What happens after the birth

[Strawberryshortcake28]

First baby baby currently 25 weeks
Just wondering what happens at the hospital after the birth like I know I'll have to take care of the baby change feed etc but when all visitors are sent home just say I need to use the bathroom what do I do with the baby also during the night with the night feeds I'm assuming in a ward everyone looks after their own so there's babies crying all night

With covid would I even be allowed visitors

You’ll have a little cot for your baby. They’ll be fine in there while you go to the loo etc. It should be on wheels so you will be able to wheel them close to you!
Buzz for your midwife if you need any assistance with anything.
Probably a bit difficult to tell 15 weeks out if visitor rules will be different then or not.

If you need to use the toilet you put the baby in the crib.

They do 4hr hourly checks/obs usually so it won't be undisturbed sleep. And not all babies cry during the night, it is very difficult to sleep on a maternity ward.

If you need to use the bathroom keep your curtains open if you are in a cubicle, and just go and use the loo.

Unless you have complications you should be out within 24 hours.

I doubt you’ll be allowed visitors aside from your partner. After birth all being well you will shower, pass a stool and water without issue, rest and go home. The baby is with you all the time, you can leave them in the hospital cot thing whilst you go to the loo- the ward isn’t accessible by just anyone- you ring to enter etc so it’s safe.

Yep everyone on the ward looks after their own baby, it’s nosy and most women just want to go home because it’s so noisy and it’s more relaxing to be at home.

It was a lovely time. After she was born, I cuddled her for a while, then DH cuddled her, then eventually I got up and had a quick shower in the adjoining bathroom while DH cuddled her. Then we went to the postnatal ward (I got to push DD there in her cot on wheels!).

They take you to your bed and you're left there. I'd advise you to ring the bell every time you want to try and feed the baby, and the midwives will help you with the latch.

There was a dining room with cold food and hot drinks available 24/7 and hot meals served twice a day. The first time I missed lunch as I didn't realise it was happening!

If I went anywhere, I wheeled DD's cot along with me, even to the toilet or bathroom. Other people left their babies in the cot by their bed while they went to the loo. The ward was secure so no one could walk off with them!

They provide towels.

The babies do sometimes cry in the night so bring ear plugs. The wards are staffed at night too so you can ring your bell for them to help you with breastfeeding in the night too.

Occasionally they would bring the drugs trolly around and offer you some pills. Occasionally a tea lady would some and offer you a cuppa.

Not sure about visiting, will vary by trust.

so there's babies crying all night

Apart from one baby, who her stupid parents didn't pick up until told to by a midwife, none of the 4 other babies plus mine cried that noticeably. The main issue I had was the annoying couple, who didn't pick up their baby, made lots of noise. The man snored loudly and they would argue in loud whispers.

Everyone else was considerate as there was a woman who had to be checked around every hour who wasn't allowed to draw her curtains.

If everything is straight forward you might not be there very long. When I had DS I gave birth at 9:00am and was home by mid-afternoon. DP was with me all the time between birth and going home. I have birth in the midwife unit of the local hospital so it was just one room for labour, birth and afterwards. I didn’t go to a ward at all.

If you have to stay in hospital after the birth (not everyone does) then yes, you would be expected to look after your baby while there and yes, the wards can be noisy and hard to get any rest on.

When I've been in, you're given a little crib on wheels that you can put the baby in to sleep. To nip to the toilet I just left the baby in the crib by my bed and went for a wee. If you were going to be away from your bed for a period then you could wheel the baby up to the midwive's station and they'd keep an eye on them. Going to the canteen for food you either wheeled the baby along in their crib, or left them at the midwive's station.

At the hospital where I had my second baby they put a tag on the babies ankle which set off an alarm if it was removed from the baby or the baby was removed from the ward! Seemed extreme but gave you peace of mind to leave the baby when you nipped to the loo!
I had her during the second lock down and your birth partner was allowed to visit for 2hrs a day once you were on the ward but no other visitors. I can’t imagine them being stricter than that but you never know!

If all goes smoothly, you only have to stay in hospital for 2 hours after birth (I'm pretty sure this is still the current rules). I was home 2 hours after each birth. People (completely understandably) share stories of complications, but a large number of births are very straightforward. Good luck OP and congrats!

Thank you and if u have to have s c section would it be any different just worried I won't feed or wind her properly since I haven't done it before just read the books hope I out her nappy on properly lol

I had my DD 2 weeks ago. After the birth I wad kept in the delivery suite quite a while as I had complications with blood pressure and bleeding but the staff were great and looked after me well.
I was encouraged to shower but was too unwell so a lovely midwife bathed me which was a bit weird but made me feel better. I was brought tea and toast and monitored closely.
Once stable i was moved to a ward with 4 other new mums and their partners.
Everyone has their curtains closed so it is very private.
You have 4 hourly obs day and night.
My husband was able to stay the whole time with me.
DD was in a crib next to the bed except when being fed. I could walk to the loo which was within the ward whenever i needed and showers were avaolable.
I was given food but DH wasnt fed although he had access to a kitchen area so could sort his own meals.
You get zero sleep on the ward though. Babies do cry so anyone who says they dont must have had an easy time overnight.
If you need it, ask for pain relief as they dont routinely provide it. If you need help with baby again ask for it and you will get help.
You will get conflicting advice though as each midwife will have their own thoughts on what to do.
Baby will receive a general infant healthcheck and hearing test before being discharged back to the community mifwife care.

Do they bath the baby after birth? As I've been told the mum now has to clean/wipe the blood off, instead of the midwives.

@Sabristhebest I have a 9m old. I was advised to try to hold off bathing the baby for at least a week because the vernix has a layer of protection for the babies skin.

I had a small tear so after the birth they took me for stitches, my husband held the baby in the same room with me (get him to take a picture of when they're on the scales of their birth weight! It's a good memento)
After my birth the midwives needed a urine sample as soon as I was able. They screen for something? Not sure.
I was asked if I needed a shower (I had a water birth so no need there!). And brought me sandwiches. And lots of maternity pads!
My health care assistant helped me do the first nappy and dress the baby. Then helped me latch. Showed me how to clean with cotton wool and water.
She then told me to buzz her each time I was going to feed her so she could get me off to a good start.
I was nervous disturbing her at night but I'm so glad a did.
My baby was very mucusy so need lots of help coughing up stuff through the night. I wouldn't have had a clue what was going on without the support.
They are very diligent about changing his crib sheets for each and every time he possetted / coughed up anything.
I had a friend who got told off for not changing her LOS sheets, but she had no idea she had to!
Let them help you check the car seat straps are the right tightness before you leave. We were so scared about that

If you're not sure on nappy changes and feeding, ask a midwife to help you until your happy. After they've shown you the nappy once, you'll be fine on your own. You hear bad stories but the midwives after my two births were very good.

In many hospitals, there is also the option to pay for a private room, if nobody has a clinical need for it.

With a c section you'll just be a bit longer in bed with a catheter in. I had my csection at 11am and in the evening the HCA helped me to the chair to freshen up, and the next morning they took it out so I could use the bathroom.

I'd recommend taking a pen and paper, or making a note on your phone of when baby has done a poo or wee, and when you have fed and for how long. The staff will ask you for this info but I found it really difficult to keep track.

Take snacks and drinks!

The little wheely cots are great. Baby will be fine in there while you pop to the loo. If my DD was crying when I was in the loo, a member of staff would go and give her a cuddle until I got back. They also took her for a bit at night when I was just desperately tired, so I could get a bit of sleep. I think most of the medical students ended up walking newborns around so the mums could rest.

In normal times at my local hospital, partners are allowed on the ward 24/7, it was like that when I had my 1st. But with my 2nd, last December, DH had to leave at 6pm. Honestly, the atmosphere was lovely - it felt like everyone was pulling together and they were so caring and supportive. Dont be afraid to ring the bell, keep up with pain relief and get their support.

Both mine were emergency sections. It's basically the same apart from you go to recovery to have a closer idea kept on you for a few hours before the ward. In our hospital they remove the catheter as soon as you get to the ward and then you have 6 hours to pee otherwise it goes back in for a while. With my second I went home the next day, was in longer with my first dùe to him being in Nicu. I had the option to stay longer if I wanted/needed help though.

Don't worry about knowing what to do, they are used to it. The 1st nappy I put on my eldest, he was in an incubator and I was terrified. The staff were lovely and supportive.

I had a section and it was lovely having the catheter in after peeing none stop in pregnancy! That came out in the morning and I could carefully walk to the bathroom then. I was a bit unsure if I was allowed to leave her to get breakfast! But it was fine.

One thing I wasn't prepared for was how busy you are in the morning, a paedtrician comes to check your baby, someone does a hearing check on them, a physio came with guides on recovery, the anesthetist came to review me, midwives checking BF, drugs trolly, lunch choices, it was endless! Not sure if that's the same for all hospitals.

I found having visitors too much. I was in for 3 or 4 nights as DS was on antibiotics and it was difficult to find done undisturbed time to really rest and sleep and visitors definitely didn’t help!

You may find that you don't end up having to go onto the ward. I had my daughter in May and because it was a straightforward birth and the place was not very busy they let us stay where we were in the delivery room until the newborn checks were done, then we were off. This suited me because the sound of people's babies crying really agitates me (not annoyed at babies, just agitated when they are upset). Staying where I delivered also minimised movement during the pandemic which was useful.

I had a forceps delivery with DD. Had a spinal in case it failed and they needed to do a section. So not allowed out of bed for 12 hours.

Had 18 hours on high dependency ward having checks every hour or 2, and a lovely nurse snuggled DD for me whilst I had a shower. Was made to change wards at 1am where checks became 4 hourly. They kept waking me up between the checks to feed (sleeping) DD. (Told them where to go.). DH only allowed to visit during fixed times so we were mostly on our own. Food was abysmal - apparently being vegetarian was very confusing and they kept forgetting to bring me anything.

Baby checked over the next morning and cleared to leave but they forgot to discharge me until gone 8pm that night (I was ready to just walk out but needed drugs and to confirm midwife would be giving me daily injections).

Was in hospital for just over 48 hours and couldn’t wait to get out. . (Had planned a home birth so having a hospital birth was disappointing.)

@RedWingBoots

so there's babies crying all night

Apart from one baby, who her stupid parents didn't pick up until told to by a midwife, none of the 4 other babies plus mine cried that noticeably. The main issue I had was the annoying couple, who didn't pick up their baby, made lots of noise. The man snored loudly and they would argue in loud whispers.

Everyone else was considerate as there was a woman who had to be checked around every hour who wasn't allowed to draw her curtains.

Same

Babies just want to be cuddled and it's lovely snuggling with a newborn.

DH was there for the birth and 2/3 hours afterwards. He did the first nappy change I was too shaky and uncomfortable to do anything......

Good luck!

DD was born at 6:30am. DH was told to go home from 8am till visiting hours at 10am……. (11 years ago).

I had no idea how to change a nappy, I rang for a midwife and asked for help, I said how would I know if he needed changing, I got a really lovely midwife who helped me, told me how often to change (I was clueless)