C section stories please

[Scattyash]

Hi it's not 100% yet but it's a possibility I will need a c section to deliver my twins.
Well I'm Absolutly scared shitless and really need to know what to expect and what happens, can you please share your section stories and how it was like after,
Please don't hold back I need to know what to expect so I can prepare myself x

 

[Sprk]

Hi there. I am currently ttc for #2, but I did have a c section with my first.

I went in to be induced and after a day I was finally ready to deliver, however the baby was doing well so we went for an emergency section. I remember I was scared because I never prepared myself for that possibility. The first thing they did was shave me. No big deal. They wheeled me into the operating room, they paediatrician introduced himself as the staff prepared. The nurses moved me from on bed to the other. They did tie my arms down but very gently. It's to make sure I didn't move accidentally. The anathesiologist had already started my pain meds as I had already had an IV. They placed a curtain between my chest and my belly. They asked if I felt any pain (they were poking me to see if the meds were working) there was always a nurse by my head keeping me calm while the doctors operated and my daughter was born within 15 minutes of being in the room. I was somewhat awake and somewhat out of it. I know some women who are quite awake during the whole process.
After seeing the baby I fell asleep and woke up in the recovery room. I felt chilly for some reason. Once I was more 'with it' I was taken back to the maternity suite so I could see my daughter.
Tmi- my scar is right at the top of my hair line, down there. You can barely notice it. They used staples- I know it sounds horrible but it's not.they were out in 3 days!
The nurses had me up and walking the next day. I was sore at first and walking more than the distance to the toilet required a lot of effort. But it's important and helps the healing. It was the best thing I did. I pushed my daughter up and down the hall at least once a day till I went home. In the hosp i took something like cocodemol (sp?) for pain. it wasnt as bad as i thought. i was home on day 4.
No heavy lifting! Even my daughter at just 6 lbs was difficult. So keep that in mind.



It was scary, but still a good experience. The important thing is to do what the docs and nurses recommend for a good recovery. I hope you have a great experience! If you have any questions let me know. Oh and just a mention, I had mine in the US as that is where I was living at the time.

 

[Hunnie]

If I'd have known my c section was coming I'd have been a lot more prepared but it was something that didnt even cross my mind so the fact you're thinking about it is a good thing

It wasn't a bad thing - it meant my LO was delivered safely but realistically I would have preferred a natural birth but even that in reality could have turned out horrific as she was a huge baby and I'm only a small size 8/10 with no hips whatsoever so I think I came out with the better deal in the end.

My tips would be;
Stay awake and don't have GA - I did and it slowed down my recovery.
Invest in some leggings or pants that are stretchy and you can pull right up above your belly and scar once you have had the op (makes everything loads comfier and holds your jelly belly in too lol)
When people offer to help you - take it!!! I didn't and there was days I did too much and definitely paid for it that night!!

Overall it wasn't a bad experience but for me I would have preferred a natural birth and because it was sprung on me when LO went into distress I hadn't had time to come round to the idea and so I was hung up about it for quite a while and now a year on I've only just started accepting it.

I was in hospital for 3 days after my op and had fully recovered around 3 weeks later (ie it didn't hurt to bend down anymore etc)


Eta: my scar is so so small! It's just at the bottom of my belly and looks like a thin biro line. I had no problems with it healing and no problems since either.

 

[CARNAT22]

I didn't have a section but from what I hear elective c-sections always tend to be a lot more positive than emergency sections!

xxxxxx

 

[tambo1976]

3 sections here, 1 emergency, 2 planned and this one is planned in less than 4 weeks. Please don't worry, planned sections really are not so bad at all, if they was then I would be mad to be having another wouldn't I? lol

I remember mine being lovely, peaceful and calm and I am not worried about this next one at all. Recovery was good as well and the best thing to do is try and get on your feet asap! the longer you lie in bed the worse you feel and I remember begging to be allowed to take a shower the same day because I didn't want to lie in bed. Makes you feel so much better to be up and about.

The best thing I can give as a tip is to hold your scar when you laugh and cough! I had to tell my brother to go home because he was making me laugh so much xxx

 

[Scattyash]

Thank you, what scares me is knowing I'm cut open while I'm awake and if somethjng goes wrong me knowing about it and panicking, I wish I wasent so scared I just can't help it x

 

[Sprk]

As hard as it sounds, try not to worry. You will be surrounded by people who know what they are doing and who know how to take care of you. I had a planned surgery on my ankle - I know this is different- but because it was planned, like your section, I had time to talk to my doc. I had him tell me what to expect when I got to the hosp,during, and after the surgery. I made a point not to get detail about how the surgery would be done, cause I didn't want to know that bit. He talked to me like I asked and it really calmed my fears. So you might want to do that too.

Best of luck and best wishes xx

 

[willowwisp]

I had an elective and lost 40% blood volume, so it was eventful.

They keep you so calm and distracted, you can feel everything which is happening but nothing hurts. They have GA on standby in case they need it or you freak out, so don't worry.

Once baby is out you can have them on your chest, frankly the whole world could disappear and you wouldn't notice a that point.

 

[Scattyash]

Omg that sounds scary, I take it you had a blood transfusion straight away, did everything else go ok? Did they put you to sleep when that happened? X

 

[Squeakz]

Ive had 2 sections one under general and one spinal. Both eergencies. I never noticed a difference between mine HOWEVER both my boys wentto scbu ad nicu respectively so I didnt have children to get up in the night with or care for straight away iyswim. The nice thing about a spinal section was that the pain gradually came back so I could acclimatise whereas with general it hit me as soon as I woke uo. Deffo hold ur scar upon laughing coughing sneezing crying etc.

Deffo get up straight away. With both sections I was up and about and feeling normal within 3 weeks. Get really loose underwear. My scar sits right where my knicers sit and so my regular size was too tight against the scar when I took in to accoubt swelling.

The weirdest thing I found was the pressure and pulling feeling during the op. Very odd but not painful or uncomfortable but be aware of that. I wouldnt be afraid of having another section and thats after 2 emergencues .. as someine said electives are apparently really calm and if you can prepare in advance to make anything post birth as easy as possible xx

 

[willowwisp]

Omg that sounds scary, I take it you had a blood transfusion straight away, did everything else go ok? Did they put you to sleep when that happened? X

No, we were expecting it as I managed to have a previa plus an anterior placenta. They had 6 units of pre cross matched blood in the fridge for me. I did refused blood unless it was life or death and to everyones amazement I managed to scrape through without needing one. We agreed if my Hb and iron levels dropped below certain numbers then I would have a blood transfusion, and they both got right down to those figures but (as I argued at the time) didn't drop below.

You always recover better long term without a blood transfusion.

Everything else went fine, they have done a BEAUTIFUL job of stitching me up. My scar is so neat and perfect. I recovered from the op very quickly. I was tired for a while because having a newborn baby to look after and loosing a lot of blood is tiring, but I was back lifting and doing all the normal stuff (driving, hoovering, mucking out the horses etc) with 7-14 days.

 

[Welshhunniexx]

I had 2 emergency c-sections due to non-dilating. First one they did a full epidural amd it worked. I shook alot during it as apparantly its a side effect of the epi. OH wasnt allowed to see it being done but cut her cord after they cut it. I was kept in for 4 days but went shopping in tescos on the day I came out. they did want to do a blood transfusion due to seriously low iron levels but I refused.
2nd one was a spinal as epi didnt work. she was cut out 11:30pm on the Tuesday and I was out on the Thursday. I did more straight after the second one, walked more, got up more, so I think thats why I had a shorter stay.

A catheter was used both times but on second one I had a wound drip as well. had dissovable stitches with first but mw had to take them out after the second one. you may have to wear those tight socks that you wear on flights and usually have blood thinning injections for 5 days after leaving.

Just keep moving but take it easy. I agree with the holding when coughing and laughing, also when trying to sit up after lying down amd when having a poo.