C-section Mommas

Gracie424 · July 2015

I am scared...I'm a TTM and had 2-vaginal deliveries. This time though the docs are calling for a cs. I am mostly worried about bonding and nursing after.

C-section moms, have any of you had trouble bonding or struggled emotionally after? I've read the risk of ppd is higher with cs as well.

**edit for typo**

kalyth76 · July 2015

Hi there -- I'm a STM and had a c-section with my first and will be having another. I had no issues with nursing or bonding after my surgery. Although it took about 4 days for my milk to come in, I'm not sure if that was because I was a FTM or due to the c-section. The lactation specialists said that was a normal timeline for a first baby. I also didn't really suffer much from PPD the first go-round. All in all, I can say that I was fine with the experience.

Good luck and just know that everything will be fine!!

Kate

mnj05 · July 2015

I had issues with nursing but I also didn't produce anything and DS had latch issues. I did not experience bonding issues despite the fact that I was physically unable to hold my son for several hours. I don't think I experienced full blown PPD but our breast feeding issues is what led me to have some serious down moments and stress, not the c/s or recovery.

Gracie424 · July 2015

I am hoping that everything will go smoothly. Do you mind if I ask what the timeline was with yours? Like I am supposed to be there 2hrs early for pre-op, will there be visitors allowed at this time? ie. My other two children? Or should I have them already woth their grandparents? After the surgery how long is the post op recovery? If everything goes smoothly how long did it take until you had baby in your arns after the surgery? I am sorry for the overload of questions, it's just I was pretty shocked at my appointment when they said a csection so I didn't even think of any of these questions until later, when i had some time to process it all. Of course I will ask next week at my appointment but I thought maybe some experienced mommas would have some answers.

Gracie424 · July 2015

I hope this time around will be easier for you.

jtenkorang · July 2015

Hey I'm going to be a STM and TTM with my twins. They will be a c section like my first. You will need to have your kids already with their grandparents when you go in for pre op. They do weight baby monitoring the anesteciologist will come in and explaine everything, put in IV's and get the drop going. And do a whole bunch of pre op things. Then you will be taken right into the operation room. After the surgery I went straight back to my room. But you aren't allowed out of bed for 12-24 hours depending on how the surgery went and how well you are processing your fluids. You will have a catheter in until your able to get out of bed. This is due to weak legs and not wanting you to fall trying to use the restroom or take care of baby.

I had my baby in my arms only minutes after she was born. They payed her on my chest while they stitched me up after the section.

I know a section is daunting but you can do it. I loved it with my first. I didn't have any complications and I was able to successfully bond with Skyla and breastfeed. My recovery was minor and I didn't even take all of my pain pills. I deal with pain very well though. Every person and situation is different. But just remember you will have the baby and everything will work out just fine

good luck!!

mnj05 · July 2015

Mine wasn't planned so I have no pre-op experience. They placed baby on my chest as well but took him to the nursery for all the testing pretty quickly. I think this was mostly due to my pure exhaustion, unable to keep my eyes open, and I was struggling with not being able to twitch my leg muscles like I always do (which was the strangest reaction to have). I was too exhausted and shaky to hold/feed my son for the remainder of the night, he was born at 7:51pm. I remember being wheeled to postpartum but I don't remember holding my son until the next morning. I took the pain meds regularly in the hospital and just as needed when I got home 4 days later. I was off of them completely within a few days of being home. The more you can walk, the quicker you will heal but don't overdo it. You can cause a lot of damage and even rupture your incisions if you do too much to soon; just listen to your body and accept help as it comes. Overall, my experience wasn't bad, I had just pushed all afternoon and didn't realize how physically exhausted my entire body was, which is what led to me not holding DS quickly. My SIL had a scheduled c/s and held her daughter immediately and did not experience the same shakiness and grogginess that I did. Good luck! I'm sure it will go smoothly!

mnj05 · July 2015

Sorry about the huge paragraph, apparently the iPad doesn't do paragraphs.

zmombie · July 2015

Okay.. Well fear is 100% normal. And I will be completely honest with you right now, I believe it depends on how things are handled after. I'm a TTM as well, had one vaginal and 2 c section. My first c section, my arms were strapped, they pulled her out, cleaned her up.. I laid there waiting to see her not knowing if she was okay.. They finally brought her over and let me kiss her on her head and took her away. I didn't get to see her for 3 hours. Then I had her for a couple and they took her back to the nursery. I had PPD with her.
My most recent was so beautiful! They pulled her out and instantly showed me her, took her to the Warmer, sucked her out and wrapped her up and let my mom (the other person in the room) bring her to me. She held her to me for about half an hour while they repaired some stuff and tied my tubes and ect. I could have held her but I had shaking from the spinal (very common) and I didn't dare.
She stayed with my mom in recovery until they wheeled me back a few minutes later, and then was with me from then on! I held her the entire time in recovery.. She never went to the nursery (except half an hour to get her shots and bath) and eighth back to me...
There is such a deep bond with her. And 2 weeks out I don't have PPD. I got it right away with my last.

Regardless of how the c section goes, I highly recommend rooming with baby when you deliver. Bond as much as possible in the beginning.

e1223 · July 2015

I'm also a third time mom needing a c-section after 2 vaginal births. I'm nervous about the c-section part, but luckily as long as it is scheduled and the baby is full-term (mine may not be) my hospital does all it can do to encourage bonding, immediate skin to skin and the baby never leaves you. Even in pre-term and emergency c-sections I think it's still handled pretty well - I have had SEVERAL long conversations with my OBs about all this and feel pretty prepared. I have placenta previa so the latest I'll go is 36w6d (I'm at 33w6d and currently in the hospital due to bleeding now so it's likely I'll deliver earlier). Just trying to take it a day at a time.

For the day of the procedure, if I was going to be home (not sure if I will or not) I am planning on sending my kids to the grandparents the night before since I'd have to check in at 6:30am. I have been told you CAN have visitors in recovery (about an hour after scheduled start) but I'm going to give it a few hours and have them come around 3-4pm (section is scheduled for 8:30am). I just hope to keep this baby in at LEAST 2 more weeks!

Youngwithra · July 2015

I just had my baby July 3rd scheduled c section, right after they stapled me up baby and I got sent to the recovery room and I was able to nurse him

about 1 hr later, he got sent to the nursery to get checked out. I struggled the first 2 days because I was on bedrest for 24 hrs, I really couldn't just get up and take care of my baby, my DH did everything , he would give me the baby to breastfeed him and bond with him. It was a bit depressing.

zmombie · July 2015

Youngwithra said:
I just had my baby July 3rd scheduled c section, right after they stapled me up baby and I got sent to the recovery room and I was able to nurse him about 1 hr later, he got sent to the nursery to get checked out. I struggled the first 2 days because I was on bedrest for 24 hrs, I really couldn't just get up and take care of my baby, my DH did everything , he would give me the baby to breastfeed him and bond with him. It was a bit depressing.

I was on magnesium so I couldn't get up either.. But having a c section I didn't really want to. The nurses were great! They all told me to page them whenever I needed to pick her up or put her back.. I just sat my bed up as high as it would go and leaned over to pick her up.. Putting her back I was afraid I would drop her so I would ask whenever they came in.

Mjstine · July 2015

I have a c section coming up as well. I am a FTM but I have asked a lot of questions. I think to some degree it depends on hospital and OB protocol.

I am to arrive 3 hours prior to the procedure. They expressly stated to not bring kids, and to only have the adult who will be joining in surgery. So we will drop off our daughter at grandparents the night before.

After pre-op I go to surgery. My arms will be out and lightly strapped as a reminder not to move them so as to not compromise the sterile field. Once baby is out he is checked quickly by a pediatrician on stand by and then given to my husband who will bring the baby to me. We bond with baby while the Dr sutures me up. Then hubby and baby go to our room while I go to recovery. I am told I'll be there 20 to 30 minutes and then taken to my room. Baby stays with hubby the entire time which made me feel better. I didn't want him going to the nursery. If he couldn't be with me I wanted him with my husband, and that's what will happen.

Once I'm back in my room the 3 of us stay together, and will have plenty of time for bonding. I know I won't be able to walk for a while but I plan to get up and move as soon as they let me.

I am really nervous as I have never had any kind of procedure or surgery, but I am so excited to meet my little man, so i cannot wait! I hope you find comfort in your plans and know that it will work out! Good luck!

zmombie · July 2015

^ it's really not bad at all. I was scared both times and then afterwards it's like.. Why was I worried? It's honestly a really cool experience too. When they give you the spinal, your legs get warm and heavy and may even tingle. Your chest does get heavy so don't worry. Your arms will tingle as well and are a little hard to move.. You may shake. It's common in spinals. I did both times!
Afterwards (when the pain and swelling is gone) your incisions site and a little bit around it, feel really funny! Like numb and tingly when you touch it. But that goes away over time. It's just from the nerves. This time even part of my leg tingles (I believe because they cut thru the same scar)
Anyways.. Those are just things I never expected and kinda freaked out About. Lol.

Walk as often as possible. And put your feet up in between. When sitting, roll your ankles in circles. Will help with swelling.
And drink tons of water!!!

ANGELAV310 · July 2015

I'm a STM and I'm scheduled to have a c-section with this one and I'm also a bit nervous so thank you for asking the questions. With me, my hospital makes me go the day before, tomorrow, to do pre-op so in the morning of my surgery I'll come in, get medicated and go straight into surgery. I'm glad they do this as I'm scheduled for surgery at 7:15 am. My doctor told me that by 8am I should be in recovery room holding my baby. Good luck to you and write down all these questions so you can ask your doctor. I have asked a lot of questions already and will ask even more tomorrow when I go for my pre-op!

jtenkorang · July 2015

Ps my hospital doesn't have a nursery so the baby stays with momma in the room 24/7. Which I love. I wouldn't have it any other way. And there is no recovery room in my hospital. You go from surgery which is in the same floor as the maternity ward and then they wheel you into your room when your done. Mine was a great experience.

good luck!

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