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

[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.

[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]

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.

[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.