On the day of your planned caesarean you will need to come to the Maternity Unit with everything you need for your stay – including your own clothes/toiletries/current medication and baby’s clothes/nappies/starter packs of formula feeds if not breastfeeding, as well as your car seat. If you need more advice on what to bring in to hospital please speak with your named midwife. You are likely to stay 24-48 hours following a caesarean so will need enough for yourself and baby for this amount of time.
Usually you will attend the Maternity Ward. A midwife who is caring for woman having a planned Caesarean section that day will care for you on the ward before, and then be with you in theatre and during your recovery period.
You need to ring the ward door bell to be admitted to ensure the ward stays secure. There is alcohol gel once in the ward door and we ask you to use this when entering, and regularly whilst on the ward.
Once you have arrived at the ward you will be shown to the Post Op Bay. This is a bay with 6 beds.
You will be admitted to this bay and your midwife will go through the procedures needed to prepare you for theatre, you will also be seen by the anaesthetist and obstetrician prior to surgery.
The midwife will carry out some checks on you and your baby and you will be given a hospital theatre gown to put on and TED stockings which help prevent blood clots in your legs.
You will have been advised at your pre op appointment from what point you shouldn’t eat or drink. It is very important to follow this advice or your Caesarean may be cancelled.
There are usually 3 Caesareans on each theatre list so you could have a wait on the ward of a few hours prior to going down to theatre.
Occasionally our Maternity Ward may be very busy so you may be prepared for theatre on the ground for on the Delivery/Eden Suite.