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

[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.

[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.

[fionas]

24 hours. I know it's normally less. I have SPD which means my pelvis needs the extra rest time. Given that it took me 18 months to recover from the birth last time, believe me, I'll be following my physio's advice TO THE LETTER.

[feeb]

Up and moving 12 hrs after a cs is the norm as you need to get moving to avoid DVT.

Most woman need help up to the shower and once up are ok.

First 12 hrs you will need help, buzz the mw that's what they are there for to help!! They know that after a cs woman are stuck in bed and don't like feeling helpless.

After I was up I showered then bathed baby and was doing eveything for myself. You are different as you have SPD severly but you still need to get up and do things for you and your baby. They will not be asking you to walk a marathon but to get out of bed to change baby, etc is not to much giving that you can lie in bed to feed etc.

[Janie]

Fiona, I was up and having a shower about 16 hours after my c/s. It wasn't so much that I was sore (still numb, and doped up ) I just literally couldn't move well, at all. I managed to shuffle into the shower, then sat down on the stool to wash. I couldn't dress myself, DH had to do it for me (well, bottom half) and I ended up using a wheelchair to get to SCN once I was dressed and ready. I didn't use it to go back to my room though just took it slowly. So yeah, it probably was about 24 hours until I could manage okay on my own. And even then, it was still pretty slow for another couple of days.

Good luck, it's not an easy situation you're in. I hope your DH can be there AMAP, but if not BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ! That's what they're there for, do NOT feel bad

[starangelk]

Hi Fiona - I had a CS about 5 weeks ago and TBH I could barely do anything for 48 hours. I had mine at 8am and was in bed with a cathader until the next morning. The next morning they took the cathader out and got me up to shower but I pretty much fainted in the shower, later finding out my iron levels were low as I had lost some extra blood during the delivery. So I was back in bed until the following morning. I really only got out of bed in the evening on day 3! My DH had to do everything - change her nappy, bath her, get her in and out of the cot and also keep an eye on me while I was feeding her as I was REALLY quite out of it for the first 36 hours from the drugs and low iron levels. I realise that you can't get up as soon as possible and in reality, I didn't get up for ages either so wanted to share my experience with you. I, like Kate said had a private room and DH could stay overnight BUT if I wasn't out of it, I think I could have raised the bed to cot height and lifted her in and out myself and cared for her that way. I think you will be able to make it work as long as you are able to sit up....... Best wishes.