C-section recovery & Kings labour wards

[Countjc]

I am quite new to this area and this forum and have found lots of the recent posts really useful and full of advice for new mums so I thought I would see if anyone could help me out.

Due to various complications in my preganancy I am due to have a C-section at Kings in a few weeks. I have got my head around the operation itself, thanks to a great NCT teacher and a very supportive midwife and husband but I am still quite nervous about the recovery. One of the major reasons for the section is because I have had severe Symphysis Pubis Disorder (SPD) and so haven't been able to walk without crutches/wheelchair since about 21 weeks and cannot weight bear at all.

I was wondering if any of you had had a c-section or friends had and what advice they would give to aid a quick recovery.

The other thing I am slightly anxious about is the post- labour ward at Kings as I know that I will have to stay in for at least 2 days. I have heard so many horror stories about the wards and the care and was wondering if anyone had any tips to make things easier. This is my first baby so I am probably being a bit over-anxious!

many thanks

[snowboarder]

I had an elective c section at Kings this time last year - all fine and quite relaxed jolly affair. I know there are horror stories re the post natal ward - it was not an enjoyable experience for me but that is not because anything bad or neglectful happened, it was because I hated being in hospital rather than home. My recovery was really quick but I was well beforehand. Just be prepared - take pillows, food, drink with you. It may well be v hot (it was when I was there) so vests and jogging bottoms best attire! Be prepared (or get your husband) to be a bit bossy and pushy if you feel you're not getting any attention or a bit lost - they are just so busy.

Good luck!

[Fuschia]

I must admit I have always been desperate to get out of Kings. I was an inpatient for a few days in PG no 1 at 30w, and as the antenatal was full I was put into postnatal and it was bedlam, women at night needing help with babies and not enough staff...

Both times with mine inc the twins I have been out within 6h. My experience was that support for bf was non-existent, place is noisy, hot and there is a lot of blood in the showers.

Sorry to bring bad news! They also don't allow visitors very early in the morning or late at night which is bad if you need help.

My tips would be: take flipflops for the shower and your own antibac spray or wipes if you're fastidious plus hand gel.

You'll need a lot more newborn vests, suits, nappies than you expect (nightgowns are eaiser for frequent changes of meconium poos which go everywhere!) I have never been able to manage with the cotton wool and water they suggest, I use huggies pure, the biggest best wipes there are. Have the bag packed so anyone else can find the stuff without your help.

Line up support with a visitor for every possible available moment... have plenty of snacks/drinks to hand... you will need a lot more changes of clothes etc for yourself than you expect too... leave a spare bag at home for your partner with extra stuff already packed in case you run out/stay longer.

It's dry so lipsalve and moisturiser is handy.

If you want to bf, I'd suggest making contact prior with the bf coordinators so you know who to speak to when an inpatient if the ward staff aren't able to give you what you need. It's the nights where it all seems to go a bit mad!

[gwod]

I have had one "normal" delivery and 4 C/sections, 2 of which were at Kings. On all four occasions I was amazed how quickly my body recovered...infact I think I was more well than I was after my difficult "normal" labour, (2 days of bed rest was preferable to 2 days of labour!). Kings is indeed a bit of a trial, but it's only a couple of days and you will be so busy with your baby, learning to feed etc etc that the choas will feel fairly unimportant.

The route to a quick recovery is usually to get mobile as soon as you can, but I realise this may be difficult for you with the SPD so I wonder if you should talk to a physiotherapist behorehand to think about suitable excercise for you and even maybe arrange a post natal visit for while you are in hospital.

Also if you think you may be stuck in bed for a bit longer than most, perhaps you could arrange in advance for a breastfeeding councellor to come to you to help (if that is what you are planning). It is helpful to be able feed lying down as it means you dont need to keep getting out of bed to pick up and put down your baby which is difficult when you are sore, instead keeping them in bed with you which is gives you more independece (and is cosier!!!)

Incidentally, I found it just as easy to bond with all my babies however they were born, and had breastfeeding success and failures in equal measure so don't feel that the birth process had any adverse effects on the children at all!

Feel free to ask any other questions - good luck

[gwod]

Ooh! I forgot..... buy big granny pants that nearly come up to you belly button- anything else irritates the wound!

[Mellors]

I haven't been in Kings postnantal so can't help you there, but I also had SPD so really feel for you. The good news is that it tends to just magically disappear post birth (mine did after a few days). I hope its the same for you, I know how miserable it is. In fact I felt so much better after giving birth and getting that over and done with!

[Belle]

I've heard that th ey've made real improvements to the post natal care there recently so take heart! I know someone who visited a friend there recently and thought it seemed pretty good on the ward. Main thing is as others have said get someone else to be your 'advocate' - I found what little assertiveness I have deserted me in those hazy post natal days so needed my husband to do the bossing for me when necessary.

[Moos]

Yes, good point on the big granny pants (buy cheaply in bulk and then throw away!), the disposable ones are grim.

I had an emergency C-section in 2007, and found the post-natal wards to be fine. Obviously, there's not a lot of space in your cubicle as a place to 'live' for 3 days, but the midwives were very nice and helpful. I didn't find the showers to be bloody, so perhaps Fuschia had an unlucky experience. I was on my feet and hobbled to the shower by the day after my evening birth, and feel I recovered reasonably quickly.

The food is pretty poor, and you'll want to snack a lot so do make sure visitors bring lots of yummy easy food with them.

Second what pp have said about the warm, dry atmosphere. Loose light clothes are the order of the day, and wipes are good for cleaning yourself before you're allowed to shower.

The best way to recovery is to rest more than you may feel like, which can be annoyingly restricting if you're used to good health but I guess it encourages you to spend time resting with the baby, which is all to the good.

That first night, when I slept on the hard bed curled up around my son was so very happy! Best of luck.

[Billy]

I was in Kings post natal 6 months ago. In my experience the staff were all really nice, there was lots and lots of bf support (possibly too much!) and it was all clean. Definitely bring lots of yummy food to keep in your cubicle - hospital food is rank and does not aid recovery. Good luck. x

[anna75]

All very good advice.

All I can add is that I had a great experience and am grateful for it. The post natal ward is MUCH better than eg at Chelsea and Westminster where friends of mine have been forced to bf for example. (Unacceptable in my view to "force" any vulnerable recovering woman to do anything.)

11pm is late enough for visitors! Otherwise there would be a horrendous racket all night and not just from babies.

Recovery from C- section in my case was easy. I stopped the Voltarol and paracetamol painkillers on day 3, largely as I always want to know when my body is in pain so I don't repeat the activity causing it.

I did too much though on day 3 et sec. I was running up and down the stairs with loads of washings to go on/take out/hang up etc. Also moving furniture as I wasn't happy with our set-up at home when I realised the reality of having a new baby. That all puts you back. I was, probably, 97% well on day 3 but it took me till about the full 6 weeks to be 100%. Instead of what I did, I would really recommend staying in bed for day 3 and 4 perhaps and trying to get back to the 100% in a shorter space of time.

I think you will have a spinal block cf an epidural. I read up on the difference in great detail as I was concerned it was just an NHS cost saving exercise. I don't think it was and I was totally happy with it in the end. Your bp will drop massively in the operation but they are prepared for that and manage it easily and quickly.

Other advice - mmmm - I would take some nice nighties etc as it would have cheered me up. I took old rubbish as everyone said to do that but with all the photos and visitors etc I regretted it. Also, take your own shampoo etc. I had assumed all that would be provided but it wasn't.

I think most people with a section get mobile on day 1 - ie 24 hours later - and it wasn't at all difficult for me. I did a long walk on day 2 around the wards etc and to take the baby to cheer up an ill friend elsewhere and that was a bit tiring I remmeber.

Lastly, if sick from the morphine, as I was, it is really painful to retch as it invovles the stomach. They kept trying to give me more morphine for the pain of retching ie setting up a vicious circle. I said no thanks and was fine thereafter.

good luck but you won't need it :-)))

[Fuschia]

You are entitled to extra snacks as a pg woman or bf mother, but they don't bring you the extra menu unless you ask, I found!

[anna75]

yes the food is frightful but that's easily fixed. (as a digression, wldn't it save the NHS "bed days" if they invested in food?)

I was more concerned with cleanliness - immaculate in my loos and showers both days - and surgeon's and anaesthetist's expertise. All of these I was more than satisfied with.

[Keef]

Just as a response to anything negative you've heard about Kings, my wife had to spend a week in Tommy's after our daughter was born, and the wards there, although perhaps a bit shinier, and with a better view, were just the same. At the end of the day, staying in hospital is a bit naff, wherever it is, and they are all equally busy. But you'll have a lovely new baby to keep you more than busy, and make you smile.

Best of luck, and enjoy your baby.

[catgirl]

I've also had an elective c section at Kings and it was fine. I thought all the staff were great, very helpful and friendly and there was always someone around to help when I needed it. The only downside was the noise at night from all the babies crying at different times - my best tip is to get as much sleep as you can during the day when your visitors can take your baby off for a walk around the ward or just sit and cuddle them while you take a nap.

Also for C section recovery - was all very quick and amazing how I went from feeling very sore and delicate in the first 24 huors (once spinal has worn off) to pretty fine within another 24 hours.

As some of the others have said - definitely need pants that come right up way past where your scar is. I also took arnica tablets to help with the healing. Other top tip is to take some lactulose or senokot. You do not want to end up constipated (as I did after my first, emergency c section)as you will be unable to push!

Good luck and I hope your experience is as positive as mine was - I'm sure you'll be fine.

[nunheadmum]

Re the breastfeeding (if that's what you want to do) - ask them to deliver the baby onto you, or at least asap afterwards and don't accept the arguement that the surgeons / midwives / anyone else they can blame doesn't like it. They all told me, 'I would do it but the xxxx doesn't like it'. I was persistent and they did and my LO latched on in seconds. Barring a quick wipe and check a few minutes later, she stayed naked with me for at least an hour in the recovery room.

The c-section itself was the best part of the experience for me - I thought the consultants / surgeons / anaesthetists / midwives were great and really willing to help negate the less attractive aspects of it.

From both my experiences of the ward on Kings, I'd say be willing to stand up for yourself or get someone else to do so. Lots of others will be doing it and if you don't, it'll take them a long time to remember you're there.

I was lucky to get over my c-section quickly - I was off painkillers by 10pm that night and out within 2 days. But I didn't have SPD. (And hubby does think I'm superwoman when it comes to pain - but it was only sore when I did things I shouldn't be doing anyway.)

Hope it all goes well - I'm sure the tips of everyone above will help avoid the more negative aspects.

[samigirl]

I had an EMCS after a failed 3 day induction - so i was pretty messed up by the time they got to me - but the C sections was fine (i was at Lewisham) and the surgeon played my birth song (Rabbit heart by Florence and the Machine) for me. The Post natal ward was HELL, take food and EARPLUGS AND EYEBLINDS! But recovery was super quick......but.....beware of doing stuff too quickly, because you feel fine!

Anyway, 10 weeks after the birth I started Post Cesarean Pilates at dulwhich therapy rooms, which was great, good if you have had SPD which one of the girls had had. Kellie the teacher is great and is very mindful of your cesarean! It really helped my physical and mental recovery and have met some good friends through it.

[Countjc]

Wow

Thank you everyone for all your kind words and great advice. Already feeling much more positive about it. I am also praying that the SPD magically disappears and gwod my physio has offered to do a hospital visit so I think I will take her up on that.

I definately want to try to breastfeed- would anyone know how I get in contact with a bf counsellor beforehand?

Thanks again and look forward to bumping into you all when I am up and about and able to explore Dulwich a bit more!

[BellendenBear]

My experience of the post-natal ward was similar to those above. Hot, noisy, rubbish food and very little support particularly during the night. It's a shame because the delivery ward was excellent. Seems to be the same in most hospitals though. You would think that being in a hospital surrounded by professionals would make you feel more supported, but it doesn't. During the nights I felt very lonely trying to work out what I was supposed to be doing. At least at home I would have had support from Dad, even if he wasn't sure either.

But it's not so bad that I think it is worth getting stressed about. Those first few days will be a bit of a daze. And just be assertive.

My tips would be to take your own food and drinks. Get people to bring lots of fruit in afterwards. It's boiling in there so light clothes. Flip flops for the shower is a good suggestion. Make sure your visitors during the day let you sleep whenever you can. It's sooooo noisy at night. When your baby finally falls asleep the next one wakes up and so it continues all night with some Mum's seeming to be able to sleep and snore through their newborn's cries!

[Monkey]

It's not so bad. I was on the post labour ward for three nights and yes, the level of attention from the staff could be better, the food is not nice but there's really nothing to be worried about. Get the dad to bring you some food (my hubby kept forgetting so I was really starving, grrr) and bring a sleep mask with you as the lights are quite bright. But please don't worry - it really is not that bad.

I do agree with what the others say: stand up for yourself or better get the dad to do it for you. We had a nice paediatrician "having a quiet word" for us and it worked wonders.

Best of luck with everything.

[gwod]

The Infant Feeding Co-ordinator can be contacted on 020 3299 3833. I would try to visit her before the birth at one of the drop in clinics (in same building as all other maternity services at Kings, cant remember which floor) to meet with them as I think this would afford you a better chance of them visiting you after the birth (if this is what you want to acheive).

Good luck with the start of yor big adventure!

[tiddles]

Two planned C-sections at kings - both procedures absolutely fine and actually enjoyable. I breast fed both mine with no problems at all - only problem was getting them to stop after a year or so.

Big pants - top tip. I found the food awful so went for the curries etc - they tended to have pulses and rices and be a more satisfying and less glutinous option.

very best of luck you will be in good hands.

[sillywoman]

Curries a great option as will help with the 'not getting constipated' side of things, also fresh fruit & veg is helpful. Make sure you have a permanently full water jug (something visitors can do for you), the big pants are an essential, also might want to consider some kind of post birth vitamin supplement (does Pregnacare do one?) to aid recovery, but really can't emphasise enough how important rest is. Really make sure you have plenty of helpful visitors (you'll quickly discover the difference between helpful & not helpful) doing as much as possible for you so that all you're doing is recovering, eating & feeding your baby.

Re: blood in the showers. Kings work hard to keep them as clean as possible, but with a possible 30+ post birth women on the ward all with a lochia discharge, short of having a permanent shower/loo attendant they are very limited with what they can do. If there is blood in the shower/ loo tell a midwife at the desk & she'll clean it up or find someone else to do it. If they don't know, they can't do anything about it.

Good luck, you really are in very good hands.

[anna75]

tbh it was 100 times better than friends have had at chelsea and westminster, which is a filthy dump as far as I have seen and to my surprise.

eye mask and ear plugs - great suggestions..

perhaps some lemon juice to dilute to make the water more interesting? it is v hot so you must drink and also important for flushing out anaesthetic and getting digestive system back on track. they shld not let you going without evidnece bowels are workign normally. (possible complication is an eilius - spelling is wrong but it sounds like that)

[Lousylu]

The worst thing about the ward I was on was the other mothers! Some moaned constantly about everything - one at the top of her v irritating voice to her equally irritating partner - and others huffed at the slightest noise from another baby. The staff were brilliant and just on the right side of bossy - didn't interfere but were very willing to help & direct if asked. I was knackered and on no sleep for 7 consecutive nights by the time I left but none of that was Kings' fault - it's just child-birth! Recovery was nonetheless speedy afterwards - in body if not in mind, that took about another 9 months to get back to normality when I finally started to get enough sleep.

[Bumpkin]

I actually managed to get a private room on the main post natal ward for a whole week due to looking truly dreadful after emergency c-section and a day in the high dependency unit. I'm sure if you're going for a planned section, you won't end up like that, but if you're really not coping, it's worth knowing they are there and getting a friendly midwife to push for it (I bribed mine with chocolates - really good tip from a friend). I also managed to get hold of a plastic cot that clipped onto the side of my bed and was open at the bed side so the baby was next to me at night as he refused to sleep in the separate cots and I couldn't really lift him out at first.

Only downside of the private room was it was really cold, so an extra blanket would have been nice, but was quiet which was much appreciated.

Kings were fantastic - I had quite bad pre-eclapmsia which came on at the very last minute and they were so amazing at looking after me & the baby, would definitely go there again without any hesitation.