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Multiples
Your c-section experience....
l'm sure this has been asked a million times, but I have to ask again. Sorry! My nerves are getting the better of me. My c-section is scheduled for two weeks from now, and I am getting really scared about the whole thing. I have only had one other surgery before and I was half awake during part of it-which I did not like because I could feel pulling and tugging feelings (which I read I will feel during the c-section) How did you feel during the c-section surgery? Right after the spinal block? Did you ask for anxiety meds beforehand? Thanks everyone! It's making me a nervous wreck-and I really wish it wasn't. 
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Re: Your c-section experience....
First, relax! My c/s recovery was a whole lot better than my vag delivery/recovery. The spinal block hurt a little more than the epidural (but I was having strong contractions when I got the epidural) it felt a little weird not to feel my legs at all and that made me a little naucious which they gave me medicine for and then I was fine. They had to move the table (and when I say move I mean they had to make one side higher than the other) when they were starting to deliver the twins, that felt weird. I don't really remember the pulling and tugging I just remember I kept asking for updates on what they were doing next (who was out, extra)
After delivery stay on top of the pain medicine, I let it where off the next day because I was asleep and didn't feel like asking the nurse to bring it in, and I was in quite a bit of pain before the next dose kicked in.
Really it's not bad, the nurses have done it a million time so I just let them calm me down and listened to what was going on and it was really smooth! GL!!
First, yes, relax. You'll do great.
Most of my c/s stress came from only being 34w5d and all the potential complications of premies. You've done a fantastic job cooking them!
The tugging and pulling is very strange, I'm not going to lie, but it's over quickly. My boys were born 4 and 5 minutes after she started. Once they're out, there's so much going on that you don't even realize what they're doing. It did get a little quiet during the stitch up part. Especially after all the craziness of getting them out and checked right away. The babies were wisked off to the NICU, and most everyone left with them. It was just the doctors stitching me up and a few nurses. I don't really remember her stitching me up, but I do remember her saying I was easy to stitch up since I was skinny. (Bless her heart.)
Be prepared for the room to be very bright, very cold, and very populated with people. Apparently twins draw a crowd. I felt scared and over-whelmed, but that's extremely normal. You're about to be parents. That's pretty scary.
I didn't ask for anxiety meds at all, but I wouldn't have wanted them anyway. Try not to focus on the major surgery aspect of it. Try to focus on that special moment with DH when you get to meet your babies. That's a moment you won't want clouded.
Like I said, you're going to do great. Focus on the great part of the day and not the scary part. It will be wonderful
I TOTALLY understand your anxiety. I was terrified.
It really wasn't bad at all. The most uncomfortable part was the catheter...it feels like a dry tampon going in (sorry if TMI!)
The spinal block wasn't bad, I jumped b/c he hit a nerve, but all was ok. Honestly, they start the surgery so quickly that once you're in the room it moves so fast that you don't have time to get nervous.
A "tip" I got from several people was to tell the anesthesiologist that you get nauseous with medication b/c he will be prepared to give you anti-nauseua medicine (yeah, they don't do it unless you say something...stupid). The second I started to feel queasy when I was on the table, I spoke up, and the anesthesiologist (God love him), gave me a burst of the anti-nausea medicine that felt WONDERFUL. It was like good tequila. In fact, I actually said "this is like having great tequila" during my c/s.
I never felt the pulling, tugging, etc. that other people mention. I was very happy about that.
One thing I wasn't expecting was how I'd feel immediately after surgery. As I sat in the reocvery room and the medication wore off I started to shiver a lot and feel very cold, even though they had a mountain of heated blankets on me. I felt very chilled, and I kept trying to talk to my Mom (DH was with the babies, so they let my Mom stay in recovery with me), but I couldn't really get out any full sentences. I just felt drained. (I've never had surgery so I wasn't aware of how hard it is on your body).
I had my c/s at 4 pm. At 10 am the next day I asked them to remove the catheter so I could start walking. That first walk to the bathroom- SUCKED. Again, never had surgery so I was shocked. I felt like I'd never make it. But I moved as much as possible and that really helped.
Hope that helps...if it makes you feel better, I was so nervous about it that I wanted to say "keep the babies in!", but it went really well.
My doctor mentioned that they can put the catheter in after the spinal..I made sure to ask about that because I heard it's quite uncomfortable like you mentioned. I REALLY hope I don't feel the tugging and pulling too! And I am going to ask for anitnausea meds for sure. I keep reading that the really bad part is that first time you walk to the bathroom like you said.... not looking forward to that. And it's scaring me too to see the incision for the first time too. I don't deal with blood and gore easily- lol...
I was nervous, but it actually went better than I thought it would.
Yes, you do feel some tugging and pulling. But believe me, you would feel crazy stuff during labor too (I had my DD vaginally, twins c-section). There is nothing you can really do to prevent it, but being prepared that it feels crazy helps.
The medicine did make me throw up, but the doc gave me meds right away and I felt better. I did not ask for meds before hand, because I only take meds I need. The pain meds after are great, and you won't feel like poo until the second day if at all.
I took the mindset of "this is happening, and there is no way around it, so let's make the best of it." Those babies need to come out somehow, and if that is the safest way for you and them - then you will rock it. Because you have to.
Just keep an open communication with the nurses as to how you feel and it will all be okay!
Good luck!
My c-section experience wasn't bad at all. I had the spinal done before they put the catheter in, so I didn't feel that at all. I remember kind of shaking while they were doing the spinal because I was nervous. I didn't think it hurt at all. When they started the c-section, I had my DH hold my hand because I was nervous. But within a few minutes, they pulled the babies out and like a pp mentioned, you get consumed with everything going on around you and not the surgery. Luckily mine were born at 36 weeks 2 days and didn't need to be taken to the NICU. So they were in the room and my DH got to go over and take pictures. Then we have pictures of him holding them next to me - I assume I was being stitched up at that point. Before the c-section, I was nervous about the idea of feeling the pulling and tugging. I don't even remember having that feeling, so if I did, it must have been really slight. It is strange to not feel the lower half of your body, but not as bad as I thought it would be.
I had somewhat of a difficult recovery due to a PPH. But if I ever decide to have a 3rd, I think I'd definitely go for a c-section again if given the choice.
I hope my experience goes as smoothly as yours... knock on wood right?!
Thanks so much for your sharing with me. These are all making me feel a lot better.
I was also terrified. I wanted anti-anxiety meds but my dr didn't want me on anything - she wanted my body as responsive as possible. She had scared the crap out of me regarding the possibility of uterine atony and needing a blood transfusion.
The spinal was the worst part for me but I got a combo spinal epidural. I have scoliosis and they decided to do the combo for some reason. It hurt a lot but that was the most painful part of things for me. There was an awesome surgical assistant who held my hands and helped keep me calm and still while they put it in. I hope there is someone that good and kind in every OR.
I didn't feel the tugging feeling that people talk about. The weirdest part for me was feeling like my left leg was bent the whole time (even though I'm thinking it wasn't). Be prepared to have both arms stretched out, like you're being crucified. My arms weren't strapped down, but I did have a BP cuff on one and it went off every 10 seconds it felt like.
Recovery was not bad. The first night was uncomfortable but I kept on top of the pain meds (the dilaudid on the pain pump made me sick but the percoset was great) and I was moving around and had my catheter out about 24h after the surgery. I honestly felt worse 2 days after the bar exam than I did 2 days after the c-section.
Good luck. Try not to stress - you will do fine!
I've heard this before.. did you bring Gas X or do they give you something to take?
I'm glad you asked this question b/c my c-section is in 3 weeks and I am freaking! I did hear about the catheter being the worst part so I hope I have the option for them to put it in after the spinal. I'm also scared about getting the spinal but I'm sure it will all be fine. I'm so uncomfortable these days that I just want these boys out!lol
I think I'm more worried about recovery afterwards but I def plan on taking the drugs to keep the pain away.
Good luck and share your experience afterwards!
I am really freaking too. You should be able to have the catheter put in after the spinal . I didn't even have to ask and my doctor said that's what they do. I am soooo uncomfortable too. Everything is killing me. Message me if you want to chat!
So what did the spinal feel like ? Does it mainly feel like a regular shot but just with more pressure? Does it hurt getting the catheter out?
Thanks for your advice!!
I was terrified of having a c-section, but then again, I was terrified of delivering vaginally. They had to come out some way.
After being on hospital BR for 8.5 weeks, I was more than thrilled to have made it as far as I did, and aside from worrying about complications (which neither of them had, born at 35w2d), it was a piece of cake to just lay there and have everyone else do the work for me.
Trust your doctors and nurses. Luckily, having been on hospital BR for so long, I had a good relationship with the doctors and nurses, so it was "easier" for me to remain calm. But remember that they do this many, many times.
I do recall the shivering that others are mentioning, but it didn't take very long for that to go away. Standing up for the first time the next morning was awful, but it just takes time for everything to heal. Remember to hold a pillow against your incision whenever you have to cough, sneeze, or laugh.
Good luck! So exciting!!!
I can't remember, by the time my nurse could get the approval from the doctor and up from the pharmacy the day had passed (they were really slow) I think the pain meds helped though.
Here's my c/s experience:
Once it was decided we were doing a c/s that night, my nurse started an IV, had the anesthesiologist come in to talk with us, shaved the area they were going to be cutting on
, and had me scoot myself onto the gurney to go to the OR. Once in there, the anesthesiologist did my spinal. The worst part of the spinal was a lot of pain from the way the nurse had me sit to present my spine correctly! Once the spinal was working, they put in my catheter (yay for not feeling that!). Within minutes, what felt like tons of people were in the OR and they were making the first incision. About this time DH joined us. The anesthesiologist did a great job of talking us through everything that was happening and having DH get some pictures as both babies were born. Thankfully, I didn't feel any of the pulling or tugging. I felt a little out of breath, and a little cold, but that was about it. Once both babies were checked out they were brought over for me to see, and for DH to take to the nursery. It seemed so quick -- it was like 4:45 pm when my OB said we would do the c/s that evening, and the babies were born at 6:18 and 6:19 (and it wasn't an emergency c/s!) At this point I think they gave me something that made me sleepy, as I don't recall anything else until I was in recovery. I was in there a little over an hour, and DH was back and forth between the special care nursery where the babies were undergoing their full evals (since they were technically preemies at 36w0d and were low birthweight) and the recovery room. Once I was in my own room, I know that they had me on Pitocin to help my uterus contract and shrink back down. The nurses were in and out pushing on my belly every so often trying to check on the progress. This continued through the night and into the next day, when my catheter was pulled and I got up for the first time post surgery.
My recommendation after my experience: talk to your medical team to have a good idea of what to expect. Get up and move as soon as you can after surgery -- it was very painful so I shied away from movement and I think it hindered my recovery. In my case, I also discovered that stool softeners were my best friends (TMI I know), I was glad I took extra pairs of mesh panties from the hospital (which did make it through the wash a few times before falling apart), and I should have stayed on top of my pain meds by a time basis for the first week at least instead of waiting until I was in pain to take them.
Phew, that was long!
They arrived at 36 weeks after PTL and bedrest for 14 weeks.
Thank you SO much for sharing your story with me... I so appreciate it. It has been really helping me read everyone's experience to kind of calm myself down about this. You said you didn't feel any tugging or pulling so I REALLY hope I don't either!