OT-Who's had a C-Section & what was the recovery like?

[StepInTime]

Hi, I'm looking for alittle insight from those of you that have had a c-section. I'm 30 weeks pregnant, yesterday my doctor told the baby is still breech & I might be looking at a c-section.

I'm ok with the possibility, but have a few questions...I've never had any surgery, I'm clueless What was your recovery like? How much if any extra help did you need with the baby?

TIA for any advice

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I have had three and the recovery time wasn't too bad. Esp with the first too. The last time it was a little mroe but I also had twins.
I think I was up and around and feeling good in a week. I don't think I needed any major extra help with the baby since I could feed and change him right in my bed. BUT don't overdue it either cause one minute you are feeling good and do too much then that night it hit's.
I needed more help after that obviously just because mostly I had other kids.

 

[CastleCreations]

What type of breech is the baby? Is it possible that it can be turned? Also, don't fret just yet. Mine was breech at 32 weeks and turned before delivery.

 

[Karlzmom]

I had a c/s b/c of a breech boy and frankly found my recovery to be easier than my vag birth 13 years earlier. I don't know if it was so easy b/c I expected to be "down" rather than the urge to be up and running 5 minutes after pushing the kid out.

Seriously, I spent 40 hours in the hospital post c/s [vs 5 days on #1], then simply took the baby to bed with me for another 2 days...then I was fine.
I think the key is to just expect that you will need some time [and be ok with simply spending time resting and bonding with your baby]..a bit of rest early on will prevent the "crash" that then takes you longerto come out of than if you'd simply rested at the outset.

Good luck to you, and remember there is still a lot of time for the little one to figure out which way to be pointed.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

That is very true. One of my twins was breech and turned right as I hit like 36/37 weeks.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I have also had three and it wasn't to bad. I was fine after a week, but I just had to take it easy. Once they remove the staples it is much better.

I noticed that you said that your baby was breech. Well, one of mine was too and the DR told me to get down on my hands and knees sometime during the day, for several days, and lower my shoulders/head to the floor. Do this for about 5 minutes and sometimes it will help the baby turn. Well, it worked for me because she did turn, but I still ended up with a c-section. Maybe it will work for you.

 

[Frankiesmom]

I have had 2; pain was so-so; please have someone come help you during the recovery period as you can't lift anything heavier than the baby- I thought I was feeling much better a week after and was doing too much; and I dehissed-the incision opened! It was awful to say the least.

 

[HGD24]

CONGRATULATIONS on your soon-to-be new arrival!!!!

I had a c/s and was walking the next day and by day 3, was walking around the hospital carrying the baby and feeling great. You have to take it easy though and remember that you've had major surgery. DH was amazing. He took 2 weeks off from work in order to give me enough time to rest and heal, although I don't think that much time was necessary. It was really nice being able to nap when I felt I needed it during those 2 weeks though.

I don't know if this makes a difference too, but I had steri strips, not staples. Also, I had a spinal instead of an epidural.

Good luck with the next 10 weeks!

 

[kgc07]

I had a section after being induced and pushing for 3 hours. DS was born at 4:20 pm and I was up the next morning. Everyone is different, so your experience could be better or worse. Good luck and congrats.

 

[StepInTime]

That's exactly what I wanted to hear I was picturing DH having to take alot more time off of work than we had planned. This little guy was a big surprise for us, I got pregnant after we stopped trying! And after DH quit his job to go back to school, now he's working 2 jobs but still not making as much as before. So long story short this is a total blessing, but $$ is tight. With this economy I just glad he's working.

 

[kldmom2000]

I've had 2 c-sections and then an abdominal surgery last year along my c-section scar to remove a softball-sized endometrioma That one was not as much fun because there was no baby to hold after the surgery!!!

Anyway, my first c-section was due to my being pre-eclamptic and my DD being breech. The recovery was difficult, but using the pillow over my incision when I stood up, coughed, etc.. .definitely helped

Also, heed the MD's advice and take the pain meds BEFORE you are in major pain.

If you have a recliner at home, use that to sleep in so that you don't strain your abdominal muscles when you get up... or just prop lots of pillows up on your bed to make it easier.

My second c-section was a piece of cake All those nerves/muscles had been cut before so I guess I knew what I was in for... actually got discharged from the hospital a day early

Congratulations on your upcoming blessing!!!! Best of luck to you!!!!

 

[rodeo65]

Congratulations! I had one with my first. Recovery immediately after was slow because I had asked for and received too much in my epidural. Once I was able to move again I was fine. I was up and moving around the first day. PP suggestion about a pillow over the incision for cough, sneeze etc is a good one! I was told not to drive for 6 weeks but at 3 weeks I was feeling capable of easily moving my foot for the pedals, so went ahead. As mentioned all are different. I walked all through my pregnancy so I think was in decent position to get up fairly soon after. Good Luck!

 

[ZOOMAMA]

I don't think anyone appreciates how often we use our abdominal muscles until they have been severed for a c-section! Aside from a few unanticipated twinges (oops! guess I can't just hop out of bed! ) the recovery isn't bad. My daughter was breech and the fine docs at Womack Army Medical Center tried to do ECV- 3 times! Didn't work, was NOT FUN, but good for a lot of laughs for the staff (and me too, MUCH LATER!) Turned out my baby girl was a footling breech and couldn't come out safely any other way. I've only had one child but I don't feel like I missed out on anything. I could do without all the pushing and breathing business. I was so tired after a summer of toting around 40 extra lbs, wearing combat boots, and Carolina heat that I was more than happy to lay back and let someone else do the work! The spinal block was interesting, I think everyone should try it at least once. Good luck either way and CONGRATULATIONS!!1

 

[Colinsmom]

Check out spinningbabies.com for great advice on how to flip a breech baby - it really does work in a lot of cases!! But once baby is flipped, you need to work on keeping baby in that position (my midwife recommended not sitting in a reclining position - sit upright or lean forward - hands and knees on the floor, sleep on left side, etc.).

 

[taymaesmom]

I've had 2, the first was an emergency because I had severe high blood pressure and the baby turned breech at the last minute (actually she had been breech and then reversed herself to only turn breech again). I had 19 hours of labor and then the c-section and it was miserable. Weeks before I could do anything on my own. The second was planned and a breeze, dh took 2 weeks off to help me cause I knew how bad I would be and 2 days after coming home I sent him back to work cause I was totally fine. My mom also had 2 and she said they were both complete opposites too!

 

[ashlansmom]

Don't worry! I had a c section with my daughter and the recovery was fine. Make sure that when you are in the hospital you send the baby to the nursery at night, if you want to breastfeed the nurses will bring the baby and wake you when the baby is hungry. It is not easy to get up and about to take care of the baby at night, alone, in the hospital. Carrying the baby from the bassinet to your bed, getting in and out of bed in the hospital will still be very hard! If you insist on keeping the baby in the room at night you will need your husband to stay overnight with you.

In my hospital you had to ASK for your pain meds, but they didn't tell me that. Be sure you understand the procedure and frankly ask for a dose every however many hours on the hour. Once you get "behind" the pain, it's tough to get ahead of it.

They will have you up in a chair the next morning and get you moving, so no worries there. Don't over do it with guests in the hospital. You WILL be tired and will need your rest. (My in laws showed up with a cooler and parked themselves in my room.... NEVER AGAIN!) Don't let your doctor kick you out early, you get 4 days I believe and USE every one of them! My doc asked me if I wanted to leave a day early and I said NO!

When you get home a stool to get up and down from your bed will help. Prop yourself in bed with pillows, it will be still be hard to lay flat.
Avoid doing stairs (they will tell you 1x a day) - I did them way too much and paid for that. It will be fine for you if your husband or a family member or friend can stay for a few days once you are home. About a week out I was feeling fine. The ab muscles DO take a long time to bounce back and you will notice it in many day to day situations and movements you used to do no problem, patience though, they do return to normal!

Don't try to be superwoman and TAKE the pain meds!! So many people I hear from don't like to take meds, so they suffer instead. Not smart, I took the meds and I did great. I am pregnant now and more scared of delivering ******lly!!

Best of luck!

 

[neonurse]

I had a booked c/s and the recovery was better than after my vag. delivery. I think because you don't start out being exhaused from all the labour and pushing. The best part was being able to go #2!

My first was breech too. The midwive told me to go on my hands and knees leaving your bum in the air and your shoulders and head on the ground. I can't remember how many times a day she said or for how long. I think this position just gives the babe a bit more room to move to turn. I used to watch t.v for a half hour each day in this position and by my next appt he had turned. Good luck.

Oh I forgot to add that I agree with the others about taking your pain meds. If you take them you will be able to more around more and that will help with your recovery. Even if you are breastfeeding the amout that gets into the breast milk is minimal. Take the pills so that you can take care of yourself and your new babe.

 

[missfigment]

My baby was a c-section baby, just because he was so big the doctors feared i d spend hours in labor and end up with a c-section regardless. It was difficult to take in at first just because up until then i hadnt even considered the possibility of a c-section.

The way it went for me :
The nurses took me back to get me hooked up into IV's and I spent about 1/2 hr to 45 minutes just lying in the bed....they took me back to the operating room had me sit up for the spinal (which was so much easier than I anticipated). The spinal took effect in just a minute or too. They laid me down on the bed, and the curtain went up. I felt a little groggy, just kind of fuzzy headed...but i was awake...my husband came in and just talked with me the whole time. I felt some pressure and some tugging, but nothing hurt. After my little one came into the world, my husband left with him and the doctors closed me up. The hour after that i was in and out of sleep (that may be because i was up at 3am to get to the hospital by 5am lol)...but they try to get circulation going through your legs.

Recovery wasnt all that horrible...by far the 1st and 2nd day are the hardest. That first day they wanted me to move from the bed to a chair and i thought that was the worst, but they want you to stay moving, by the second day i was in the shower and going to the bathroom with help from the hubby. Day 3 i took a few short walks around the floor. I was determined to be up and about.

It will go fine. Just relax and take help when its offered. You will be tired anyway...and recovering from surgery makes it a little harder to be taking care of your little one.

 

[emma'smom]

I've had 2 c-sectons and the recovery isn't so bad. Here are my tips:

(1) Pump the morphine on the first day as much as you can. With the first one, I tried not too (thinking about breast feeding) and it took me longer to get up and going. 2nd one-- I pumped it to the max--and was up that evening with no trouble.

(2) Get up and walking (just a few steps if that's all you can manage) as soon as you can--that evening, if possible.

(3)Ask for a elastic bandage to be placed around your mid-section (anyone know what this is called?). It's like a giant ace bandage---and it was a godsend. I didn't have it with my first and I was sure my uterus was going to fall out! The second one---no problems...it was much more comfortable with the band.

 

[scrapquitler]

I had two planned c-sections. I do have a high tolerance for pain and the yuck factor doesn't bother me much. With both of my c-sections I wanted to doctors to put a mirror so that I could watch the procedure, but they wouldn't let me (it must be an insurance thing because it was two different doctors in two different hospitals).

With the first, I took percoset for about 4 days and had very little pain. I was up walking around within 2 hours of my daughters birth. I started breastfeeding her before I walked. Within a week, I was driving and totally back to my normal activites. I stayed in the hospital for the full 4 nights my insurance allowed because I really had no idea what to expect.

With my second, I took ONE dose of percoset after the c-section, then I took regular Tylenol for about 2 days. Again, walking around a breastfeeding within less than two hours after my son's birth. I had my son on Tuesday, I left the hospital on Thursday morning. I wanted to go home on Wednesday, but there was a big snowstorm and my street didn't get plowed so hubby couldn't get to the hospital to pick me up. On Friday I drove my new baby and my daughter to her dance class and sat at the dance class visiting with my friends and showing off the new baby. Saturday I drove to the grocery store and did my normal grocery shoppping.

Everyone talks about the c-sections like they are so painful and hard to recover from. That may be the case for most people, but it is not a given. Some people like me have a much easier experience.