20 questions for BTDT c-section momma's

Thanks so much to everyone who posted their replies to this thread! My babies are both breech and have been for a long time, so I've known I would deliver by c-section for a while. I have been disappointed about missing out on a vaginal birth and anxious about recovery, but everyone's advice and experiences have made me feel SO MUCH better. I can't wait to meet my babies! C-section scheduled for October 8th.......

 

Did you panic as they were prepping you?
A little, but not what I would really call panic.

DId you worry you would feel it?
Yup.

What did you feel when it was happening?
Nothing. I felt a little when they were stitching my skin back together, but that was it.

Where you sad that the babies are taken away immediately?
They were left with us a little bit while I was getting stitched up. I got to kiss both of them before they went to the nursery. I was a scheduled c-section though, at 39 weeks.

How long did stitching you up after take?
Probably 45 - 60 minutes. Longer than delivery.

How horrid was recovery the first 24-48 hours?
Not so horrid. I just had a reaction to the spinal. I shook for a while and couldn't control it, and I had an itching all over thing. I got some serious bendryl stuff for that, and was fine. The shaking part freaked me out though - no one warned me before hand.

Did you struggle with breastfeeding?
I went straight to bottles.

What are the three or four days in the hospital for? Can you get up and walk around?
You can get up after your IV is out. The first time I had to be helped, and they wanted to know when I was getting up so they could come and check on me the first 24 - 36 hours.

How was the recovery ten days later?
Not bad. I was down to a motrin every once in a while.

Did the babies suffer any adverse effects from this type of delivery?
Nope.

Did you worry less or more knowing it was going to be a c-section?
I think less. My first was vaginal, and I didn't know when it was going to happen. Twins were scheduled, and I worried I wasn't going to make it to my date b/c they were both basically sideways. No hope of vaginal - labor would only be a pain for me.

What was the worst part of having a c-section?
Trying to get my stomach back in shape afterwards. Or the worrying about the surgery itself.

What was the best part of having a c-section?
It was so much easier than 23 hours of labor.

What else should I know?
I had some pretty heavy bleeding 7 days after. When I called the dr. office, that was somewhat common, but they sent me to the ER to get checked since it got pretty bad.

Good luck!

 

First off, let me say you obviously have a great doctor who knows you very well! When I had my daughter I NEVER even considered a c-section. In fact, we were planning a birth in our hospital's alturnative birthing center. After 30 hours of labor I had an emergency c-section since both of our lives were threatedned.

Here are a few questions if you feel like answering them all or just a few:

Did you panic as they were prepping you? As I said mine was an emergency after a VERY long labor. I was to exhausted to panic, but I was very scared. I think that is totally normal. [/COLOR]

DId you worry you would feel it?I didn't really think about feeling it, but they told me that I would. I had an epidural and not a spinal. I did feel it. Although I did not feel pain I could feel the pulling and tugging as they were doing the procedure.

What did you feel when it was happening?

Where you sad that the babies are taken away immediately? It was very hard to be separated

How long did stitching you up after take? I don't remember, but not long

How horrid was recovery the first 24-48 hours? It wasn't great, but not as bad as I though it might be. The best advice I would have is to make sure you stay on top of the pain meds. Also, they make you get up within the first 12 hours

Did you struggle with breastfeeding? Breastfeeding was hard at first, but it is even without a c-section I have heard. I breastfed for over 2 years with my daughter and hope to for at least a year or more with the twins. The only reason I was successful was because I was determined. I did get some support from the hospital, but not much. If it is something you really want to do be persistant and determined and you can do it!

When did milk come in? Mine came in after I went home (although the day I went home).

What are the three or four days in the hospital for? Can you get up and walk around? A c-section is MAJOR surgery. The additional hospital time is to make sure that you are recovering well and that there is no significant blood loss, infection or other complications. You can and will be asked to get up and walk around. You won't want to do a whole lot or go for very long walks, but you will shower, walk around the room and maybe in the halls a little.

How was the recovery ten days later? I found that I noticed a real improvement in how I felt by the time about 5 days had passed and things got better from there. The best advice for after you leave the hospital is that you need to follow your doctor's order's if you want a smooth recovery. This means limiting stair use not driving, not lifting, vacumming, or doing laundry.

Did the babies suffer any adverse effects from this type of delivery? No! I had a VERY healthy huge baby girl... 10lbs. 4oz. She was perfect!

Did you worry less or more knowing it was going to be a c-section?

What was the worst part of having a c-section? The fact that it was surgery and that I had my daughter at a very busy hospital that was overcrowded. I had to recover alone without my baby and family until they found a room for me in the maternity section of the hospital (10 hours). I also had a hard time emotionally because it was not even close to what I had planned.

What was the best part of having a c-section?Surviving the birth and having a perfect baby

What else should I know?Your health and the health of your baies is the most important part of birth. You may not need a c-section, but if you do prepare for the possibility mentally. I think I would have felt a lot better if I had considered this as a possibility the frst time around. This time I will have one as well, and of course I am nervous, but I am at least prepared for what I am getting into. We spend so much time planning and preparing for a vaginal delivery somtimes we forget that not all babies decide to come that way.

Feel free to move this to First Year if that's where it should be.
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