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C-sections
IrishBaby1982
member
Freaking out and Shutting Down :-(
IrishBaby1982
member
in C-sections
Hi Ladies,
So it looks like there is a 70% chance that I will be having a C-Section on Thursday. I'm a FTM so any kind of support or success stories would be so helpful. I'm feeling very anxious and scared and about the spinal and recovery process :-( I keep having nightmares that my staples/stitches bust open :-( No bueno!
Thanks in advance for sharing!
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Re: Freaking out and Shutting Down :-(
The spinal was a piece of cake. Recovery sucks, though - I had a natural delivery with my first and recovery was so, so easy compared to the c-section recovery with my second. My doctor said the worry with lifting things isn't busting stitches open, it's developing hemorrhoids on the incision. Weird, huh?
Anyway, after the 2 week mark, it started getting better fast. I slept on a recliner in the living room for the first 2 weeks because getting in and out of bed was too painful. It felt great to get back to bed after about 2 weeks. It felt even better to be able to sleep on my side again at about the 4 week mark
You'll get through just fine
Don't worry, it'll be okay. I slept in my bed the first night home from the hospital. I used a few extra pillows and I had a step stool to help me into the bed. Recovery wasn't bad at all. I only took my pain meds for a couple days and I was able to be up and around doing stuff. Not too much, but enough to make me feel like a normal person. Although, I did spend a lot of time pantsless and walked around in my underwear because that was what was most comfortable. Stock up on the mesh underwear they give you at the hospital.
Don't let the thought of a c-section scare you. Just go into it knowing you'll be meeting your baby that day. For me, the worst day was the next day because they had me get out of bed. But after that, everything was fine. Just keep up with your pain meds and keep moving around and you'll be good. Good luck!
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I ended up with a c-section after days of labor and hours of pushing because LO just wouldn't fit. And the c-section was not bad at all! The incision is so small and they gave me dissolvable stitches so I barely even thought twice about it. I was up and walking around with no problem the following day. And, they will offer you plenty of meds for the first days or weeks so you will always feel comfortable. I had no problem holding my baby or going up and down stairs. Honestly I have heard some pretty scary stories about vaginal births - it seems like everyone from my birth month who had a vaginal birth ended up with an episiotomy or tears and had a MUCH more uncomfortable and lenghtly recovery than my c-section. My doctor told me that when I have another baby I just have to schedule a c-section because my bone structure is too narrow, and I was happy to hear that!
Whatever happens, good luck to you!
I had a planned c-section, and it really wasn't that bad. It was actually kind of nice knowing that I wouldn't be going through labor! I would make sure you get up and move around as soon as you can, as that will help your recovery. It is going to totally suck the first time you have to get up on your own, but you'll feel so much better. Also, drink lots and lots of water, which will help get your catheter out sooner and keep things moving. The first poop is really rough, but drinking water and eating fruits and fiber will help too.
Your staples will not burst open!!!, though laughing, coughing or sneezing will hurt, but putting a pillow over your tummy helps. It was just a few days that I was in a lot of pain, and after the first week I felt much better. Remind yourself that you're having major surgery, so take it easy on yourself and get lots of help. I didn't start feeling good enough to work out or do anything more strenuous for about a month. Good luck and congrats on your baby!!
Anxiety is totally understandable, but don't let it take over. My c-section was unplanned and I was very upset about it. In the long run, I know it was best for us, and recovery was easy for me. I ended up staying in the hospital extra long (because of an issue DS had), and the moms who had vaginal births looked like they felt ten times worse than I did. I wasn't skipping up and down the halls or anything, but I was able to move around pretty well even the first day. I had to go to a class before they released me - all of the moms scheduled to be released had to go. They spent a lot of time talking about all of the stuff the moms who gave birth vaginally would have to do...so glad I didn't have to worry about that.
I had staples. They felt weird. I was afraid I was going to tear them. Some of them pulled a little funny and I was paranoid about infection... And then they took them out 10 days later and it was no big deal. Take it easy. Wear comfy pants that won't rub the incision. Like someone else said, hold a pillow against your stomach when you cough/laugh/stand up to help with the strain.
This! It's really not that bad!!
Proud mother of two breech babies:)
Go down a couple of posts and see the post titled "Who loved their Csection Experience" There are a tone of great Csection stories in there including mine.
I will say I was told about two weeks before Csection that it was a possibility. I was shocked it had never even crossed my mind I had not even read up on them. I did not have some specific birthing plan or anything but I just didn't know how to wrap my mind around Csection. Others who had them told me don't worry they are great and it went in one ear and out the other.
So I will say that there is really nothing anyone can say to a FTM that will convince them that a Csection is fine when all you have thought about for 9+ months is a V birth. However after your csection you will see that a healthy baby is a healthy baby. It really makes no difference how they enter this world!
Some fun pros for me were: Extra two weeks paid, I was not tired from pushing, my V was not sore from pushing out an almost 10lb baby and I get to have a RCS!
Hang in there
bfp#4 3/19/2014 edd 12/1/2014 please let this be the one!
beta @ 5w0d = 12,026! u/s 4/22/14 @ 8w1d it's twins!
It'll be ok. I had a c-section because DD was breech. I had an epidural but have had a spinal before, and I prefer the spinal. Tiny needle, quicker procedure, less chance of headache afterward (although I did not have headache after my spinal or my epidural).
Recovery has been easier than I expected. My biggest piece of advice is to stay on top of the pain afterward, especially in the first 48 hrs. Also, rest as much as possible in the hospital, including sending LO to the nursery if necessary. I did that for 2 nights, and it was so helpful. (And I BF, but having her in the nursery was no biggie.)
The issue is with a hernia, not hemorrhoids. Since they cut the muscle open in your abdomen, it's much easier to develop at hernia. That's also why they tell you no driving, lifting, vacuuming, etc. Anything that uses your abdominal muscles.
So I was in your boat, FTM and terrified of everything to do with epidural and c-section. I knew I was getting an epidural as we had twins, and it's just smart. We went through 2 days of labor, and I was actually feeling great, just REALLY hungry!
What I can tell you is the epidural/spinal was shockingly easy! I am terrified of needles to the point that I have EMLA cream to numb my skin even to get the needle to numb the skin again!! I timed the epidural, start to finish in 7 minutes, and 6.5 minutes were me just sitting there! I stressed for nothing because it was soooo easy.
With regards to the c-section, I guess I can give you a worse side to what you could experience. I had twin A vaginally, and twin B by emergency c-section under general anesthesia. Twin A was a breeze, and I can honestly say that her delivery was easy and not painful at all (breakthrough contractions were the worst of it). Twin A was delivered and having a bit of trouble breathing when twin B's heart rate plummeted (she had put her cord over her face and looked face down which started to suffocate her), and at the same time my epidural failed. I woke up in my labor and delivery room with the best nurse from the day before, no clue what had happened.
Recovery was a bit rough, and I don't do well with meds at all so after 20 hours on meds I stopped taking them (which made the nurses panic, I think they wanted to call a psych consult!). I took ibuprofen and drank water. I do suggest the meds if you can tolerate them, and don't attempt to sit up. I learned that the easiest way to get up was to have my husband hug me when I was laying down, wrap my arms around him and let him sit me up. But this only works if you let the person do ALL the work, otherwise you attempt to use your stomach muscles and its painful. Also, put your feet under and back a little bit before attempting to stand, it let me push forward rather than try and stand straight up.
This was me! I was in barely any pain at the hospital, got home & bam - freaking engorgement! The only thing that hurt worse was back labor. The day I got home was the only day I took pain meds (other than tylenol) & that was only for the engorgement & headaches. But besides that, it's sorta been like 'eh - whatever'. I just hope if we have any more kids my recovery is just as easy!
I was scared with the thought of a c-section. Mine wasn't planned but ended up having one due to lack of progress and DD got stuck. The time in the hospital was worse than the time at home. I had HORRIBLE gas pains, to the point I was throwing up and in tears from the pain. This was 2 days after DD was born.
I learned the hard way, how important it is to keep moving. Once they get you out of bed, make an effort to get up and walking around every day. My DH really pushed me to get up that night and boy oh boy was that the best idea! We walked the hallway with DD in her bassinet. The ongoing joke that DH loves to tell is that I farted by a priest.
He loves to remind me and tell family all the time...
My recovery was much easier than I ever expected it to be. It was difficult to get out of bed. I wish I had a stepstool by the bed and may have to the next time. I just used DH's arm as support.
I had an emergency c-section because of pre-e and both my boys were breech. I think the scariest thing for me was the though of something being put in my spine- but I got over that.
My recovery was sooo easy. The best advice I got was get up and get moving as soon as you can, keep up with your pain meds, drink lots of water, and don't push yourself. I came home after 5 days ( I had still had high BP and they were trying to get it down)- I felt great. My boys spent 17 days in the NICU- so I was spending time at home and then most of my days at the hospital. But truely after a day or two I felt great- up and moving normally- and I drove at 1.5 weeks since I was off of all narcotics- just tylenol and ibuprofen then.
My Ovulation Chart