Your planned caesarean section journey will begin in the Antenatal Clinic when your operation is booked, later you will be informed of the operation date and then return to this clinic for an appointment to provide a blood sample to check your blood group and check for anaemia and have swabs taken for MRSA screening (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus).

You will also be given required medications and instructions on how to take these before your operation.

You will be given an appointment to be admitted to either Maple Ward on the morning of your caesarean to the enhanced recovery area or to Labour Ward to arrive no later than 7.00am accompanied by one birth partner.

You will be seen by:

• A midwife who is allocated to you
• An anaesthetist to discuss all options for anaesthesia. If you are having an epidural or spinal anaesthetic, your birth partner will be able to attend and support you at the caesarean section.
• An obstetric doctor who will explain the procedure and obtain your written consent. You will have an opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have.

To ensure the safety of both you and your baby it is not possible to give a specific time for your surgery. In some circumstances, your caesarean section may have to be rescheduled for another date. If this occurs, a doctor will provide a full explanation.

Please pack essential toiletries, a change of nightwear, a set of baby clothes and some nappies. Your belongings will remain on the ward where you are admitted. Ensure that you have any valuables with you at all times. Only a mobile phone or camera can be taken into theatre. Please do not bring with you any unnecessary items.

You will be asked to change into a hospital gown, hospital dressing gown and slipper socks prior to going to theatre. Your birth partner will be given theatre clothing to wear.

After your caesarean section, you and your baby (or babies) will be transferred to a recovery area on the Labour ward. Once you have recovered from the anaesthetic and all your observations are stable, you and your baby (or babies) will be transferred to the postnatal ward or to the enhanced recovery area after 30 minutes where you will be monitored for four hours before transfer to the postnatal ward.

There is no visiting in the Enhanced / Labour Ward recovery area; however your nominated birth partner can accompany you throughout your caesarean section and in the recovery area.

Your wound (area cut for the caesarean section) will be covered with a waterproof dressing, the midwife is to see your wound through this dressing, and can check there are no problems. The midwife will give you advice about removing the dressing 7 days after your caesarean section. If there are any signs of infection, the wound dressing may remain in place until day 10. Please do not remove this dressing before then or without speaking to a midwife first.

Whilst your wound dressing is in place, you may take a shower and gently pat dry the wound area. Once the dressing has been removed, a midwife will continue to advise you on how to look after your wound to prevent infection. It is advised that you wear comfortable underwear which does not press on the wound.

During your hospital stay, you will be assessed for your risk of blood clots (also known as deep vein thrombosis). You will be asked to wear compression stockings and will be given some to take home with you. Following your caesarean section you will be prescribed an anti-clotting daily injection. Depending on your risk factors for thrombosis, this will be for either 7 days or 6 weeks. Your midwife will show you how to administer this injection before you go home.

A community midwife will visit you the following day. At this visit, the midwife will carry out a full review of you and your baby (or babies) needs and discuss a management plan for your care and visits. Part of this review will be to assess how your wound is healing. If there are concerns how your wound is healing, you will be referred to your GP.