C-section info

am0138 · December 2013

Hey ladies, as all of our time nears, like me you may be getting a little jittery about how labor and delivery will play out. I feel pretty prepared for what to expect with a vaginal delivery, but not so much with a c-section. If a c-section is needed, I want to feel as prepared as possible as far as what to expect. If you've experienced one before (or recently, some of you!), would you mind sharing with me the circumstances that led to it, what it was like, what I should expect, and any helpful tips? I would appreciate it so much

TIA

megs12914 · December 2013

My LO was breech and I had been on hospital bed rest for a month after my water broke.

You go in the OR and sit on the table. They will have you sit with your legs off the side while you get the spinal. I had to lean forward as much as I could and the nurse held my hands so I wouldn't move and would be in the right position. The doctor puts lidocaine in first to numb the spot and then the actual needle. He might hit some nerves (mine did) and then he will just ask you to tell him what side you feel it on.

Mine gets weird here because the doctor had to go higher than he wanted because of my fusion and it took him longer. They laid me on the table and the OB came in. They put up the sheet and lay your arms to the side. They kept having to roll me to see if the spinal would take completely and mine did not. It should though and they will pinch to make sure you are numb and you should just feel pressure. I went to sleep at this point so that's all I got! Sorry that was long but I hope it was a little helpful!

MindyBadger1 · December 2013

Mine was scheduled for a complete previa. All of what Megs said, but my spinal worked first try. A weird thing is that once you go numb you have this weird muscle memory sensation... The last thing my muscles "remembered" was being spread eagle for the catheter. The entire procedure it felt like my legs were spread apart, but before they started I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflection on the lights and saw that my legs were tied together. It kind of freaked me out. I'm claustrophobic, but felt fine during the procedure. It is weird not being able to feel or move more than half your body, but I was so nervous, excited, focused on my husband, and what the docs were saying that panic never set in. I was in the OR for just under 2 hours because I wouldn't stop bleeding. After baby left I think I drifted in and out of sleep because it didn't seem that long. I didn't know anything was amiss untIl they started doing counts for the gauze pads things and counted above 50.... But had I not been in medicine I wouldn't have put one and two together. Even in a scary situation the docs/staff kept me totally calm. After you are wheeled to a recovery room. I think typically you reunite with baby in your post partum room, but they had dh bring jack to me because I had to stay there for an extra hour due to low blood pressure and heart rate. Numbness/inability to move resolved over 2 hours or so for me. I kept trying to wiggle my toes and couldn't. Again, weird, but not scary. Take the Meds. Especially the second day. I was given a 24hr acting morphine in the operating room. I felt little to no pain in that 24 hours. They take I your catheter out within 12 hours. On day two I tired to just do half doses or skip some which was stupid. I got behind the pain and could barely move. Once I Got back on regular dosing (2 norco every 4 hours, I think) I felt pretty darn good. 6 days post op tomorrow I'm still taking ibuprofen every 6 hours and 1 Vicodin every 6 hours (was taking 2 until today). I'm kind of a wuss, and I have a lot of stairs in my house. I feel great, but can tell if I miss a dose of either.

megs12914 · December 2013

@MindyBadger1 is really spot on about the pain meds. On day two after they took the pain pump out, I tried to go without the meds and it was so stupid. I was miserable and then the pain meds weren't working.
I will also add I started to feel much better on day 10 and haven't needed any pain meds since then besides ibuprofen. Toradol in the hospital will be your best friend! I thought it was better than the narcotics for pain management. Man I had missed NSAIDs!

kteeswei · December 2013

I had a C because LOs heart rate kept dropping too low (decelerations). My contractions would last minutes which is why he was distressed.

What Meg's said about the spinal. The local stung but I would be a lot less nervous about this if I had to do it again. They pinch all around to be sure the spinal took. I was terrified of feeling something but everything went perfectly. It felt weird but the "I'm having a baby takes away a lot of the panic I'd imagine would happen otherwise.

I took the drugs whenever I began to feel uncomfortable and the pain wasn't bad. On day 2 I was walking back and forth to the NICU without a problem.

After I was wheeled right to my room and reunited with LO. DH held him against me for 15 minutes or so while they closed. I BF within 25 minutes and it went smoothly.

I did have a lot of swelling but was induced for preeclampsia so there was a lot to begin with. I had to buy bigger pants because none of mine would fit my legs for a week. Two weeks later I'm fine though!

Jackapatamus · December 2013

@katieswei I also swelled badly after my c-section. I had eaten lunch right before my water broke and my dr. forced a few bags of IV in me and after I blew up like an elephant! My legs were ginormous! And I had snausage toes. I packed a pair of flip flops, just in case this time! To op, I agree with pp, the only difference I had was that the spinal made me dizzy and nauseous, and they gave me something in the or, and then later when I got to my room, I threw up because of it. It wasn't a big deal. Stay ahead of the pain, and walk as soon as you can. *i have a septated uterus, and lo was breech, therefore I knew I would be having a c-section. It's time I am having a RCS- my practice doesn't do vbac's. (not that I would be a candidate)

ccip82 · December 2013

I had a C/S due to breech presentation.

There is also a C/S board on here that might be worth checking out or use the search options. I know this topic has come a lot in the past eight months.

Galaxy8227 · December 2013

I had a C-section since I never progressed during my induction. I never went into labor, was closed up tight and didn't have contractions despite all the meds they gave me. LO was fine the whole time we did attempt to induce longer than most people would have (2 separate attempts, one on a Friday into Sat and then Tues into Wed). Then on Wed night we decided to go with the C-section. I had a good experience--the only thing that happened to me that wasn't mentioned was the teeth chattering. My teeth went crazy the whole time, I wasn't cold but I couldn't make them stop. I was told it was totally normal and to be honest I was so focused on that during the surgery that it went by really fast. DS was brought over to see us and then DH went to the other side of the room with him while he was checked and cleaned up and then DH sat with him by my head while they closed me up. After I was closed, they put him on my chest while they wheeled us down to recovery. I was so happy that he was able to stay with us the whole time. DH and I had already discussed that if DS had to be moved before I was done he was to go with him.

[Deleted User] · December 2013

I had an emergency csection and had general anesthesia instead of a spinal. I was asleep for the birth and woke up two hours later feeling like someone hit my body parts esp my stomach over and over again. With anesthesia, you get a lot of gas pockets all over your body, which hurt a lot and that lasted a few days for me. They urge you to get moving as soon as you can and hooked up a pain med through the iv. I had to push the button and I hated it because it never seemed like it was enough. Getting up from the bed was a task and overnight, a nurse came in to change me who wanted me to lay straight on the bed with my legs up and head down so she could change me. I couldn't do it because it hurt so much. DH wasn't allowed to stay overnight so he wasn't around. It was super awful and I cringe just thinking of that night. It took all my energy out fighting with that nurse for hours about changing me. Make sure DH doesn't leave your side and he needs to be your biggest advocate. If you say you can't do it, he needs to tell the nurse and docs to find another way.

Sorry didnt mean to vent about my experience, but it wasn't great and I wanted to caution anyone who's reading.

cnwilbur1030 · December 2013

I had a semi-emergency CS with DD. my water broke first, I labored, I pushed for 2 hours, and then needed the CS. My temp began to spike and my pushing was not productive. Turns out I have a small pelvic opening and big-headed babies.

I was in the OR within 15 minutes. I already had an epidural, but they gave me stronger meds for the CS. When they pushed those meds, I got nauseated. I could feel my body move on the table as they pulled her out, but no pain.

This may be hospital related, but they let me see DD briefly in the OR room and then took her to the nursery. Since she was big, they had to do blood sugar tests frequently at first, so I only saw her for 20 minutes during her first 3 hours of life

While in the hospital, I took my pain meds religiously, used a pillow to support myself when I moved or coughed. That helped. I would suggest walking as soon as you are allowed, but don't over do it.

As far as body, I couldn't shower for 24 hours post CS. I felt gross because I hadn't showered right before we went to the hospital. I swelled up huge with fluids! I had to wear DH's flip flops.

Now bodily functions. The first pee after the catheter is removed (for me that was 24 hours after CS) burned. I also made the mistake of eating whatever and was very constipated. I finally pooped at home (5 days of constipation) and it hurt so badly. This may be TMI, but it was so big, I had to fish it out of the toilet with a grocery bag and throw it in the trash.

This go around, I'm going to demand to see LO more in recovery, use a CS support band from the beginning, and ask for suppositories or enemas to poop before I leave the hospital.

Jackapatamus · December 2013

@cnwilbur1030 thank you for the laugh!!! I cringe thinking about the poop after!!

cnwilbur1030 · December 2013

@jackapatamus What I didn't mention was that poor DH walked in right in the middle of the "fishing trip". To this day, he refuses to talk about it. Now I think it's funny, but he still has some post traumatic stress about it!

Rushley · December 2013

I had a c/s for my first birth because she was breech and I had low amniotic fluid. It went well, I started getting scared while waiting but that's all part of it.

The surgical room was freezing cold but the anesthesiologist kept me company while they started the surgery. My H then came in and sat beside my head. The doctor pulled Ariel out and showed us our beautiful daughter. My H went to the warming room to be with Ariel while they cleaned her off and took some tests. He then sat back down beside me with Ariel and she didn't leave our sides for the rest of the hospital stay. I don't remember much of that evening, the drugs kicked my ass. I had them shut off the meds the next day because it was too hard for me to function, I stuck with Tylenol 3 for the next 2 weeks. I didn't have troubles with bowel movements because my mom stocked the hospital fridge with tons of fruit.

MindyBadger1 · December 2013

Giggling hard at the poop comments. I didn't poop for 5 days, even on colace twice a day. I'm also taking iron three times a day which makes a bad situation worse. Finally started going aftrr adding miralax nd I've lost 5 pounds and overflowed the toilet twice.

Another weird thing: skin numbness above the incision. I had no idea that would or could happen. My sister's lo is almost 2 And she says she still has some numbness there.

am0138 · December 2013

Thanks for your responses, everyone! Two specific questions I have are 1) how long after your LO was born were you able to see/hold them (granted there were no troubles and NICU time)? And 2) did you feel much nausea and/or get sick? Any suggestions on how to bypass that? I guess just asking for anti nausea meds?

megs12914 · December 2013

I can't really answer either one of these personally because baby went to the NICU and I went under anesthesia. They did say beforehand though that as soon as baby is out they can give you whatever meds you need for pain, anxiety, nausea... Some will do these even before the baby is out but my anesthesiologist would not.

am0138 · December 2013

Thanks, Megs! My mind is slowly becoming more at ease with a possible c-section...

rowanthefrog · December 2013

My water broke with DS1 at 36w3d. I never started having contractions on my own, despite the eventual use of pitocin/cervadil and after 24 hrs I was still only 1cm dilated and not in any sort of real labor. My OB was going off call so we decided to have the C-section.

Things moved very quickly from there, the anesthesiologist was in there within a few minutes giving me the epidural (which made me shake like crazy). Then they wheeled me into the OR. They wouldn't let DH in at first while they prepped me, which was the scariest part for both DH and I. Finally they let him in and DS1 was born not too long afterwards. He was healthy and didn't require a NICU stay which was great.

The catheter hurt like a mother (it did after my VBAC as well, I don't think I handle catheters very well.) They make you get up and walk within your first 12 hrs after the C-section and that was really hard. I was pretty sore for the first 2 weeks. I set up a little station on the couch and pretty much parked my butt there and DH and my mom handled just about everything and I sat and nursed and that's about it. After 2 weeks I was able to move around, slowly. I would say it took close to the full 6 weeks for the pain/tingly feeling to really subside and for me to feel "normal" again.

A

Piach · December 2013

am0138 said:
Thanks for your responses, everyone! Two specific questions I have are 1) how long after your LO was born were you able to see/hold them (granted there were no troubles and NICU time)? And 2) did you feel much nausea and/or get sick? Any suggestions on how to bypass that? I guess just asking for anti nausea meds?

When you get to hold LO will probably depend on your hospital & their procedures.

At my hospital, DH held both LOs within 5 minutes of birth. With DD#1, I believe I held her & breast fed within 45 minutes. With my second, it took a little bit longer to stich me up due to scare tissue, so it was about an hour.

I had a little bit of nausea within a few minutes of getting the spinal with my second. The antestisiologist (sp?) just had me keep him updated on how I was feeling, but I never needed drugs (during the procedure). About 12 hours after my section, I was really nauseated & had a bad headache, so I was given some Zofran.

jamiegrenz · December 2013

If you get nauseous ask for some alcohol wipes/pads. I got nauseous while they were sewing me back up. The nurse told me it was because my stomach was on my chest at that point. Anyway, she waved some alcohol wipes in front of my nose and it helped A LOT with the nausea. To this day, whenever I'm not nauseous, that's what I use.

MindyBadger1 · December 2013

I got mildly nauseated for about 5 minutes at some point during the section, but not to the point of vomiting or telling anyone. None afterward either. But I have a strong stomach and am a freak of nature. I successfully made it through my entire pregnancy and delivery without ever yacking.

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