C-Section Mommas Check-In?

SPurp13 · June 2016

Would anyone be down for this? I was going to suggest this and a 2-, 3-, whatever-time mom thread. We can either do a weekly check-in (I will likely forget half the time, though) or just have an ongoing thread that gets bumped as things pick up around here.

emilypanthel · June 2016

We could do whatever! I'll be a second time c section mom, babies are too close together and I have never had a baby not be breech!

SPurp13 · June 2016

Ok super, I'll start both (this one can serve as the C-Section one.

I have a 20-month old, and my doctor doesn't do VBACs, because I'm in a medical black hole. Normally, I would tell anyone in that situation to look for a second opinion, but the reasons behind my C-Section (small pelvis and big baby head--I was induced and never made it past 2 CM before breaking a fever) feel like enough of a reason for me to accept another C-Section. And to be honest, while I don't think anyone loves the idea of a C-Section, I know what to expect, and my recovery was great last time (the first two weeks are hell on earth). I was on the treadmill at 4 weeks PP (walking slowly), and back up to running around 8 miles at a time by the time I went back to work at 11 weeks PP.

Has anyone here had more than 1 C-Section? Was your second section easier to recover from? This is what I seem to be reading, whether or not it's true is up in the air for me. I think it's probably just that you know what to expect.

cantalopes24 · June 2016

I will be doing a scheduled csection. First time I had an emergency c section because of fetal distress and second time I had a breech baby that was down between my hips crossed leg hanging out.

SPurp13 · June 2016

cantalopes24 said:

I will be doing a scheduled csection. First time I had an emergency c section because of fetal distress and second time I had a breech baby that was down between my hips crossed leg hanging out.

I'm both amazed and freaked out by this, being that without the miracles of modern medicine, my baby would still be inside me, since she made no effort to vacate. At all. And now she likes her dad better. What the hell, baby?

MalyJ · June 2016

I have had two C-sections. The first was an emergency one, due to my son being sunny side up and having the cord wrapped around his neck. My second one was a scheduled repeat.

Recovery with the second one was good, but in all honesty, my first one wasn't too bad either. What was different, was the prep going into the surgery. It was very dofferent, waltzing into the OR and just laying myself on the OR table. With my first, it was an emergency one, I already had my epidural, was wheeled into the OR, didn't really see what was coming. I also feel like the spinal hurt a lot more with the second, but I think that's because I was in no pain, compared to getting an epidural in the middle of labor.

From the moment the surgery started though, everything else was the same or better than the first. I'm still debating whether to go for a VBAC or just do another RCS.

Xstatic3333 · June 2016

I'll add these to the intro post

jodiewingert · June 2016

This is my 3rd pregnancy and will be my 3rd csection. My first who is 5 now was 36 hours of labor ending in csection. The second who is 3 now was a scheduled csection. My hospital doesn't do vbacs so I will have another scheduled csection. My recovery from both weren't bad at all. A scheduled one was so much easier. I am kind of nervous about having a 3rd with two kids now.

grapeskittles4lyfe · June 2016

I had DD in Germany. It was sort of an emergency CS (from the decision that things weren't going the way they planned to the scalpel getting used it took about 15 minutes, so leisurely by emergency standards). My Dr recommends waiting to conceive 1 year before getting pregnant again if you have a CS. Also they don't like to do more than 2 CS. Since we're aiming for having 3 kids, I'm really hoping this LO actually drops and works with me to enter the world the conventional way. (Although recovery from CS was amazing and if they had told me it was going to be that "easy" I would have gone for that from the start).

cantalopes24 · June 2016

SPurp13 said:

cantalopes24 said:

I will be doing a scheduled csection. First time I had an emergency c section because of fetal distress and second time I had a breech baby that was down between my hips crossed leg hanging out.

I'm both amazed and freaked out by this, being that without the miracles of modern medicine, my baby would still be inside me, since she made no effort to vacate. At all. And now she likes her dad better. What the hell, baby?

When they pulled her out she was literally holding onto the inside of me and they had to yank up and down to get her to let go. She was trying to crawl back in. My husband says all the time she would crawl back in now if I would let her.

BumpasaurusRex · June 2016

DS was a c-section baby, as I couldn't get past 5 cm dilated and had been in labor for 33 hours.

My OB supports VBACs so that is the plan but I won't throw a repeat c-section off the table if that's the best route in the end.

alexispete · June 2016

I had a scheduled c-section with my first who is 10 months and I will be having a scheduled c-section with this one as well. I have "contracted pelvis" which is basically my bones are too narrow on the inside and the baby never descended.

cinderin · June 2016

c/s with my son almost 3 years ago. he was breech. it was a scheduled c/s and he decided to come at 39 weeks so it was moved up. I am not sure if I will try for a vbac or not. I kinda want to see how I feel, if the baby is head down, etc to decide.

poofwok · June 2016

I'm going to have a planned c-section this time around due to a vaginal birth with complications with DS.
Im a little anxious about it so I'm thankful for this thread!

CallMeLauraJane · June 2016

Emergency c/s with DS1 after 48 hours in hospital. Couldn't dilate past 9cm and baby was coming down the canal but I wasn't budging. C/s 1 was god awful. Baby was stuck in my birth canal and had to be pulled from my cervix. Absolutely terrible cone head. Nurse said it was worst one she'd seen. Of course, he's fine now. I hated every second of the procedure and cried the whole time. Couldn't hold baby for 5 hours afterwards. Couldn't even remember the aftermath.

Schedule RCS with DS2 but went into labor two days before. Went right in for a c/s and it was awesome. I was only contracting every 6 minutes or so and they weren't bad. Dr didn't want me to go into active labor or it could make the c/s procedure more tiring on my body and recovery (which is why CS1 was so bad. My body was caput). I was out of the hospital after 2 days and healed up great.

I'm doing a RCS with the 3rd. My OB will go up to 3 c/s on one patient before they start worrying.

L Jane · June 2016

This will be my 4th c-section. This is what probably makes me most nervous about this pregnancy. After my third, I made sure to ask my doctor whether it would be ok for a 4th. She said she didn't see any reason why it wouldn't be. She just suggested not getting pregnant right away. So, here we are...3 years later.

As for the recovery after multiple sections, I never noticed a difference. I had smooth recoveries each time.

angeltennis3 · June 2016

I had a CS with DD at 41+1 after being induced for 28 hours and not budging past 4cm. My recovery wasn't bad, but I have a lot of anxiety around going under the knife again. Especially to have it planned that way.

I I think we are going to try for a VBAC but use the CS to fall back on if I don't go into labor on my own.

One random question....second time CS mamas do you have your husband stay in the hospital with you? I couldn't get out of bed on my own to get DD in the middle of the night without his help. I know nursing staff are there, but I don't know how quick they will be. It sometimes took them 10-15 minutes to get to me when I paged (which is totally understandable because they have more responsibility than just me!).

Did you have your H stay or did he stay home with the other kid(s)?

PerraSucia · June 2016

I had an emergency c/s after a shitshow birth and plan to have a scheduled c/s this time because I suck at having babies.

L Jane · June 2016

angeltennis3 said:

I had a CS with DD at 41+1 after being induced for 28 hours and not budging past 4cm. My recovery wasn't bad, but I have a lot of anxiety around going under the knife again. Especially to have it planned that way.

I I think we are going to try for a VBAC but use the CS to fall back on if I don't go into labor on my own.

One random question....second time CS mamas do you have your husband stay in the hospital with you? I couldn't get out of bed on my own to get DD in the middle of the night without his help. I know nursing staff are there, but I don't know how quick they will be. It sometimes took them 10-15 minutes to get to me when I paged (which is totally understandable because they have more responsibility than just me!).

Did you have your H stay or did he stay home with the other kid(s)?

I sent my husband home. The nurses were very helpful and I preferred for my husband to be home with the rest of the kids anyway!

CallMeLauraJane · June 2016

angeltennis3 said:

I had a CS with DD at 41+1 after being induced for 28 hours and not budging past 4cm. My recovery wasn't bad, but I have a lot of anxiety around going under the knife again. Especially to have it planned that way.

I I think we are going to try for a VBAC but use the CS to fall back on if I don't go into labor on my own.

One random question....second time CS mamas do you have your husband stay in the hospital with you? I couldn't get out of bed on my own to get DD in the middle of the night without his help. I know nursing staff are there, but I don't know how quick they will be. It sometimes took them 10-15 minutes to get to me when I paged (which is totally understandable because they have more responsibility than just me!).

Did you have your H stay or did he stay home with the other kid(s)?

Mine stayed with me and DS1 stayed with my parents. I preferred to have DH there to field visitors and nurses, etc. And just for help and conversation.

MalyJ · June 2016

Mine stayed with me. I could move around relatively easy, but wanted him there for help in the middle of the night with DS.

cantalopes24 · June 2016

My husband also stayed. I don't change diapers the first week lol. My son was with my parents last time and this time my parents and ILs will be watching the kids. I feel like it's overwhelming and I need someone else there with me.

SPurp13 · June 2016

PerraSucia said:

I had an emergency c/s after a shitshow birth and plan to have a scheduled c/s this time because I suck at having babies.

This made me laugh, because I say this too. When my kid cries, I'm like "I know, I know, I'm a bad mom, I couldn't even birth you correctly, here, have a cookie."

SPurp13 · June 2016

I can tell you right now, my husband is not setting foot outside of that hospital for one second. He went home to shower one time in the 4-day stay last time (so, maybe for 45 minutes). I begged him not to leave me again after that. Our kid will have to go with my MIL. I'm sure that won't be a problem. She loves her.

PerraSucia · June 2016

My DS is going to be with his grandparents too

SPurp13 · June 2016

PerraSucia said:

My DS is going to be with his grandparents too

I know this will depend on how I feel that particular day (I wanted NO visitors--I was deep in depression, in pain, panicked, borderline psychotic last time), but how long will your DS spend with you at the hospital during your stay? My stay will be 4 days, and I'll miss my kid, but I also don't think it's doing anyone any favors to have her hang out at the hospital 8 hours a day.

PerraSucia · June 2016

@SPurp13 that's a long ass stay!! I assume he will like come to eat lunch and maybe cuddle for a little everyday, but want to leave an go run around doing not being in a hospital things. My nephew can sit and be quiet like eternally like some sort of robot. My son has like a 30 minute max of chilling anywhere in a single day.

annewheeler2 · June 2016

I'm going to have a repeat c-section. Last time I was in labor for 26 hours and stuck at an 8 for 5 hours. I'm actually excited to pick the date and walk in and have it done. It took me a while to be okay with it but I realize it's for the best.

Knottie1456178787 · June 2016

I had an emergency c/s with DD after being a week late and no signs of her making an entrance anytime soon lol was induce, given pitocin (spell check) and after 15 hrs and only being 1cm doctor called it quits and sent me in for surgery. Not sure what I'll do this time figure id just talk to my doc. At the first appointment and see what she thinks

laurenmichael725 · June 2016

This will be my second scheduled cs. My first dd was a vaginal birth, second dd ended up being a scheduled cs because they thought she was too big for my pelvis and her umbilical cord was too short to descend. Recovery from my cs was rough for me, but the actual delivery was a breeze. Hoping this rcs is more manageable postpartum.

Mrs. Guthrie · June 2016

I will be having a csection. The first time I never got past an 8 and they kept pushing pitocin in me and my contractions were only half as strong as they said they should be. My complications afterwards were from the fluid retention, not the actual csection. So, I decided I don't want to go through that again! Hopefully my doctor agrees when I see her at the end of July.

ohstars · June 2016

I had an emergency c last time at 34w1d because of pre-e. No induction because of placenta previa. The delivery doc told me something about the way she closed me up meant I could try for a VBAC next time. Depending on my health at the end of this rodeo, I could go either way.

I'm nervous about the idea of a VBAC but I had pains for months after my c, so a faster recover would be greatly appreciated.

Shawlls · June 2016

My OB is supporting and suggesting a VBAC and I feel good about that (assuming baby is in the right position). I had a cs with my first (Dec 2014) after 30 hours of labour because she flipped sideways at 8cm and they couldn't turn her back. That said, would still like to try it again.

jab3-2 · June 2016

I've had 2 already. My first was after being induced at 41.5 weeks and it was non emergency. I just couldn't push him out. I was in labor for days, finally fully dilated only to go on to push for 6 hours before my doc said that was enough. They attempted forceps, pitocin was used during my labor and I had an epidural (that never worked on one side) and eventually a spinal to go into surgery. Kid was just shy of 10lbs and 22.5 inches with a 50cm head. I was mentally and physically wrecked after his birth so the recovery wasn't the greatest.
My next csection was scheduled due to breech presentation. She was 8lbs even and an inch shorter than DS with a slightly smaller head lol but this was at 39 weeks. I did have an easier recovery both physically and mentally second time around and that was with a wild and crazy barely 2 year old to chase around. So this time will be my 3rd csection.

jjhp2018 · June 2016

This would be my 4th cs (out of 5 kids). My first was a vaginal, 2nd was a cs because she wouldn't come down and heart rate was fluctuating. I have GD every pregnancy and she grew too big. 3rd was a rcs due to being too close to try VBAC, plus she was even bigger due to GD. 4th was smaller due to insulin and she came down where they could feel her head during checks. I feel my cs with her was forced. My OB doesn't do VBAC after 2 cs but based on my history I feel I could have been allowed to try.

After her birth I started doing research on VBAC and found many women having them after 4 & 5 cs even. Just harder to find docs. I have a consult with a few diff OBs but I'm not holding my breath. I figure it'll end in a rcs but I want to know my doc is picking the least risky option for my individual case. (since a 4th surgery carries a lot of risk too.)

My husband had to leave for #3 & #4 because we have no family that can help with our other children. With #3 it was terrible because they didn't get my pain under control and I was miserable the entire stay. But with #4 they made sure I was taken care of and I had a great stay.

jab3-2 · June 2016

Oh yes meant to add that DH would leave DS with family or a sitter here and there to come see me or help with the baby, and I guess we'll probably just plan on doing the same this time.

phlox728 · June 2016

After 2 complication free easy vaginal deliveries, I had to have a vertical c section due to fetal distress and pre e at 28 weeks w #3. Everyone I have talked to says I absolutely have to have a RCS because it was a vertical section and the risk of abrupt ion is so high. I have a lot of anxiety about it so I'm sure I'll have lots of questions later in my pregnancy. Trust me, if you have the chance for a VBAC, go for it. Such an easier recovery :-(

L Jane · June 2016

My husband had to leave for #3 & #4 because we have no family that can help with our other children. With #3 it was terrible because they didn't get my pain under control and I was miserable the entire stay. But with #4 they made sure I was taken care of and I had a great stay.

I had the same exact experience when my third was born. My first two c sections were fine. My pain was kept at bay and I had a pleasant hospital experience. With #3 they really let the pain get away. It was horrible! I kept telling the nurses I was in a lot of pain, and they told me I just needed to get up and walk around. I was an emotional mess. I'm still half convinced someone was stealing my pain meds. I didn't experience anything like that with my first two sections.

CAndrada · June 2016

I'll be having cs #2 dd was an emergent section 6 weeks early for decreased fetal movement. I thought about a vbac and my doc does them but dh is more comfortable with a section and my recovery was super easy(i was up and in the nicu within 5 hours).

mamajama3 · June 2016

This is a great thread! I had a planned c-section with my first because the stubborn little thing was beech and reused to flip (I tried a manual version, nightly exercises, etc. and still no flip). We got pregnant about a year later and I am hoping for a VBAC this time around, fingers crossed that it goes well and that this critter is not breech. It would be nice to have a faster recovery as my DD will be 20 months old when this baby is born.

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