Scheduled C-Section...Yikes!

kristiehoward

Hi Ladies,

I'm 32 weeks along and have a Bircornuate Uterus (which means it's heart shaped). Baby boy is breech and my Dr. is not optimistic that he will flip because of my uterus shape/size. I always knew this was a possibility with my uterus abnormality but now it's really looking like a for sure thing. My Dr. scheduled my C-Section for December 8th (39 weeks). I'm trying to educate myself as much as possible and just be prepared mentally. Have any of you had a scheduled C-Section? What can I expect? I'm super bummed that I won't be the first one to hold my own baby. My Dr. said I will get to see him but then he will go to the nursery to get checked out (my husband will go w/the baby if he can). What clothes should I pack after the surgery? Worried about wearing my maternity pants after delivery due to the incision. How long does it usually take to recover? I plan on taking 9 weeks off and my husband is staying home w/us for 2 weeks after the baby is born. Both of our families live out of state but thankfully will be here the week of Christmas. As you can see, I have lots of questions/concerns! I'm going to look into taking a prepare for C-section class, but in the meantime any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks soon to be Mommies

Mizuiro007

I have no personal experience but will be following this thread as I've been told since DS was born that there's a chance I may require a c-section. I can say that even having had a vaginal delivery, I was still far from the first person to hold him.

Is there anyone in your life who has had a C-section? My mom had them with both my brother and I and has been great support and answered a lot of my questions. It's been a while since hers, obviously, but some of her answers still seem pretty current.

Her suggestion on clothing was something with a wide, soft waist band. Look for supportive but with give. I hope that makes sense since it seems contradictory. She said it felt sometimes like her guts would fall out which is why the support was nice. If you're resting it may also help to hold a pillow or folded blanket over your abdomen. I had my gall bladder removed a few years ago and remember this being especially helpful if I had to cough or anything.

Also have someone go with you and take lots of pictures. If you can't see baby right away, it helps a lot if you can at least see pictures. This one is coming from me. DS had a complicated delivery and while he was still in the room I couldn't see him until we were both stable and checked out. My mom was going back and forth taking pictures on her phone and bringing it back to talk to show me and keep talking to me. It was the only thing that kept me calm during that time.

Recovery time seems to vary from person to person and with how delivery went. My mom swears it helps to keep moving. Definitely don't over do it. My brother was eight when I was born and a week later she was carrying me and walking him to the bus stop. I was the more complicated delivery but she says she recovered much faster with me than she did with my brother and resting all the time. I'm not sure how true this is but she's convinced.

mhwood

There is no need for your baby to be taken away from you after a c-section, and many hospitals are promoting immediate skin to skin contact no matter the type of birth (except in extreme cases, obviously).

If you are bringing pajamas to the hospital, look at nightgowns rather than pajamas with pants. There will be so many people looking at your incision and check you, it just makes things easier.

Get up and move as soon as you can. As soon as they offer to take out your catheter, have that done as well.

Don't be a hero, take your pain medication, even when you are at home and don't be afraid to ask for help.

katherines2ndminime

I have had an emergency c-section and this one will be a scheduled c-section.
This time I will be very up front with my doc and ask for skin to skin right away, even if it's brief. Also going to ask about delayed cord clamping. Hopefully I won't have to go to recovery long and I'm going to request baby and hubby comes with me. I don't want to be separated... I want to breastfeed right away. All that stuff. Hopefully I can make it happen. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease! Don't be afraid to ask and ask again.

koala1107

I'm a FTM and don't have any advice but just wanted to chime in that I'm in almost the same exact situation! I have a partially septate uterus which makes it heart shaped as well and my baby is breech so my doctor is expecting to do a c section. I'm still trying to be optimistic that maybe she'll flip but it's looking less and less likely by the week. Feel free to message me if you want any support for having a weird shaped uterus too lol!

mlejoy7

This will be my 5th c-section. They are not terrible, but do take longer to recover. I second what has been said about taking your pain medication, getting moving & holding a pillow when you're up or need to cough. Also, I've found it helpful to have a very wide elastic girdle to wear as support so I don't feel like my guts are falling out. It helps! Maternity sweats or yoga pants work for going home if you want them, but a maxi dress with no waistband is the best! Be patient with yourself! There's a reason why they give you a 6 week recovery time table.
My Mom had 10 kids and is amazing, and her favorite things to tell me after each baby are, "go put your pajamas back on," and, "go get horizontal!" It helps. Good luck! Also, I've had my babies in different states & they were all different, but the last one I held him first & he came to recovery with me & this one I've been told will be the same. They don't have to take them right to the nursery, (unless there's a problem), it's just convenient timing.

MegStark

I second the maxi dress for going home! And the mesh panties the hospital provides... Ask for as many extra as they'll give you.
Also take a comfortable nightgown or two. Anything loose fitting with access for doctors/nurses to check things out is best,
As for recovery, everyone is different. Do take the pain meds. And walk around as soon as possible. It will hurt to get up, but every day gets easier. It's great your DH will be home for a few weeks. You're not allowed to drive for at least a week, so it's great he'll be home not just for daddy duty but to run your errands while you hang with baby. It's not all that bad. I was walking around the mall just to get out of the house within the first week (cold outside).

kristen2b

OP, research a gentle C-section and do everything you can to make the most important aspects to you happen. Even without a gentle C-section I had an emergency cesarean the first time and was never separated from my baby. There's no reason for them to take your baby to the nursery, they can do it all in the room with you there and your husband.

katy4128

Hi! I had a scheduled cs with my first and will have another one with this lo. It actually was a very good experience for me. I was prepared and knew exactly what was going to happen. It was very fast too. I got into the or at 8:30 and my son was born at 8:42. My husband still got to cut the cord too. I was able to hold my baby within minutes and both ds and my husband went to the recovery room with me. By 9:15 I was breastfeeding and by 10:30 we were already in our room.

I also agree with other mamas..get as many mesh panties as possible. They are amazing! I wore nightgowns while in the hospital and then loose yoga pants on the way home. Get up and moving as soon as you can and TAKE the pain meds! I tried to think I was being tough and let them lower my dose on day two. Horrible Idea. I ended up in tears.

You will do great! Just ask a lot of questions!

kleshelle

I've never been through a c section as I'm a FTM, BUT at my last appointment (34 weeks) baby is still breech... We have the date set for November 27th orginal due date is December 3rd... Of course he is going to do an ultrasound in a couple weeks to make sure she's still breech. I'm definitely going to follow this thread!

Sunny2015

I second the gowns and mesh underwear! I lived in those for the whole time I was in the hospital definitely keep up on the pain meds and colace! Be prepared for the first bowel movement as well. As soon as you can and feel able to take a shower, you'll feel ten times better walking was slow and exhausting, but it really helped the recovery time I usually got up and did three to four laps around the floor we were on, like PP's have said just don't overdo it. What my nurses had me do was walk a wheelchair with my husband so if halfway through a lap I got tired I could sit and he could take me back. pillow will be your best friend and I found the first couple weeks it was really painful to sleep on my side, not sure if that's the same for everyone or just my experience.

hjcook

FTM and scheduled c-section on Dec. 17th. thanks for the great advice!! My hospital said they'd do their best and offer skin-to-skin right away. But the operating room is COLD (prevents infection they say). So, they will put heated blankets on me and the wee babe. We could have 30 min max due to the cold room. that also means that delayed cutting of the cord is not possible. then, the wee babe has to go to the nursery for checks and heal prick, etc. DH will go along with wee babe. Of course, I want to be with the babe all the time, but also, the hospital and Dr. have been so kind to us in our discussions and others I've talked to said it is all ok at this hospital. 

lbaird123

Ask for an abdominal binder. At my hospital they put it on me in recovery. Makes all the difference in the world. Take your pain meds and eat a good breakfast before you get up the first time. We got two hours together just the three of us in the recovery area. They had my husband do skin to skin with our daughter until I got back there then I got her and was able to breast feed her. Honestly it wasn't that bad. Although I have nothing to compare it to I felt like it really was easy.

kristen2b

lbaird123 said:

Ask for an abdominal binder. At my hospital they put it on me in recovery. Makes all the difference in the world. Take your pain meds and eat a good breakfast before you get up the first time. We got two hours together just the three of us in the recovery area. They had my husband do skin to skin with our daughter until I got back there then I got her and was able to breast feed her. Honestly it wasn't that bad. Although I have nothing to compare it to I felt like it really was easy.

@lbaird123 what were the pros of the abdominal binder? I was just looking into this the other day.

lbaird123

@kristen2b it just helps to hold everything in and support the incision. Whenever I took it off the first time to shower it felt like my guts were falling out. I highly recommend it. It's the first thing I tell anyone that's having a section.

kristen2b

lbaird123 said:

@kristen2b it just helps to hold everything in and support the incision. Whenever I took it off the first time to shower it felt like my guts were falling out. I highly recommend it. It's the first thing I tell anyone that's having a section.

Thabks girl! When I asked my doctor about it at my last appointment he said it would definitely help getting in and out of bed, and if I happen to be coughing or sick that time of year. So I just wanted to get a first-hand account of how it helped you!

kristiehoward

Thanks for all the great advice ladies, it's much appreciated!!

keiragann

This thread is much appreciated as I have till the 4th to get baby boy to turn or they are scheduling a C-Sectionfor Thanksgiving week.

Angelface225

Great thread! My LO is frank breech and my OB said the odds of him turning are pretty low at this point. Hopeful I'll get better news at my ultrasound next week, but planning ahead anyways.