Hospital bedrest & scheduled c-sections

hannah_j18 · August 2013

Three weeks ago I was diagnosed with oligohydramnios and have been on bedrest in the hospital ever since. I am 33 weeks pregnant with my first baby and had to change around many of my preconceived notions about what pregnancy and childbirth will be. My doctor has decided that a scheduled c-section at week 36 would be best for the baby. I am having a difficult time coming to terms with a c-section. I absolutely want whatever is best for my baby, but I had been preparing so hard for a natural childbirth and even hired a doula. I would love any friendly advice or suggestions on how to make the most of my c-section. I feel sick to my stomach everytime I think about the doctor actually making the cut. Some kind words would be greatly appreciated!

Lastly, It's difficult knowing that these are the last weeks of my husband and my solo time together and I'm stuck in a bed in the maternity ward. We're doing everything we can to make the best of it. My husband and I will be celebrating our 1 year wedding anniversary this coming Sunday in the hospital. Any good ideas on how I can surprise him with something nice?

Chargersgrl33 · August 2013

While I had a different situation than you, I don't think I've even fully gotten over the c-section either. I had Pre-e diagnosed around 31 weeks. I was put on bed rest and the pre-e just got worse and the headaches/swelling, etc just got worse. At my 35 week appt the doc said it was time to induce. We tried 3 meds and over 2 days with zero contractions. Nothing moved, opened, nothing. My BP was through the roof and the headache was miserable. I was on Mag for those two days and it was horrible. The doc decided I needed a c-section. I cried to DH because this wasn't how I pictured things. LO came out just fine and needed no NICU time. It was amazing. The headache went away immediatly and I got to hold my baby.

With that being said, I am now 26 weeks pregnant with my second who is due almost exactly 2 years after my first c-section. I am in a location that won't give me a VBAC choice and I have on other choice on where I want to deliver. I still get upset that I won't and didn't get the chance to feel labor pains or go through the magic of it all. People tell me that it doesn't matter that I still ended up holding and taking my son home. But I still feel that pain and it does get better but I can't say it has gone away. I've just learned to deal with it.

GL to you though and I hope everything turns out well for you guys. And congrats on your anniversary!!!

cinderin · August 2013

I was HR due to GD and I had a breech baby, so I had a scheduled c/s.

I was upset about it, like you. I had hoped to have a vaginal birth.

I think it took me about two weeks to "mourn" what I had thought/wanted to be my birth experience. Honestly, I am glad I mourned it before the birth, I think those with emergency c/s have a harder time because if they are upset about it, it is after the baby is here and they are dealing with a lot.

I focused on the goal of "healthy baby and healthy mom" and made that my goal and didn't focus so much on how we got there.

That said, if we decide to have another baby, I think I will just have another c/s, it was not that bad.

I had the spinal, the whole thing took maybe 45 minutes. It took them about 25 minutes to get the baby out and maybe 15/20 minutes to sew me up. They measured/weighed LO, wrapped him up and DH held him by my head for the 15 minutes (we sang him happy birthday). Then I was back in my room and we did skin to skin. LO is healthy. I was totally awake and alert the whole time.

recovery hasn't been that bad either. they gave me intravenous tylenol for about a day and a half, then I started taking tylenol and advil every 4 hours. I never took the opiates or other pain killers. It is true what they say, get up and around as soon and as often as you can.

You can do it!

avacura15 · August 2013

I would much rather have the c-section over natural birth any day. It's quick and I was up and walking around the next day. Pretty quick recovery.

angelchild24 · August 2013

I agree with @cinderin, I think when you have time to "mourn" your original birth plan before hand it makes it a little easier. I developed pre-e with my daughter, who is 7 1/2 now. I didn't have all of the classic symptoms so it pretty much went undiagnosed until I went into the hospital with my pressure at 210/100. I was induced, and after an 1 1/2 of labor, I was at 5 cm, but she was butt first breech. It took me a long time to get over not being able to have her naturally, especially since she was only 5 lbs 13 oz (at 38 weeks).
With this pregnancy I had every intention of having a VBAC, and had been given the ok by my OB, until they discovered that I have complete placenta previa, at 18 weeks. I was on bed rest at home from 6/28, after my first bleed, til 7/23 when I had my 3rd bleed. I am currently on hospital bed rest.
As far as the c-section recovery, mine wasn't that horrible. The hardest part was the first time I got out of the bed and had to stand up straight. My mom had 3 c-sections and she told me to keep moving, walk around the room, walk the halls a little bit, anything to keep from getting stiff. It will be tempting to just stay in bed, but it will not help your recovery.

Good luck, and Congrats on your anniversary!