What happens right after giving birth?

I had to wear a hospital gown during delivery. Once my daughter was born she was placed on my chest. I held her while I delivered the placenta and was wiped down, examined and stitched (I only had one stitch). They took my daughter to clean her, weight her, etc and I was given a clean gown. Then I was given my daughter back and assisted with breast feeding. Once I was able to stand I was helped to the bathroom. I had to pee twice before I was allowed to shower. I showered as soon as I was able to. I then dressed in PJ pants and a tee shirt. My pad was checked but I did not have to take my pants off. I was comfortable in my own clothes.

Re: What happens right after giving birth?

I was induced with both of my kids so the minute I got into L&D I put on a hospital gown. After my kids were born they stitched me up while dh and I held them. After that our families were allowed in to see us and the baby. Maybe an hour after that they took the baby to the nursery and the anesthesiologist came in to take out the epi. When I was able to walk they made me pee before taking me upstairs to my room. DD was born at night so I didn't shower till the following day and DS was born in the afternoon so I was able to shower that night. BEST. SHOWER. EVER!! After my shower I put on a pair of yoga pants and a tshirt. With dd they checked me a lot bc I had a second degree tear with her but with ds I didn't tear bad at all so they only checked me when I first got up to the maternity ward.

Re: What happens right after giving birth?

I was in a hospital gown the entire time I was there (kept putting on new ones). They check you ALL THE TIME and I was bleeding a lot as well. They help yo u get into a fresh gown after birth. I couldn't pee on my own so they had to put a catheter in initially to empty my bladder too. I don't think I showered at all to be honest, I could barely move for 2 days after birth.

What happens right after giving birth?

Everything you wrote were all questions and fears I had too. However when in the moment I could seriously care less what I was wearing or anything else. Went to hospital at 9am freshly showered. Wore their robe all day and had baby at 9pm. I did skin to skin and breast feeding as well as delayed cord clamping so I was with the baby for over an hour as they did whatever down there. I was so into the baby I have no memory of what was going down down there. I had two stitches put in and didn't feel them. No memory of the placenta but my husband said he saw it.

I do remember strongly once I was in a room and the baby was now getting weighed a nurse helped me go to the bathroom and for whatever reason it was the longest pee of my life and kind of traumatic bc it was very bloody. I showered the next morning after breakfast which was only 24 hours since my last shower.

I wasn't too sore. Sitting still I was fine and moving around a little uncomfortable. I was facianated by all the items I needed just to pee. A water squirt bottle, some numbing spray, cream, and a gigantic pad.

My advice and what I wish I knew. My hospital only had one bottle of shampoo/soap and a wash cloth. I would bring shampoo, conditioner and face wash if you use it. Also they didn't have a hair dryer, my mom had to bring me mine. I wore sweat pants and a maternity tee shirt. Make sure nothing is too tight in case of a section. Oh and if you have a vaginal birth they give you stool softner, continue to use it even when you get home!

FYI if you're like me and laboring and feeling pretty good and 5cm and dr decides to break your water please note it makes cramps come on fast and furious. I wish I know this bc I wouldn't have let him. I was fine and progressing fast and not in pain. Once he broke my water it was the worst part of the whole thing and I had to get an epidural which is magical.

You hear lots of horror stories and not always the nice ones, I personally had a great very straight forward birth. I really didn't think it was that bad but I got an epidural.

Re: What happens right after giving birth?

I delivered at 1030pm, I didn't get skin on skin, for whatever reason. I only really held my son for a minute before they took him, cleaned him up and then they handed him to my DH while they were fixing me up. I got him back for about 1/2 hour before they took him to the nursery. I didn't see him again until we got to our room which was about 2am.

I had preeclampsia so I had a magnesium drip attached to me for 24 hours. I wasn't offered a new gown and didn't think to ask for one, but that would've been nice. The nurse helped me in the bathroom and showed me how to measure my urine. (Because of the preeclampsia they had to keep track of how much I was urinating.)

The next night once the magnesium was taken out I changed to my yoga pants and nursing top. I believe there was a tiny shower in our room but it didn't look too clean or inviting so I sucked it up and waited until I went home the following day.

I will say- no one physically checked me at any time after delivery. I had 1 stitch. I don't know if that's why.

I wasn't very happy with my experience at my hospital.. changing hospitals this time around.

ETA: Don't think I answered your question entirely the first time I responded lol. So just added a few details.

Message edited 3/25/2014 3:51:18 PM.

What happens right after giving birth?

You girls have been sooo fabulous!!! I guess the best thing is to expect the unexpected! I am going to pack a night gown and a tshirt with pants and what will be will be. =) At least I have "some idea" what may happen and that makes me feel so much better!

Re: What happens right after giving birth?