Knowing what to expect during your c section hospital stay takes away a huge layer of stress and anxiety. My goal of this post is to break it all down from the moment you step into the hospital before surgery to the moment you’re wheeled into your room after surgery.
There are also a few tips included in the surgery section that you might find helpful too!
Before C Section
On the day of surgery, you will arrive at the hospital and check in at the appropriate desk. You and your spouse will then be guided into the preoperative holding area where you will be prepped for surgery. This includes changing into a hospital gown, getting your IV set up, going over your medical history with the nurse, talking to the anesthesiologist and probably a few other things that I can’t remember right now.
Be prepared for delays in your surgery. Given you aren’t typically in active labor before a planned c section, it’s possible that your doctor is pulled to deliver another patient’s baby who is in active labor. This exact scenario happened when I was waiting in the pre-op area before my scheduled c section!
During C Section
For the actual surgery, you will be wheeled into the operating room. It will be very bright in the OR and you can expect to see your doctor, either your specific pediatrician or the hospital pediatrician, several nurses, the anesthesiologist. In my case, I had a student shadowing the doctor as well (which I had agreed to beforehand).
Most hospitals allow one person to be in the OR with you as well, but they are not able to enter into the OR until your epidural/spinal block is administered. The anesthesia is the most nerve wracking for moms so in my opinion, it’s a good thing it’s first. (You’ll do fine, try not to worry!)
The anesthesiologist will do a check to make sure you’re numb from about the chest down, a catheter is placed and then the surgery begins! A cloth is also being hung at this time around your midpoint to prevent you from seeing the actual surgery taking place.
Some hospitals allow a clear cloth to be hung or no cloth at all but you will need to talk to your doctor beforehand if that’s something you want because all hospitals are different.
The baby is usually delivered within the first 20 minutes, brought over to the pram by the pediatrician and tended to for a few minutes before being brought back to you. Your spouse is able to be with your baby during this time and is still able to cut the umbilical cord.
Many hospitals allow pictures to be taken in the OR so make sure your husband has his cell phone in his pocket and you communicate with the nurses beforehand.
After your baby is delivered, the placenta will then be removed and it will take your doctor roughly 40 minutes to close your incision.
After C Section
Recovery Room
After surgery, you will be wheeled into the recovery room for a few hours until the anesthesia wears off. Your spouse and baby will be with you during that time and you can start nursing if that’s what you wish. A nurse will also be in the recovery room to monitor you and once the spinal block has mostly worn off, she will discharge you from recovery.
Your Own Room
After recovery you will be moved to a more permanent room for the next 3 to 4 days. There will be a bassinet for your baby and a spot for your husband to sleep as well. You can expect to see your nurse many times that first day and night and your doctor will also do rounds at some point during your hospital stay as well.
I wish you all the best in your c section surgery! And if you’re looking for guidance on what to pack in your hospital bag from a fellow c section mama (it’s slightly different than with a traditional delivery), you can check out my post here.
What other questions do you have about your c section hospital stay? Comment below and I’d be happy to answer 🙂
This post is based on my personal experience. Please consult your doctor for your hospital specifics and to answer any questions about your specific c section surgery.
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