c-sections mom with two or more.

[auberge]

Do you schedule a c-section with your second?
How was it different from you first c-section?
Did it heal better or worse than the first time?

Any comments, tips, stories?

I'm terrified of having another c-section because my first labor was a horrible experience. It was an emergency c-section after 20 hours of labor. The healing and scar wasn't too bad though.

[princessx]

My first sounds like a similar circumstance to yours - long labour ending in unplanned c-section. Except that my recovery was awful, the incision opened up and then took months to heal. My scar was a jagged red yucky thing.

I scheduled a c-section for my 2nd, 2 years later but she surprised us when my water broke at 32 weeks. I never went into labour and did have a 2nd c-section, just much earlier than planned.

Without any labour, the recovery is waaaay better. Also they fixed my scar and now it's hardly noticeable (though it's been almost 6 years!)

Px

[takeonyou]

Oct 10, 2012 12:47:20 GMT -5 auberge said:

Do you schedule a c-section with your second?
How was it different from you first c-section?
Did it heal better or worse than the first time?

Any comments, tips, stories?

I'm terrified of having another c-section because my first labor was a horrible experience. It was an emergency c-section after 20 hours of labor. The healing and scar wasn't too bad though.

Your first c-section sounds like mine. It was 24 hours of labor, an hour and a half of pushing, and an emergency c-section when heis heart rate dropped and didnt come back up. Terrifying. My epi was used during the surgery and I felt a LOT of the cutting. I almost passed out from pain twice. It was a mess.

With my second c-section, I scheduled it as I cannot have babies vaginally. I probably would have opted for another C-sec even if I could. My second c-sec was AMAZING! Calm, relaxed, comfortable. I was laughing and chatting with the drs and nurses while they opened me up. I was totally present and happy.

My recovery was easier because I hasn't been through the long labor and pushing. I was up and walking around 3 hours after surgery. My experience was night and day.

[mlvmd]

I am not eligible for a VBAC so I will have a scheduled c-section. I'm not pregnant yet and am nervous. I had DS at 36 weeks and am afraid that I'll go into labor early again. They don't want me to go into labor so they'll schedule me as early as they think development is far enough along.

[Deleted]

My first was a C/S after being 2 weeks late and an induction which led to 34 hours of labor, dilating to 10 cm and pushing for 2 hours and no baby. I was terrified to "try" again and have the same result. I scheduled a C/S w/ DS2. We went to the hospital at 8 am, they took me to the OR around 10 and we were back in our room resting at 11! I ate lunch, had visitors and hung out for 3 days. Cake walk. I healed WAY faster, was running at 6 weeks PP and was basically up and around the whole time before that. The only complication was a did get a spinal headache w/ DS2.

[6fsn]

My first pregnancy I was overdue and had GD. I was fingertip dilated so they did the cervadil pitocin bit. After 24 hrs I was up to 5 cm so they broke my water. After 12 more hrs of pit they went for the c-section. There were contractions, but I never felt one. My surgery and recovery were pretty easy.

I scheduled the second c/s for a few reasons: The only local hospital didn't do VBACs; my doc would refer me out, but he didn't think I was really a candidate; I didn't want to go into labor being 2 hrs from any family to watch DS and 45 mins from a hospital that would attempt a VBAC.

The second was even easier than the first as far as surgery and recovery. I was prepared to puke on the table and everything else.

This third one has me scared though. Especially because it's a new doc and hospital.

[auberge]

Oct 10, 2012 13:11:58 GMT -5 @sirsleepsalot said:

My first was a C/S after being 2 weeks late and an induction which led to 34 hours of labor, dilating to 10 cm and pushing for 2 hours and no baby. I was terrified to "try" again and have the same result. I scheduled a C/S w/ DS2. We went to the hospital at 8 am, they took me to the OR around 10 and we were back in our room resting at 11! I ate lunch, had visitors and hung out for 3 days. Cake walk. I healed WAY faster, was running at 6 weeks PP and was basically up and around the whole time before that. The only complication was a did get a spinal headache w/ DS2.

sounds horrible. How long did it last?

[Saudade]

My first C/S was an emergency after BS flipped breech somewhere between 5cm and 10cm. The experience was great. The recovery was terrible. I kept complaining of pain in my shoulder, which they said was gas pain. The day after discharge I was back in the hospital with a 105* fever, 2 collapsed lungs, R side pleural effusion, and R side pneumonia. That part sucked.

I want to try for a VBAC next time. I won't be upset with a RCS but I want to try first. I might ask them to draw labs before discharge though because of my previous situation.

Sometimes I go back and forth with deciding on a VBAC, only because I want to get it over with but I think I want to try anyway. I want to be able to experience it all.

[mswax]

I had DS1 vaginally, and it was a great experience. About 14 hours of labor, 2.5 hours of pushing. I got an epidural around 5-6 cm and was pain free from then on. Recovery was super quick.

DS2 was an emergency c-section after a painful labor and 30 minutes of pushing. He just wasn't coming out and his heart rate dropped lower with every push. Recovery sucked, both physically and mentally, and even though I was up and walking around later that day, it was so much harder than after DS1.

We are TTC #3 now, and I will certainly be trying for a VBAC.

[thelongroad]

With my first, I had an emergency c-section after 23 hours of labor. I had heard somewhere that if you get up and walk as soon as allowed and you don't baby your incision then you heal quicker. That's what I did and my recovery was a breeze.
A c-section had been scheduled for my second, but my water broke a few weeks early. Knowing I was going c-section again made the process easier. Due to some previous complications they bumped a scheduled c-section out of the OR because the baby needed to be out quickly once my water broke. My recovery was pretty easy the second time around also. DS didn't come home with me, which was devastating, but that enabled me to rest up a bit before I had to go into baby mode. I would have rather had him than leave him in the NICU for a week

[satama]

Do you schedule a c-section with your second?

I did because I had other complications and was high risk. My OB did not want me to go past 39 weeks ans was ok with inducing but I was not so we scheduled a section for 39 weeks

How was it different from you first c-section?

First time I was I induced, and ended up with an emergency section after 24+ hours of laborious because I had an abruption, my epidural gave me horrible spinal pain and I could not move at all so they ripped it out and k mocked me out for the surgery.

Second time was so much better, not scary, everyone was relaxed and talking to me through the whole thing. Recovery was much better. I went on a short beach vacation with DH and both kids at 3 weeks post partum. My OB is great with stitches and made my new scar over my old scar so it is just one small line.

Did it heal better or worse than the first time?

Healed faster IMO

Any comments, tips, stories?

Make sure you have someone great to watch your oldest when you are in the hospital. That way you can focus on recovering while you are there. Dont forget to take the stool softeners! Lol. Try to get the first surgery of the day so you are less likely to be bumped by emergency c sections.


I was really scared too, but the second surgery was not bad. A huge improvement over the first time. I personally would have tried for a VBAC if I didn't have other complications, and I didn't decide for sure until my 38 week appt. I was more afraid of having another c section. I am glad I did have it scheduled though, because it I did not have a scheduled section I know it would have been harder to recover after laboring again.

[leshoequeen]

My first was similar to yours and I had a planned cs the second time a few months ago. I was so so nervous. I dressed it up until the moment the baby was out. After she was out the anesthesiologist put a little "cocktail" in my iv to calm me down because I was totally freaking out. After surgery I felt so great. Baby was here and everything went perfectly. I could not have been happier. My recovery was so so much better. I was walking around that night and doing great when I got home. I took painkillers for a few days and then I was fine. Try not to worry - the planned cs will be so much better than last time!

[vanillacourage]

I had a failed VBAC, never got to the pushing stage so in terms of what my body had been through it was basically like starting from zero with a scheduled c/s. Very easy recovery, though my first (planned) was also very easy.

[rootbeerfloat]

My first c/s came after 19 hours of unsuccessful labor following an induction at 41w. I only got to 7cm and never pushed. I discussed vbac for #2, but my OB didn't think I was a good candidate. I suppose he would've let me try if I went into labor on my own, but I didn't care that much and scheduled a repeat.

The main difference was the first time I was in tears while they wheeled me into the OR, while the second time, I walked myself in and had a pleasant conversation with everyone while they prepped my spinal.

I had a quick recovery the first time, but the second time was even easier because I wasn't exhausted by labor. My scar healed nicely both times, even after being cut in the same place twice.

[whitepicketfence]

I had a c-section with DD1 but I was fortunate enough to have a successful VBAC with DD2. My labor went very smoothly the second time despite having to be induced again.