C-section - What to Expect?

L.,
First, Congrats on the new baby. Try not to worry too much, I know much easier said than done! :)
I had a c-section 4 years ago. Not planned, but I never dialated past 8... so in we went. My Dr was great and recovery was a little painful -- but nothing too bad, more I just had to remind myself to take it easy for a few days.
Knowing you've listened to your Dr's and do what's right for you and your baby.... that's all that matter.
Enjopy the time with your family and just take it easy! If that's possible with 2!! Congrats again!!

I planned on having my daughter naturally and ended up with a c-section at 37 weeks. They advised me that she was measuring over 9 pounds at 36 weeks so I was pretty nervous myself. I was pretty scared about the c-section cause it was a last minute decision from my doctor due to some bleeding complications I was having. The healing process is a bit more difficult and I have heard stories both good and bad. They used staples to close me up and a week later I had them removed and have been healing just fine and to top it off I get 2 more weeks paid off work so everything worked out. Try not to worry, everything will be fine:)

A big baby is *not* a medical indication for a cesarean section. I would be questioning your doctor and seeking a second opinion.

i had a c section with my first and the surgery went well it is the recovery that is bad. i would never recommend a c section to anyone! then i had a v bac with my second so much better and she was an 8 lbs. baby. but on the other hand my friend had a scheduled c section with her second and recoverd just fine. i think going into a scheduled c section is different than an emergency like mine.
it is ok to be nervous but things will be ok

The first thing you need to know is do not let other people's horror stories scare you! I too had a scheduled c-section because my baby was measuring big (9 lb. 14 oz) but was SO scared because what everyone told me....I was FINE. Yes I had pain at the incision for awhile, but they give you pain meds for that. You just have to take it easy afterwards, no overexerting yourself, no lifting anything besides the baby. One thing I will tell you....from stories I have heard, it sounds to me like those of us who had a scheduled c-section (vs. those who labored and ended up having an emergency c-section) had an easier recovery. All the best to you!

Well, as different as each pregnancy is the same goes for c-sections. However, that being said, I just had a c 3 months ago. Depending on your pain tolerance it shouldn't be too bad. I went in on a Monday and was released on Wed. They did however make sure I had extra help at home for our 2 yr old. The biggest thing I can suggest is to start walking, now. After delevery ask to sit up, move to another chair as soon as you think you can. Don't say you can't cause you are tired...you'll never get up:) Listen to your body.
The more you move the better you will start feeling and don't push away pain pills, take them and don't let your pain get strong before you take them. Get plenty of rest. Sleep when the baby sleeps.
Now what to expect during, in short:
start IV - walk into OR - start spinal (breath through it)
lay back and they start - leave OR - if you are bf go for it soon - bath, all that - go back to room.
I think that is about it in short. Good luck next week, I hope all goes well.

I've had two c-sections and no negative side effects. Neither of my c-sections were planned (the first was after 38 hours of labor and the second was after 12 hours of labor). You'll have a slightly longer hospital stay after a c-section, and be a little limited during your recovery (like not lifting anything heavier than the baby), but other than that I was fine. Send me a direct message if you have any specific questions that I can answer for you.

Good luck!

I had two c-sections, one after labor and pushing that wasn't effective, and one that was scheduled. They're not that bad -- please don't worry. You'll be fine. It'll be a different recovery for you, that's all.

You'll have either an epidural or a spinal. With my surprise c-section, they used the existing epidural. With the scheduled c-section, they used a spinal.

With my scheduled c-section, they inserted a catheter, an IV, and the epidural or spinal. I had the catheter and IV in a hospital room, I walked to the OR dragging all the equipment attached to the cath and IV, and climbed up on the operating table. The table looks like a cross--it's skinny with long "wings" on the sides for your arms. There's a screen between your face/chest and your belly, so you can't breathe or sneeze on the surgery area, and you can't see anything, either. My husband sat near my head. There was an anesthesiologist beside me, two doctors, one on each side of the table, and a bunch of nurses. The OR is cold. The nurses count all of the materials they use aloud, sponges, instruments, etc, so they know they didn't leave anything inside you. You might feel some pressure or tugging during the operation, but no pain.

With my first, the nurses had me up and walking withing six hours, and I suspect that played a role in my quicker recovery.

I had very little pain, as evidenced by the pca (patient controlled anesthesia). The nurses were surprised that I wasn't using it. I was given demerol that time, and for me, each push of the button on the machine lasted a long time.

With my second c-section, I had more pain, and I was given morphine, which made me very sick to my stomach, and I couldn't move my thumb to push the button on the patient controlled anesthesia machine without gagging. IF ONE OF THE MEDS MAKES YOU SICK, ask for the other one. After 18 hours, a nurse removed the PCA and said she'd give me motrin by mouth. I was sure I couldn't keep anything down, but she said I'd be fine when the morphine was gone, and she was right. Because of the timing of my c-section and my nausea from the morphine, I didn't get up and walk for nearly 24 hours, and that recovery was much slower.

You'll need a nursing pillow for sure w/ a c-section, and the nurses will help you position the baby. You feel like your insides are going to fall out when you stand up for several weeks -- that's weird.

My advice is have them get you up and walking ASAP.

L.,

I have had four c sections ... each c section got better!!!I really think they have improved the whole process majorly in the seven years since my first child was born ... it's amazing the changes they've made just in that time. My last c section was last spring so maybe things are even more perfect now. I have also had the gest. diabetes and my first child was 9 lbs. 4 oz...big babies sleep great so that's your silver lining....You will do fine and what you have to remember is that they are over before you know it and they do sooooo sooo many of them everyday! You will arrive (without eating or even drinking water for the whole night...worst part)they will monitor the baby and take your vitals and give you an IV(the other worst part)... then usually right on your scheduled time they will wheel you down to the operating room ... or you will walk depending upon the hospital ... that is when you will say goodbye to your hubby (the part i always cry) and he will get dressed and meet you in the OR after they give you your spinal ... the spinal is the part I dread and cringe over but it is done so fast and I just squeeze the nurses hand and then boom ... your legs and body will go numb very fast and they will lay you on the bed and then your hubby will get to come in and hold your hand and be right next to your head the whole time!!!! yeah!!!! the nurses in the room will talk to you and comfort you and the anethesiologist will stay with you the whole time too ... they will begin right away and before you know it your baby will be born!!! you will get to see your baby (as long as everything is okay) ... they will hold it up and maybe even let you give it a little kiss before they take it away (not too far) just to clean the baby up and then your husband will get to hold the baby next to you why they sew you back up and it will be the dearest moment and you won't even remember what they are doing to you .... by the fourth child i decided to watch the delivery and i do not regret it at all ... they held up a mirror so i could see him be delivered and it was wonderful ... i didn't really even notice the yucky parts. i am happy to answer any specific questions you may have....good luck....and remember you EARNED your recovery time so don't push it with c section recovery...that part isn't so fun!!!

Hi L..
Is the reason for the c-section just because the baby may be big? They always say that and I have yet to see a "too big" baby. I wonder if your doctor is planning a trip that he doesn't want to miss because of your delivery. This may be more convenient for him. Sorry for my cynicism but I've seen it too many times.

I had both a c-section and then a V-Bac. My C-section hurt for weeks and my incision always feels... funny- weak, even 7 years later. I felt vulnerable, breastfeeding was more difficult and recovery seemed to go on for months. I was miserable. And then it's over.

I couldn't believe how wonderful delivering naturally was. I was home and in my garden the next day! Please consider doing it naturally. You've already had one so it should be even easier. I know people who have delivered 10 lb baby's naturally just fine. It's just sooo much better for both baby and mother.

Either way, you'll have a beautiful new baby! Congratulations!

L., I am sorry that some people have used your request to get on their soap boxes about natural/vaginal births. That is one frustrating thing about this site, that people don't always answer your question, but try to convince you that their way is right.

I had a c-section, and the recovery was very easy...by the time I left the hosptital, I felt like nothing had happened to me! I had to remind myself that I had just had major surgery! However, I did have surgery DURING pregnancy, 6 months earlier to remove an ovary, so, I think that surgery may have prepared me. That one was a little tougher. A lot of soreness, but nothing too terrible. The few friends I have who have had vaginal births have had MUCH more difficult recoveries, and even some horror stories of many stitches, and having to be recut and sewn. Don't let people scare you.

Just remember, don't over do it after the c-section. the inside takes a long time to heal, even if you feel ok. and, if you notice ANYthing strange about your incision, or if you don't feel like it's healing well, see your dr., as infection is always a risk after any surgery!

One more thing, with a planned c-section, at least you will be prepared, and the dr.'s can do things at natural speed, rather than going through labor, pushing, and then having to do a fast c-section anyway. congrats and enjoy your baby!

L.,

The best thing you can do is not to stress (I know easier said than done). The day of the planned c-section you will go to the hospital, they will get you all registered, set you up in a prep room (like a small room, monitors, bed etc). Your blood pressure will be constantly monitored, along with the baby's heart rate. They will put your IV in, and about 20min before you have a catheter put in (does not really hurt, just weird). Your Dr, nurse, and anesthesiologist will come in and talk with you to answer any questions you will have.
Once it is time you will go in a wheel chair to the OR, your hubby will get dressed outside the doors into his required scrubs. Once in people will be preparing the room, you will get a shot in your lower back that will numb you from mid chest down. You will have oxygen they will explain to you what you will feel (it does not hurt it is really just a strange feeling), what will happen once baby is born etc. Once baby is born and you will see her, then they will check her out and your hubby and baby will go to recovery. They will continue to finish up with you, typically they talk to you to keep your mind off of what is going on. Then you are taken to recovery for about 30min (depends on the hospital) and sometimes they let family back to see you and the baby. I got really itchy from one of the drugs so they had to give me benedryl which really doped me up. Don't worry it is a very smooth process, it was scary for me since that was the 1st time I every had a procedure done and stayed in the hospital.
good luck and congrats!

Sorry so long
K.

I had a c-section after my labor didn't progress. With mine, they gave me a shot to numb everything from my neck down. The delivery itself didn't take very long once things got started. It takes a little bit to get everything sewn up, so my husband went to check on the baby while I was getting taken care of. He still got to be in there and got to cut the cord. The recovery time took about a week or so. It basically hurts to stand up straight for a few days and you can't lift much, but after that I felt fine. Good luck with everything, and congrats on the upcoming addition to your family!

I am not sure how a scheduled c-section goes because I went through labor first. I heard that if it is scheduled to make sure they give you the spinal before they put the urinary catheter in. If they do the spinal first and it starts working you wont feel a thing when it goes in. I heard horror stories that that is the worst part of a c-section. I didn't like the fact that they tie your arms down, it was really uncomfortable for me. I managed to tell them I at least need one arm free and i got it thank god. Also as for the pain meds I made sure that i was getting them every 4 hours or six not sure which it was. I would call and tell them ok its time for my pain meds now and they gave them to me. The only reason why I did this is because I new that if i gave it a chance to wear off even a little the pain would be to bad. So I decided I wasn't going to give it a chance to wear off and I just made sure that I got it right on time. but you will have to be persistent with the nurses because they will wait to give it to you unless you request it. I found that the pain was not that bad with the tylenol 3 and Ibuprofen they gave me. It was more of a burning uncomfortable feeling then a painful feeling. As for getting up and taking care of things around the house forget it. If your bedroom is upstairs I would set up other sleeping arrangements because you are not supposed to go up or down steps. I did after a couple of days maybe mroe than a week and I was ok. But i know people who overdid it and really regretted it so take it easy. If there is anything that I didn't answer just ask and I will see what I can do.

I was *sort of* in your same shoes in December. I had to deliver via c-section 4 weeks early (due to placenta previa, not gestational diabetes) and my son was 8 lbs. I too was extremely nervous but rest assured it all went well...

Make sure you talk to your doctor and ask them to walk you through the procedure step by step (if they haven't already) - that was very helpful, nothing was unexpected. I think the only thing that may be odd feeling or uncomfortable is that you will feel tugging and there is also a time where it will feel very difficult to breathe. But the difficulty in breathing only lasted about 10 seconds. Actually a scheduled c-section goes very quickly (the doctors can plan). I think it took 5 minutes to deliver my son - maybe 10 minutes max??

You can also ask your doctor to talk to you during the procedure so you know when to expect to experience specific sensations.

I was noticing some other posts - one specific to strapping the arms down. My arms were restrained, but I did not ask to NOT have them restrained - maybe you can? Maybe each hospital is different with their procedures. It didn't really bother me other than not being able to touch my baby . All is good though, he has a wonderful bond with his father and I suspect that played a role in that.

A lot of people I spoke to had pain during the recovery, but I really didn't think it was as awful as most people told me it would be. The day after was probably the most uncomfortable, but I made sure I was up and around quite a bit as quickly as possible, which, to my understanding, helps in the healing process.

In terms of your child, something to be aware of is possible minor respiratory problems. Be prepared for the possibility of your baby spending time in the NICU or spend an hour or so with oxygen. The reason, I was told, was this: a vaginal delivery extracts the liquid from the baby's lungs whereas a c-section does not. Although it sounds like you are not delivering early, which should also help in avoiding respiratory issues.