Please tell me about C-sections

[Freyja]

I had a c-section 10 years ago and it was good experience. I had a very quick recovery and was home 4 days later. I had been told to get up and about as soon as I could (a woman who had gone through a couple of c-sections told me this) and to remember to stretch the body out fully from the beginning. It was, as you can imagine, unbelievably painful but it helped a lot. Some women tend to spare themselves the pain and walk half way bended over for the firts couple of days but that only makes it worse when you eventually have to stretch out. I never experienced any complications in connection with the scar either and went on to have a perfectly normal ******l birth 2 years later.

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

I have had c-sections with both my girls, and I would never do it differently. The first one was an emergency and took 8 minutes to do and the hospital stay was only 5 days total. The recovery was painful, but not bad. I had a small scar so far down you couldn't see it if you had on a low cut bikini. That c-section isn't that fresh in my mind. Then I watched my SIL have her baby (natural) and it was the most gross horrific experience of my life. *shudder* Skip ahead 5 years to last November when I had my second c-section. My OB asked if I wanted another c-section or a VBAC. I wanted the c-section. It was scheduled to my convience, so I got to choose a day that Remy did not have school and could visit me afterwards. I went to the hospital at 0530 to get ready and prep for surgery. DH got to come inside to sit with me. I had another spinal (they asked if I wanted a spinal or an epidural) since I had had one previously and knew what to expect. They started the surgery and it took about an hour total from first cut to finishing stitch. I got to see Holly for a few minutes and then they took her to do all her vitals and I went to recovery. I went to the hospital on Nov 28th and went home on Nov 30th. The scar this time was so much smaller since they cut out the previous scar and used super glue instead of staples to close it(there were two small stitches on either side). There was hardly any pain this time and I was moving around by the second day of recovery. Yes, there is abdominal tenderness and it is uncomfortable for a few weeks, but it is not the horror story I had always been told. A heating pad or pillow pressed down on your stomach helped alot. Oh and you will walk a little hunched over for a few days. Personally, I would always have a c-section. I was told I wouldn't bond right with my girls, but that was a bunch of bull. Good Luck!

 

[piratesmate]

When DS (almost 24) was born, "normal" deliveries stayed up to 5 days. They kept me 8 days after an emergency C-section. Recovery from that one was tough. They had me on morphine until I had an allergic reaction to it. I really needed the drugs that time.

I couldn't pick him up from his hanging cradle for over 2 weeks...but I had a vertical incision. My mother took a leave from her job & came to stay with me every day while DH was at work. I appreciated it because I couldn't do much of anything...although I was really, really glad when I could finally be alone with him.

Ten yrs later when DD was born, it was a scheduled C. Although they used the same scar line for the exterior incision, internally they did the "bikini cut"...what a difference!!! I needed nothing more than Tylenol with codeine for the pain & they usually brought it because it was time rather than me begging them for it.

I was released on the 3rd morning, walked out of the hospital & was able to pick her up at any level. I came home feeling as though I could do anything. It was an effort to remember not to run up & down the stairs, vacuum, carry wet laundry, etc.

 

[katerkat]

Originally posted by crz4mm2
How far along is your daughter?
Most physicians restrict activity with Placenta previa.
If I had placenta previa I would not be far from my doctor and hospital. Especially toward the 3rd trimester.
Has she had any bleeding so far?

I'm not MM, but we've had this conversation because I also have placenta previa. I believe her daughter is about a month ahead of me, so around 27 weeks now, and as of a week ago, she hadn't had any bleeding.

The only activity my doctor has banned is a certain one I like to do with my husband. And my doctor said I could fly cross-country for Christmas (my 26th week). I think the restrictions come if there's bleeding - my doctor said if I start bleeding, it's automatic bedrest.

MM, I read in one of my books that most women with placenta previa have to have a vertical cut instead of the nice horizontal cut.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Wow! I'm a bit surprised she'll be traveling so late in her pregnancy. I had a C-section...in Boca Raton!!! West Boca Medical Center...great maternity unit, Level III neonatal unit (NICU) for babies if it's necessary, great in-house pediatricians and neonatologists. (After this I ended up working there 8 years.) I checked in on Monday morning and went home on Wednesday. Actually, I did great. Not much pain...the nurses used to come in and ask if I was ready for Percocet. LOL! And 10 days later I was at a mom's group meeting at my church. They couldn't believe I was up and out with DS so soon.

However, DS was in NICU for a week due to my having to take insulin during part of my pregnancy. He had a problem with his blood sugar being too low and they had to get it up to normal and have it stay there. They were GREAT!!

Good luck to your daughter and the little one!!

 

[marlasmom]

Hi Kat - how are you doing. Sarah is in her 28th week now.

Please all of you keep your answers coming. When I spoke to her yesterday, I suggested that maybe I shouldn't come up right when she goes into labor - that they might appreciate having a few days to themselves, but she said that her dh is only taking off 2 days - scheduling problems on his job and seemed to want me to come asap. She also said that he had been planning to take off 2 weeks after she went back to work, but probably can't - so would I stay then. Of course I will, as long as needed.

I am convinced now that if she does have a c-section, I will have to be there. Unfortunately they have an old house and the bathrooms are on the second floor and in the basement so I guess she will have to stay on the second floor.

This is all so amazing to me - Sarah herself was a placenta previa but we didn't know it until my water broke and I actually dropped a portion of the placenta on the kitchen floor. I called a bunch of friends and said "are you busy" and they all said yes - didn't tell them what the problem was - so I drove myself to the hospital. The damn dog jumped in the car and would not get out - so I ended up calling two friends to come get my car and the dog.

It was so strange - the doctor would not talk to me - when my husband got there - having stopped to lock up the house - which I still haven't forgiven him for - we never locked it - went to Florida and didn't lock it - and how were the kids supposed to get in - but he took my husband into a room to explain things to him and closed the door so I couldn't get in. I barged in and told him it was my body, my baby and I was an important part of this whole thing.

Can you tell the whole things rankles until this day.

I really appreciate your replies. Please keep them coming. It is good to know of your experiences. Thank you all so much.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

...with the birth of my twins who were born one day short of my 40 week due date (DD 7lbs 4oz; DS 7lbs 10oz). The problem was they wouldn't come out naturally and I was too sick with preeclampsia and low platelets to have surgery. Turned out they had no choice but to do a CSection which in and of itself was fine, but to add insult to injury it turns out I had a placenta accreta with one of the placentas (both of which had "merged" into one huge one) and after surgery I hemorrhaged very badly requiring 3 units of blood (lost more than half the blood in my body: HCT 37 -> 17) and 5 more nights in the hospital. Whew!

Once I was stable the recovery wasn't bad. Being a nurse I knew the best thing post op *normally* was to get up and walk which I did the next day - until the nurse (my former supervisor) came running out of the nursery yelling at me to get back in bed. I hadn't gotten the blood yet (wanted directed donation from family) and being so out of it I hadn't realized I was ordered for bedrest (which continued for three weeks after I was home since I was still bleeding - that was fun with newborn twins having never been a mother before - and yeah, that happened: NOT)!

The worst part of the recovery from the section was the GAS PAINS! Make sure she sticks with clear liquids for a day or two until full bowel function returns!!

OB is not my specialty and I realize there are different degrees of the seriousness of placenta previa but I agree with crz4mm2 who said she should stick close to home that late in her pregnancy. Chances are she'll be fine but why risk it? Are there any other OB/GYN professionals out there who could comment?

 

[cati]

What can I say I loved them. My DS was an emergency C-section after 24 hours of pain from labor. I was so ready to have him. I was up taking a shower late that night. Honest!!!! I went home the next day because I did so well.

My DD, we planned what day she was to be born. I went in at 6:00 and she was born at 8:00 that morning. I went home the next day. Within a week I was walking around just fine. I had a spinal with her. It was not bad at all. Felt like a little pinch.

I probably will get flamed but if I had to choose to have one naturally or one with a C-section. I would take the C-section any day. BTW, my DD and my DS and I bonded great.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by cati

I probably will get flamed but if I had to choose to have one naturally or one with a C-section. I would take the C-section any day.

No flames from me!

I had c-sections with both of my DS's.... and would have it no other way.

With each of them I was up and walking that afternoon, went home by noon the next day. Up the stairs to our apartment and drove to get groceries the day after that.

 

[cgcw]

I've had 2 -- 1 emergency & 1 planned but not exactly at the time it was suppose to be due to my water breaking.

With the DS10, I had pre-eclampsia which developed into HELPP syndrome. Because I was so sick and in ICU myself, I think the recovery time was worse that it would have been otherwise. I wasn't even allowed to try and get up until 30 hours after my DS was born.

With DS4, the c-section itself went well. My DS was born at 2:18 AM Thursday morning, I went home on Saturday. The hardest part was getting out of bed the very first time. But each time it got easier. I was able to hold DS right as soon as I was in the recovery room and nursed him without any problems.

My second c-section didn't continue to go as well, though, once I got home. I developed an infection and the doctor had to reopen the incision. Once they cleaned out the area, they couldn't reclose me in the traditional way. I had to heal from the inside out, instead of from the outside in. DH became my nurse and had to clean my incision several times a day, which was not a pleasant experieince.

 

[disykat]

If you are worried about when to go - I would go immediately. My parents were not at the hospital and didn't come until we asked them to, but I was so glad they were waiting at our home by the phone (I had a long labor so they arrived well before the birth and went straight to our house to wait). They were very respectful of our privacy, but it was a great help to have them nearby and ready to come as needed. I would not let her be alone in the hospital(unless it is her specific request). When her dh comes home to sleep or shower you can be there. Due to a bad experience I had with my first, I would never let a new mother who just had surgery be in the hospital without some extra help/support from a family member.

 

[jillhou]

I have 3 - only 1 was scheduled and they have run the gamut - and I have NO regrets about them at all! I was in the hospital 3-4 days with each and never had any complications at all. Best advice - get up and moving as soon as you can! And that is true for almost any surgery you have! Relax and don't let people tell horror stories about them! The placenta previa provides more worries than the csection will! Hope all goes well and I am sure it will!

 

[PlutoPony]

My C-section was 10 years ago and it went VERY smoothly. I was 2 weeks past due, so they put me in the hospital to induce labor. Well, 2 days later I still was only 2 cm dialated, so C-section it was... Used an epidural, and when they started "working" on me in surgery I got a very strong urge to straighten my legs - thought I was going nuts! Told the anesthesiologist (who was stationed at my head) and he immediately added something to my epidural that took that sensation away. So definitely communicate with the professionals if need be! Surgery took 45 minutes total, and the baby was pulled out 11 minutes into it. Also had the "shakes" afterward but had been "warned" of that. Got GREAT advice from the nurses on pain management. For the first few hrs. after surgery I had a self-injecting morphine drip (WONDERFUL stuff!). Your normal inclination is to gut it out and not take any more of it (or any other drug) than absolutely necessary. But the nurses advised to keep taking it at regular intervals and keep the pain at an even keel - don't let it get too bad, avoid the peak and valley syndrome. They want you up and walking as soon as you can, so this philosophy really helps that. Also, after the drip was taken out, pain medication was by mouth. They advised to take one AS SOON AS YOU WAKE UP - and give it a few minutes to take effect - and THEN get out of bed, so that moving around isn't as painful at first. I had my son late on Friday, and was discharged the following Monday a.m. My husband was only home with me for a full day after that, but I managed really well on my own, and got up and around fine. Oh -also had my feet swell up really big after surgery. It was pretty funny, looked like I had elephantitis or something (my feet are normally ~ size 4). This isn't unusual I was told, but I couldn't get shoes on for a few days. Sorry to go on, but HTH! I think your daughter will do fine if this turns out to be the best way for baby and mother....!

 

[rubyslipperlover]

Hi Kat - how are you doing. Sarah is in her 28th week now.

Please all of you keep your answers coming. When I spoke to her yesterday, I suggested that maybe I shouldn't come up right when she goes into labor - that they might appreciate having a few days to themselves, but she said that her dh is only taking off 2 days - scheduling problems on his job and seemed to want me to come asap. She also said that he had been planning to take off 2 weeks after she went back to work, but probably can't - so would I stay then. Of course I will, as long as needed.

I am convinced now that if she does have a c-section, I will have to be there. Unfortunately they have an old house and the bathrooms are on the second floor and in the basement so I guess she will have to stay on the second floor.

This is all so amazing to me - Sarah herself was a placenta previa but we didn't know it until my water broke and I actually dropped a portion of the placenta on the kitchen floor. I called a bunch of friends and said "are you busy" and they all said yes - didn't tell them what the problem was - so I drove myself to the hospital. The damn dog jumped in the car and would not get out - so I ended up calling two friends to come get my car and the dog.

It was so strange - the doctor would not talk to me - when my husband got there - having stopped to lock up the house - which I still haven't forgiven him for - we never locked it - went to Florida and didn't lock it - and how were the kids supposed to get in - but he took my husband into a room to explain things to him and closed the door so I couldn't get in. I barged in and told him it was my body, my baby and I was an important part of this whole thing.

Can you tell the whole things rankles until this day.

I really appreciate your replies. Please keep them coming. It is good to know of your experiences. Thank you all so much.

OMG, MM, that must have been scary.

I hope Sarah has an easy time of it.

 

[Tiger Fan]

I had a C-section with DD (almost 8). I was induced on my due date and when my water broke it had meconium in it and they did an emergency c-section. I was quickly given a spinal-tap, and taken into the ER. The whole thing was less than 30 minutes. They had neonatal nurses on standby, but Emily was perfectly healthy, although covered in, um....poop! I had what my doctor called a "running" stitch and it dissolved on it's own about a week to two later so I didn't have to worry about having staples or stitches removed later. I had a catheter in until the morning after, when they got me up and moving it was removed. I was walking by mid-morning and feeling really good by the next afternoon. She was born on Thursday afternoon and I came home on Sunday morning. I was told not to lift anything more than the weight of my baby (she was over 10lbs so I didn't worry about much of that restriction). I didn't drive for about 4 weeks, even though I think they suggested 6. I walked slowly up and down our stairs, but had no real trouble with that. My scar is really low and would be hidden in a bathing suit bottom or underwear, they try to be careful of that if they can. Beattyfamily was right about the coughing, sneezing, laughing hurting, I suggest holding a pillow to your stomach to help ease that for a few days. Don't be worried, she will love having it all planned with no emergency worries. Good luck to all of you.
Lisa
Tiger Fan

 

[Virgo10]

I'm another dinosaur! I had both my kids via cesarean 29 and 27 years ago. Both times I was in the hospital for a week which was probably only necessary with my son (22 hours of labor and I was really sick!) but that was the way they did things back then.

I was awake both times and when my daughter was born in 1977 my Ex was allowed in the OR to watch. Not so in '75... he got to stand at the door (they wanted him to leave!) because I made such a fuss about it. My son was an emergency C-Sec while my daughter's was planned.

The most important thing after surgery is to keep moving. Gas pains can be worse than the incision site. Roll back and forth in bed, get up as soon as they'll let you and just keep changing position. Also having help around the clock for the first week is very desireable. You haven't just had a baby, you've had major surgery too!

While my cesareans weren't a totally bad experience, I would never have opted to have one if it wasn't necessary. I've always felt as if I missed out on something and it was one of life's experiences that I wanted to have.

BTW, I did breast feed both my kids but didn't start until the day after the operation. Anesthesia sends me to la la land so it wasn't safe for me to hold them. BF was a very positive experience but that's another topic!

Roberta