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C-sections
1st c-section is weeks away. Starting to freak!
Hi there!! I'll be a first timer in about 9 weeks! I'm starting to freak! Any and all advice is extremely welcome!!!
My DD was born vaginally, 3 years ago. I suppose it was a pretty normal process. I had to be induced because my blood pressure was through the roof. I labored nearly a full day. When it got down to the pushing, I was at it for over 3 hours. My Dr was starting to get a strange look on his face. Much longer and I would have had to have an emergency C. Once DD finally made her appearance, things started to go wrong. I started hemorrhaging...BAD. I ended up being rushed to the OR for an emergency D&C to get the bleeding stopped. Turns out the placenta had completely embedded itself in my uterus and was refusing to let go. Retained placenta, they called it, and I earned 4 days in the hospital & 2 blood transfusions. Dr later said that, due to scarring, it would be a miracle if I got PG again and a second miracle to carry to term.
DH & I got PG on our third try...just like with DD. And (thank God!) no angel babies. I'm now 30w3d and baby is doing awesome! There is very little research available on retained placenta, but from what I understand there is a much higher risk of it happening if you've already had it before. SO! We're going the scheduled C-section route. At least they?ll already be in there if something goes wrong.
Now here is where I?m starting to get brain fogged. I?m terrified of the surgery (I have some control issues! 
). You know, what is going to happen, how / what I?m going to feel. The recovery time afterwards. I always get a complete brain fog when I go to the Dr, and can?t ever remember what questions I have. I?m trying to get some together now, but would any of you have anything specific that I should ask. Since I have no idea what to expect, I really don?t have any idea what to ask. I really appreciate your thoughts!!
Amber 
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Re: 1st c-section is weeks away. Starting to freak!
I almost could have written this post! DD1 was born vaginally at 34w2d due to severe pre-e. I had an emergency D&C right after due to retained placenta and had to be put under general anesthesia since I didn't have an epidural. I didn't need transfusions afterward, but I had a lovely chalky white color to my face and needed iron supplements for a while.
DD2 was born by c-section since she didn't handle induction well (35weeks, low fluid & IUGR). While it certainly is recovery from a surgery, I think in a lot of ways it was easier than my first time. My OB commented that based on what she saw during surgery, we would have had the same placenta issues this time and she felt that a c-section gave her better management of that situation.
Things that were harder include: need for more help (esp with DD1!), bowel movements/gas (ouch!), sneezing (OUCH!). I also felt like the after-pains (like when BFing) were way worse this time, but that's not relevant to the c/s. I'd recommend having plenty of Colace and ibuprofen on hand at home. Stay on top of your pain meds and get up and moving as soon as you can.
I have no regrets about this c-section given my complicated history. Hope all goes well for you!
No problem! I was definitely a bit anxious about having a c-section (it was urgent/unplanned, but not emergency and not totally unexpected) but it was absolutely the right call by my OB. Since you know ahead of time that you'll deliver that way, it may be helpful to talk with your OB about what to expect during and right after the surgery.