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It is now confirmed that I will have a c-section due to my placenta previa (placenta is completely covering the cervix) . They have not given me a date yet since the hospital "overbooked", but it should be happening in just about a month. I am scared of the c-section for many reasons, but my biggest concern is how the other "natural" things will work out for me after delivery. I am thinking how breastfeeding will work out and such. I breastfed my first son for about 16 months without any problems ( except a few small bumps in the first few days). I know that unfortunately, in the hospital where I will deliver they will not let the baby stay in the room the first night. The reason for that is that I won't be allowed to get out of the bed for the first 12 hours, and my husband won't be able to hand the baby to me, since he is not allowed to stay there either. Anyway, I am worried how I will get my baby used to breastfeeding when things like this will be in the way. I know I will try to keep the baby in the room with me every second that I can, but I also know that the first night I won't be allowed.
In the end, I am just looking for some advice. Have any of you had a c-section and had to deal with this? Please share your experiences with me. Thanks so much!
honestly? I'd look to deliver in a different hospital. I had two of my babies by cesarean and both times dh roomed in with me and our new baby. I breastfed as soon as I was awake (I had lots of medication - pitocin, then turbutaline, epidural etc - was very shakey). And not being allowed to get out of bed for 12 hours is not going to help you in any way. I was TOLD to get out of bed as soon as possible and start walking to get things moving again inside -
I breastfed both girls successfully and my best advice is that if you have to be in that particular hospital, i'd let the nursing staff know in advance that you'll be calling to have the baby brought to you often and that you insist upon: No bottles. No formula. NO sugar water. they MUST wake you to breastfeed if she needs to eat. You could even make a sign for them to hang on her bassinet in the nursery that says "I only drink breastmilk. Please take me to my mama"
Anyway, that is my advice if you must birth at that hospital and follow their rules.
Good luck to you mama
but I can't. It's the only hospital around that does c-sections. Also, everyone there has to share the room with another person, so rooming in is not an option at all. And that 12-hour thing is their rule, and I hope that I can somehow work around it. I WILL tell them to bring me whenever she is awake at night...I just hope that they will listen. Anyway, thanks for your advice!
Where will your baby be when you are not nursing?? In the nursery?? Make it clear that you want your baby to be brought to you whenever it cries or is hungry.
I worked in a nursery like that...and that's what we did all night. Unfortunately, lots of mamas wanted to sleep and babies got sugar water. Now I work in a much more baby/mama friendly place!~
Can your dh stay in a chair??
Good luck, let us know what happens!!
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Nanci
wife to Chris (10/90)
mama to Izzi (11/95)
and Griffin (12/98)
Yes, the baby will have to stay in a nursery...at least for that first night. After that I will make sure that it stays with me. Yes, that is what I am afraid of, that they will keep the baby so as not to wake me up and give it something else to eat. I will try to make my demands clear and hope that they won't be too difficult with it.
And since I will be sharing a room with another lady, I don't think there is a way my husband can stay..which is unfortunate. He did get to stay with me with my first, but that was in a different state and I didn't have to have a "room mate".
Thanks for the advice!
but I can't. It's the only hospital around that does c-sections. Also, everyone there has to share the room with another person, so rooming in is not an option at all. And that 12-hour thing is their rule, and I hope that I can somehow work around it. I WILL tell them to bring me whenever she is awake at night...I just hope that they will listen. Anyway, thanks for your advice!
Jasmina
i would tell them to bring her in every couple of hours whether she is sleeping or not. if you are awake, have them bring her to you to nurse. good luck mama. i hope things go smoothly for your stay.
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~Amanda~
Wife to Jeremiah
Mama to Jocelyn, Tristan & Ethan
What hospital are you delivering at? I see you are in Newark, DE, I am in PA, just above the pa/de line. The rules of the hospital seem really really strict! I would try to talk to the nurses on the postpartum floor- they should be able to accomodate your wishes for your dh to stay over.
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Mary,
momma to Tyler 5-14-03 And Maya 1-19-2001
And Ciara 1-14-06
I will be delivering at Christiana Care if you are familiar with that. I was actually thinking of taking a tour before the set date and ask them about that. I hope it all works out...
Honestly, the hospital is backwards not strict. I am a Nurse and a mom. You should not be confined to your bed for the first 12 hours after a c-section. You need to get up and moving a bit. They absolutely should have staff available to help you do this. It is the standard of care for this procedure.
I would most definitely take a tour and talk to the head nurse there. Don't let them poo poo your concerns, just be honest and straightforward with them~ok Your baby can nurse right in the recovery room. You need to ask on your tour if they will be able to help you do this. If they don't seem very helpful, then see if you can hunt down a helpful LLL person or someone to be there. Since this will be scheduled, this should be possible.
And it doesn't matter if you have a roomate~your baby should be allowed to room in with you. There is no reason for the baby to be separated from you! I doubt they will let your dh stay overnight with a roomate as the whole male/female issue.
It sounds like there isn't another hospital for you to deliver at in the area?
In any case, it must be clear, in writing that the baby is not to get anything but your breastmilk while you are there. They should make a card and put it on the bassinette. Have the Doctor write the order that baby is to have nothing but breastmilk.
{{{{HUGS}}} it will all work out. Even if your dh can't be there with you over night....he can be there the maximum hours he is awake. I would make that that a priority,...that was he can be heping you holding the baby at all times until he has to be away. If your section is in the morning(which it should be), then you can be out of bed after 12 hours...and have the baby with you.
I would call the local LLL in a big city and ask them what you might be able to do.
I worked in a tiny rural hospital and the babies roomed in with the mom...even the c-section moms.
I had 2 c-sections myself, and I just want to tell you, try not to be scared. Maybe you can talk to the anesthesiologist before the birth? WOuld that help ease your mind a bit? After your baby is born, your dh can hold/be with the baby if they won't give the baby to you.
You can do some things to help prepare your body. Can you buy some Emergen-C and take one or two packets every day? That will help your liver get ready to excrete the anesthesia. It will be really good to take it after baby is born for the same reason. Also make sure you are drinking lots of water and eating super healthy foods.
{{{HUGS}}}
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"If you only believe what you see, then you are limited to what's on the surface. If you only believe what you see, then why do you pay your electric bill?" Dr. Wayne Dyer
can they seriously, legally, separate you from your baby if you object? Hospital is not JAIL!! I'd talk with the head of nursing and with your OB at length, and get all your questions answered. If there is an LC on staff at the hospital, talk to her, too. Find out about having nurses help position the baby so you can nurse while they are sewing you back up, and in recovery before being taken to your room. Make sure you put baby to breast at least once every two hours, more if possible. Make it very clear, with written signs on baby's bassinet and pinned to blankets, if need be, that baby is not to get any artificial nipples for any reason whatsoever. They gave my oldest a pacifier after my cesarean, against my wishes, and kept me from seeing her for the first five hours of her life while the morphine wore off. I wish I had known I could have raised a big stink about that!
I found out today that I will have my c-section on the 27th of February. I now have LOTS of time to worry . I also called the hospital to see if I could get a tour and ask some questions...they gave me an appointment for tomorrow night to get a tour. Let's see what happens then...I will keep you all updated, and thanks SO much for all the replies.
Well, they have moved my c-section date to the 17th instead. I also took the hospital tour and asked as many questions as I could. As far as I understood it, I won't be able to hold the baby until I go to the recovery room (after being sutured and such). From then on, the baby can stay with me and I have to call a nurse to help me pick the baby up when I am alone in the room. I felt relieved when they said that. Honestly, I think the person that gave me the info either exaggurated or was misinformed herself. The lady who gave the tour mentioned that they WANT the mother to be with the baby as much as possible and use the nursery only when necessary. I was really glad to hear that.
Anyway, ladies thanks for all your replies. I TRULY appreciate them.
Woo-hoo!
I'm so glad.
I'll be thinking of you on the 17th!
Jeni
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Mama to Alex, Miriam and Noah; Wife to Chris.
Alex (Weatherman), Miriam (Fancy Nancy) and Noah (Good Knight), October 31, 2008
Missing Hazel Irene, born still on April 18, 2008. A Broken Hallelujah
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. They have not given me a date yet since the hospital "overbooked", but it should be happening in just about a month. I am scared of the c-section for many reasons, but my biggest concern is how the other "natural" things will work out for me after delivery. I am thinking how breastfeeding will work out and such. I breastfed my first son for about 16 months without any problems ( except a few small bumps in the first few days). I know that unfortunately, in the hospital where I will deliver they will not let the baby stay in the room the first night. The reason for that is that I won't be allowed to get out of the bed for the first 12 hours, and my husband won't be able to hand the baby to me, since he is not allowed to stay there either. Anyway, I am worried how I will get my baby used to breastfeeding when things like this will be in the way. I know I will try to keep the baby in the room with me every second that I can, but I also know that the first night I won't be allowed.
Now I work in a much more baby/mama friendly place!~
~Stacy~
. I also called the hospital to see if I could get a tour and ask some questions...they gave me an appointment for tomorrow night to get a tour. Let's see what happens then...I will keep you all updated, and thanks SO much for all the replies.
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