Honest experiences needed elective c section and covid

[Lenny1987]

My c section has been brought forward to July 29th, and my trust has not changed visiting allowance. So my husband can be with us for 45mins to 1 hour after the birth then he has to go home until we leave. I know some people agree with this for safety, my personal opinion is that with stadiums being opened from the end of the month it is crazy to leave women feeling isolated and helpless at such a vulnerable time when all other life returns to normal, but either way I cannot change that.

What has everyone's experiences been? I'm terrified of being by myself with no movement due to the spinal block and not being able to look after baby. Had a bad experience of labour ending in emcs last time after 24 hours of contractions, which isn't helping me feel any better. Midwife on the ward told me today they are trying their best but they don't have enough staff to do it all with no partners allowed on the ward. Any practical advice that could help me?
Added complication of having gestational diabetes so if babys blood sugars are low might have to stay in longer etc. Completely dreading the whole thing.

Bump

I had my elective csection 6 weeks ago. We had no one to have DD4 so my husband wasn't even there for the birth. Dropped me off in the morning with my giant suitcase (full of frozen premade squash - amazing) and picked us up 2 days later. It wasn't ideal of course but it was okay. The spinal wore off pretty quick and I was able to care for my baby no problem. Make sure you organise your bag so you've got everything to hand (you'll have a canula in which makes things difficult) and use your call bell for help - I had HCAs helping me rather than midwives. Keep on top of your pain relief too. Good luck, enjoy baby snuggles =)

I had a section 2 weeks ago, the midwives were SO helpful, it really was a positive experience.
Get moving little and often when you can, keep on top of painkillers. My hospital had baby cots that went over the bed which made it easier. But if you need anything from the midwives ask... they made me drinks, picked up my phone when I dropped it! Changed the baby or passed him to me, everything! Xx

It was a month before lockdown but due to various reasons related to the time I had my baby and the ward restrictions my DH had to leave before I could mobilise. Before he went he made sure I had everything I needed to hand (as in on the table next to me) and I managed to pick my baby out of the cot using a mixture of the beds electronic movements and positioning the cot. I couldn’t get him back in without help for the first few hours but that was fine as I could wait for as long as needed for the midwives to come and help with that.
also after a planned c section you feel very different to an emergency one; you have more energy for one thing as you haven’t spent ages in labour and I felt relatively ok as the pain didn’t set in until I started moving the next day.

I had mine a month ago. It was tough but the midwives did help with everything for first 12 + hours while I was immobile and still had catheter in - as in you ring the buzzer and they pass the baby to you etc, they even changed nappies for me initially.

I also had GDM and baby had to do the blood sugar tests - all passed. I expressed quite a bit of colostrum antenatally and took into hospital with me which I think helped with that.

My hospital did enhanced recovery in theory which means they discharge after 24 hrs. In reality I had to push for this and managed to argue my way to discharge after about 30 hours as I knew I would do better with DH's help at home.

I had mine a month ago. It was tough but the midwives did help with everything for first 12 + hours while I was immobile and still had catheter in - as in you ring the buzzer and they pass the baby to you etc, they even changed nappies for me initially.

I also had GDM and baby had to do the blood sugar tests - all passed. I expressed quite a bit of colostrum antenatally and took into hospital with me which I think helped with that.

My hospital did enhanced recovery in theory which means they discharge after 24 hrs. In reality I had to push for this and managed to argue my way to discharge after about 30 hours as I knew I would do better with DH's help at home.

I had mine a week after lockdown began.

DH was in for the operation and about 30 mins in recovery afterwards and then had to leave.

Tbh the experience on the post natal ward was absolutely lovely. No visitors and most women discharged fairly quickly after birth so very quiet. Compared to after my first this made it feel much more relaxed starting recovery and starting breast feeding easier. The midwives were brilliant and helped with everything I couldn't do.

Yes, it was a shame for DH that he couldn't spend more time with his son but I honestly loved the experience this time and has it not been for Covid I would definitely have asked to stay longer.

I also had GDM and my sons blood sugars were low the first time. We were still discharged just over 24 hours after the section.

Honestly, please don't worry - the whole thing was far better than I was expecting.

Thanks ladies, these are making me feel a bit better, because at the minute I am being a complete wimp and can't stop crying at the thought of it! Normally I am a really rational person, thinking about only things I can control, and looking for solutions not problems, but completely overwhelmed with this one.

I'm having a csrction next week. I am absolutely livid that my partner will have to leave. I am being tested for covid, so why not test him too? And if we're both negative why is it not safe for him to stay?

I plan on self discharging in the evening after catheter is taken out. Providing baby is fine obviously.

I had my baby 5 weeks ago by emcs. The first night was tricky no doubt. I look back and regret not calling the midwives more often. Make sure you tell them if you need more pain relief, I didn't and ended up regretting it.
My DH was able to leave my pregnancy pillow with a porter the next day and once I had that it made sleeping much more comfortable. Try bring in one if you can and ask for more pillows if you are uncomfortable. I only really got the hack of how to sleep without discomfort on my third and final night in there and that was by surrounding myself with pillows so I could sleeping slightly on my side with pillows wedged between my stomach and bed, with my back supported by more pillows.
Also don't be afraid to ask for help lifting the baby in and out of the crib, again I didn't and it definitely led me to be in more pain than I needed to be.
Having all your bits in smaller individual bags helps to getting easy access, I used packing cubes which were very helpful.
Don't worry, I was so upset too when my DH had to leave and I felt very alone at first but there was a great sense of support with all the midwives and other ladies on the ward. The midwives were aware how difficult it was not having partners around and I felt they were particularly supportive as a result. On the flip side, I think me and DD bonded hugely over the 3 days I was in. I was sad I couldn't have visitors but it ended up meaning I really got to know DD without any interruptions. It also meant none of the other women had visitors so I didn't have to deal with large/loud groups of strangers passing through. Some of my friends have nightmare stories of what they have had to put up with from other ladies families. I was far less conscious of walking to the bathroom when I was in my nightee/attempting breastfeed etc when I knew the only people that might see me were midwives and follow mums

I had an elective c section in the middle of lockdown. All went fine, I had GD too, baby passed sugars etc.

I wish I could give you a positive post birth story about care on the ward but mine was atrocious. Speaking to other mums this perhaps isn’t just limited to Covid though, but in the end I had to self discharge to get the care I needed at home as I ended up making myself sore having to do so much too soon as no help from partner and not enough help from midwives despite buzzing (frequently would take 15mins plus to answer buzzer that I had pressed as baby was crazing to help me get to baby etc- I nearly ripped my sititches out at one point doing it on my own).

The only advice is just make sure you have a long charging cable and have everything set up round about you so you to make it easier

@SingingWren I feel exactly the same as you, it just doesn't make sense.
@Awjaysus some helpful advice thank you, wouldn't have thoufht to bring my pregnancy pillow
@Needsomehope this is exactly what I'm worried about, its mad I cant even think about the op itself just the fear of being left alone in pain and trying to sort a newborn.

I'm due to find out if I need a section which is more and more likely..... I literally hate the idea of needing someone else to help me 😣 I can think of nothing worse than not being able to get up etc and having to wait for someone to pass me my baby.... I guess if you can pick baby up you can do it all on the bed?
I read somewhere hospital want you to change them in there cots?? I'm really hoping that things change in the way of partners being allowed to stay in.......
Wondering also if I had to stay but baby was fine to go.... Can I send baby with my husband home? I know I won't want to do that because I will want squishes!! But was just thinking of every possibility lol

You do change them in the cots- if you lie to one side of the bed iyswim and use the handle on the bed for support you should be able to reach the cot.

@Avearage didn't think if it that way round, might be worth looking into