2nd C Section? advice please!

[kaleighmariesmom]

SO the dr told us that we are going to have to have another c section with our twins in less than a month! With DD we had to have an emergency one. I am freaking out. I didnt plan on having one with DD and it kinda freaked me out. Anyone out there have repeat ones that can tell me about it. Our dr said it wouldnt be that bad...

 

[TiggerStac]

I have had 3 csections. The only thing w/the 2nd (and so on) is that there is scar tissue from the first (at least I had it and others I've spoken to had it) so it took a little longer to get to the baby. But...my OB cleaned up what he/she could of previous scar tissue before closing me up (adhesions, I think).

Was it an emergency that you were awake for?? bikini line incision?? if so...pretty much the same except you'll have a date/time to show up at hospital, have an OR time vs saying, ok we need to do csection.

 

[mousebymarriage]

O.K. first of all take a deep breath and relax.

I have had 2 c-sections and I agree with your Dr. that the second one is not as bad. My kids are almost 5 years apart (4 years 9 months). My first c-section with DD13 was an emergency because she was stuck because she was face up and after pushing for 4 hours she was no longer tolerating labor well. When she was born I was exhausted and a freakin mess. I was also in a massive amount of pain and I normally have a pretty high pain tolerance. DD13 was born on a Wednesday at lunchtime and I went home from the hospital on Sunday, I was still in pain and completely wiped out.

Fast forward almost 5 years later when DS9 was born. He was a planned c-section and it was a thousand times easier. I was more relaxed because it wasn't an emergency and I wasn't panicking about it. Yes, i was a bit nervous but,not like the first time. I checked into the hospital at 6am and DS9 was born at 9:19am. I was able to get out of bed that same day in the late afternoon (with DD I barely made it out of bed the next day). Sure, I was in pain but, it was much more tolerable because I wasn't exhausted. DS9 was also born on a Wednesday but, i went home on Saturday and I felt so good that we stopped at Babies r' Us on the way home(wanted to get some boy clothes).

Every labor and deliver experience is different so don't worry about it being like your first ,especially since your first was an emergency. The stress alone from having an emergency c-section makes it harder than a planned one. Good luck and congratulations!!!

Oh, by the way DD13 was stuck because her head was freakin huge! She weighed 9 and a half pounds and I think 9 of it was her head, I swear that head was the size of a cantelope! Lol

 

[primgirl]

I have had 2 c sections and I have a singleton and then twins. Twins are awesome!

The second c section was not nearly as painful as the first and the recovery was much faster. After I got home I just took OTC meds for a few days. They did give me a prescription, but I didn't find it necessary.

Good luck and congratulations.

 

[L & B Mom]

I also have had 2 c-sections. The first was an emergency and the second one was planned. The second one was stressful because I knew what to expect.

The second one was easier than the first. I was up and walking that afternoon and got to go home after only 48 hours instead of waiting the 72 hours. I did not even need to fill the pain medication they sent me home with.

I preferred the whole planned part - I had everything ready and our family knew when to show up.

Good Luck

 

[tink76]

I have had two c sections. It will be much more calm in the ER, My Dr. and nurse were talking about what they did for the holidays. It does take longer due to all the scar tissue from the previous c section.
You will be fine! Congratulations on the twins, so exciting!

 

[DawnM]

I have had two C-sections. The second was much better in terms of recovery.

 

[notsosnowwhite]

The only thing I can share is my own experience, and my second was much easier than my first. My first was after 48 hours of labor and I was naturally tired and in pain. My second was a surprise - I had a planned induction date but went into labor two weeks earlier than planned so had a second "emergency" c-section. I think it's because I knew what to expect, but recovery seemed so much easier. My pain was much more tolerable and I wasn't so scared during all the firsts - first time to sit up, first time to walk to the bathroom, first time picking up baby. It's scary and it's not easy, but from my experience you've been through the hardest part first time around. Good luck and I'm sure you can't wait to hold those precious babies!

 

[kldmom2000]

2 c-sections here as well.... the first one I'd gone into labor 3 weeks early, had pre-eclampsia, and my DD was breech. They did the c-section and it was very tough to recover from....

2 years later I had a scheduled repeat c-section @ 39 weeks. I didn't labor at all and was up and about hours after having my 2nd DD. Recovery was SOOOO much easier mostly because all those nerves had been severed previously with the first c-section and I knew what to expect.

Best of luck to you and congrats on your soon-to-be new little ones!!!

 

[nchulka]

I've had 2 C-sections as well. The first was because DD was large and face up and stuck. The second was planned because they estimated DS to be large as well. Planned C-sections are awesome They take the baby early (1 week in my case, not sure what to expect with twins), you have the date a few weeks in advance, and you walk into the hospital feeling great! I was able to have the laundry clean, meals made, and the house clean and ready. There was no waiting around and wondering when, thinking it could be anytime. That morning I went to the hospital in no pain, watched TV in the waiting room, they called my name, gave me an epidural, and got the baby out. I didn't have to do any work at all and I felt great. I enjoyed my 5 days in the hospital too, much better than 2 for a normal birth Recovery isn't bad, I didn't have problems either time.

 

[miprender]

Congrats on the babies and enjoy.

I have had 3 Csections, all planned.

1st one... didn't really know what to expect and thought it would be easier to heal than it was. It was really tough.

When I had my second, I already knew what to expect and I healed actually faster than the first time. This was by far my best pre and post pregnancy of all three.

Then I had my last one and just say I am glad that I decided not to have anymore children

 

[4 Ears]

Yup! Just what the others have said. The 2nd one was SO much easier.
First was an emergency, 2nd one planned. Did not go into labor for hours on end. Had baby #2, spent 3 days in the hospital and day I got home took baby #1 out for a walk and never looked back.....

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I'm glad you asked. My 2nd c-section is next Wednesday. At this point, I don't care if they pull him out my nose, I'm *done!* I bet you'll be feeling the same way.

From what I've heard, and like the other ladies have said, the 2nd ones aren't nearly as bad since it looks like the majority of us were emergency c-sections. At this point I have my date, the time to show up, and everything else is out of my hands. I'm happy that I know what to expect this time, that's a huge relief.

Best of luck to you and your babies!!

 

[katied]

I just had my second for DD (now 2 months old). It really wasn't that bad. I had an epidural with the first, spinal with the second. Not sure what you had. With the spinal, I was able to be up and moving around faster, which meant I was home from the hospital a day earlier. Overall, I feel like my recovery was easier the second time (maybe becuase I knew want to expect, and stayed on a schedule with my pain meds so I didn't get behind).

The surgery itself can take a bit longer depending on the level of scar tissue, but still it was done in about 40 min.

Only other difference between epidural and spinal was I had some lingering numbness around my lower back, butt, which took about a week to wear off with the spinal. Not a big deal, just irritating.

 

[java]

3 c-sections here. I actually had a ******l delivery for my first child, emergency with the second and 2 more scheduled ones. The panic of the emergency isn't there with a planned one. You have a bit more time to think about it all as you are waiting to go in- but I went in at 6 had my son in my arms at 8. Can't beat that. And the recovery for me was easier with each C.
Good luck to you and Congratulations!

 

[TinkerBrie]

I agree!! I have had 2 c sections also! The second was, by far, better all around! I think just knowing what to expect is what made it better! Good luck!!!!

 

[VAfamily1998]

I've had 4 C-sections.

I absolutely agree with all the others that have said the 2nd one (and 3rd and 4th... ) are much easier than the first!

 

[CMHusband]

my wife had 4 C-sections...She was fine every time.

 

[powellrj]

I've had 3, you will be fine!

 

[nmmom95]

I had 2 c-sections, both emergencies, and the second one really is easier. Don't worry! Congratulations and good luck!!