BTDT c-section moms

can you PLEASE help me stay calm about having a c-section i set a date today for my c-section and im sooooooooooo excited to know when this baby is coming but now im a mess ive been crying all moring. im so scared and worried! ive never had any kind of surgery. can you please share your story with me about how long it took, what it felt like, how your recovery was, any advice, how the baby was after etc. or kind words would really help!

Re: BTDT c-section moms

Personally, it was not bad.
Day on CS, went in got put on 2 IV's walked to OR. Got the numbing shot in my back (I could feel the liquid going in) that was fine. Got the spinal, dr said "You should be numb and heavy legs soon" by the time he was done with that sentence my legs were numb. CS was done. Felt a lot of tugging and pressure BUT NO PAIN!!!! stiched me up and moved me to my room.

In the room, day one. SUCKED! It was uncomfy. I had a follie bag, so no getting up.

Day 2, the nurse came in took out the Follie bag (felt nothing) and got me up to shower and walk.

WALK when you can, even if you're tired walk. It helps with the gas, take the meds you are givin. By the end of day 2 I was getting up by myself holding the baby and walking around.

Day 3 was even better. I went home on day 4 and was fine. Just tylenol when needed. I vaccumed 3 days after being home. I can handle pain pretty well, so I was good to go. Just walk when you can and rest when you need to. It's not that bad.

Good Luck!

Re: BTDT c-section moms

I know it is scary but I had a GREAT experience

The surgery itself took about 30 minutes

the baby was out in about 15 and then another 15 to stitch me up, I felt some tugging, pulling during delivery but NO pain

As soon as I got into recovery, I was able to hold and nurse my dd, we were back in our room within an hour of being in recovery

dd had NO side effects and was perfectly fine after surgery

I was in SERIOUS pain the next day, the nurses will MAKE you get out of bed, OUCH !!!

but if you take your pain meds every 4 hours like clockwork, the pain is bearable, my advice is, don't try to be superwoman, take the meds

I felt better after a week and great after 2

you will be fine

Re: BTDT c-section moms

I had a GREAT c-section experience - it was emergency though, and came on the heels of 15 hours of labor, 10 of which were unmedicated.

I had never even conceived of having one - my plan was a completely natural birth, so you can imagine my terror as they wheeled me off to the operating room.

So, basically, they wheeled me in, and I was there for about 10 minutes by myself while they prepped me. I was shaking a little, I don't know if it was the meds, or because I was scared, but the doctors were SO nice and kept talking to me throughout.

Finally DH came in, and that's when they cut me open. I didn't feel any pain at all, just a lot of pressure - I could feel them moving their hands around inside of me, and all I remember is saying "I can feel it I can feel it" which scared the anesthesiologist, who upped the meds, which then caused me to puke a little. But, within minutes they pulled her out of me, showed her to me, and then cleaned her up.

They then wheeled her out and did what they had for her, while they stitched me up in the operating room - I think DH left with Alex, so I was alone again for a few minutes while they cleaned me up and stitched me up. Then they sent me to an isolated recovery room with a dedicated nurse, to monitor me for 30 minutes after the surgery.

After about 30 minutes, DH showed up and at the same time, they wheeled in Alex, and brought in a lactation consultant, and I nursed her for the first time.

I have to admit, the first day was hard - the physical pain is intense, but only when you try to move. The KEY to recovery is to start moving ASAP. By Day 2 I was up and out of bed, using the bathroom, picking up Alex, sitting in the glider and nursing her. By the time I got home, I was fully mobile, walking up stairs, taking walks around the neighborhood, etc.

Re: BTDT c-section moms

I havent been thru it but I am having my Csection July 30.

Re: BTDT c-section moms

In my opinion, it is not as bad as you are imagining it to be. I have had two, my first was an emergency the second was planned.
I went into labor 12 hours before I was scheduled to have my c-section so i really can't tell you what happens when you just are supposed to show up for your operation! But I can tell you what happened once I got into the OR.
First they gave me the spinal. Your dh is not allowed in for this part. You sit on the edge of the table, you hold onto the nurse or in my case resident. They swab your back and then the anestheologist (?) gives you the numbing shot and then the spinal. I was anticipating this the most and it was not bad at all. A pinch nothing painful! You lay back and they start prepping you. I was afraid of feeling sick, soI asked to have some anti-nausea medicine in my IV and I was fine. They put the drape up, and then your dh can come in. they insert a catheter and by this time you are numb. Then they start the surgery. My anesthiologis was really nice and was telling me what they were doing as the dr was going. My second c-section took longer because I had alot of scar tissue. When they take the baby out, for me it felt weird because you do feel tugging and pressure. I got a little bit nervous then, but as soon as she came out that feeling went away. Then my dr told me ok look to your right and there was my baby! Then after that your mind goes right to your new baby! If felt alittle bit of weirdness I told the drs and they gave me something else in the IV which makes you feel better quick.
After you go to recovery. They set you up with a pump for pain relief. Just keep hitting your pump they give you and you will be fine. I held my daughter from the OR to recovery where they then took her from me. When I was in my room, they brought her to me maybe 2 hours later. After a few hours they make you get up to use the bathroom. It wasnt was bad as I thought. i was in pain but it was very bearable because of the pump.
I don't like pain medicine so when they took away the pump i only asked for tylenol. i am sure with real narcotics it is much better. i was sore and stiff but you really have no choice you have a baby to care for!
the only bad thing i experienced some bad gas pains in my shoulders. ask for gas pills if you get this. the recovery was a good week or 2 before i didnt cringe when i would try to sit up too fast. it isn't terrible i promise! if you have any other questions you can fm me!

Re: BTDT c-section moms

you girls are the best! thank you for the replys! when seeing it in writting it doesnt seem that bad. i hope i have a great experience as you ladies did. im scared of the pain after too! but i know ill be taking the meds, because i dont handle pain well AT ALL!!!!

Re: BTDT c-section moms

I was in the same boat as you with my first child except I didn't know in advance I was getting a C. It only came to that point when my baby was not coming down due to the baby being huge, I was stuck at 7 dilation and had a fever of a 103. When my dr told me that we needed to perform a C I cried and got really scared. I didn't have too much time to even freak out because the next thing I knew I was getting wheeled into the room. I was seriously shaking like a leaf!!

Let me tell you it was a breeze!! The people in the room are SO nice to you and will explain EVERYTHING that is happening. My doctor who was performing the C section was talking about what she had for breakfast with other nurses as she was cutting into me. It may sound crazy but this actually calmed me down. They do this all the time. The surgery itself was just 15 minutes!! You will feel no pain, just pressure and tugging put no pain at all. When they took the baby out my husband got up to take all the pictures and then they handed the baby to him. I got to see and kiss my baby but unfortunately was not able to hold him. I think with having a C that is the worse part of it all. Then my DH and the baby moved to another room to get cleaned up. You will be left on the operating table to get stiched up so I was a little jealous there too, dh with baby and there I am still on the operating table. I would say the stitching process took another 15 minutes. Then I was transported to the recovery room where DH met me. Recovery was ok the painkillers made it ok :). It took me about 3 weeks to feel myself again prior to that you will need much help from people especially the first several days home.

I'm pregnant with #2 now and due in 2 weeks ( c section) I can't wait and I know I will be so much calmer!

Re: BTDT c-section moms

i agree with the PP definitely walk around because the gas pain is worse then any other pain.
My only regret was that my doc offered to send me home on day 2 I shouldhave gone home since my husband would have been more helpfl than the nursing staff at night.

Re: BTDT c-section moms

I had a great c/s and I really believe that part of it was that it was scheduled. I never labored, never had a contraction etc. so my body really was able to focus on recovering from surgery only.

Anyway I know how you feel, I scheduled my c/s 2 days before my EDD and had DS on my EDD. DS was measuring big (over 9lbs with a family history of 9+lb babies) and I wasn't progressing so we decided on a c/s.

I had never had stitches, or been in a hospital or broken a bone before I had DS so I was terrified and cried like a baby after scheduling it!
For me one of the worst parts was ...the IV! Yes the IV hurt more than almost anything! The spinal was just a sharp short pinch in my back (the dr described it as a bee sting to which I responded "I have never been stung!")

I went in that Am around 7ish...Get set up to take in my 2 bags of fluids via IV...after that they moved us to a labor room to watch TV (it was still early) went into the OR at 9am (neither DR was on site yet - there are 2 OBS present for a c/s) got my spinal (where my biggest concern was that they were going to forget to bring DH back in the room)

Drs arrive around 9:10am started surgery by 9:30 am...Once surgery started I got sick and threw up all over...DS was born at 9:52am...

There is one thing that I spend 2 days coming to terms with about a c/s...your DH is the first one to hold the baby! I felt gipped about this because I carried this baby for 9 months gave up my body for him, I wanted to hold him first! But in the end it was okay and I was fine with it and seeing my DH hold our son was amazing!

I had relatively no pain in my recovery after the initial day. My spinal wore off early (I was still in surgery) so my right side was in pain by the time I reached recovery. Once they got me on a morphine pump it was fine. The following day I was off the morphine and on some pain meds but never took more than a motrin. Never filled the script the DR gave me upon leaving the hospital.

Truly I felt great! DH kids me that I took the easy way out with a c.s because I had such a better recovery than some of our friends who had v-births!

Dont worry, in the end I promise you will feel that the only thing that matters is having your DC in your arms!

Message edited 7/14/2009 11:39:08 PM.

Re: BTDT c-section moms

I am possibly having a c-section on Friday and this post made me feel so much better. I just feel like now I know what I am getting into -- thanks for posting!

Re: BTDT c-section moms

Thanks for posting this Tara. I have a ways to go, but I know that I will need a C-section in the end and this thread is really helpful!