C-sections - Tell me the truth!

[twinklesstars]

I've had 3 c-sections. For my first pregnncy, I was induced due to high blood pressure. After many hours of not progressing, my daughter was not tolerating labor very well. I ended up having a c-section. It was not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. I think the key is getting up and moving around as soon as possible. As other people have mentioned, for the first 24-48 hours make sure to keep up with the pain medication (whether it is Ibuprofen 800mg or something stronger). I would go as far to ask the nurse to wake you to take the pain medication.

My other two c-sections were schedued. I really had no issues with them at all. I was not fuzzy headed. The biggest issue was waiting to get feeling back in my legs. In my hospital, they wanted to keep you in recovery until you could lift your behind off the bed. I am apparently a bit more sensitive and it took longer than average for this to happen.

I chose to stay in the hospital only 2 days each time. I could have stayed longer but I was doing well and wanted to go home.

Four weeks after my last child was born, we had to attend a wedding in Florida (about 30 minutes away from Disney). There was no way I could be that close to Disney and not sneak in a trip. We stayed a week and other than occasional tiredness (and who isn't tired with a newborn) I did absolutely fine walking around. I know that is not necessarily the norm, but it can be done.

I know it can be hard to not have the birth you planned. I was a bit disappointed that my first birth did not go as planned. However, the ultimate goal is having a healthy baby and mom.

 

[aprilgail2]

I had an emergancy c-section at 35 weeks with general anesthesia. I had hoped my whole pregnancy for a c-section but basically I just wanted the end result- a baby.
My water broke right after eating a big lunch out but went under general anesthesia anyway and that was Thursday- I stayed in the hospital for 4 nights- I didn't even see my daughter though for the first day, I always am sleepy after general anesthesia so I slept the first day away (Friday). Saturday I got up and walked down to NICU where my daughter was and from that point on I went down there every few hours day and night to give her a bottle.
We came home from the hospital on Monday evening and on Tuesday I was out in the mall shopping for premmie clothes for her since the newborns were to big!

I wouldn't sweat having to havea c-section, it wasn't bad at all- the first time you go to get out of bed hurts a bit- I am not a fan of painkillers so I didn't take any-but after that its not to bad.

The biggest pain was not being able to drive for a week - and the fact that she was a premmie they didn't want me bringing her out much because it was flu season so I was going stir crazy!!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I have had three c sections and the were not bad at all. My first baby was breech at the last minute so they took her by c section. I was so disappointed, but at the same time it was a relief because I was scared of a normal birth.

My second baby was also breech, but the dr told me to get on my hands and knees, put my head to the floor and hold it for 10 minutes each night. The baby would hate it and move. It worked!

Even though she was in posisition now, I still had a hard time. I went into labor with her but I didn't progress fast enough I guess. After hours of that, her heart rate dropped and they took her by emergency c section. I have to say I was relieved because I was exhausted.

My third c section was planned from day one. I iked being able to plan his birthday. They gave me the week, and let me pick what day I wanted to have him. It worked out great since we lived 10 hours from family. They knew when to be there.

Each time I had a c section my recovery time was about the same. After a week I was pretty much back to normal. I just had to take it easy. The first few nights at home I felt better by sleeping in a recliner so that I didn't have to pull myself up out of the bed.

Once my staples were removed I felt much better. It didn't hurt at all to have them removed, it was just a little uncomfortable. The faster they go the better. Take some Advil before you go in for this.

You will do fine. in the end you just want to have a sweet healthy baby and you will, no matter how they make it into this world.

Try the hands and knees thing. It really does work!!

 

[joviroxx]

Another C-section here. Both my kids were C-sections.

First, don't feel bad. No one gets a medal for having a natural birth. At the end, we are all moms with beautiful children. It is natural and perfectly fine. The babies health is THE most important thing.

Mine were fine and not scary at all. First one was after 17 hours of labor where I didn't get past 5cm and the other was scheduled.

I wasn't groggy or unalert. With the first I was tired but that was because of the labor but was fully aware of everything and remember every detail.

I always tell people that if you hurt, take your meds. They help you move around. The faster and more you get up and around, the faster you will heal. I spent 30 hours in the hospital after the CS and remember putting a stroller in the trunk (much to my husband's horror) by day 4.

The worst part for me was going to the bathroom. I always felt like my stitches would burst but I solved that by using a pillow. Somehow, using the pillow to lean into made it fine. I think it was a mind thing but it worked.

Don't be nervous or disappointed! Your child will be great and you will be great!

Congrats and good luck!

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

I've had two, the first emergency, after 18 hours of induced labor at 42 weeks.

I had a spinal for that one. I felt really let down because I had planned an all natural birth, no drugs, etc. My blood pressure was sky high and the baby wasn't doing well. We were at a military hospital overseas, so I was lucky the high risk doctor was on that night. Despite feeling let down that things didn't go as I had planned, the actual surgery wasn't that bad. He was out in minutes and I didn't think the recovery was that bad.

My daughter was born by planned c-section because she was over 10 pounds at 39 weeks. My doctor had told me a V-bac was risky with such a large baby. That one was a breeze, and I had my tubes tied too. The whole thing was much less traumatic to me than my labor experience with my son.

The worst thing about my emergency c-section was the people who made me feel like I "hadn't done everything I could" to have a natural birth. These tended to be the same ones who tried to give me a guilt trip when I stopped breast feeding. In the end, you want a healthy baby and a healthy you. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about following your doctor's recommendation.

 

[deegack]

I had preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome so at 35 weeks I was induced. After 30 hours and one minor contraction and my bloodwork getting worse and worse I had a c-section. I was able to have an epi because I had told them I wanted one for labor and they had put one in early. It was a good thing they did or I would not have been able to have one as my platelets were too low. My other option would have been to be put under. I remember most of the surgery. They played 90s on 9 on the radio. DD was born to ice ice baby and step by step. I was tied down which I hated. DH went with DD.
I was on magnesium for a few days. So my big focus was getting to see her in the nicu. I have a high tolerance for pain so my only pain killers were Tylenol and that only after I was able to get out of bed. Less than two weeks after my section I felt fine.

 

[mtemm]

with my eldest my entire birth plan revolved around a natural, drug free birth, followed by breastfeeding. Both were important to me, and I assumed both would happen. I had some complications during labor, however, and ended up with an unplanned section. Thankfully it was not so emergency that they needed to put me under, so I had a spinal instead. I was not groggy at all, it only affected my body from the chest down. Weird feeling that feels like you are not breathing, because you don't feel your body the way you normally do, but just remember if you can talk, you are breathing. for some reason remembering that sticks out in my mind, and it helped me relax. lol.

I was very aware of everything, and other than being VERY annoyed that it seemed to take forever to feel my feet again. It wasn't all that long in reality, but I really hated it. And I get very nauseous from any kind of anesthesia, so took a while for that to wear off, too. But I was aware for the birth, was breastfeeding within an hour of the birth, had no issues on that front.

My pain was minimal, I only needed the extra strength motrin. It did hurt like hell to laugh or cough, and I learned to hold a pillow to my stomach when I did and that helped a lot. And when i got home laying down flat (the act of laying down) and getting up again was tough at first, but it got better after a few days or so

The only other issue I had was I had horrible gas pains in my back. I didn't know what they were at first, but thankfully the nurses figured it out and gave me something for that.

With my second pregnancy, I planned to VBAC, found out it was twins, had a peri willing to VBAC twins, but then both babies turned breech. I ended up with a 2nd section, which honestly was easier than the first because it was planned. no labor beforehand, no other expectations to deal with emotionally.


Good luck!!!!!

 

[mom2maggie]

I missed that you aren't even 40 weeks yet. I was scheduled for my repeat csection on the Friday of my 39 week appointment. It was scheduled for Monday - the whole weekend I spent coming to terms that I had to have the repeat csection, and prepared myself to meet my baby. By Monday, the baby had flipped and was head down. I could have cancelled the surgery, but with my borderline BP issues, we just went ahead. Long story short, don't count yourself out yet. That baby could still flip. Look up flipping babies positions - I was down on my hands and knees doing lots of pelvic tilts and rocks.

 

[Joyful3Heart]

I am an interesting case as my 3 came c/s - vbac - c/s. Actually with my 3rd the c/s was also due to undetected malpositioning (and I believe a premature induction which lasted 12 hours the first day and 16 hours the second) To this day I think if the doctor had let me just go overdue another week she would have come on her own...I no longer see that doctor.

I agree with going to a chiropractor who has experience with the webster technique. It might just work.

I disagree with going forward with labor, however, with breech positioning, especially in a first delivery. There are too many risks to the baby.

As far as bonding, breastfeeding, grogginess, etc., I saw no difference in either delivery. The only difference was that post v-bac, it was much easier to get around, and in and out of bed, but that only lasted a couple of days. With the c/s, I just needed my dh a little more, which he didn't mind a bit!

Rest assured that no matter how your baby greets this world, he or she is going to be your whole world for a long time! Blessings for you and your family.

 

[wvjules]

My DD was breech and I had a c-section too. The procedure itself was fine. I felt nothing and I remember her being born.

Sadly, I remember nothing else from that day except how funny my legs felt when they started becoming unnumb. For some reason it was fascinating. lol The next day I was disappointed that I had no visitors. Turns out I did but I have no memory of it. Strange since I only had a spinal.

Recovery was not bad at all and did not interfere with being a new mom. Getting up and down was the worst part but it really wasn't that bad.

C-sections aren't as scary as some think they are.

 

[taitai]

I have had two c-sections and they were both a breeze. Neither was planned.

I was totally awake and present and aware during the procedure. Absolutely no issues there.

I was up and walking around about 6 hours after the procedure for both. I took pain meds the first day but not any other days. I did get a little sick from the anesthesia but that is just me. I always get sick from the anesthesia.

The only issue is that it was a tad uncomfortable to get up from a seated position, roll over or laugh hard for the first week or so. Like a previous poster, I found a soft pillow over my abdomen helped a great deal with that.

I never had a ******l birth so can't compare but a c-section was not a problem for me.

 

[happygirl]

I have only had C-sections I didn't think they were that bad. I was up and walking the second day.

DON"T know matter how they hard they try to talk you into, DON"T let them try to turn that baby inside of you. That pain is far worse I think then any pain that comes from the C-section.

 

[Minnesota!]

I have had 2 c-sections. One with older son after 30+ hours of labor. And an emergency one with younger son when he went into distress. The 2nd one I had to be knocked out completely, and the first one I just had the spinal.

I wasn't fuzzy at all during the first one. I can remember everything. My only "issue" with my first was that I had the shakes when the spinal starting wearing off. Didn't last long, though.

The pain with both was minimal. AAMOF, I don't remember pain. I just remember a tugging feeling. Never hurt....just felt weird.

I was up walking 12 hours after having 1st son, and was about 90% when I went home 4 days later. I was 100% about 10 days out. With DS#2 I had a vertical cut and he was in the NICU. I needed the wheelchair for 3 days (because the walk to the NICU was FAR!!!!) but after that, I was great. I really had NO pain. I was walking from one end of the hospital (NICU) to the literal other end (cafeteria) within 5 days of surgery.

I think end of pregnancy pain was WAY worse than c-section.

If I had another kid, I would choose c-section in a heartbeat. It just wasn't a big deal.

Good luck!

A friend of mine had a c-section scheduled with her daughter. U/s in her room before c-section showed breech. Wheeled her to the OR, did another u/s and baby had flipped and was now in the right position. It can happen...but if it doesn't....no need to worry. You will do fine!

 

[Happy Mom2]

I was petrified of an episiotomy (sp) and begged my doctor for a c-section every time I saw her. She's very conservative and refused, but in the end I won! Both of my babies were transverse breech so I had no choice but to have scheduled c-sections. I was completely awake and aware of everything going on. There was a mirror above me so I could watch the doctor pull DD out. I was scheduled for a c-section at 8am. I arrived at 6am to get prepped. The doctor came in the operating room at 8am, DD was born at 8:19, and I was in my room with my baby by 9am. I was sitting up, enjoying my baby, talking to all my friend who were visiting, and only took one pain pill. The nurses called my doctor because I refused pain medicine. They thought I just didn't want to take it, but I wasn't in any pain. Don't get me wrong. Those first two days were rough walking around, going to restroom, and getting dressed, but it did not affect the time with my baby, family or friends. I had very little recovery time. I was out of the hospital after 2 nights, and was fine. The only thing I couldn't do was vacuum. My doctor just stitches me up... no staples or glue so nothing to remove.

The only negative for me was that I couldn't hold my babies immediately. My arms were strapped down. The doctor gave DD to DH and he held her near my head so I could see her. As soon as they were done sewing me up and had me transferred the bed they let me hold her while they wheeled me into a room for my family to come in and see. While I went to recovery, they took DD to the nursery to bathe her and clean her up for me. Within 5 minutes of me getting to my room, DD was there.

I know it's not what you planned or had hoped for, but you will be fine. Congratulations and best of luck!

 

[tuckerkeys]

1. I'm worried about being groggy and fuzzy headed. I want to be completely in the moment to enjoy the birth and first hours and day with my son. How clear did you feel? How is your memory from that day?

I was very nervous! Time FLEW in the OR. I did get nausiated 2x, and felt like I was going to vomit - I said something & they gave me zofran which was amazing! You can ask the nurses to have music playing during the procedure, it can calm you down, or even a specific CD. I felt very clear, just nervous. The sounds and SMELLS were what made me nervous, don;t know why.... It is all very overwhelming, even a regular delivery. But, yes I remember everything, and the drugs did NOT make me forget anything

2. Does the pain and recovery distract too much from the time with your child? I want to remember him, not the surgery.

Nope, not at all. The happyness of the situation and overall love almost makes you forget ( at least it did for me ) that you just had major surgery


3. Does the recovery really take as long as they say? I hate the idea of not feeling normal for another 4-6 weeks. Many things make the recovery sound more difficult than the end of pregnancy. Did it take you that long? Was it worse to be 38-39 weeks pregnant or 1-2 weeks post c-section?

I felt "normal" after 2 weeks really. If you have help at home with the baby it WILL make you heal faster b/c you can concentrate on getting better b/c you will need to rest. I had a baby nurse for 1 week immediately after I had my daughter ( my 2nd child ) and when I went into my dr at my 2 week check up she remarked that my incision looked like it was at 6 months along already....But I basically stayed in my bed for the 1st week or on the couch and had the baby brought to me b/c of the nurse - this helped tremendously


I'm really looking for brutal honesty here. I know I don't really have a choice in my situation, but I want to be prepared![/QUOTE]

I had 2 c sections. Both were positive. The nurses will have you up and walking the hospital the day after you deliver. Walk the halls!! It does make you feel better. TAKE YOUR PAIN MEDS! Don't think you won't need them, or that you'll suffer through the pain. They really do help! Stay the LONGEST YOU CAN in the hospital. I could stay for 4 or 5 nights, I took the 5 both times. The more rest you have the better. The 1 thing I remember with BOTH kids that was the most negative, believe it or not was the constipation @ 1 week after delivery!!!! The gas pains were stabbing! I got an all natural, organic tea called "smooth move" from the whole foods that basically makes you GO GO GO!!!! Once I went it was all good!!

ENJOY your new baby congratulations to you it's amazing!!!

 

[hipporina]

Thank you all! It is definitely encouraging to hear so many positive stories!

As for scheduling my section already, my doctor did that at my request. He gave me the option of going into labor or scheduling and I wanted to schedule as soon as I could so I could plan. If the baby turns between now and then, we will not go through with the section, but once I hit 39 weeks, it is very unlikely that he will turn anyway. My dr even told me we will check again before we cut, so I am comfortable with the scheduling. I just really feel like he isn't going to move.

I have been trying some of the techniques of breech tilts and such at home (you should have seen my kids' reactions when they saw my upside down off the couch!) and will continue to do those. I'm also considering seeing if I can find a local chiropractor that does the Webster technique. My doctor offered me a version, but I declined. I don't want to put the baby at any extra risk and the success rate is too low. I also will not consider attempting a natural breech delivery, and neither will my doctor.

 

[kt_mom]

I'll second having them check again when you get to the hospital. DS turned breech at 37 weeks. He had been head down for a long time. We were all very surprised. I was terrified because I did not want a C-section. I went to the hospital later that week and they tried to turn him but he wouldn't budge and that was VERY painful. I won't do that again.

I was scheduled for a C-section but went in to labor a few days before that. It was middle of the night by the time I got into surgery. They did the spinal block which is almost imediate and felt very strange to lose feeling so quickly. They had to swing me around to my legs and stuff back up on the table. I started to get the chills pretty soon afterwards and felt a little sick and the anesthesiologist was great. He did something that made me feel better right away.

The surgery was quick and DS was out. I was fully aware the whole time. I did have my arms strapped down and couldn't hold him first. That was the absolute worst part for me. I knew it would be that way and had been having a very hard time dealing with it since I found out. But DH brought him over and I was able to kiss him and the nurses took pictures of DH and DS next to me.

Then they took me to recovery and DS to the nursery. DH walked down there and then came back to be with me. I spent the whole time willing my legs to move. THey said I couldn't leave until I could wiggle my toes so that's all I did the whoel time was try to wiggle my toes. When I could finally move my upper legs and I made my legs shake and told her I was ready to go. She was very nice and finally gave in and they took me to the nursery and we got DS on the way to the room. I was able to hold him as soon as they got me in bed.

I was on IV pain meds for the first 12 or 15 hours and it did make me very groggy and the rest of that night is sort of blurry to me.

It was very hard to get out of bed the first time later that first day. But the nurse pushed me to do it and I was glad she did. She promised that once I got up and moving I would start to feel better and I did.

It was a few weeks before I felt normal again. Once we got home it was hard to get up from a sitting position or the bed especially holding DS. My DH stayed home for several days and then my mom had to come help for a few days.

But all in all it wasn't as bad as I had feard and I would do it again if I need to. The worst part was not being able to hold him right away. But I've held him so much since that it doesn't bother me as much anymore. I think it was worse because I had DD regular and was able to hold her immediately so I wanted that same feeling again. Had I not had that once, I don't know if my feelings would have been as strong about it.

The one good thing though, was that they kept me in the hospital a few days longer than after DD and I think it helped a lot. With DD I went home the next day and went back to normal and over did it right away. This time I was sort of forced to have help in the beginning and it was great.

 

[scrapquitler]

My entire birth plan focused on completely natural childbirth and avoiding a c-section. My baby boy has different plans and refuses to turn out of the breech position, so I am now scheduled for a c-section in just under 2 weeks. While I can't wait to meet my little guy, I am really freaked out about the c-section and could use some reassurance. It seems like most people who have had one found it to be a pretty good experience, but everything I read sounds so much worse.

For those of you that have been there, how was your experience? These are the things that I really worry about:

1. I'm worried about being groggy and fuzzy headed. I want to be completely in the moment to enjoy the birth and first hours and day with my son. How clear did you feel? How is your memory from that day?

2. Does the pain and recovery distract too much from the time with your child? I want to remember him, not the surgery.

3. Does the recovery really take as long as they say? I hate the idea of not feeling normal for another 4-6 weeks. Many things make the recovery sound more difficult than the end of pregnancy. Did it take you that long? Was it worse to be 38-39 weeks pregnant or 1-2 weeks post c-section?

I'm really looking for brutal honesty here. I know I don't really have a choice in my situation, but I want to be prepared!

I had two planned c-sections. For ME, being 38-39 weeks pregnant was much more uncomfortable than being post c-section. I have a pretty high pain tolerance, and I never took the percosets they gave me after 24 hours. I never had any real pain or discomfort at my incision, and I was pretty much back to my normal activities in less than one week (with #2 I started driving after 3 days because I had no help and had no choice but to take my 7 year old to her activities).

The day of the c-sections is very clear to me, I slept for about an hour after each of them, and right at the end of that hour or so both of my babies nursed without any problem.

The one thing that really surprised me after my c-section was the amount of ******l bleeding I had. For some reason, I had just assumed that as part of the c-section they would clean things out in there and I wouldn't bleed as much as 'normal' or for as long. I think I assumed that because the time i had a miscarriage at 12 weeks and I had a D&C I didn't bleed very much afterwards. As it turned out, I was wrong.

 

[2binak]

I had my DD at 3pm & was walking to the bathroom in my room at 10pm (per dr's orders). I was glad to get out of bed & walk around as I think it really helped me recover more quickly. The next day, I was walking down the hallway a few times. I was a bit groggy while in the OR recovery but shortly after arriving in my room, I was calling out of state relatives to tell them all about our baby girl I remember every detail of that entire day as if it were yesterday.

I took a few doses of Tylenol w/codine that night but took only regular Tylenol after that. Dh took 2 weeks off after the birth which was really helpful.

I think one of the positive aspects of having a c-section is that daddy gets some alone time with the baby while mommy is in the OR recovery room. Birth is usually all about mommy & baby but for that one hour, it was all about Dh & our DD bonding.

 

[Magic Mom]

OP, don't worry about the horror stories (story).

Here's a view from the other end of the spectrum. My labor started, but never progressed. It went on and on. My doctor refused to consider a C section insisting we should just let it progress on its own (maybe he was busy knitting). Long story short (and sparing everyone the gory details LOL) I almost lost him.

I thank God every time I think about it that neither of us died and that he didn't sustain long term damage.

Even though I wanted a "normal" birth and planned for it in my head, looking back I would have given anything in those scary minutes to have had a C-section.