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May 2011 Moms
pandi02a
member
2nd time moms who have had a c-section, can we talk?
pandi02a
member
I am not planning on having a c-section, and I am sure many people on this board aren't, but that doesn't mean that we won't end up having to have one. Can we talk about what to prepare for c-section wise, just in case we have to have one?
Any advice? Wish you would have known x or y? Please share.
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This discussion has been closed.
Re: 2nd time moms who have had a c-section, can we talk?
1) Don't skip the section in any of your books that discusses c-section. Pretty much nobody thinks it will happen to them. Statistically, it will happen to 1/3 of the moms on this board.
2) You could still have a "double" recovery. If you end up pushing for several hours, you will get a lot of the same recovery as a vaginal birth+ a c/s recovery.
3) They will put boots on you for a day or so that will help you from getting clots. They suck but can be necessary.
4) In some places you have to poop and fart before they will let you leave. And for some it can be very painful.
5) Get up and move around as soon as you feel you are able.
6) If your c/s is not an emergency (mine wasn't...non emergency but most definitely not planned) request to see the baby messy if you would like, for the baby not to be taken out before you are, to be kept with you, to breastfeed within the hour if at all possible, etc.
7) Also remember it is normal to mourn a birth experience. Flame me if you wish for this one, but when you prepare for things to go one way and they go another, it is 100% OK to not be "over it" immediately. I am not saying wallow in self pity for years and don't enjoy your child, but everyone will say "as long as mom and baby are healthy it is OK" is a bullcrap thing people say to others who had an emergency birth. OF COURSE IT IS WHAT EVERYONE WANTS, MORON! Birth is something you will remember until the day you die. Work through it as soon as you feel ready, and don't be ashamed if you have those feelings.
(To add to #7...the same stands if you have traumatic vaginal birth.)
Thanks, PPC.
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Ditto everything PPC said. Especially the last part.
I actually never had to wear the boots either.
I meant to put in some people have to wear the boots...I know they aren't done everywhere. A friend of mine who just had a natural vaginal birth had to have them at my hospital too...but that was due to her weight. I think I would much prefer compression stockings!
Ditto what PP said--but my other advice is when you get to drinking afterwards, make it WARM stuff instead of cold--it helps with digestion and will make any gas and stuff way less painful. Also ask for gas medicine and a stool softener--- that was very helpful.
Don't be afraid of the pain meds--they help you heal a bit. This time I'm not going to try and be a "hero" b/c the only one that suffers is me (and baby).
My new "mom" blog: http://realityofamommy.blogspot.com
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Notes:
The epi may make you shake very bad, which freaked them out more because they had their arms strapped down.
Ask the nurse to wait and put your catheter in after the epi( if possible). Apparently at the hospital here they don't do this unless you ask.
The epi that I had during labor did not make me shake. It was the spinal (ETA: I think it was just the different med, not the method) that I got for my c/s that made me shake. This is a common side effect of anesthesia. Also, they keep the OR's at a very low temp on purpose, and when you are half naked on the table, it's just generally freezing.
I'm interested in this thread too, since I'm a first time mom and know I'll have a c-section. They'll schedule one for me at 38 weeks, but if I go into labor before then (which is likely with twins) they'll go ahead and give me one.
I have questions to ask my OB at my next visit, but what I do know so far is that my hospital always uses the boots and they usually give a spinal instead of an epi for people who aren't able to try normal labor.
My main concerns:
1) I'm claustrophobic, and this is made worse if my arms are strapped down.
2) I have GERD, and I'm afraid of refluxing and choking.
3) I have weird reactions to medicine in general, so I'm scared of the spinal (or an epi, for that matter). I have been put under general anesthesia twice, though, and was ok other than vomiting for about 4 hours in recovery the first time.
2) Let the nurse know, they will keep a close eye on you. The strangest feeling I ever had was feeling numb up to my neck but suddenly having to vomit. The nurse was right there to catch it, and she kept an eye on me for the rest of the time because it had been so sudden and I didn't know it was coming. Any information you give them will help you.
DITTO!! and especially #7. My birth experience with DD#1 went completelty differenty than planned, I was sad for a while that I was not awake to greet my baby into the world, but in the end just remember the baby got here no matter what method and the baby is healthy!
This, exactly. I am preparing myself for a VBAC this time, and many don't understand why it is so important to me. Your emotions are yours alone and are always valid. My advice would be to be as knowledgable as possible of all possibilities going into birth. That way you at least have a voice on the issue. With my son, I didn't know enough to state my opinion or preferences before we were taken in for the emergency C-Section. This time, I at least will know what I am agreeing to, if they need/want to provide interventions.
all of the above, plus
1) you should pack like you might stay at the hospital for 4 days instead of 1 or 2. By day 2, I was so ready to get out of the hospital gown. Especially, since I was walking around a lot. I'm glad I had sweats and other clothes to wear.
2) Ask for a c-section belt. It helps pull everything in and helps with the discomfort the first couple of weeks.
3) Lastly, you might feel the csection itself. I could feel the majority of it because I had been up all night pushing and I opted for less anethesia to stay awake for the delivery. I've had 2 friends fall asleep during the csection because they were so tired and the anesthia knocked them out and then they missed the actual birth.
Ok so I have had 3 c/s's and am aboutto have my 4th.
1. No boots or socks for me.
2. Getting up and walking for the first time will be the hardest ting to do. It will hurt and you may not feel like your legs will hold you but you must do it. The more you get up and walk right away the faster you will heal. If you dont you will get stiff and it will be harder to move and walk when you want to.
3. Take the pain meds they offer you while you are there in the hospital. You have someone else to kinda help with the baby while you are there. Once you are at home only take them when you need them because you are not sure how exactly you will react or if you will have someone elase helping you.
4. Spinal vs. epi. This are different techniques and different meds. Please talk to your dr/anestesiologist before hand. Epi- a lot like a vag epi and this is what can cause shaking and itching. I never had the shaking but had the itching. Spinal- best thing in the world (for me anyways, I itched so bad after the first two I was making myself bleed and had to be given some special meds and had my hands strapped down) The downside is it is a little more risky and you will have a sore back for a few months.
5. TAKE the stool softeners and make sure you get a persecription for them to tkae home. I have been at 3 diferent hospitals and all 3 make you have a bowel movement before leaving the hospital. You intestines go into shock during a c/s and they do not want to move after a c/s. PP was right about a warm liquids. Also the hospital may have you on a liquid diet at first.
6. As for being strapped down during the c/s only my left arm has ever been strapped down and thats just because thats the arm they put the IV in.
7. Bring comfy clothes or dresses to the hospital to wear. You will not want pants sitting on your incision.
Hope this helps
I can't stress enough to bring lots of your own clothes. I lived in gaucho pants and nursing tanks for 4 days. DS ended up in the NICU for a couple days so I was glad I had my won clothes and also "shoes" to walk to and from the NICU in. They were just knitted mary jane slipper sock things but they were cute and comfy
I also agree with the getting up and moving around ASAP. Laying around in your bed all of the time will only make things worse and your healing will take longer. I did have the compression boots but they didn't really bother me much. I had my c/s at 9:00pm so by the next morning they were ready to come off and I didn't notice them while I was sleeping.
I think you girls covered everything!
I am looking for a compression belt/girdle this time. The car ride home after my c-section was awful. I felt like my insides were bouncing all over. I think a compression belt would help that.
I could not get out a bowl movement at the hospital. They let me leave because I was passing gas (way TMI). It took 10 days for me to go and it was awful. The hospital only gave me 1 or 2 pills of colace. This time I am bringing my own.
Good luck to the girls having a VBAC. I wish I could have one.
In addition to what everyone else said
1. Take your stool softeners after the delivery. Abdominal surgery can cause major constipation and so can the pain meds they give you. Pooping after a c/s can be really painful.
2. Get up and walk around as soon as you can, but don't overdo it just because you are feeling good. Remember that even if you're having an easy recovery, you just had surgery and you need to take it easy. Also since c/s are so common these days, some people forget that they really are surgery, so don't listen to your family if they *** about you not being ready to do things yet.
3. There is no right or wrong way to feel after birth. This goes along with what Patty said. If you feel relieved or grateful after a c/s, that's great. But if you feel sad or angry or guilty, that's ok too. You can be thankful for your healthy baby and also mourn the way the birth went. If you need to talk to someone about it, do it, and if your loved ones don't understand, talk to a professional who will. A lot of people won't get it, but that's not a reflection on you.
4. It's completely normal to feel tugging, pressure, etc. during the c/s. You may not be completely numb to those feelings, and although you shouldn't feel sharp pain, the tugging can be intense sometimes.
What she^ said.
The only other thing I can think to add is to maybe throw in toiletries to cover you for the couple extra days in the hospital.
Oh and if you do end up with a c/s, make sure you stay on top of your meds.
1.I wore the compression boots for a few hours. Nurse joked, it was my massage part of my day at the L&D spa - she was great at keeping things light in an intense situation!
2. Getting out of bed and walking sucked, but the bowel movement was sooo much worse!!
3. Take the stool softeners whether you take the pain meds or not. My nurse was always trying to pressure me to take the Percocet, but I really only wanted Motrin. It finally caught up to me the 3rd day and I took them and asked for a prescription for Vicodin, not Percocet. If pain meds make you nauseated, ask for Phenergan or Compazine with them. Also, if you want to continue to take your prenatals, bring them from home.
4.After a lengthy conversation with the anesthesiologist regarding my prior back issues (herniations at L4,L5,S1), he decided a spinal block was the best choice for me. I only felt the tugging and pulling pressure during the operation and the relief of my uterus collapsing when they took the baby out, sweet relief! I shook during recovery only as the medicine was wearing off. I never experienced any back pain from the spinal.
5. I wasn't allowed to eat until I passed some gas..I do not remember my first meal, but I think it was breakfast. I had her at 6pm. I was allowed a liquid diet, and had the IV.
6.THEY WILL SHAVE YOUR LADYBITS FOR YOU!! If you have any hair anywhere near the incision sight, they will come in and shave you. This was a bit odd for the poor nursing student that got stuck with the job, he did fine. I believe in letting a medical student learn by doing, whether it is shaving a crotch or helping out in the OR. This was uncomfortable afterwards for me, since it growing back itched like a mother, and I could not scratch!! I am going to look into waxing before hand this time...we will see.
7. They were worried about my incision sight not healing properly due to the pouch that was above it, but I made sure to clean it often and put a pad on top of it to absorb any fluids coming out of it. They were very impressed with my thinking. I had about 14 staples.