Birth through C-section

Hi, When giving birth by C-section, What are the methods that the anesthetist administer? I've heard of spinal blocks also of epidural. What is the experience like? Or in other words what to expect. My friend had to have an emergency C-section and she did the spinal block thingy. She said that it was painful and that every hr. she had to call the nurse in for pain meds. through via fluids. (But I don't expect her experience to be mine-She did not take care of herself-She overworked, stressed, continue to have intercourse although she told me it was very painful...I actually told her to go to the E.R. because she was out running errands for her granmother while she was 3 centi. dialated {because she did not know how to say NO } It was a good thing that she did go to the E.R afterwards because they found that the baby was having problems with the heart which ended up being Fetal distress and they did the Emergency C-section) But in any event...What is the recovery time after either of these methods? Anyone with good experiences and what did you do to get through this? I always like to expect the best but also to plan for the worst. I am trying to put my after care in place. ( Either my mother will help me through recovery or I will hire help) But I do not plan on doing anything that will harm or interfere with my recovery. Knowledge is Power! Thanks in advance. :grouphug:

 

Hi there!!

I had a scheduled C-section & had a spinal (worked great, didn't feel a single thing! :good

I have zero complaints about my experience w/ my c/s. I stayed ahead of my medication (took exactly what they told me to) and sayed fairly pain free! I was up moving around in no time & was able to get a decent amount of rest once we came home (3 days in the Hospital). My DH was home & my MIL stayed with us for a week as well.

We have a great 'sticky' HERE with lots of good advice that I am sure you will find helpful!

 

Here's what happened when I had DD. After six hours on Pitocin (and two doses of Cervadil the day before) my cervix was still not past 0. I elected for a c/s.

They had me walk to the OR, and then the anesthesiologist had me hop on the table. He had me curl my back like a cat and he administered some sort of anesthesia- not sure if it was an epi or a block..... once I was numb, they did a catheter. Then they did the procedure. It took about five minutes to get DD and then another 20-30 to get me stitched up. I did recovery in the room that had been my labor (or lack thereof) room for about an hour and then they wheeled my bed to my new room.

DD was born at 4:44 and I had the cath in until the next morning at 6 AM. My legs were also hooked to these cuffs that inflated and deflated to prevent clots. I also had a morphine drip for the first day. I just pushed a button and got pain relief. It was lovely. I had the IV until that afternoon.

The nurses came in that next morning and unhooked the cuffs and removed the cath and showed me how to use the squirt bottle to clean myself after uing the bathroom. I was told that I could not have solid food until I had passed gas (I guess that would show that everything was still working and had not been damaged by the operation). For people who had not passed gas, they could have jello and liquids. I passed gas quickly, but I don't think I had a BM until the day I left the hospital. Yeah, TMI, but it's important. They did recommend using a stool softener and not straining.

HTH!

 

I had a c-section with Kendyl. They tried to induce but after12 hours and only dilated to a 3, my OB opted for a c-section. I had already had a epidural. They wheeled me in to a room and prep'ed me. My husband came in...and sat next to me. They began cutting and I told them I had pain on the right side...I moaned...and they knocked me out. They next thing I know the doctor was calling my name and my husband told me Kendyl was here. Ahe was born at 6:48pm. I was wheeled to the same room I labored in to recover. Experience some pain and was put on a morphine pump. I remember that the uterine massages were painful. Later, I was wheeled into post-pardum room. The next day they removed took me off the morphine and put me on oral pain medicine. Through it all the only thing that really bothered me and hurt the most is that I didn't hear Kendyl's first cry. It took about 5 or 6 weeks to recover for the surgery itself.

I talked to my doctor and they will give me a spinal block this time. They are more effective for c-sections than epidurals.

The joy of having a healthy little girl surpassed all the pain I experienced.

 

I actually write the whole story about my c-section with DS on the sticky post.
but couple of thing what I learn. spinal is better then epidural. ( I heard a lot that epidural doesn't work well. my friend had emergency c-section after 6-8 hours of labor and er epidural wasn't working so she had general for c-section.)
another thing scheduled c-section is better then emergency.
I had long 5 hours before I can move my legs and I didn't see my baby after I saw him first time for almost 24 hours because he was in NICU for IV because of low blood sugar and I was on cathether until 6am next day. after they took off the catheter I was walking( it was mostly pushing myself holding to the IV stand forward to the nursery) so the short distance between my room and nursery I can handle only for 20 min.
ANother thing. when you fall asleep at night I missed my pain meds twice. you better not do it. it is easy to prevent pain then to keep it down. I remember going to the ladies room and crying and shaking ( physicaly) because of the pain. after you take pain med it go down in another 20 min, but that 20 min is hard.
My recovery wasn't bad. but it was hard in couple 3 -4 days. as soon as I got home I was going up and down the stair ( 2 stores house) and don't need any pain meds at all. and remember about c-section only when were laying down of get up. ( it hurts) I think everything became better in 5-6 weeks. but YES i do have a pouch after c-section and it never gone. and the line of c-section is not visible now. ( 4 years later) BUT I still can feel the inner scar when weather changed. the longer after c-section the less. but in the begining it was something what I don't like.

with these twins I still cannot decide what I want. I mean I want to have the vaginal delivery but I am really afraid of ending up with episectomy or episectomy + c-section for the second baby. Or I think another bad case. had been inlabor for 12 hours and after had emergency c-section.
so thinking more now I am still not sure and might be c-section is better option. I decided to leave it to the God hand. If both babies would be head down I will try VBAC. otherwise will do scheduled c-section.

 

I went into unexpected labor a month early. I had already discussed a c-section with my doctor, so when I was admitted to the hospital, I had an epideral and had my babies within two hours of being at the hospital. I had no problems with an epideral, but had had a previous epideral before with my son--so I already knew that I took to it well. It was an awesome experience for me--aside from pain of a serious operation.

 

I had an emergency c/s and received a spinal. It was not painful at all, and my recovery was very easy. I was up and walking around within 4 hours of my surgery, and I was completely off all pain meds within 1 week. Good Luck!!

 

Oh, I forgot about the pain meds. How could I forget about the pain meds?

The nurses came around every four hours or so, and I took them whether I thought I needed them or not. They gave me a prescription to take home, and I filled it- but then I didn't take any of the pills because I didn't want to become dependent on them with a new baby. By then, I definitely didn't need them- Tylenol was fine.

I felt fine in the hospital, but going home was another story. I did not have stairs to climb (everything I needed was on the first floor), but I missed my hospital bed that went up and down- lying down flat was painful- even with pillows for propping. And the drive home was also rough- every little pothole and bump hurt so much!

 

I'm having a c-section as well. I have finally accepted the fact and ready to get it over with!!

 

I had an emergency c-section under general anaesthesia, so I didn't feel a thing. I actually had a very easy recovery. I had the IV for awhile after delivery with the button to press for morphine if I needed it - I only pressed it once, and that's just because I was curious what it felt like. I really didn't need it at all (and I am not a person who stays away from painkillers when needed). I ended up never taking anything except something for gas.

Partly because I felt so good I ended up overdoing it right after being released from the hospital (babies were in the NICU, but I was running up and down the stairs, doing laundry, etc.), and I ended up not feeling great and also bleeding a lot, so that told me to slow down.

I guess the idea is that each person will have a unique experience.

Good luck!

Rachel