I'm curious

This morning I had a little memory come back to me about my c/s. It was relating to how long between DS's birth and me being cleaned up. The first time I remember being cleaned in any way (sponge bath) was 2 days after his birth. 3 days after I was admitted to hospital.

They left me in my bed, unable to move, dirty and stinking all that time. I had no pants on, just a pad shoved between my legs which everyone got to see when the time to get out of bed did arrive. I was humiliated.

Surely it's not right to leave a woman so long before cleaning her up a bit? I wasn't even tended to once I'd stabilised and been taken to the ward (before the incident that landed me in ICU on a ventilator). I sat there from 6am-1pm and nobody came to help me clean up. I was so out of it I didn't even think of it.

More and more I'm realising how I was treated like an animal. Shouldn't they have bathed me before another round of surgery? Shouldn't they have bathed me while i was unconscious AFTER surgery then?? I don't know...... what were your experiences with bathing after c/s?

-Just wanted to add, I'd also laboured for 12 hours before the c/s. So was rather sweaty and dishevelled from the get-go. Geez, for all I know they did bathe me and I just don't remember. But I have a hunch they didn't judging by how I felt when I woke up. Filthy.

Oh hun... I cant imagine what it would have been like :(
I am so sorry this has happened to you! Hugs!!!


Sent from my iPhone so sorry for the spelling and punctuation!!

I was up the next morning and showering on my own. I can't remember whether I was wearing my own clothes at that point or not, but I was dressed once I was in the ward, I was doing skin on skin or breastfeeding pretty constantly so was half naked a lot of the time anyway.

I was really excited about the shower, and it was only about 12 hours, so 3 days without a shower and with 12 hours of labour sounds awful. They really didn't treat you well at all, not in any capacity.

Sorry you had such a horrible experience :hug:

I had my c-section at 10:20am and was given a wash down in bed at about 7pm that evening. I also went all day with no undies and having the midwives change the pad every few hours, very embarrassing :redface: I guess thats just what is done. I had the catheter in until the next day so didn't get out of bed for a shower until the late morning the day after my c-section.
I had an 'elective' c-sect though so wouldn't have felt nearly as yucky as you would have after labouring for 12 hours. I don't remember too much detail about the day of the birth as I spent the whole day throwing up :(
Once again, I'm so sorry about how you were treated :comfort:

Oh sweety :hug: You didn't receive any care whatsoever. I remember you posting earlier - not quite sure where you are at with taking things further with your hospital but I hope you are making a formal complaint and to numerous authorities.

I had one c/s at 9am and the other at midday. With both I was given a sponge bath later that day, and then was up for a shower the following day with both. Jut posting to let you know that this is what should happen - what happened to you is in no way normal, ok or acceptable :hug: I am so sorry you went through this darl xoxoxox

I had a c sect at midnight, stayed in a hospital gown with the midwives changing the pads until the morning when I at least got undies and my own pads on. I had a shower later that morning with a chair just in case I got dizzy.

I have no experience with c/s, but what you say doesn't surprise me, sadly. A friend of mine went into early labour at 22 weeks, they managed to stop it thankfully. She was in hospital on complete bed rest, and the first sponge bath she had was when a group of her other girlfriends got together to cheer her up and do her hair and nails etc. This was a WEEK after being admitted - so she'd been laying in the same bed, same clothes, slowly leaking amniotic fluid for a week, and they did nothing. Absolutely shocking.

You know, that's a really good question. I have no idea. I had my c-section at 1.30pm, was back on the ward by 6pm and spent the rest of the night vomiting. I buzzed the nurses to come and take my catheter out at 4am the next morning as I wanted to get up and about and I went and had a shower myself. So I don't think I was washed or given any kind of help by the nurses in that time. But I was vomiting a lot so a shower or wash was the last thing on my mind.

:hug: I'm sorry that you're feeling this way :hug:

With DD1.. honestly i dont remember.. i was off my head on pain meds.. couldnt tell ya!

With DS i had him at 6:48am.. i was back in the ward by mid morning and i think i got a bit of a wipe down, but nothing fancy. I remember asking the mw to take my catheda out that night and she refused coz it meant she would have to help me up to go to the loo all night (even though DH was there)- i think they got around to taking the catheda out at like lunch time the next day and i was soooooo happy to get into a shower, get some undies on and wear a proper pad!!!!

With DD2 i had some idea what i was in for so when they said we were schedualed for the c section that morning (i had been in the ward for a night due to labour starting but not progressing enough to do the csection right away.) i made sure i showered before i went to theatre!!! DD was born in the afternoon, again i got a little wash, but nothing fancy. This time though my catheda was taken out first thing the next morning and i got to shower!!

I had an emergency c sect at 4am, was back in my room with DD at 6 and I had a wash at 1pm and pads changed regularly. Then at 9am the following day I was up and in the shower and my bed was changed.
I'm so sorry you were treated like that! Defiantly complain xo

Thanks ladies.

I also asked to have my catheter removed as soon as I was out of ICU. I was up and walking, carrying the catheter bag with me. The MW's referred to it as my 'lovely handbag' lol. When I wanted it removed, the nurse asked me to keep it in overnight because she was too busy to help me to the toilet. Despite the fact I could get up on my own, I agreed to keep the catheter because I was afraid of what might happen if I did need some help.

I'm in the process of writing a letter of complaint about not receiving my file, or hearing from them at all re this. Once I have the file, I can write my next letter (volume) in relation to the 'care' I received.

I had my c/s at 10.30am. They changed my pad in recovery, and at 3pm.
I asked them to change it a few times, but they didn't change it til I got out of bed at 10.30am the next morning. There was blood everywhere. It was horrible.
I felt so gross. I ended up having a shower, then left the hospital to go to the Royal Children's to see DD.

I mean, geez. They came in a million times during the night to check my blood pressure. But, wouldn't change my pad. I couldn't move, as I had a catheder in til 10.30am when I got out of bed.

I had an energency CS at 11:18am - I had to go back to the birthing unit as I had severe PE and still had cathetar in and also was getting pumped full of Magnesium. I had my pad changed regularly and had a sponge bath about 6pm. Even though I was still feeling pretty horrid from the PE they got me up and into the shower the next morning.

I'm so sorry that you had such a terrible experience - I can't believe that someone would get treated with such a lack of respect and just plain decency.

Janie xxx

*hugs* thats crappy

i had my c/s early evening amd they cleaned me early next morning...i was in my pj's and showering etc

Forshelby, what you went through was so unbelievable. I'm so so sorry you were treated like that! :(

I had a emergency c-section at 11pm and was given a sponge bath and change of sheets and gown at maybe 3 am...I know the night nurses did it for me so definitely before the 6am shift change....catheter was taken out just after lunchtime and then had a shower with hubby's help a bit later that arvo. So yes you definitely got some really rough treatment there Forshelby.

i had my c/s at 1pm and got changed pads regularly until 8a next morning when I could hav shower on my own

huge hugs huni xxx

I wonder if giving you a wash wasn't a priority because you were so sick? I still agree that it's not right, but i don't think straight forward c section stories and yours can be compared equally.

I know i have helped my Mum to get a wash cos the hospital system doesn't always work, and (my Mum reckons anyway) the nurses aren't like they were in the old days. NOt enough time, and in some cases not enough care to help patients feel comfortable through a basic wash.

after 17 hrs of labour DS was born @ 9.26pm by c/section. My catheter was taken out the next day (about 8amish) and they were helping me out of bed. They did change my pad... everything else is pretty vague.

I really can't remember everything but in a nutshell:
- Had an 'emergency c-sect' where I was put into a hospital gown prior to surgery, no undies, just a pad & the bed cover thingy and had a catheter
in
- Bubs was in the nursery & bought to me for feeds by the nursing staff. My obs were checked hourly then four hourly (but can't remember from
when)
- Catheter taken out early next morning & I felt fine to walk around by myself. Nursing staff didn't want me to but I said I'd call if I needed anything
- Had a shower by myself then was t'fered to another room

Obviously, my c-sect was a very straight forward one with no issues after the surgery, therefore I could shower myself etc.... without the help of nursing staff.

I am sorry you were treated so terribly, I feel so sad reading your posts ((hugs))

Thats awful, you poor thing.

I had 7:30am planned c/s. I think the nurses actually put my knickers on in recovery and changd pads regularly. I had a sponge bath late that arvo and 2 nurses helped me shower the next morning. They checked my stitches all the time too.

Its awful they treated you that way.

Many many :hug: I am so sorry hun.

FWIW, I had a long labour (29 hours) but I was in the shower for a few hours towards the end until they made me get out just before 6am. DS was born by emergency c-section just before 9am. I had complications (no where near what you experienced) and I have no memory whatsoever of having pads changed or even of having one on!!! Never thought about it until I read your post. No idea if I had undies on or anything. I wasn't in ICU (local hossy doesn't have one) but I was in high needs for pretty much the whole day. Got back onto the ward after dinnertime that night. I don't remember any sponge bath etc but they helped me up the next morning around 8am, took out my cathader and I had two nurses helping me to shower, plus I was sitting on a chair for most of it. So that was about 24 hours after he was born.

I have similar thoughts to HotI in that straightforward c-sections, and even my experience, might not be directly comparable to yours. I wonder what other mums in other ICU's experienced?

Again, I'm so sorry. I hate that you experienced that kind of treatment. I do hope your file arrives soon.

FS I've had 3 elective c/s 1st @ 1428 I had a sponge about 6pm and into my own nightie then. Showered next morning. 2nd was at 1710hrs and I got a sponge about 9pm + freshen ups with pad changes and then a shower next day. 3rd was at 920hrs and I had very low blood pressure and heavy bleeding all day. They sponged me at about 12 and freshened ip with every pad change which was about every 30 mins yo 1 hr. Then shower the next day.
Further to this as a nurse myself I always offer a sponge within 4 hrs of any surgery. And in Icu washes usually happen every morning at lime 6 am. So if you truly believe they didn't give you the appropriate hygiene cares please add it to any complaint as it is unacceptable and undignified to not perform basic nursing cares.

The fact that you were unable to get up to shower for 3 days and they didn't sponge bath you is absolutely aweful :hug:

Both of my CS's (elective) were at 7am. Once we got back to my room the M/W helped me out of the hospital gown and helped me put my own clothes on. I too had a pad between my legs, no undies (standard practice I think) but that was changed regularly. Then the next morning they removed my catherer and I was able to get up and shower myself.

Have absolutely no idea about the pad-changing. I had my c at about 6pm and had a shower about 24 hours later. It was under my request (on advice from my physio and my ob) to stay in bed for 24 hours as I had severe pelvic instability, otherwise I would have been up and at em the next morning.

My midwives were lovely and I gave my second born my favourite middie's name as her middle name.