c-section

[LouLou1986]

well as most off you know looks like i will be having one, so any advice and whats going to happen i wud really appricate it as ive never been in that kind off situation before!

thank in advance girls!!

 

[LouLou1986]

no one? thanks anyways

 

[cosmicgirl]

I had to have mine under a general (as it was an emergency) so I can't help, sorry. What I can say is make sure everything is within easy reach in the first couple of nights, cos when your visitors leave, it's a bugger to reach your pop! xx

 

[Amy_J]

i had a c-section and it went really well! it was pre-planned as my lo seemed to have stopped growing and was born at 37+5 (more or less) and was 5lbs 2oz. my FIL actually did the operation in italy!!! weird, but great as he had been there for me through the whole pregnancy. the only thing that i found really weird was the epidural, my brain was telling me to move my legs and obviously i couldnt. towards the end i felt really sick & was gaging quite a bit but they gave me some drugs to sort that out pretty quick!! the whole thing lasted about 20mins, he was so quick! i was busy talking to one of the other doctors whilst being pulled left right and centre (which was stange as i didnt feel a thing but was getting thrwon all over the place im only little lol) and then i heard lo crying---- best feeling ever!! OH was white after seeing my stomach being ripped apart bless him..he was actaully at the other end of the table with his Dad,and then came to sit next to me at the last moment!

the days after were a bit groggy and grim.... coughing and sneezing were V painful but i was up on my feet after 24 hours, my scar is TINY & so neatand was completely healed after only afew weeks. FIL took stitches out after about 10day i think!!! although next time i would LOVE natural, i honestly had such a good c-sec that i would do it again if needed. i dont know if its because it was FIL to do it or not but it really was great! that may seem weird i know

good luck with everything!!! you'll do great!!!

 

[TiffanyJaynexo]

All I can say is prepare for soreness the following day! And plenty of bed rest.
You'll get pain relief and pain relief the next few days after the surgery too.

My sister in law has just had her daughter with a c-section. She weighed 9 pound! Which was a big surprise. She's sore at the moment and needs help getting out of bed but her scar is only little and she's having fun enjoying her new baby girl
Wishing you all the best.
xxx

 

[cosmicgirl]

Oh and I forgot to add that they will try and encourage you to move about asap afterwards (to the loo etc), otherwise you're at risk of clots so even though it's a bit sore, make sure you do hun xx

 

[frankie707]

Don't be afraid to move around and stand up straight-don't hunch over your scar, it won't tear but if you hunch it will heal too tight. Also a bit of advice I got which was v good was to stay on top of your pain meds in hospital-generally you'll get something every 4hrs and if you keep on top of the pain you can move around easier which is better for your overall recovery.
It's not that bad, just a bit awkward for a week or so. Enjoy your LO

 

[Esoames]

Put babies cot right by you and raise your bed so it's higher, then you can reach in to tend to baby.

Get some BIG pants where the elastic goes over your scar.

Enjoy being looked after, don't over do it. It took me months before I was back to normal and it still aches if I over do it.

Emma x

 

[LouLou1986]

Thank you so much girls I actually cryed reading you advice thank you!!

 

[Esoames]

Thank you so much girls I actually cryed reading you advice thank you!!

Awww xx

 

[katiejane]

This is a really helpful thread thank you. I'm probably having a c section too, after a normal labour next time and find it quite a scary prospect. Any advice from ladies who've been through it is so greatfully received, must remember big pants!

 

[LouLou1986]

I have 9 days to go so pretty please girls as much info on wat to expect as you can as tbh I'm bricking it!!!

 

[Young Mum 21 x]

id say dont lift anything heavier than your baby so your stomach muscles have time to heal..
another thing drink lots of water and eat lots of fruit to help keep ur stool soft (sorry lol)
and what the other girls said, defo sit up straight and dont hunch over! you'll be fine im sure xx

 

[mablestarr]

Good luck lou lou - only 9 days you must be so excited.

I had a c-section in november, and knew I was going to have one for a few weeks beforehand so had mentally prepared for it.

As the others have said get stuff organised so that things are in easy reach for you, and definitely make the most of all the help.
The worse thing I found was getting the epidural in place. For some reason they decided to give me a spinal and an epidural not sure if this is common practice but they didn't want the epidural not to work and then for me to have to have a general anesthetic. It took about an hour to get both in place and I did find it quite sore. My back was also sore for the next few days - I felt more pain there than I did in my abdomen.
After making my whole lower half numb they then inserted a catheter which had to be in for 24 hours, and then wheeled me through. The actual c-section bit only took about 20 mins, baby was out within about 5 mins and then the rest of the time to stitch me back up - I got staples though so that is a bit quicker than stitching. I got a chance to see my baby but as he was born so early (30+6) I couldn't touch him or anything, but could still see the neo natal team dealing with him from where I was.
At the end they offered to give some pain relief rectally but I chose to have it intravenous. Afterwards they cleaned me up (all dignity definitely gone by now) and wheeled me through to recovery area.
It took a few hours for the feeling to come back to my legs but within around 4 hours I was walking about ok. Getting in and out of bed was difficult but once I was up I was ok. And then when going home getting in and out of the car was interesting as was going over speed bumps!!
I would say that after about 3 days most of the pain had gone and then within a week I could hardly feel anything. Just make sure you take all the pain relief on offer, but taking codine tends bungs you up so ask for something to help you go

You will be absolutely fine, I'm not saying that I would chose to have a section next time but I saw some women who had given birth naturally and had stitches who seemed to be suffering a lot more.

Oh and take a drinking straw with you it will be much easier in those first few hours afterwards. xxxx

 

[Kay1987]

another thing drink lots of water and eat lots of fruit to help keep ur stool soft (sorry lol)

Definately good advice! I had to have a high dosage of iron tablets after my c-section because i lost alot of blood and (sorry if TMI) but the pain of trying to go to the toilet when constipated with the scar was worse than the c-section pain itself as you obviously cant push the same. I think im having another c-section and will be doing everything i can this time to avoid the same thing happening again!
Also after the c-section i was 2 scared to lay down in case i couldnt get back up again (was too scared to use my stomach muscles) and i slept sitting up on the bed!! didnt do myself any favours by doing this so make sure u listen to your physio about getting up and about as it will help you heal better! x

 

[AugustMum]

Get some big loose pajamas. I lived in mine for about 2 weeks as it was far too sore to wear anything else. Dont attempt to wear jeans too soon as it really rubs, even the maternity ones. As has been said, get big loose pants, ones without a big elastic around the top.

Try and have a salt bath every 2 days as this really helped mine heal nicely.

 

[wishuponastar]

I've just found out today that I'm having a c section in 9 days too so hurrah for this thread! Oh, and where can I get big pants without elastic from? Do i need ones that come up to my belly button?

xx

 

[xshauna_bazx]

Good luck hun, you will be great xxx

 

[Kay1987]

I also had a self administering morphine pen for the pain which made me feel sooooooooo sick i couldnt use it, the only other option was painkiller tablets which did bugger all so prepare yourself to have to put up with the pain for a while if this happens! x

 

[LouLou1986]

OO thanks girls its really helping I'm soo nervous! I had stiches down there with codie and they was horendous! So it cnt be as bad as that can it? Peeing was agony

Why have you got to have a c-section wish? Everything okay? Xx