After A Caesar - How Much Help Did You Need In The Hospital?

[fionas]

I'm having an elective caesar in a few weeks (long story).

We have no-one who can look after DD while I'm there and the hospital is approx an hour away. We may be able to find/hire someone to look after her while DP comes down to the hospital, but maybe not.

I also have pelvic instability which means that I should get as much horizontal rest in the hospital as possible (on advice from my physio) who advises that getting as much bed rest in the first 24 hours is fairly crucial.

So, my question is, how much help did you need from your DP/DH when you were recovering in hospital. I really don't like the idea of buzzing for nurses each time I need to lift the baby but them's the breaks I guess.

I'm thinking maybe we try to get her into childcare for a few days, that way DP could be with me 9-5 before returning to pick her up.

Also hope to be discharged early and my ob reckons Day 3 may be possible but no promises.

[bubno.3]

Hi Fiona ... sounds like this pregnancy wasnt at all fun and games you poor thing
Where do you live ? As i know in melbourne you can hire nannies for overnight/ emergency care but it would be costly!
After a C section i know normally they the nurses would be getting you up out if bed the next day but that is with non complicated pre natal pregnancies. So yes they wouldnt mind you leaving your new bub with them in nursery (what hospital public or private) for the first 24 hrs so you could get that well deserved break. They would bring the baby to you to feed and so forth .... but its one of the roles to being a nurse to help the pt recover and if the physio and the ob says you need a 24 hr rest in bed well you should get it ....
What week do you meet your baby?
Cheers bubno.3

[Phteven]

For the first 12 hours I needed help to do just about everything. Don't feel bad about buzzing for the nurses because you'll be doing it a lot. After about 12 hours I felt really grotty so I got up and had a shower and got fresh sheets (I have no idea who made the bed now). I had to be helped to the shower but the more I moved the easier it was to move.

[fionas]

Yep, getting a nanny for DD won't be a problem but I would rather not have the baby in the nursery - I just don't want to be waiting around for half an hour for baby to be passed to me IYKWIM.

Caesar scheduled for 27 July, possibly earlier. I also have gestational diabetes so they're keeping an eye on that.

[fionas]

FI had to be helped to the shower but the more I moved the easier it was to move.

Apparently getting up to shower is OK with my physio but nothing 'extra'. Apparently I need to ignore all attempts to get me up and about asap as that will further damage pelvis.

[~mamaspice~]

Hi Fionas,

for the first 24 hours I was pretty much stuck in bed with IV and catheter etc so needed someone to help. My mum and DH were at the hospital for most of that first day but during the evening I just buzzed the nurses for help.
The next morning a middie helped me up and to get showered but pretty much from then onwards I was self sufficient. I could get in and out of bed and tend to bubs quite fine.
Hopefully this will be the case with you, although your pelvic instability issues could make it a little more difficult.

[HotI]

I didn't have a CS, but had a lot of difficulty with movement post birth (i have a neuro condition that sparked up post-birth). I requested a single room with a double bed and was given it, so if there is something you think you might need, please ask. The bed was able to be raised and lowered with a remote control, and also the head could be raised. I had bub with me at all times in the little plastic cot thing. I was able to raise my bed to the height of her cot and this allowed me to transfer her from cot to my bed without much lifting. I also used the bed to help me sit up. I would lower bed again for me to get out. Having a bigger bed also meant i could safely have bub on bed if i wasn't strong enough to put her back in the cot.

If you need help getting bub from cot to bed, just ask because the staff are there to help you. Get physio to write on your file that you will need extra assistance (if you think you will). If you need further assistance later, ask the social worker to refer you to services in your area.

take care,

Kate

[AnyDream]

I was in bed for the first 24 hours, after which time I was assisted to get up for a short while. I had a lot of difficulty moving from the bed, due to pelvic laxity. It was a couple of days before I was able to see a physio who didn't seem to understand the difficulty I was having so I just made do, or kept DH handy to help me up. I requested a single room so that DH could stay with me, we organised DD1 to stay with her FDC lady for a couple of nights, and then friends. Having DH there was a godsend, especially overnight because I really couldn't have managed to lift bubs at all by myself. The staff were quite happy to let DH stay, it took the burden off them from having to run in to help me with stuff, so we were pretty self-sufficient in that regard.

[boobaloo]

both my c/s were late afternoon, so by the next morning, i was showered, catherter out etc, and was self sufficient. i found the best thing to get over the c/s pain was to stand upright and walk around, obviously you can't do this, so you may need to ask for further assistance, but that's what the nurses are there for - they'll give you a hand with whatever you need.
good luck xo

[~mamaspice~]

both my c/s were late afternoon, so by the next morning, i was showered, catherter out etc, and was self sufficient. i found the best thing to get over the c/s pain was to stand upright and walk around, obviously you can't do this, so you may need to ask for further assistance, but that's what the nurses are there for - they'll give you a hand with whatever you need.
good luck xo

:yeahthat:
I agree, the sooner you can get up and keep moving the better. You'll recover quicker and wont be so stiff and sore.

[Mother Goose]

Ok, as a nurse, my first response is to slap your hand and say Don't be Daft Girl! If you need help, you press that Buzzer! It's what we're there for!!!!!. If it makes you feel better, explain to them at the beginning of the shift what your situation is (although they SHOULD already know).

After I had my c-sect, they actually put my DD on the other side of the room (idiots!) but once she was beside me, I couldn't lift her because I couldn't turn. So I simply kept her on my chest the whole time (I was flat on my back).

When you're getting in and out of bed, DEF sit the bed up as high as you can to get in and out - it makes it a lot easier for you. Request a monkey bar if they don't give you one and also a bed rail (I forget it's proper name right now) but it goes under the matress and has a thing that is vertical near the head - it helps you move in the bed. There are heaps of ways you can make it easier for yourself to get in and out of bed.

I found I had a LOT of trouble bending for the first couple of days. The first day (about 14 hours after birth) the nurses had to help me shower and dry myself as well as help me with my undies and pants.

Honestly hon, please do NOT feel bad about buzzing nurses. I won't lie and tell you we're all saints because there are some absolute cows out there - but it's our job and most of us enjoy it! Besides, you're not pressing the buzzer to get your jolley's - you're doing it because you need HELP! Press it!

MG

[AnyDream]

Ok, as a nurse, my first response is to slap your hand and say Don't be Daft Girl! If you need help, you press that Buzzer! It's what we're there for!!!!!. If it makes you feel better, explain to them at the beginning of the shift what your situation is (although they SHOULD already know).

Good in theory in a well-staffed ward, but for many of us the reality is you buzz and wait, and wait and wait. Those shifts change so often, it's hard to keep up with explaining your needs to everyone!

[Mother Goose]

Yes, but still press it. We might not come right away - but we will come as soon as we can. I know as a patient I've waited over 2 hours for my buzzer to be answered but I also know that is not the norm. And regardless of how busy a ward is, a patient should never feel they can't or shouldn't press the buzzer if they need help.

In regards to shift changes, in most wards there are 3 shifts a day. And in most wards, if your nurse is working a late followed by an early, they will get the same patients for both shifts - negating the need to explain to too many people.

So I still maintain Fiona, don't feel bad about pressing the buzzer. Press it as much as you need and don't be frightened to.

[fionas]

Thanks MG - I know you're right, I'm just no good at being dependent on other people. Makes me very uncomfortable. But hey, at the end of the day, it's only for a very short time and I'm not the first person to have a caesar so how hard can it be? I think I'll try and get a local babysitter/nanny for DD and see if they can babysit a couple of times, including putting her to bed before I have DD2. That way, DP can at least stay until very late the first night and DD should hopefully be fine with the babysitter putting her to bed. Hopefully by Day 2, the pelvis will be rested and I can be more mobile. Caesar is currently scheduled for 1pm but I think I should ask if they can do it earlier in the day so I get as much recovery time as possible before I'm left to my own devices.

[Lenny]

Is there an occasional daycare run nearby? You may be able to get DD in under the circumstances.
I had the baby on my chest a lot so that I didn't need to get up and down all the time for quick feeds, but nappies have got to be done, so calling for help is inevitable.
I guess your physio has given you a brace or tubi-grip or whatever you need to help your pelvis in the days/weeks afterwards.
This might sound silly but are they able to give you a c/s on a friday, then mayeb someone would find it easier to help look after DD over the weekend? DH brought DS1 with him to the hosp every day, and lots and lots of paper/pens/cars/blocks etc!
Don't try to rush your recovery.
Wishing you all the best.

[didispunk]

I am not sure where you are having c-sec but I know here in Geelong and a few other country vic , they start the elective c-secs at 1pm, no earlier. Then you are up and moving the next morning.

[fionas]

We should be able to get her into childcare - my issue is that means unless we hire a nanny/babysitter then DP would only be able to be with me for a few hours before leaving again to pick her up.

Day of the week makes no difference - we just have no family/friends who DD knows well enough. We might as well hire someone. The cost isn't an issue - it's the fact that I have to leave her with someone she doesn't know in order for DP to give me a hand, given that I've been advised to spend as much of that first 24 hours in bed as possible.

Before anyone else posts about getting up and about asap being the best thing for recovery, PLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEASE read my comments that I have specifically been advised AGAINST doing this because of my dodgy pelvis.

[didispunk]

When have they advised you to be up and moving? As Normally its 12 hours.. that is why I posted teh following day which is well over 12 hours and gives you time to heal and hopefully feel better.