have to have c-section and very scared :(

mnb311 · May 2012

Just found out this morning at my 32 week appt that I definitely have to have a c-section because my placenta is too close to my cervix. They had told me at my 20 week appointment that I would maybe have to my have one but that it would most likely move up. I've had two more ultrasounds since then (including today;s), and this morning it showed that my placenta moved even lower instead of up I was already terrified of labor and having weekly meltdowns, now I'm even more scared!!! I've read on the 3rd Tri board about after care for your bottom area after vaginal delivery, but what sort of care is involved with a c-section? How long afterwards am I going to be in pain for?

AHH!

mben1119 · May 2012

Every woman heals differently. Just remember to take it easy after. Have a pillow at hand to hold over your incision for when you cough/sneeze. Listen to the doctors and don't push it in terms of driving, exercise, or sex. Those things can ALL wait.

cltk12 · May 2012

After 21 hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing, I had a c-section. I stayed up on my pain meds and didn't have much pain. The only time I had discomfort was for the first few days getting out of bed. DH would help me both in the hospital and at home for about 5 days getting in and out of bed. Once I got home, I used a little step stool to get into bed. Everyone does have different experieces, but mine was not bad.

stemms8810 · May 2012

Like others have said, take it easy and let yourself heal. Have your DH or SO take care of dishes, cooking, and laundry. All you need to do is take care of yourself and your LO. I only need pain meds for one week, maybe a week and a half. I probably took them a few days too long just to be sure I wouldn't need them.

Make sure while in the hospital you get up and walk once the Dr clears you to do so. The best way to speed up your recovery is to get moving (slowly of course). The nurses will make sure you are on top of pain meds. Each day getting up and down gets easier.

The surgery is a little scary and overwhelming but it will be over before you know it and you can be reunited with your LO.

teachermother · May 2012

Don't be scared!! I labored for 36 hours and then found out I wasn't going to be able to have my 1st, had an emergency section it wasn't terrible! I just had my 2nd section last week and it was great compared to my 1st section, is there pain? Yes but do you have pain with a vaginal yes! Really talk to your doctor about your fears you will do great! The nurses are so helpful and my husband is loads of help. The best thing to do is TAKE THE PAIN MEDS whether you think you need them or not! You have to stay ahead of the pain and you will be fine. GL

HotChocolate79 · May 2012

Don't be scared. I am only six days out and it honestly wasn't so bad. I already told DH that I am ready to TTC #2 whenever he is :-) You are already ahead of the game by not having to labor and push for 3 hours only to end up with a CS anyway.

Everyone recovers differently so I cant tell what your experience will be like. But anyone that knows me would confirm that i am a big wuss and still as of today i've almost eliminated heavy pain meds and just take tylenol and motrin. For me, day two was by far the worst - not to scare you, rather just trying to be realistic.... But the first time getting out of bed is tough. I needed so much help with everything , including someone to help me sit on and get off the toilet. However it definitely got better from there. You just have to make yourself get up and move around. Having a new baby, bfing, and all that other stuff will be a good distraction.

Hope this helps and feel free to PM me... The whole thing is really fresh in my mind so I would be happy to answer any questions.

adussell7 · May 2012

I had a c-section this morning after an awesome 30 hours of induced, hellish back labor. The c-section was cake, even after I was EXHAUSTED from the day+ of contractions. I've already walked once and at worst the incision feels sore like a contraction. You have no need to worry, I was in and out in twenty minutes and spent the 45 in recovery holding LO and getting a shoulder rub from DH

mlf625 · May 2012

Stay calm, and ignore all the horror stories! Sure, there are bad c/s recoveries. There are also bad vaginal birth recoveries - it can go either way. Scheduled c/s tend to be easier than those that occur after labor or as emergencies, so you've got that going for you. I've had two scheduled c/s and they've both been really great experiences! I liked the controlled aspect of knowing we were going to the hospital at X time on X date, being able to set up care for pets (and with #2, our other child) ahead of time, etc. As for the c/s itself - it was not bad at all! I enjoyed the births of my babies, felt no less accomplished or bonded afterward, and gladly signed up for another c/s for #2 (and another planned for #3!)

The biggest thing you can do, and it's been said before - GET UP as soon as possible. My c/s with DS was at 11:30am, and by mid-evening they had me up and walking around. It was painful at first, but by morning I felt really good, got up and showered and blew my hair dry, put on make up, etc. With DD my c/s was at 7:30am, and I started asking the nurses to get me up by lunch time. The sooner the better! Stay on top of your pain meds, you don't get a hero badge for taking less than they offer. I took everything they offered in the hospital, and was fine with just ibuprofen once I went home. I was taking strolls around the neighborhood with the stroller by about a week and a half out and driving at two weeks.

Good luck to you!

Mrs.Barry31508 · May 2012

I was def scard of having a c section. Try not to be scared, I know this is hard. Try to relax about it and enjoy your pregnancy. Just somethings to know, it will be cold in the OR so ask for a blankets if they don't already give them to you. The spinal doesn't hurt, felt buring for about literally 30 seconds. You won't feel a thing. Have you husband talk to you while they are taking your LO out. This will keep your mind off of what is going on and help you relax. This is what helped us. The recovery is hard, I'm not going to lie. I got up and tried walking 12 hrs after but only got the the chair next to me. Take your time and def keep on top of the pain meds. Trust in the doctors/ nurses that they will helpy you get better.

Jenny952 · May 2012

I also had a planned c-section for my DD, who's also my 1st, and was pretty nervous ahead of time. But the nice thing about a c is that you don't have to go through labor, lol! Mine actually was not a bad experience at all. The most painful part of all of it was honestly the IV. They put it in my arm just above my wrist, which looking back was a good place, but it really hurt. The 2nd worst part was the spinal, but I had a great nurse who really helped me stay still.

I was in some pain for a couple weeks. The worst was trying to roll over in bed or sit up for the first time. Keep taking your pain meds, even when you don't think you need them anymore, and stay active. Get up and move around as soon as you can and drink plenty of water. The only care was just keeping the incision dry and clean.

Jenny952 · May 2012

Jenny952:

I also had a planned c-section for my DD, who's also my 1st, and was pretty nervous ahead of time. But the nice thing about a c is that you don't have to go through labor, lol! Mine actually was not a bad experience at all. The most painful part of all of it was honestly the IV. They put it in my arm just above my wrist, which looking back was a good place, but it really hurt. The 2nd worst part was the spinal, but I had a great nurse who really helped me stay still.

I was in some pain for a couple weeks. The worst was trying to roll over in bed or sit up for the first time. Keep taking your pain meds, even when you don't think you need them anymore, and stay active. Get up and move around as soon as you can and drink plenty of water. The only care was just keeping the incision dry and clean.

Oops, the worst part of the c-s was the constipation afterwards. Not to scare you, but I was not expecting it to be so bad. The nurses give you a stool softener with your pain meds... take them!!! And be sure to drink lots of water, and I even ordered prune juice with my meals to get things moving. But after a few days I was completely back to normal.

jjhp2018 · May 2012

As pp's have said, everyone's body takes it differently. My biggest suggestions (which have been mentioned): stay on top of your pain meds, hold a pillow to your stomach to cough/sneeze, take it easy when getting up (couch, bed, toilet, etc. It can be tricky because you don't know how much you use those muscles until you're in that situation and it starts to sting/burn/pull where your incision is), and follow your doctors orders.

Don't forget that it's major surgery and it's going to take some time to fully heal. Don't try to be supermom - accept help or ask for it when you need it. Wishing you the best!! It's not as scary once you are there and it's happening. You will pretty much be more focused on hearing your baby cry and seeing them than anything else.

nealbl · May 2012

For everyone it is different but mine was a breeze. Get up as soon as possible and start walking that helps but it hurts the first time you get up. I went home two days later and didn't take any pain meds once home. I was putting LO in careast and stroller in trunk on my own by day 5 and by day 7 we traveled all over for Xmas Eve and Xmas.

harmonicbabe26 · May 2012

Hang in there - it will be ok!

Other than taking pain meds and taking it easy all you have to do is keep it covered for as long as they tell you and then wear clothes that don't rub on it.

My doc said nothing special is needed. when you shower don't soap it, just let water run down on it. after showers lightly pat dry, then use hair dryer to blow cool air on the scar area.

if clothes bother you, put a huge band aid on or tape a maxi pad - my friend did that. I just lived in yoga pants for 6 weeks till I was no longer scared of clothes touching that area... haha...

It is really not terrible. No cake walk, but you will be fine! Mine turned out to be wonderful. Honestly in retrospect, I will take this over having my lady bits mangled and waiting for those to heal....

angelfire02 · May 2012

I ended up with an emergency hystorectomy after my c-section so it was way more involved than most c-sections are but even with all of that I didn't think my recovery was bad at all. The week after my pain never got over a 7 (I was on hydrocodone and Tylenol) but when I went home on day 5 I took three doses of Percocet and then just Tylenol for a few more days. The worst part ( and it was awful) was tryin to poop. Worst thing ever. Take all the stool softness you can and push lots and lots of water! If it was possible for me to have more kids I would have another c-section in a heartbeat. I was terrified too but all the worrying was for nothing. Try to relax and just keep doing research on what you want to know, you will be totally fine!

krryg · June 2012

Dont be scared, I just had one 3 weeks ago and I was a nervous wreck, but it's fine. Just like pp stated the hardest part was getting the IV in my hand, I did not care for it. But the whole process was so fast, my baby was out and laying on my chest in minutes. If you feel really anxious, ask the anesthesiologist to give you something to calm you down. Mine did this, he injected something into my IV and it made a huge difference in my anxiety level. Once the c/s is over, you are going to be so elated and happy, you won't care.

MRSR08 · June 2012

I was terrified when I had my c-section. I was told after 20 hours of back labor that is DS's heart rate dropped again it would be an emergency c-section. After another hour of labor, the doc gave me the choice to wait or go ahead and do the CS. I chose the CS because DH would be with us. About 5 min later, DS heart rate dropped and they moved me FAST!!! Dh did get to come back with me because we were already ready for it. I was exhausted after the CS and slept a little after DS was born. My only advise is to take the pain meds when they offer them. I waited for two hours and was in a lot of pain when I finally did take them. The first night was rough but after that it was ok. I stayed on top of my pain meds and was up the next day walking around. Take it easy though, don't push it.

mnb311 · June 2012

Thank you so much everyone! All your responses really helped me feel better

What would I do without all the kind ladies on here!

melissa721 · June 2012

mabenner1:
Every woman heals differently. Just remember to take it easy after. Have a pillow at hand to hold over your incision for when you cough/sneeze. Listen to the doctors and don't push it in terms of driving, exercise, or sex. Those things can ALL wait.

This.

It honestly is not that bad assuming you take care of yourself afterwards. I felt great by day 6! By week two it was almost like I didn't even have surgery. I exercised by week three (pacing myself of course).

The first couple days suck but try walking a bit as soon as you can. It helps the healing process.

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have to have c-section and very scared :(

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