Recovery Room Question

catycombs · May 2012

When I had my first c-section, it was at 12 am after a long induction. I had zero sleep the night before. So, needless to say, I was not in real good shape. They did not give me my DD in the recovery room. I had to wait until 2:30am to hold and feed her. Is that standard practice, or does is vary from hospital to hospital?

I have an RSC scheduled Wednesday morning unless I go on my own before then. I really see no reason why I can't have my DD in recovery.

jb2rn · May 2012

Like I said in another thread - it's your baby.

I would tell your OB doing your c/s of your wishes to have your baby with you. Skin to skin contact ASAP is so important for bonding and breastfeeding initiation.

My c/s was unplanned (and in Germany), but before they took me to the OR I told them I wanted my baby on me as soon as I was out of the OR. If he needed NICU time, my dh was to go with him.

My son was born at 1847 on a Sunday. I had not slept much Fri night and not at Sat night all as I was laboring. I still held my baby and BF him.

You can certainly have your baby on your chest in recovery - and you should. If you are too groggy, your husband/partner can help you hold the baby, or the RN can.

l_elizabeth · May 2012

Both my c-sections were planned, and I was never away from either LO for one moment. We did send him to the nursery (on our own request) for 2 hours one night, but that was our choice. He was always with us, from the time he was born, into recovery, and then into our actual room. There was never any reason to take him anywhere without us.

magdalina.h · May 2012

I held him in the OR and held him when we were wheeled back to our room. My hospital is very pro keeping baby with mom

nikki2246 · May 2012

DD never left my side and I held her in recovery ..I would say 20 mins or so after she was born.

katmacwv · May 2012

We had DD with us in recovery. I can't recall whether DH carried her in from the OR or what, but I know she was with us because both of the grandmothers got to hold her there. I was shaking way too much to feel safe holding her by myself, but I did get to hold her with help in there.

Happily Overwhelmed · May 2012

You're situation sounds just like mine!

I was induced super early Tuesday morning. I had zero sleep prior to going in (as it was Christmas just before-December 27th-and I had a massive head cold not letting me rest). I had 18 hours of labor and didn't progress past 5 cm. When they started pushing for c/s I caved quickly--just from exhaustion. Otherwise I probably would have fought it---even though DS was breech so it wouldn't have done any good.

Anyways...DS was born at 10:37 pm. I was in recovery about midnight. DH was allowed to bring DS in to see me in recovery. However I didn't get to hold him until much later (2:30-3 am ish). They wouldn't let me hold him in recovery and by time I was in my room I was "with it" enough to know that I was still a bit numb and shouldn't hold him right away.

I'm not really sure what "standard practice" is. Possibly changes from hospital to hospital or case to case?

I found it weird and shocking that I didn't get to see my baby period until recovery. There was no meet and greet at my head or anything. And both I and DS were perfectly okay and healthy the whole time.

aandg · May 2012

My husband was with DD while I was getting put back together. They took her out to weigh her and do whatever else they do. DH and DD were waiting for me in the recovery room. She was probably away from me for a total of 5-10minutes. I also had a tubal done after she was born so this added a little bit of time to my surgery.

arevans31 · May 2012

At my hospital and actually I work in the newborn nursery so I know how things go but the nurse that goes on the c section usually brings the baby back to the nursery and starts there assessment and measuring and all of that. If you want baby in recovery just tell your nurse to the tell the nursery that way they won't give the baby a bath and she has to warm up before coming to you. Hope that makes sense. Good luck!! My dd came to me in recovery and I breast feed and then they took me to my room

arevans31 · May 2012

Oh by the way Wednesday is my DDs first birthday!!!

HarrietNJMommy · May 2012

I think this depends on the hospital. None of my kids were in recovery with me (just not allowed). I am only in recovery 1 hour though so it's not too bad.

GL!

Daisy22 · May 2012

My hospital keeps baby, mommy, and dad together unless the baby needs to go to the nicu. Dh actually took the baby over to recovery but I was in there within 30mintues of ds1 coming and 45 minutes of ds2 coming out. And I had ds1 at 1125pm so I was in recovery until 3am. Every hospital is different though.

jmccall79 · May 2012

I ended up with an emergency csection...so there was no time to discuss what would or wouldn't happen with my baby afterwards...but he was given to me and laid on me as they wheeled me back to my room, the same room I had been laboring in. I think it may all depend on how well baby is doing, and the hospital itself. I'd definitely discuss this with your dr and express your wishes.

stemms8810 · May 2012

I had a RCS and was able to hold and try to breastfeed my baby in recovery. I would let your nurse know before your c/s that you would like your baby in recovery with you if possible.

DH went to the nursery with him while I was getting stitched up but then we were reunited in recovery. BF'ing didn't work at first because DS was too sleepy but we did a lot of skin to skin instead which is still very beneficial.

mlf625 · May 2012

Speak to your OB about your concerns and wishes. He/she will be able to tell you how it's usually done at your hospital and can probably help you carry out your wishes if they're allowed.

After my scheduled c/s (#1 and #2), I was alone in recovery. It was 2+ hours with DS, because the hospital was overcrowded and they didn't have a room to take me to. It was pretty awful, honestly. I finally threw a fit and made the nurse call the nursery to bring DH and DS to where I was. It was only about an hour with DD. I ended up falling asleep and waking as they started to move me to my room, so that one didn't bother me as much. This time I'm in a new state/hospital, and I've already spoken to my OB about not wanting separation if at all possible. He said they're moving toward more mother/baby friendly practices like that at my hospital, so as long as we're both healthy, he'll try to have us stay together.

nealbl · May 2012

I think each place is different and I think a lot of us on our first one didn't know to try and ask for our child.

LO was born I got to somewhat hold her while lying on the table. Long enough for a photo of DH LO and me. Then DH was escorted with her away to the nursery. I was stapled up and put in the recovery room. I very quickly dozed off but only for like 15 min. After 30 min of being in the room I asked the nurse to go get my child and husband. She acted like it was a normal request and a few min later they were in the room with me and I BF'd LO.

I think we just assume they are not allowed in there with us b/c nobody offers to bring them. My guess is most hospitals will not refuse a mother her child when she asks for it.

purplekicks · May 2012

I was just told in my childbirth class this past weekend that they take the babies to the nursery with dad while I am in recovery and do the bath and assessments. They said by the time all of that is done I should be in my room and they bring me the babies then. I was not happy about that and I do plan to speak to my OB about it. I am also going to see how I am feeling after the surgery before I make too much of a fuss about it.

jjhp2018 · May 2012

With our hospital DH went with her to get weighed and measured after she came out. They swaddled her and he came back in with her and let me give her kisses while they were finishing me up. Both DH and DD were in recovery with me the entire time and DH walked her down to our room when they wheeled me back. The only time she was away was for any testing or pedi checkup.

jb2rn · May 2012

this thread upsets me. It's 2012 and we are STILL separating moms and babies?

Babies don't NEED a bath right away. My son never had one in the hospital, he was just wiped down. I bathed him at home.

Assessements (other than apgar and respiratory/cardiac assessment) can wait. So can weight and measurement!

I am a nurse, so I had no issue speaking up, even living in a different country and probably being the annoying American. Speak up ladies - it makes me so sad to hear you were separated from your babies because hospitals (and hospital "professionals") think it's the right thing to do.

HarrietNJMommy · May 2012

jb2rn:
this thread upsets me. It's 2012 and we are STILL separating moms and babies?

Babies don't NEED a bath right away. My son never had one in the hospital, he was just wiped down. I bathed him at home.

Assessements (other than apgar and respiratory/cardiac assessment) can wait. So can weight and measurement!

I am a nurse, so I had no issue speaking up, even living in a different country and probably being the annoying American. Speak up ladies - it makes me so sad to hear you were separated from your babies because hospitals (and hospital "professionals") think it's the right thing to do.

It upsets me that every time this whole "bonding with baby" comes up you are ADAMANT about having your baby with you (this is not the first post that I've noticed you say this). You always say you NEED to have your baby to be successful at BFing and they NEED to have skin to skin contact right away.

It's not the end all or be all. If your baby is separated from you in recovery for an hour, that doesn't mean you are doomed for failure with your child.

It's not black and white.

Obviously, if it's important for you to have your baby in recovery, speak up. But there are so many things going on in recovery and some people just need time to process, get themselves ready and THEN see their baby.

Don't feel guilty if your baby is separated from you for a length of time or if you send them to the nursery at night. There's no right answer. You need to do what's right for you and your baby.

jb2rn · May 2012

HarrietNJMommy:
jb2rn:

this thread upsets me. It's 2012 and we are STILL separating moms and babies?

Babies don't NEED a bath right away. My son never had one in the hospital, he was just wiped down. I bathed him at home.

Assessements (other than apgar and respiratory/cardiac assessment) can wait. So can weight and measurement!

I am a nurse, so I had no issue speaking up, even living in a different country and probably being the annoying American. Speak up ladies - it makes me so sad to hear you were separated from your babies because hospitals (and hospital "professionals") think it's the right thing to do.

It upsets me that every time this whole "bonding with baby" comes up you are ADAMANT about having your baby with you (this is not the first post that I've noticed you say this). You always say you NEED to have your baby to be successful at BFing and they NEED to have skin to skin contact right away.

It's not the end all or be all. If your baby is separated from you in recovery for an hour, that doesn't mean you are doomed for failure with your child.

It's not black and white.

Obviously, if it's important for you to have your baby in recovery, speak up. But there are so many things going on in recovery and some people just need time to process, get themselves ready and THEN see their baby.

Don't feel guilty if your baby is separated from you for a length of time or if you send them to the nursery at night. There's no right answer. You need to do what's right for you and your baby.

twist words much?

Yes, I have said in a few threads recently that it's very important that baby be with you, skin to skin (assuming you are BF, if you choose not to BF, then it's not as critical. However, I NEVER said anyone should be made to feel guilty for this. As women and mothers, I think we get enough feelings of guilt for our choices.

I just hate hearing that women have THEIR babies taken away from them. It honestly makes me sad. It's your child, not the hospitals. I just want women to feel like they can speak up for what feels right for them and their family.

By all means, if you want to formula feed, or having your BF baby go to the nursery, etc. Go for it! But more often than not on here, I see women upset that things happened to them and their baby, and they had no idea they could push the issue.

arevans31 · May 2012

HarrietNJMommy:
jb2rn:
this thread upsets me. It's 2012 and we are STILL separating moms and babies?

Babies don't NEED a bath right away. My son never had one in the hospital, he was just wiped down. I bathed him at home.

Assessements (other than apgar and respiratory/cardiac assessment) can wait. So can weight and measurement!

I am a nurse, so I had no issue speaking up, even living in a different country and probably being the annoying American. Speak up ladies - it makes me so sad to hear you were separated from your babies because hospitals (and hospital "professionals") think it's the right thing to do.
It upsets me that every time this whole "bonding with baby" comes up you are ADAMANT about having your baby with you (this is not the first post that I've noticed you say this). You always say you NEED to have your baby to be successful at BFing and they NEED to have skin to skin contact right away.
It's not the end all or be all. If your baby is separated from you in recovery for an hour, that doesn't mean you are doomed for failure with your child.
It's not black and white.
Obviously, if it's important for you to have your baby in recovery, speak up. But there are so many things going on in recovery and some people just need time to process, get themselves ready and THEN see their baby.
Don't feel guilty if your baby is separated from you for a length of time or if you send them to the nursery at night. There's no right answer. You need to do what's right for you and your baby.

I agree. I was so out of it after my c section there's no way right afterwards I would be able to function and hold her. She came to me later on in recovery after her bath and the nurses did there assessments and everything. I breast fed her there in recovery and have successfully been breast feeding for 1 year. She will be a year old tomorrow. Im a nurse in the nursery actually and I know they have stuff to do so might as well do it while they are working on me!

cottonlily84 · May 2012

It varies. Some hospitals will take them to the nursery and not bring them back to your regular room until you ask for them. My hospital sends them to your recovery room before mom even gets in there. Some hospitals just will not do babies in recovery rooms period, which sucks.

Kie310 · May 2012

I didn't have my son, but he was in the NICU for 2 hours since he was a GD baby & 3 weeks early... I was suppose to be in recovery for 2 hours, but we okay to be in my PP room after 1 hour... don't know what would have happened if it was a "normal" c/s with a "normal" baby.

ETA: I did get to hold him for 5 minutes before he was sent to the NICU.

MM4Ever · May 2012

I have an emergency C-section. I was so out of it in the OR I do not remember hearing or seeing DS. I woke up in recovery asking where DH and DS were. 45 minutes later DH came. DS had very low blood sugar and they were having problems placing an IV. He was delivered at 11:23AM and I did not see or hold him until 4:30 PM. I was one pissed off mommy.

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