Midwives not helping after C-section

[Emma5557]

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?!

@NotThatKindOfDoctor

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!

How long was you actually in after section? Was this during COVID-19?

I’m so sorry to hear of the many bad experiences on this thread. I hope you have all recovered both physically and mentally. I also hope OP is okay.

I am already scared shitless about giving birth, I’m a FTM, due in April and I’ve been informed they will likely want to induce me a bit early due to my risk factors. The thought of an induction worries me in itself. After reading the whole thread I feel just as scared but equally as worried about the possibly of bad aftercare as much as I am about the birth itself. Although I feel more informed in the sense of to expect the worst care but hope for the best.

I know we are in a pandemic but as others have said I don’t quite understand why partners are not allowed to stay for at least a few hours afterwards. Especially when the midwives and HCA’s are so busy.

Does anyone know if it’s possible to pay for a private midwife to support you after birth? We are by no means in the money but I’m trying to think ahead and would feel happier if I knew I would have someone by my side to look after me and the baby in the first few hours. I hope to breast feed and I just feel so completely out of my depth with the thought of it all. Especially if I end up needing a caesarian and i’m numb and can’t manage to pick up the baby on my own. If DH could be there afterwards it wouldn’t all feel so scary.

Hi @ChillaxPeople. I looked into this and in the hospitals around me its very much all private care (@ £8-15k!) or all NHS care. No blend of both. Which hospital are you planning on? Standard of care varies hugely and maybe if you're happy sharing where you're going, we can help reassure you. I know that Gloucester and John Radcliffe have both given excellent post natal care throughout the pandemic, for example x

Hi @AuntLucy, thanks so much for your reply. I did wonder if it is either or and maybe I wouldn’t be allowed a private midwife to help with aftercare on an NHS ward.
I’m so pleased to hear you say Gloucester have given great aftercare as I am going to Gloucester Royal!

Hi @ChillaxPeople please don't worry too much. Everyone's experience is different so you may be pleasantly surprised. I'm on a group for mums on Facebook and it seems every hospital has different rules regarding how long visitors can attend.

When you give birth, you'll be in your own room and they don't move you immediately so you will have time with your DP in there before they move you. From memory, I think I stayed in there for about 3 hours after each birth which was plenty of time to ensure baby could latch, have a shower and feel a bit more human. When I had my DD, partners weren't allowed on the postnatal ward overnight so he couldn't stay with me anyway. In a way, this was actually nicer as I spoke to some other mums in the morning whereas he could stay when I had my DS and everyone just kept their curtains shut the whole time.

My tips for induction would be pack lots of snacks, put your favourite funny programmes on an iPad and bringing a birthing ball to bounce on : )

I would go home. Or see if you can transfer to a birthing centre nearby - they are a lot less busy and able to offer more support. I left hospital against advice because my son didn’t latch - but they weren’t actually offering any support so I didn’t see the point in sticking around. I went home and the next day was referred to a birthing centre about 30 mins away for some breastfeeding support and stayed overnight, so much better! I don’t know if that’s an option after a c-section?

@ChillaxPeople I'm so glad - I had my c-section there a month ago and the midwives were lovely, absolutely happy to help with lifting the baby in and out of the crib as much as I needed, feeding and changing, bringing cups of tea etc - you'll be fine x

Hi @Teakind - Thank you so much for your kind post I really appreciate it. I hope you and your little one are well.
(I’m starting to think about snacks already! 🙈)

Hi @AuntLucy - Thank you so much for your reassurance you don’t know how much this means to hear this! I hope you are recovering well and your baby is doing well too.
Can I ask you another couple of questions please?! Is there a Facebook group or some other online group for Gloucester Royal maternity/births?
How does it work with paying for a private room on the post natal ward (depending on availability)?
Thank you!

Hi @ChillaxPeople. In theory you book a private room on the day, if there's one available, but currently if a woman labours at Gloucs Royal and for any reason they're not sure of her covid status, she gets put in a private room until she leaves so she can't infect anyone else, so in reality there are never any available now.

Open wards are only 4 beds in each ward though, and with visiting so restricted it's quiet. I took earplugs for overnight, and an eye mask, and rested without problem when I wanted to. I quite enjoyed the companionship of the other women being there - the drugs etc meant I wasnt up to watching downloaded tv or even reading. I was in for 56ish hours, and just dozed, cuddled my baby, and let the world drift past. The routine of the midwives doing their rounds, the other new mums arriving and being discharged, it was all very soothing and just enough distraction, without being overwhelming.

I had my c section 7 weeks ago and was horrific to say the least I had to have an emergency due to my baby's cord round his neck this was at 10.30pm I was moves up to the ward at 2 am which point I needed a no 2 I had asked the midwife to get a commode they don't use them on the maternity ward apparently 😢 so she walked me to the toilet with pools of blood coming out of me the whole way and then left me there I had to scream for my partner to come ans help me back to the bed also pain relief was a joke this was 3 and a half hours after c section they let my partner stay as they didn't want to help me up and down to the loo and discharged me that evening at 8pm not even 24 hours after gosh was so happy to go home bad bad bad treatment of women after sections

Congratulations on the birth of your baby. Your experience is absolutely disgraceful. Please complain when you feel up to it.