Recovering from C-Section?

[Stimpy]

I just recently found out I might have to have a c-section. (I'll know for sure in 2 weeks) Since I had a "natural" delivery the first time, I'm wondering what I can expect after the c-section. I've read all the books and talked to the doctor. Everything gives you the basics of what happens during the operation and very basic info about what happens afterwards. I know the recovery takes longer and have some idea about the "medical" stuff, but they make it seem so technical and by the book.

What can I really expect afterwards? I think I'll feel more at ease if I can hear from others who have had a section and know what to expect in common English.
Thanks!

 

[Pin Wizard]

I had a c-section and was thrilled with it. Much better than the alternative, especially with a baby that was 10 lbs. 2 ozs. I had it done on a Monday morning and went home on Weds. afternoon. And the nurses kept asking me if I wanted a "pain pill." Ha! No, I didn't find it so unbearable that I needed something. Only a couple times. Good luck! Hope your experience is as positive as mine was!!

 

[Serena]

I've got to go but I'll send you a p/m later. Some of it is graphic.

But trust me, the fear of it is a thousand times worse than it was.

 

[GEM]

I had to have an emergency c-secion, and while I would never choose a c-section given a choice, it really wasn't bad at all. The actual surgery itself was fast, easy, and painless. My recovery was really pretty easy as well. I never had any real pain at all. I didn't even take the prescription pain killlers, just Tylenol for a few days. My section was at 10p.m. and I was able to get up and around pretty well by the next evening. By the time I was discharged 48 hours later, I was getting around really well. I got up and walked and moved around as soon as they would let me, and I think that helped. After a week or so I felt pretty much back to normal. I know that isn't the case for everyone, but for me, it wasn't bad at all. Because it was an emergency situation, they had to do a vertical incision, which means that any future babies have to be delivered by c-section as well. That doesn't really bother me. I would have like to have doen it the other way, but I certainly don't dread another c-section or the recovery.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

I had a planned c-section. My daughter was almost 9 pounds and breach.

I won't lie to you, it was painful. But, they gave me morphine and that was nice. I was really sore and had a hard time walking with more that a shuffle for a week or so. I am really glad my grandma came down and helped me.

 

[powellrj]

I have had 3 and you will be fine!! Just make sure you drink lots of water after your surgery and keep a pillow handy to hold your tummy with. Walk as much as you can when they get you up. I had 2 of mine on Friday mornings and went home on Sunday morning both times. The first one was 21 years ago and I had it on Sunday morning and they let me stay until Thursday with him.

 

[ToriLammy]

I had two C-sections, the first because the baby was too big. The second because she was too small. With my first one I had the C-section on Monday and by Friday I was touring around London with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law who came to England for the birth. That was almost 19 years ago and the technology has come a long way so I'm pretty sure you'll have no problems. I do remember not being able to drive for 6 weeks because of it be abdominal surgery but I think even that has changed. I also remember the person in my room had a regular delivery and she was in much more pain than I was. The nurses found that interesting.

 

[helenk]

I had 2 c-sections, the first an emergency and not planned the second was planned because I was afraid that what ever had happened the first time to make my son go into distress would happen again for my second baby....any way, it is very important to get up and get moving as soon as possible. When I had my first c-section I had a pain killer the first day, but I wanted to nurse so I held off and just had tylenol after that, they got me up the second day to move and to walk around. I kept that in mind for my second child. I had her in a different hospital and they did not seem be as "strict" about getting you up etc, so I did so on my own and I was glad I did, the woman next to me had a c-section and by the second day she really seemed to be in a lot of pain. When they finally got her up, she was alot more stiff than I had been. For both surgeries I just had the demerol (spelling) shot and no other pain killers beside tylenol thereafter and I was fine.

 

[luv2nascar]

both my DD were born via c/section
first one was unplanned and necessary due to complications and not progressing after 23 hrs of labor
2nd DD born 6/25/03 (still pretty fresh in my mind) was planned and was much more difficult than the first I think due to 2nd DD being so much larger 1lb more and lots of adhesions according to my doctor

I was 8 years younger for the first one (almost 27) and almost 35 for 2nd dd so I'm sure that has something to do with it
I just don't have easy pregnancies or deliveries
I had to be out for the first and definintely felt I missed something with first DD (bonding) my DH & MIL got to hold her before I did
was awake for 2nd dd and enjoyed that much more
I had much more pain after the 2nd

I wish you luck you'll get through it with flying colors
I really don't think babies come out easy either way and I was sort of afraid of a normal delivery

 

[momof2inPA]

I think that the experience is a little different for everyone, but I would choose c-section over pushing any day. The catheterization before the surgery was the most uncomfortable part for me. I, too, was off major pain killers within 24 hours of the surgery, and just took Motrin after. You aren't supposed to go up and down stairs for at least a week after the surgery, and you are not supposed to drive for a few weeks, either. Don't worry. It's only a little painful, and it's worth it.

 

[mrsv98]

I had a planned c-section with DD because she was breech. Went in early, early am on Mon, had her at 7:38am, and was up and around on Tues. It is about 24 hours on a "clear" diet, then you can eat. I was walking as soon as the catheter came out and that felt good. Walking was somewhat painful at first but not bad. I am allergic to morphine so I had demerol shots at first but by the time I went home on Fri, I was just taking ibuprofen. The hardest thing for me was not being able to go up and down stairs. I think it was a two week restriction and since we lived on the 2nd floor, it made life a little difficult. Plus, climbing stairs was pretty painful even after everything else was better. Actually, the biggest pain was not being allowed to drive, I was going stir crazy!

Really, it wasn't bad at all. DH teases me because I always say the most painful part was getting the IV! Don't worry about it too much. Look at it this way, your sweet baby will be beautiful from the start because he/she won't have a cone head! Oh, and don't be alarmed if they have to suction the baby out more or use a nasal gastric tube to clean her out. Babies born by c-section aren't squeezed on the way out so they tend to have more gunk in their throats/chests etc. It just takes a min or two of "hoovering" and they are just fine!

If you have more questions, don't hesitate to ask!

 

[WishingStar]

To be very honest, I have had 3 children #'s 1 and 3 were natural #2 was an emergency c-section(umbilical cord wrapped around his neck 3 times). I hated the c-section, it took me a very long time to get over it. The end result was that my son was born healthy and that is what really matters.

Best of luck and prayers to you.

 

[luvmy2sams]

Both my kids were born via C-section. DD's was an unplanned one after 3.5 hours of pushing. She was stuck, and no amount of pushing was going to bring her out. DS was a planned c-section. I ended up going without pain meds (other than Tylenol or Motrin) during recovery, but don't be afraid to ask for them, if you need them.

With DD I was VERY sore from all the pushing, but I was up and moving the following morning. I took a shower and everything. That was the worst of it...getting into the jacuzzi tub whose sides came up to my waist. Not fun! I was in the hospital from Wed. to Sat. and even walked to the car from my room.

DS's delivery was wonderful! The worst part of it was getting the IV. My surgery was at 8am, and I was walking from bed to bathroom by 5pm. Getting out of bed was hard, and I shuffled, but the important thing was that I was up. I was walking completely upright by the following afternoon. DS was born Monday morning, and I went home Wednesday morning.

I second the suggestion of using a pillow for support. It takes the pressure away a bit. Also make sure you start back on food as soon as your doctor will allow. The hospital messed up my chart, and I was on a liquid diet the entire time with DS. I had horrible gas because there was nothing in my system to absorb any of it. Other than that, take a bullet when it's time to get your staples removed. I hated that part! I have several friends who delivered around the time I did, and we all had c-sections. Not one of us would choose the other method of delivery if given the choice.

Sorry this got so long. Good luck with the remainder of your pregnancy and best wishes for a speedy delivery and recovery!

 

[Disneylvr]

I had a C-Section last March because after 24 hours of labor I was only 4cm dialated and was running a fever. The surgery itself was painless. I had already received an epidural and they just put stronger meds in that to totally numb me from the lower chest down. You feel a coldness go into your body when they inject the anthesia, a very strange feeling.

I was given morphine after the surgery which kept me very comfortable for about 12 hours. After that I really only felt severe pain when I had to move or cough. They kept me on an IV and catheder for about 36 hours following surgery which I HATED. The hospital volunteers made pillows for surgery patient to put on your incision when you had to cough and it did help. In the hospital I only took Advil for pain/inflamtion which the nurses absolutely insisted I take although I was offered much stronger meds. I was sent home with Tylenol 3 (again, I was offered a stronger narcotic but I refused) but I only took a few of the. The pain, for me anyway, was as bad as I thought it would be. On that scale they show you in the hospital I never had pain above a 7 following the surgery.

PM me if you have any specific questions!

 

[Jeanny]

each person is different. Recovery times depend on a lot of things...I had an emergency C-section with my daughter 26 years ago. I tell her that she was playing jumprope with our umbilical cord, she had her cord wrapped around her neck, under her arm and then back around her neck.

I recovered fine and she was fine at 9.5 lbs, 20 inches. Just keep a pillow over your tummy for when you cough and to keep comfortable.

Good Luck

 

[maleficent1959]

I've had two, sons are now 3 and 5 months. The first, unplanned, was very painful and it was a slow recovery. The second one was planned and it was practically a breeze. I didn't even need any prescription pain medications. Not that it didn't hurt, but the pain was certainly not like the previous c-section and tolerable. I didn't want anything too strong that would make me loopy. My DH kept saying how amazed he was at how I was doing compared to the first.

Try to get up and walk around as much as you can while in the hospital -- it really does hasten your recovery. My IV and catheter came out first thing the next morning, so you may find yourself up and around sooner than some other posters were.

I was advised no driving or exercise for six weeks. No lifting anything heavier than the baby, no vacuuming or anything that put strain on my abdominal muscles.

I had a nurse tell me that often women who go through labor and then have to have a section have a slower recovery than women who have a planned section.

 

[Chattyaholic]

My ex-daughter-in-law had my granddaughter by c-section (the baby needed surgery right after delivery, which they knew about beforehand, thus the need for the c-section) and she did fine with it. I'm sure it all depends on a person's "tolerance" for pain, but she was up and walking around the next day, and not "hunched over" either. But then, she's the same one who was eating popcorn at night, after having all 4 wisdom teeth removed!! I don't think pain really bothers her much!

 

[Mskanga]

I had both children with c-sections, the first one was an emergency because she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck three times , cutting her own oxygen supply and she was also breached. That one took me a bit longer to recover but a week later I was out and about town , the only thing I didn't do was drive, but I had my parents at home so they could help out with that.
The second time I planned it, due to the distance between the hospital my home, I would have never made it there probably. That was 7 years ago and the anesthesiologyst ( sp? ) gave me an anesthesia that was combined also with pain killers, let me tell you , that recovery was a breeze, the only time that I really had a hard time was passing gas for the first time after the surgey but after that I was fine.
Both times I was in the hospital 4-5 days , and I loved every minute of it, for once someone was taking care of me!
I have been very pleased and if I ever was going to have another baby, I would plan another c-section, I prefer that to be pushing for hours.

 

[lisajl]

2 children natural...1 emergency c-sect.

I must say, my recovery from the c-sect was amazing! I feared the worst and it was no problem.

The hardest part, we had a water bed. If you have one, get rid of it now! It was immensly difficult to get out of it. I tried so hard to get out of it and ended up crying and falling back in bed.

I then moved to the couch for the next two weeks and it was fine.

Lisajl

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I had 2 sections and did not have labor before either. The worst thing for me was the feeling of not being able to get my breath during the procedure. Apparently this is normal but no one had told me and I got quite panicked that I felt I couldn't breath. If I had known this was common, I wouldn't have been so worried.

I got up and walked as soon as I was allowed and that really helped. My doctor let me do stairs under my own power (no help) as soon as I went home and I wasn't allowed to drive for 2 weeks.

The hardest thing with #2 was not being able to lift the 2 year old I already had.

Good luck to you. It really isn't bad at all.