Previous C-Section Moms: How long until you HELD your baby?

Ms.Jade

I know they may let you see the baby, or touch the baby, or kiss the baby or even let your DH hold the baby. But I'm specifically wondering how long (in minutes or hours) went by before you were about to hold your baby for an extended period of time. I searched this board but didn't see this question. And I have seen versions of it on other boards, but they don't really answer my question. How long until you were about to hold your baby on your own after your c-section?

Thanks! 

 

tazmania525

as soon as i got to the recovery room i held them (with both c-sections)

MAprincess

For me, it was three hours.  BUT, they tried to hand him to me as soon as I was wheeled into recovery so I could BF him (about 30 minutes after he was born).  I was having such an adverse reaction to the medications they had pumped into me that I had little control over myself and they ended up having to knock me out for an hour or so until the medicine ran it's course.  So, I woke up much later, was wheeled to my room, and then about 30 minutes later he was brought to me.  DH stayed with him the entire time I was out.

FWIW, the reason they waiting the 30 minutes to bring him to me was because he was being seen by the pediatrician at that time.  DS was over 10 lbs when he was born and they were afraid that I had undiagnosed GD (I did not) and they were checking him out to make sure he didn't have blood sugar issues (he did not).

pepomntpat

I waited about three hours. It was so stupid that I had to wait that long and I'm still angry about it. Find out your hospital's policy and if you want to challenge it, plan on it ahead of time. They may try to keep your LO from you due to policy, but they cannot if you insist. I wish I had insisted. There is no reason why you can't have LO in your arms in recovery provided you are both healthy. Good luck!

azzyberry

I've had two c/s at two different hospitals.

The first c/s was unscheduled after several hours of labor.  DS was born at 12:04 AM and I didn't get to hold him until about 3:30 AM.  After he was born, they held him up so I could see him and then they took him to get checked out and to get cleaned up.  DH was with him and assisting with bathing, etc. the whole time.  I stayed in the OR so they could stitch me up which took about 30-45 minutes and then they wheeled me into recovery for about 1.5 hours.  When I finally got to my room, they had DS there waiting for me and I got to hold him.

The 2nd c/s was scheduled and it was a completely different experience.  When DD was born they wiped her down and did the newborn screening stuff in the room and then they wrapped her up and gave her to DH.  DH held her next to me while I was being stitched up.  As soon as they had me stitched up, they sat me up and I got to hold her.  I held her while they wheeled us into a private recovery room where baby and DH got to stay with me the whole time and then they took us into our post partum room.

Ms.Jade

TAZMANIA525:

as soon as i got to the recovery room i held them (with both c-sections)

How long was that in minutes or hours? 

Ms.Jade

azzyberry:

I've had two c/s at two different hospitals.

The first c/s was unscheduled after several hours of labor.  DS was born at 12:04 AM and I didn't get to hold him until about 3:30 AM.  After he was born, they held him up so I could see him and then they took him to get checked out and to get cleaned up.  DH was with him and assisting with bathing, etc. the whole time.  I stayed in the OR so they could stitch me up which took about 30-45 minutes and then they wheeled me into recovery for about 1.5 hours.  When I finally got to my room, they had DS there waiting for me and I got to hold him.

The 2nd c/s was scheduled and it was a completely different experience.  When DD was born they wiped her down and did the newborn screening stuff in the room and then they wrapped her up and gave her to DH.  DH held her next to me while I was being stitched up.  As soon as they had me stitched up, they sat me up and I got to hold her.  I held her while they wheeled us into a private recovery room where baby and DH got to stay with me the whole time and then they took us into our post partum room.

How long was that? 

+diana82+

with both my c/s I held the baby as they wheeled me out of the OR - so as soon as they scooted me off the operating table.

iris427

As soon as the surgery was done, they handed her to me and I held her while they wheeled us out of the OR.  I have no idea how long that was after she was born--30 minutes?  60 minutes?  Everything was kind of a blur.

If you and baby are healthy, you should not have to be separated.

mdotm0904

i had general anesthesia, she was born @ 8:46, but i didn't even wake up until 10ish or so (not even sure, i don't remember the time on the wall when i did finally wake up). I held her as soon as i got out of recovery and into our room, this was probably around 11. so i guess no more than 3hrs after she was born.

shaindelr

They would have let me hold him right away, but I was VERY shaky from the meds, so they put him on my pillow so our faces could touch. An hour later, I came out of recovery, and he was in my room from then on.

Corey-chick

It probably took 15-20 minutes to "close me up" after the baby came out. Then they wheeled me to a recovery room where I was monitered for 1 hour before being moved to my room. As soon as I was in recovery I got to hold her (so maybe 20 minutes) and DH had her the whole time up until then.

disbride061103

For both of my sections, I was given my boys to hold as I was ready to be wheeled to recovery. My husband said it was about 30 minutes. For my 2nd c/s I had planned to ask to hold DS as I was being closed but I was shaking terribly and was afraid to drop him.

JessicaJenkins83

I had gestational diabetes & when she was born her blood sugar levels dropped and she went to the NICU. So I held  her in there when all calmed down - about 3 hrs. Later.

Sassystace

Corey-chick:

It probably took 15-20 minutes to "close me up" after the baby came out. Then they wheeled me to a recovery room where I was monitored for 1 hour before being moved to my room. As soon as I was in recovery I got to hold her (so maybe 20 minutes) and DH had her the whole time up until then.

 

This was my experience as well.  This was a new policy though between my first (2007) and second (2010) babies born via c/s at the same hospital.  They now consider themselves a "baby friendly" hospital which means they basically leave mom and baby together as much as possible to encourage breastfeeding.

emma&katiesmom

With both of my girls (ages four and six) I was able to hold them as soon as I was in recovery.... so maybe 30/ 45 minutes after they were born.  DH got to hold them pretty much right after they were evaluated (just a few minutes).  I've called the hospital for this pregnancy and they have also changed their policy that the baby will leave the O.R. in my arms.  YAY!

capulet

To be honest, I think it was hours, but that's largely because it was unplanned.  I had DD at 1:56 AM after several hours of labor.  After the surgery I was able to hold her in the crook of my arm while we were in recovery together (I wasn't holding her so much as she was lying on/next to me), but I was still flat on my back, I was VERY cold (I had to be covered with blankets to bring up my body temperature, which took a couple of hours), and I was exhausted and out of it.  DH held her most of the time.  After we went to my room, we asked the nurses to take her to the nursery for a few hours because we both wanted to sleep.  So I don't think I really held her until maybe 7 or 8 AM.  Ultimately this didn't affect our bonding or BFing experience, so I don't have negative feelings about the whole thing, but this time I'm having a c/s at a hospital where the policy is for moms to hold their babies and BF (if desired) in recovery and not to let anyone but DH/SO hold the baby until the mom does, so I should be able to hold this one a lot sooner.

melandjudd

It took about 30 minutes to close me up and clean me up to go to recovery. During that time DH had the baby and bathed her and checked her weights and things.  I did give specific intructions to DH that nobody except him was to hold her til after I did (we had both families all at the hospital and the hospital let everyone stay in the room while I went to surgery).  I felt like even though I had to have surgery that I carried her for 9 months and I didn't want anyone else holding her first.

Mrs. kelli hendry

They handed her to my DH right after she was checked out. I held her as soon as i got to the recovery room even though my epideral went up i still held her with help of my DH. I had to stay in recovery for 2 days due to pre e and bp issues so i didn't see a whole lot of her for the first couple of days since my bp was in stroke level however i was able to breast feed......

lelekay

MH got to hold him next to my face in the OR while they finished.  I got him immediately upon going to the recovery room which was about 20-25 minutes later.

RumbleLina

I had a c-section under general anaesthesia and my son was sent to the NICU. I was not able to see him for 3 hours until he was cleared to leave and until I had been out of recovery.

pitterpatter129

It was about an hour to stitch me up/finish surgery, and then I got to hold him in the recovery room.  I was soooo mad because they let my whole dang family there with my husband before I ever got there and they all held him before I ever even saw him for the first time.  That will NOT be happening again.  I don't think it usually takes so long to finish surgery either, but I had some blood loss issues.

LadyXaverian

I was wheeled out of the O.R. with her in my arms. I'd say 30 minutes, but I could see her the whole time and I touched/kissed her before that time.

SirSleepsALot

With baby #1 he rolled back to my room on the gurney with me and stayed there most of the day.  With baby #2 they actually wrapped my arms around him in the OR and I "held" him while they sewed me up.  It was awesome.  Stayed with me for the ride back and in the room too.  Neither baby left my side and we never did "recovery" rooms or separation at all.  With the planned C/S I walked out of my room at 10am and was rolled back in at 11am w/ the kid.  What a different experience!  haha.  It was pretty sweet, honestly. 

Edit:  Baby 1 was born in 1 State, unplanned c/s after 34 hours of labor and 2 hours of pushing.  Baby 2 born in a different State, planned repeat c/s that lasted all of 1 hour tip to tail. 

hopkins5

lelekay:

MH got to hold him next to my face in the OR while they finished.  I got him immediately upon going to the recovery room which was about 20-25 minutes later.

Me too.

Also, I had to wait quite a while for the freezing to wear off before I could BF but she basically slept on my chest during that time.

JaysonandKristin

I held him about five minutes after they took him out of me.  They were still closing me up.

Mrs_MBed

DD1 - 12 hours.  She needed to be resuscitated twice (she was more interested in looking around than breathing) and was taken to the NICU for further observation.  I had some type of reaction to the post op meds and started vomiting.  Once that finally went away, I just went to sleep.  I was just exhausted.  So the next morning I was wheeled into the NICU and was able to hold her right then. 

DD2 - 8 days.  She was born at 33 wks 5d and placed on a ventilator for her first 6 days, then CPAP for 1.  Once she was downgraded to the nasal cannula, we got to hold her.  Approximately 4 hours after my c/s they had me up and moving, so I was able to be wheeled into the NICU to see/touch her for the first time.

I should add, that DD2 was a planned c/s and I had already gotten it cleared with my OB that I wanted to be wheeled in to recovery holding her.  I was given the ok as long as there were no complications for either of us.  DD2 apparently had other plans. 

desertlady86

I think it was about an hour! It all went by soooo fast.

mrsseguin

I held both my kids when they were about 45 minutes old, when we got back to the recovery room.  I felt horrible, so it was only for a few minutes then DH took them back. 

rachbenn2007

With DD#1, not until I was out of recovery cause she was in the NICU, but they did let me give her a kiss and touch her face before they took her into NICU.

With DS, after he was out and was all cleaned up, DH was holding him the whole time and was standing right next to me, so I got to touch him and talk to him the whole time until DH carried him right into recovery where I got to hold him and snuggle him. 

S-Tuna

I had a scheduled c-section and we were expecting a NICU stay. They let DH hold him while they stitched me up. They gave him to me (20-30 minutes after birth) while I was wheeled back to the recovery room and I held him for 5 minutes. Then he went to the NICU. DH went with him, and about 2-3 hours later they took me to the NICU to see him again.

jax63081

I think it was maybe 3 hours after he was born.  I had some complications with bleeding and my c-section was about 2 hours from start to finish.  Then they brought me to recovery for about 2 hours.  When I got to our room, they weren't going to bring him in but DH and I insisted.  I hadn't really seen him at all and for whatever reason, the nurse didn't understand that.  She eventually did bring him in for our first bonding time.  Hoping next time goes better.

EveryNameIWantIsTaken

It was about 3 hours but I had an emergency c that was anything but routine.  This time should be much less.

manda26

about one hour, DH brought him to my room a few minutes after I was wheeled in there from the OR after being stitched up. time was such a blur for me as soon as I got the spinal before the c/s

bonitatinabina143

I had her at 4:27am and held her around 7:30am. I had a long labor and was so shaky and tired from the meds that I fell asleep instantly while being monitered.

chickaboo1974

24 hours.  Yep that is right.  They were preemies and taken right to the NICU- I saw them briefly but it is a blur since I was on Mag.  I had developed Pre-e, hence the mag- but I started having serious reactions to the medications they were giving me.  When I was cleared to go to the NICU  at 8 pm on Saturday( they were born at around 8pm on a Friday) I was only allowed to stay for 15 minutes- I was able to hold both of them.  My DH went with them to the NICU and got to hold them and took pics that he brought up to me.

MrsSR

I think that's a hard question to answer.  I didn't have my contacts in or my glasses on, so I don't know how much time passed (couldn't see the clocks).

All I know is she was taken out, checked because she has issues during labor, then given to me to kiss and DH to hold.

Then DH and baby went off for her bath and I was stitched up and taken to recovery.

DH came to recovery for a bit and when I was taken to my room I got to hold her and she stayed with me the entire time.

Maybe it was an hour total?  I think I was only in recovery for an hour.

Jennairess

she was with hubby while they were sewing me up, once they scooted me off the or table to the hospital bed they let me hold her while they wheeled me down to recovery and I held her most of the time in recovery

g00dg0llymsm0lly

An hour and 16 minutes. Worst hour of my life.

SarahRae812

About 30-45 minutes. They handed her to me as soon as they were finished stitching me up and I got to hold her as we wheeled back to our room (my hospital doesn't have recovery rooms).

justrachet

I held DS2 (scheduled c/s) as we transferred to the recovery room, between 30 and 45 minutes after he was born. 

DS1 (emergency vaginal delivery) was 2 hours old when I was "allowed" to hold him, but I didn't feel like I could until my pain was under control. I think he was about 3 hours old when I first held him.