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C-sections
NewQueen
member
Intro and questions for the OB
NewQueen
member
in C-sections
Hi everyone. I've been lurking for a couple of days now and figured it was time to introduce myself. I'm a first time mom, 28 years old and having a boy this August. I had been preparing for my natural, no-med delivery, in a hospital with a midwife and a doula, when during my anatomy scan I was diagnosed with a low lying placenta. The follow-up scan at 29 weeks showed complete placenta previa and I am now trying to prepare myself for a c-section at 37 weeks, should my placenta not move. Luckily, I've yet to experience any bleeding from the condition.
I'm terrified of a c-section and maybe even more terrified of the recovery while having a newborn. I've had my gallbladder removed so I'm not new to having surgery but I think that my past experience is actually working against me since I still harbor fears from that time (which I didn't even realize I had these fears until it occurred to me that I'd be having an even more major surgery, I'd be awake the whole time and I'd have a baby to care for after). I know I have a lot of issues to work on in a short amount of time in order to be at peace with the direction my pregnancy has taken. I'm trying very hard to educate myself on c-sections and recovery but this often ends with me in tears. Rational me knows this is not only the best and safest option for me and my son but it's the only option with CPP.
I'm meeting with an OB that works with my midwife for the first time this afternoon. Are there any questions that I should be sure to ask? Based on the experience you've had, did anything happen during your c-section, that you didn't expect, that you wish you would have known to bring up in a discussion with your OB prior to the surgery? Any advice on how to not break down into tears during my meeting?...kidding-kinda, sorta, not really.
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Re: Intro and questions for the OB
Hello! I'm a lurker on this board but wanted to reply because I'm kind of in the same boat. This is my second baby and I was planning a med free natural birth. I was told at 18 weeks my PP was partial but at my MFM last week the tech told me it was actually close to complete.
my ob will do a csection at 36 or 37 weeks (though I was already prepared to be induced early because I was also diagnosed with rh disease) but I am so upset about the thought of having a csection! My daughter will be 2 and my husband won't get much leave so I am terrified of recovery as well. I haven't ever had surgery and my delivery recovery with dd was a breeze so I don't know what to expect. I'm mostly disappointed because since I experienced a regular birth with dd I do not want to feel "cheated" by aging a csection.
Im rechecked July 26 and though it has not budged so far I'm seriously praying it moves! I get bi weekly ultrasounds for my other condition and the tech always peeks to see what my placenta is doing. It's actually discouraging to keep hearing its not going anywhere.
I cried when my OB told me I had to have a c/s (due to high amniotic fluid and a big baby). I had a moment where I mourned the loss of a vaginal delivery, and acknowledging it helped me get over it.
As far as what to ask the OB - my biggest concern was pain management, which honestly wasn't all that bad. The gas, however, was awful. I had gas pains in my shoulders and my stomach was horribly distended for a couple days. I ended up needing a suppository laxative. Make sure you get up and walk around as much as possible.
My two c/s weren't too bad. Get up and moving in the hospital but don't overdue it.
As far as o/b questions, I would ask for a detailed timeline. Like I get there at x time, then do intake paperwork, then they insert cath, then walk to O/r. Then x,y,z for recovery. I think if you can get a layout of exactly their procedures and timing it will help you feel at ease. For my RCS I had to walk to the or which freaked me out and I didn't know ahead of time. Or my DH isn't allowed in the o/r until I'm numbed.
The more details of how that specific hospital does it, the more comfortable you will feel I think.
Ask if they are going to knock you out at any point in time. After my son was taken from the room I "fell asleep" while they were stitching me up. At least that's what I thought happened. Later I heard someone say I had be given Versed and that's when I realized I had been knocked out. I did not know they were going to do that and I am not okay with the fact that they did it, especially with them not telling me.
Ask if they'll let you hold the baby right away in the OR. Some hospitals do.
Hang in there. Ask your OB any question you can think of. No question is stupid. And remember as hard as recovery is, you'll have that beautiful baby in your arms and that's what matters. ::mobile smiley::
Hi! Im lurking here too
. I too had my gallbladder removed, and then my c-section about 2 years later. It was different since I was awake for the CS, but it wasn't a bad experience at all. I can understand being nervous though. Just think of how nice it will be to have everything planned and just mentally prepare yourself and know that things will probably go smoothly and A-Okay!!
Nothing unexpected happened during my CS. I was so incredibly nervous about epidurals/spinal blocks. i was more scared of that than the surgery, but a nurse stands right in front of you and holds you for support so that you dont move and it helps so much, its like having someone to lean on, and then it was through and my legs were going numb and they threw them up on the table for me! IMO, it was actually a lot LESS stressful than i expected.
Sending T & P your way though, i know this is scary! hang in there!
That varies from hospital to hospital maybe doctor to doctor because my husband held me.
The hospital I'll be at does not allow husbands in during the spinal. When I asked why, I got a response of "that's the hospital's policy". I find it interesting that they let your husband into the OR with you while you're being cut open but heaven forbid he be there while they put a needle into your back. He's my rock. I wish he could be there the entire time.