My C section story

OhBaby+2013

So @spainy17‌ asked if I would post about my recovery so I'm posting the full story. It's bound to be long, (and full of TMI) as I'm long winded. Sorry. I had DS#1 vaginally and he was 10lbs 1 oz with a big head. I suffered 4th degree tearing and took approximately 5 months to heal. At that time the Obgyn I was seeing for my recovery advised me that any future pregnancies would probably be C sections to avoid permanent damage to my rectum. Fast forward to me getting pregnant with DS#2 and I went back to the same OB who did my after care wih DS#1. Although he told me I could try for another vaginal birth he also advised that if I had another large baby I would run the risk of tearing which would most likely leave my rectum in a state that would require me to have a colostomy bag for a minimum of 1.5 years followed by reconstructive surgery that may or may not work. So after thinking about it and talking to my DH i decided a scheduled C was the way to go. My C was scheduled for 12pm but I got called around 9:30am to come in early as they had an opening. This seemed so strange like I was getting my hair done or something and they could fit me in sooner. Lol! So we got to the hospital around 10 and got all checked in. When the anesthetist came in he asked a bunch of questions including when I last ate. Now the instructions from the hospital had been nothing after midnight but my doctor had given me the ok to eat before 5 am as he said the noon CS's never go on time and often go hours late due to the busyness of the hospital. Needless to say the anesthetist was not happy because we had to wait. He didn't want to do the surgery until 1pm. So I got my gown on and we waited. The nurse put me on an IV about an hour before surgery and my catheter went in about 5 minutes before I went in for surgery. Hands down the catheter was my least favourite part. I walked to the OR with a nurse and DH. DH sat outside and I went in to get my spinal. I entered at 1:01pm and Dh came in about 1:15pm after I had my spinal and after the OB prepped me for the surgery. After DH came in he sat with me and we talked for a few minutes. Then the doctor asked me to stop talking because he needed me to be still until baby was out but that it would be soon. About 1 minute later there was intense pressure/pushing by the doctor assisting in the surgery. It was very uncomfortable for about 30 seconds and then we heard the glorious cry of DS#2 at 1:26pm. They took him straight to the warmer to clean him up and clear his airways. I started sobbing as soon as he was born and then started shivering uncontrollably shortly after. The doctors then started stitching me back up. The nurse put DS#2 down so we were cheek to cheek, as this was the best skin to skinwe could do at the time. I was in recovery around 2:00pm and man was I shivering! It was crazy! I was then given an opportunit to nurse which went ok. I was able to start moving my feet shortly after returning to recovery, which the nurse was surprised by. I was transferred to my room in the maternity ward around 4pm. I still couldn't feel anything though I was able to move my legs pretty well by 7pm. At midnight I stood up for the first time and had my catheter removed. The night went well and even though I was sore I wasn't in any pain. Around 6 the nurse tried to get me to pee. But nothing happened. I felt the urge to pee but nothing came out. It was a terrible feeling! They threatened to put my Catheter back in as I still hadn't peed by 8am. Shortly after that I peed a full litre. It was such a relief!! Before lunch that day I was out walking the halls. I did 3 different trips around the ward by 8pm that night. The next day I did another 5 trips around the ward and on the next day I did 2 trips before being discharged at lunch time. Since leaving the hospital I've been taking Tylenol every 4 hours and Advil every 8 hours. By far the hardest part has been getting in and out of bed, though it's getting easier each day. It's been a much easier recovery than with DS#1. I'm able to do a lot more than I thought. Its hard not being able to pick up DS#1 or carry the baby up and down the stairs and not being able to drive sucks. But overall it's been no problem. My incision looks good and my steri strips came off easily when I took then off after a week (doctors orders). I feel much more bloated this time compared to last time but that's a small price to pay for how good I feel otherwise. I think that's it. Sorry it was super long! And if you've read the whole thing, thanks! I'm happy to answer any questions anyone might have.

spainy17

Thank you so much lady for posting!  I am just so interested on how the next round would go for me. I remember the shivering!  Crazy.  I can't believe about your tearing, I would have chosen that too.  They gave me a 10 percent chance of ever birthing vaginally so I am on the csection train for sure. 

OhBaby+2013

Thanks ladies. Since you've both had CS's before may I ask a question. When your incision was healing did you notice if there was hard lumps behind it? I imagine it's just scar tissue but it feels weird. Also do you remember your stomach feeling numb almost around the incision area? Lastly, I seem to have a shelf now as my stomach is deflating. Does that ever go away? Thanks!

court115

Glad you're recovering well!

chrissynena

OhBaby+2013 said:

Thanks ladies. Since you've both had CS's before may I ask a question. When your incision was healing did you notice if there was hard lumps behind it? I imagine it's just scar tissue but it feels weird. Also do you remember your stomach feeling numb almost around the incision area? Lastly, I seem to have a shelf now as my stomach is deflating. Does that ever go away? Thanks!

I just had my second c section, and my belly is numb almost up to my belly button (but only in the middle. If that makes sense)

I'm interested to see what shape this c section leaves me in. After the last one I felt like I was shaped like a rectangle.

Edit dump phone

spainy17

I had lumps under my scar for a while. They are the stitches dissolving and scar tissue forming. They are gone now.

My stomach felt numb around the scar for over a year! It still feels odd but some feeling has returned. So weird. :-)

As for the shelf thing, oddly my stomach has always been my skinny part (my fat goes to my butt and legs so i just looked like a whale pregnant!) so I never had any folding or anything. It was just bloaty for a while and then um, more poochy until the muscles healed more. I would say I'm close to where it was prepregnancy but just weaker. PP weight 135.

loreeann86

I had the lumps while healing and I'm still numb around the scar. I haven't been able to get rid of the little pooch/shelf....even after losing all the weight. It drives me crazy. But I have seen women that don't have that and they had a c section. Guess it just depends on the person. I have a friend who is stick thin before pregnancy, and then is all belly and she has a flat tummy with in a week or two of her c section. She just had her second one.

loreeann86

Oh and glad you're doing well! I would have chose a c section too. I couldn't imagine tearing that badly.

ConstanceGoodspeed

I had a horrible third degree tear so I can imagine the agony you were in! Glad to hear the recovery from your section is going much better.

OhBaby+2013

Thanks ladies! I'm so grateful to have you all as resources and friends!

court115

I had the shelf too. It just recently went away ... perfect timing now that I'm pregnant again! haha