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Maryland Babies
C-Section at GBMC - advice??
We are scheduled to have a C-Section at GBMC this upcoming week. We were planning on having a natural childbirth but because of the baby's size, the Dr thinks a C-Section is best.
Any advice? What should I expect? Will they put a catheter in before I am numb? How long until I can hold my baby? How long will the stitching take? And one important question for us is when can I start to breastfeed?
THanks so much - I am actually a little nervous!
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Re: C-Section at GBMC - advice??
I had 2 csections at FSH. I cant help you with time span only because my 1st was after 36 hours of labor and severe pre-e. My 2nd I had a scheduled csecction but she decided to come early. With my 2nd I also had a lod of scar tissue to it took longer to get her out.
They will take you in the OR. Clean you up. I THINK i got the epi after the catheter. I can tell you that both hurt. I dont remember much about my 1st because I was on magnesium for my BP. The second csec tion the epi had me jump straight off the bed!
You can hold the baby right after for a minute if he or she is ok. They will then take the baby away to clean them up. I think the whole processes from me getting to the hospital with my 1st until the time I was wack in my romm and ready for visitors may have been 2 -3 hours.
The c-section itself does not hurt! You can feel them tugging on things though which is a little weird. Also with my 1st I had to rest a lot due to my BP which cause me to take longer to recover. The 2nd time I was up and on my feet the next day. MUCH qquicker and less painful recovery.
What size is the baby and why is that a factor? Can you tell them you really want a natural childbirth? I have seen small tiny women give birth to 11 pound babies, so size shouldn't be an issue unless you have a medical condition with your pelvis (I do, I couldn't deliver a 6 pound baby) I have x-rays to prove it, unless your OB has that, they can't guess what will happen. Are they using a u/s to judge the size - because they can be off by 2 pounds or more in either direction. Also it really doesn't depend on size alone, but baby positioning and how much you are allowed to move during labor. If you are really interested in having a natural childbirth, please contact a doula or contact ICAN of baltimore.
I don't know about GMBC, but I have had 2 c-sections. Holding baby after c-section is hospital policy. One would not let me see the baby for 7 hours, the other was about 2. Some let you have them right away. You can breastfed right away, however the first time I got so sick from the drugs, I was throwing up for a day, so I didn't do it for 2 days (or I should say the nurses wouldn't let me because I might throw up on the baby <gasp>). The second time wasn't a problem and I nursed her a few hours after she was born.
Stitching depends too, my first surgery was like 20 minutes, the stitching you won't even be aware of. The second was about 45 minutes. Catheter will go in when you are numb. It sometimes is taken out right away, depending on if there were issues with your bladder. Both mine had to remain in for 4 days. My 2nd c-section recovery was much worse, in fact, I got 2 abscesses from the surgery from the stitches they used. 5 months postpartum and my incision still isn't closed. I have to go to a wound center to get it packed weekly.
Again, I would really press the c-section thing. Some people have easy peasy c-sections and are on their feet right away, some do not - it's surgery and I would not get it unless you really really need it. And it will be difficult to find an OB willing to do a vbac if you want more kids. Just my 2 cents.
(you can change providers at anytime - I changed mine at 37 weeks and went into labor at 39 weeks - and if you push the natural childbirth, your OB can't fire you)
I just had a C-section at GBMC last month due to my water breaking @ 34 weeks. As horrible and stressful as the situation could have been...it was made much better by the staff in L&D as well as postpartum there.
The catheter going in is NOTHING. Barely even a pinch. Mine went in before my epi but I am not sure if that is the norm. I got to see LO as soon as he was out and bundled up but only for a minute before he went to the NICU. DH got to cut the cord and take as many pictures as he wanted in the OR. I want to say the stitching took maybe 20 minutes then I went into the recovery room (NOT the room I would be in for my hospital stay). My family was allowed to come back 1 at a time to see me here. I want to say I was here for maybe an hour while I waited to get feeling back in my legs. I never felt even remotely sick to my stomach, I was just freezing! Be sure to ask for heated blankets!!! I was up and into a wheel chair within 5-6 hours and heading up to the NICU. After my initial trip to the NICU the nurses had me walking to the bathroom.
I liked all of the nurses and techs that I had during my 5 day stay. They were attentive but not overly intrusive. They responded quickly when I needed something and show genuine concern for my well being and that of my LO.
I had a fabulous C-section experience at GBMC for a breech baby. I would personally try vaginally first, scans are notoriously incorrect but I'll give you a rundown of how mine went.
They would not cath me after I was numb, they told me it had to be done pre-op. That was the worst part of the whole thing, and it wasn't even that bad. Pre-op was some blood draws, contraction monitoring and catheter. That was an hour.
Then I went into the OR. I had to bend over and get the spinal onthe table and quickly lie down. After that it was a haze because they gave me a shot of morphine. I actually asked the anesthesiologist for another, I felt so good! 10 min later she was out! My dr was amazing and sewed me up in about 15 min. That whole time H was in recovering with LO. I met up with them and was able to be taken to my room in about 45 min. They wanted to make sure I had some feeling in my legs and was stable. I breastfed in recovery and the nurses were really helpful.
I had a fabulous 5 day stay and a wonderful recovery. It was more like being in a hotel than surgery/having a baby. I recommend you walk right away and ask to eat pretty soon. I credit my recovery with a daily lap around the halls.
Good luck!
Francesca Pearl is here! Josephine Hope is almost 3!
All of this. If you are comfortable with the decision please disregard, but if a natural delivery is very important to you, I would get another opinion.
Ditto. My u/s said Claire was 6 lbs, and she was 8 lbs 9 oz. U/s can be wrong, and even so, size of the baby is no need to get a c/s. A c/s is major abdominal surgery.
My personal experience-I had one with Aiden because of placenta previa. Aiden had to go to the NICU because he had fluid in his lungs (common with c/s babies since they aren't going through the birth canal which gets the fluid out of their lungs). I didn't get to hold Aiden until 15 hours after he was born (the next morning). I got to see him for a second before he was whisked away. I lost a ton of blood, and the recovery took a while.
I just had a VBAC with Claire. The recovery was SO much easier than with a c/s (and I had a second degree tear). She's nursing better than Aiden did, and overall, the entire birth experience was so much better.
miscarriage on 11/26/09 at 5w6d
I had a scheduled c-section with my second at GBMC. The following is just from my experience.
Will they put a catheter in before I am numb? Yes, they put my catheter in before I was numb and I was told that was how it was always done. It wasn't too painful.
How long until I can hold my baby? I was able to hold DS as soon as I was in the recovery room so literally maybe ten minutes after he was born or so.
How long will the stitiching take? Didn't take long at all, a few minutes at most. The doctors are pros at this.
When can I start to breastfeed? I didn't breastfeed but I could tell another women was able to breastfeed her child while in the recovery room.
Will they put a catheter in before I am numb? Yes, but honestly it wasn't that bad.
How long until I can hold my baby? I was able to hold my son in recovery, less than 10 mintues later. Staff was caring and polite.
How long will the stitiching take? It was so fast, I didn't even realize they did it.
When can I start to breastfeed? I started in recovery
ITA. Size is a very lame reason for a dr to push c/s, IMO. That said, I had two planned c/s at GBMC (by my choice due to a broken tailbone and they insert the cath in the prep room, before you get numbedi n the OR. The cath is nothing though. It's in and over with before you know it, and if you are like me, you will be very thankful to have that catheter for the rest of the day!
It really doesn't take long to do a typical planned c/s. You'll be stitched up while they clean and weigh your baby, and you'll be able to hold LO as soon as you get into the recovery room. Your H will be able to hold the baby in OR after cord is cut. I BF'ed both babies in the recovery room.