[Boxerlove1]

I'm just wondering.... obviously with my last birth experience @ 26 weeks, I wasnt allowed to hold my baby after the c-section. Not immidiatly, and not until I could get up to the NICU. I was obviously not prepared at that point for anything having to do with the actual birth itself, much less PPROM, IC and death.

Since I've made it this far, virtually problem-free, my doctors expect me to go full-term, and my c-section will be sch. for sometime around 10/17. Please help me to understand some things...

I guess I'm wondering what to expect with a 'normal' c-section birth. Here are my questions:


1. Did any of you tour the hospital? Did your doctor set that up, or did you instigate, and if so, how do you go about doing that?

2. Were you able to hold your baby immidiatly (assuming no other complications arose in the meanwhile) or did you have to wait until out of surgery?

3. I notice a few of you have pictures. Did you have to ask permission to take them, or was it understood?

4. How soon after were you allowed to BF your baby?

5. Were you able to 'room-in' with your baby?

6. Did you have a birth plan? If so, what did it entail?


I would greatly appreciate any answers to any of these questions.

THANKS!

R

1. Did any of you tour the hospital? Did your doctor set that up, or did you instigate, and if so, how do you go about doing that? I never actually toured the hospital. When i started going into premature labor with my second one they showed me to pretty much everything.

2. Were you able to hold your baby immidiatly (assuming no other complications arose in the meanwhile) or did you have to wait until out of surgery? I had to wait until i was back in my room from the recovery room. I got to see and touch my baby but i had to wait to hold him. With my first one it was several hours before they brought him to me with my second as soon as i was out of recovery they brought him.

3. I notice a few of you have pictures. Did you have to ask permission to take them, or was it understood?
I was never allowed to take pics in the operating room
4. How soon after were you allowed to BF your baby?
I havent gotten the opportunity to BF yet but with this baby the doc says she will have her brought to me in the recovery room to get started
5. Were you able to 'room-in' with your baby?
I roomed in with both of my boys and will with this one too. I would much rahter have the baby with me so i know what is going on.
6. Did you have a birth plan? If so, what did it entail?
I have never really had a birth plan. With my first one i was 19 and scared the second time i was a shceduled csection so i just made sure i was having a spinal and the tubal. This time i am just trying to make sure i get a spinal again

[Ms-Kitty]

Luther presented breech at 36 weeks. We did *lots* of stuff to turn him, but he was very stubborn and would not (even after 2 attempts at a version!!!). So we scheduled a c-section for his due date. He was stubborn on that account, too! I went into labor on my own at 38w3d. They had me come in while my contrax were more than 8 min apart, so that we wouldn't be "rushed" into an emergency scenario. I was in a birthing room identical to the one where I gave vaginal birth to my daughter 3 years ago. I was on a fetal monitor for about 2 hours, because they wanted to make sure this was "real" labor (I had B-H contrax all through this pregnancy), and did 2 cervix checks (I went from 3cm to 7cm in those 2 hours, so it was definitely "for real"). The OB did a final ultrsound to see if Luther had flipped, but Luther was still stubbornly in the same position, trying to squeeze both his butt and his feet into my pelvis. So about 20 min after the ultrasound, they did the soap-n-shave, put me in a hospital gown (I did the monitoring in my own gown because I felt like it) and hair in a cap, then I walked to the surgery. The anesthesiologist set up my spinal. As soon as it was inserted and working, they brought my hubby Chuck in with us. He stayed with me the whole time.

Now for your specific questions:

1. Did any of you tour the hospital? Did your doctor set that up, or did you instigate, and if so, how do you go about doing that? [/b]

Yes, we toured the hospital. Even though we were at the same hospital, I wanted to do it again to see if any of their procedures had changed in 3 years. My OBs office gave me the number of the tour coordinator. I called and signed us up. The tour started at 6:30 on a Wednesday night. We spent about 1/2 hour with the Labor/Delivery/Recovery nurse who ran the tours (a male nurse!). Then he led us through the Labor/Delivery/Recovery wing, showed us where the surgery was and the NICU. Then we went upstairs to the post-partum wing and toured one of the rooms there.

2. Were you able to hold your baby immidiatly (assuming no other complications arose in the meanwhile) or did you have to wait until out of surgery?[/b]

As soon as Luther was out, they handed him naked and squalling to Chuck. He showed him to me, and I kissed him. Luther quit crying when I kissed him! After a minute or so, Chuck took him to be weighed and measured and wrapped in a blanket. All this happened while the surgery team was sewing me back up. Chuck brought Luther back to me and held him up so I could see. I had very shaky arms at this point and did not trust myself to hold him. Once the surgery was finished, they used an quick-inflating mattress to transfer me to a hospital bed. At that point, they put up the rails on the bed, put Luther into my arms, and took us back to our birthing room. We were there for about an hour before they moved us upstairs to post-partum.

3. I notice a few of you have pictures. Did you have to ask permission to take them, or was it understood?[/b]

The anesthesiologist and a nurse took lots of pics for us. The hospital does not allow video-tape during the birth, but pictures are okay.

4. How soon after were you allowed to BF your baby?[/b]

As soon as I wanted. Luther ate for the first time about 10 minutes after we came back into the birthing room. He didn't "get" latching on at first, but once the nurse helped me open his mouth wide enough, he nursed really well for about 25 minutes. He was very content afterwards, and fell asleep about 15 minutes after that.

5. Were you able to 'room-in' with your baby?[/b]

Absolutely! He was with me the entire time. My hubby stayed on the pull-out sofa in the room. Either Chuck or I went with Luther for every out-of-room test or procedure. They put a rolling bassinette into the room right next to my bed.

6. Did you have a birth plan? If so, what did it entail?[/b]

Heh. Such as it was. My OB wanted me to write one up and bring it to my next appointment, but I went into labor before that appointment ever happened. My best advice on birthplans: put only the things that REALLY matter to you in it, and try to keep it to one page front-n-back (it's harder to keep track of multiple pages for you and the staff). Don't bother with stuff that you or your hubby can handle----don't put in that you want dim lights in the room or Back music playing-----just dim the birthroom lights when you walk in and pop in your Bach CD before you get into bed. No-one is going to turn up the lights or turn off the CD without asking you about it. On the other hand, if you have a major medical concern, be SURE it is in the plan. For instance, I am *violently* allergic to peanuts and peas. Not only did I make sure that was in my file and got an allergy alert red bracelet on check-in, I had a bright-red sign on my door and a consultation with the LDR/post-partum nutritionist as well.

Good luck with this birth. I hope everything goes well for you. One bit of advice: bring a Boppy nursing pillow with you to the hospital. I was very shaky for the first few hours after giving birth, and it made me much less worried I would drop him to have the Boppy as extra support. Also, it helped me to prop him up high, off of my incision area.

~~Amanda

[BensMom]

1. Did any of you tour the hospital? Did your doctor set that up, or did you instigate, and if so, how do you go about doing that? My hospital had a tour of L&D every monday afternoon that anyone could go to.

2. Were you able to hold your baby immidiatly (assuming no other complications arose in the meanwhile) or did you have to wait until out of surgery? They brought him to me immediately after surgery, but dh was with him the whole time.

3. I notice a few of you have pictures. Did you have to ask permission to take them, or was it understood? My hospital has a policy of no camera/video of ACTUAL procedures... which means the moment the baby is born for vaginal and the entire process for c-section. Anything before/after that point is fine. Dh got pictures of him all slimy while the nurses cleaned him up, but no pictures of him being born. I hate that, because I was knocked out.

4. How soon after were you allowed to BF your baby? As soon as I was wheeled to recovery.

5. Were you able to 'room-in' with your baby? yep! my hospital had a policy of not allowing a baby to be in the room alone with a c-section mommy just because it's hard to get in and out of bed quickly if something happens. Dh was with me, so it didn't matter.

6. Did you have a birth plan? If so, what did it entail? nope

I WISH YOU THE BEST THIS TIME AROUND!!

[3Xblessed]

1. Did any of you tour the hospital? Did your doctor set that up, or did you instigate, and if so, how do you go about doing that? The hospital had regular tour that you signed up for. I did that for my first - knowing I was having a c/s but not for my last

2. Were you able to hold your baby immidiatly (assuming no other complications arose in the meanwhile) or did you have to wait until out of surgery? I didn't get to hold the twins for a couple of hours because my bp was off the charts. With katelyn they actually put her on my chest right after they got her out. Then they took her an cleaned her up but she was still in the room and dh was with her. She actually rode to recovery in my arms and never left after that.

3. I notice a few of you have pictures. Did you have to ask permission to take them, or was it understood? We could take pictures for all of it.......

4. How soon after were you allowed to BF your baby? As soon as I was wheeled to recovery.

5. Were you able to 'room-in' with your baby? Yep...but if you feel like it, I do suggest letting them take your dc for the time between one feeding so you can get at least 2 hours of sleep. At our hospital they put a sticker on the bassinet that said eat at moms so the nurses knew I was bfing. Trust me the sleep is really nice and you won't have nursing staff at home

6. Did you have a birth plan? If so, what did it entail? nope[/b]

[babydollz_676]

I'm just wondering.... obviously with my last birth experience @ 26 weeks, I wasnt allowed to hold my baby after the c-section. Not immidiatly, and not until I could get up to the NICU. I was obviously not prepared at that point for anything having to do with the actual birth itself, much less PPROM, IC and death.

Since I've made it this far, virtually problem-free, my doctors expect me to go full-term, and my c-section will be sch. for sometime around 10/17. Please help me to understand some things...

I guess I'm wondering what to expect with a 'normal' c-section birth. Here are my questions:


1. Did any of you tour the hospital? Did your doctor set that up, or did you instigate, and if so, how do you go about doing that?

2. Were you able to hold your baby immidiatly (assuming no other complications arose in the meanwhile) or did you have to wait until out of surgery?

3. I notice a few of you have pictures. Did you have to ask permission to take them, or was it understood?

4. How soon after were you allowed to BF your baby?

5. Were you able to 'room-in' with your baby?

6. Did you have a birth plan? If so, what did it entail?


I would greatly appreciate any answers to any of these questions.

THANKS!

R[/b]

i did tour the hospital with all 3 of my kids and with this pregnancy too (different hospital)you just call and ask when they have the tour and show up.they even let me talk with the guy who's going to do my spinal.you can video tape and take pics but the actual birth can't be filmed .you can only take still pics of that. you usualyy can't hold your baby in the o.r.but if all is well you will see him/her and touch them and kiss them.once you get to recovery room you can have and breastfeed your baby.you can have rooming in once you get to your room also.i didn't really have a birth plan.mind you this is at the hospitals i have given birth at and the one i will give birth at this time.each has their own rules but i don't think they vary much.hope this helps.

[~Heather~]

1. Did any of you tour the hospital? Did your doctor set that up, or did you instigate, and if so, how do you go about doing that? I did not tour the hospital.

2. Were you able to hold your baby immidiatly (assuming no other complications arose in the meanwhile) or did you have to wait until out of surgery? They held the baby beside me so I could see him, but I didn't actually hold him until I got in my room.

3. I notice a few of you have pictures. Did you have to ask permission to take them, or was it understood? They told my DH to bring the camera in the operating room with us. And he started taking pictures as soon as they had the head out.

4. How soon after were you allowed to BF your baby? I didn't breastfed

5. Were you able to 'room-in' with your baby? Yes

6. Did you have a birth plan? If so, what did it entail? No I didn't have a birth plan.

[momof4byz]

1. Did any of you tour the hospital? Did your doctor set that up, or did you instigate, and if so, how do you go about doing that?

No I didn't... but my c-section was my 3rd birth and I had already been to this hospital. I did tour the hospital before having my 1st baby.

2. Were you able to hold your baby immidiatly (assuming no other complications arose in the meanwhile) or did you have to wait until out of surgery?

No I did't get to hold him, but my DH did and brought him up to my face so I could see him.

3. I notice a few of you have pictures. Did you have to ask permission to take them, or was it understood?

My DH did take some photos in the surgery room, but not any of the actual birth. The anesthesiologist was super nice and even took a few of my DH, I and the baby together up my my face.

4. How soon after were you allowed to BF your baby?

I BF my baby as soon as I was in the recovery room... I don't know the exact time frame because I was a little out of it and exhausted.

5. Were you able to 'room-in' with your baby?

Yes, the baby did room in with me and DH was at the hospital with me the whole time to help.

6. Did you have a birth plan? If so, what did it entail?

No, I didn't have a birth plan. I figured I didn't need one since it was a c-section... but thinking about it now there are still things I could have put in a birth plan.

[mommybug77]

1. Did any of you tour the hospital? Did your doctor set that up, or did you instigate, and if so, how do you go about doing that? Never bothered

2. Were you able to hold your baby immidiatly (assuming no other complications arose in the meanwhile) or did you have to wait until out of surgery? I had to wait. I was very sick (throwing up) & she was born with a cleft lip.

3. I notice a few of you have pictures. Did you have to ask permission to take them, or was it understood? Just took them

4. How soon after were you allowed to BF your baby? as soon as I made it out of recovery

5. Were you able to 'room-in' with your baby? well, The baby went to the nursery to sleep. It was not forced, just easiest on me. Esp. since I spent 3 days sick

6. Did you have a birth plan? If so, what did it entail? I have never had one with any of the 3 pregnancies.

1. Did any of you tour the hospital? Did your doctor set that up, or did you instigate, and if so, how do you go about doing that? [/b]

Nope. I never did a tour. I was there a few times with preterm labor so by then I didn't need a tour lol

2. Were you able to hold your baby immidiatly (assuming no other complications arose in the meanwhile) or did you have to wait until out of surgery?[/b]

I had my arms strapped down, so I was not able to hold either of my girls. (all my births were c section but the twins were the only scheduled one) I didn't get to hold them until they wrapped it up and pushed me into the recovery area.

3. I notice a few of you have pictures. Did you have to ask permission to take them, or was it understood?[/b]

We asked what we were allowed to bring into the OR. They said a camera or a videocamera. We brought a camera because we no longer had our videocamera. My second daughters birth was videotaped though. It was awesome!

4. How soon after were you allowed to BF your baby?[/b]

I nursed the twins as soon as they pushed me into recovery and brought them to me. A lot faster then I got to nurse my second child.

5. Were you able to 'room-in' with your baby?[/b]

Yes. although I think I did send them to the nursery once.

6. Did you have a birth plan? If so, what did it entail?[/b]

I didn't really have a birthplan. The only thing I wanted for sure was a placenta analysis after the twins were born. I wanted to know if they were ID or fraternal.

[(: Christy :)]

Did any of you tour the hospital? Did your doctor set that up, or did you instigate, and if so, how do you go about doing that? I checked into the classes and tours that were offered by the hospital and signed myself up.

2. Were you able to hold your baby immediately (assuming no other complications arose in the meanwhile) or did you have to wait until out of surgery? I wasn't able to hold her, but she was held up by my face by my dh.

3. I notice a few of you have pictures. Did you have to ask permission to take them, or was it understood? I was able to have pictures, but no video. The anesthesiologist even took pictures of dh and the baby.

4. How soon after were you allowed to BF your baby? As soon as I got into a recovery room and started to regain feeling.

5. Were you able to 'room-in' with your baby? Yes, she was only in the nursery about 30 minutes a day.

6. Did you have a birth plan? If so, what did it entail? Nope

Best of luck to you!