Community› The Bump Message Boards› Multiples
Multiples
New Discussion

Scheduled C-Section

Snugly AelSnugly Ael member
in Multiples
Hello Ladies,

On this Friday, August 9 I have a c-section scheduled because of my babies position. Baby A is breech and baby B is transverse. I'm a little freaked out about the surgery. I'm very very scared when it comes to surgeries, and on that DH said he's not comfortable being in the OT with me. He has his own reasons and I respect them. I'd be meeting my OB a day before the surgery. I wanted to check with you all if you can suggest any questions that I should ask her. These are my first babies and I don't know what to expect and what I'm in for.

I heard sometimes they put oxygen masks on you while performing the c-sec. I'm a li'l paranoid about that too. Am I thinking too much or is this normal? Those of you who had a c-sec can you please share your experience? Thank you!
Report Reply to Post

Re: Scheduled C-Section

  • 24karat24karat member
    edited August 2013
    It's normal to feel nervous! I just had my c/s two weeks ago for pretty much the same reason, both were transverse. I didn't have oxygen but that tends to vary by hospital. My c/s was very quick and not nearly as bad as I was expecting. I knew about my mom and MIL's bad experiences so I really was irrational and thinking the worst (like, I'm going to die) going in. I listed some stuff and I can go into more detail if you want to PM me, but I didn't want to add any stress with information overload.

    Expect:
    *Lots of people. Nurses for you & babies, OB(s), pediatrician, anesthesiologist, etc. If DH is not going in, can you/do you want a different support person there for you? There were 2 nurses for me, and one stayed at my side giving me play-by-play and even took all the pics so DH could be in them. She was awesome.
    *A spinal has strong side effects. You may feel shaky (just go with it, don't fight or you may have a sore neck after), itchiness or nausea. Good news is they have a wonderful IV med for nausea if you ask and it works almost instantly.
    *Because of the side effects, you may have your arms strapped down as a preventative measure. Mine were unstrapped soon into it so I could touch/hold my babies.
    *Babies will be born in the first 10 minutes, the rest of the time is stitching you up. My c/s took 45min start to finish.
    *You will have period-like bleeding after, just like with a vaginal birth.

    Ask:
    *If you can have skin to skin contact or hold your babies right away. Hospitals differ on this point so see what her policy is. If they require babies go to the nursery, see how soon you can see them.
    *How involved can you be? Can you cut the cord (or DH be brought in just for that), watch the procedure if you want, etc.
    *How long of a hospital stay do they anticipate for you?
    *Can you wear your own clothes (if you want) in recovery?
    *Visitor policy if you want visitors
    J13 May Siggy Challenge: People lacking in common sense raise my blood pressure.
    image

    imageimage
    DD 8/11 | DS1 7/13 | DS2 7/13
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • raraavis28raraavis28 member
    PP gave an excellent response! I also had a pretty good C/S experience. The surgery itself went very smoothly. The doctors and nurses were awesome and great at putting me at ease. I did have oxygen, but through a nasal cannula instead of a mask. My OB had to cut the cords, I was able to hold N (sort of awkwardly since my arms were weak from the spinal) before they brought him to the NICU, but I had to wait to hold L since he needed oxygen at first. It was disappointing that I couldn't see and cuddle with my babies right away, but I sort of expected that anything could happen with twins born a month early, so it's not like I was devastated, and it didn't affect my bonding with them.

    I did have a pretty bad reaction to the spinal afterwards with severe nausea that night. Recovery was also kinda rough....I don't know how it compared to a vaginal delivery, but the first several few times on my feet were the hardest. Definitely stay on top of your pain meds!

    A few other things that I wasn't necessarily expecting with the C/S:
    Swollen feet!! Apparently the amniotic fluid drains into your feet so I had some pretty impressive cankles afterwards and only one pair of shoes fit. My feet were back to normal by about 3 weeks PP.

    Gas/Constipation: Abdominal surgery makes your insides funky. In the hospital they gave me meds for these issues....definitely continue them as long as necessary!

    Bleeding: Like PP mentioned, you will still bleed afterwards, just like with a vaginal delivery. I also had a handful of super-heavy bleeds....like gushing through pads, underwear, and pants....which totally freaked me out the first time it happened and which my doctor told me was also normal (make sure you call anyway if this happens though!)

    Restrictions: You won't be allowed to lift anything heavier than the babies for a couple weeks, and will be advised to take it easy with driving, stairs etc. Make sure you have some helpers (or at least one really reliable one) and maybe prep your house. DH and I set up a separate changing station downstairs so we wouldn't have to run up to the nursery for every diaper change. We also put a mini fridge in the nursery for the motn feedings, which was super handy.

    HTH! Good luck with your C/S....you will do great! And so exciting that you get to meet your babies soon!! :)
     image
    Report Reply
  • shaunah816shaunah816 member
    edited August 2013
    I was a nervous wreck about my C/S, but really it went so much better than I could have ever hoped. I didn't have an oxygen mask (I think that's incredibly UNcommon, from what I've read here), but I did have nasal prongs for oxygen. For me the worst part was the pre-surgery anticipation, honestly. Putting in my IV, fetal monitoring, general surgery prep. I was shaking like a leaf the whole time, but once the spinal was in everything moved really fast (faster than I was expecting, actually), and then my husband was there and the babies were out in less than 5 minutes. The actual surgery was not as scary as I thought it would be. I had such a friendly, supportive OR staff, so that really helped. Hang in there, you get to meet your babies soon! 
    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers


    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    Report Reply
  • 24karat24karat member
    Ooh good point, @marchesa28 mentioned pain meds. DO NOT skip any doses of your pain or stool softener meds, no matter how good you feel. Its super hard to catch up when the pain comes back and it will come back worse if you skip.
    J13 May Siggy Challenge: People lacking in common sense raise my blood pressure.
    image

    imageimage
    DD 8/11 | DS1 7/13 | DS2 7/13
    Report Reply
  • PPoppy2010PPoppy2010 member
    I had 2 c-sections... the first one I thought I was a bad ass... and skipped out on the pain shot that was offered (they put it in the epidural-)- THAT was a huge mistake! my muscles cramped up.. my uterus cramped up... and It was very painful--- 
    My second one... I accepted the pain shot... and I was sitting up and holding my baby in less than 30 mins! the morphine in my epidural didnt make me groggy or hazy in anyway.... it just kept everything relaxed down below... for about 8 hrs... then the pain was minimal-- I was up and walking with in 24hrs... home in 30... and the recovery was really no big deal... sore... stiff... but not anything I would bat an eye at... I will always have c-sections... so getting pregnant means surgery too.. :) 
     

    Me:38 DH:40 TTC for over 3 yrs~
    Every test known to man- comes out that we are both perfectly capable of conceiving- 

    Officially diagnosed with "unexplained infertility"

    7/17/13-1st try with 100mg Clomid+Novarel+Prog.
    7/25/13 Mid-cycle U/S- 4 Follicles! 17, 16,L 16,15 R
    7/25/13 Trigger shot
    8/6/13 Beta Blood Drawn... Big fat Neg. 
    New RE:- 101 tests done during break cycle.. All look great! green light to hit the deck running!
    9/18/13- Cd 1- FINALLY! 100 mg clomid CD3-7- 75iu Bravelle 7-10   
    9/30/13 Follie count.. 3 on right. 2 on left-- trigger today
    10/2/13- IUI #1
    10/15/13 Beta #1- BFN.. :(


     


    Report Reply
  • Snugly AelSnugly Ael member
    Thank you everyone. I have a better understanding now as to what to expect. I really appreciate you all sharing your stories.
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"