C-Section Stoke Hospital

I had delayed clamping, they lowered the drape once he was out to show us. Daddy had first cuddle, then got weighed, wrapped in a towel then daddy held again but I have seen mummy’s have their babies on them straight away, I just didn’t even think about it cause my section wasn’t planned, I was just asked/told to have one 3 hours before so I didn’t really think about much else than being sliced open haha. As soon as I was being wheeled to recovery I had baby on me and as soon as I was in recovery I had skin to skin.

The midwife in the room told us exactly what would happen when it happened.

Yes to all of the above! Speak to your consultant prior! The team there are incredible! I had a horrible time and they couldn’t have been better !
My section was March last year.
I spent 3 nights in HDU and then 2 on the ward and the staff are epic! Explained everything, helped witn everything. Even lifting little one in and out of crib. Helped me shower, in and out of bed. Snuck partner in after hours! In fact, some of my fondest memories middle of the night new mum with the midwives! They’re brilliant :)
Don’t worry. Just explain what you want! They will accommodate where possible and safe for everyone! :)
Take all the snacks and toast offered! It’s the best! X

Mine was during covid but we had skin to skin, I never asked for lowered/had any requirements I was a first time mum and blissfully unaware. I luckily ended up getting a private room anyway but staff even during covid were fab in terms of checking in, helping and medication. Such a pleasant experience for something they people say can be so traumatic xxx

I had a c-section at stoke hospital.
They didn’t ask me if I wanted skin to skin, drapes lowered, or delayed weighing and to be honest I never thought to ask.

Once the baby was out, he was taken to be weighed, and was then wrapped up in a blanket and handed to my hubby to hold whilst they stitched me up. To be honest it felt like a lifetime until I got to have skin to skin in the recovery suite, but in reality it was probably only 15 minutes I guess.

There was music playing on the radio which sounded nice and was at a nice level (I’m not sure what radio station was playing but it was very enjoyable and I remember the song which was playing when baby was delivered)

Back on the ward I think there were either 4 or 6 beds on a ward, but there are some private rooms too. I didn’t tow night on shared then had to stay in for a week due to infection in baby and so we were moved to a private room as I was becoming extremely sleep deprived.

Continued ….

The first night was hard and I cried lots as the hubby had to go home and I was so scared as I still could move from the epidural. The cot can be put over your bed so that you can reach your baby so it is manageable.

I do t think they do payable rooms anymore since Covid but I guess you could ask if anything’s changed (I had my baby September 2022 and this information was correct at the time.

The theatre staff were lovely and my anaesthetist (Ben) looked after me so well, I will never forget his kindness.

Just be prepared for the recovery period, I found it very painful for 2-3 days. Everyone talks about the pain of a natural delivery but not the pain of c-section recovery. I’m not trying to worry you but I really didn’t anticipate the recovery - after all it’s major abdominal surgery and I would say to draft in all the help you can get for the first couple of weeks xx

Look into gentle c sections too.. remember, you can have whatever you want!!! It's your birth xxx

Thank you so much everyone for your responses so far, this is really reassuring and helping my brain settle (I overthink EVERYTHING and it’s hard sometimes not knowing the details of what will happen). I wish they did tours so you could see where you’ll be for each part ahead of time so you could at least sort of imagine and walk yourself through the potential process.

I’m fully expecting recovery to be hell 🫠 all you seem to read is how hard c section recovery is so we’re battle stations and preparing to take things super slow 💪🏻(Which I’m sure will be really hard as I’m not the best at ‘resting’ 😆)

yeah this was my plan and what I would really like 🥹 I guess I was just wondering if Stoke were able to accommodate this where possible (of course depending on baby’s and my health at the time) because sometimes I’ve read some hospitals just don’t/can’t/won’t accommodate these things. But I feel like drapes down, skin to skin etc should in theory be easy to sort as long as all is well. Might just need to do things a little backwards to their usual routine I guess, but it sounds like Stoke are great so far which is SO reassuring 💕💕💕

I had a c section at Stoke and had immediate skin to skin and music ☺️ not sure on the others as I didn’t want the drapes lowered and it was an emergency section but I don’t see why they wouldn’t let you ☺️
Recovery ward was brilliant and all the staff and midwives are amazing - cannot fault anything! I had to buzz quite often for them to lift our baby boy onto me for feeds and to help with changing as I couldn’t move from the bed and they were amazing 🥰
In terms of recovery, I took things SUPER easy but tried to keep as mobile as I could without over doing it and I think that’s sped up my recovery. Also - hold onto your belly when you cough, sneeze and go to the loo…it really helps with the pain 😅

We’ve just been confirmed for the afternoon! Very exciting but nerve wracking! what happens if you’re done super late in the day and then husband has to leave due to visiting hours? They’ll hardly get any time with baby 🥺

I have been booked for a c-section at Stoke now as baby boy is breech and does not look like turning! 🙈 very nervous and feel strange to have a date! This is a strange question but if you ask for music how do they do it...is it from a phone/ can you take CDs? I know CDs are old school but it will be my mum with me and I don't want the faff of Spotify, playlists etc and I also wanted my phone freed up so she could have it handy afterwards for photos. Thankyou x

I’m planning on taking a wireless speaker connected to one of our phones and a playlist on Spotify 💕

Thankyou, I am more thinking a CD because I know its just one album and it's my mum who will be with me and she's not that familiar with Spotify and playlists haha 🤣. I've asked about it today and they said it depends on the surgeons preference anyway so I am a bit like 🤷🏼‍♀️. I will have to just see on the day 🤦🏽‍♀️ xx

I am booked for a gentle c section in September , I can take my own music and the drapes are dropped so baby is delivered onto my chest. X