I have a date!

Okay so we have a date September 27 at 7:30 am. I will be 38 weeks and 1 day, so it is a scheduled c section and I am so happy that I know when I will deliver, unless it comes sooner, but i still am really nervous about a c- section. I just wanna know since it is surgery and it is not coming out vaginally, will I still bleed down there? Do you still have to wait 6 weeks to have sex? (not that I am in a rush to ) What are some of the side effects besides being in pain and sore? I have heard that you can get blood clots. Also, How long is it before you can actually hold you babies after you deliver? Like after they stitch me up can I go be with my babies? Will other people(like my momand stuff) besides my boyfriend be able to see my babies after the c section before I do? I have many more questions but they sound really naive, I just need to know what I am getting myself into I don't want to be too surprised and not know anyhting when I get to the hospital, and I know you all will keep it more real with me than any doctor. Pease share your c section experiences, (bad and good) with me.

 

QUOTE(monique+2 @ Sep 13 2007, 01:26 PM) [snapback]406306[/snapback]
Okay so we have a date September 27 at 7:30 am. I will be 38 weeks and 1 day, so it is a scheduled c section and I am so happy that I know when I will deliver, unless it comes sooner, but i still am really nervous about a c- section. I just wanna know since it is surgery and it is not coming out vaginally, will I still bleed down there? Do you still have to wait 6 weeks to have sex? (not that I am in a rush to ) What are some of the side effects besides being in pain and sore? I have heard that you can get blood clots. Also, How long is it before you can actually hold you babies after you deliver? Like after they stitch me up can I go be with my babies? Will other people(like my momand stuff) besides my boyfriend be able to see my babies after the c section before I do? I have many more questions but they sound really naive, I just need to know what I am getting myself into I don't want to be too surprised and not know anyhting when I get to the hospital, and I know you all will keep it more real with me than any doctor. Pease share your c section experiences, (bad and good) with me.


Congrats on getting a date, that is so exciting!!

Yes, you will still bleed down there, not as much as a vaginal birth, but you will.

I had to go back to the dr. at 2 weeks to check the incision and then again at 6 weeks for the regular 6 weeks after birth appt. Yes, you will have to wait 6 weeks to get cleared to have sex, sorry! But you may not feel like it anyway and that is always a good excuse if he does!

Side effects: I had some chills and the pain, I think that was it.

You should be able to hold the babies after they are born as long as everything goes well. They will bring them up to your face, it's harder to hold them since you are laying down.

No one will see the babies before you and your BF do, assuming he is in there with you.

My c-section really was not as bad as I thought it would be. It is a bit harder because of the healing time and the first time you get out of bed is painful, so don't be afraid to ask for medication if you need it.

 

For a c-section you will still bleed. I bled on and off for almost 6 weeks. Yes, you do have to wait 6 weeks until you can have sex. And I would be impressed if you could stay awake for it at that point LOL! My c-section was an emergency but I was able to get an epidural instead of a spinal. I was not able to hold the babies right away. They went right to the NICU. So I am not sure since you are much farther along what the game plan would be for a near term uncomplicated delivery. I was on pain meds for about 24 hours after the delivery. The recovery not so much fun but bearable. I was able to hold the babies the next day and attempt to nurse and it did not hurt. It did take me awhile to get up and walk on my own (but I was in the hospital for 5 days after the delivery due to pre-e). Good luck. You are almost there.

Rachel

 

I haven't had my babies yet so I don't have any answers, but I thought of a question after reading your post, if anyone knows. If you have a C Section and you are going to breastfeed can you take prescription pain medication like you would normally be prescribed after having surgery or do they have to prescribe you only weak pain medication unless you aren't going to breastfeed?

 

C/S really aren't that bad. Or, I should say mine wasn't really that bad! I bled quite a bit and didn't stop bleeding until the day before my 6 week post check-up. My doc still said no sex for 6 weeks, which was just fine for me b/c I was not in the mood!!!!! HA! I got to see the boys after they stitched me up. They let me hold both of them while they wheeled me to my birth suite. Mom/dad, ILs got to see in passing while we told names quickly, etc. We went to our birth suite and no one but DH, me, boys and nurse were there for like 90 minutes. Then, everyone got to come in. I'd call and visit with L&D at your hospital to find out what it will be like!

 

QUOTE(monique+2 @ Sep 13 2007, 05:26 PM) [snapback]406306[/snapback]
Okay so we have a date September 27 at 7:30 am. I will be 38 weeks and 1 day, so it is a scheduled c section and I am so happy that I know when I will deliver, unless it comes sooner, but i still am really nervous about a c- section. I just wanna know since it is surgery and it is not coming out vaginally, will I still bleed down there? Do you still have to wait 6 weeks to have sex? (not that I am in a rush to ) What are some of the side effects besides being in pain and sore? I have heard that you can get blood clots. Also, How long is it before you can actually hold you babies after you deliver? Like after they stitch me up can I go be with my babies? Will other people(like my momand stuff) besides my boyfriend be able to see my babies after the c section before I do? I have many more questions but they sound really naive, I just need to know what I am getting myself into I don't want to be too surprised and not know anyhting when I get to the hospital, and I know you all will keep it more real with me than any doctor. Pease share your c section experiences, (bad and good) with me.


THose aren't stupid questions!

I had a c-section too, so I can relate.

First of all, yes, you will bleed down there. I bled for about 6 weeks, but it was only heavy for a few days. For about a week after that I wore a heavy pad and about 2 weeks post-partum unitl the end of the bleeding I just wore a panyliner. I noticed the bleeding more when I would actually wipe...I felt like I had to wipe 10 times before there was no more left, but it was never just soaking a pad.

Your OB will probably tell you 8 weeks no sex with a c/s. I think it's 6 weeks with a vag birth. You can probably do it a little sooner if you feel up to it, we didn't though.

I had no side effects from my surgery. All went well.

As far as how soon you can hold the babies, mine were in the NICU, so I do'nt know. DH did get to bring them over to me as they were stitching me up, etc. and I got to see them and touch them. I was about to head to the NICU about 7-8 hours after surgery and I held them for the frist time then.

 

They're not stupid questions!! Ask your question's even the naive sounding ones, it's nothing most of us haven't either already asked or wondered about in the past.

Yes, you will bleed for 4-6 weeks, it really depends on well they clean you out before they close you up. You should wait 6 weeks to have sex, but people do it sooner than the 6 weeks all the time I'm not saying you should.

I had a C/S with my first one, it was crash C/S and I'll be real honest. It was horrible afterwards for me, I'm not wuss when it comes to pain, but I could barely handle it. I was throwing up for two days, they think it was actually from the stuff they use to knock you out that made me do that. I didn't have time to get an epidural or spinal. And, my skin/muscle cut goes belly button down to my pubic bone and my uterus scar is a bikini cut scar. My doctor's told me that's why it also hurt the way I did. Because of the way I was put out for my section, I didn't see my daughter for almost 6 hours after she was born, I couldn't stay awake. And they I wasn't allowed to be alone with her for almost 36 hours.

My experience is not typcial, so don't be freaked out by it, but it's how my first delivery went.

 

I delivered my via c-section at 38 weeks, 1 day. They showed me the kids as soon as they were born. I had the shakes/chills for about 30 minutes. My kids were with me most of the time after they were born. I held them to take them back to the room with us and they were with us until my daughter ended up with jaundice. Probably no sex until 8 weeks but I cannot remember. I went back at my 6 week checkup and was given the all clear. I couldn't drive for some period of time after the surgery. All and all, my c-section went well and the healing process was quick. Take your meds in the hospital and if you need them at home as well. Good luck to you!

 

QUOTE(AimeeThomp @ Sep 13 2007, 01:38 PM) [snapback]406462[/snapback]
If you have a C Section and you are going to breastfeed can you take prescription pain medication like you would normally be prescribed after having surgery or do they have to prescribe you only weak pain medication unless you aren't going to breastfeed?

Seems like the other questions were answered very well, so I guess I'll 'field' this one! I was prescribed the generic for darvocet I believe. If you read the info on it it says it will be passed on through the breastmilk. I took it only as long as needed which was just over a week. It worked well for my pain management. Whatever you do, you do NOT want to skimp on the pain meds. I didn't take mine on schedule in the hospital and I had a miserable day because of it.

 

All the help iis greatly appreciated!

 

My babies were taken to the nursery to be warmed up while I was being stitched...sadly I only saw them for a few seconds which were blurry b/c I was having some pain in my shoulder. When they moved me to recovery my temperature wasn't as good as it should be, so they put a nice warm blanket thing on me...and I actually fell asleep...I'm not sure how long the whole process was, but when I woke from my dozing I asked to see the babies. They brought them to me right in recovery and I tandem nursed them. While in nursery, yes my parents and in-laws did get to see them... but they didn't hold them...just looked at them through the glass. But tons of people saw them before I really had a chance to... did make me a little sad...but definitely didn't hurt the bonding process..both my babies were momma babies big time...and loved me best! :wub:

P.S. if you want things to go a certain way during your delivery...if you want more time with them right while you are on the table, then see if you can write up a birthplan that specifys that... talk to the doctor doing the section...talk to the nurse before the section... most people don't think of making birth plans for a c/s..I know I didn't, but if I had it's quite possible that I would have had more than a few second glimpse at my babies... At least to touch their face and give them a kiss would have been nice. If that's what you want then demand it...nicely of course..but there is no reason that healthy babies should be whipped immediately away from their mothers...even if they need a little warming up.

 

Everyone has done a great job of answering questions. I just want to invasive make sure you take you pain meds right before you get out of bed the first time. I didn’t get my timed probably and that was the only time that I thought the pain was horribly bad.

 

Thank you so much for asking these questions, and for all the great answers! I am 32 weeks and really hoping not to have a c-section, but I am also realistic enough to know it is a very real possibility. I had all the same questions as you, I just never thought to ask! I would still like to see more responses to the breastfeeding question. Can you still breastfeed right after the c-section or do the drugs interfere? Is there any other pain relief option that won't interfere with breastfeeding?

 

They told me that the drugs “could possible” cause sleepiness in the baby. I used the medication for 3 days after I went home ( should have stayed with a few days longer) and I didn’t not notice a change in my DS alertness after I stopped. Like a pp said you do not want to skimp on pain meds. You will be no good to your baby’s if you are in too much pain to function.

 

Yes, breastfeed as soon as possible after your c-section!!! That will help with you success and your supply!

 

I think the biggest thing with a C-section is the drugs. I made sure that everytime the nurse came in and asked how I was, I got a refill. If you wait until the pain actually hurts, it will be too late.

I would also suggest, if you have not done so, call your hospital and go on a tour. It makes it less stressful to know where you are going to be. I got to see the surgery room and recovery. It make it less scary!

 

you will bleed and you will hurt, but it is not that bad just make sure you take your pain meds before you get to hurting. Don't try to be some kind of champ and not take any. Make sure you get a good chunk of pain medicine before they get you out of bed the first time. I had a spinal and I got to see them in a blur before they took them. The babies and my dh and all of my family was in the room way before I was, but nobody got to hold them. When the nurse brought me back to my room she said that I was momma and that I had taken care of the babies for 9 months that I was the first to get to hold them. They raised my bed up and put both my babies in my arms, that was definitley very special.

Good luck
Missy

 

Ok question when you guys say make sure to take the meds before I get out bed for the first time, how long before should I take them before getting out of bed. I will defintely keep up with meds because I want to be able to be involved with the babies and I know the first sign I show of pain someone in my family will insist on me not doing anything like they do now everyone acts like I am handicapped or something. I am also going for a tour of the surgery and recovery room the night before but I know it will still make me feel anxious. I thank you all so much for al your help. I know I will be in pain it is just really nervewrecking not knowing what exacty is oin to happen to you and your babies, I feel so overwhemed sometimes, but you all always make me feel so much more comfortable with every situation. :love0028:

 

I would say a half hour before you get up is a good time to take your meds. That way it will give them a chance to be in your system. It is hard to gage exactly because everyone responds to meds differently so if you feel like you get relief quickly from the meds you might take them closer to the time you are going to get up and if you feel like it takes longer then you might want to take them sooner. I know it is overwhelming I get overwhelmed easily (as my post about the glucose test shows lol) but once you get to the day it will go by so quickly. :hug99:

 

As far as when to take the meds. Just make sure to talk to your nurses, let them know what you want. They have taken care of many women that have had C-sections. They should know exactly what to do. My babies were in the NICU the whole time I was int he hospital and they would come hunt me down in the NICU to see if I needed more drugs.

Relax and everything will be ok. I can say that now. I cried for 2 whole days before my C-section. Then again it was the first time I have ever stayed in a hospital or had surgery.

During the C-Section my anethesiogist (sp?) was next to my head the whole time kind of giving me a play by play of what was happening. I got to touch my babies feet as they were taken to the NICU and they wheeled me thru the NICU on my way from recovery to my room.

Just dont be afraid to ask anything while you are in the hospital. It was very helpfult hat my DH was there almost the whole time and was our advocate.