"Planned C-Section"

I had a planned c-section, with my third child at the Borders General. The staff were all absolutely amazing, everyone wore masks, aprons, gloves and washed their hands between patients which helped me feel less worried about giving birth during a pandemic. The medical team during the surgery were very supportive, encouraging me when I was getting the spinal and such sorted, everyone explained what they were there for and I was talked through what was happening at all times. It was a very relaxed experience and I got to see my baby being born and hold her as soon as she had her initial checks. When we got back to the ward my partner left to be at home with our other children and so I was left to care for baby. At this point the midwifes noticed her temperature had started to drop and she wasn't holding her temperature.  They acted on this quickly, getting her wrapped up and into a hot cot and monitoring her temperature at all times. They had a member of the special care baby unit come and have a look at her and they had mentioned that she may have to go to special care if her temperature didn't increase, this of course worried me, especially not having my partner to talk to about it, but the midwifes were excellent at talking me through it all and were very supportive. Thankfully over the afternoon/early evening babys temperature started picking up and she started to improve. 

During all of this I was also trying to breastfeeding for the first time ever but due to being cold baby wasn't suckling while being latched on so the team were great at giving her some of the expressed milk I had brought in and helping me to latch her on. 

The next day before we got home the midwifes went through all the breastfeeding positions with me, gave me support numbers and really made me feel more confident about going home while breastfeeding.

I am very thankful for the midwifes and all the support, information and help that I received from them.