Midwives not helping after C-section

Emma5557 · 2021-01-25T05:48:11+00:00

Hello, before making an official complaint I want to be sure I am on the right side. I got an emergency C-section at around 2am and after that I was moved to the post natal ward. The midwifes who followed me during the labour were excellent and told me to ask for help to the midwifes on the post natal ward anytime considering I could not move for the surgery. On the same day in the afternoon I got my catheter removed and I was able to walk, but still in pain while standing (obviously!). Most midwifes told me I needed to do things by myself like going from the the room to the end of the corridor to grab a bottle of water, or even lift up my luggage to take the clothes for my baby. How on earth am I supposed to lift a luggage after not even 24h from the C-section?!

FortunesFave · 25/01/2021 06:09

I had the same experience but I was not encouraged to ask midwives for help but to ask the care assistants...were there no assistants available?

Midwives are too busy to help with basic tasks.

Congratulations by the way! It is hard after a section but sitting or lying around won't help you get better...you really do have to start moving about right away.

I am not sure why you would have to lift your luggage to take some clothing out of it though?

Could you not just remove the things without lifting the whole bag?

emilyfrost · 25/01/2021 06:16

I am not sure why you would have to lift your luggage to take some clothing out of it though?

Could you not just remove the things without lifting the whole bag?

FortunesFave Not if she can’t bend down to the bag, no.

The midwives should have helped you, OP, so yes I would complain. There is no “too busy”.

You’re a patient in pain after major surgery; if you needed help they should have either helped you or found someone immediately who could.

I also had a section and couldn’t move around. The midwives had to help me with everything from sitting up to getting changed; there was no expectation to do it all yourself quickly because they were busy and there shouldn’t have been either.

Goslowlysideways · 25/01/2021 06:17

Congratulations.
You do have to just get on with it and hopefully get out of hospital asap! Ask your OH to get things for you so it's accessible. The more you move - with care obviously - the better.
Don't complain - they are really understaffed and this is just the way things are. I had an emergency c - section with my first and normal deliveries with the next two - so I know how hard it is.
You'll be home soon and then you can enjoy your baby. Hospitals are generally great at the deliveries but awful at the after care.
Congratulations.

Wateringcan27 · 25/01/2021 06:22

Hello, yeah that sounds like what happens to most ladies. I asked for pain relief not even two hours after surgery and was told I should be in pain as I had just had major surgery. I don't think the staff have time to help everyone, I'm not saying that's right but it's true.

NotThatKindOfDoctor · 25/01/2021 06:28

I’d just try and get out of there as soon as you can if I were you. With my third CS I went home less than 24hrs after just so I could actually recover and have someone (DH) actually help me to do things I just could not do. It’s so much more relaxing at home, which in itself is better for recovery.

Congratulations by the way!

Usermn78 · 25/01/2021 06:29

The woman is in pain and immobile 24 hours after surgery and expected to care for an infant.

Mumsnet : Congratulations! Get on with it and don't complain.

Can you imagine what postnatal care would be like if men had babies?

Op, it's good to gently mobilise but ask for help for everything else. And it's OK if this all feels awful. It is. You could pay off my mortgage and I wouldn't swap with you. It will get better soon x

khg1 · 25/01/2021 06:33

Another vote for trying to get home as soon as you are medically safe to do so. With my second c section, I was home by lunchtime the next day (even though I was in the private section and they like you to stay as long as possible). Once I was home, my husband was able to better help with the baby and give me a hand when needed. Plus it was lovely to be back in my own bed.

ivfbeenbusy · 25/01/2021 06:37

Honestly I think your expectations are way off.....I had an emergency c section for twins just over a week ago. Was on my feet in 6 hours visiting my babies in NICU and catheter out after 8 hours. Home after 2 nights. Midwives aren't maids. They want you up on your feet moving around because it helps with recovery and the pain is less. It's when you lie in bed all day barely moving that it hurts more when you do do something.

I was only on paracetamol and ibruprofen too

You have no basis for a complaint

Opticabbage · 25/01/2021 06:38

Sounds totally normal but you should complain, as should all women in the same situation. Immediate aftercare is often terrible. We all put up with it because we're so grateful our babies have been delivered safe and well, but it's really not good enough.

Usermn78 · 25/01/2021 06:38

This thread should be read out at nct classes, especially to the men.

pincushion91 · 25/01/2021 07:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SnuggyBuggy · 25/01/2021 07:20

Postnatal wards aren't really a suitable place for C section patients. Honestly I'd go home ASAP if there is someone at home who will help you. If they say you aren't medically fit for discharge I'd call their bluff on how you aren't being looked after. Remember you are the patient, it's not a boarding school and you aren't there to please anyone.

FigDate · 25/01/2021 07:26

Yes unfortunately this sound very familiar. I agree with pp who said get out of there as soon as possible. The aftercare is terrible and you are at your most vulnerable. The negative judgement from healthcare assistants when you’ve just given birth is mentally damaging. You need to be at home with partner or family support. Tell them you are leaving whether they like it or not. They will then have to give you whatever drugs you need and let you go.

FortunesFave · 25/01/2021 07:28

@Usermn78

The woman is in pain and immobile 24 hours after surgery and expected to care for an infant.

Mumsnet : Congratulations! Get on with it and don't complain.

Can you imagine what postnatal care would be like if men had babies?

Op, it's good to gently mobilise but ask for help for everything else. And it's OK if this all feels awful. It is. You could pay off my mortgage and I wouldn't swap with you. It will get better soon x

Yes I've been there...same thing...twice. The issue is that they just don't have the staff. You're better off at home. I remember asking an assistant for some water about two hours out of surgery and she said "It's at the end of the ward." and looked at me like I was a lazy cow.

I'm afraid I was quite abrupt and said "I"ve had an operation 2 hours ago...you can get it for me please." and she did.

But the point is, you should not be fighting for care like that...get home asap.

FortunesFave · 25/01/2021 07:29

@ivfbeenbusy

Honestly I think your expectations are way off.....I had an emergency c section for twins just over a week ago. Was on my feet in 6 hours visiting my babies in NICU and catheter out after 8 hours. Home after 2 nights. Midwives aren't maids. They want you up on your feet moving around because it helps with recovery and the pain is less. It's when you lie in bed all day barely moving that it hurts more when you do do something.

I was only on paracetamol and ibruprofen too

You have no basis for a complaint

I was like you but we shouldn't imagine ALL women are going to recover like we did. Perhaps some aren't the same as others...they might have underlying conditions or something else stopping them managing as quickly.

Sipperskipper · 25/01/2021 07:32

This is awful. I had a similar experience with DD (now 3.5) but obviously DH was there so helped with everything. The midwives on the postnatal ward were so, so busy and so thinly stretched. We were there for a week and it was horrendous.

DD2 was born in August (needed another elective section). I was terrified of dealing with everything without DH. Luckily we were able to afford a private section and it was totally different. The difference? Plenty of midwives and care assistants.

SnuggyBuggy · 25/01/2021 07:32

I think we should have higher expectations for post surgical care.

MistyMinge2 · 25/01/2021 07:35

I did not have a good experience after my first C-section. I felt really unwell by day 2 - vomiting, shaking and painful shoulders from referred pain. I struggled to hold my baby let alone anything else. I remember ringing the bell as I was feeding DS but suddenly needed to vomit. I knew I couldn't put him down safely and make it to the loo to be sick. I can't remember if it was a HCP or midwife that came, but I do remember being made to feel like I was being a drama queen.

I know how busy and under pressure Midwives are but in some hospitals the aftercare of women who have given birth is wholly inedaquate.

skankingpiglet · 25/01/2021 07:57

The treatment on postnatal wards is appalling (although I would say most is down to under-staffing rather than intended neglect) and your experience is commonplace. I've had 2 CS babies, and was on the ward for 4 and 5 days respectively. In no other part of the NHS would you be treated after such major surgery the way you are after a CS. I also totally disagree with the line spun about how getting you up and doing it all gently moving is beneficial to recovery: with DC1, who was an ELCS due to breech (so a calm and planned CS where the surgeon took their time), I was expected to be up and doing and fully caring for another human within hours on minimal pain relief that was never given on time. I found the recovery extremely hard and painful. DC2 was born by cat1 EMCS after a uterine rupture, and I spent a couple of days afterwards bedbound and hooked up to a mophine drip. The recovery was so much easier despite a much harsher surgery with more damage plus having a baby AND toddler to care for once home, and I credit it to being allowed bed rest and time to heal. To not allow this recovery time (and decent pain relief) after such a major surgery (which it is, no matter how 'routine' it is) is scandalous. I agree it most certainly wouldn't be the case if men were having the babies.

Pipandmum · 25/01/2021 08:05

When I had my first section the midwife told me to call if I needed to pick my baby up. I felt like I shouldn't but struggled to even sit up at that point and he was crying so did - only to be told by the mid wife answering that I shouldn't call just for that. Some midwives are brisk and expect you to be self sufficient and others are more caring and helpful - you really need them to be both!

OverTheRainbow88 · 25/01/2021 08:08

Sounds awful. I would keep ringing your buzzer and asking for help.

My sil had a section during lockdown when her oh couldn’t go to post natal ward. She was even bought cups of tea in bed.

dottiedaisee · 25/01/2021 08:14

I managed to get up first day but definitely needed help to get out of bed . I am a nurse and actually find it quite shocking how anyone after major abdominal surgery is expected to manage post op without any care plus a baby to care for.
I would complain about lack of staff and NO you should not be lifting a heavy bag,bending down etc ...your body needs time to heal . Definitely keep mobile..really helps with pain and risk of DVT .

MsHedgehog · 25/01/2021 08:39

I’ve not had my c section yet and this is something that really scares me. Especially now when partners are only allowed to visit you for around 2 hours a day and then you’re by yourself for the rest of the day.

I’ve had major abdominal surgery several times. Yes you are encouraged to move but never has it been just a few hours later, so not sure why it’s acceptable for c-sections. You also do need help and support lifting things. I was always told to avoid lifting anything for several weeks, yet again, you’re expected to do it all by yourself straight away after a c-section?

It seems the advice for abdominal surgery differs whether it’s a c-section or not, with the lack of care and support with the former being justified, but would never be acceptable for the latter.

I’m only 29 weeks so 10 weeks ago, but having a similar experience to OP and others here really scares me.

For those who have gone private, did you have the entire birth private or just the post-natal care?

Wishitsnows · 25/01/2021 08:48

If the midwives on the post natal ward are so busy, what are they doing? For years there are constant threads about no care for so many women after c sections. Do they just pick one person to care for and ignore the rest?

Chelyanne · 25/01/2021 08:55

Only thing my midwives did for me after my cesarean was get me some toast, that was because I hadn't had my catheter out and was in the furthest room from breakfast room. During the night I was left to get on with things, I was able to do the essentials though I did feel like a lead weight at 1st. After my catheter was out it was much easier, I had twins. Standard thing is to leave you to it unless you are very unwell, it's what you'd need to do at home anyway. I actually liked being left alone, hate people fussing.