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October 2015 Moms
Knottie16832459
member
C-Section Bulletpoints, STMs please help!
Knottie16832459
member
I don't think there's been a post just like this, I found a lot on C-Section talk but I'm looking for the highlights. Moms that have had one before, if you could say 3 things that you wish you knew before hand, think are vital to know going into it, or are unique compared to all the typical advice out there, what would they be? I've read up on it but I feel like I'm still unprepared. I don't know the questions to ask to fix this either 
Re: C-Section Bulletpoints, STMs please help!
1) you can feel them pull the baby out of you. They warn you before they do it, but not something I expected. Pretty cool actually.
2) getting the baby out is quick, closing you up takes some time. Make sure they know you want to do skin to skin because assuming your anesthesia is done well, that is 30-45 mins of awesome baby cuddle time!!
3) it's seriously not that bad! I was up walking with my catheder out in less than 12 hours and was able to manage the stairs in my home without problem the first day home (3 days post surgery).
Feel free to PM if you have specific questions.
1. Make sure you have stool softeners on hand at home. The first few pops postpartum are painful!
2. You won't be able to eat anything for several hours before and a while afterwards, so if you're planning a c-section, have a yummy last meal! Once you've passed gas, you can have things like jello, broth, etc, and then you move on to real food.
3. I guess this depends on your hospital, but the one I delivered my son at and the one where I'm having my daughter tomorrow both have a policy that your catheter remains in and you have to wear these boots to massage your legs to prevent blood clots for 24 hours. This means no getting out of bed or showering for 24 hours. Pack dry shampoo, face wipes, or whatever else you need to freshen up while in bed.
4. I was surprised how fast surgery went. When my son was born, I recall them prepping me for surgery, and then just as I was wondering when they'd start cutting me open, I heard someone mention that it was 3:17 and then I heard his first cry. It's the sewing you back up afterward that seems to take forever.
1. The scariest part for me was the spinal. I have had back surgery and I don't like people messing with my spine! And they put duramorph in mine, which is amazing, but made me very anxious and sweaty. This is normal.
2. You may hear a high-pitched whirring sound when they are cutting. It's kinda cool, but unnerving. Just try to tune it out. I mentioned that it was bothering me and the anesthesiologist turned on Pandora by my head for me. He gets kudos for liking 5FDP, as well.
3. As they were cutting me, I had this strange sensation that DS was thrashing about wildly in my belly and was scared of above whirring sound. Apparently they were "stimulating my abdominal muscles" and causing them to contract. Another very weird feeling. I also felt this as they were doing my tubal and closing me up.
4. I second above; you can feel the instant the baby is removed from you. The spinal isn't a total numbing as I remember with my first (amnesia?), but it makes the sensations not painful.
Good luck! You will be just fine. Just make sure you stay on top of your pain meds (duramorph wears off after about 18-24 hours, so you'll feel like Superwoman until that wears ofd) and walk as soon as they will let you.
2. See if you can do skin-to-skin and breastfeeding while on the table, if those are things you want.
3. Do not push yourself too hard to get back to normal activity, and listen to the things they tell you not to do! Your scar will need to heal well on the inside and the outside.
4. If you're planning to breastfeed, it may hurt your incision. Nursing pillows are the bomb! Don't give up!
You got this, mama!
1.) Despite how you think you feel, you are not Wonder Woman. Take your pain medication. It will hurt.
2) I had stitches and glue on my incesion. The night after my surgery, I took my first shower and they removed the gauze and tape. This hurt, not going to lie. After that it gets better but I was not prepared to have the gauze and tape removed.
3) Take it easy but walk around. It will hurt but will help you heal. Listen to your nurses, they have BTDT and are great resources.
1. Walk around frequently for short periods of time after you get the okay. I had a much easier time bouncing back with the second because someone gave me this advice.
2. The tugging feeling is weird, but normal. I started to panic that I was getting feeling back.
3. You don't get much time with baby right after. It sucks, but you'll still have to be stitched back up
The likelihood of that is super low, though, right??
I was incredibly anxious prior while I had my NST and got prepped, but they gave me a sedative that really helped calm me down.
I had been worried about the spinal for months (I'm a huge baby when it comes to needles), but honestly it was nothing. I was really surprised. My I.V.'s were worse. My csection was under general anesthesia so my spinal was dilauded to really just help with pain management when i woke up (I had asked not to be on a pain control pump). They also, by request, injected some numbing drugs near my incision prior to me waking up to help with my transition.
I won't lie, now that those have worn off its pretty sore. Stay on top of your pain meds because it makes a serious difference. Dint be a hero
I started walking around a couple hours after waking up. The biggest mistake I made afterward was staying in the same position too long. Then it hurts to move again. I notice of I make myself roll over, adjust, etc every 30 mins or so I just feel better.
Good luck to you!
For me the spinal was terrifying. They also didn't tell me that you could feel some zings through your body while they were putting it in. One shot through me and I almost jumped off the table. I will say that the local anesthetic they put in before the spinal itself was worse, but the spinal was not much better. I had an awesome nurse who helped me through it though. They did not let DH in the room until literally a couple of minutes before they started the c section so he wasn't there to hold my hand while they did the spinal or put in my catheter, etc.
Be prepared at home to have lots of big absorbent pads, and take home all of the ones they give you at the hospital! I was honestly surprised by the amount of lochia that came out despite that it wasn't a vaginal birth.