If you’ve had elective c-section can you tell me…

[CookieAubergine]

…what happens after baby is born?
I get the bit about going in, going for the op, baby arrives. Then what, go to the ward?
If I can’t go home til the next day what happens for the next twelve hours? Look at baby? Will baby feed?
Do I Read a book? Telly? Do I get dinner? Will I get any sleep?
How long will anaesthetic last? Will they get me out of bed to move around same day? Will it be for me to change nappies or could that be a struggle?
I’m not seeing the midwife for a couple of weeks so if anyone could advise I’d appreciate it. I know I sound ridiculous btw!

Hi there . So after the section you will get wheeled to recovery where you will do skin to skin and feed baby for the first time . After about 30min-1 hour if they are happy with all your stats etc you go to the ward with baby . At the ward you will get food etc they will come around and take orders and if you missed that part they will arrange food for you . They will usually get you tea and toast after the delivery as you will be so famished after fasting . The will want you to rest for the first few hours and if you are in a lot of pain they will give you pain relief (oral morphine / IV paracetemol / Suppositories that are amazing !). They will want you to fill a few catharers to make sure your kidney function is good so you will be asked to drink lots of water . Say 6-8 hours later they will want you to try get out of bed and move around . At this point they will want you to be the main support for the baby. This can be tough if the pain is bad and baby is awake a lot . Just keep asking for the help and don’t let them make you feel bad for asking - you just had major surgery ! But it’s important to get up and walk around to speed recovery and prevent clots. You can bring a book / iPad yes but it all depends on how settled the baby is . They feed little and often in the first few days so that will keep you busy . It will be a struggle those first 24 hours . But then you will feel a tonne better . I had my daughter 10am and was gone by 3pm following day . The whole day she was born was hard but I was so much better the next morning. I went hone and didn’t even need paracetemol or ibuprofen it’s amazing how quickly you can recover from an elective !

Big tip! Once they take the catheter out, try and go for a wee every 30 mins or so until you manage. Don’t do what I did (wasn’t told and completely left - shit hospital) and not wee until it’s too late and you end up with retention!

@SaraKitty thank you sooooo much, more info there than I’ve got from hours of googling
@MrsM2021fab, that’s noted, thanks!!

I've been told to prepare for one...

Baby arrives, you spend time in recovery. Your birthing partner can stay with you for this bit, even if it's outside of visiting hours. After an hour or so, if you're well enough to be moved to the ward, your birthing partner will leave (unless it's visiting hours) and you'll be taken to the ward.

I've been told that they'll offer food and drink now, and you'll be looking after the baby, which can be sore, but they'll help if you need it. After six or seven hours, you'll be encouraged to get up and walk around a bit if you can. Whether you can read or watch TV etc here depends on how settled baby is and how you feel.

I've been told to prepare to be in for 2 - 3 nights for a first C-section. Right now my hospital only allows one birthing partner and no other visitors, but visiting hours are basically the same as they used to be, so it's a good four/five hours a day. Some places do rapid release so you can home within 24 - 48 hours, but my hospital has suspended this during Covid.

Sleep depends a lot on your baby, and the other women/babies on your ward, much like any other hospital stay really...

I'm not really relishing the idea, but I've got my head around it as much as I can. Best of luck to you

Yes and the gas pains can be bad , bring peppermint tea or peppermint capsules from Holland & Barrett . They will want you to have a BM once the anaesthetic has wore off to make sure everything is working . When I went home I was really backed up I wished I had asked for some lactulose or stool softener at the hospital first before going home.

Loads of cross-posts there, sorry!

Mine was an emergency section, but I was in the recovery room for 4-5 hours - DD born at 3.25pm and I went up to the ward about 8.30 I think?

The first few hours are all blurry. Even if you're prepared for it, you've just had an anaesthetic which can make you woozy/ shaky/ nauseous. DP was with me, and the midwife who stayed in the theatre with me stayed the full time, writing up notes, chatting, asking me if I wanted to try breastfeeding, generally doing little bits of baby care. I was offered a sandwich about 5-6pm as the shakes started slowing down.

Up on the ward, I had a nurse come round and offer me more food/ drinks, to see if I've attempted breast feeding and offer support, to take my obs and give pain relief. DP was allowed in for the first hour to help settle us, the ward was open to partners staying but 10-7am the doors were locked and partners were in or out. They didn't have anywhere to stay, it was sitting in a chair, but there was a kettle, tea, coffee and microwave for drinks and snacks.

It's scary to think, but baby care is on you right away. All of it. You've just had surgery, but you need to learn how to sit yourself up, pick the baby up, feed and change a nappy on this brand new person, in the middle of the night, in the semi dark as it's a shared room. If you can practice, do! Treat it as a bonding experience if you can- this event won't ever happen with this little person again.

Bring a thick dressing gown cord with you. One of the hardest movements is sitting up, as it uses so many stomach muscles. If you tie a cord to the bottom of the bed, you can pull yourself to sitting earlier.

Oh, and unless baby is sleepy, there's not much opportunity for TV, books, etc- you're no doubt knackered, little one has various needs, and it takes forever to go to the toilet. Time flies!

I wasn't offered food. I really wanted some but the midwife once I got on the ward wanted me to wait in case I was affected by whatever drugs I had and was sick. No amount of explaining that I sail through every painkiller, general anaesthetic, sedation, etc would do it she was convinced that any sniff of food would have me vomming like a good'un. Fortunately I'd packed snacks

I was on my own for a lot of the time because I was a single mum. It was fine but the one thing I found difficult was reaching over to lift up my baby who was by the side of me in a separate bassinet. Some hospitals are amazing and have started using co-sleeping attachments, I could have done with one of those! I got a midwife to help me when I could but there was a big emergency so a lot of the time unfortunately I was left to it. Thankfully it was my second child so I knew I could be a bit gung ho and sort of....grabbed the top of his babygro and hauled him up. Kind of like a cat would lift a kitten up by the scruff of the neck. He survived but yes, do shout for help if for whatever reason you don't have a partner with you.

Do try and sleep while your newborn is still exhausted from the birth. They're generally very sleepy for a good while after being born. I utterly failed to take my own advice and was riding high on adrenaline and excitement and spent the whole time just gazing at him. Just as I started to feel exhausted he got hungry. Ask for all the help you can with breastfeeding, it does feel weird at first but it really shouldn't be agony (assuming breastfeeding is the way you're going but even if bottles is the way you're going make sure you're confident with that too!)

I was eager to get out as soon as possible. The ward was loud, all the other women had partners who ignored the instructions that the ONE toilet in the ward was for use by patients only, all the babies set each other off crying....it was hell frankly. Oramorph does nothing for me so as that was all they were offering once the big stuff was wearing off I stuck to paracetamol and ibuprofen and shuffling about because I knew it would get me out sooner. I was out less than 24 hours later (again, second baby and felt ready to go. Plus I heal really speedily from surgery etc. Don't go until you feel ready and if the stronger painkillers are working and what you need then take them. Nobody gets a medal for this shit but seriously, walking and getting active really does help). Not all wards are horrible btw. My first was born in a different county and that hospital was exclusively private en-suite rooms (NHS!) Thank goodness as well because that baby was in NICU and we were in for ages.

My DS was boob obsessed as soon as he woke up from the birth so I found that as long as he was latched on I actually did have plenty of chance to skim a magazine or dick about on my phone but if you have a partner you may prefer to talk to them. Or not

Mostly just huge congratulations and good luck! I'd do it all again in a heartbeat my ELCS was light years away from my first EMCS birth!

I've had 4 sections. Straight after you go to the recovery ward, where you are checked over for about half an hour, then onto the ward where you stay. They normally take out your catheter and try and get you up within a few hours.

I had an emergency section under general anaesthetic with my first. He was born at 6.30am. I think I was in recovery until 8 or so then to another room on the labour ward (all very blurry due to the anaesthetic!). Unfortunately my son had to go to neonatal for a few hours straight after birth but I was encouraged to get up and walk across the room within the first 4 or 5 hours while we were waiting for him to be well enough to come back to me.

A midwife stayed with me and my husband the whole time we were on labour ward until my son was well enough to be back with us and I had come round enough, and had stood, walked and had a little wash. She helped me to hand express some colostrum to take to neo natal and help me to feel comfortable. We then went up to the post natal ward. I found the moving around, especially the sitting, the most challenging bit, but had a bed with a button to raise and lower the top which helped.

I found the first night hard, totally exhausted after a long labour and no sleep, and having to get him in and out of the cot when you can't use your stomach muscles to sit! I did call the midwives a lot to help and I think at one point they came and took him for a wander around! I was massively surprised by the amount of blood loss (thought somehow by having a section there wouldn't be much!) especially when standing/showering.

I hope it goes really well for you. I was surprised how rapidly at home I did recover.

I’d be prepared that baby may need bottles, but they’ll have them there if you don’t produce milk - I didn’t. If you do want to bf, tell your MW now- any problems and they’ll help you. Good luck

Arrived at hospital at 9am for my ELCS but didn’t actually go into surgery until 5pm due to emergencies. Was back in the recovery room by about 6.30 and had skin on skin and began breastfeeding for the first time, helped my an amazing midwife. Then had some tea and toast which tasted like the best thing I’d ever had I was so hungry by then. We then went down to the ward at about 9pm and my partner had to go home. I spent most of that night just staring at this incredible thing we had just created! Was offered a sandwich and had a cuppa. Had taken in my own snacks so ate a lot of fuite. Did a lot of feeding and cuddling and tried to get a bit of sleep. Felt like I was constantly pressing the bell for the midwife but you mustn’t lift baby yourself so they were so lovely with helping me put baby in and out of the cot. Also I was so thirsty so they were constantly filling up my water! Think they took my catheter out at about 6am and then they helped me go to the toilet for the first time. After that I made sure I was going to the toilet every hour just to try and get back to normal. I also changed into some new comfy pjs I had brought in with me. A lovely lady brought me some breakfast(more toast!) and she was constantly coming round with tea coffee and biscuits which I took full advantage of. Different midwifes we’re coming round the whole time checking your stats etc and giving pain relief if you wanted it. Another midwife came to check over the baby at about midday and then my partner was allowed in for visiting hours at 2pm. We left the hospital at 6pm. To be honest it went so fast that I didn’t even think about watching tv or reading something. You spend so much time feeding and staring at your baby and then trying to get bits of sleep or all went very quickly. And I should add that I had been so nervous on the lead up but it was the most incredible experience of my entire life and the recovery has been absolutely fine. As a PP mentioned I was shocked by how painful the trapped gas and after pains were so make sure you keep on top of pain relief and if get some peppermint capsules and lactulose to have at home. Good luck and enjoy!

Commenting to follow post as my elcs is in 4 weeks today :)

I took my ipad along and watched shows in between feeding and took magazines too. I was sent home after 24 hours and they get you walking around after abput 12 hours...woke me up at 1 in the morning to get walking!
Oh and you have a shower too. The time goes pretty fast!

Can anyone tell me what happens if you are not intending to breastfeed? How do you bottle feed - how do you make up the formula and sterilise etc whilst in hospital? I'm likely to be in for 3 days. Vx

I didn't breastfeed. I took in the little bottles of premade formula that come with a one use sterilised teat but my hospital provided formula, it was in a drawer with the blankets on my ward that you just helped yourself to.

I was in for 5 days but that's because DD was badly jaundiced and needed treatment and we were waiting for infection cultures to come back.

For me, I asked the midwives to sit me up straight away after surgery, so I recovered sat up, slept sat up for the first night, so the pain wasn't pulling myself up into a sitting position but standing upright when the catheter was taken out. For me that seemed easier - plus I hate lying flat on my back!

I spent maybe an hour in recovery before being wheeled down to the ward. My DH stayed the first two nights to help with night feeding and general taking care of DD. The third night I was by myself but by then I was pretty much fine so was no biggie shuffling around getting things for DD.

My biggest concern was what I should do with DD when I went to the toilet and DH wasn't there! For my first BM I ended up taking her in with me all swaddled up in a million blankets because I didn't want to be stuck on the loo and hear her cry!

I went straight from theatre to the ward after my section. They tried to put her on the breast as soon as we got there but she was too mucusy so wouldn’t feed. I don’t have much experience after that as my baby was taken to special care within the hour where she stayed for a few days.

The anaesthetic wore off over 3-4 hrs and I could slowly start moving my toes etc. The nurses keep you topped up with painkillers but if they don’t give them a call and they’ll bring you some. I had my catheter taken out that same night and they encouraged me to go to the toilet, as they want to see you pass a certain amount of urine before discharging you. That first walk after surgery is tough but it really does help to get moving. I was discharged myself on day 2 and given Clexane to take for a week. I removed my dressing in the shower before going home too.

The midwives help loads, they helped me get dressed for the first time and with baby whenever I asked. I took my iPad to watch films and earphones for music, they brought me food on their usual round and kept me topped up with water and tea.

Def agree with pp to try and keep propped up! That first night I got up and about a couple of times but wouldn’t have been able to from lying flat position. I slept with lots of pillows and the bed with the back up:

@L1ttleb1t I don’t know if it’s hospital specific, but mine says to bring the pre-made formula in the little bottles ready to feed. They don’t allow you to sterilise or use powdered formulas on the Labour ward, however you’ve given birth.

They advise taking 8 - 10 of the ready-to-go bottles for each day, and to have enough for 3/4 days for a first C-section.

@L1ttleb1t I did combo feeding as my daughter was very unsettled and I thought she wasn’t getting enough from my colostrum . I brought in my own ready made formula although the hospital have some too . But they feed so little from those bottles like 1oz and then I remember you aren’t supposed to re-use the little bottles so I had a lot of wastage . Find out if your hospital provides them that’s the easiest.

@L1ttleb1t my hospital provided little bottles of pre made milk - you could choose what you wanted and they would go and get them for me.

@Suzi888 Was that recently? Mine stopped that in 2019, there are big posters everywhere saying they will no longer provide premade milk. I thought it must be a bigger policy, perhaps my Trust just can't afford it now.

Also following ahead of mine in three weeks! Sorry to hijack but can I ask - once you were home, how long until you were ok to: lift the baby by yourself and drive your car? Also can you shower and bath straight after a c section or do you have to wait?

[quote TakeYourFinalPosition]@Suzi888 Was that recently? Mine stopped that in 2019, there are big posters everywhere saying they will no longer provide premade milk. I thought it must be a bigger policy, perhaps my Trust just can't afford it now.[/quote]
@TakeYourFinalPosition ooh no it wasn’t - it was 5 years ago.
Might be better to check with the hospital then! Sorry @L1ttleb1t.