C-Section at Birmingham Womens

[HayleyD84]

Hi all,

I'm due to have an elected C-Section at the Birmingham Womens (before anyone jumps on why it's elected, It's medical reasons I've been told I have to have one)

In the next 9 weeks.

I had a bad emergency c-section experience 5 years ago and poor aftercare.

I am terrified that with all this going on, my husband can be there for the c-section but will then need to leave strait after

My anxiety about this is through the roof!!
Has anyone had a c-section recently or know of anyone and know if partners can stay with you after the c-section?

Thanks

I had a section there pre-Clovid 19, but I also have two other children, so my dh was there for the section and then left to be with our older children.

It was more than fine. The midwives and nurses were so kind, I was so happy on the morphine and I relished the time to bond with my babies with no distractions.

Can you work out what’s causing you to be anxious? Is it worrying about not bonding? Or the responsibility of looking after your new baby?
Maybe if you can identify the source you can work through it?

I haven’t had a c-section but have previously given birth at Birmingham women’s and am due to again any day now!

As it stands, partners have to leave as soon as your being transferred to a ward. So they can stay in the recovery area with you, but then leave once you go to the postnatal ward. But that’s how it is now, I would try not to worry as you’re still 9 weeks away! But even if it’s still like that I can tell you that the midwives there are fab, they were so helpful to me with DD when I’d had an epidural and couldn’t walk around for quite a while and spent ages helping me to get breastfeeding figured out. You won’t be left alone with no help or support.

Also, if it’s the virus you’re worried about, I had a growth scan there recently. They’re really on it with hygiene at the moment, you have to wash hands on entry and there’s security to monitor people. Try not to worry yet as you still have 2 months!

Owwlie can I ask please, for your growth scan did they wear a mask or anything? I’m due one there and am so anxious about it as they’ve seemed quite disorganised the last couple of times I’ve been.

PurplePonderer They weren’t wearing masks when I went, but that was a week and a half ago and my midwife wasn’t wearing one then either but she has been since so I think there’s a good chance they will be. They were cleaning down rooms in between patients though, and the receptionist was making everyone use hand sanitiser before she let them through to the day assessment unit.

I went just after they decided no partners could attend outpatient appointments, the security guard was turning people away at the door unless there was exceptional circumstances (like needing a translator) and ensuring everyone queues up to wash hands (the machine even walks you through how to wash them!). People accompanying women to appointments had to sit separately to the pregnant women in the triage area, they were sat out by cafe until the appointment. They were clearly being very cautious.

Also, the hospital felt very calm compared to my previous scan. There were very few people around and it was very quiet.

I didn’t have my c section there but was transferred with my ds who went straight to nicu. I can’t fault the staff. I was given a side room so I didn’t have to be on a ward with the mums and babies. The after care I received was second to none. If we were closer I’d definitely choose to have this baby there.

I had a c section

Thank you Owwlie that’s really reassuring. Good luck with the impending birth and good luck to you too OP.

@Isawthathaggis I had my son there 5 years ago by emergency c-section and the after care I had was horrific!!
I had lost allot of blood so kept passing out but wasn't given a blood transfusion until 48 hours after.
I didn't see a single nurse / midwife for 8 hours after we arrived on the ward at 7am.

The two midwives i did see were absolutely horrible! I pressed the buzzer on the night and she screamed at me asking me to explain myself why I had pressed the buzzer!
I was sobbing, a nurse saw me and said that the midwife was stressed as they were short staffed.

I felt so poorly It felt like I was being stabbed each time I moved, I begged them to take my son for a few hours as he was crying every 20 mins as I couldn't look after him, they said they are too short staffed.

I picked my son up when I was lying down and I passed out, I woke up with him on top of me!
My wound opened up.

I was so dehydrated, I had ketones in my urine, the doctor told the midwife to give me a bag of fluid, after the doctor left the midwife said I was fine as I had sipped water and didn't need it.

I could go on and on about more things it was horrific!!!

I discharged myself 5 minutes after my last blood transfusion, when you are supposed to stay for 24 hours after.

Needles to say I got severe post natal depression after that and it has taken me 5 years to consider having another baby because of it.

The thought of going through this again but without my husband there is giving me panic attacks and I'm constantly crying!!

@PurplePonderer currently lying in bed on a postnatal ward had my daughter today and growth scan Thursday, everyone is in masks and plastic aprons x

@HayleyD84 my first birth wasn’t the best either.
And yours sounds really hard.
My second was a lot better even thought it was at the same hospital. I think because I knew what I was scared of I was able to articulate what I needed when I needed it. The midwives really responded to factual statements the second time.

Can you contact pals and ask them what they recommend? Perhaps there is a midwife volunteer that could sit with you for a while?

I was in the women’s with twins and was offered a volunteer as my dh couldn’t be there. It’s a bit different with twins, but maybe they would visit with you if you requested it?

Thank you and huge congratulations on the birth of your daughter @csmw. Glad to hear about the masks etc. The staff must be relieved to have the PPE now too.