BTDT C-section moms... What can I expect post surgery?

They're scheduling me for a c-section if this big baby isn't here by 39 weeks!!!

What can I expect to happen and how will I feel after the surgery? Does it affect when breast feeding can begin or IF I can BF? How long am I in pain and how do you enter the role of mommyhood when you, yourself, are healing? How long before I can eat normal foods? (dying for an Italian hero! Lol)


Please share your c-section experience so I know what's in store. Thank you!

Re: BTDT C-section moms... What can I expect post surgery?

The c/s itself is really nothing...some pressure and tugging. They put a curtain up so it feels pretty surreal.

It takes a few hours( 2-6) for the spinal to wear off. You can get pain killers. I was very apprehensive to take with BFing, but the nurse assured me it was ok. I tried to alternate percocet with motrin.

They want you walking asap. That is really the hard part, but it will help. It will speed recovery. After that first day it really gets better exponentially.

BFing is not affected at all.

#1 was at 11 pm...I ate the next morning, but I was wiped out after 44 hours of labor.

#2 was at 5 pm. OB asked me how I was feeling before. I said nervous and hungry (I hadn't eaten since the night before and my cs kept getting pushed back). He had a box dinner for me when I made it to my room at 11 pm.

Message edited 8/5/2011 6:41:04 AM.

Re: BTDT C-section moms... What can I expect post surgery?

Like the PP said, the actual csection isn't bad. They make you arch your back like a cat and they put the needle in. Then you lie down on the table - the table is super small - it's like as wide as you are. Some hospitals strap your arms down, some don't. They put these things on top of your arms filled with warm air because you'll be really cold in the operating room. At LIJ, the operating room was not what I expected. To me, it looked more like a storage closet with extra wheelchairs and junk all over. It's strange when they're about to start because you can feel pressure and someone touching you but you won't feel any pain. My csection took a loooooong time because they let a medical student help. Not to sound like a b i t c h but next time, I will let them know before hand that I don't want a student doing anything. It took too long - I didn't even get to hold my daughter in the recovery room.

After they're done they take you to a recovery room and you spend some time in there. I was in there from about 10:00am until after 3:00 but that's because I had complications with blood pressure. Eventually the baby will come back in and the nurses will help you BF if you're planning on that.

Once you get to your room a nurse is going to help you get up and go to the bathroom to clean yourself up a little. At this point I still had the catheter. You're going to be scared to walk, to move around, to get back in bed. Don't be too scared - I think that's what really messed me up. I had so much fear that I was going to mess something up getting in and out of bed. Next time, since I know what to expect I think it will be better,

WALK like everyone says. You will be very gassy (like you've never been before in your life!). Walking helps. I found drinking hot water with lemon really helped too. You will never in your life be as happy to fart as after having a csection! Gross and TMI but true.

I BFed and had no problem at all. I couldn't really get in and out of bed to get the baby but I would call the nurses' station and they would help me. Dont be afriad to ask for help. I didn't have much pain so I only had one drip thing of morphine right after surgery and I think I took percocet just the first day. I know they say it's safe to take it and BF but I don't like taking pills and the pain wasn't bad for me.

Good luck!

Re: BTDT C-section moms... What can I expect post surgery?

The c-section really isn't that bad. Just pressure and tugging. The first day was difficult to move around, stayed in bed with DD motsly, BF'd no problem, I was up and moving around without issues the next day. Having a c-section does not impede your ability to BF though. Im having another c-section as soon as he decides he wants to come out.

Re: BTDT C-section moms... What can I expect post surgery?

After the surgery, your doctor will encourage you to get out of bed and take some steps. The IV is usually removed 24 to 28 hours after surgery. Painkillers are given on a “when needed” basis, but I would advise you take them regularly the first day. The first few days after surgery can be difficult, mainly because the abdominal area is tender and the stitches after giving birth take time to heal. You may have difficulty moving, positioning your baby and coping with emotions. You can breastfeed your baby as normally as you would after a vaginal delivery. It is important to eat well, get plenty of rest and limit your visitors. Doctors advise you rest for at least 4 weeks before doing any housework, but this was not possible for me. The more I moved about though, the better I felt.