I had Isabelle at Box Hill and had her with me while being stitched up and then in recovery because the midwife wasn't needed on the ward. I even breastfed skin to skin in recovery with her!
I just had James at the Mercy in Heidleberg and we LOVED it...A bit OT but the staff were great and rooms were only 2 to a room - I had one to myself!! I had James on my chest for cuddles during the surgery, he was with DH while I got wheeled to recovery and they weighed him while I was monitored and then he was back with me in recovery - I didn't breastfeed there but I got to hold him the whole time and it was just lovely to have him there and he was happy to just have cuddles. Again I think it was because I had the midwife with me - although she was off doing other stuff because they forgot to test the cord blood and I am O neg. Talk to you hospital about it and the possibility of having either a doula(Mercy don't allow doulas in recovery) or an independant midwife with you. Good luck!
Im going to sunshine, which im guessing is too far from you. I am in their casload midwifery program where you are allocated a midwife (and backup) who is on call for your birth. Rgardless of the type of birht you have they are stilll there with you during, after and in recovery so you can breastfeed.
I am sure ther are at least 2 other hosptals that have caseload programs but Im not sure which ones they are.
Have you asked the hospital if, should you hire a private midwife for the birth, you can b/f in recovery with her there?
I was told several times that it was 'not possible' at my hospital in the ACT but I persisted in asking for it every time I saw one of the Obs, and wrote it prominently into my (one page) birth plan. It was the single most important thing I wanted and for that reason it was bolded. Even moments before I was taken into theatre they were saying to me, no we can't do that, we're too busy today (two lots of twins coming out in 2 other theatres at the same time) but in the end, the theatre midwife made it happen. Probably because I kept talking and kept asking and it was clear how important it was to me. Skin to skin in theatre, and then she stayed with me in recovery so I could BFeed my baby there.
So good luck with finding a hospital with this as a standard model, but really in any breastfeeding friendly hospital you should be able to insist upon the same, because it relates to point number 4, establishing breastfeeding as soon after birth as possible. Good luck
Monash my first 2 were emerg csects and both prem so taken away one to nicu one just needed extra obs and heat lamps but for #3 at monash it was scheduled csect and bub stayed with me the whole time even in recovery and I got to breastfeed in recovery too because I had GD they wanted her feeding asap. I'm hoping if i have to have another csect that the same will happen this time.
I had my 2 CS at the Bays Hospital in mornington. Both times my babies stayed while I was being stitched up and then Joined me in recovery where they both had their first BF. They Stayed with me the whole time and left recovery when I did.
hi there,
it's amazing how different everybodys experience is...
i had an emergency C/S this august at Mercy womens after a 25hr labour starting out as a natural birth in the birthing centre. I had my fantastic empowering doula with me throughout the labour as well as hubby though only hubby was permitted into surgery. (which is fairly standard i believe)
after my baby was born she stayed with me in the theatre until it was over but i was not allowed to have her with me in recovery. however i was allowed to have my doula with me!! bubs went up to the ward with my hubby and by the time i got there she had been cleaned and dressed and i didn't get to feel her skin against mine that night.
next time if i end up having a caesar i will make sure (like you) its in a setting where i can keep my baby right with me all the way and immediatley be able to offer the breast to comfort my little darling.
i agree with above posters to make it clear in your birth plan and get confirmation in advance that all will go according to your wishes as obviously some hospitals allow certain things sometimes and refuse at others- as at Mercy i had my doula advocating for my wishes as well and was still not sucessful where as Tanstar mentioned she was. (happy for you Tan!)
Hi I had my daughter in LRH Traralgon. She was taken briefly because it was an emergency c-section and they have to check them, but she was given back to me while I was stapled up and then we were all taken to recovery DH, bubs and me to BF to our hearts content. I feel very lucky that I was given a spinal, were I was able to move my legs at all times. My recovery was a quick one and I was up walking around the next morning, showered the night of the section. Up and about completely by 3 weeks, chomping at the bit around week 2.
We even smuggled a video camera in which no-one questioned, except DH forgot to push record in all the excitment??? Write a clear birth plan and talk to the OB about what you want, makes a huge differnce to what you get.
Best of luck...
*****
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