ELCS at Princess Alexandra instead of hoped-for homebirth :(

[LowennaGirl]

Hi mumsnetters

I had really disappointing news at 34 wk scan this morning that my low placenta hasn't moved and is directly adjacent to cervix with no clearance at all so C-sec now most likely route. We were technically registered under PAH but was hoping for homebirth w pool or MLBU waterbirth so hadn't actually been there before today, although booked for tour soon.

I am grateful the baby is ok but sad about change in birth plans as means I will miss my sister's wedding (as they will schedule at 39 weeks and her wedding day is on 40+0), and am also a bit frightened about a C-Sec and Recovery, particularly being alone in roomful of strangers. I think what i'm saddest/most scared about is not having DH with me while I'm stuck in a grim hospital alone with a newborn. Hopefully I'll calm down as I get used to the news but I'm tearful and stressed about it today (damn those hormones!).

I have read the c-sec prep thread on here which has been helpful but wondered if:

1. Can you hold baby and BF straight after a section or if not can DH do skin-to-skin?
   
2. How long can DH stay with you after delivery?
   
3. Does anyone know if there are private rooms you can book for recovery?
   
4. What are the visiting hours? A thread here mentions they are short (which she liked as not too many people traipsing throrugh, but was bad news to me)
   
5. How quickly might they let me go home if all goes to plan?
   
6. Any other Labour ward tips for PAH?
   

Thanks so much for any comments or insights that can cheer me up.
Lowennagirl

[SPBInDisguise]

I'm sorry things aren't going as you hoped. I feel you need to talk to your midwife and find out specific answers.
The day you give birth should be the best day of your life IMO and yours will be.

[Potol]

Some of the questions are specific to your hospital. But yes yes to your first one. I had an EMCS after being booked for an ELCS for the same reason as yours. It was lovely and relaxed. The doctors were chatty and talked me through everything. Skin to skin immediately. Have bfed for a year with no issues. I was very careful and took all the painkillers and got loads of rest but the recovery was no problem. Remember that if it goes to plan you won't have hours of stressful labour followed by the shock of the newborn stage. Also I found I was calm and clear and have a vivid memory of the first moment I saw him. Other friends have said that the first few minutes were often a haze after hours/days of labour.

[Potol]

You can usually go home in 2 days but I stayed for an extra day. Also buy comfy hospital mesh pants which you can wear under the granny knickers. And put a pad horizontally over the scar. Really helps in the first few days. Don't worry (if you can), it can be a fab experience and you will have a snugly newborn to show for it.

[GraceGrape]

I have had an EMCS and VBAC at PAH in the past 3 years. I'm thinking that an ELCS may be a little different as it will be "planned" beforehand, but these were my experiences:

1. I didn't get to hold DD1 after EMCS. She was cleaned, checked over and shown to me, then taken to recovery room with DP. He held her for the whole 45 minutes or so that I was being stitched up. You may be able to request to hold the baby though if you write it in your birth plan? I hadn't really prepared for a c-sec so didn't do this. I BF and had skin-to-skin as soon as I got into the recovery room.
   
2. My DP stayed with me in the recovery room for a couple of hours. It was late evening when DD1 was born so about 11pm by the time I was transferred to the postnatal ward. He was allowed to bring my bag in and then packed straight off home, which was a bit shit. However, ELCS are usually planned at a more sociable hour so it shouldn't be a problem for you. Dads are allowed to stay on the postnatal ward until about 10pm I think.
   
3. There are some private delivery rooms, not sure about postnatal. You can reserve them for a fee, but you might not be able to use them if they are needed for an emergency.
   
4. For a c-section I think you will need to stay a minimum of 2 nights. I did this (and had to be quite proactive about getting them to discharge me then!)
   5)I can't speak personally about labour ward experience for an ELCS, but a friend who had one at PAH (she had also planned a home birth) found it a much more positive experience than she had expected. She was able to choose music to play during the surgery and the staff were friendly and relaxed. Postnatal ward is not great - like postnatal wards in most hospitals I should imagine. It was very busy and full of screaming babies of course (mine was the loudest screamer of all!). The midwives are very busy doing drugs rounds, but somebody always came if I rang the bell. After a CS of course you can't move for a while because of the epidural/spinal.
   
   Hope it all goes well for you. As posted above, you will soon have a lovely newborn, regardless of the method of birth.

[LowennaGirl]

Thank you so much everyone! Really useful to hear your experiences and tips. And some good suggestions re putting skin to skin in the birth plan, mesh knickers and horizontal pads and will look at scheduling a morning arrival for our little one so DH can spend day with us hopefully.