How long in bed for post C/S mothers?

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Once they have their legs back, how long do you keep mothers in bed after C/S's? Because of the physical and emotional benefits of getting OOB after surgery, I was used to getting mothers up to the chair maybe 8 or so hours after their births; pre-medicated for pain of course, and stable otherwise. Their second time up was when they'd start ambulating a bit further.

Where I am now, the standard is to wait much longer! I suspect it's actually much longer than necessary. So, I'd like to hear what others do about this. Thanks for your input. :)

Oh, perhaps I misunderstood. I thought you were saying that they have an epidural in place for a day or two after the C/S. I've never heard of an epidural lasting more than a few hours after the procedure (or after it's turned off post-delivery). I would go so far as to say that if a woman is still feeling the effects of her epidural or spinal more than 3-4 hours after it's done or turned off, the anesthesiologist probably didn't do a good job in dosing, and dosed it WAY too much.

The medication/dosage for post-op are changed in RR...yes, they have pain relief, and are able to walk around. There's a different type of epidural-Duramorph, which lasts for up to 24 hrs, I believe...

Specializes in OB.

Our orders say up within 12 hrs of surgery, but I've started getting mine out of bed sooner. Our day shift tends to be terrible about this, we'll come on at night and the AM section will still be in bed, sometimes on a PCA.

I know with my section, I was dying to get out of bed, and they made me wait 12 hours.

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

We get ours up as soon as they want to, but the very longest we'll let them go is about 18 hours, and even that is pushing it. Most people are at least willing to dangle and/or get up to the chair within about 8-12 hours. The last fresh section I got was in the wheelchair going to see her son in NICU about 6 hours out. Everybody is different but the ones that are up and about sooner do SO MUCH better, on the whole. Pain control is paramount - if she's hurting she's not going to want to get up.

I have had two c-secs. My oldest (2004) I was in bed probably close to 24 hours. I had no medical training then. They asked me if I was ready to get up, I said "No" they didn't press the issue. Terrible recovery! When I had my twins (2008) I was in a wheel chair to the NICU 7 hours later and up to the bathroom (with assist) 2 hours after that. Much better recovery. Of course, I was ambulating alot more after the twins. I was back and forth to the NICU many times each day and I was on the other side of the unit. I actually did my OB rotation at the hospital I had the twins at. It was cool to see it "from the other side"

Specializes in OB, House Sup, ER, Med Surg.

We get them up and moving as soon as they can stand...usually around 4 hours post op. First time we walk to the bathroom, clean up, and walk back to bed. Second time (usually an hour or two later) we walk in the hall and remove Foley.

Specializes in L&D.

we get them up and to bathroom at 8hrs and if they feel like it ambulate in hallway. Foley comes out a 12 hours.

Specializes in Geriatrics, L&D, Medsurg, Mom/Baby.

Our policy states we can't pull a foley or get them OOB until 12 hours post op. They remain on anaesthesia orders for 24 hours. as long as they have voided on their own, we d/c the IV @ 24 hrs. They switch over to OB orders at that time.

We get them up as soon as they are ready. No set time. 4 hours is probably the soonest. I work evenings, and I tell them that sometime on my shift they need to try to get up. If all they can do is dangle, fine. If they can walk a bit, that's better. By the next day they should be up several times, and they should shower if possible.

The day after surgery, the foley comes out first thing in the morning. The IV comes out when it's not needed anymore - it varies depending on how long they needed IV fluids, IV meds and whether they are drinking well - sometime that day.

Specializes in NICU.

When I had my c/s I wasn't allowed up for 18 hours. I was not happy about this, as my daughter was down the hall in the NICU. Luckily, my Mother is an RN in the NICU and prior to getting me into my bed, she opened up the back door of the room my daughter was in so I could go in on my stretcher. Otherwise I wouldn't have seen her until 18 hours after she was born because they were pretty strict about keeping me on bedrest. I had chorio amnioitis, though I don't know if that makes a diff in bedrest time. I was unsymptomatic.

Specializes in OBGYN, Neonatal.

Our protocol/orders say 2 hours post op, I however don't usually have a patient with legs at that point if they still have a pain pump. So generally speaking I come in at 7pm and will get them up anywhere between 9pm and 5am, depending on when they delivered. I prefer to get them up after several hours to rest/get feeling back, etc. I will try them out just to the bedside chair first if its still kinda early.

Specializes in OBGYN, Neonatal.

I wanted to add too, one of the biggest issues is getting them on board, even repeat sections can give me a hard time about getting up b/c they are not wanting any pain and I manage the pain before hand but also try to remind them that it is surgery and that pain may be involved but will be worse if they stay in bed. Also it is clear liquids til ambulation most of the time, so my patients tend to be more agreeable to trying to ambulate if they can eat. (I do sometimes give crackers tho if they have good bowel sounds).

I had a section with my son, delivered at 1152am and was in the nicu via wheelchair by 5pm.

We have 8 hour OOB protocol on my unit and I find the patients do much better (moving around, c/o less pain) the earlier they are up. Sometimes patients request to get OOB at 4 - 6 hours and we will if the epidural has worn off completely. I think dangling at the side of the bed is even good. From experiences in which moms refused to get up at 8 hours, I feel that recovery is slower. Many times patients that dreaded getting up, have said, once back in bed, "Thanks! I feel so much better now."

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