i had DD at 4.48am - had a midwife with us that had been with us for 5 hours (the one before that had been there 9 and the one before was 8 - so we got to know them lol) - DD was checked by the paed in the theatre, DH was handed her and she was bought over to me. she was taken up to the nursery for the time i was in recovery (less than half an hour) as i'd had a fever in labour and they checked her out. i was wheeled back into my room at 5.35 and i'd barely been transferred to the bed when she was bought in. i got cuddles, DH had cuddles, then he (with the help of the middy) put her in her own clothes rather than the wrap she was in. SIL was taking photos and was there for about an hour - i rang my mum and my brother to let them know she had arrived (and scared mum when i rang - was expecting DH), she was on the breast by 6 at the latest. SIL had a quick cuddle before she left, and then DH and I were left with her from then on.
had i not had the fever in labour, DD wouldn't have been seperated from me at all.
no one was called by the hospital to say she was there - i made the first call to my folks to say she had arrived, second to my bro, got SIL to take a photo with my phone, and while DD was getting dressed and stuff, i messaged everyone myself.
I was only separated from DS for a couple of minutes....just while they took him to have the cord cut and a quick check over by the paed & midwife. My partner was with him the whole time and brought him straight back over to me. I held him the whole time they were stitching me up, carried him into recovery and had him with me the whole time there doing first feed etc. I even got to cuddle him as they wheeled me around the hospital up to the ward etc.
If you make your wishes clear to the people looking after you, there really aren't a lot of reasons why they can't accomodate those.
And hun, if you don't want people sitting at the hossy waiting for you (i.e. family) and the big announcement, don't be afraid to ask your DP to tactfully let people know that its something for you and him to share and that people will get an opportunity for cuddles in good time. And its not hard to send an SMS or make a phone call once you're all settled on the ward. That's what we did.
FWIW my c/s was an incredibly emotional and an absolute blur....the last thing I would have wanted was knowing there was a room of poeple waiting waiting waiting to hear what was happening. All my energy & thoughts were taken up focussing on my baby and my partner, it was such a special experience I had no time for thinking about anyone else. If you feel strongly enough about it, talk to your DP and help him understand.
I meant to mention that with my 3 cs they all went to the SCN. I think they all go there for observation after a cs. I did get to see them briefly in the theatre then when I went up to the ward, but my last 2 I didn't get to see them for quite a few hours due to them being on drips due to low blood suagrs.
Ds3 was 11 hours old when I got to see him properly.. when DD was born I made them take me to her when she was 5 hours old.
If your baby is fine they will be brought to you in your room..
i agree - you don't have to have people waiting. i made it very clear from very early that no one was to be waiting. if they were, they'd not get near DD when she arrived as i wanted to do baby led attachment - plus that first little while was just about DH and I. my SIL was there as an additional birth support person and to take photos. she didn't try to touch DD, she was going to leave without a cuddle until i asked her if she wanted to hold her.
if you are concerned about others being there, simply tell them someone will call them when you're up to having visitors. my mum is a shocker for turning up too early, but i made it clear, told her i was exhausted and she coudl come in after lunch. when i was still awake at 10, i rang and told ehr to come over when she was ready. it takes 35 minutes from her house to the hosp - she was there in 40 lol
I was in a hospital in Adelaide. They explained all of this during the classes they offer. Maybe your hospital will do the same?
It sounds like you are having a planned c/s. I think that might make things a bit different from an emergency c/s. You can discuss your wishes with the staff before hand and hopefully they will be accommodating.
TBH I couldn't have cared less about being separated from DD. As awful as that sounds I was just too out of it and I didn't even hold her until I was out of recovery. They offered her to me, but I couldn't feel my arms, so that wasn't going to work!
with Jack he was born at 8.40am and was not well apgars of 3 etc, I didn't get to see him until 5.30pm when I demanded someone take me up to SCN
this time it is a schedualed C-sect I have asked for no visitors on day 1 and the hosp has it down on my paperwork that the only people to have access to boo is my husband and son...ABW bub will be int he room with me within 2hrs so long as bub is healthy and happy according to OB, bub will be shown to me straght away then checked by paed and wrapped then brought back to me for 5min or so ABW all is well with bub and myself then Jase will accopany bub up to SCN where they will wait till I am back in my room
I only got to look at Jimmy briefly and then DH had him. I don't know exactly how long I was away but it was probably about 45min I guess. When I got back to my room DH and DS were waiting for me.
The thing that annoyed me most though was that I specifically said I didn't want any family waiting whilst I was in labour (ended up with an emergency cs) but the MIL and DH's nana and uncle rocked up and they all got to touch DS before I did - that really erked me. I think I will be making myself deadly clear next time..
I had expressly said that DS was to come with me to recovery. My stupid MW still tried to take him away but I wouldn't let her and DH knew I wouldn't. So no separation here.
Don't worry about hospital policy... there is none. You are the patient and it is your right to not be separated from your child (unless there is a medical need of course). Stay strong, make sure your DP knows and do not let anyone try and talk you around. Ask them to show you their policy on the subject in writing if you have to - guaranteed they won't be able to!
DS and DH came with me to recovery and I was only in there for a short while. It aids in your recovery to have them there.
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