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C-sections
Planning on c-section
So I'm a FTM and due to high blood pressure, they want to take her at 35 weeks. I just need some inside on how the c-section works so i want feel so scared. Thanks for any help.
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Re: Planning on c-section
The really good part of a section is that it goes really fast! You get there an hour early. Do the prep and paperwork. They get you in the delivery/surgery room, and give you the spinal block and other things (that you are unaware of). After maybe 30 minutes of people working (and they will be talking to you a lot), you'll hear the cries of your precious baby! You'll get to see her, and they will give you more meds. You will relax, and they will close you up. You are unaware of what they are doing. The only feeling you may feel is them pushing down like pressure to get the baby out. You go to recovery and then to your room. You will be just fine!
I'm a FTM so I can not help other than to say someone on here recommended 'The complete illustrated birthing companion' which goes through all of the different birth scenarios. There is a chapter for C section & one for emergency C section.
I checked it out from the library and found it helped answer some questions. I wouldn't necessarily buy it for 2 chapters but if you can borrow it...
I am a FTM and found out on April 17th that I would deliver my baby vis c-section on April 19th. I was scared to death. I hate needles and have only really had one minor surgery. Never spent a night in the hospital etc.
I showed up an hour and a half (5:45 am) before my 7:15 delivery. The staff was amazing and walked me through everything. It was the labor and delivery nurses who prepped me and a couple had had a c-section so they answered all of my questions and calmed my fears. When it came time to wheel me into the room (without my husband-he was getting prepped himself) I was given a small drink to take to cut the acidity of my stomach (not so bad, just puckers your cheeks Take it like a shot in college). I was beginning to freak out about the spinal. I moved to the OR table and they had me sit up and hunch over. I held a nurses hand. The only thing I felt was a few initial numbing pricks. The anasteologis was amazing and told me step by step what was happening. It totally helped calm my fears.
Once I was numb they began and brought my hubby in. It wasn't long before my little boy was out. I got a quick peek before they took him to the corner of the room to clean him up and check vitals, etc. They brought him over for me to kiss and look at before my husband took him to recovery. I was reunited less than a half hour later.
Recovery wasn't that bad. My doc has you catheter out within 8 hours of surgery so I had to get up to use the bathroom. The first time is not fun but getting up and moving around is a good thing and I highly suggest it. The more you make yourself get up and move the better off you will be. The longer you lay around the stiffer and more painful it will be. I stayed on top of my meds in the hospital. I rotated Norco and Motrin every three hours. It was a great relief.
When I got home I switched to Tylenol and Motrin for a couple of days. Three weeks PP and I am walking a couple miles a day with my little one.
A c-section is not that bad at all and this is coming from a big chicken!
My incision was closed with staples and when they remove them a few days later, does not hurt at all even though it sounds scary. Was told exactly this by a friend and she was completly right.
My incision was closed with staples and when they remove them a few days later, does not hurt at all even though it sounds scary. Was told exactly this by a friend and she was completly right.
I asked my OB quite a few questions before the actual day and the staff at the hospital was great. During the procedure they pretty well gave me a play by play. The second time DH actually watched. You'll feel pressure and I kept feeling like I would be yanked off of the table but there is no pain.
For my first, the hospital policy was that the baby went to the nursery while I went to recovery. Maybe that's why a PP mentioned not to have anyone hold the baby? Even then, only DH and I had held DS until we got to our room. This past time, the baby went to recovery with me.
As for recovery, rest! The first day I made sure to rest until I could get out of bed. Once I could, get up and move. Don't overdo it but I swear getting up ASAP helped my recovery time. Drink a lot of water, take the pain pills when you can and before the pain gets too bad and get the rest you need.
Good luck! It really isn't as bad as you're thinking it will be.
How high is your blood pressure? 35 weeks seems a bit early unless it is off the charts?
That being said, I labored for 27 hours and ended up with a C due to stalled labor. The C-Section, for me, was a piece of cake. I had never had surgery before and was SHOCKED by how fast I recovered.
Once you hear your baby's first cry, you will feel it is all worth it
GL.
I asked for reassurance too. I can promise you that it's not nearly as scary as you've probably built it up in your head. I'll cross post my birth story below. Congrats!
My birth story is not what I had expected. After vehemently planning an all natural childbirth and reading all the books and blogs I was forced to confront a large baby, no real cervical progresssion and being a week overdue with my midwife and doctor team encouraging a csection.
I had two days of ugly crying (you know what I'm talking about) and mourning the delivery I'd built up in my mind. With her estimated weight to be 10lbs 10oz, I knew that they weren't seeking an easy out and I had to think of what would be best for my baby. My sweet doctor put it easily for me. A vaginal delivery would be the lowest risk for me (although with her size, that wasn't guaranteed) and a higher risk for her. A C-Section could have more complications for me; but less for her. There wasn't even a choice for me after considering that.
Let me tell you, I had an amazing experience! We arrived at nine and both DH's parents and my own were already waiting at the hospital (first time grandparents). The staff couldn't have been nicer and took note that I was extremely nervous/scared crapless. I was also hungry and thirsty (nothing to eat or drink after midnight) and focusing on that was driving me a little crazy too. Once the nurse set up my IV and began to push fluids into me, my thirst subsided.
My midwife came to my birth anyways, even though she technically served no purpose in the OR. I've grown to adore her and she kept me calm, chatting and laughing through the whole thing. DH had to wait outside the OR as I was prepped, and he said he was incredibly nervous. When he walked into me laughing and joking, he instantly relaxed.
Believe it or not, one of my biggest fears about the surgery was the spinal. I'm the kind of person who absolutely loses her MIND if my foot falls asleep and I cannot immediately rouse it.
After leaving DH in the ante room, I was wheeled in to the OR and prepped for my spinal. Every prick and poke I'd been warned would be a 'big stick' was actually not a big deal at all. After straddling the operating table and getting the novicaine, the actual spinal went it. It sent a couple of startling shocks down my spine towards my butt. Afterwards I felt only pressure and the tingling began in the tips of my toes and worked its way up. Before I knew it the drape was up and my husband was at my head, holding my hand. My anesthetist was fantastic, telling us that he himself was once in the same position (his wife had two c-sections). He kept telling us how perfect the surgery was going and that there was nothing to worry about
The tugging and pulling was a bit of a strange feeling, but they prepared me for it. I was a little surprised that I could still feel them touching, and cutting and moving things around, but there was NO PAIN. Such a strange sensation! Once they got in and into my uterus it was discovered that she was no where near engaged and they had to push rather high on my chest to work her down and out.
The release as they pulled her from me was satisfying and she let out a great big throaty cry, which immediately made me and DH cry ourselves. Her apgars were 9/9 and a few minutes after being suctioned and evaluated, she was brought to us, all 10lbs 7oz and 23 inches of her!!! My midwife pointed out the linebacker like width of her shoulders and assured me we made the best decision possible. She most certainly would have gotten stuck if we went ahead and tried an induction. If she miraculously didn't get stuck she would've done quite a bit of damage on her way out, that was certain.
DH took her to the nursery for some skin to skin, and I have the most beautiful photograph of them from this time. I went to recovery where honestly the most difficult part so far was realizing that my feet and legs would still not move. Now that I had the time to focus on them, it was starting to freak me out. Now that my adrenaline had calmed down a bit I was beginning to become aware of all the tubes and attachments running out of me, and the blood pressure cuff inflating and deflating at regular intervals.
Thankfully, just before I hit full on panic mode, DH was allowed to come down and visit after a little while, and shortly thereafter they brought Rowan down to nurse. I had not had any leakage (?) or anything prior to that moment, so when the L&D nurse grabbed on and squeezed, I was more than a little shocked to see a small bead of colostrum dribble out. This was the first time I really got to hold her and it was incredible. I felt a little detached at first, but that was mainly due to the exhaustion that finally set in after three nights of not sleeping and all the people around me. They took her away again after a little while.
I don't remember how long I spent in the recovery room (maybe an hour?). During this time, my DH was getting to spend quality time with our LO. I was eventually wheeled back to my room where my parents, DH's parents, my grandmother, uncle and best friend were waiting. It was a little overwhelming in my post-surgical state. I held Rowan again, but then realized that because both times I'd seen her she'd been placed into my arms-I needed to see her face.
Oh. My. Goodness. This little pumpkin was adorable, but completely and totally looks JUST like my DH. After studying her sweet little face for a good long while, I finally found something-her left ear came to a tiny little elfin point-JUST LIKE MINE. I've since come to recognize my big mouth and appetite, but in that moment with my little girl, I fell so deep in love.
I was very worried that my C-Section would rob me of so much of the natural bond and connection that a vaginal birth provides you with, but it did not. While I didn't get to hold her right away, I couldn't have imagined a more perfect birth.
The recovery has gone well. If I can give any advice (which I gleaned from previous posters) it would be to take the meds as they're offered to you! I had some serious cramping from my uterus contracting down (especially when I was nursing/pumping). It didn't eliminate my pain, but simply kept the really hard stuff at bay. I was up and walking around as soon as I could (the next morning), which definitely helped, but know your limits. 'Voiding' (bladder or bowels) was extremely intimidating at first. Running the water in the bathroom and sitting forward on the seat helped with the former, and time (and Colace) helped with the latter. The gas pains as your guts get working again are kind of rugged, so take the Gas-X if they have it.
I devoured every one of these birth stories in the weeks (and months) leading up to welcoming my little girl, and they were all so inspiring and wonderful. If there's anything I can say in closing; it's that while plans may deviate from what you expected, that all of us Mama's are brave-no matter how we bring our babies into the world.
Thank you s much for an in site on the c-section. Do to high bp they will probably take her on Friday. I've been hospital bed ret since Monday, they have been great, just ready to meet her. Even though she will be in nicu for awhile, she weighs around 5 lbs, now. Bp is not cooperating, preeclampsia is here to stay. Wish me luck!
He's my fairytale, a dream when I'm not sleeping.
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