C-Sect is on Thurs... any advice?

Question

Hey all!

Well our little one is still breech so we've scheduled a c-section Thursday at 7am. And, no, they can't turn her, she's too big. This is our first child, so obviously my first c-section (and first surgery period).

I've read all the books, watched the shows, spoken to friends and relatives who have been through a c-section before, and gone over the proceedure with my OBGYN.

I was just wondering if anyone who's a c-section veteran had any fantastic advice to offer? Something they don't always tell you in a book?

Thanks so much!!

Answer 1

I had two emergency and one scheduled c-section.  

The best thing I could say is that when the nurses tell you 10 hours after surgery to get up and walk... do it.  I thought the nurses were nuts the first two times, lol... so I refused and the recovery time was very long.  This time I had an umbilical hernia surgery as well and just about 10 hours afterward the nurse came in and said to get up and walk and I thought... what the heck... so I did and in just 10 minutes I felt 500% better!  I was off pain meds two days later whereas with my other two I was on pain meds for over a month.  They say it is really imperitive that you walk right after ward... they aren't kidding!!!

Also, take showers as often as they will let you... it will help make you feel better as well.

Another thing is that they will tell you not to sweep, mop, or vacuum for 8-10 weeks.. again, they are not kidding.  With my second one I was 5 weeks out from surgery and spilled some cereal on the kitchen floor so I swept it up.. no big deal right?  wrong... with one sweep I ripped my incision back open and it got infected... this time I am letting hubby do that stuff for now.  

Don't be afraid to ask for help or refuse to do certain things.  Don't try to be supermom... trust me the first 10 weeks flies by and then everyone will expect supermom soon enough.  

And lastly... don't worry yourself with all the stresses of what could or could not happen... just enjoy the experience.  C-Sections give you the unique blessing of not being 'loopy' during the birth of your child and that is something I would never trade for a vaginal birth!

Good Luck and Congrats!!!!!

Wow Kamp31.. I just had my 3rd July 2nd and I totally forgot about some of the stuff you mentioned!!  (oh how soon we forget, lol)

Stool softener... don't miss a dose!!  You are sooo right!  You hit the nail on the head with every suggestion!!

To add on to your suggestion about the incision....I specifically asked the OB that there not be any students in the room... I told him I wanted to look around and see only gray hair, lol.  This was because with my second one they had a student anesthsiologist and she messed my spinal block up and the surgery was started with no drugs.  Needless to say I was knocked out for his birth.  I would add to that suggestion that you ask the doc to listen to what you say.  They will give you a spinal block or epidural and then proceed to ask you if you feel 'pain or pressure'.  Let them know that if you say pain... you are serious.  My OB at that time figured I was scared and kept telling me 'no, you feel pressure, theres a difference'... well wasn't his face red when they figured out that I had no  medicine in the vial!  Don't worry though... that was a fluke... I would just personally request there be no students in the room and that the doc listen to you.

Also, the other suggestion was really good too, I had tons of people wanting to come help... but they just wanted to help with the baby.. ugh... that is what I am here for!  My house was a disaster... every one quit offering once I explained I needed house help and help with the other kids.  Thank goodness for FMLA and a lil savings... my hubby took a month off of work to help out.

Answer 2

I had a c-section with my son on June 30th.  My advice is not to over do it.  I had him at 5:17 pm Monday and was walking around by Tuesday, just take your time but the more you mover afterwards the faster you heal.

The actual procedure was not bad at all. To be honest with you I had a good time talking with the doctors during the procedure. However right before it all happened I got very nervous, the nurses helped calmed me and things were great after that.  It also help to have a great person in the room with you.

After the baby is out you will see her for about 1 min then they will take her out of the room.  You will then spend another 30 min in the room getting "put back together".  You then go to recovery for about an hour  then brought to your room.  

The best advice is not to have people come and see you the first day, trust me you will not want to be social and the drugs will make you very tired.

Also if you get a spinal tap (like I did) be prepared for the side effects of iching, but they do have a medicine for afterwards.

I hope that helps and good luck!

Answer 3

In no particular order (based on 3 C-Sections):

1. The spinal makes your nose itch for a day or 2 after.  Seriously.  

2. Make sure your MD writes you a prescription for pain meds to take home after you leave the hospital - 2 out of 3 times, mine forgot (post-surgery + postpartum - percocet = not a happy mamma).  

3. Have a chair with a high back or even a step stool next to your bed at home - helpful to use as a "rail" to hoist yourself out of bed and also good to store a bottle of water and a few magazines.  

4. Your Boppy is your friend.

5. If you have help with you for a few days after you get home, explain to them BEFORE the baby that you are really glad they will be there to help you out with the NON-baby stuff around the house.  (Key - "non-baby" - set the groundrules that you will need help with dinner, groceries, cleaning etc. Sometimes people want to come and cuddle the baby, which is nice but not help so much.)

6. (TMI WARNING) Your first BM is worse than the C-Section - get a stool softener and get it soon.

7. Don't let the med student sew you up - the scar is forever (or at least until the next baby) - make sure your doctor knows you want their skilled hands.

8. If your significant other cannot "room in" with you at the hospital, plan to send your baby to the nursery for a few hours so that you can get some rest (heck- plan to do it even if your SO is there).  They will bring the baby to you if he/she needs to feed, but you will be in no condition to get out of bed and change a diaper the first night.

Best of luck!

Answer 4

OK, I had two so I know all about it. You will feel it but it will feel like it does when you have a backpack on and someone tugs on it. You feel the tugging but in a far way type way. You may be embarrassed to be naked from the breast down with 6 other people in the room but them the drugs kick in. I was very chatty! Also, when the drugs first hit you - your blood pressure will drop and you may momentarily feel light headed. The anaesthesiologist will be right there and he will be aware of this. When the baby first comes out- she won't cry as she was sleeping all comfy cozy and didn't go through the whole vaginal canal thing. Don't be afraid - she will cry in a couple of seconds. They will take her and clean her up while they stitch you up and then you get her! Yay! You aer then wheeled away to start breastfeeding and be a mom! Good luck and Hooray!! The baby is coming!!

Answer 5

Make sure u have every thing that u will need ready before u go for the c-section it will be a lot easier and have friends and family there to help because u will need it good luck and best wishies

Answer 6

Ensure that your husband does not lose sight of your little one once  he/she is born. Request to have your baby in with you immediately. Most hospitals take the baby away to the nursery room to bathe while you're in the recovery room, see if your baby can be with you and husband right away.

Try to have a few visitors as possible. You are going to be in such pain that you are not going to in the best possible mood to greet them.  Get skin to skin contact right away.

Congrats!

Answer 7

Shave your own bikini area, if you don't already...

You can just shave the top down, where the incision will be.  The nurses will dry shave you, before the surgery if you don't do it youself....  I imagine that would be uncomfortable and a little humiliating.  

Ask for the nurses to put your catheter in after your numb, most will do that automatically.  But if they try to do it when your not numb yet, ask them to wait.  Most will accomodate you.  Getting the catheter in when your not numb is very unpleasant.

I've had 3 scheduled c-sections...  I think the very worst part is the anxiety before the surgery...  It's really difficult to deal with, for me anyway.  I felt a weight lifted off my chest, as soon as surgery was over.  

I think if you approach you surgery with the most positive attitude you can, you will recover faster.  

It's pretty painful the 1st time you get up and out of bed...  It only gets better from there...  Don't be afraid to ask for pain meds.

Hope this helps!

Answer 8

Make sure they get the epidural in the right spot and that it has taken full effect before they start to operate. I felt the whole thing.

Answer 9

As soon as you can start walking, don't stay in the hospital bed the whole time.  Get a wheelchair to walk around with, and keep walking when you get home.  I was off pain killers 2 days after I was out of the hospital.  

Try and get them to lower the curtain at the time they pull your baby out, so you get to see them as soon as possible.  

Answer 10

just relax n take it easy..u have nothing to worry about...i had c section for both my babies...the more u worry the more difficult it will be for u so just relax...

Answer 11

Well, I can tell you, its probably going to be nowhere as bad as you are expecting it to be. lol.  At least you have had time to prepare!  I had about 20 minutes to prepare...seeing as I had an emergency c-section.  You will feel some pushing and tugging probably (some don't) but you should feel no pain at all.  They will deliver your baby and let you see her for a few moments (possibly hold) and then take him/her to the nursery (your spouse/father's child will go with the baby) while they put you back together.  You will spend about an hour in the recovery room, yes, in pain.  But you should be given a morphine pump or some other pain management.  Then you can go to your room and see your baby!  For my delivery, I had to keep the catheter in and stay in bed for 24 hours, then the next morning they took the catheter out, and told me to press the call button when I had to pee and they would help me out of bed.  Well, the time came and when I stood up, it felt like all my insides were going to fall out!  That first trip to the bathroom was h**l...but I tried to walk as much as possible and after that it wasn't so bad.  I'd rather have stitches on my belly than on my rear! Haha! They usually let you go home in about 3 days.  You won't be on a full diet until you have a bowel movement, or they hear good bowel sounds with a stethoscope.  You will be on a disgusting liquid diet until then.  All in all, its not so bad of an experience!!  (This is coming from someone who has a LOW threshold for pain, and I would definitely have surgery again and not be scared lol)