C-sec advice please from those who've been there!

[Louise2013]

Hi ladies,

Apologies, as know I've asked a few csec questions of late, but, even though we're having an elective, we haven't told anyone aside form my parents (as they'll need to look after our LO on D-day!) as we wanted to keep the birth a surprise for everyone else, so I don't have anybody close I can ask in person about this stuff!

My main worry post-surgery is the fact I have a VERY boisterous 15-month old and that I will inevitably get kicked in the stomach at some point, despite my best efforts, so I was wondered if anyone had any advice on avoiding this?

I've heard a few people mention post-surgery girdles/compression belts - not in the waist-trimming sense of course!! I mean ones that protect the scar/incision site; But I've heard mixed reviews from some people; some people rave about them and say that they have helped healing and also helped them feel protected, and others said that the last thing they wanted was anything near their scar at all? Am sure it's an entirely personal thing but has anyone got any experience of these? I know some of them can come with a guard insertion, like a plastic shield for that area, so has anyone ever tried one of these?

All advice very welcomed!

Thanks all xxx

 

[caseysmummy11]

I had an emcs a couple of months ago and I never used one of those but I used a bump support band that you use during pregnancy. It held my tummy in where my muscle were stretched and been cut and that helped. They also let me keep my orignal dressing on for 48 hours then I showered and had it changed and was allowed to keep it on another 48 hours and by this point my stitches had started to dissolve. So just used my bump support or wore my maternity over the bump trousers and that helped. Did you have a section last time too? I found as long as I kept on my painkillers and didn't walk to much ( I have a 4 year old so not that easy) it felt numb. Xxx

 

[Louise2013]

I had an emcs a couple of months ago and I never used one of those but I used a bump support band that you use during pregnancy. It held my tummy in where my muscle were stretched and been cut and that helped. They also let me keep my orignal dressing on for 48 hours then I showered and had it changed and was allowed to keep it on another 48 hours and by this point my stitches had started to dissolve. So just used my bump support or wore my maternity over the bump trousers and that helped. Did you have a section last time too? I found as long as I kept on my painkillers and didn't walk to much ( I have a 4 year old so not that easy) it felt numb. Xxx

Aww thanks lovey that really helps - no, this is my first csec and if I'm honest about it I'm quite scared actually (much more than I had expected to be!) and feel a bit nervous about it.

Last time I had a bit of a difficult time getting baby out, and after feeling like I have finally regained my pelvic floor, I am scared of doing more permanent damage, so we've opted for the csec. Just totally unsure as to what to expect so trying to prepare for all eventualities

xx

 

[Mummybexee]

Madness - after a foreceps theatre with my son who's 16 months - my daughter is breech still at 35 weeks! I'm praying for a normal delivery and want to avoid the section thing.

It's worrying me as midwife says she has time To turn but she's in a really awkward position and they wouldn't even attempt an ECV !

I worry section wise about my hyper what will be 17 month old son . But we just manage don't we

 

[caseysmummy11]

It was my first section too. My advice would be to you to keep on top of pain meds for first few weeks. Mine was completely healed by 6 weeks and to take it as easy as you can afterwards. I went to a monkey forrest 5 days after my c section for my son as we hadn't seen much of him due to staying in hospital as my little girl was in neonatal and it was doable but had to keep stopping and I wish I had rested more but I just couldn't. They say elective is much better than emergency as it's calmer and the atmospheres nice. Xxx

 

[Louise2013]

Madness - after a foreceps theatre with my son who's 16 months - my daughter is breech still at 35 weeks! I'm praying for a normal delivery and want to avoid the section thing.

It's worrying me as midwife says she has time To turn but she's in a really awkward position and they wouldn't even attempt an ECV !

I worry section wise about my hyper what will be 17 month old son . But we just manage don't we

Oh bless you! Let's hope she turns in time! ECV always sounds so brutal too so hopefully you won't need that either.... yes I had a similar delivery first time round so they have given the option for the cs - just trying to prepare now (not helped by me stupidly watching OBEM this week where the lady felt the csec and had to be knocked out; I am such a wimp!)

x

 

[Mummybexee]

That's very rare like they said though. I'm sure you'll be fine. Did you push for elective after your traumatic first birth?

I told consultant to put me under midwife and let me go naturally as it was midwifes who messed everything up in the first place anyway! He was happy just advised I'm higher risk of tear or repeat episiotomy - the joys!

 

[Louise2013]

That's very rare like they said though. I'm sure you'll be fine. Did you push for elective after your traumatic first birth?

I told consultant to put me under midwife and let me go naturally as it was midwifes who messed everything up in the first place anyway! He was happy just advised I'm higher risk of tear or repeat episiotomy - the joys!

Yes, absolutely - I felt so sorry for her

As it was third degree I had the usual auto-referral to consultant but pushed for MW-led, which was fine until about two weeks' ago when they said baby was back to back again and I started to feel anxious (last time he was trying to come out almost sideways which was causing the problem!). At repeat apt. this week they said he/she had still not moved (I've been trying allsorts!!) so a consultant reviewed my delivery notes from the last time in detail and had some really interesting things to say which I hadn't realised at the time and she concluded my pelvis is an unusual 'fit' for birth. As pelvic floor has been my main concern (and doing lifelong damage if I have a similar birth experience), she said she was 50-50 as to whether she would recommend either a csec or natural delivery. She then said if we were planning on this being my last baby, she'd err towards csec and not risk putting the pelvic floor through anymore trauma. If I was planning on more, she would err towards me trying naturally this time round. She was fully supportive either way though.

So I have opted for the csec, but I can't say I am 100% either way to be honest. I doubted my decision when I wanted to go natural and I'm doubting myself again now; I am relieved at the prospect of not having the recovery from tearing etc. last time as I feel like I've only just got my pelvic floor back, but on the flip side, I'm quite scared by the prospect of the surgery a csec entails. Baby has to get here one way or another of course, so I just have to suck it up and get on with it! In the end I decided it was better to have the (mostly) known entity of recovery of a csec which I can prepare for, vs. the (albeit unlikely) prospect of a much longer-recovery if I had a difficult time again; I had no sensation for several months following my last delivery which I found quite emotionally/psychologically stressful and definitely affected me quite badly and I started to suffer with some PND (also in part as I was really struggling with bfeeding though). I've been worried about that creeping back this time too so I've been trying to plan as much as I can to be prepared in case it does..... I know there are no guarantees with either option of course; just trying to hedge my bets I guess.....

 

[Mummybexee]

Only you can choose best decision for you. It sounds like you know what's best and considering all the factors from your last birth and the PND - section does sound a lot more suitable . Hope everything works out ok! Sorry to take your thread off topic! X

 

[JJ Mum]

I wouldn't worry about your lively 15 mth old, they will soon learn you have a poorly tummy and they can't climb on you etc, they will get reminded enougth. If bf you will mostly be sat there with your breastfeeding c shape pillow on you and that will protect you from random jumps from them that you haven 't seen coming. Ive started to carry my 20 mth old downstairs on my back as that works well after surg and they crawl up steps in front of you to get up. The rest is fine. Ive never used a support belt but would hold my hand on tummy to cough, sneeze, laugh etc for ages to brace, becomes second nature in the end and hard to stop doing it ha

Like you say either is a recovery period and youve done the other one already x
Just so your aware you wont get all the feeling /sensitivity back in your tummy after. I lost some groin and am missing a whole large patch on my outer thigh last time.it's just the nerve endings being damaged and some feeling will come back just a slight numbness remains, like if I ran a sharp pin across your belly now you might feel a sharp pin, i might feel a blunt biro with lid on if that makes sense

 

[H16]

Wow Jen I didn't realise a c section could cause issues like that! Interesting to know! X

 

[JJ Mum]

Wow Jen I didn't realise a c section could cause issues like that! Interesting to know! X

I am a bit of a serial section offender tbh, so I accept I get what I get - ha im going to ask then to take from skin upwards this time as my left groin is getting a tad tight and i like to walk fast ( it pulls). But i did ask for lipsuction jokingly one year at same time, they just all laughed ha

 

[Louise2013]

Thanks JJ: yes I was thinking I might not feel much in the lower belly (hoping the lower bit than that will be okay?!) but wasn't sure......After delivery last time I couldn't feel when I was going for a wee and as for sex, well, let's just say I might as well not have even been there! So I found it all a bit emotionally stressful and am scared of that happening again now I am feeling back to about 90%

Thanks for the tips too on the scar site! I'll get the pillows ready! Xx

 

[littlemonkey]

I had an elective section with my second baby after having an emergency with my first. Both were very calm and straightforward, although I was a lot calmer and felt a lot better after the elective.

Get as much help as you possibly can. I know you want to keep the birth a surprise (I also didn't tell friends our section date cos I didn't want to be mithered on the day), but it's worth making arrangements in advance for people to come and help out. My OH took a month off work and then I had my parents come around to help for a week after that. We also kept our eldest whose two at the childminders for the first couple of weeks so he had his usual routine and OH and I could rest. I think getting as much rest as physically possible in the hospital and early days really helped me heal quickly. I said no to visitors in the hospital and just used the time to sleep when I could.

You're recommend not to drive for the first six weeks. I tried after four weeks and it was a big mistake! I was so sore the next day!

Like others have said, keep on top of your pain relief. Literally every four hours on the dot I would take something. In hospital, ring the buzzer and ask every four hours. Don't wait for them to come round.

If you plan on BF just be aware it can take longer than a normal birth for your milk to come in. But you should still be able to BF normally.

I didn't use one of those bands because I was worried about them rubbing my scar. My sister is a physio and she said that they can help in the short term, but long term they're not recommended because apparently they don't encourage you to use your muscles and gain the strength back. But like I said I didn't bother with one any way! Big high wasted pants and leggings are a must.

 

[Louise2013]

Thanks Little monkey, that's all really helpful. Sexy granny pants it is! should I buy bigger sizes too so they're super big?? So glam eh?! X

 

[JJ Mum]

Oh god I forgot about the driving bit, as we got rid of our car last year , ring your car ins company and ask on their policy, as some are 4 weeks no driving, some 6 weeks and some not till signed off by docs to. Incase of an accident you wo t be covered if you are driving. Mine was always 6 weeks, somwthing to do with a safe emergency stop for others, which makes sense.

 

[JJ Mum]

Louise- i just brought one size up so not tight , im normally a 10 so brought 12