Care of daughter after Caesarian

Very unusually, DD was still in hospital 4days after her C-section as DGC was in the special care baby unit. Her wound split open and she is only still with us because she was in the hospital and rushed into theatre. Whilst this is not at all a common occurrence, it does make you think.

As a retired midwife I find it appalling that new mums are discharged so early after a C section. The wound itself has a lot of healing to get through , if you have ever seen the surgery involved you can understand .
As Community midwives do not visit so frequently, much onus is on the family and new mum to deal with it all and that is not fair . They need rest, reassurance, care and help.
Even the first time mums who leave after 6 hrs, go home, many without any idea how to handle, change, bath a newborn, fix baby to the breast or make up a formula feed. We used to try and help and show new mums all that before they went home. Even 48 hrs can give them some confidence..... I haven't been retired that long either!

Yes JessM the Chinese stay inside for a month but there is very little 'professional' aftercare.
My DD had an emergency C section with DGS1, was in a private (good insurance!) hospital 4 days and then it was just us. We quickly learnt that any help we asked for was readily given by going back to the hospital but was very 'Chinese' (apologies for that but not sure how else to say it) and not what we were happy with. The internet was our greatest help.
In the first month whenever we took him into the communal garden we were given a good telling off by all the Ayis as it was so very dangerous. Amazingly he survived !
The care here may be patchy but for the most part it is available and FREE!!

My daughter is a midwife and she discharged herself 48 hours after a C-section. She told the hospital that wardlife was too hectic and she longed for the peace and quiet of being at home.

My daughter always suggests that the young mother's mother comes for a week and that the MIL stays away. That is her experience after being a midwife for 20 years. In Germany mothers get a visit every day for 10 days if wished. Once in five days is really not enough if they are soon out of hospital

Chinese friend shocked to the core to discover how little looking after new mums get. According to her they should be cosseted and stay indoors for a whole month.
My DIL discharged herself after 24 hours after planned CS with second - she asked them what could go wrong - they said "infection' she said that as she was a nurse she's spot that. They said off you go then.

My daughter in law was expecting to stay in for 3 days after a c section, but they sent her home after 2 because they needed the bed. My son had a month off work but after 7 weeks she's still not coping that well.

Just wondering if that is why Dad"s are now given paternity leave .
had not occurred to me before !

All my DDs have had daily midwife visits for the first 10 days - youngest babe is 10 months so this is not ancient history!

48 hrs seems very short indeed- although in 1973 I was sent home on hte morning of 3rd day- and they knew I would have no help and support at all at home.

Ask your health visitor to call and discuss with her. Surely there is no clear rule, just depends how well your daughter is feeling and getting on. Good luck to her, and I am so glad she has you to help her.

Discharge after 24-48 hours is disgraceful, particularly your daughter janthea.

Zink as for the hospital saying that someone must be with her at all times .... they think they're somehow covering themselves if things go wrong.

I know a lot of people want to get out of hospital as soon as they can, particularly if standards of hygiene and care are poor, but patients do need a few days observation after surgery.

My daughter was also discharged last month after a C section on the Tuesday and left on the Thursday. And she has a heart condition! The hospital wanted to discharge her on the Wednesday but her consultant said she had to stay at least 48 hours!

Mishap they don't do daily visits anymore
I found that out at the weekend from a friend who has 10day old grandaughter.

The midwife will be going in daily - ask her advice.

It was 10 days for me. 48 hours is horribly soon! I could barely get out of bed and stand upright for about 5days.

By 10 Days I could manage though but still need help. Even picking a baby up could be difficult at that early stage. Can anyone stay with her or could she go to stay with a relative. All new mums should be pampered.

I had all 4 DCs by section and lifting whether baby or older sibling is hard and indeed frowned on. She will need more rest too so a couple of weeks with someone in the house will be very welcome. She will want her own space with the baby of course but all help that can be given would be great.

Great advice! For the next 30 years (hire a nanny?) or for a couple of days. They are obviously talking about the immediate post-operative period (in case she faints or something) and ceesnan is quite right - phone the GP and ask.
I think new mums of all varieties need someone around for at very least a week to make them cuppas, answer the door and do the washing.

Could you ring either the midwife, or the surgery? I'm sure they could advise.