C section mama's

zmombie · June 2015

so this has come up in other posts and in just curious, what was your previous c sections like? Have you had more then one? Does the healing get easier?
I have 3 close friends who all say the second and third time around is much easier and everything. My mother with her first didn't even take any pain meds and was on her feet at home as much as possible... I'm a wimp!! I gave birth all natural no pain meds, vaginally to a 9.8 pound baby my first pregnancy.. My second I had a c section. I knew days before that's how she was coming out, I wasn't scared or nervous. I was excited to experience it... Everything went great! Except for when they did the spinal and laid me back, my hands tingled (which I guess is normal) and I panicked a little.. My bp dropped (or maybe the cuff moved or something.. Because it was like 80/40 and the guy wasn't even concerned..) he gave me oxygen and everything went perfectly after. I was wiggling my toes while he pulled her out. Lol. But as soon as the spinal wore off, I went into shakes (again I was told it's completely normal) I tried to control them.. And was in severe pain! Like... Unreal. (In my mind... I believe most of it was anxiety of it cause I didn't know what to expect)
I was on perc 10's every 4 hours. And the highest dose of Demerol they could give me every 3. And ibuprofen 800 every 4 hours.. And I was suffering.. They kept the iv in till the next day and refused to feed me or let me drink anything but water because of "frozen organs" then 24 hours later I was allowed to get up..
Everyone I have said that to finds it strange that they made me lay down that long.. I had pre eclampsia so.. Maybe that's why? They never said why. Only explained the iv because I hate having them and wanted it out!
Lol. So this time I'm really nervous.. Which is weird! And expecting horrific pain for weeks (I was on pain meds for 4 weeks after.. But that's because it caused me to have cysts and I never had them before so I thought it was from the c section. Anyways.. What was yours like?

mnj05 · June 2015

I had pushed for 3.5 hours before my c/s so I was too exhausted to realize the extent of a lot of it. I already had the epi placed so that didn't hurt, not like what I've heard the spinal does without having contractions to focus on.

I had the shakes too, a side effect most experience. I freaked out because of how numb I was; I always twitch my toes and calf muscles and not being able to feel that really sent me over the edge for some reason. Otherwise, surgery was fine. I fell asleep after they took baby away and woke up back in my room sick. I don't handle those kinds of meds well and threw up twice after the pain meds had worn off.

I stayed on top of my pain meds and walked the halls slowly when they were in full effect. The key to recovery is moving around so I made sure to do so. I stopped the pain meds about a week after delivery and just took aleve. I drove when baby was two weeks which isn't recommended but I had no choice and just took it slow.

Honestly, the worst part for me was when the nurse pushed on my stomach after the pain meds wore off to check for hemorrhage.

zmombie · June 2015

Omg I forgot about that!! I literally cried. (When the nurse pushed) and it didn't hurt that bad. Lol I had weird emotions afterwards. The nurse gave me breakfast, and I cried because I was getting breakfast before my daughter got in to me.. I will try to move more this time though.

thatgirlstef · June 2015

I've been trying to mentally prepare since they told me a couple weeks ago that baby is "Frank breech" and likely won't have the room to flip or get into position on his own because of his size already. I am disappointed, I was looking forward to a vaginal birth and no meds etc, but also I'm freakin petrified. I don't want to have surgery, I am scared of being all doped up and not knowing what's going on etc, I am not thrilled about having to worry about healing while learning to BF and care for my newborn and take care of our pets when hubby goes back to work after THREE days, ugh... We have an aversion scheduled next week to try to flip him manually from the outside, but I guess we'll be monitored the whole time and if he goes into distress at all then I will go right then for the cesarean...nervous as hell!!!

keri0426 · June 2015

This is going to be my third section. I had a great experience with both of the others, expecting the same this time. I never took any pain meds and actually begged the dr to leave the hospital a day early because I knew I could recover better in my own home. Immediately after they took baby I got the shakes and dry heaving but that is quite normal. I think you just have to trust your dr and let them do what they have to and all will be fine.

mnj05 · June 2015

@thatgirlstef - if it's a schedule c/s, you shouldn't be doped up to the point of not knowing what's going on. I was basically that way but I had had meds pumped through me all day and was more exhausted than I ever knew was possible. It was my first surgery ever and was quite terrifying, but it really wasn't bad at all! Sorry to hear the birth you wanted may be out, but you will do great no matter what!

mamaklemond · June 2015

I had one with my first (not planned) and had no time to prepare so it was more mentally hard on me than it was physically. I think it nearly sent me into depression to be honest. But physically I recovered very quickly and easily. No pain meds, ran a mini marathon 11.5 weeks later. This one is scheduled and I'm terrified for some reason. My anxiety is thru the roof lately and idk why. My placenta is anterior this time and I've read about an increased risk of bleeding out and having to have a hysterectomy and it just all freaks me out. I'm just ready to have my baby here and for us to be home with my hubby and baby#1!!!

zmombie · June 2015

mamaklemond said:
I had one with my first (not planned) and had no time to prepare so it was more mentally hard on me than it was physically. I think it nearly sent me into depression to be honest. But physically I recovered very quickly and easily. No pain meds, ran a mini marathon 11.5 weeks later. This one is scheduled and I'm terrified for some reason. My anxiety is thru the roof lately and idk why. My placenta is anterior this time and I've read about an increased risk of bleeding out and having to have a hysterectomy and it just all freaks me out. I'm just ready to have my baby here and for us to be home with my hubby and baby#1!!!

Omg this is exactly what I think! My last was a semi scheduled.. I found out the day before that she would be a c section, and I was sick and worried about her so I just wanted her out. This time it's scheduled of course.. And I'm borderline panic attacks over it! I mean.. All my friends had c sections.. ALL of them. Lol and they were perfectly fine. And so many people I talk to. It's rare for complications.. But I can't help but think about it.. Then they told me that my platelets were low.. So I'm like oh that's great! I have a horror story from hell with my first. Which was vaginal. And a perfect delivery with my second who was c section.. So why am I so worried?? Lol! I had a dream the other night that they did the c section.. Handed her to me (while I'm open) sat me up. And put me in a bath tub. All while the water turned red.. They left the room, and came back a little later to take her.. And then were like "oh we need to wait for the bleeding to stop before we stitch you up. And drained the tub and had me lay on my left side. Lol! I kept asking my mom to get them as the tub filled up, and she said "they know what there doing" and I said "but I'm really tired" and she said "oh yea, they told me not to let you fall asleep" after I bled out they finally finished.. What the hell?? I'm just ready for this to be done.

@thatgirlstef know that I have voiced my crazy fears.. C sections are really not that bad. Major reason why I'm confused about being nervous.. But I was scared to death to give birth as well.. Maybe I'm just crazy?
Sorry that you won't get your birth plan.. A few of my friends that have had c sections, have never given birth and all say they prefer it this way. I do to! Labor sucks! The c section part is a breeze. You don't feel a thing, if you do start to panic, they give you oxygen.. And for some strange reason, that calms you down and makes everything wonderful ( I didn't know pure oxygen had that effect)
As for being doped up... There's other options. You don't need to take a bunch of pain meds.. Specially if your not used to them.. A lot of women just take ibuprofen and do just fine.. Pain meds don't effect me very well.. So I have to take a lot (even tho I don't take any at all..) it will all be okayz

mnj05 · June 2015

@zmombie - I'm trying for a vbac this time around but I secretly don't want to have that spinal/epi put in while sitting on a table with nothing to distract me. My SIL had a scheduled c/s and she said the spinal hurt really bad. Mine was put in during active labor so I had contractions to focus on and my husband with me; it did not hurt that bad at all, felt like a shot. That's my irrational fear and the main reason I don't want a scheduled c/s.

mamaklemond · June 2015

@zmombie oh wow that dream is terrifying!!! I'm hoping my fears calm down as it gets closer, 6 more weeks to do some more mental preparation!!

@mnj05 I was really really hoping for a vbac but I'm delivering less than 18 months since my first c section so the risks are higher for uterine rupture. And I labored for 44 hours with my first on max pitocin with no progress which is why I had a c section. I hope you get your wish of a vbac!!!!! I would love to have one.

mnj05 · June 2015

@mamaklemond - thanks! My son was born with torticollis and I really believe that's why he got stuck and I ended up with the c/s. My body did everything correctly, he just couldn't straighten up his head. I'm hopeful it'll work out this time but I won't be devastated if it doesn't. 44 hours sounds miserable! I cannot imagine that at all.

emfolstad · June 2015

I had a planned c-section with my daughter and it went great! I was itchy from the medications afterwards, but I was completely aware of what was going on. I think they gave me a mild sedative during the c-section, but it didn't keep me from understanding what was happening or remembering any of it. I remember all of it and had my baby for a few minutes right after and then went into recovery for about 30 minutes before joining everyone in the room. It was my first so it was all kind of shocking and my daughter surprised us at 36 weeks so we weren't prepared at all, but everything turned out fine. She breastfed just great and I was home moving around without much pain really quickly. I know I went to Target with my mom the day after we came home because I had nothing that I needed. I'm hoping for a similar experience this time and wish you all the best in your delivery and recovery!

zmombie · June 2015

@mnj05 That's weird! I had the epidural put in with my vaginally delivery, but it failed (I didn't want it anyways.. I was talking into it) I was 7cm dilated and having string contractions.. The curling into them was the worst part! But the anesthesiologist was horrible and actually hit my spin.. (The first time she put it in.. Then had to take it out and do it again) but the pain from it wasn't bad at all. When I did the spinal for the c section, it wasn't comfortable, but it didn't hurt. It was in and out real quick. And then there like lay down now! Lol. I'm like good lord I'm huge here. I. Can't just drop to the bed. Lol. The hand tingling was what bothered me the most tho.. I hope you get your vbac, good luck!

@emfolstad yea I think they gave me something to relax me.. Cause I mean.. Never had pure oxygen before but I doubt it does that to you.. Which I'm not okay with them giving me a sedative without my knowledge. My daughter came out and didn't cry.. She had meconium asperation and went to nicu.. I still wonder if they gave me something and that cause that.. Or if it was just, coincidence.. I laid down and hands tingled into my chest, my bp dropped and everyone's voices started echoing and it was literally like tunnel vision. I said "is this normal" and he says "no, but I got something for ya" and gave me the oxygen.. And then all was fine and dandy. (Now I don't want to go thru the c section all panicky and bp doing funny things and not be able to enjoy my daughters birth.. But I'd like to know what's being given to me and my daughter and if it's going to hurt her.) and then he put something in my iv afterwards.. By the end of the night I was on so much, and everyone's like just lay back and get some rest.. But I was so pumped and not out of it. Nurse did come in and say "okay I'm taking the baby and your going to sleep" because it was starting to wear on me (at midnight) lol. Thank you. I hope you have a great recovery as well!

LibbyC730 · June 2015

Just left my 36 week appointment and it sounds like a c-section is our plan. Baby has dropped very low in breech position. They can try to vert next week, but my doctor thinks with how low he is, there's only about a 10% chance it will be successful. I don't know why this news upsets me so much, but I'm finding it very disappointing to "miss out" on labor and attempting vaginal delivery. DH travels all over the country for work and at least this way we can for sure have him home for delivery, but then recovery and caring for baby in the weeks after delivery seems much scarier alone, too. I'm a glass half-full kind of person so here's another silver lining--8 weeks of short term disability vs. 6!

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