C-section Thread!

datalover13

We've all kind of talked about it, so here's the thread! Tips for pre and post csection, or questions for other csection moms!

sunshine507

Thanks for starting! Just got back from my appointment where we learned way more about the c-section I'll probably have. Still very much emotionally adjusting to it. 

Would love to hear about experiences with spinals (instead of epidurals), and also about scheduling the surgery as far back as allowed- we're booked for almost 41 weeks, with the hope that I'll go into labor before then (I'll go straight to the hospital when I do - but want to be sure the baby's as ready as possible, has every chance I can give to flip, and get some of the hormones going and baby squeezing happening first). Would love to hear if anyone else did that & how it went! 

Also curious as to how long mommas had to wait before holding their babies - apparently I won't get immediate skin-to-skin, and it will probably be almost 10 minutes wait for me, which I'm not really happy about. 

sunshine507

Also: any experience with C-Panties? Worth it? Not? 

jmacd22

@sunshine507 I had a pretty good c-section. My first c-section I was under general anesthesia and it was an emergency c-section so it was much more hard on my body coming out of it and walking around afterwards. This time around was so much different. I got the spinal which works immediately and I was able to still be awake. You can't really feel anything so you're kinda just laying there hearing the docs talk about random stuff like in Greys Anatomy lol. The asked me if I wanted skin to skin contact right after or if I wanted to let dad do it. I let my husband do that and soon after they closed my incision and I was taken to recovery I was able to do skin to skin which was about 30 mins. Whole surgery was about an hour. Recovery went well for me. I was able to move around shortly after and actually went home earlier than expected since I was doing so well. Now I'm home 10 days out from c-section. Still in some pain but I have pain meds for which pretty much work immediately. The first couple of days home I needed some help and I had my sister stay overnight. 

No C-panties for me but I am looking into getting the belly bandit. My hospital didn't give me one and I think it will help with recovery and slimming down. 

datalover13

I had a spinal this time, compared to an epidural with my first. Honestly, I preferred the spinal. They put morohon in with it, which was very nice to have, but also felt the spinal wore off a lot faster. I didn't shake nearly as bad, either.

No C panty experience, but I bought a binder from the same company. I preferred the one the hospital gave me, but the one from there will be good as soon as I heal up. A bit of pressure on the incision site helped me move around so much.

anonellis

A couple of quick tips: ASAP afterwards, ask a nurse to show you how to cough -- don't wait until you actually start coughing!  (You just hold a pillow to your incision.  But since I was intubated/under general anesthesia, I coughed a lot in the days afterwards and it's unpleasant).  Also, be aggressive about making sure you're getting the max amount of stool softener possible and that they aren't waiting for you to ask for it.   

Where I live it's too cold for things like dresses (what I imagine you'd normally want to wear after a c-section) but I found that over-the-bump maternity pants/leggings were more comfortable than anything else....anything low-ish cut, like my pajama pants, hit right at the incision.  Also, forget your own underwear and do whatever you have to do to steal lots of extra mesh underwear from the hospital.  

Bok Bagok

With my daughter I bought the Motherhood Maternity "post pregnancy panty" 2 pack.  I really loved them, they gave just a bit extra support and protection. I plan to use them again this time around. I also bought these lovely giant panties from WalMart that are actually called "No Muffin Top", the waist is very high and should go way over the incision. Ditto what @anonellis said about the maternity leggings. I plan on leaving in whatever I came in with clothes wise. 
Belly bandit or similar was also super helpful. Last hospital gave me some ugly one but it worked so I never bought a fancy one. I still have that one and plan to bring it just in case this new hospital doesn't. 

Foersty

I'm not sure what C panties are, I just wore the mesh ones provided by the hospital. My nurses were all really good and gave the materials freely if I asked for them. IMO it's better than me buying something and then ruining it promptly. I wasn't expecting a C section, but  I would recommend if you know you are going to have one, packing things like maxi dresses/skirts and things like that so it won't touch your incision. I also agree with asking for the stool softeners and gas tablets-those are SUPER important. 
They lowered the screen a bit to show me DS right when he was out, which was great, and once he was suctioned a bit they swaddled him and laid him right beside me for a bit also. Once I was in the recovery room  I did get a little bit of skin to skin, maybe 15-20 minutes. I would have liked the full hour, but I took what I could get. 

Shazzie116

@sunshine507 when I had my daughter, it was nearly 2 hours before I could hold her. She went to the nursery with DH and I was in recovery before being brought to get her from the nursery and taken to our room. 

I was assured that this time around (different hospital) that I would be able to hold him almost immediately or DH could hold him on me, skin to skin, as long as he is good under the warmer for a couple minutes. They said the OR is chilly so they check the baby quickly and then put on chest. My old hospital didn't explain anything with DD. I saw her for 2 minutes and then we were separated. 

datalover13

My allergies came back full bore and I'm trying not to die every time I sneeze. I'd forgotten about this torture

sunshine507

Talk to me about recovery & exercise. I just nearly died reading some women are told nothing other than walking for 6 weeks? Is that worst-case scenario or do I need to seriously adjust my expectations of how functional I'll be post-section? 

datalover13

@sunshine507 I wasn't doing crazy active things before my surgery, but my doctor suggests not much more than walking for the first six weeks. I'm 2 weeks post right now and still taking ibuprofen daily - I can't even imagine trying to do much exercising. I'm still nervous about lifting anything much heavier than babe in his carseat. I'm also super paranoid about accidentally opening my incision site again. Definitely something you can talk to your doctor about, though!

anonellis

They were definitely strict with me about the 6 week rule...I had a 3 week appointment where they emphasized to stick with that even though my recovery is going great.  Even if you're not in pain, it's really really hard to do anything.  They also tell you not to lift anything heavier than your baby -- I forget that often, but it doesn't really work when I try to pick up something heavy.  It's major surgery, you really don't want to push it.  

I can take pretty long walks though -- it actually helps to have the stroller to sort of use as support while you walk.  

Edited to add:  I'm really not in pain and wasn't in any at all after the first week or so.  I just can't do very much physically.  Didn't want to scare anybody.

jmacd22

@sunshine507 6 wks is about right. I'm 3 wks out and can move around but definitely can't do any type of exercise yet. I'm off pain meds but still sore around my incision. I'm dying to get back to working out but my best case is looking like 2 more wks of recovery. 

mecoats

So I talked to my dr and we have decided for the safety of me and the baby to do an elective c section. Her belly is in the 97th percentile and we all just feel much more comfortable. I'm super nervous but I know it's the right decision. We don't have it scheduled quite yet. Either tomorrow afternoon or Thursday morning. Any advice to prepare for c section? My best friend had an emergency c section with her first and told me some things to expect, but still very nervous. 

anonellis

@mecoats don't know that there's anything to do to 'prepare' other than strategic packing/buying stuff for after.  I think most of what I'd recommend has been covered.

 BUT one key item I haven't seen that made me feel like a human were facial wipes because you can't get up and properly wash your face in a sink for a while.  They brought me water and a little bedpan-like basin with toothbrush and toothpaste to brush my teeth before I could get up.  

good luck!  For what it's worth -- and I know everyone's body's are different -- I had both types of deliveries for my twins and my c section recovery has been one bazillion times easier than my vaginal birth recovery.  And that was a stat, classical c-section (internal incision is vertical which isn't ideal), so I assume a planned one could go even more smoothly.

datalover13

@mecoats Like @anonellis said, there's not a whole lot you can do to prepare, especially physically. Mentally, going in knowing that you WILL have to take it easy for weeks after is good. (I say 2.5 weeks after mine in some good pain after going to the grocery store for a big trip.)
Be sure to stay on top of your pain meds afterward. They still have to push down on your uterus afterwards, and that's some of the worst pain because it's close to your incision. But do get up as soon as you can. They had me up about 6 hours after my surgery. Just stood and shuffled to a wheelchair. But the sooner you're vertical, the sooner your intestines and stuff start working again. 
And be sure your SO knows you'll be out of commission and he'll have to help out quite a bit with baby after birth! My DH did all diaper changes and fetched anything I'd need for the time we were in the hospital.
Good luck!!! Keep us updated.

mecoats

@anonellis and @datalover13 thank you. I feel like I'm as prepared as I can be with my bag, but mentally I might not sure.  Now just waiting. Scheduled for Friday at 7:30 am. 

korpisar

I know I've said it on other threads but having a belly binder for after surgery was key for me. My hospital provided one but I also had one of my own which I switched to after a day or 2. It really helps to compress your incision which helps with pain and keeping your organs in place after. Good luck @mecoats

mtmama2

@korpisar Which belly binder do you have?

korpisar

Belly bandit @SienaC

datalover13

I used this after my first c-section, probably a little too late.. I plan on buying them again and starting to use them here in a couple months probably. I did see a definite improvement in my scar.
https://www.amazon.com/ScarAway-C-Section-Treatment-Silicone-Adhesive/dp/B002VK977O/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1489619656&sr=8-1&keywords=scar%2Bc-section&th=1

liepertsm

Anyone else feeling like they are taking one step forward and two steps back in their recovery? I'm about a week and a half PP and was feeling pretty good. My husband has been easing into going back to work so I've started doing more moving around and the last couple of days I've felt super stiff and sore again. I know it will take time to feel like myself again, but I'm nervous for when DH goes back to work full time next week and we are on our own. 

datalover13

@liepertsm I definitely have some days that are worse than others. I'm 3 weeks pp at this point, and though my incision looks great and is pretty healed, above my incision is still very tender, especially when I wear pants that are too tight and do too much during the day. Just try to take it easy as much as you can, and take ibuprofen when you need it.

dubcompanion

@liepertsm I definitely have days where I feel better than others. Granted, when I feel good, I forget to take ibuprofen which results in feeling sore all over again within the next day. I just continue to take it easy and to ask for help when needed. My DH goes back to work too next week, and once that starts up, I'll opt to rest when the baby rests. Currently during the day, I tend to other things like chores, but those may need to wait until DH gets home to help. That I way I lessen the risk of overdoing it when I'm home alone with DD.

Jilliants

Ok ladies, I'm still in the hospital, and everything is going well so far. But, I gotta ask. When did you first poop?! I haven't even had the urge to go despite two full days of meals, milk of magnesia and colace. I keep trying to go, but it's just gas. Any tips?

jmacd22

@Jilliants it was after I got home. About a week and a half for me. I was taking stool softeners for 2 weeks after to help with it. 

direwolfmini

@Jilliants keep up with all of the doses of the colace. While you're in the hospital, have lots and lots of juice. This will also help to keep you hydrated (helpful if you're planning on breastfeeding).

TMI, but I strained way to hard the first time that I pooped at home. I ended up irritating my hemorrhoids. They swelled up more than I thought possible... basically swelled my butt hole shut. It was painful, terrifying, and a literal pain to deal with. By the second week I was back to having regular bowel movements.

anonellis

@Jilliants it happened for me on day 4 or 5, but honestly I would have preferred it didn't happen until I got home just because it was an...intense situation...and I was interrupted by my husband, the nurse, a lactation consultant, and the pediatrician while I was...working on it.  A little privacy would've been nice.  But I felt like a new person afterwards!  

Like others said -- keep up with the colace -- and especially if you're still on narcotics, keep taking it once you go home! 

Jilliants

My nurse offered up an herbal tea she makes some other women so I took her up on it, definitely helpful! The gas pains are just so terrible to go along with the cramping from the breastfeeding and the incision pain! Thanks for all the suggestions!

liepertsm

@Jilliants I was at home. I think it was day 5 or 6. I recommend keeping up with the softeners until things are back to normal!

mtmama2

C section mamas- were you able to babywear right away or did it irritate your incision? I am thinking that my solly wrap would be positioned up high enough that it shouldn't be bothersome but I don't know for sure! 

datalover13

@SienaC I think most wraps and carriers have to be up high enough they shouldn't irritate your incision. I wore DS in our K'tan today and had no problem at all. When he's big enough for our Lillebaby, that waist band will have to be up pretty high to keep him in kissing distance.

jmacd22

@SienaC agree with pp. I have the k'tan and it's high up to wear it doesn't irritate the incision. 

mtmama2

Thanks ladies that is what I hoped!

Jilliants

What's everyone doing about the pain above the incision? My skin feels so sensitive and sore there! 

datalover13

@Jilliants honestly, if I know I have to wear real pants for the day, I'll take an ibuprofen preemptively. When I'm at home I'm wearing sweats that are a little big that I can tie and those don't hurt nearly as bad. Definitely still sensitive and sore above my incision though, 1 month out.

mecoats

@jilliants I feel the same! I just feel so sore by the end of the day. 1 week out. I'm hoping it will get better in the next couple weeks. I think most of my problem is all the dr appts we had this week so we had to leave...meaning I had to get dressed.

Maybe this weekend will be a little better. 

Jilliants

Still sensitive one month out @datalover13 that's a long time to feel like this! I better start mentally
preparing myself. 

@mecoats I'm a week out too, and definitely
more sore at the end of the day. 

anonellis

@datalover13 what are these "real pants" you speak of?? i'm 5 weeks out and still in leggings.  I tell myself that they are basically therapeutic bc they're all fairly high waisted and cover my incision nicely.  but I think even if I hadn't had a c-section I wouldn't be back in real pants, so hats off to you! 

jmacd22

I'm a month out and still sore above my incision also. I'm wondering when I can start working out again. I think they normally say 6 wks but I don't feel like I'm at the point where I can workout in a week but I desperately want to get back to working out.