I would of loved to have someone else. they made me choose between my mum and dp to come in when i wanted them both so mum had been with me and dp through the whole labour process right through, and in the end didnt get to see the birth.. it sucked
PP, I hope you didn't misunderstand me. I'm certainly not incinuating that a support person would be trying to tell the medical staff what to do in recovery etc. I just felt it would be very upsetting for a caesar mum to be lying in recovery on her own for an hour or so whilst her partner and baby are down at the nursery and that it would be nice to have a familiar face sitting with them at the head of their bed. I did not realise recovery was one big open room without particians. I was out to it when I was wheeled to recovery (I had a general). And when I woke up out ot the anaesthetic crying the recovery nurse was right there and my student mid, my DH and my mum all came into recovery straight away with my little girl and she was placed on my chest before wheeling us down into one of the delivery suites to attempt a first b/feed. I can't imagine what it would have been like if I'd woken up and and had not been able to meet my baby and see DH & Mum straight away. Especially as I was so emotional when I came to.
I think you are totally entitled to that sort of support, I suppose its just up to the hospital. I can certainly say I wouldnt like to be alone without my baby any time, having a hand to hold would be nice if you had to wait and see bubs...
Melanie - where are you??!!! he he
spice - not at all, i am not leaning either way, i was just trying to give an insight on why they wouldnt perhaps let another person in a c/s
Recovery for a spinal is usually only about 20 minutes anyhow if all ok(general anaesthetic might be longer - but then there would be no one there - not even DH present as you would be asleep). As you know
It is hard as yes it isnt a single room for each patient in recovery - and usually family are brought in when you are well enough or come to enough to notice
but i definately understand - especially in an emergency sense when it isnt a book c/s and makes it all that much scarier!
I would have loved someone in recovery with me. The first time I was on my own as it was 1.30am but it wasn't too bad as I slept for a lot of it having been in labour for the 36 hours prior. The second time I was also on my own, maybe because it was a Saturday? This time I was wide awake just starting at the clock wondering when I could see my baby.
I agree with Sara_h, I was a bit lonely in recovery & would have loved someone there to talk to. From my other post I had a spinal epi but as it was so late it was over an hour before I went back to the maternity section.
I think having a doula/ceasarian birth attendant is a great idea especially if you are considering a VBAC because I imagine they can help with a birth plan & be able to help you to think & plan for things you may not have considered eg When I was in theatre I told DP to go with DS & be with him. DS had to go into a humidi crib because he had problems breathing & DP didn't realise I wanted him to touch DS as soon & as much as possible because I wasn't able to & he was too worried about me so my DS didn't get the physical contact as much as I wanted in the beginning.
Hi Ladies, thankyou for your replies so far! Yes the time spent in recovery would be pretty lonely. Pink Palace has a point though, it would be difficult to have people there when it is one big open room. My personal opinion is that if baby is well then there should be your partner, a midwife and your baby with you in recovery so you can attempt a b/feed etc straight away. It has been proven that it's sooo beneficial for mother and baby but still it's not routine practice in most hospitals. I guess it comes down to hospital resources though, which is a real shame.
Hi everyone, sorry for being so slow in posting. I hope that my thoughts will be worth the wait!!!
As Kelly said I have been a doula for mums not only having natural births but also those needing c/sections ? both planned and unplanned. And while I have also been in both the operating theatre and post-op, there has also been many occasions where I have not been allowed in either!
Being a doula, of course, I feel that any woman should be allowed to have who she wants to support her through her birth (no matter how it ends up) and the postnatal period. And it shouldn?t depend on the type of birth she has. But I?m also aware of the constraints of the medical system.
When I have supported in the theatre, I sit next to the husband and while he usually strokes her head, and then touches the baby when they arrive, I can hold Mum?s hand. I can give a bit of a running commentary (I don?t have a weak stomach, so I peep occasionally over the curtain) in a soft voice to Mum and Dad. I let them know about the procedures that need to be, and are performed, so they are fully informed. (If it is a planned c/section, I have gone fully over this at a previous meeting.) Nurses usually do take photos during the birth, and I can take them after baby has been presented to Mum and Dad. I am encouraging and calming to parents who are usually quite stressed in a foreign environment. I do not move around the theatre, because as Pink Palace said, there is usually not a lot of room, and there is no ?scrubbing-in? because I am not touching anything sterile. I never touch the baby; that is not my place. I do, however, wear ?scrubs?, just like Dad.
I have also been in post-op, sometimes when baby stays with Mum and they need someone to care for the baby if Mum happens to ?crash?, and Dad?s too emotionally close. I can then help with baby?s first feed, help to reposition baby and help to point out baby?s little ?attributes?. Sometimes baby and Dad go to the nursery, and Mum feels lost, and I can stay talking gently to her, supporting her. Post-op is a large, open area, but can usually be partly curtained off, giving privacy to other patients, and I don?t go wandering but stay close to Mum.
However, all of this is very dependant on the hospital, OB, theatre staff, anesthetists, and especially the parents. Remember that Dads in birthing rooms were unheard of 40 years ago and it was the demands of ?the consumers? that made it standard practice. If the parents don?t request/demand that they want their doula or a second support person to stay with them, then the medical staff/establishment will stay within the ?norm?. Parents need to put their wishes in their birth plan, talk to their OB, talk to their hospital, be reasonable but assertive. And it is up to the doula/extra support to be very professional and understand the constraints of the medical system, and be willing to work within them for the safety of the mother and baby. I always make it clear that I am not a medical professional, and will never presume to know more on medical issues than the staff that are looking after Mum (the patient). But I can also bring something special and reassuring to a (usually) frightening and stressful event.
Please feel free to let me know if you want anything clarified.
Hugs,
Melanie TLC Doula Support - Welcome Page
so mum had been with me and dp through the whole labour process right through, and in the end didnt get to see the birth.. it sucked
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to you.
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