C-section questions

So b/c of complications I had with DD #1 I must have a c-section for my 2nd pregnancy. I am not thrilled at the idea of surgery but of course all I want is a healthy baby and a healthy mommy and for us this is the only way. So of course I had a few question about the csection and figured I’d ask here.

After the csection I imagine you are pretty drugged up and the baby gets taken away? Does DH stay with the baby? How long until I can see him or her. I really don’t want my entire family to meet the baby before I do so I am trying to figure out what actually happens.

When you knew your csection date and time did you have family at the hospital waiting just like as if you went into labor? Did you tell people when you wanted them to come?

Now this is a ridiculous question and kinda tmi. Obviously after a vaginal birth you bleed right away. How does your body know to do this if you have a csection?


Thanks for all the insight!!

Message edited 11/6/2015 2:18:13 PM.

Re: C-section questions

Besides the epidural you aren't drugged for a c-section. They let me hold DS right away and I held him practically the whole time while they were stitching me up and I continued holding him even when they wheeled me out of surgery into the recovery room. I was able to watch them take his weight and and whatever tests they do after birth. My family met him when I was being wheeled to the recovery room so I got to meet him first

I forgot what time I told my family to come. I think my CS was scheduled for 8 am and I think I told them to come at 9 but they came super early before I even went into surgery. If your family stresses you out like mine do I DO NOT recommend this. I wish they came at 9 like I asked.

Re: C-section questions

Not sure where you're delivering but at Stony Brook after they examine the baby, my DH held her in the OR until I was done and about to go into recovery. They acutally let me hold the baby while they wheeled me in to recovery. For my entire stay, the baby never left my side. I had my husband call family once we were in our room with the baby. The only people that came to the hospital while I was having my section were my parents but that's a personal choice. My section was scheduled for 7am. The baby was born at 8:21 am and we were in our room around 11:30 ish. You're not drugged up either. You get a spinal which is like an epidural. Doesn't effect your mental state. You do bleed right way and for me it was very heavy.

Message edited 11/6/2015 3:07:53 PM.

C-section questions

I had a spinal for my csection, and they started giving me oral pain meds after. They were strong, but I wasn't too out of it to hold the baby. DH held her right away, then they cleaned her up and examined her while they stitched me up, and DH stayed with her. Then I got to hold her and breast feed her as soon as I got to recovery. Family came later in the day to meet her because we wanted some time alone with her first.

C-section questions

I had a c section after a failed induction 2 months ago. I had already gotten an epidural so they just made it extra strong for the surgery. For me, having this surgery while awake was a totally terrifying mindf*ck. They took DD out, brought her over to the warmer, which I could see. They held her up so I could see her. Once she was cleaned and wrapped up, they gave her to DH and they both sat next to me. Then they left so the Drs could finish me up and I met up with them in recovery. I couldn't hold her til about 90 mins after she was born. They did say I could bf her but I was in such horrible pain, I just had DH give her a bottle.

We made it clear to our families that they shouldn't come until we gave the ok. We wanted time with her first, then with our older DD and the baby. Then they could come.

ETA: the only drugged feeling I felt was from the oxy I was taking for pain every 6 hours. It made me very groggy. I sent her to the nursery every night bc I was in immense pain for days. There's definitely bleeding after. I stopped after about 4 weeks.

Message edited 11/6/2015 3:47:40 PM.

Re: C-section questions

I had a c section after a failed induction. I had an epidural and I guess they must have given me more drugs for the C because I couldn't keep my eyes open, in that sense it sucked because I was so out of it. After she was born and cleaned her, they gave her to my DH who was holding her as he sat next to me.

Re: C-section questions

After the csection I imagine you are pretty drugged up and the baby gets taken away? Does DH stay with the baby? How long until I can see him or her. I really don’t want my entire family to meet the baby before I do so I am trying to figure out what actually happens.
Immediately afterwards, DH held the baby when I was being stitched up. Once the moved me off the operating table, I was given DS to hold. I held him as they rolled me into recovery and never let him go! You're no more drugged up for a c-section than if you had an epidural during a vaginal delivery.


When you knew your csection date and time did you have family at the hospital waiting just like as if you went into labor? Did you tell people when you wanted them to come?
Whatever you want. My family arrived right as I was going into the OR for my c-section. They arrived slightly after I was taken to recover after my VBAC. No difference in plans.



Now this is a ridiculous question and kinda tmi. Obviously after a vaginal birth you bleed right away. How does your body know to do this if you have a csection?
You will bleed right away after a c-section.

Re: C-section questions

I was completely lucid and aware during my c-section. DH held them both immediately and put their little faces up to mine so I could meet them right away. I kissed them and the babies stayed in the room with me. I got stitched up and was in recovery quickly at which point I was holding and nursing both of them.

Our families were at the hospital. But they waited until we gave the ok to come in.

Afterward there will be bleeding, but not as much as with vaginal from what I'm told. Your body will absolutely know what to do, but they also give you pitocin to help things along.

Re: C-section questions

1) you have an epidural or spinal and are fully awake. They lay dd on me as soon as she was born for a little while, then DH got to hold her in the hallway while they finished with me. They gave me baby back until they wheeled me into recovery (while we were being wheeled through the halls was when my family saw us for the first time), and they took dd for her exam in the nursery while I spent 2 hours or so in recovery.

2) dd was an emergency, but I'd imagine the family this time would come again and wait in the waiting room

3) during a c-section they scrape out a lot of the lining. And this is REALLY tmi, but while in recovery they knead your stomach and press down and, well, my unprepared and unwarned husband equated it to like squashing a jelly donut. After the procedure, they give you pitocin or something similar so your body actually has contractions for quite a few hours after birth. That allows your body to push everything out. It feels like bad period cramps.

C-section questions

These responses are so helpful, thank you so much ladies! I totally feel like I have a better understanding of what is going to happen.