How common mama/baby seperation after c-section?

[NewIma]

Hello mamas!

My dd1 was born via c-section in Michigan and after they weighed her in the operating room and checked her out, she went right into my arms and stayed there with me and my husband. We have since moved to Iowa and are planning a VBAC for dd2. I found out today that if I end up having a c-section again, that at this hospital it is standard procedure for me to hold her for 5 minutes and than the doctors whisk her away for 45 minutes to the nursery to examine her. I am horrified! Is this standard in other places? Can I do anything about it?

Thanks for your help!

[JollyGG]

I have had c-sections at two hospitals.

1. Was a small rural hospital and an unplanned c-section. Because of the small size of the hospital they didn't have everything they needed for weights and such in the operating room (1 operating room, only two labor and delivery rooms with a connecting room with scale and everything). They explained the issue to me and recommended that Dad follow baby for all newborn checks and suggested we talk it over and decide how we wanted to handle it. I did get to hold him for a few minutes before he went with Dad and the nurse. The doctor even took hubby aside and advised him to pay attention to every detail because Mom (me) would want to know everything.

2. Bigger hospital in a city. All newborn checks were done in the room and babe was within view the whole time.

Can you do anything about it in your situation. I'd start with asking. You never know until you ask exactly what they will be doing, what can be delayed, what can be done at bedside, etc. 45 minutes does sound like an awfully long time to me for what should amount to a simple weight, length, heel stick, and eye drops.

[blessedwithboys]

It's pretty common around here to be separated. Ds1 was taken for a few hours, and then we full-time roomed in. I was awake, but was alone in the OR, so there was no one to care for him while I was in recovery.

With ds2 (same hospital), I was knocked out, but I had a family member in the OR with me. I left very strict instructions that ds was to be extracted, quickly checked over, and handed right to xmil. No shots, drops, or draws of any sort unless it was life or death. Xmil kept him until I woke up and starting bitching at the recovery nurse to have him brought to me. Xmil came in with him and we weren't separated again.

You just have to clearly express your instructions, have someone there who can care for the baby post-op, and don't be afraid to throw around the word "lawsuit". GL!

[liberal_chick]

It is standard here for there to be a 1 hour long separation even after a standard vaginal birth. I think I live in backwards-land.

[kitkat5505]

With my 1st I got to see him for about 5 mins and then he wasn't brought to me until 2hrs after the c/s. With my 2nd (diff hospital) I had to be put under so I didn't get to even see him until 4hrs later, but that hospital is more baby friendly and I hope if I have a c/s again that isn't under general that I can ask them not to take the babies away at all (unless necessary of course).

[minkajane]

DS was taken away immediately. I think I saw him about 30 seconds and they whisked him off. XH went with him. I didn't get to hold him until the next morning (about 15 hours after he was born). They took me by the nursery on my way to my room from recovery and I got to touch him but not hold him for a minute or two and then I started puking again and they took me away. He was in the nursery for two and a half days before I was finally able to take him to my room. The reason I was given was that he was grunting when he breathed and had to be under an Oxihood, most likely as a result of the C/S.

[crystal_buffaloe]

I was separated from DD for maybe 2 and a half hours. She had to be aspirated (initial apgar of 2), so that might have been part of the long delay. My husband was with her the whole time. After that, we were able to fully room in.

[Drummer's Wife]

I was separated with all four of mine while they put me back together, until I was stable and in recovery. I'd say it was about 30 minutes or so. DH went with the baby each time, and my mom stayed with me.

The thing is the OR is cold and not a place for a newborn to hang out in for very long, and it tends to be an ideal time to weigh and measure, wash baby, and regulate temp in a warmer (if need be). Some hospitals (and nurses) are okay with you waiting on the bath until you are in your post-partum room - if they have the supplies and warmer available to take to rooms.

[*Jade*]

Wow, I wasn't seperated at all! Not in the states though, maybe thats the difference. DS was given to DH (my arms were numb/ in funny positions) a few mins after birth, DH then carried him while we went into recovery, we breast-fed and did skin-on-skin for the rest of the day. But then hospitals in NZ don't have nurseries and does "rooming-in" to encourage breastfeeding.

[Llyra]

Separation is standard procedure here-- I had two c-sections, and both times the babies were taken (with DH following along) to the nursery until I was back in a room and stable. With my healthy babies-- DD1 and DD2 it was about a half hour or forty-five minute separation. DS and I were separated longer, but that's because he wasn't breathing well on his own and wasn't stable enough to nurse. (He was twin B and transverse, a tad preterm, and had very low apgars).

I do think, though, that with my singleton birth, if I had put up a stink and insisted, I would have been able to keep DD1 with me. At the time, I didn't push it, so I don't know for sure, but that is my feeling. I don't think I would have "won" that fight with a preterm twin birth, though, so I didn't even try the second time.

[hildare]

i was separated from dd after our c birth. pp is right about the chill in the room. after you're sewn, though, you can usually join with your babe in recovery. while you are being put back together, the babe, however can stay with a partner or other parent if you wish. they like to do those tests but you don't have to do those if you don't want.
our birth plan included something to the effect of "x (dh) stays with the baby at all times." we allowed some testing but no vaxxes, dh just went with dd during all of it.

if you're planning a c birth, be cautious about this:
i had to pitch a bit of a fit as they were booked/full and busy at the time of my unplanned cbirth.. they wanted to send me to general surgery rather than the surgery in the labor/delivery area, which had a separate recovery room where they don't allow mama/baby to be together. SO glad i had presence of mind to refuse until they sent me to the one on the floor where i could get my babe right after. sheesh.

[lyterae]

My c-section was in Michigan also and during our entire hospital stay I think we were seperated the whole of 10 minutes.. About five minutes after birth (my DH was with her) and then for her hearing test.

[NewIma]

Wow-unfortunately it looks like this is way more common than I thought. With dd1 I didn't feel it was inappropriate for her to be in the operating room at all. She was all wrapped up in blankets and perfectly happy. Does anyone know if I have the right to insist that she stay in the same room as me? I know I can refuse medical treatment for myself, but what rights do I have as a parent? I am fine with them checking her out-I just want her in the same room and for it to take a lot less than 45 minutes.

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by JollyGG

45 minutes does sound like an awfully long time to me for what should amount to a simple weight, length, heel stick, and eye drops.

ITA. Besides, eye goop is pretty stupid since the erythromycin eye drops are to stop infection that can come from mama having gonorrhea. But, if he doesn't go through your vagina, what's the need??

Not sure about separation time, but here's a great article on skin-to-skin immediately following surgery:

http://obnurse35yrs.wordpress.com/20...ing-it-happen/

[mimie]

My first c-section was at a small rural hospital, unplanned. I was away from DD for nearly two hours. They wouldn't allow her into the recovery room, and I had a rough recovery.

My second c-section was at a large regional medical center, and it was planned. I was away from DS only 10 minutes or so - the OR was cold, and his temp was low, so they took him to my room (with DH). I got back to my room, was able to sit semi-upright and nurse him right away. I felt great - no problems with recovery. I pretty much held and nursed him all day after that. He was bathed right next to my bed, and when he was cold, the nurses encouraged me to do skin-to-skin and piled blankets on us.

[tangledblue]

Big metropolitan hospital, we were always in the same room together for everything.

[CEG]

I am a CNM in a huuuugely busy hospital. Our babies go to mom in the OR for a quick hello then across the hall to the Recovery room. When mom is done she joins baby in recovery room. I suspect that if any mom made a big fuss about keeping a baby in the OR it would be done. The anesthesiologist is always in charge of the OR an barring an unstable mom I don't think there is a valid reason not to keep baby. I would love to do skin to skin or even initiate breastfeeding. None of my moms has ever asked!

If you feel strongly talk with your OB about it. Then on the day of just say it as a fact- "baby will be staying with me!" There is no law, requirement, or standard that says baby cannot stay in the OR. They may have a hospital policy but those things are made to be broken. Good luck!

[MoonStarFalling]

Both my kids were taken for over an hour. Different hospitals, totally healthy baby and mother. Never got to hold them. Didn't even see my first. Last hospital didn't have a recovery room so I waited in the OR alone for an hour knowing the baby was laying in the nursery with DH. I will be asking that this baby stay with me unless serious complications.

[ProtoLawyer]

The hospital where I gave birth usually doesn't separate mom and baby after a c-section if both are stable.

As it turns out, I ended up losing a bunch of blood and with skyrocketing pulse, so I was taken to a room for an EKG and monitoring, and my husband went with our son (who was healthy) to the nursery until they were able to take me to the mother/baby unit. The baby ended up sleeping in the nursery, though, because I was so drugged and tethered that I could not physically care for him. (The nurses took good care of him and brought him for feedings.)

Not at all what I wanted, but not really avoidable. Better than a stroke.