did get a private room which we offered to pay for (this was right at the top on my birth plan!) in the end stayed in for 2 more nights after struggling to establish feeding so they never actually charged us in the end. Even with a room, it still wasn't that quiet - we were by the nurses station and heard all the alarms going, doors banging, MWs and nurses talking etc. DH was also still subject to visiting hours although we did get away with him sitting quietly through a quiet lunch time when I'd had a particularly rough morning.

I'd recommend the Mumsnet Babies book as it does talk about this, and also the stuff that happens to you and your body immediately after the birth - I read loads of baby books and the MN one was the only one that included this. It meant I was prepared for and didn't panic about some of the less pleasant possible after effects (fissure, anyone?).

An awful lot depends on where you give birth. Have you considered a home birth? I have had 1 hospital birth (horrible), 1 birthing centre birth (much better) and 1 home birth (perfect) so I am a little biased, but honestly there is so much focus on your actual labour and really you make an excellent point that it's important to know how things are done immediately afterwards. With my home birth I had loads of skin to skin contact, delivered the placenta whilst still cuddling my baby, had a bath whilst dh cuddled the baby and they did the weighing etc and then the MW put me to bed and latched the baby on just in a nappy (for some reason in hospital they always seem eager to get the poor things dressed asap!) and tucked us in and left. We slept together like that, skin to skin, til morning and woke up properly relaxed and rested. It was a lovely experience and one I feel privileged to have had.

I've scanned the thread so apols if anyone's covered this off already - I had a post-partum haemorrhage after delivering DD. I felt fine (well, like I'd been hit by a bus, but that's childbirth for you), had just been given DD and delivered the placenta when it became apparent I was still bleeding, a lot. DD was whipped away and all these medical people came rushing in, I was hooked up to a drip and given an injection, and that seemed to sort things out. I've no idea of time involved as I was a bit out of it, but it felt like ages til I could hold DD. Then they did stitches and gave me toast. I had to be kept in for observation so didn't get to go home for a few days. That, like many things, wasn't in my birth plan...

Hi,
Im so glad other people are finding this thread useful to read through too, makes me realise i'm not so stupid after all for wondering these things, i swear i woke at 3 this morning cos i realised i didn't know when i should get up and put my maternity pads on, im only 21 wks ffs!!

In my ideal world, ill deliver in a birthing pool (obviously it will all be over from start to finish in 5 mins in my ideal world too, but i doubt it very much), apart from that i haven't really thought too much about what else id like to happen, so these experiences have given me some food for thought!

Anyway im off to make some tea and toast, suddenly got a craving for it x

My dd (DC1) was born in a birthing pool and I'd def recommend it and hope it works out for you

DOn't know if anyone has mentioned this buoutthink it's worth noting that you might not necessarily get to hold your baby immediately. Both of mine were aspirated for meconium as soon as they were out and the cord cut. With DC1, this happened in the delivery room. DC2, however, was taken outside. Both were absolutely fine, btw, although we did have to stay in on what's called "meconium observations" for 24 hours (where baby's temp is taken every 3 hours to check for any infections due to the possibility of inhalation or ingestion of meconium).

Oh, and I didn't get offered tea and toast with either DC. Very of everyone who did. So, take plenty of snacks just in case!

Best of luck.

Just wanted to say thanks OP, what a brilliant thread, I'm 26 weeks and this has answered questions I didnt know I had.

I had two fairly straightforward births: one in pool, one in a rush as we'd just got there in time.
Both times I held baby first (literally straight from between my legs to my chest IYSWIM!) before DH cut the cord.Then baby was checked, weighed, given a quick wipe and handed to DH who also had skin to skin (he was a bit freaked the first time round when MW suggested he whip his shirt off!!! but is glad he did it!).

Unfortuntately whilst I seem to be able to birth babies pretty easily, the same cannot be said for the placenta. Both times (despite the injection) I had huge problems pushing out the placenta, needed gas and air (despite having no pain relief to speak of for the actual births!), and was nearly rushed by ambulance to the nearest hospital (was in MWLU). Both times I had about 5 MWs have a go at 'tugging' it out!!

After DC1 I walked straight back to room and after a short while I had the best shower I have ever had! After the DC2 placenta debacle I lost a fair bit of blood, and was ordered to stay horizontal for a few hours before eventually having the second best shower I have ever had!

By the way - don't mean to worry you re. the placenta - it was fine really - and I think having problems is quite rare. I obviously have weird placentas .

Oh my god, this has made discussion of the day.... i feel like i should be doing a lap of honour somewhere or just collecting my trophy.

Instead ill tuck into my tea and toast and sit smugly, now in the know about what happens

p.s. my brain is crap anyway at the minute so ill probably forget all about the scary placenta stories by tomorrow.

Interesting point by dizzy as I thought if a private room was available he'd have Bern able to stay?

Also no toast here but after the labour , surgery and epidural I didn't feel like eating,just had a Capri sun and walkers monster munch (dh brought my fave things to try to encourage me to eat).

No tea/toast offered to me either with my 2 hospital labours.

I didn't like DH having to leave when I transfered to the ward - I know plenty of people wouldn't be bothered by it, but thought I'd mention it just as a point to consider and prepare for if necessary.

Some people like to stay in for a bit (especially with a first DC) but I couldn't wait to get home, as it was hot and impossible to rest on the ward - lots of people and babies! No support for bfeeding, so was just desperate to get home, knowing that I would then have regular visits from mw.

Reading all that back, maybe our hospital was just a bit crap?

I didn't get coffee and toast with DS, did with DD. thought I waa the only one!

Ooo I'm getting all teary. I LOVED the whole birth experience with my 2 DDs, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. So long as someone else can do pregnancy, and the first 6 months of the baby's life. Anyone?

If you get any takers debka can you send them to me when you're done? I'd love another but pregnancy was a bit boring and 0-4 month olds are just horrid imho. After 4 months though, ooh......

This thread is making me want another one That post-natal high, there is no feeling on earth like it.

Yes, I enjoyed the first hour or so after the birth, especially with DS (my second)

One of the happiest hours of my life ! Just snuggling him and BFing - both of mine were so good at it ! They're geniuses I tell you

Just wanted to add, as it seems to go against the trend, that I was quite aware of the placenta being delivered (had had epidural that was sort of wearing off). Everyone I spoke to before said I wouldn't notice it so it was a bit of a nasty surprise. Likewise being stitched up - they topped up epidural and gave me gas and air but it was really painful actually (maybe I'm just weedy). I was in a London hospital that felt very pressured so we were whizzed out asap, and the doc stitching me up was also giving a consultation on the phone poor woman. Unsurprisingly the stitching wasn't quite right and i had to go back 5 mths later for it to be sorted out. I also had a HORRIBLE midwife, and when I said initially that I didn't want a managed third stage she started menacing me and saying 'you will bleed etc' in a threatening tone and I felt like she would punish me in other ways if I didn't do as she said. Her name was 'Happiness'! Good luck!

I am jealous of everyone who got tea and toast afterwards, I didn't get anything or helped to bathe/shower after the birth and what with not wanting to leave baby alone while I washed I didn't end up having a full bath till I got home, and was in for 3 days...
Now I know what to put on my birth plan for the one which I will hopefully be having very soon! (40+2 currently)