September 2014 Moms

BTDT C-section mamas - Real Talk!

I recently found out I will be having a scheduled c-section due to medical reasons/prior history.  I'm new to this, and kinda nervous, as my first rodeo was a vaginal delivery.  Suddenly find myself lurking the c/s board reading up on things, but want to hear the real talk from my S'14 BTDT mamas.  Tips, advice, shit you WISH someone would have told you?  All that jazz.  Real talk welcome.
                                                                                  
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Re: BTDT C-section mamas - Real Talk!

  • No c section here but abdominal surgery in the past. Don't ignore the lifting restrictions they tell you! Even if you feel all healed up, lifting too much can hurt the muscles while they are trying to heal. Don't hesitate to ask for help.
  • Get up and move like everyone said. Walk the halls the 2nd day. Take a stool softener right away I think I wasn't able to poop for a week and it was awful since you can't use your an muscles like normal. I loved my compression belt helped when I had to cough or sneeze. Ask for help when you need it!

    Look into gentle csections. Skin to skin while they finish surgery not having your arms tied down.
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  • Like PP's have said WALK as soon as possible and often, it makes recovery so much better.

    For some reason when I had my CS I didn't prepare myself for the fact that this is a major (albeit routine) surgery. Recovery can be really simple if you follow dr's orders however it does take some time to start feeling like your old self again.

    I distinctly remember being so thirsty after surgery and begging the nurse to give me water. She gave in but told me to "sip slowly". Well I totally blew her off and chugged that ish and ended up puking EVERYWHERE. So yeah, listen to your nurses. 

  • I was going to ask this question as well, so thanks for beating me to it :P 
    I find out on Friday if we will be scheduling a c-section and I'm trying to do all the research I can, this post is very helpful!
  • I got a step stool for getting in and out of bed since our bed is so high the first week
  • Drink drink drink all you can bc they will recath you. I really don't have any experience for a scheduled CS bc I had an emergency CS and when you labor before it takes a toll a little differently on your body. Use a pillow or some kind of support on your belly when you cough or sneeze, that shit hurts! And I had to sleep propped up on pillows for several weeks after I got home, it took a while before I could "stretch" my abdominal muscles to lay flat on my back or even my side. Make sure you take your pain medication. It was really hard for me to get up and walk in the hospital but they wouldn't discharge me until I walked the entire L&D floor, so try to walk as much as you can.

    Even though I've done this before I'm so nervous bc I don't really "know" what to expect or like how to prepare before since mine was emergency. I keep thinking about how everything was rushed and it all happened so fast. And I remember I couldn't wake up for a long time, several hours I know, and I didn't get any skin to skin contact. I labored for so long before my CS that I feel like I wont know what to do.
  • schnena77schnena77 member
    edited August 2014
    My advice: 1. Get a binder; most hospitals have them if ask for one. I felt like I was not supported in the stomach - so a binder definitely helped with that. 2. Take stool softener/gas x. Apparently having insides exposed to air makes you very gasy. 3. Get up and move as soon as you can 4. Get someone to be available to help you at home
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  • What are these things called c-panties? Do I need them??
                                                                                      
  • I agree with all the other advice youve been given. So I'll give you a warning. My first csection was an emergency and I didn't get use of my legs for at least 24 hours afterwards. If for some reason, you are alone at the hospital and the nursery brings your baby to you, make sure you can reach the baby. This happened to me. The baby was crying and when I pushed the nurse button for someone to come help me, the nurses couldn't hear me over the baby. Finally, DH showed up and brought her to me.
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  • I might duplicate, but I wanted to answer with fresh thoughts before I read responses.

    -Make sure your nurses give your meds on time, even if they have to wake you up. You will be miserable if they miss or are late.

    -Standing up and moving will be horribly painful. Learn to disengage your core muscles and only use your arms and legs.

    -Your core muscles may never be the same. I was still pulling things randomly after 9 months. I got pregnant after that, so im not sure if they ever get better.

    These were the big things that came to mind.
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  • (I apologize for repeat things, I didn't read all the responses).

    I've had 2 c/s.  Both times getting up and moving around were vital in my recovery experience!! My first was in the NICU, so as soon as the catheter and IV were out I was up and walking to and from the NICU to visit.. it was painful, at times, but I definitely think that aided in my speedy recovery.  I made a point to do the same with my second, and also was quite fortunate to have an easy recovery.

    Pain meds.  Don't be a hero!!! My hospital was a little bit of a PITA with this.. they'd only medicate you if you asked for it.. with my first, a lot of times I'd be "due" for pain meds, but not in my room or I'd forget until all of a sudden I was in unbearable pain.. so, with my second, I had the nurse write down the time I was due for my next set of meds that way I kept them in my body (mostly the Ibuprofen, as I was only taking 1 percocet here and there because it made me feel loops and I hatedddddddd that).  Also, the IV drip medicine made me feel like SH!T.  I couldn't hold a conversation, I was nauseous, ugh, it was bad.. with my second I got them to take me off that ASAP and just start me on oral meds.. muchhhh better!!

    During the surgery.. a spinal is a bit different than an epidural.  My numbness went ALL the way up my chest.. with my first I had an epi and didn't experience that (he was emergency c/s).. my second we knew it was a RCS so they did a spinal.. midway through delivery I started panicking because I couldn't feel myself breathing.. which them made my BP drop and I was passing in and out, etc.. the anesthesiologist was GREAT though, and talked me through it.. if you start feeling like that.. put your hand in front of your mouth and feel the air coming in and out... definitely helped calm me down realizing I was able to breathe just find, despite not feeling like I was!!

    Get super high cut panties.. and sweat shorts that you can put on up high on your waist (belly button level) so nothing is touching your incision.  I was shocked when just a few hours after delivery they took all my bandages off my incision!  I didn't have staples, just stitches.. this may vary.. but, for me, they took the bandages off and then my underwear or clothes were free to rub against it.. not pleasant at first!

    Gas.. PASS IT!  Your belly will be FULL of air.. take gas tablets every time they offer it to you.. and, don't hold it in! It'll just make you more uncomfortable.

    Dignity.. um.. check that at the door ;-)  I needed DH's help a lot in the first 2-3 days while I was in the hospital.. I struggled with being able to pull my underwear/shorts up and down because reaching the floor and then pulling them up requires your belly muscles, which, were just sliced open.. it was not a proud moment asking his help on things.. but, seriously, SO much better to have him help me than to ask a nurse.. I also had him help me in the shower to clean around my incision.. your belly is still puffy, so you can't see your incision and I was terrified to just go wiping around there.. especially because you're still super numb!  Even now over a year after my last delivery, most of my incision is still numb :)

    Laughing will be the most painful thing for the first few days... I kept getting pissed at my family because they were making me laugh and then I'd almost be in tears from pain!! LOL.  They will give you a small pillow that you're supposed to press against your belly when you laugh/move/change positions.. for me, personally, it never helped and I didn't bother.. but, some people swear by it.. so, if they don't give you one.. ask for one..

    I think that's most of the biggies I can think of.... recovery varies A LOT.. I'd try to go into it with an open mind.  MANY people I know had perfectly fine experiences with easy recoveries.. others, had more difficult recoveries.. how YOU will recover will be different, so try not to freak yourself out :)

    Last thing.. at home.. I had a 1 year old at home when I had my 2nd.. one of the clarifications my OB made to the "don't pick up anything heavier than your new baby" rule was that she said not to PICK UP anything.. not that I couldn't hold anything ;-)  Less than a week out, I was fine to hold my son, I just couldn't lift him up.  Either someone had to hand him to me, or I'd have him climb the steps or up on the couch and bring him into my arms from there so I wasn't using my abdomen muscles to lift him.  Again, my recoveries were really good.. I'd say by 2 weeks I was lifting him in and out of the highchair/crib and was mostly fine.  Just listen to your body.  If I did too much, I was sore.. I knew to back off a bit.

    Sorry for the novel, but hope this helps provide some insight!!  Best of luck with your delivery :)  ANd, wishing you a speedy recovery!!
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  • @JulyMomma2U2‌ thank you for mentioning the spinal/epidural difference... I had an epi with my first but have never had a spinal and had no clue what to expect or if it's the same? I figured that was prob a dumb question. ;)
    Anyone else out there experienced both an epi and a spinal?
                                                                                      
  • Probably a lot of repeats but I'll still answer this.

    My hospital have me a binder, belly band, whatever it's called. It was thick stretchy material with a lot of Velcro. It was fantastic. I used it at home too. Ask if they will provide one. I've already got mine out ready to pack for my RCS if not.

    Bleeding, there's lots of it. I somehow thought I'd skip most of that not delivering vaginally. Not so!

    Walk. That's been said a lot. But it's true.

    When they are physically pulling the baby out you will feel a lot of pressure on your chest like someone is sitting on it. Luckily the nurses talked me through that and reassured me. It felt like I wasnt going to be able to breath. Thankfully they were there so I didn't panic.

    I also restricted stairs to once a day for a week or so. My H would carry our son up and down for me every day as well.

    To be honest, and I know a lot of people say the opposite, I did not think the recovery was bad at all. I didn't even take the pain meds at home for more than a day or two because they made me feel worse than the pain itself, which really wasn't bad. The meds made my head feel so cloudy and dizzy and I truly felt drugged. Not saying you should follow this, just letting you know that it's possible to have an easy recovery from a c-section. And I truly hope it's as easy as can be for you!
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  • I think everything I would have said has pretty much been covered already but I will reiterate to let them know as soon as you pass gas so you can get off the awful clear foods diet. Yuck. My nurse forgot to call food service and let them know I was off of it and when they showed up with that crap I sent it back and told them to call my nurse.

    Also I found that the first night the medications gave me some reeeeaally freaky dreams. Be warned of that too.

    After my catheter was removed they actually had me measure how much came out each time I went to the bathroom, it was odd. 
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  • 2 CS so far and 1 more in September... My plan for going home clothes this time is a maxi dress and mesh panties. I do not want anything around my tummy. Brace yourself for gas. As others have said air gets trapped all in the abdominal cavity during surgery and yeah, it will come out!

    In the past the baby was delivered, cleaned up and brought to me on the table all wrapped up. DH held them not me. This time the hospital is very supportive for breastfeeding and encourages the baby to be skin to skin for the first hour. Starting while you are on the OR table. They want 2 feeding before they even bathe the baby. I am really looking forward to this bonding time.

    THE SHAKES!!! With each of my kiddos so far I have had teeth chattering, limb shaking shakes. Its the pain meds just don't be surprised if in recovery you suddenly develop the shakes.

    With my first CS I was soooo nervous the Dr. gave me a dose of something to calm me down. It worked almost to well. I felt like a zombie and do not suggest anyone else take that option. I felt like I missed half of what was happening.
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  • Walk as soon as you can. It hurts like a bitch but it will help with healing and getting things moving.

    Take your stool softner and take it for a couple weeks after. I stopped after a week because I thought I was fine but then I ended up paying for it after.

    Sitting to standing is tough and hurts

    Your incision will pitch and pull and hurt for quite a while after.

    Youll have lift restrictions for a while. Mine was limited to 10 lbs.

    I wasn't allowed to do stairs for a couple weeks but I had no choice so I took it slow.

    Driving restriction for a couple weeks.

    If you have to cough, sneeze or laugh, hold a pillow on your incision.

    That's all I remember at the moment. If I think of Anything else I'll add it in.

                              

  • @MrsLaLaBug‌ I've never used c-panties but my mom did and she told me it was a waste of money, they are pretty much high waist panties. I used the hospital mesh panties, I even got extra to take home bc you will have vaginal bleeding for several weeks.

    I also started out with an epi but right before they rushed me to the OR they rolled me over and did something with the epi then I was numb all the way to my neck. They had me in surgery, got baby girl out, and closed me up in 10 minutes. I was in recovery for an hour bc I couldn't wake up, DD was in nicu for that hour then DH brought her to see me but I never fully woke up, it took 6 hours to get me to wake up but my anesthesiologist also gave me something to go to sleep bc I was shaking and crying so bad.

    I would look into a C-Section compression wrap instead of the panties. Just my personal opinion. I found one on amazon with good reviews.

    For breast feeding it's different for everyone, I know, but my milk came in at four days, I was in the hospital for three days.
  • @JulyMomma2U2‌, do you know how much time passed between your c/s and getting to see the baby? This is something I've been worrying about because my LO will most likely be there. Did you nurse? Just curious as to when you got some nursing/skin to skin time.

    Edit: punctuation. Also, by "there" I mean NICU. I shouldn't try to formulate questions before coffee.
    So it takes about 30 minutes for them to suture you up before you get to join Daddy and baby in recovery.. I think a lot of this depends on the reason why your LO goes to NICU.. my son had tachypnea and fluid in his lungs, and then later kept longer for jaundice.. at first, they didn't pick it up.. he came to recovery with me and I did skin to skin and nursed him for about 30 minutes.. but, his monitors kept going off while nursing and that's when they said he had to go to NICU realizing he was having difficulty keeping his stats up.  As soon as I got to my room and got situated, I had them put me in a wheel chair and take me to NICU to see him.. I was allowed to hold him, but because his issues were breathing related, I couldn't nurse anymore because it was too taxing on him.. as for skin to skin time goes, every time I went and visited him in the NICU we did skin to skin.. by day 3 I was allowed to try nursing him.  Again, all this is dependent upon why your babe is in the NICU.  He was released from NICU on day 5.

    While my hospital had an incredible NICU, I would not say they were "nursing friendly" in the NICU :(  They were gavaging him (feeding through a tube) and filling his belly with WAY more than I could produce yet... it just set him into a major spiral of then getting used to more food than I could produce.. so when I was nursing him, the weighed feeds weren't enough.. then I had to supplement with a bottle using formula which started this vicious cycle.. I ultimately blame our failed BF experience on his NICU stay... but, knowing that now, if baby 3 happens to be a NICU babe I will fight a LOT harder to not have them supplement with so much food... even the nurses on the recovery floor were saying the NICU eating standards were ridiculous and way more than he needed :(  Just an FYI and something to be aware of :)  GL!
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  • ummm.... WTAF is the "dreaded c-section shelf"!!!
                                                                                      
  • So it takes about 30 minutes for them to suture you up before you get to join Daddy and baby in recovery.. I think a lot of this depends on the reason why your LO goes to NICU.. my son had tachypnea and fluid in his lungs, and then later kept longer for jaundice.. at first, they didn't pick it up.. he came to recovery with me and I did skin to skin and nursed him for about 30 minutes.. but, his monitors kept going off while nursing and that's when they said he had to go to NICU realizing he was having difficulty keeping his stats up.  As soon as I got to my room and got situated, I had them put me in a wheel chair and take me to NICU to see him.. I was allowed to hold him, but because his issues were breathing related, I couldn't nurse anymore because it was too taxing on him.. as for skin to skin time goes, every time I went and visited him in the NICU we did skin to skin.. by day 3 I was allowed to try nursing him.  Again, all this is dependent upon why your babe is in the NICU.  He was released from NICU on day 5.

    While my hospital had an incredible NICU, I would not say they were "nursing friendly" in the NICU :(  They were gavaging him (feeding through a tube) and filling his belly with WAY more than I could produce yet... it just set him into a major spiral of then getting used to more food than I could produce.. so when I was nursing him, the weighed feeds weren't enough.. then I had to supplement with a bottle using formula which started this vicious cycle.. I ultimately blame our failed BF experience on his NICU stay... but, knowing that now, if baby 3 happens to be a NICU babe I will fight a LOT harder to not have them supplement with so much food... even the nurses on the recovery floor were saying the NICU eating standards were ridiculous and way more than he needed :(  Just an FYI and something to be aware of :)  GL!
    This is what happened to me. DS went to the NICU for only 2 nights after he was born to check for possible infections and got way overfed while he was there. My best explanation of why I failed at nursing him is that in the NICU he was getting a Subway footlong and with me he was getting a cracker. It took nearly a week for my milk to fully come in and by that time he had completely lost interest in nursing so I ended up exclusively pumping. I am hoping since I am having an RCS this time there will be no NICU stay and I will have better success with nursing.
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  • ummm.... WTAF is the "dreaded c-section shelf"!!!

    Not everyone gEts it. I've never had it except the last couple of weeks I noticed it's kind of squishy above my scar.

    Oh and I forgot about the closing up part. Some drs do it differently now, instead of using hard staples on the outside of your belly you will probably get dissolvable staples on the inside and a glue substance on the outside. And don't take the bandage off until you get in the shower, it doesn't hurt as bad when it's wet. Ask your dr how your incision will be closed. It will be very tender for a while and it might keloid, mine did and you can get a shot of steroids in your scar to make it go away. No thanks, not me!


  • ummm.... WTAF is the "dreaded c-section shelf"!!!

    There's part of your stomach that will have a pooch forever.

    Lol, what?! I do not have this and never did. But now you all are scaring me that I could this time around!

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  • hizah05 said:
    ummm.... WTAF is the "dreaded c-section shelf"!!!
    There's part of your stomach that will have a pooch forever.
    Lol, what?! I do not have this and never did. But now you all are scaring me that I could this time around!
    IDK If I have one since I'm over weight but I heard from a lot of c/s moms that there is a little pooch that they cannot exercise away.  :-/
    I really hope you don't think I was laughing at you! I was laughing at LaLa's original question but as I looked at it just now to respond again I realized it could look this way. Anyway... I have just never heard of it but I don't personally know anyone beside's myself who has had a c-section. My scar is really really low (my original doctor was even surprised how low it is and she made the cut!), so that could be why I don't have it. I can totally see where when you have an incision scar like we do with c-sections that this could happen. 
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  • so after you have a section, does the nurse still come in and press on your abdomen to make sure your uterus is contracting?  I mean, how would that be possible?
                                                                                      
  • Can anyone talk about how much help will be needed after a c section at home? My DH only plans on taking a week off but if I do need the c section should he try for more time? I am worried with a 2 year old pup and a newborn it may be really hard on me. Hoping my lil one flips to avoid this!
  • Um, I know I asked for "real talk" by clicking on this thread, but TBH I'm getting freaked out. I had my son naturally 16 years ago, but it was extremely traumatic- 4 hours of pushing, he was posterior, his shoulder stuck (9 lbs 4 oz) and I tore severely... this baby is breech and may make the decision for us, but we were already considering a planned c due to the risk of a repeat tear and possible future pelvic floor dysfunction. Why is there no "easy" way to get these buggers out???

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  • hizah05 said:



    ummm.... WTAF is the "dreaded c-section shelf"!!!

    There's part of your stomach that will have a pooch forever.
    Lol, what?! I do not have this and never did. But now you all are scaring me that I could this time around!


    IDK If I have one since I'm over weight but I heard from a lot of c/s moms that there is a little pooch that they cannot exercise away.  :-/


    This is me. I'm in good shape, but have never been able to get rid of the pouch.
  • Well.... Much of what I have to add has been said....
    1. Epi. vs spinal----big difference. I had claustrophobic can't breathe moments. I just talked to anesthesiologist and he helped tremendously.

    2. The wait before going into OR was agonizing! Just knowing what was about up happen but being so nervous!

    3. The shakes and the chills---after were unexpected! But I now know normal!

    4. There was a lot of pressure and pulling once incision was open...and I felt it in my lungs. But when they pull baby out its as if someone just pops a balloon and suddenly you can breathe again! Strangest sensation!

    5. For me, I got a few minutes if contact time with DS and then he was taken away. It took doctors about 20 min to finish stitching me.

    6. The cathether is a strange sensation! I found it shocking that I had gown on with no underwear for first 24 hours. Nurses just laid me on chicks and they changed those as needed .

    7. Take meds to stay on top of pain. I took hard core stuff day one and two. By day 3 I was strictly on Motrin. Don't be late... It's harder to chase pain.

    8. I know it seems crazy.... But when they tell you to get up and walk, do it! The more you walk the better you are. It also helps the gas situation!

    9. The morphine or pain killer they initially put in your IV may make you itchy. This is NOT a normal reaction. Ask for help and they will give you Benadryl.

    10. @MrsLaLaBug‌ ---yes, they come in and press on uterus even with c. They are making sure it's shrinking.

    11. Mesh undies are the bomb. They are exactly what you need!

    12. When they uncover incision you can use an extra long pad to help underwear and other clothes not bother you. Put it pad side down on top and stick pad longways into ubderwear.

    13. Definitely pants that won't lie right on incision!

    14. It sucks to get out of bed for like a week or even more. First few days I needed the bed rail to pull myself up. Once home, I had to roll off bed and then stand. Very painful!

    15. Others making you laugh feels good for emotions but it hurts like hell!

    16. The ride home in the car will suck! Bring a pillow to put over your incision since seat belt will lie right there.

    17. There is a lot if blood that first week. Clotty and gross! If you think it's too Clotty or a clot is particularly lArge, ask a nurse. They will make decision about calling doc.

    18. It will be tough at home first couple of weeks. Bc DS was delivered in the midst of Hurricane Sandy I cant give am answer of how much time.

    19. You won't get your appetite back for a few days.

    I think that's it.....if I think of more.
    I'll add them!
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  • So is the spinal given in the back like the epi? It's just numb for a larger area overall? Or is the actual procedure different?
                                                                                      
  • Also, after my vaginal delivery last time, once I was home from the hospital and ran out of the badass pads I stole while I was there, I gave up on the ones I bought and used depends(because I didn't give a fuck and it was sooooo much easier). Can I just do that again? Or will those hurt the incision?
                                                                                      
  • For the epidural the catheter is placed in the epidural space, the sack of fluid around your spinal cord, but the spinal block meds are injected directly into the fluid in your spinal cord and is usually done once so no need for a catheter to be placed.
  • I was also wondering about the use of silicone sheets? Something I have never heard of before either but apparently they help with scarring issues? @ambershaw512‌ did your doc say there was any specific reason your scar ended up with keloid tissue or does it just randomly happen sometimes?
                                                                                      
  • Also, after my vaginal delivery last time, once I was home from the hospital and ran out of the badass pads I stole while I was there, I gave up on the ones I bought and used depends(because I didn't give a fuck and it was sooooo much easier). Can I just do that again? Or will those hurt the incision?
    I didn't bleed so much that the large maxis weren't enough. With a c-section you do still have the vaginal bleeding but more of it gets "cleaned out" during the procedure. I only wore the pads/mesh undies from the hospital for like my first two days I was home and then I was able to wear granny panties with super absorbency maxi pads.

    Also, my hubby totally looked over the sheet and was more fascinated than freaked out. One of the nurses actually came up and told him they were about to pull DS out if he wanted to look. He thought it was amazing that they pulled such a large baby through such a small space.
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  • I was also wondering about the use of silicone sheets? Something I have never heard of before either but apparently they help with scarring issues? @ambershaw512‌ did your doc say there was any specific reason your scar ended up with keloid tissue or does it just randomly happen sometimes?

    There was no reason it happened to me I think it just happens, my mom got it too. The silicone helps it heal the incision faster. It closes up in three to four days rather than closer to a week. I was told depends is something I should think about bc it suppose to come a little above the incision and it doesn't put a lot of pressure so I don't see that really being a problem. My scar doesn't look bad at all and it's a bikini line incision so my underwear and swimsuit cover it, you never even see it.
    At my hospital after the CS the nurse came in to check my incision and asked if I was feeling cramps bc they don't like "pushing" to see if your uterus has started contracting. If you don't feel it then I guess they do a check. When I went to my ob for my two week check up afterward they did a full exam to make sure my uterus had contracted, they do not do a vaginal check until 6 weeks bc you will be bleeding.
    • walk as soon as you can
    • take the stool softeners and pain killers- don't be a hero
    • took me a week and a half before I could drive
    • Had to have husband or nurse in room with me the first day post c-section if the baby was there, once I was walking around they were good to leave me alone with him
    • compression socks… not so bad.  I didn't have the air sock things some posters put about the last time
    • high waisted, boy short underwear like Gilligan O'Malley sells at Target was my go-to for a few weeks… something about the high waist and the elasticity of the fabric was very comfortable and covered my stitches up when I started wearing pants again. When you start wearing jeans again, if you're like me, it was very annoying to have them buttoned. Often times I wore them when I had to and once I got home I was back in sweats.
    • You'll still bleed… big fan of the Always Infinity line and YES I brought them to the hospital with me.  They are in my bag again right now.
    • Keep a pillow with you to cover your abs when holding baby, coughing, sneezing, etc…
    • Don't be intimidated by people who say a c-section is sooo soooo sooo awful.  It's not THAT bad lol, once you get over that first hurdle of walking the first time after the surgery it gets easier little by little (in my opinion).
  • I'm lazy and don't feel like quoting everything.. but, to answer some of the other questions.. the pressing of the belly.. totally still happened!!! And, it was not pleasant AT ALL!  Like PP said, my incision is super low.. right above my hair line (which may also explain why I don't know what the shelf thing is), so where they'd press was much higher up in my belly.  I can't remember if I mentioned earlier or not, but we didn't have staples.. just stitches that dissolved on their own.. they actually took my bandage off super soon after surgery.. like 4-6 hours after maybe?  I remember thinking wtf put that thing back on!! In my experience, the procedure for the spinal and the epi were the same.  I honestly do not remember the timing of having the catheter put in with the non ecs.. but, I know I was definitely still cathed.. as for the huge pads/depends.. honestly, I didn't bleed all that much with either of my deliveries.. I wore the ginormous diaper like pads in the hospital and maybe 2-3 days at home, and then I just switched to a ultra thin, super long maxi pad at home and never had any issues.. both times I kept waiting for the bleeding to get bad, but it never really did.. TMI, but if I did a LOT on a particular day, I'd pass a clot or 2, but it was not what I expected... I bled way worse with my D&C after my loss than with either of my deliveries.  Also.. to the poster who asked about how much time your DH should take off.. I'd definitely suggest 2 weeks.. especially being a FTM, having a baby in itself will be a huge adjustment, in addition to having had "major abdominal surgery".. if he can't, I'd just see about having someone else come help you that second week.. I was fine both times by the 2 week mark, but, you never know.. everyone recovers differently.. and, if you were to overdo it too soon you can set yourself way back!  With my 2nd and with my soon to be 3rd, MH will take 2 weeks and I'll plan to have my Mom or sister come over a few days of that 3rd week, too.. just to help take care of my other kiddos so I'm not doing all the full on lifting yet.....hth!
    Loss #1: 18w5d.. D&E 04Mar03 BFP #2: Jun2011.. missed miscarriage. D&C 08Jul2011 8w4d. BFP #3: Nov2011.. Our Rainbow Baby!!! DS Born: 15Jul2012! BFP #4: Nov2012.. 2U1 - DS2 born 12Jul2013.  BFP #5: 01Jan2014..3U3!!

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    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    My blog about raising 2U2!
  • I had a CS w my first and will be having a rcs Sept 4.  They told me I would bleed, but I did not think it would be immediately after surgery.  Like instantaneously.  When the nurses came through and gave me my drive by cleaning like 30 min after surgery I was so confused.  Also you will have a catheter and when they take it out you will not be able to pee for a while.  Don't get freaked out.  I thought they broke something.  lol.  And lastly, actually rest in the recovery room.  I stayed up the whole time bc I wanted to spend time with little man, but I was so out of it for the whole day.  I wish I would have just slept for a bit.  
    BabyFruit Ticker
  • I'm lazy and don't feel like quoting everything.. but, to answer some of the other questions.. the pressing of the belly.. totally still happened!!! And, it was not pleasant AT ALL!  Like PP said, my incision is super low.. right above my hair line (which may also explain why I don't know what the shelf thing is), so where they'd press was much higher up in my belly.  I can't remember if I mentioned earlier or not, but we didn't have staples.. just stitches that dissolved on their own.. they actually took my bandage off super soon after surgery.. like 4-6 hours after maybe?  I remember thinking wtf put that thing back on!! In my experience, the procedure for the spinal and the epi were the same.  I honestly do not remember the timing of having the catheter put in with the non ecs.. but, I know I was definitely still cathed.. as for the huge pads/depends.. honestly, I didn't bleed all that much with either of my deliveries.. I wore the ginormous diaper like pads in the hospital and maybe 2-3 days at home, and then I just switched to a ultra thin, super long maxi pad at home and never had any issues.. both times I kept waiting for the bleeding to get bad, but it never really did.. TMI, but if I did a LOT on a particular day, I'd pass a clot or 2, but it was not what I expected... I bled way worse with my D&C after my loss than with either of my deliveries.  Also.. to the poster who asked about how much time your DH should take off.. I'd definitely suggest 2 weeks.. especially being a FTM, having a baby in itself will be a huge adjustment, in addition to having had "major abdominal surgery".. if he can't, I'd just see about having someone else come help you that second week.. I was fine both times by the 2 week mark, but, you never know.. everyone recovers differently.. and, if you were to overdo it too soon you can set yourself way back!  With my 2nd and with my soon to be 3rd, MH will take 2 weeks and I'll plan to have my Mom or sister come over a few days of that 3rd week, too.. just to help take care of my other kiddos so I'm not doing all the full on lifting yet.....hth!
    Loss #1: 18w5d.. D&E 04Mar03 BFP #2: Jun2011.. missed miscarriage. D&C 08Jul2011 8w4d. BFP #3: Nov2011.. Our Rainbow Baby!!! DS Born: 15Jul2012! BFP #4: Nov2012.. 2U1 - DS2 born 12Jul2013.  BFP #5: 01Jan2014..3U3!!

    image

    image

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    My blog about raising 2U2!
  • The only thing I had trouble with after my c/s was having horrible headaches for a week pp. When I say horrible I mean it. In recobery the drs kept telling me to lay flat but I couldn't hold ds very well so I had the nurses lift my bed up. Boy was that the wrong thing to do! For the following week when I lifted my head up off the pillow it felt like the top of my head was going to explode. I will definitely lay flat this time and pray that I get spared the headaches.
  • jme0654 said:
    The only thing I had trouble with after my c/s was having horrible headaches for a week pp. When I say horrible I mean it. In recobery the drs kept telling me to lay flat but I couldn't hold ds very well so I had the nurses lift my bed up. Boy was that the wrong thing to do! For the following week when I lifted my head up off the pillow it felt like the top of my head was going to explode. I will definitely lay flat this time and pray that I get spared the headaches.
    were the headaches a side effect of the spinal or from actually sitting up??
                                                                                      
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