Having a c-section tomorrow

eastsidekitty

Its so surreal to know exactly when you will be having your baby. I don't know how I am going to sleep tonight. Any advice / tips on anything i should know / be prepared for from recent c-section moms? Thanks!

chelsearenee

Get up and walk around as much and as soon as you can, and make sure they give you something for gas. I had no idea gas was so bad as a result of c-section, but I guess with any surgery when they open you up the air gets trapped in there. Just never occurred to me.

Also, keep up with your pain meds. I felt great most of the time but it sucks when they actually wear off. 

EAng

I had a planned c/s.  I was scheduled 3 weeks early b/c I had pre-e.  Believe it or not, I was so tired and thought I would have no trouble sleeping.  I ended up not sleeping at all, not b/c of nerves, but b/c I was having BH all night.

When we were admitted the prep work was a piece of cake.  I actually walked in to the OR which was very strange.  Once in the OR, I got really nervous.  It was freezing in there and I could not stop shaking.  They gave me a warm blanket and the nurse was fantastic helping me through the spinal.  The spinal was not bad at all!!!  Just try to relax.

The actual c/s was also surreal.  They tilt the table and I do not know how I didn't roll off.  We did not find out what we were having ahead of time, so I think that helped me through.

I did not feel any major pulling or tugging and my baby was huge!  8lb 6oz at 37 weeks!!!

My advice...TAKE THE PAIN MEDS!!!  Do not let the pain get ahead of you for the first several days.   

June2007

-ask that your arms not be strapped down

-ask for stitches instead of staples

-ask that the baby be brought to you right away in recovery, esp. if you're BF

-get the cathetar removed asap and walk walk walk

-walk as soon as possible after you get to your room

-dont over do it though, esp when you get home. No heavy lifting, no laundry!, take it easy but at the same time avoid sitting in bed all the time. go for short slow but constant walks

-stool softeners are your friend! Get some for home, (colace is what they gave me in the hospital) and make sure they are giving it to you in the hosp.

-good luck! and congrats!

eastsidekitty

June2007:

-ask that your arms not be strapped down

-ask for stitches instead of staples

-ask that the baby be brought to you right away in recovery, esp. if you're BF

-get the cathetar removed asap and walk walk walk

-walk as soon as possible after you get to your room

-dont over do it though, esp when you get home. No heavy lifting, no laundry!, take it easy but at the same time avoid sitting in bed all the time. go for short slow but constant walks

-stool softeners are your friend! Get some for home, (colace is what they gave me in the hospital) and make sure they are giving it to you in the hosp.

-good luck! and congrats!

 

why do you think stitches over staples? They use staples at my hospital and my OB said that skin heals better against the metal of the staples... 

MeanMommyLady

Get up and walk as soon as possible and keep getting up to walk.

Start eating yogurt several times a day (ideally you start this a couple weeks before the surgery, but starting the day of and continuing for a week or so will help too).  The yogurt will help your body metabolize the gas that gets trapped in your abdomen when they open you up.

Take the pain meds and don't let the pain get ahead of you, but wean yourself from them as soon as possible as well.  I weaned off of my pain meds and was doing great by 10 days PP.  My SIL continued to take them at the highest recommended dose until she ran out and she was in wicked pain for almost a week after she was out of pain meds and they would not give her any more.

femmegem

Ditto on the stool softeners. I went three days before I finally let them give me a glycerine suppository, and I won't wait so long this time. It worked so well.

My first c-section was an emergency, so I'd already had an epidural. When it started wearing off my legs were really itchy. But I don't think they give epis for scheduled c-sections, so you shouldn't have to worry about that.

Honestly, it was a little scary when they rushed me in there (again, it was an emergency), but it went so smoothly. My recovery was really good, too. I was forgetting to ask for my pain meds by the time I left because I felt great. I hope my repeat c-section next week goes as well!

June2007

eastsidekitty:

June2007:

-ask that your arms not be strapped down

-ask for stitches instead of staples

-ask that the baby be brought to you right away in recovery, esp. if you're BF

-get the cathetar removed asap and walk walk walk

-walk as soon as possible after you get to your room

-dont over do it though, esp when you get home. No heavy lifting, no laundry!, take it easy but at the same time avoid sitting in bed all the time. go for short slow but constant walks

-stool softeners are your friend! Get some for home, (colace is what they gave me in the hospital) and make sure they are giving it to you in the hosp.

-good luck! and congrats!

 

why do you think stitches over staples? They use staples at my hospital and my OB said that skin heals better against the metal of the staples... 

Everyone that I knew that had staples had issues with healing and their scar was kind of puffy looking afterwards. My OB told be that they are more for the doctors own convience because they are quicker than using stitches. My incision healed beautifully and flat and it can hardly be seen anymore, I had only stitches.

MeanMommyLady

June2007:

eastsidekitty:

June2007:

-ask that your arms not be strapped down

-ask for stitches instead of staples

-ask that the baby be brought to you right away in recovery, esp. if you're BF

-get the cathetar removed asap and walk walk walk

-walk as soon as possible after you get to your room

-dont over do it though, esp when you get home. No heavy lifting, no laundry!, take it easy but at the same time avoid sitting in bed all the time. go for short slow but constant walks

-stool softeners are your friend! Get some for home, (colace is what they gave me in the hospital) and make sure they are giving it to you in the hosp.

-good luck! and congrats!

 

why do you think stitches over staples? They use staples at my hospital and my OB said that skin heals better against the metal of the staples... 

Everyone that I knew that had staples had issues with healing and their scar was kind of puffy looking afterwards. My OB told be that they are more for the doctors own convience because they are quicker than using stitches. My incision healed beautifully and flat and it can hardly be seen anymore, I had only stitches.

Butting in...

I would not allow a doctor to staple me.  I will only have stitches.  Every person I know who has had issues with their incision (everything from irritation issues to full blown rupture of the incision site) has had staples.  I had stitches with DS and never had a single problem, DS is 21 months old and my incision site is virtually invisible.

ougrad1

I had staples for 2 days and prior to leaving the hospital the nurse took them out (it didn't hurt a bit) and put tape over it.  I never had a problem and it healed very nicely.