Name of Book on C-Sections?

I know I've seen a book recommended here on everything you need to know about having a c-section, but after searching I can't seem to find it. Does anyone have the name of the book?

 

This is pitiful of me, but I'm too squeamish to read anything about c-sections at this point. . . and I might have one myself. I have been asking the nurses here at the hospital about recovery tips (on bedrest here), and when they sent the childbirth educator to my bedside to talk to me about it, I wouldn't let her show me the pictures on her chart!

 

QUOTE(Emily@Home @ Jun 8 2008, 07:02 PM) [snapback]816673[/snapback]
This is pitiful of me, but I'm too squeamish to read anything about c-sections at this point. . . and I might have one myself. I have been asking the nurses here at the hospital about recovery tips (on bedrest here), and when they sent the childbirth educator to my bedside to talk to me about it, I wouldn't let her show me the pictures on her chart!



You know-I thought I would be FREAKING out about having a c/s! Baby B was breech-and I opted for a c/s vs having complications, or delivering both ways. No thanks! Anyways... I knew what it entailed-spinal, etc. BUT- I honestly did NOT think about it leading up to the fact-I really didn't. I knew from stories, that it could be horrible, could be fine. And for me-it was totally fine. I went into the OR with NO expectiations-and I think that helped A LOT. I didn't worry about the what ifs because they were out of my control. And-the "funny" part was as I was getting my first ever spinal-it's a teaching hospital-so...guess who was doing the spinal?

Anyways-I had a great c/s-start to finish. I felt no pain leading up to it-the worst part for me is the IV. I recovered great-the key is to get up and moving ASAP. Does wonders. Yes-you are sore. But that's what the pain meds are for-once I was home, I weened myself off the meds and did fine!

Sorry to hijack the thread! I guess the main point is-have no expectations-might help in the end!

 

I'm one of those people who deal with stressful things by reading everything I can get my hands on about it. I've never had a major surgery, so the fear of the unknown is worse than anything. I've watched a ton of TV shows featuring c-sections, like Deliver Me and A Baby Story, and it doesn't seem too bad. I'd like to learn more about the first days after the procedure and the recovery at home.

 

QUOTE(Mississippi Mom @ Jun 8 2008, 08:47 PM) [snapback]816789[/snapback]
I'm one of those people who deal with stressful things by reading everything I can get my hands on about it. I've never had a major surgery, so the fear of the unknown is worse than anything. I've watched a ton of TV shows featuring c-sections, like Deliver Me and A Baby Story, and it doesn't seem too bad. I'd like to learn more about the first days after the procedure and the recovery at home.


My c/s was my first hospitalization and first surgery. The only other thing I had-was the surgeries for IVF-and I was put out for those! I understand wanting to know all you can-I was like that-asking everyone if they had a c/s, how it was, etc. I was even in here asking about it! For me-and everyone is different-it was "easy." I heard all the stories-good and bad-from here and other places. I tried not to think about it-and worry about it. Granted-it's major surgery-so it's not "easy" per se-but it wasn't bad at all.

I walked into the OR at 12:20pm and at 12:57 and 12:59pm my boys were born. The spinal was perfect-I could breathe fine(some say you feel like you can't-but you are), I didn't feel nauseous, and I didn't get a headache. I was wheeled to recovery around 2pm or so and stayed there for about 2 hours. One of the worst parts was one of the meds made you itchy. Horribly itchy. I felt like a drug addict, constantly scratching my nose. Once I could move my toes-I was wheeled to my room. I was EXHAUSTED. All I wanted to do was sleep. And I couldn't remember much. DH kept telling me what baby looked like who, or certain features-I couldn't keep it straight! The nurses were wonderful! My only problem was they wanted me to move myself from the bed from recovery to the bed in my room. Ummm..I'm numb! And my stomach has just been sliced open! That was probably the hardest part is moving myself to the next bed.

Anyways..you don't need-or want ALL the details! So I was up by about 10:30pm that night. I just walked to the bathroom and the nurse helped me. It wasn't easy getting up-need to hold on, etc. But the more you do it-the better. I also had the catheter in for 24 hours(LOVED it!). I then got up again around 6am or so before her shift ended and she took the catheter out. By Saturday, I was walking around-slow-but moving nonetheless-and I felt good. Sore in my stomach area, but that's going to happen. You need to stay on top of your meds! If you don't-then you will really feel the pain. I went to the NICU, missed a dose of my meds, and was feeling it later. By the time I was released, I was bending down(not actually bending-but going down to the floor)-and I got yelled at by the discharge nurse! I moved slow-but it was tolerable.

At home-still slow going-and I could do the stairs-just once/twice a day the Dr. recommended. We stayed on the first floor for the first few weeks while I healed. The c/s incision healed well. One small spot did open up-and I will attribute that to doing TOO MUCH. But it healed nicely and no problems since. I stopped taking the meds when the LC said it makes the boys sleepy. I stopped the percs before the motrin. While in the hospital-I was taking 1 percocet vs 2 by the weekend.

If I were to do it all over again-and I will someday-I would rest more at home. If you have help-take it. Because once it's gone-it's GONE! Take advantage of it!

But all in all-I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! But that's because I had a good experience! Who knows what c/s #2 is going to be like! Now I KNOW what they are like, so I might be a bit more nervous walking into that OR! B)

If you have any more questions-ask in this forum-or you can PM me. Good luck!

 

I had a good c/s - honestly the worst part was the mag I was on for my BP - and I won't give you that info because it may not happen to you...I had an emergency section - my BP was up way too high for the OB and she was like well you'll have a section some time today - which wound up being 20 minutes later...they had a tough time with my spinal BUT I'm very heavy and instead of taking a quick x-ray of my lower back they chose to just keep poking until they got it right - which was seriously the worst part...I was so numb so fast I didn't even know they started the surgery until they announced the birth of Baby A (my son)!

because I had the mag drip for 24 hours after the surgery I didn't get out of bed until they yanked my cath the next day - and of course I had to pee right afterward...the nurse helped me get up (as did DH) and once I got out of bed and walked myself to the bathroom I was determined to get myself up and out of bed every few hours - I didn't go far but to the chair or walk around the room but moving helped - I walked myself out of the hospital and down the steps (thunderstorm at discharge and I didn't want to get stuck in the elevator)...I had no choice but to go up and down steps - we have one bathroom in our house and its upstairs...I never took more than a few motrin - I took percocet once while in the hospital and it was more to help me sleep than anything else!

I like the PP really had no pre-conceived notions about the section - so when they told me I had to have a section - well ok then!

 

Thanks so much for the great info on your c-sections! I really appreciate it.