First days after giving birth - hospital maternity wards
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I didn't have a c section but I was in hospital for two days after but I agree with you. I know the other parents on the ward are doing the best they can as well and I'm sure are probably feeling the exact same but it is a nightmare. I was on a high dependency ward as well with only 3 midwives for the whole ward so getting someone to come see us was a nightmare and it was so uncomfortable that sleep was virtually non existent. I had to keep taking the baby for a walk up and down the hallway because there was nowhere to go and have a quiet 5 minutes. Our discharge got completely screwed up as well so we were kept waiting to go home for 6 hours and it was miserable so I can only imagine how much worse it is for you. I will say that literally the second you are able to go through the hospital doors and go home it feels so lovely so keep going mama it will be ok
This is why I went home after 1 night. Not only with people constantly ringing for some assistance, other babies crying (I had no issue with this) and the midwives talking and laughing like it was noon at 3am....
I had my baby 10 days ago and didn’t sleep for 4 days. I think I maybe got an hour combined in that time. I was so sleep deprived I was hallucinating, honestly didn’t even know that was a thing! I was seeing things that weren’t there and it was terrifying! I could barely string two words together and was terrified I’d drop the baby. We’re talking extreme sleep deprivation. Since being home and slowly catching up on sleep I’m now fine, just regular amount of tired but for those days in hospital I was terrified I had postpartum psychosis or something serious was wrong, it was just sleep deprivation. It’s the most traumatic thing during pregnancy and delivery! Especially with pain and lack of mobility on top of it.
The key is to always request a room or suite when pregnant, sometimes it doesn’t always go to plan and the private rooms could be taken but when pregnant with my first I was determined that once he came up to the ward from nicu he wouldn’t be staying on the ward as there was 2 private rooms to each ward so I made sure to stay up to date with the nurses so I could find out exactly when a private room became available, staying on the ward was horrendous before my little man even arrived, people having loud conversations, some women had endless coughing 😷 I’m a germaphobe so having my son around that was a huge no no, my tip is to keep in communication with the nurses to make it easier for yourselves
I am due in 5 days and absolutely dreading this more then the actual labour😩
That’s madness!
What 6 of them ? It was only 3 of us and none of us had babies cause we all had babies in the neonatal unit . So it was actually quite nice . Then I got moved to the neonatal unit where I had room on my own with my baby but i couldn’t sleep there , I heard all the monitors beeping nonstop , it was too hot there , my baby’s monitor was beeping too so I was sleep deprived and I know how it feels . I was so angry too
I had an elective section on Thursday and was so so overwhelmed when we got on the ward. We had three other mamas and babies on the ward with partners and visitors as we got there and I just started vomited everywhere while holding baby - it was awful. It was so hot for the babies but I felt like I was going to pass out. I was very lucky in that baby is feeding well, I managed to wee and they were happy to discharge me on the Friday but wow.. I listened to two other women cry because they were being kept in again and again. Totally understand it’s for their benefit but the ward was understaffed and the atmosphere was stressful. Headphones and eye mask and take trips down the corridor when you can for a break.
When I was there the babies were just making eachother cry 24/7 as soon as one stopped another started. Me and my partner felt so stressed to try keep ours as quiet as we could and ik we all felt it xx
Post ward experience was the worst part of both my births. It’s insane.
I was in hospital for a week after my first and it was horrible, I didn't sleep. Was only a ward with 3 mums, no dad's and one set of twins but I didn't really hear the other babies. It's them checking you or the baby or a different mum, meals, drinks. I just chucked headphones and a sleep mask on when my husband was about and slept and then he slept at home. It will be fine when you're home. If you're allowed, go for a walk by yourself (not sure after a c section) even if it's a walk down the ward. A breastfeeding room, but leave baby with dad. It's very overwhelming and having 10 mins to yourself to not think about anything is amazing. Or a shower if you are allowed. Find the tiny glimmers of you that you can. When you are in your own bed. It will all be amazing.