What happens after you give birth?

[PinkPunch]

After you see your baby for a while.. is it taken away while you wash or rest? Sorry if thats a silly question.

But I picture being knackered and wanting to sleep meanwhile my family will all be holding the baby

 

[Minxy]

Your baby is just as shattered as you and will sleep most of the first 24 hours.

With us, everyone got sent home after I was moved up to the ward and baby and I both slept solidly for 12 hours

 

[trixipaws]

i held melissa for a bit then my boyf held her while i was stitched and had a shower. then my family came round and passed her around lol i thought id wanna sleep too as i hadnt slept for 40 hours and hadnt eaten for 12 hours but i totally forgot about food and sleep lol!

 

[Snuggle]

I didnt need stitched so I had some toast and tea then shower and coz it was late Chris had to leave and I lay in the ward watching my baby all night coz I couldnt sleep

 

[Lou]

I found I went into super mum mode and didnt have hardly any sleep while I was in hospital. I didn't get much when I got home either. My SIL had her son taken away and cared for in a nursery at the hospital so she could sleep but I was left to get on with it. I even had to push Isaac in his cot on wheels down the corridor to go and get his feeds. Was good to get up and about but I did kind of expect more help from the midwives tbh.

If you breast feed they fuss you alot, if you bottle feed they don't. Thats my experience anyway

 

[Babylicious]

I remember being in delivery room for an hour after the birth, Paris was washed and dressed by midwife and I was stitched up. Had some grub and then went down to ward it was 10.30am in the morning so ex didn't go home then all his family turned up but tbh i wouldn't have been able to sleep

 

[andreag]

I held C first and then I fed her while I was being stitched up. OH got lots of cuddles then as well, and he and MW dressed her. we then got tea and toast and I had a shower before we went down to the ward. I never sleot at all though even though I had not had any sleep for 48 hours - too excited!

 

[Nic'n'Keeley]

I held Keeley first then delivered the placenta(sp) then was stiched up from them cutting me while my ex held her..then me and Keeley were taken to the ward where we were left for visitors to come see us i didn't get any food for ages i made my ex go buy me loads of mars bars When i was in labour i was soo tired but once she was born i just wanted to hold her

 

[Minxy]

You lot are amazing, I was flat out for hours!

But then I'd already been in hospital/labouring for FOUR DAYS by then and hadn't had a bloody wink, horrible noisy, stuffy places.

 

[PinkPunch]

Reading all this makes me feel more inclined to have a home birth if possible. Some hospitals seem good, but most don't. I like to feel in control and I would hate it if MW / Family / Visiting hours dictated when I should be doing things.

 

[Minxy]

Reading all this makes me feel more inclined to have a home birth if possible. Some hospitals seem good, but most don't. I like to feel in control and I would hate it if MW / Family / Visiting hours dictated when I should be doing things.

I can't imagine anything lovlier than climbing upstairs to a fresh bed with my new bundle

I was in 8 days altogether and it's scary how quickly you become institutionalised. I felt wierd walking on carpet when I came home

Good luck making your decision xxxx

 

[elaine22]

I was left to get on with it. I even had to push Isaac in his cot on wheels down the corridor to go and get his feeds. Was good to get up and about but I did kind of expect more help from the midwives tbh.

ditto. The delivery team were great but with the aftercare it kind of felt like the staff thought you were a nuisance.

 

[lisa282]

I had a lovely time after birth, contrary to most of the other posts. I gave birth in a small local hospital and the maternity unit was really exceptional, they had loads of time for me and gave me loads of help and advice. After birth, I got stitched up and had a shower while OH had baby. By the time I was cleaned up and walked to the ward, it was visiting time so my mum was already waiting by my bed. Spent a couple of hours with her and baby while OH went home for some rest. Then we were left to it, and tried to sleep but was so overtired I just ended up staring at my baby most of the time! He slept for the first 5 or 6 hours after birth then was awake for feeding about every 3 hours for the next couple of days. Didn't get much sleep but did have plenty of time to rest and relax before going home, and whenever it all got a bit much, the M/W would take him for a walk around the ward or sleep in their office for a bit so I could chill out. They were really great helping me with feeding and bathing and general care, as I hadn't got a clue what I was doing!

 

[*saulino*]

Hi

With both i had c-sections so i didnt even get to hold them really got one picture with all three of us then they were taken away weighed ect then Bernie got to hold them while i was in recovery .
With Kiaras birth it was after midnight by the time i came to my room all the family were done visiting so it was just us three and i fed her then went to sleep.
With Kadyn it was a planned morning c-section so same as above except i fed him then all the family and friends came and saw /held him

Katrina

 

[Redshoes]

Mine was slightly different as we were in theatre.. Isaac was shown to me and then he was taken away for checks, and his hand cannula putting in (OH went with him, as we'd agreed should this situation come up, I didn't want him being alone)
I was then taken to high dependancy unit, where I just passed out from tiredness and drug overdose. I woke when OH brought Isaac into me, the ward was dark and empty and it was lovely, just the 3 of us, breastfeeding Isaac
I was then moved with Isaac to an ante-natal ward, where he was put into a crib to the side of my bed. Isaac wasn't washed, I didn't want him to be, and I wasn't bed bathed either (I had a shower later that evening, I couldn't walk so was unable to wash sooner, but washing really wasn't on my mind, I wanted to hold my baby, end of )
The hospital I was in has a no lifting policy though which is worth being aware of, they will not lift you into a sitting position, you have to do it yourself with a rope ladder attached to the bed footer.
Just remember you can say no to anything they suggest if you don't want ie washing wise, some women need to wash after birth, some don't mind waiting a while, either is fine And just because someone had a negative experience in hospital, doesn't mean you will too, just make sure you and your OH know what you want and make it known, MW's and nurses can take over somewhat if you let them

 

[GBLiz]

i would hate for my partner only to be allowed in to see me and the baby durig set visiting hours i'd want him there all the time

 

[muppetmummy]

I had James in hospital at 5.30am. After I'd given birth and he'd been cleaned up I gave him his first breast feed whilst the placenta was being delivered. (I didn't even know it was coming out until they showed it to me! I was too preoccupied with James!)
Then when all that was finished my family came in for a quick peek.
Next I had a bath and took him in the bathroom with me in his cot, then we both went to bed and got some sleep.
James was very sleepy for the first couple days due to the pethidine I had in labour, will try and give it a miss this time.

 

[Redshoes]

i would hate for my partner only to be allowed in to see me and the baby durig set visiting hours i'd want him there all the time

Being in hospital 8days that was one of the hardest things, I got extremely low because of it and it hindered our bonding properly as a family, it is sad partner's cannot stay overnight, but they do get longer than visiting hours

EDIT: Most MW lead units have family rooms so OH can stay with Mummy and Baby

 

[newmum]

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