Emergency vs scheduled C-section? re: seeing baby

ShannonSky · September 2011

When DD1 was born, she was 6 weeks early and in distress, so I was able to see her immediately after the C-section, but then she was taken right over to the NICU and I was stuck in bed and couldn't see her for about 12 hours after. I know that since this baby is full term, that won't be the case, but I'm wondering when I'll be able to see her, hold her, nurse her, etc. I'm really stressing over this baby being taken from me, even for a short time...I think I may have a few unresolved issues from DD1's birth.

pepomntpat · September 2011

I had an emergency c/s, but DD was fine after. We were separated while I was in recovery for about 3 hours. I thought even that was ridiculous. If I end up with another c/s I will insist on keeping her with me in recovery. All hospitals have different policies. Both of the other hospitals in my area allow healthy moms and babies to remain together in recovery. I just was so sure I wouldn't have a c/s I didn't bother to do my research on the policies the first time around. I still have issues about those 3 hours. I would ask lots of questions and really just insist you not be separated barring medical necessity.

MeghanF13 · September 2011

I had an urgent c/s due to fetal distress. When she was born, they brought her to me to see. Then DH took her to recovery while they stitched me up. Once in recovery, I was able to hold her, and nurse her. I was in recovery for a few hours and then went up to the maternity ward. I never let go of her.

annabelle.27 · September 2011

I don't think so. I'm sure it depends on hospital policy, but the hospitals around here all have a policy that mom goes to recovery, baby goes to the nursery. It's probably the main reason I don't want a repeat c-section this time around.

juliane2004 · September 2011

DD was emergency:

I saw her about an hour after she was born but didn't hold her till she was about 16 hours old.

DS was planned:

I saw him immediately (held him for a second while still on the table), and held him for "real" when he was 27 hours old.

Both were in the NICU.

LaurMoore · September 2011

I was separated from my first for a few hours after my c/s. I didn't get to hold him until I was in a pp room and out of recovery.

With my second, I actually held her out of the OR. They let me have as much time in recovery as I needed with her before taking her to clean her up. I bf her right away. Much different experience without an emergency situation.

I also believe my daughter's birth experience healed me from my son's. I hope the same is true for you, too.

disbride061103 · September 2011

I had a planned and an unplanned sections. It was the same for both. Baby was given to DH to hold next to me as they closed me. Once I was transfered to a gurney I was given the baby to hold and they didn't leave my side until they went to the nursery a few hours after birth. Both my boys were nursed within an hour of their birth.

Quizzle · September 2011

I think it depends on the hospital.

The hospital I delivered at would give you the baby immediately while you were on the table still, if all was well. They'll let you go skin to skin immediately.

I ended up with a situation similar to yours though, but with a full-term baby. She aspirated fluid and had some breathing issues, so they took her to the NICU and I didn't see her again for 16 hours. I was very cranky!

ghdst1 · September 2011

It probably depends on the hospital and Dr you have. I had an emergency c/s after being in labor at the hospital for 16 hours and not progressing past 7cm plus DS was under stress. Once he was delivered they cleaned him, wrapped him, and immediately gave him to hubby to hold and allow me to see. Then he gave DS back to the nurse, DH left and they stapled me up. Once they were done they gave DS right back to me and he wheeled with me back to the recovery room. I was told by my Dr to immediately BF him, which I did! DS stayed in the room with me the whole time.

magdalina.h · September 2011

I held Lucas in the OR and on the way to our room. I nursed him within the hour well once I was ready.

craxyrae · September 2011

MeghanF13:
I had an urgent c/s due to fetal distress. When she was born, they brought her to me to see. Then DH took her to recovery while they stitched me up. Once in recovery, I was able to hold her, and nurse her. I was in recovery for a few hours and then went up to the maternity ward. I never let go of her.

This was my experience exactly. I did not ask many questions before the surgery, but this was the hospital policy and I am very thankful of that!

sbuxsweetie · September 2011

After my emergency c/s, They held DS up over the curtain, and then I didn't see him again until I was in my recovery room, maybe an hour later. I still resent that I didn't get to hold him or see him up close until later.

magdalina.h · September 2011

Oh and I'm so excited for you! I can't believe you're already 39w!

iris427 · September 2011

I'm thankful that the hospital where I delivered had good policies about this. I had an unplanned (but not emergency) c/s. Baby stayed with us in the OR the entire time. Once I was stitched back up, they gave her to me to hold while they wheeled me back to the recovery room. She stayed with us in recovery for a while and I was able to nurse her for the first time there. She didn't go to the nursery at all until we OK'd it and my husband went with her, so she still was not alone.

I think it's ridiculous that some hospitals still routinely separate healthy mothers and babies simply because it was a c-section.

ShannonSky · September 2011

magdalina.h:
Oh and I'm so excited for you! I can't believe you're already 39w!

I'm PAST 39w, baby! I'll be 40 weeks on Thurs! Can't believe I'm here....really NEVER thought I'd be looking at a C-section b/c the little bugger just won't come out!

beautifulstr13 · September 2011

Mine was planned and my hospital has a policy that you, DH and the baby get an hour alone with the baby and a nurse so she can bath the baby and we can have skin to skin contact.

ivs112 · September 2011

I had a planned c-section. DD was taken to the nursery and DH went with her, while I was being closed up. I was wheeled into recovery, where I could see the nursery and DH stayed by her side the whole time. I got to hold her about 20 minutes after she was born.

LadyXaverian · September 2011

I had an unplanned (but not an emergency) c-section. I was wheeled out of the OR with her in my arms.

girllennon · September 2011

I had an emergency c-section and LO was 'near full-term' as the hospital neonatologist had told me. He was taken to the nursery after they performed his apgar tests and he was a strong, little baby.

I saw him before DH went with him to the nursery. I then was transferred back to triage for an hour to recover, but I didn't recover right away. My right leg was numb and I could not stop shaking. After I was wheeled to my room, I continued to shake for another 4 hours. I didn't get to see or hold my son again until 11pm at night (he was born at 5:25pm).

I didn't get a chance to bond with him right after birth because it was beyond my control. My section went smoothly enough, but I had a reaction to the spinal and was totally freaked out since this was my first surgery EVER.

Kissimi21 · September 2011

The hospital where DS was born has a strict policy that keeps the baby with the mom (or dad in an emergency) at all times. I had an emergency c-section. The nurses did the apgar tests in the OR with DH watching, then placed DS in my arms to transport us to recovery. The nurses asked me if I wanted to put him in his bassinet or was I okay holding him. We spent 5 days int he hospital, and with the exception of 1 test where DS was with DH, he never left my side.

Heather16578 · September 2011

I was induced at 39 weeks due to a roller coaster of high and low blood pressures and the PUPPS rash. I was progressing perfectly and came to 10cm ready to push. Unfortunately LO would come out (combo of being 8lb 13oz and my pelvis) and got stuck so I had and emergency c/s after 3 hours of pushing and near exhaustion. I saw her once after birth and then in the recovery room for a bit. Again I was beyond exhausted and just wanted to sleep and then when I was in my room they brought her to me. I nursed her then and she stayed in our room the rest of our stay. *Important note if you have a c/s they (or atleast my hospital) wont let the baby stay in the room with you alone unless you have someone else in the room.

biblionerd · September 2011

This will depend on your hospital's policies. I ended up hating the nursing care at my hospital, but chose them largely because of their stance on keeping the baby with mom/dad at all times. They delivered DS, took him to the warmers on the side of the room and did all the vitals and evaluations there. DS went and stood with him while I was being sewn up. I could see him the whole time. Then DH brought him over for me to kiss. As soon as I was done being sewn, I held DS and we were wheeled to the postpartum/recovery room with him in my arms, which was the same one I was in before the c/s. This was very important to me.

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