Mom's out there with 2+ c/s...

babyroot2

This is similar to a post below about 1st and 2nd labor comparisons...

My first was an elective c/s due to DS head size measuring bigger than my pelvic bone opening.  Long story short:

-Checked in all was fine.  I was nervous but fine.

-They came to put in the catheter...I asked (begged them) why they were doing that now and not once I was numb.  I guess I have somewhat of a fear of catheters.  Nurse basically told me nicely to "suck it up I'd be fine" and she began inserting it...I began SCREAMING in pain.  Nurse told me it was just the balloon inflating I yelled to her that it WAS NOT!  Then there was blood everywhere...I had somehow pushed the inflated balloon out tearing my urethra (and a week later getting a bladder infection). She decided to wait and have the Dr. do it again once I was in the OR and numb...Thanks Nurse!

- I was wheeled to the OR.  I almost slipped off the table in my own blood as I tried to move myself to the OR table. Nice.

- They gave me the spinal and strapped me down in the lovely fashion they do.

sidenote: Due to a bad reaction I once had with morphine I opted for a different pain med (I wish I could remember the name of it).  Anesthesiologist tried to convince me that the dura-morph they use is different, but in my stupidity I still went with the other med.

-DS was born and I didn't see him for what felt like forever.  

-The Nurse finally brought him over for a 1 minute hello and picture and then off went my baby and husband.

-EVERYONE who came to see me held DS before I did!  It was 3 hours before I finally got to hold him!  Nurses claimed I was shivering too much...THAT'S IT!?  So have my DH hold on as well! Good Lord...

-The pain med they gave me was virtually non-effective. I was in agony: incision, urethra tear, displaced gas (where you feel gas in your shoulder, etc.) and I was so loopy I really felt like I was losing my marbles!

-I left on the 5th day.

All I remember was the pain, sweat and crying for days. I took darvocet and motrin for 2 weeks. I barely remember meeting and/or bonding with my son.  As much as I would like a VBAC I fear I am headed in the same direction as last time and I am scared to death! 

Anyone have a bad c/s and then a good RCS?

Ok, so that was way longer than I intended this post to be.  If you read the whole thing TIA! 

jgb2000

My first C/S was unplanned and awful. The shakes, vomitting, etc all after laboring for over 20 hours. I was very nauseus (sp) and I hated it. Wanted a VBAC but baby was late again so went in for scheduled C/S. My doc tried to convince me it would be different b/c it was scheduled. Didn't believe her. I told everyone within earshot what happened last time so they were careful with the drugs. Turned out way better. 1 hr in recovery vs 3+ the first time. Better reaction to the drugs and on and on.

I would just talk to your doc before-hand, talk to every nurse about what happened last time and that you want to avoid those things happening again. And ask that they not give you that same awful nurse!

Good luck!

babyroot2

I was thinking about making a C/S birth plan, but I fear that no one would take the time to look at it.  Maybe talking to them would be better

kcisthebombdotcom

I had the reverse-my first section was a breeze, and my 2nd was a horror story.

However, my OB said it's very common for women to have an easier time with a c-section birth the 2nd time around.

I hope you have a quick, easy recovery this time!

jenns123

My first was pretty bad- after pushing for 4 hours, with my epidural not working because it was leaking, I had a c-section.  I then got a staph infection in my incision. 

However, #2 has been a breeze.  2 weeks out and I am already picking up DD#1 and off my pain meds.

Good luck!

HarrietNJMommy

I had 3 c/s's in 3 years. All 3 were fantastic recoveries. No pain meds, up, showered and walking myself the next day, and was allowed (but didn't) to leave early all 3 times.

Now, my first c/s - my spinal wasn't great. I felt everything and I panicked. They gave me something (anti-anxiety) to calm me down and I was fine. That was the only "bad" part of my c/s.

My 2nd and 3rd were a breeze - I knew what to expect, etc. I was chatty with everyone and not nervous or panicked at all.

I was EXHAUSTED during my 3rd c/s. I was PG and taking care of 2 toddlers at the time. I fell asleep in recovery. I was falling asleep during when they were stitching me as well. I have photos with my son right next to me and I don't remember them at all...........

GL - I hope you have a great recovery this time around! 

howleyshell

My 1st section was AWFUL.

My anesthesiologist didn't speak english well.  I started feeling pain and it was SO bad that I couldn't formulate words.   I was afraid that if I said "pain" that they'd knock me out.  She kept telling me to relax and that I was breathing it just didn't feel like it.  

I'd had 3 blocks before this one.  I knew I was breathing.  I was in pain - not having a panic attack.  They made DH leave the room and I didn't really get to see my son much at all.

2nd section?  Whole different ball game.

I knew what to ask when the anesthesiologist came to talk to me.  I found out that if they did have to knock me out I would only be out for 20 - 30 minutes (not the hours that I envisioned when I was trying to avoid being knocked out).

He and I came up with a code to use if I was in pain so bad that I couldn't formulate sentences.

He was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!

He actually pulled the privacy sheet up over DH, the baby and I telling us that blocking some of the OR light helped the baby open his eyes up more for photos.

Then... he TOOK the photos for us.

Yup.... 100% better experience.

I knew to ask to keep my son with me as much as humanly possible and he pretty much didn't leave my side in the OR once weighed.

Just speak up about what you want now that you know what can go wrong! 

SeaMama

I had an unplanned C/S the first time and it was nothing like your experience.  I was nursing DS within 30 mins of him being born, he never left our presence, etc.  It sounds like you need a better doc/hospital to deliver at!  I have a planned C/S this time around and made our decision on where to deliver based on wanting a similar experience to the first time around.  Good luck.

fozzy923

I had two planned sections -- the first went great and so did the second, except for the fact that the doctor was an a$$hole and I spent most of the operation sobbing (but the surgery itself turned out fine).  The recovery for the second was much faster than the first and I felt great.  I did take plenty of perc's (but no more than the 1st)  Good luck -- also, if the nurses or drs aren't listening to you, you have the right to ask for a patient advocate... they will most likely give into what your asking if it's not unreasonable since your conversation will be documented at that point... a catheter after your spinal is not unreasonable, it's been standard practice for all the girls that I know that have undergone sections.