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Will you tell me your C-Section Story
This entire pregnancy I wanted the very last thing is a c-section. Well after talking to Kat and Sad I realized I need to be okay with this and chances are with my BP it will probably happen. So this is me learning more about a c-section. I didn't even want to know what happened because I never thought I would have one.
If you dont mind telling me your story. How you thought it went before, during, and after and any pointers What you would change? Etc. Kat has given me alot of information and I'm so happy I got it because otherwise I think I would have been clueless in there. I want to be prepared for either ways of delivery.
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Re: Will you tell me your C-Section Story
I had a c-section at noon and was up the next day (sort of). My recovery overall, went really well, but it was pretty painful. I still needed help getting out of bed about a week later, painful to roll over to my side in bed, etc...I walked a lot in the hospital, but it was VERY slowly and with someone helping me until about the beginning of the 3rd day. By 2 weeks though, I was feeling MUCH better, and back to my normal self by 5 or 6 weeks.
I was put under general anesthesia so I think it takes a bit longer to recover than a normal c-section.
Good luck!
ETA: I was induced 4 days before my due date and ended up with a c-section due to baby's heart rate dropping. I was put under general anesthesia b/c the epidural didn't numb up the incision site.
Mine wasn't bad at all. I ended up with an emergency c/s after no dilation and DS having heart rate decels. I hadn't given any thought to a c/s b/c I had hoped I wouldn't need one so I really had no idea what to expect. Mine was at about 3:30 in the afternoon and I was up and moving the next day. I can't remember if it was early in the day or closer to 24 hours later. You will be sore but I never had to take anything more than Motrin for pain. Laughing, coughing, getting in and out of bed was bad for a few days. Getting up and moving as soon as you can will help you though. I only stayed in the hospital for 2 nights.
DS was born on a Thursday and we went on our 1st walk on Monday. I definitely wasn't moving very fast and we didn't go far but I think this did help in my recovery.
My doctor didn't let me have more than a liquid diet for the 1st 24 hours so I was pretty starving.
My recovery was actually very easy, but I still wish I could have delivered normally. My advice, in no particular order,
1. Be certain you get double sutures to ensure you can try for a VBAC later if you want to, not all Dr's do them regularly so ask.
2. Assuming you plan on BFing, ask to be allowed to immediately. I BF on the table in the OR while they stitched me up. You may require help from a nurse but it's totally doable. For many babies waiting until you get into recovery (and past the separation period if there is one) means the baby's natural alert period has already passed and you're into the sleepy phase.
3. If offered let them leave your epidural in and give you another dose of epidural pain meds later on. It won't make you numb (like can't walk) but it will keep you absolutely pain free for awhile.
My experience was very similar to the above poster's. I got up the day after, but boy did it hurt. Everyone told me it's best to get up and walk around, so I did. I'm sure it helped long-term, but at first walking was rough. I stayed on top of my meds, and sometimes even they didn't cut it in the hospital. Once or twice a day, the nurses would give me a shot that did me a world of good. It was definitely happy time once that shot kicked in. By the time I was discharged, I was moving around better and could handle the pain with a little more grace.
After about a week, I felt so much better. I was surprised at the turnaround from major pain to feeling close to normal again.
One thing that helped me prepare was going to a c-section class where I was delivering (my c-section was scheduled). I liked getting the tour of where we would start the day, where the ORs were, where you went for recovery, etc. It didn't feel like such a mystery after that. If you don't have time for that class, I wouldn't worry about it. But if you do, it's good preparation on policies/hospital layout, etc.
The surgery itself wasn't bad. They didn't strap down my arms, which I was afraid of. I had amazing OR nurses. They were chatty, which put me at ease during the waiting game for everything to get going. Once it all starts, it goes pretty quickly.
Good luck to you! It will all be worth it, no matter how your baby enters the world.
Two things I've forgotten to tell you that others have mentioned. I'm pretty sure they left my epi in for 24 hours, or more, after she was born. I just remember it was a really long time before I could get out of bed (like, couldn't even move my legs.) Ask your doc what they do (although it's the anesthesiologist call, not the OBs, but they should have a good idea.)
I was also on a restricted diet. I was able to eat breakfast after she was born (she was born at 10:18 p.m. and I had breakfast the following morning) but it was really bland food. Lunch was another soup kind of thing and dinner was whatever I wanted. But just ask about that. If you're going to be on liquids or restricted solids, find out what you can have and pack some in your bag.
j+k+m+e | running with needles
My c/s was unscheduled after "failure to progress" after an induction that was most likely unneccessary (borderline PIH). I wasn't told to get up and walk, so my initial recovery wasn't as fast as it could have been, but it wasn't super horrible either. My epi was in for 12 hours after surgery. So if you do end up with one, no, it's not the end of the world.
More of my story.... I have had 2 OBs tell me that given my records, they would not have induced me, and failing that, they wouldn't have done a c/s at that point in time. Neither DD nor I were ever in distress. How's that for regrets? So, what I wish I had done is push back and ask questions. Maybe it wouldn't have changed the outcome, but I still wish I'd done it. I wish I had asked:
Is this an emergency or do we have time to talk about it?
What is the risk of waiting (for baby and me)?
Are there any other options we can try? (I wasn't even on any meds for my BP) Any different positions I can labor in? (even with an epidural there are different things you can do)
And I really really wish I had asked to just wait a few more hours... because now that I've had a VBAC, I know that I have a really long labor and just because I had stalled out didn't necessarily mean that it wouldn't have progressed given more time.... but hey, it was getting late and the OB wanted to get home and gosh I'd been in labor for 15 hours so obviously nothing was going to happen. (vbac labor was 29 hours... patience is a virtue.)
To add to all the great info--this is one of those after-thought, but have a pillow in the car for the ride home. Hitting bumps and making sudden stops and starts will really hurt, and having a small pillow to keep pushed up against your abdomen will help.
Thanks everyone for all the information. My doctor is very open. He said he will only do a csection if I am in danger or LO is on danger. If he has to wait hours amongst hours for me to get anywhere he said he would. Actually to be on a funnier side (He was totally kidding) he said he would take DH and they would go watch football together (awesome huh?).
I just want to know what is going to happen since this entire time I turned my head and refused to even think about a c-section. Now that I have more information I think I'm ready well as ready as can be in case this has to happen.
I cried a lot when it turned out a c-section was my likely fate. I had a month to research and become ok with it. This was with my first child. Eventually, I realized that safety concerns and health of my child were more important to me than actualizing a specific type of birth.
Before, I was on bed rest for a month. That's boring...really boring. Tediously boring.
The c-section was easy. Show up, sit down, hook up IV, play tetris, talk to doc, get epidural, surgery, baby, recovery, room, baby. After the epi comes out, things get more interesting.
Staying ahead of the pain through medication is a great tactic. I recommend it. My first section really did me in for a few months. It was a rough recovery and I never believed anyone who told me about easy sections.
Then, I had my second. I was trying for a VBAC, but did not meet my doc's criteria in the end. So, we scheduled it. Same thing, walk in, sit down, hook up IV, play computer game, talk to doc, get epi, surgery, baby, recovery, room...baby sent to NICU. That sucked.
The recovery, however, was worlds better. It was kind others described. Easy, little pain, back to form in a short time. I stayed ahead of the pain better in the hospital, too. Maybe that was the difference? I'm not sure.
What I learned from reading others' experiences is that they vary widely. I wish you the best. I hope your recovery is much like my second. My first wouldn't be bad, though - you eventually heal.
Try to get someone to help you out, though, at home. You may really need that. And, make sure you take it easy, but still get up and walk around. It is important for healing.
My husband is in charge of bringing me the baby to nurse at night. That's part of my c-section clause. I'm healed almost completely (except when my 3-year-old head butts my surgery scar); still, my husband brings the baby to me if he nurses at night. Just part of the clause - 10 months later doesn't matter.
Good luck to you. I'm sorry you're having to go through this. It isn't too bad, though. And, healthy baby, healthy mom are good goals.
I had a scheduled c/s and I feel like it was super easy. It was nice and somewhat relaxing to be in control. :-) I arrived that morning about 10am and went to the pre-op for vitals. DH was able to sit there the entire time and visit. Right before noon I actually walked back to the operating room and sat on the side of the table while they did the epi. After it was in, I had to have help lying down because my legs were already numb. The nurse anesthetist was next to me the whole time and he was sort of my liaison - I asked him questions and we talked the whole time. After the OB got there, DH was walked in and sat next to my head. I feel like it took forever, but really after it only took 15 min from the time I walked in to the time they pulled Cooper out. I felt no pain - but I did feel like she was about to yank me off the table. Anesthesia usually makes me shake like I'm freezing cold, but that was the only negative reaction I had. I knew that going in from previous surgery.
They took Cooper to be weighed (where I promptly yelled "Holy Sh!t" in the op room at his weight) and cleaned up. The OB sewed me up and then they brought Cooper over. I was at Women's so this is different than what will happen to you - they took him to the nursery and me to recovery. I slept off and on during recovery and we both made it to the room at about 4-4:30.
I felt good - no pain because I still had the epi. I usually don't get nauseous from anesthesia and by 5pm I was starving. I ate dinner as soon as I could order it and never threw up. They did give Cooper a bottle (OK'd by me) and I nursed him later that evening.
The next day at noon they changed me over to a walking epidural where I could get up and move around, but still have pain meds administered through the epi. I walked quite a bit that afternoon (more than my doc thought I would) and I think I even showered and washed my hair. I made a point to walk quite a bit and get up and sit in the chair in the room. By the time we got home I feel pretty good and at 2 weeks post op I got the side eye from my doc for going from lying down to sitting up (on the exam table) without her helping me. I was never in an extreme amount of pain, only got sick to my stomach once (the day my milk came in I ate very little breakfast), and felt pretty good. I think a week or two after being home I walked almost a milk with DH and Cooper.
Sorry this was long - I have no issues having another c/s.
I've had 3, even though after #1 I said I would never have anymore children because my experience was SO horrible. However, #2 and #3 were much easier recoveries. With #1, I could barely walk upright for almost 2 weeks. I attribute a lot of my issues with recovery to the fact that 1) I didn't get up and walk as soon as possible... As a matter of fact, they wouldn't let me until the next day when they removed the catheter. 2) I was in labor for a REALLY long time before they finally declared a 'failure to progress' and we moved forward with the c-section. (like... in labor at home for 2 days before realizing I WAS in labor. LOL)
With #1, I was wheeled back to the OR and that by far was easier than having to take the walk on my own. But with 2 &3, my surgery was similar to Kreepers. I walked back, chatted with the OR nurses while they prepped me (I had an epi with #1, spinal with 2&3. I prefer the spinal) and kept me occupied while we waited. Once the doc came in we got started. My OB doesn't do the outside stitch up, only the inside. So once he was done he left and his surgical assistant finished up. I saw al three babies during this time and then they were taken to the nursery for clean up while I went to recovery. With both M and K, it was several hours before they finally brought them to me. M was monitored due to her heart rate decelleration during labor and K had a wheezing issue, which she eventually had surgery for at 10wks old... So there were specific reasons, not just randomly done. With Samantha, when I went to my room, she was brought in immediately.
With 2 and 3, they were scheduled and while I was far enough along that I did have some regular contractions both times, I was not in active labor. I was up moving by that evening, for the most part. (#3, I had a weird nausea reaction (though common, just never for me before) to the anesthesia and couldn't sit up right for a good 8 hours after delivery) Once I could sit up without getting sick, I was a-okay and moving around. She had to have a bottle due to borderline sugar levels (I had GD) and then again later because I couldn't sit up or roll over to nurse at all. Daddy enjoyed that though, he got to feed her.
With both recoveries I was walking decent distances by the end of a week and I was driving at 2 weeks with Samantha. Only short distances, but it was nice to get out of the house.
I think one advantage for me having Micaela before there was so much information on the internet, is that I had no idea what to expect and I had no expectations whatsoever for her birth. I was also open to the idea of a c-section more, simply because my mom, my grandma and my aunt... all had c-sections. lol Apparently none of our cervixes think they need to actually open to let the kid out.
Ditto Nanner on having a small pillow... I drove less than a mile home with #3 and didn't because it was such a short distance... I think DH picked every pothole and crevice in the street to go over... not to mention picking a street with speed bumps!
Super long... sorry. Iol (and possibly kind of random, I keep switching between work windows and this one.
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Mine was a little crazy, but the c-sec itself was mostly a breeze. I was induced on Mon due to pre-e. Wed contractions started and I got the epi. Thurs I started pushing. Previously I had been my friend's labor partner. When she started pushing Friends was on in the background and before the credits rolled she had a baby. Since my induction/labor was slow I figured I'd need an hour show instead, I remember shouting to DH "turn on ugly betty! turn on ugly betty!"
About 3 hours of pushing later Addie was not going anywhere. She would come down a little on every push then pop back up. It was like she was hitting something (and she was-my bones. Poor thing eventually came out with a bruised up head from trying to squeeze through). They turned my epi off thinking it would help me push better, but nothing changed. I asked my dr how long we would give this a shot before going for the c-sec. She said 20 more minutes.
I gave one more push and loudly farted on her when she was down there. I think she gave up after that. And do DH's credit he has never mentioned it.
They rolled me down to the OR for a c sec early Friday morning (like 1am). I remember freaking out that they weren't going to be able to lift me onto the table for the surgery and how embarassing that would be, but those nurses are strong thankfully.I asked the anesthesiologist why I could feel it and he realized they really needed to up my meds. After that it was smooth sailing. He said I could drink him under the table and he's never seen anyone need that much drugs. I do remember feeling like I was bouncing around on the table, but he assured me that the part they needed was perfectly still. I didn't hold Addie when she first came out, I felt like I was bouncing too much when they tried to hand her to me.
Recovery itself was easy. I had the epi for about 12 more hours I think. The next day they told me to get up and walk around, especially to go to the bathroom. I eventually showered and washed my hair that day, felt like a new woman. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I was doing the stairs at home by Monday (the day I was sent home). I didn't carry anything for a while, but DH was always around for the heavy lifting. My scar is barely visible and I've had no problems since then from it.
I had a c/s after a 4-day failed induction. The epi/spinal was wonderful - and a breeze. I did feel a little queasy on the table but the nurse hit me with a dose of meds and it was gone instantly. I got an extra dose of pain meds like Suzi G mentioned. I was mobile in just under 12 hours.
I had internal sutures, external staples, and steri strips. I didn't want the staples but it was the on-call OB's procedure to use external staples. It turned out to be nothing. The staples were removed before the full 72 hours - I had no feeling in the incision area whatsoever and they were taken early enough to prevent "sticking."
Going from reclined to upright or sitting/standing was difficult at first. I always had a pillow nearby to push against my abdomen to help me get up. I didn't take any Rx pain meds after leaving, just alternated standard doses of Tylenol (reg strength) and Ibuprofen.
Take the gas meds they give you. And don't forget to pee often! The most discomfort I felt was realizing all of a sudden that I had to go to the bathroom. I wasn't able to feel my bladder until it was wickedly overfull. I set the "other" button on the Itzbeen timer for 2 hours to remind me to go pee
I set up a "base camp" downstairs to minimize the up-down trips on the stairs at home.
And if you find yourself separated from your baby for any length of time, feel free to call/email me - I have plenty of lessons-learned from that experience.
My c-section was pretty darn easy. Granted, mine was scheduled because she was huge, and because I'd made no progress. I had been given the choice between an induction and a c-section, and although I really didn't want a c-section, after talking to my OB about the options, I decided it was better to schedule one than to try to induce and end up with an emergency c-section! I wasn't even remotely dilated or effaced, and the baby was waaaay up high and hadn't even started to drop. I didn't want to go through induction hell and have a c-section anyway.
We got to the hospital around 8 am, checked in, and got settled into the pre-op room. They had me change and started getting everything prepped. Family came by and was allowed to come back and visit while we were waiting. I was scheduled for 10.
Right at 10, they got me into the OR, and sent DH out to get me settled for the epidural. The epidural wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be either -- my anesthesiologist was fabulous at explaining what was up and what they'd do and I'd feel. I DID jump pretty wildly at one point, because I think they caught a nerve, and it surprised the doctor with the side it was on. It felt like someone and whipped an electric cat-o-nine tails down my right hip. However, I have mild scoliosis, which the doctor had noticed, but it still surprised him since he didn't expect anything on my right side! But it was pretty fleeting. They will make sure you are very numb. It's bizarre feeling. They brought DH in after that, before they started the surgery.
I did feel nauseous, and they will give you good meds to combat that. It's great. Your husband will be in there with you and they have a curtain up so you and DH won't see anything. You feel some tugging and pressure, but no pain. You'll hear some comments from the doctors, ha. In my case it was things like 'Wow, her head is way up there! Lots and lots of water!' and 'Oh my god, look at her shoulders!' (evidently she barely fit through my incision.)
They told me they were pulling her out, and dropped the curtain so I could see her (and DH could get a picture). Then they took her off to clean her up and weigh her. I did NOT get to nurse or hold her while they cleaned me up, since she had fluid in her lungs. This happens sometimes with c-section babies and she was mostly there for observation. So she got sent to the NICU and DH went with her while they finished.
I honestly hardly remember being in recovery, I think I passed out asleep. I got moved up to my room after that. I mostly slept and visited (and whined a bit about not getting to see the baby!) until that evening. They took my catheter out around 8 pm or so once I got feeling back in my legs, and fed me dinner really late, like 10 or 11. I got real food, too. They do pretty much require you to pass gas before you can eat. I also had to hang around until I peed, and it was REALLY hard to do that at first. I was also shocked at just how much I peed! I didn't know my bladder could hold that much. I was stitched up internally and with steri strips. My MIL said that kind of stitching leaves minimal scars.
The morphine will make you itch. Take the gas meds and the stool softeners, you will want them. Also keep ahead of the pain meds. My recovery was pretty easy, and I came home with vicodin and advil, but only took the vicodin twice once I got home. I didn't really need it. An abdominal wrap will make you feel better, too. Sneezing, laughing, coughing... they all hurt. Holding that flappy skin up makes it easy to pee, too. You want to walk as soon as you're able to, because it will help. However, don't overdo it. I went down to visit the baby in the NICU around 2 am and was down there every 2-3 hours for the next 18, and ended up having to send DH down with pumped breastmilk because I was in so much pain from overdoing it I just needed to sleep.
Things that surprised me: lying on my side killed me. It was awful. It took at least a week and a half before I could comfortably lie on my side. The lack of feeling for an inch above the incision is freaky. Hopefully it will slowly all come back, but it's bizarre.
Make DH help you. You'll want to just sit around and rest once you're home. Still move around some, but rest a lot. I slept propped up a bit like I had during pregnancy for a few days. It made things much easier with getting out of bed. You'll know if you overdo it, because you'll hurt. But by and large, mine was pretty easy. My OB was shaking her head at me 10 days afterwards, because I was off the pain meds, sitting up on my own, and happily hauling the baby around.
Thanks everyone again! Im so happy I have some sort of idea what is goign to happen if I do have to have one.
And AP your post is hilarious. HAHAHAH At what week did you get induced for BP?
I went to my 37 week appt and my BP was high and I was already dialated and having contractions. They sent me straight over to the hospital to be induced. I labored about 12 hours with no progress and she never descended. So I went in for a C-section and was freaked out! I also didn't think I would have/need one so I didn't research or find out a lot about C-sections. So it's good that you're asking now...just in case!
The actual surgery part wasn't that bad. I just remember feeling a lot of pressure. The laughing gas helped a lot! I was out of it for awhile from all the meds. That was my first surgery and I was a little traumatized...LOL. My recovery was kind of difficult. I remember I was in tears the first time they made me use the bathroom at the hospital. It was a good couple of weeks before I could move around without being in a lot of pain. I remember it was really hard to get out of bed or up from the couch. But at my 2 week check-up I healed up really well and felt pretty normal after that. But the actual incision area still felt tender for quite awhile!
I made it to almost 38 weeks. They waited for DH to show up to induce, he got caught in a storm and it took him a few days to get there. My mom and sister showed up once I got put on bedrest until he got there.