Advice About C-sections

I've had two because I have a thin spot in my uterus and can't have natural childbirth. It is extremely easy and quick! Everyone heals differently but I felt better in about 3 weeks..had lowered my pain pill prescription w/in three days and after one week was taking nothing but ibuprofen for about another week. My best advice is to take pain pills immediately after you breast feed to reduce the amounts in your milk and plan out/schedule help for at least two weeks from friends and relatives, and your husband for a month. Your man is really going to have to step up to the plate more than you after the C-section!!! Good Luck!!!

There are good stories and bad stories. Bottom line, dont stress. I have to have c-section because my body will not labor. Things I wish I had known.

1. Have an eye to eye conversation with the anestesiologist (sp?) Mine was a bit arrogant and ended up hurting my spine a bit. Nothing serious or permanent, but he ignored my advice about slight scoliosis. This go around my doctor is hand picking the doc giving the shot.
2. It feels weird. It all is going so fast that the docs/nurses might forget to tell you why things feel the way they do. I could not breathe which scared me. I learned later it was from the gentle pushing they do to get baby out.
3. Educate your husband and find out his comfort level. Mine did NOT want to see me cut open so I made sure the docs did not make him participate. He stayed with me and wiped my tears of joy when I heard that first cry.
4. I am sure hospitals are different. But I missed out and will again on the first bath, diaper, etc because I was in recovery. Although it made me sad, a good friend video taped my husband doing it all with the nurse. It is now my favorite video. It was a special time for my husband and his first son.
5. Everyone heals differently. My sis in law was weeks of misery, I was on advil day one. Know your body and take it as slow as possible. LET people help. Moms, mom-in-law, friends, whatever..... dont be prideful.
6. Oh yes... the anestesia causes a weird itching sensation all over your body for about 24 hours. I tried to be tough and decline the meds to help with that. After about 2 hours I begged for anything to stop the itching. LOL, this time I will request it first thing.
7. A lovely little pooch develops after this surgery. I have heard it does not matter how good of shape you were in before. I was in horrible shape, so shame on me. However, I have heard if you really hate it, tummy tuck is the only solution. DO NOT let it get you down. You are a gorgeous mommy. I let it get to me for about a year. I am over it now. However, if we ever have a windfall of extra money I will be making that appointment with plastic surgeon.
8. Dont be embarrased to wear maternity clothes longer than expected. You dont want to irritate anything from surgery. I tried to wear normal clothes too soon.
9. Vitamin E, vitamin E, vitamin E. Oil all over your belly and scar.
10. It really is all pretty routine these days... dont stress and God bless you and your growing family.

I had an emergency C-section after a long labor and I have a few pieces of advice:
1) You will be in recovery and will miss the 1st bath. Have someone with your hubby to take lots of photos.
2) Have someone there to wait for YOU in recovery. You do not want to be left alone.
3) If you feel you have to pee at all -go. Having a full bladder after a C-section is the most horrible pain. No one told me this. It is almost impossible to pee about 2 days after your C-section. As soon as you feel the need to pee even a little, WALK to the bathroom. Otherwise the pain may be so bad you can't even release it. Sounds odd I know.
4) Rest and don't lift anything heavy or take stairs for a while.
5) Good luck an congrats! Enjoy your little one.

I have heard that planned ones are a lot easier because they move your muscles out of the way instead of cutting through them in some emergency situations (like mine) But make sure you have help when you are at home. Your two year old will want you to hold her and you aren't allowed to carry anything heavier than your newborn. My biggest advice is to make sure you roll onto your side when getting out of bed. I was not told to do this and I seriously felt like I was being cut in half. I was lucky enough to not get the extra flap or buldge of skin that a lot of c-section mom's get but I have also been in physical therapy for 6 months from complications of the surgery... so maybe I would have rather had a bulge, who knows? Good Luck and make sure you have help when you arrive at home, because you aren't supposed to walk up and down the stairs or drive for a while.

I had a c-section 13 yrs ago for a breech baby, and then have had 5 VBACs because of a wonderful doc. I agree with the previous post, see if your doc will turn the baby or wait a little longer to see if he will turn on his own. I have had a couple of my later ones turn on their own just before birth. You can encourage him to turn by massaging where his head is and gently pushing it towards your pubic bone. I wouldn't let the doctor tell you that a c-section is your only option, until you are in labor there are other options. Good luck.
J.--SAHM of 6

I had a natural birth with my first and a c-section with the 2nd. I honestly prefer a c-section. I had less pain than I did with my first 9 pounder! I recommend mederma for the scar (after you are done breastfeeding). Other than that I can't really think of anything extra to do to prepare.

You may want to ask your doc if he/she is wanting to do a c-section because he/she is not experienced with breech deliveries or whether it is for another reason. Personally, I would definitely do anything at all to avoid such a major surgery (and there are ways to turn the baby ...I agree with the other moms to try them first, though not all babies will turn and stay put).

Hope it goes well no c-section or no. Good luck!

I've had two c-sections. One was emergency, and one was scheduled. The first one was scary because of the whole emergency part (the baby's heart rate dropped suddenly and wouldn't go back up), but I already had an epidural and it wasn't bad at all. I was super tired because I'd already been through hours of labor before hand, but the recovery was easy. It hurt a lot afterward, though, and I was a real pansy. They kept telling me to get up and walk around, but I thought they were insane. I had a lot of pain for a very long time. It hurt to cough or sneeze, roll out of bed, or even to stand up and walk for very long. I remember walking around the grocery store for about 5 minutes just about did me in when my son was 2 weeks old. I thought I'd die before I got to the car to sit down again. And I remember it still hurting sometimes when I sat up in bed 3 months after the c-section.
With the second, I had a spinal block instead of an epidural (that's standard). I hated it! I felt super sleepy for about 2 hours. The c-sections were very different, as were the routines of the different hospital.
This time, the nurses made me get up and around more. And I listened. It hurts, but I would take a walk with the baby, pushing his rolling basinette around the maternity ward. I recovered weeks faster than I did the first time. I remember that my MIL was staying with us the day after we got home from the hospital, and she is the kind of person who does chores, and who finishes them before she moves on to something else. She was doing laundry. A lot of laundry. It was 12:30. My 2 year old was supposed to be done with lunch and in bed, and I was starving. BUt there's MIL, plugging away at folding laundry. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I made lunch. And I was fine standing up that long! I couldn't believe the difference.
Sorry I'm so wordy. The point I'm trying to make is that you NEED to get up and walk around. Every step you take knocks off days of recovery time.
It's really nice to make plans when you have a scheduled c-section. I was really bummed that I had to have a c-section the second time, so I tried to think of positive things. I was also scheduled for a Friday. We had our older son spend the night Thursday at Grandma's house, and DH and I went out to dinner and relaxed that evening. Then we got up and reported to the hospital at our scheduled time. We got into the OR a little earlier than we expected, but Grandma knew about what time to come see us and had her day all planned out. It went really smoothly that way. Take advantage of the positive things about knowing when you'll have this baby!

L.- Relax! I have had two c-sections (my daughter was breech but my 2nd was elected)

They give you an epidural, wheel you into the operating room, strap your arms down to extended boards, and hook you up with an anastesiologist(sp?), then they tell you "a small cut" You can feel preasure but, it does not hurt-feels weird. Then they wiggle the baby out and staple you closed. Both of my c-sections were 8 minutes start to finish!
You may be a little tired and dopey afterwards but, it will be ok soon and you can see your baby right away!

My down time was about 4 days...they will keep you for 3 so you're ready to go at that point. You can't do lifting but, you can walk and care for yourself. You'll be back to yourself in no time at all.

They will take your staples out the day before you leave-it does not hurt! Enjoy your baby and do worry- Good Luck- email me if you have any other questions-happy to help! H.

Definitely take it easy afterwards. I took a lot of naps. You will move slowly for the first few days. My scar was a bit longer then most, so it took awhile to move freeley. It helps to have a pantyliner stuck to your panties right over the scar - it will keep the friction down. And put lots of Vitamin E or a scar lotion over the scar when its healed up a bit. I was breech (once upon a time) and my mom had no problems. I was told "Just revel in your new baby and don't focus on how they came out, just that they are here!"

My son was breech to via c section. You'll be fine. Look at the positives: you know exactly he'll arrive so you can tell everyone in advance where to send their good wishes, flowers and pampering presents. The procedure is startlingly fast, no worries about when and where labor will happen. The recovery is as fast as natural, at least from what I've seen :-)

My thoughts, hugs and best wishes are with you. And remember your son will LOVE to have his head rubbed. Its what he's used to. Congrats!

I went the same way, my daughter I had vaginally and my son who was too big and sideways I had to have a csection.

I have to say the csection wasn't as awful as I had anticipated. Yes there were moments if I moved the wrong way it was painful. The not being able to do more activity probably was the worst part.
Make sure if you have stairs in your house you set up anything you need downstairs. I slept in the spare bedroom with a bassinett and my son for the first two or three weeks. So have hubby set you up where you don't need anything up the stairs.
Also, my dr was on old pro at them and he had me up walking around slowly two hours after surgery so I didn't tighten up.
I think him doing that saved me a lot of unneccessary pain.
You will hurt, but it isn't like an episiotomy which I thought was a lot more painful to be honest.
Make sure you take it easy, do what the Dr says and don't try and lift or walk up stairs until your time is up to do so.
I can barely see my scar, the Dr did a fabulous job and that walking slowly right after surgery was a blessing. He had me up every morning doing a little walk and I think that helped in my healing.
Good luck and CONGRATS!!!!!!!

If you're up for it, you might see if the doctor will let you try or try methods to turn the baby. Otherwise, a c-section isn't too bad. Don't take the pain meds if you don't have to. I tend to do too much, delaying healing if I take them. Practice now with letting your daughter climb into your lap since you won't be able to pick her up after. Congratulations! Let me know if you have any other questions. I've had three. These are just my initial thoughts.

I am really glad to hear that you have a church!! You already know that it is for your baby's safety and it is in the best interest for you to have the least amount of stress as possible. If it is at all possible stock up on tv dinners and the frozen bag dinners. Be ready to take a lot of time to heal. It is easier to camp off the couch with the bassinet by you than to get up and down from bed. Staris are pretty hard and you might need to ask someone to come over to help you do laundry. If you don't have family and friends that you could ask to help you hire a teenager neighbor for cheap. You will be fine and it is a good idea to take as much time as possible to heal at the hospital then rushing home to take care of everything else. I call this a mommy vacation. I am also going to suggest that you take the reccomended pain killers that they offer so that your body can relax and heal more efficiently. You are going to do great. Just let all your supporters know what is going on and any and all help is very much welcomed. Good luck anf god bless!!

I had 3 daughters vaginally and my last daughter was breech. The c-section really wasn't too bad. I actually think I prefer it. Just keep in mind you will have to take it easier and make sure you have some help with your two year old. My youngest was 3 and we had tv day for several days, so don't worry about it! Make some meals before and make sure you have what you need since you can't drive for about 2 weeks. Good luck and congrats!

Hi L.,
I had a C-section last November after 20 hours of labor, and it was actually fairly quick and easy. My adivce is to relax and enjoy the last few days of pregnancy and being a mom to one kiddo. After the surgery you will be sore and it will be hard to roll, sit up, etc., so plan for some extra help around the house if you can. My advice is to stay in the hospital for as long as possible afterward, having the nurses around is wonderful, and ask for help for when you get home. Get up and walk a bit (slowly) as soon as you feel up to it after your surgery. It will sound like the last thing you want to do, but getting up and around really helped me to feel better.
My C-section was pretty easy, but it is still major surgery and you will be slower to recover than you were from the vaginal birth of your daughter.
Take it easy as much as you can, and enjoy the new baby. Best of luck!

I also had a natural birth with my first (9 lbs) and a c-section with my second (6 lbs) because she was breech. Now with my first I only had 5 hours of labor, but I think I would take the c-section over the labor anyday. It was so quick and easy. I know the after math getting up and down was a little more work, but it all turned out okay. Good luck to you it will all work out great.