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!

OhdearNigel - I agree, but maybe KellyKate is referring to straight after? I think it is true that, for the vast majority of women, it takes a little while for those muscles to be ok. As in, half an hour after giving birth my midwife was telling me to wee because it was stopping the placenta coming out, and I could not for the life of me. Two hours later, I needed a wee about four times in an hour. The muscles do need to stabilise, even if they are not damaged.

Out...not put

#1 - epidural + baby swallowed meconium.
He was checked over immediately (in the same room), and then given to DH to hold (and poo all over...ha ha) while I was stitched up. I don't remember what happened with the placenta. Then he was given to me. I stayed in the delivery room until I'd stopped vomitting and then off to the ward. The ward had 6 cubicles.

#2 - gas and air and all very smooth.
He was given to me immediately (though I was on all fours and sort of in shock so had to be helped to turn over). Delivered placenta while he was with me. Then we both got in the pool and had tea. Up to a side room on the ward (no room on the ward..yay!) for the night.

#1 went to the nursery for a period overnight (1999) and they called me when he woke.
#2 stayed right with me (2009).

I feel fine about both births but over the years I had to learn to accept what happened with #1 because hindsight showed me it was not ideal.

Thanks OP for starting this excellent thread. I am 25 weeks and had no idea I might have questions which this thread answers! Must get DH to read it too..... No doubt I will forget important bits. Also helps me understand what might go in a birth plan.

My first shower wasn't like a scene out of Psycho. I was prepared for it to be, but it wasn't at all. I spotted no blood at all.

Really good question. I ended up in theatre, having a forceps delivery because DS had a meconium aspiration, I had an epidural before the delivery.
DS was born and handed to the paediatrician, DH went with him and once he had his lungs suctioned managed to bring him briefly to me so I could kiss him before he went to SCBU. I was taken to the recovery suite until a midwife came to get me, a few hours later, so I could see DS.

The next night I was on the postnatal ward (after haemorrhage) which was strange as I didn't have DS with me. I was then on a small unit - 4 beds - for mums whose baby were in SCBU.

Overall it was a positive experience, the staff were amazing and looked after all of us very well.
A piece of advice....when you are packing your bag take into consideration you might have to stay in after the birth, I wasn't prepared for this and would have loved a completely seperate bag for the 1st couple of days (when DH is really not functioning) with a couple of towels, wash stuff, chocolate, nice clean PJ's etc etc.

The next morning in hospital I wheeled dd into the bathroom, she slept soundly while I had a roasting hot bath - it was lovely :)

Also, I'd kind of made friends with a woman who had given birth to twins by c-sec, obviously she was bed bound so everytime I wandered past I asked if she needed anything, I was pleased to be helping her out as she seemed exhausted.

Loved my time in hospital, dd & I had the best bonding time.

I didnt get tea & toast although Dh was sent down the corridor to make me a cuppa but was told that he was not allowed to make himself one - he would have to go to the vending machine out the ward.

My local hospital is so busy that they do not offer tours of the labour ward or mw unit.

I was induced with DS1 & had an epidural, As soon as DS was delivered he was given a quick wipe & placed straight on my chest, I then started shaking & being sick (I think as a result of the epidural) so DH held him whilst I delivered placenta & finished being sick/felt stable enough to hold him without dropping him (about 20mins). it was then that I looked at what sex he was - it hadn't even crossed DH mind to look LOL. He was then given back to me & I attempted first BF with MW help.

I also remember screaming "it still hurts, it still hurts" as I expected all the pain to just dissapear the moment that the baby entered the world. I never expected to have sore "bits" for a fortnight (I think) after the birth and have to wee whilst pouring a jug of water over said "bits" (sorry if TMI but you did ask!) I still cannot believe how nieve I was about the whole "after birth experience"

With DS2, (born in under an hour with only G&A) I remember clearly feeling a big "gush" of I don't really know what - it is hard to explain. A mixture of relief, love, achievement perhaps. As he was born so fast, he wasn't breathing & the whisked him out of the room briefly, less than 60secs, but a very loooong 60secs! Then I had cuddle & BF, Dh held him whilst I deliverd placenta & I needed stitches this time due to very quick birth and 10pound baby!

With both babies we were left alone for a bout an hour & then transfered to postnatal ward. I was home within 12 hrs with both (I couldnt get out there quick enough)

SNOWBEETLE, (sorry for capital lettering u but I don't know how to make the writing bold...) What was the big clot that fell down your trouser leg? I'm about to give birth to my 3rd child and never had anything like that before..It shocked the crap out of me to read that and if it happened to me I'd get a proper fright as well, what on earth was it?(incase that does happen to me...) Or if anyone else knows pls tell me cos I'm quite worried...is it a normal thing to happen after birth?...?

oh I've just figured out how to boldify things

oops I meant straight after with the bladder control thing, didnt explain it too well. I wasnt trying too scare OP, just meant that strange feeling for the first few hours after having the baby.

God I never got tea and toast lol..
Didnt get skin to skin as baby wasnt breathing stright away and her airways had to be cleared but this only took about 2 mins. Then she was on me for a feed. Then passed to daddy.
I didnt have to push during the after birth , i had a needle (dnt remember having it) but know i did. The the mw was sat next to me i remember asking her what she was doing lol and she just simply said just waiting for the last bits :> i asked her if she wanted me to push and she said well you can if you want but you dnt have to lol. Anyway after that had about 20 stiches took forever and was rather painful but then they gave me some kind of pain relif and the pain was gone never to feel again :)
Then got up had a shower whilst baby was checked out then put in the ward it was like 3 am by then though

My husband and I both sat in stunned silence. I think the midwife was a bit disappointed with the pair of us. We were happy but it was all too surreal to do anything but blink and stare.

The placenta flopped out. There were a few quick painful (because of the local anesthetic) stitches. Spot of breastfeeding which went ok. Offered a suppository which I turned down and this made the midwife look sad. I proved I could go for a wee. I could have easily lied actually because no one came with me or asked to have a look. Then the midwife gave us a few factsheets and we went home.

It took about three hours after DS was born for us all to be back home in bed. Labour was quick too so we'd only been gone about six hours.

The next morning felt like your first day when you've moved house and you wake up and everything is different and you just think, blimey, we live here now!

You get to eat a huge bar of galaxy and drink loads of fatty coke without feeling guilty cos you will be STARVING ... Sugar, sugar, sugar and more sugar please

DS was put straight on my chest. He felt warm, soft and damp, not slimy though - such a wonderful feeling. We stayed like that while they delivered the placenta, was a bit worrying because the cord broke but they managed to get it out in the end. Then there was a long period of more gas and air while they did the stitches and I just held DS on my chest.

I think it was after that that I gave DS his first feed. Can't really remember though.

I can't remember when they weighed him, I remember they weren't in a hurry. They sent someone in to, erm, mop up and reassemble the bed (I had a ventouse delivery and they remove the end of the bed so they can reach) then brought me the most delicious tea and toast I have ever eaten and left us alone for a while.

Remember to take lots of pictures, it's such a special time, when you and your brand new family are alone together for the first time. I am still so regretful that I never got a photo of me holding DS. There's one of him with DH, but DH didn't think to take one of me .

I was lucky to have a side room because my sister is a MW at the same hospital and it's one of their 'perks' to get the side room for no charge. I believe it's usually about £90 a night though. It was still incredibly noisy though, people shouting and laughing up and down the corridor in the middle of the night. And then you start getting visitors really early, the person comes to do the hearing test and various other visits. It's great to have your own bathroom though.

Because of waiting to be discharged, I had DS at 9.01pm and didn't get home until around 2pm the following afternoon. I hadn't slept for two days and was absolutely shattered. Had grandparents round pretty much immediately, which was lovely. But other friends wanted to visit in the evening and I actually waited up for them! I still can't believe I did that.

It makes me happy and sad to remember that first day. I would love to be doing it all again.

Best wishes to you for the rest of your pregnancy and the birth OP.

I second that you have to physically tell men beforehan that you wan a pic with the baby, I forgot with both of mine and dont have any pics with them in hospital

katiecoocoo I passed a big clot 4 days after having my 3rd. Never happened with 1st 2. Size of circle made by putting thumb and forfinger together in a circle IYSWIM. TOTALLY freaked me.

Called midwife (well each one on list till someone answered!) and they reassured me - totally normal. If the size of a small orange or bigger they might be more concerned.
hth

I also had the shakes really bad after the delivery. They lasted less than five minutes.

My shower scene was fine too, I was expecting it to be much worse.

The midwife gave me a squirty bottle to spray myself with when I needed a wee. I used it for a week!

I also wasn't allowed to leave the hospital until I had a wee.

Alligatorpie - I had the shakes too. And was laughing hysterically. This was with DD2 who arrived rather quickly.

I remember the MW handing me over to the postnatal ward using the words "she's in shock".

With mine.. DS1...
I had an injection in my leg as soon as baby was born(agreed to injection previously but didn't even realise I'd had it) as baby was on my chest having first snuggles, I was staring into his eyeswhilst cord was cut.I then pushed, a few more times to get the placenta out which didn't hurt. And gave my baby a vitamin K injection into his thigh.I was cleaned up, my mum was having cuddles with DS whilst I got up and went in bath. I was covered in blood and wanted to be clean for photos, when I got out my bed had been cleaned as well as the floor (blood trail to bathroom)(blush) he was weighed whilst I was in bath, I dressed him when got back, and waited to be moved to ward, where feeding was encouraged and began. Midwives helped to get this right, the day we was allowed home (the day after) a midwife helped me bath him and change him into his going home outfit, my partner was away and didn't get to meet DS till he was 9 days old so spent a lot of the time on the ward by myself.

very jealous here of the nice experiences others had sounds almost idyllic to go and be able to have a bath not long after.
I had an emergency section in the end, so I never got to hold DD to start with.

I was lying flat while they stitched me up so I couldn't have held her even though I wanted to. The MW/nurse /whoever it was lowered her to my face as she swept her by so I could see her before she had her scores done. It was only just behind me but I couldn't turn round to see but DH could watch.
DD then got plonked in his arms which I don't think he expected!
Her scores were all fine straight away so it was really quick to do that.
I had the back of the bed raised (I think) while I was in the recovery room so I could hold her and BF her.
No tea and toast for me though. For the next 2 days.

Every time the woman came round she looked at me sympathetically and walked out!!!!

I started to wonder if I had a nil by mouth sign above the bed for some reason. I only got tea and toast when I asked for it 2 days later.
I also had no-one come round to show me how to change nappies/clean her etc etc.
Other people got shown, but I didn't. Not sure why. I was a 1st time mum like they were!
My bed was in the corner so maybe that's why I got missed a lot
I saw another girl with cotton wool and a bowl of water so I asked for some and watched what she did, but that was after 3 days anyway as I couldn't even sit up let alone get out of bed. (DH did it instead).

Another emcs here after failed induction. I was very anxious before the op so they tranquilised me meaning that dd was born fast asleep. As she didn't cry, I didn't know when she was out and looking back, I don't think they told me just in case she needed resuscitation. Once she was ok they gave her to dp to bring round to me, but he took her back quite quickly as she was very mucusy.

Wheeled back to delivery room where we stayed for a while. Mw held dd against me to try and encourage her to feed, then held her so I could snooze. Eventually got kicked out onto ward. I was a terrible snorer so convinced them to give me a private room. Dd was in a clip on cot next to me which was perfect as I could reach her even when immobile.

They got me sitting 12 hrs after op, and out of bed for a shower bit after that.

On the ward afterwards they often have "teaching" sessions, they did in my hospital where first time mums (or any others who want to) are shown how to bathe, dress, change a baby, these can be a life-saver if like me, first time round you had not a clue!! There was a timetable near my bed which told me when /where they were.

The wards can be noisy and the baby should stay with you the whole time, you won't get much sleep but this is good practice IMO!!

I found that my baby didn't really cry much and so I didn't feed him enough but midwives are on hand to help/tell you

Breakfast was down the corridor in a shared room and a self service type thing - tea/toast/cereal etc - your baby comes with you everywhere - they are yours now and it takes a bit of getting used to!

I stayed in for 2 days with my first but only 6 hours with my second so it really depends on how your birth goes and how keen you are to get home.

Good luck