Getting Nervous about C-Section

Re: Getting Nervous about C-Section

• Disneygeek77 member

  June 2014

  1. try your best not to use your stomach muscles.  Sit up in bed using your fists and your heels and put a pillow against your stomach when you sneeze, cough or laugh.

  
  

  2. start to walk as soon as you are able.  It will be slightly difficult at first but will help you recovery go faster.

  
  

  3. Constipation was the worst part for me.  If you have gone several days without a BM, don't be afraid of asking for suppository.  It took until my 3rd c-section to figure this one out and it was nice getting relief within an hour as opposed to waiting hours or days for other methods to work.  That being said, it would be wise to drink lots of water, juice, fresh fruit and also take your stool softeners so that a suppository might be unnecessary.

  
  

  4. Take your medicine as scheduled.  Some people wait until they feel pain before they take the medicine and that just leads to catching up.

  
  

  5.  Don't be afraid to ask for help, especially from those that offer.  

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• ginger313 member

  June 2014

  Everything PP has said.

  
  

  Also, you will most likely be pumped full of IV fluids and be swollen for a week or so after.  I swear I was larger everywhere but my belly when I left the hospital!  But the second week out all of that edema seemed to disappear overnight.

  
  

  It really wasn't a bad experience for me.  I had one last time and am completely OK with having a RCS this time around.  You will be sore for a few weeks.  Take it easy doing things like lifting or pushing and pulling.  It seemed like anything heavier than the baby was too much for me at first. Listen to your body, and your doctor.  If they say no driving or whatever, just don't do it.

  
  

  Good luck!

  
  

  
  

  

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• linnmiles member

  June 2014

  I agree completely with PP.  My first was an emergency c-section and I'm planning an RCS for this one.  One thing I was stressed about was the idea of not being able to feel my legs.  I was actually pleasantly surprised that even though you can't feel the pain at all, there was still this kind of tingly feeling which was comforting that they didn't feel completely gone.  The one piece of advice I will give myself this time is to absolutely stay ahead of the pain.  I am not a fan of pain meds so I wasn't going to take them unless I had to.  Unfortunately by the time I needed them I was in a lot of pain.  I will be taking my pain meds consistently this time for the first few days.  Drink lots of water to help with the constipation and the swelling.  The incision site will be numb for quite a while but I now have all the feeling back...at least until August.  Hope you have a good experience and you have a quick recovery.  
  

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• KatWAG member

  June 2014

  There is a great thread on August Babies about this. A ton of woman shared their stories(both good and bad.) I found it really enlightening.

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• JSS1002 member

  June 2014

  I had an emergency CS last time after 12 hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing.  It happened really fast once the decision was made, so I didn't have time to overthink it, and in retrospect that was probably good because I didn't have time to worry.  I am having a routine C/S this time and I am already overthinking it! 
  
  But my experience was a positive one - I barely have a scar, and I felt ready to go running 2 weeks post-op (I didn't do it though, haha).  the first day that they wanted me to walk, I felt like I was never going to walk again, and a friend of mine who has had 3 c sections said "you won't BELIEVE how much easier it is every single day," and she was totally right.  By the time I left the hospital to go home, I was walking easily, albeit slowly.  
  
  Getting up off sofas and chairs proved to be a little difficult for a while, but my husband was really helpful about being a "crane" for me.  
  
  I was incredibly gassy for a while and that just made me feel huge, so one that settled down, things got a lot easier too.

  
  Just remember to be easy on yourself and that you had surgery and don't have to be superwoman (actually I would tell every mom that, regardless of how she gave birth).  Let people help you, lower your standards for a few weeks, and try to rest as much as possible and stay hydrated!
  
  
  

     

  
  

  
  

  

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