Tell me about C-sections.

[poppyseed]

Because I am having one tomorrow and I'm terrified. Yes, I am miserable and want my baby out, but I'm so nervous. I had a BPP done today and my doctors are concerned about her size, specifically the size of her stomach and width of her shoulders. While they are willing to see what happens and try a vaginal delivery, they gave us a choice and after talking about it, H and I decided to go for the C-section. I'm mostly worried because I'm already overweight - will that make it harder?

I keep bursting into tears, then getting really happy that she'll be here tomorrow. Talk me down.

[alzi]

i know nothing but YAY BABY POPPY TOMORROW!!!

[sawyerthedestroyer]

I loved my c-section.

Congrats!

[mudslide]

Sept 4, 2012 17:51:16 GMT -5 alzi said:

i know nothing but YAY BABY POPPY TOMORROW!!!

:y:

[nadasteph]

I didn't find recovering from a c-section too bad, I was up and about two days later without any problems. My sister has had two, she is very over weight, and for about a week after she couldn't get out of bed without help, but was feeling good after two weeks.

[silva]

awww poppy, my heart sinks that you are freaking out. Try not to, ok! You will rock this!

Did they offer to to try induction? Is there a reason why you wouldn't want to try that first?

All the talk about drs worried about the baby measuring large on here. I can't recall any that held that to be true. Talking 2-3 pounds difference where the baby was smaller than estimated.

RE: the c-section. Mine went fine, I was walking the next day. You need to make that effort to get up as soon as you are able and walk. My incision was way below my stomach just on pelvic area, not the stomach like my mom's was. I don't think it made it harder for me to lose weight. I was pretty much back to normal but it was my bad eating/drinking habits that got my weight up, not the c-section.

Have you had surgery before? How did you recover from those? I did pretty well, but again it's always different.

I'm sorry you are scared, I wish you weren't. Just concentrate on seeing your new baby soon! Hang in there.

[sonrisa]

Here are some things that you get with a scheduled c-section:

1) A Baby! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!

2) No emergency c-section! YAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!

3) No double healing

4) No strange labor induced complications and lingering side effects

So let's get down to the nitty gritty:

The anesthesia may make you nauseated or shaky. That's okay. The first part of the surgery is faster than the second part. It is easier to cut you open than to put you back together properly. Expect to be on the table for what feels like a long time after she is born. Have them bring the baby up to your head so you can gaze at her, kiss her, marvel at the fact you created the wonderful person :-)

Bring something to wear home that won't touch your sore and still large tummy and allows you to nurse - a loose maternity dress with a flexible neckline works well. Dark color if possible (masks stains).

Recovery sucks, but you'll make it through. Set up your house now so that you won't need to climb stairs and will have minimal movement to get to and from the bathroom. Roll to your side then push yourself up with your arms. If you have a walker, that makes moving and getting up and down easier (I needed one b/c of labor complications. I think it helped take strain off the stitches).

Stay on top of your pain meds. Sleep deprivation + pain is not a combo you want to try. Take them around the clock and don't taper until you are absolutely certain. Get any refills filled before the weekend.

Get some really big loose grandma maternity panties with a waist band above your navel. Also pick up the thickest, softest hospital style pads you can find (none of that blue thin absorbency bullshit). You can stick that into the front of the underwear to protect your incision.

Good luck!

[eddy]

My scheduled c section was nbd and I have done it both ways. Eat a good dinner tonight and get some rest. Take all the drugs you can and get out of bed as soon as possible. The best part is they wheel you in and like 20 minutes later you will hear your baby cry.

[angelaa73]

I can't wait to see your baby!

Good luck tomorrow

[underwaterrhymes]

You're going to be fine and so is your baby. ((hugs)) Good luck and congratulations!

[eddy]

Ask for a belly binder. This helped me move around like normal. I think it was the reason I was able to get back to normal so quickly.

[Deleted]

The surgery itself went by very quickly. Once I was sewn up, they gave me my baby and I was able to hold him while they wheeled me to my room. I know before I had my c-section I was worried that I wouldn't get to hold him for a long time.

Get up and walk as soon as they let you. Do a little more each day.

I had (and still have) bad gas pains. I feel it around my ribs, but apparently you can feel it in your shoulder, jaw, or neck. Rocking in a rocking chair or glider works wonders to help get it out. Don't underestimate gas pain. It can get UGLY if you don't do anything about it. Let it rip girl!

TAKE YOUR STOOL SOFTENERS!!! Seriously. If you're on both percocet and iron supplements, you might even need laxatives as well.

I know it's scary, but you'll be just fine. You get to meet your baby soon! Yay!

[liverandonions]

No advice on C-sections, but good luck and early congrats!!

[katiescarlett]

Be prepared to live on the first floor for a week or so.

Hold a pillow firmly against your incision when you stand up, cough, sneeze, laugh, cry, and poop.

Take the pain meds if you hurt.

If you plan to breastfeed, learn the football hold. Know that it may take longer for your milk to come in.

Good luck, whatever happens! Enjoy your baby :-)

[Deleted]

My c-section was not planned and still went very smoothly. Uncomplicated recovery. Definitely uncomfortable but not horrible. FWIW, I was overweight too and I do not feel that impacted recovery.

[franciepants]

I had an emergecy c-section. It wasn't that bad.

1. The anesthesia made me soooo itchy. If you get itchy, let your nurse know. They can give you something to stop it asap.

2. Getting in and out of bed the first day or two sort of sucked, but it was doable.

3. Like a PP mentioned, stay ahead of your pain. Take the meds religiously for the first two days or so.

4. I could not sleep to save my life after my c-section. After I told my nurse I had been up for 48 hours, she said I could have a sleep aid that night. So, if you're having trouble sleeping, you might want to ask if that's available.

5. The first post c-section poop was awful. Can't lie about that. I was at home. DH was at work. I was worried I was going to do some damage pooping. I was given colace in the hospital, but that shit didn't do anything for me. I'd have a laxative on hand just in case.

6. Aside from that, it really wasn't that bad. I was back to normal relatively quickly.

Congrats! You'll do great.

[ErinExpat]

Good luck!

[vanillacourage]

I have had 2 c/s and an easy recovery both times. You will do great! You'll go in, they'll hook you up to monitoring and an IV, sign a zillion forms, you'll walk to the OR, you'll hug the nurse while they do the epidural then lay back and feel weird while a bunch of people buzz around you. If you feel nauseus tell them, they can give you something to help. You may get the shakes, but it passes.

Getting the baby out is quick - I asked the anesthesiologist if they were about to start cutting and he said "oh honey, they've almost got the baby out". I also busted him checking his fantasy baseball stats on the OR laptop, which actually made me feel better b/c it's just SO routine.

After the surgery both times they put me in pressurized leg wraps and I had to stay in bed for 12 hours or so - then trust me, get up and shower and you will feel amazing. Accept help that's offered but try to be up as much as you can without overdoing it.

Take the stool softeners! Then take them again. Worst part about surgery, sorry.

Stay ahead of the pain - take the pain pills as prescribed, nobody gets an award for going without them. It gets to be a bit of a blur so keep a pad of paper where you write down what you took and when you're due for the next one. They gave me two scripts, one for souped-up Tylenol and one for Oxy/Vicodin. After 4 days or so I eased into just the Tylenol, then off everything a few days after that.

Overall I had a really easy time - no issues walking, climbing stairs, etc. You'll do great and your baby will be here SO soon! Early congrats.

[ohiowan]

No advice, but congratulations! Good Luck today!

[julesf84]

I'm happy that I had a c-section in retrospect. I was nervous and upset because I had laboured and tried to deliver vaginally, but they had to get in there and get him out. You will be fine!

I felt sick afterwards, so have them pump gravol into your IV. Getting around was tough at first. I noticed that I had really recovered after about 6-7 weeks.

You can do it!

[broc]

Get up and walk (assisted!) as soon as they'll let you, and stay very hydrated, preferably with warm liquids. I found flip-flops extremely helpful, since bending at the waist to put on shoes was no bueno.

Yay, you're going to have a baby!

[shananagins]

Congrats!!
My scheduled C section was awesome. I was most anxious about the spinal and the cath, but I never felt the spinal at all and the cath was great. It was really nice to not have to get up to pee after peeing every 20 minutes for the last 2 months . The scar is really low, slightly below the bikini line.
Ditto PP's about getting up as soon as they let you, and stool softeners.
Don't worry! I was terrified. I'd never had surgery before and it freaked me out, but it was fine.

[Deleted]

YAY BABY!!!!!!!!

[malibu]

I was terrified and wound up with one. Totally wasn't a big deal, and I'm guessing I recovered way faster than if I'd had a vaginal birth. The first few days were the worst, and then all the sudden I felt fine.

You'll do great. Stool softeners and walking around are the best things you can do.