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July 2013 Moms
EagleWife
member
C-Section Mamas: Check In
EagleWife
member
I had an unplanned c-section after a fetal intolerance to my induction attempts. As I was updating the baby tracker spreadsheet, I noticed that quite a few other mamas had unplanned c-sections. I'm curious how you are all doing? Do you want to talk about it?
Sometimes I feel a little sad / disappointed that my body wasn't able to deliver my baby vaginally, but then I remember that she and I are both alive and healthy. I'm amazed by the miracle of medicine and grateful for the amazing care we both had, so I try to count my blessings and focus on the positives.
I'm healing up well and hope that we can have another baby in the future. When I asked my ob about siblings for my LO he said "We'll talk about that down the road. Lets get this LO here first." Anyone else have a similar experience?
If you had a planned CS, how did that go?
How are you feeling? - healing?
Is it different than the first time around?
Sometimes I feel a little sad / disappointed that my body wasn't able to deliver my baby vaginally, but then I remember that she and I are both alive and healthy. I'm amazed by the miracle of medicine and grateful for the amazing care we both had, so I try to count my blessings and focus on the positives.
I'm healing up well and hope that we can have another baby in the future. When I asked my ob about siblings for my LO he said "We'll talk about that down the road. Lets get this LO here first." Anyone else have a similar experience?
If you had a planned CS, how did that go?
How are you feeling? - healing?
Is it different than the first time around?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: C-Section Mamas: Check In
I'm ok with it. I honestly had a feeling when I went to the hospital that it would end up that way.
I'm healing well (9 days PP) just looking forward to getting in and out of my high bed easier instead of sleeping on the couch.
Just happy my baby boy is here and healthy!
I had an unplanned c-section as well. I went in for my induction on a Friday and things were going well. They had to open my cervix a bit with this ballon thing and after 5 hours of that it fell out and they broke my water Saturday early morning around 6am and from there they started my pitocin and was contracting normally. I ened getting a fever and an infection for having my water broken too long which apparently was normal. Long story short I dilated till 8 1/2 cm and was stuck there for 6hrs and wasn't dilating any more so my only option was c-section or wait it out but there would risks for waiting. I cried so hard when they told me my options. But I had my c-section around 12 something in the morning. It went okay you can say didnt feel a thing. I ended up getting a big bruise on the bottom of my stomach/hematoma. It was bad and hurt a lot. Besides that my incision is healing well and doesn't bother me and I'm feeling better now. My hematoma is going away slowly. I had my c-section July 28th.
Some bummers I have found out since then:
1. I have a bicornuate uterus- abnormally heart shaped. This means it is highly likely I will have another breech baby. Dr.Google scared the shit out of me with bad odds of conceiving and miscarriages so I'm thankful it was so easy to get pregnant the 1st time.
2.LO has hip dysplasia b/c of breech but we will wait until Sept to see if it fixes itself. Stupid ute!
3.My hospital's policy will not allow me to try for a VBAC next time, but I'm strangely OK with this. Everybody else in my family and DH's family (including DH) seems to think I should try VBAC next time (so I'd have to change DR and hospital- I really like both). Except my mom. She's awesome.
I really had a great experience- maybe because it was all planned. Except of course LO's hips. I hope everything goes so well next time, and hope I am lucky enough to get a next time.
I'm sorry you're feeling sad about your experience. It's different for me, because I had a lot of time to prep for the CS and there really was no other option for me.
I'm 2 months out and feeling perfectly normal. I've got most of the feeling back around the incision, and no pain. (However, I didn't labor beforehand and I believe that was instrumental in my easy recovery) I'd never know I'd had surgery. I'm not saying this to brag, but to give others a little hope that it may all be over soon!
OP - I see no reason why you wont be able to have further children. When the time comes, if you want a VBAC, seek out a practitioner that is supportive of your desires. It may not happen, but it's definitely not totally off the table!
TTC/BFP/FF details in bio
I'm about 3 1/2 weeks PP and feeling very well physically. Some pulling with the incision but that's it. Started walking long distances this week.
Emotionally I am better...as the PP said, it still makes me sad what happened with my L and D, but I've accepted it and moved on. I also have hope because my OB practice does VBACs so I am hopeful for this in the future. I really struggled with accepting what happened...never thought I'd be the first time mom with a CS...had a normal uncomplicated pregnancy, was in good shape physically, etc. But I guess this was just the plan for my LO and I.
Thanks for posting this, I could use the support!
Now, at almost 2 weeks pp I'm feeling much better. I'm taking 15 min walks and still have some residual pulling/stinging, but I'm off my pain pills. It still seems a bit surreal that I ended up with one, but I keep telling myself all that matters is that I have a healthy baby.
I have also been told no vbac in the future.
It is hard to come to terms with now. I hadn't read up on the subject much. It has turned our lives upside down sinceleaving the hospital.
I think what scares me most (because i am weird and think about this kind of thing) is the fact that if i had been having this baby during another time we might not have survived (i also hemorrhaged twice). I like to think of myself as a strong woman and that fact scares me.
This was a planned RCS, but I did have a tiny glimmer of hope that I might go into labor and have a VBAC. I'm disappointed I ever was able to have a baby vaginally and missed out on a "normal" birth experience. This was my last pregnancy though so I'm glad I never have to be strapped down like that again. (THat's me looking on the bright side.)
I was induced because of a non reassuring NST and reduced blood flow to the placenta, and low fluid. I chose to have a CS after 4 days of attempted induction with cervidil, and prostiglandin gels resulting in no change at all.I was having regular contractions, but they were never extremely painful. LO's heartrate wasn't looking great, and they were about to hook me up to pitocin when I had a long long talk with my MW, and OB and the nurse. They told me my chances of a vaginal delivery were low because of Max's heart rate, he was likely to have a bad reaction to the pitocin. He was also in the 90%ile for size, in a posterior position and his belly was significantly bigger than his shoulders which could have caused complications even if he was fine with the pitiocin. So we decided it was safest for him to skip ahead to the c section.
According to my MW she would have done the same thing in my situation which makes me feel better because she's the biggest hippie I've ever met. But I still question my decision, especially after I read the VBAC chapter in Ina May's book, which essentially is meant to scare people away from c sections. I know for a fact that this was safest for Max, and that's all I was concerned with at the time. But now I worry about my future pregnancies. I'm only 21, and I wanted a big family, and I feel like that has been limited.
I feel left out, not only because I didn't have a vaginal birth, but because I never actually went into active labor. My c section wasn't an emergency c section, and I don't know 100% that it was needed, as most people who have c sections do.
I am healing well, though and BFing is going well now too. I was in so much pain from SPD when I was pregnant it was heaven after he was here, c section and all. The pain didn't even compare and I felt like I could do anything. Kind of a shock for those around me, I think they realized that I wasn't exaggerating about how fing painful and debilitating SPD can be.
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My grandmother had two stillbirths before having my dad. Because of this, I'm very aware that we are so lucky to live in a time with modern medicine. In my grandmother's day, the outcome was sometimes tragic for reasons we can now avoid. When I feel sad about my CS, I remind myself just how lucky I am to have a doctor who knew that it was the safest choice
to make.
I think it's so normal to feel sad about missing out on what everyone says is a normal part of being a woman, etc. but I try to look at it as gaining an experience rather than losing out on one. I gained the experience of sacrificing my own desires for the safety of my baby. I am a stronger person because of my CS, not lesser in any way than someone who had a vaginal birth.
I had an unplanned cs. I had pre-e and was induced the next morning. I never would get past 3. Terrible contractions even that early. I tried to get an epi, and apparently my back is curved weird so it made it terribly painful, like seriously worst pain I've ever felt, to get the epi. I worked through the pain and they still couldn't get it. 12 sticks later my bp was back up and baby was in distress. We decided a section. I got back there and they wanted to try a spinal since needle is smaller. Well 6 sticks and severe pain later they decided to put me under. I was so sad because I missed the birth, and so did my husband. I also never produced milk, so I couldn't even do that for my baby. I went through a depressed period. Now I'm still sad, but am even more happy than sad that I have this beautiful healthy baby girl to love! I'm almost 5 weeks pp and I've been cleared, and feel awesome!
By the way, thanks for doing this post. It's nice to share with people that understand.
There will always be a part of me that wishes I could have had one natural delivery, but at the end of the day, I have two healthy children and wouldn't change that for anything!
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DS: N, 7/11/13
In the end, I just keep telling myself that we are all healthy and happy and that's all that matters.
I'm not recovering as easily as most. I did great for 2 weeks and then last Monday I started having increasing pain on the right side. I can barely walk now. Hopefully, my OB can help me out today when I see him.
I'm almost 4 weeks pp, and feeling better- was back in hospital on iv antibiotics when I had stomach pains due to a large blood clot stopping my ute from shrinking, but now all is going well. Still trying to take it easy, but doing a little more each day. :-)
I am recovering fairly well, although still having more pain/soreness than I would expect. I think I over did it the first few weeks at home and I am paying for it now. I am jealous of the people already exercising and running again - I would so love to be able to do so, but I'm just not there yet. Hopefully soon : )
Thank you for posting this!
I ended up having a planned C-section, though it was only planned about 4 hours before I had it. I was diagnosed with IUGR at 35 weeks and told that if LO didn't pick up in growth, that I would be induced at 37 weeks. Basically between those weeks, he didn't grow at all, so that's what MFM recommended. I went straight from that growth scan to my OB, who thought that inducing labor was too big of a risk with his small size. She thought there was a very good possibility that I would end up with an emergency C-section. Based on that, DH and I opted to skip trying for a vaginal birth b/c it wasn't worth the risk to DS. The procedure went smoothly, and when we saw that DS was even smaller than predicted, I am even more glad that we made the choice.
I'm a little disappointed that I never got to experience labor, but I don't dwell on it. Having DS born happy and healthy was the most important thing. My OB told me that next time I'll be a great candidate for a VBAC as long as there are no growth issues. Honestly, I was so satisfied with my C-section that I don't know if I will opt to go this route.
DS was 8 weeks last Friday, I am feeling normal. My incision never actually bothered me. The only pain that I had was in my upper right side b/c that's where DS was positioned and I think my muscles tore a little when the doctor was getting him out.
BFP: 12/01/2012 EDD: 07/26/2013 Birthday: 07/25/2013 ♥
How are you feeling? - healing?
Is it different than the first time around?
How are you feeling? - healing? I am just over a month PP right now and feeling pretty normal, just a little tender at the incision site if I do too much. I am also down 27lbs already and back in some of my regular pants, which rocks, since it literally took over 3 months for that to happen last time. I am eager to get back to the gym next week!
Is it different than the first time around? Could not be more different. I was able to see Gavin right away, he was brought to me in recovery instead of being rushed to the NICU like Corri was, he got to be in my post partum room. It was relatively stress free, minus the fact that I was upset about not getting my VBAC (I never went into labor).
It's so nice and reassuring to hear the BTDT experiences. @fabk I completely agree. It's horrible to think that just about all of us and probably our babies had slim chances of survival without modern medicine.
Here's to all of us, Strong Women with Healthy Babies, and good vibes for healing well! Hugs
I had a c-section. The c-ssection was supposed to be plan B. DD was breech and had low fluid. We decided to have the version done. If the version worked, I would be induced. If it didn't we were going for a C-section. Her fluid went from 7 to 3. My dr. did not feel comfortable doing the version. So a C-section it was.
I'm feeling good. Starting to do more and more of my normal daily routine. DD will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. I have been in some pain for the past few weeks but hemorrhoids are the worst.
I think my body just don't know how to go into labor. DS was induced because he was late. I was hoping the version would have worked then I would have had another induction. I knew what to expect with an induction. I was very, very scared about a C-section.
Ive healed very well. Been doing a lot of walking and housework since 1week pp. Everyone said I was crazy and I'd totally pay for It but I never did.
I never pictured myself having a csection. But I think It was the best choice for me. I have no problem talking about It and I tell everyone that our next will be a planned csection. It doesnt matter how he got here, just that I have a healthy, happy baby.
I also had back labour without feeling a single proper contraction and i don't know if that makes a diffence.
I am 3 weeks pp, feel amazing. I had some pain off and on but I never took pain killers, besides Tylenol. I also had my tubes tied this time.
I was a week overdue, my NST looked fine but my blood pressure didn't so my OB wanted to go ahead and induce me before pre-e came into the picture. I was already 2cm dilated and 90% effaced so I just got the Pitocin. Twenty-two hours later, only 4cm dilated and his HR had decelerated to 50 three times. So at that point I was afraid for my baby and ready to get him out! The C-section went just fine, Baxter was 8.14 and 21in. I started hemorrhaging after that due to blood clots in my uterus. My OB attempted twice to manually remove them (if I wasn't dilated before, I sure was after that!) They gave me morphine before the second attempt (very thoughtful) but still wasn't able to get all the clots. She looked traumatized and said there was no way she was doing that again! Safe to say I was relieved. I went in for a D&C about 8:30 that night and they put me under for it and I ended up getting 2 units of blood. I had a balloon in my uterus the next day so I wasn't allowed to get up until late the next evening.
I had planned for a completely natural childbirth and hadn't even read up on C-sections in my "What to expect" books. I didn't even wanted to consider it an option, so it was pretty surreal as we were heading into surgery that day. I don't feel too disappointed because I did get to go through some labor. My OB group does VBACs so they say they will let me try next time. I told them I'm going on blood pressure pills before it has a chance to go up!
Thanks ladies for posting your experiences too, it helps