What to expect with a c-section?

Re: What to expect with a c-section?

• smerka member

  January 2012

  I had a brutal vaginal delivery with my first and a planned csection with my second.  He was also breech.  The csection was so much easier to recover from.  I had my gallbladder out a couple of years ago and I would say the recoveries were fairly similar.  I did bleed the same with the csection.  I didn't need to sit in the tub.  My husband was home for two weeks.  By that time I was feeling pretty good.  I could lift my older one out of the crib.  I put his space saver high chair on the floor for meals so I wouldn't have to lift him up, but he was 12 months at the time.  I didn't drive until I was off the pain meds and felt up to it.  But I also didn't get out much the first couple weeks because I couldn't have handled the toddler and the infant carrier.  My advice is to take it slow and don't do anything more than periodically lifting the toddler for naps, etc.  GL!

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• AmandaP678 member

  January 2012

  My 2nd was transverse until 37 weeks.  I did a lot of home techniques that are suppose to help flip the baby at home.Whether thats what helped or not I'm not sure,be he did flip. I, like you had a vaginal birth and absolutely did not want a cs.

  Try googling it.

  Good  luck!
  

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• g8orell member

  January 2012

  I've had 2 c-sections - one after 24 hours of labor with no progress,and then a planned one. Both were super easy for me to recover from, but the planned one was even easier b/c I was exhausted after 24 hours of labor. I was driving by 5 days (cleared by my OB), I was picking up my daughter - she was 17m, but huge (about 30 lbs) by time I got home after 3 days. I could easily put her in the crib, hgih chair, stroller, etc. I had absolutely no problems. My friend had a vaginal the same day (and tore) and was in more pain than me! She was taking percocets for a week, I never even filled my Rx!

  
  Camryn Grace ~ July 6th, 2009 ~ 7lbs 9oz, 20.5"
  Brayden Richard Drew ~ December 20, 2010~7lbs 9oz, 20"

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• freeatlast2014 member

  January 2012

  I had a c-section with DS1 (I'm pg with #2 now) and I thought the recovery was awful. I'm scared to have another this time around (but VBAC scares me even more). My DS1 was transverse as well.

  I used witch hazel pads but didn't need sitz baths. I bled quite a bit after (used the big hospital pads and granny panties). I wasn't able to drive for 2 weeks I think. I was fine to lift my DS but anything heavier was rough. I live in a split level and for the first few days I was scared to do the stairs while holding DS. I was in a lot of pain, needed the painkillers for about 3 or 4 days after I came home. And I was in the hospital for 3 nights. This was a planned one as well...I'm hoping next time around is easier.

  I will also add that I needed to request a brace while in the hospital (they didn't offer it) and that made things so much easier - I didn't realize how jiggly my belly would be and it pulled the incision any time I moved. The brace held it all in place and was a huge help. GL!! 

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• mnbmonroe member

  January 2012

  I am preparing for my third c-section and each one gets a little more difficult as far as healing. The first one was rather a quick healing time, I was able to drive at 6 weeks, but the dr. made it that way because she didn't want me driving until I could slam on the brakes without it hurting the incision. You have to remember that a c-section is the same as major surgery, routine, but still major surgery.

  I had a 14 month old when I brought home #2 and because I wasn't able to lift him in and out of the crib we converted his crib to toddler bed. We made sure there was a railing and we put a baby gate on the door to be sure that he couldn't get out in the middle of the night and get into anything that could hurt him.

  I had my folks around for the first 6 weeks to help. They would put oldest into the high chair and such for me. My hubby only got a couple days off work to be home so he wasn't much help really. The hardest part was transitioning from giving all my time to the oldest and trying to get him to understand that he had to share with the baby. He did well for the most part but it was interesting.

  If you have a strong support system and you are optimistic you will be great. Just remember day by day and not to overdo it. You will be able to do more sooner if you just allow yourself time to heal. As far as the baths and pads and such you don't need those. The bleeding is still there, but your major point of focus is making sure to keep the incision clean and dry.

  Your doctor should explain everything to you but I understand your freak out. I went in with the all natural no intervention plans. I had prepared for everything except a but after  hours I wouldn't dilate past cm. Dr. got impatient and pushed us into it. Fond out afterwards from a nurse that our doctor in particular was well known for that, needless to say, my second and now my third all have had to be the same way. (VBAC was presented as an option with the second but they were so close together that the risks were crazy)

    I wish you all the luck in the world, just remember take a deep breath and focus on the end result. I healthy beautiful baby
  

  

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