Who's had a RCS?

Kristen61607 · March 2014

Looks like a VBAC probably won't happen....RCS is scheduled for Wednesday and I've got a whole lot of nothing going on

just wondering how you found your 2nd C/S to be in terms of the experience itself and recovery? Easier this time? How is recovery going with another child(children) to deal with as well?

Also - Right now the plan is for DH to stay with me Night #1 and have my mom stay with my toddler twins, but we both would rather he stay home with the girls the 2nd night. I'm planning on staying at the hospital alone the 2nd night. Do you think that's feasible? It wasn't the last time because of the whole 2 babies at once thing, lol. I'm pretty sure I can manage 1 baby myself though. Thoughts?

MA&CB · March 2014

I just had one and my recovery has been fairly easy, much the same as it was with the first. My son is 4.5 and understands I can't pick him up, he needs to be gentle, that I'm healing, so that is helpful. I'm about a week out and only taking a couple ibuprofens a day. I had MH stay with me all 3 nights and had my mom at home with my son. It is a pain to get in and out of bed at night to nurse, diaper etc. and I didn't want to rely on the nurses to have to come in everytime I needed something. I think it would be doable on your own, but I appreciated having someone else there. If YH is with your kids, could your mom spend a night with you?

katykatykaty · March 2014

My recovery has been much easier this time, but I think that's because last time I was in labor for 2 days before I finally had a c-section. Also, I've had to be up and moving around more since my toddler has more demands than a newborn, so that probably helped as well.

My mom stayed in the hospital with me while my husband stayed at home with our daughter, so I was never there by myself, but I was able to move around on my own my second night. So I think being there alone would have been do-able.

jazzyexpo · March 2014

I had a RCS almost 2 weeks ago. This recovery has been so much easier. I never labored with my first because she was breech and recovery is still easier. Someone said it maybe because our nerves are already cut, idk.

DH has helped with dd the past 2 weeks. If you have help, use it. It makes it much easier.

The first night DH stayed. I did send ds to the nursery every night I was there though. I think that helped with recovery also because I was able to get sleep. DH also stayed the second night, but he didn't need to really. He went home with dd the the third night. It's definitly doable to be alone the second night.

ydawg05 · March 2014

I agree w ma&cb, I didn't want to push the call button for a diaper change. The nurses were in and out enough, I didn't want to give them another reason to come in!
With that being said, I also agree w Katy that my recovery has been much easier this time. I have to remind myself not to over-do it.

megs68 · March 2014

I had hoped for a VBAC with DD last time but got to 42 weeks and nothing was happening so had a RCS. It was much easier than my first as far as recovery. Now, i was way more anxious with the RCS. I think the prep and waiting and knowing what was about to happen made me more scared and anxious, since the first was spur of the moment. But the recovery in the few weeks following was easier. I guess I also had to recover faster because I had a toddler too. I was okay in th evenings alone. I let DH sleep and don't remember needing him during the nights.

TradeMama · March 2014

I came home yesterday after my RCS. DH stayed with our kids at home at night and I stayed in the hospital alone. I was fine. Recovery was easier this time, relatively speaking... My incision doesn't hurt so much except for a corner that hurts a lot.

MayKay12 · March 2014

I don't know anything about a c-section but my mom is staying with the kids the first night while dh is at the hospital with me. The second night dh will be home with the kids and my mom with stay at the hospital with me. Is that something you could do?

I think it's doable to be alone but I would definitely prefer to have some kind of help/support the second night too.

Kristen61607 · March 2014

TradeMama said:

I came home yesterday after my RCS. DH stayed with our kids at home at night and I stayed in the hospital alone. I was fine. Recovery was easier this time, relatively speaking... My incision doesn't hurt so much except for a corner that hurts a lot.

@trademama - did you have trouble changing diapers yourself in the hospital? Or did you ask a nurse to help?

aga60154 · March 2014

I had a rcs a little over 2 weeks ago. Recovery had been great, even easier this time around. I was able to get out of bed the next day and signed out of the hospital after 2 days.

clo1982 · March 2014

My recovery was a breeze this time. I felt great 2 days after and was able to be discharged a day early. Dh stayed in the hospital with me both nights. Dd was with my parents and she loves having sleepovers with them so it was easy for her. Aside from the expected pain during sitting up from layingn down since you use your abs a lot I had very little pain. I also sent DS to the nursery at night so I could rest which helped I think. He is a great, but very noisy sleeper!

Dd has made recovery easier in terms of forcing me to move around as opposed to just sitting and cuddling DS but the whole not lifting her has been tough. The dr cleared me Friday at 2 weeks post surgery to lift her only if needed. No walking around carrying her but I can lift her to her carseat or things like that.

TradeMama · March 2014

@kristen61607 It wasn't pleasant but it was bearable... The nurses didn't mind watching him while I took a shower, changing diapers, etc. It really was very doable, even on medication.

bingbongsmama · March 2014

Interesting thread! I'm having a RCS as well but DH will go home to our toddler at night so I'm depending on the nurses at night.

VineyardMel · March 2014

I guess I'm the odd ball. My first was so easy and this one was harder--I guess there was a lot of scar tissue and I can't have any pain meds so I had a very rough surgery. There's no way I could have been alone in the hospital, though DH did go home for dinner/bath/bedtime the second night while a friend brought dinner and visited (and changed diapers!).

We went home on the 3rd day and have had help since then. DD is 30lbs at 18mo and my OB was adamant that I need to wait 6wks to lift her. I'll make it to about 5wks with help. I turned the corner at 5 days after delivery and was able to get on the floor and play with her then. My stomach still feels bruised below my belly button (didn't happen last time), but otherwise I've felt great for a while.