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Austin Babies
Rssn....
How's your vag? How is recovery from a c/s different than shooting it out your lady parts? Inquiring minds would like a full report, please. You know, when you get a chance.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Rssn....
LL, we must be having parallel thoughts these days. I am wondering the same thing. Hopefully if we have number 2, I'll get to have a VBAC just like Rssn. Although I will have to mentally get ready for another c-section. **Deep breaths**
Amy
I think we are, slobina. Chances are slim that I would ever have a c/s, because apparently I am well built for birthing babies (something about large hips and a high arch... I dunno, Seeker looked pleased, though). I am just wondering how they compare.
In my experience, shooting a baby out your ladytown hurts. Hurt bad. I had trouble walking for a week, bled for at least a month, and feared going potty. It was awful.
Hmmm. I guess the grass is always greener, like my mom says. The c-section was really, really, really bad. I had such bad gas (like someone stabbing me gas pain) from it that I thought I was going to have to go back to the hospital. I couldn't sit up without assistance for several weeks, and I didn't feel physically "recovered" until about 8 weeks. My milk didn't come in for almost a week, and I have had supply issues since the beginning, which I blame on the c-section. Who knows if that last part is true, but that's my perception.
The funny thing is, even given all that, I am still somewhat *scared* of a vaginal birth, even though I want it. Because now I know what to expect with the c-section, and what to do differently next time so it isn't quite as bad (i.e., eat really bland food so I don't get that awful gas).
This was TOTALLY me. A r-c/s was a known experience. A VBAC was a whole new, mysterious, kinda scary thing. I didn't know what I was getting myself into, and quite frankly the stories of women ripping and having continence issues and reconstructive surgeries and whatnot scared the crap out of me.
So, in my experience...it was way, way harder giving birth vaginally. The pain, the pushing (yes, I still had a lot of pain, even with the epi...which makes me wonder if it didn't work all the way?), the physical exhaustion. Every muscle in my arms/shoulders/back was sore for days afterward from the exertion of holding something and pushing as hard as I could. With a c/s, hell, I just laid there, they took the baby out, and sewed me up. Easy peasy.
That said, the recovery has been way, way easier with the VBAC. And this coming from a Seeker c/s patient who had a REALLY easy c/s recovery. with the c/s, I couldn't move on my own, couldn't sit up on my own, for days. And even then, if I moved too fast or wrong, I felt stabbing, awful pain. It was excruciating not to be able to move around or walk normally for so long...physically and mentally. The gas pains that Slobina talks about were awful. The first pp poop was awful. It was a full three weeks before I felt back to "myself."
With the VBAC, I was up and walking within an hour of giving birth. As long as I stayed on top of my pain meds, my vag didn't really hurt, it was just kind of a constant dull ache. I had a minor tear ("somewhere between a 1st and 2nd degree"--Seeker), and it sucked donkeyballs to feel him stitching me up (see aforementioned note about epi not working all the way???), but no major trauma to the region that I know of yet. I already feel 90% back to normal and no longer need any pain meds at all except in the morning and before bed, and even then it's just regular Ibuprofen.
Things that have been the same: gas pains (didn't think about eating blander foods--nice tip, Slobina!). First pp poop still sucked. Bleeding the same (though passing more clots than I remember with the c/s). Swelling in feet.
I have not yet worked up the courage to take a gander at my lady parts yet. I think I'll give it another week. I have felt around a bit and the swelling has gone down and I think I can feel where I tore. Every day gets easier and better! I can actually wipe now instead of just blotting. ;-P
HA! Me neither, and I am 6 months pp. I keep thinking that I need to take a peek, but I'm scared. I still am not sure which side my tear was on.
NEXT TIME, ask Dr. S to numb you up before he throws the stitches in. He did that for me and I didn't feel it at all. And the lidocaine (i think that's what it was) was put in right before I pushed, so I didn't care about that "pain" because I was having cx's. It was like getting a bee sting while someone was chopping your arm off.
I think you are right that the epi didn't totally work. Ouch. Ouch, ouch, ouch. At least you are on this side of it, dear.
I'm going to toss it out there that it probably varies for everyone.
The last thing I ever wanted was a c/s. Ever. My sister had one with her DS and it sucked. She fell into the small percentage of getting a spinal headache and was in so much pain for weeks.
That said, as 40 weeks rolled around, DH would throw the idea of a c/s around because a co-worker's wife had a good experience with it. Needless to say, it led to me getting upset because that was the absolute.last.resort. At 40w5d, Kelly, did an internal and no bueno. She talked to me about options and discussed my wants with Dr. Seeker. I got one last internal and NST that following Monday and was still closed. DH and I had decided that weekend to go with Seeker's recommendation. C/S it was.
Let me tell you, I have no desire to experience a vaginal birth. My c/s was a walk in the park. The evening of my c/s, I got out of bed and walked around my room. The second day I was eating PF Changs' Spicy Chicken (thank you Eat Out/In). Of course when I got out of bed, I took it slow and felt some pain, but it was nothing excruciating. The nurses were very good about staying on top of my pain meds, per Seeker's orders. After 48 hours, Seeker let me go home.
When I got home, I had tons of help but I still insisted on doing the majority of things on my own. I really think it helped to be as active as possible without overdoing it.
Baby number 2 will definitely be scheduled.
I totally agree. I also think a big differentiator is whether or not you labor before your c/s. I had about 12 hours of labor prior to mine, and I believe Rssn had much longer. For the most part, the women I know who have issues like mine post-c/s are women that labored prior to their c/s.
Word. Mlf scheduled hers and she claims it was awesomesauce.
I don't even know why I am asking, I was just curious, I guess. With my "perfect arch" and hips there is no way Seek is ever going to offer me a c/s.
I labored for 20 hours before my c/s with DS and I think recovery would have been different if I hadn't. That being said, my recovery w/ DS was much easier than with DD. But I blame mag sulfate and pre-e for that.
At any rate, I am sooooo happy Rssn got her VBAC! At this point, I don't *think* I want more babies, but if we do, I don't think a VBA2C is in my future. Anyway, hurrah for Rssn and her power vag!
You never know. He said I had the perfect pelvis and arch to deliver an 8 pound baby. DS was just too cozy and danced around so much his cord was wrapped twice.
And ditto the congrats for going through both kinds of birth, rssn! What a woman!