BTDT Cesarean's -

I'm scheduled to have a Cesarean in just about nine days now... Just wondering from those who went through it:

In your opinion... What to do and what not to do?

How was your experience? What's your story?

How was the recovery? How long until you felt 'normal'?

Anything that helped your recovery? Things to avoid or be aware of?

ANY other advice you wish someone had told you?

Thanks so much! Who would know better than someone who went through it?! :)

BTDT Cesarean's -

My water broke at 30w4d and I had an emergency C.

I was nervous about the epidural, but it wasn't bad at all! I was ready to go in about 5 minutes. It was weird because I felt what they were doing, but felt no pain. Like, I felt the pressure from the scalpel.

The next day when I stood up for the first time, I remember being surprised at how hard it was to get up. But I walked down to the NICU just fine :) with minor pain meds, I was fine in 2 days, just sore.

You'll be fine! Best of luck!!!!

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

I've had 3 c-sections. My advice is take the drugs, get up as soon as they allow you to, walk as much as possible and accept help when people offer!

It took me about 2 full weeks to feel back to normal with all three babies.

Good luck!

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

BTDT Cesarean's -

Like the PP said, take the drugs and walk walk and walk some more. It will suck but it makes the recovery at home 100x better. By the time I got home I didn't need pain meds at all.

Oh, and use the mesh underwear they give you! Don't even bother bringing pairs from home.

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

A few ?s based on the posts so far...

This might be a dumb question, but do they give you the epidural in the back, like I've seen on A Baby Story or is it different for a c-section?

I have had surgery twice before and the drugs ALWAYS make me loopy and then sick --- so, I was going to take high doses of Motrin instead. Anyone have experience with this? It's just that anything RX makes me Ralph :(

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

Posted by DaniRella

A few ?s based on the posts so far...

This might be a dumb question, but do they give you the epidural in the back, like I've seen on A Baby Story or is it different for a c-section?

I have had surgery twice before and the drugs ALWAYS make me loopy and then sick --- so, I was going to take high doses of Motrin instead. Anyone have experience with this? It's just that anything RX makes me Ralph :(

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

Crashing

In your opinion... What to do and what not to do? I say get up and walk around as soon as you can. I was up after my first csection in 5 hours.

Make sure you tell the anthesoliogst (sp) exactly what you want and how your feeling.

How was your experience? What's your story?
I had two c-secs. They were completely different experiences. My first was an emergency c-sec and was great. I felt great during and immediately after the surgery. I nursed my dd less than a 1/2 hour after she delivered. I made the nurses dress me about 2 hours after my surgery and I was up walking in 5 hours.

My second c-sec was not pretty. I allowed the anthesoliogst to talk me into getting morphine in my spinal. I spent my entire c-sec vomiting and being nauseous. I threw up for 14 hours after my c-sec it was horrendous. I kept telling the dr I didn't have any morphine the first time around with my epidural and he kept insisting I did so I finally said if you think it will help I'll do it. Never again will I have morphine.

How was the recovery? How long until you felt 'normal'? With my first I was feeling great pretty much right away. I only took ibproufin in the hospital. I was pretty much back to normal with no pain a week after. I was sore to the touch but I didn't feel pain moving around.

My second was not easy. I'd say it was 4 weeks before I could walk without any pain and stairs hurt. I ended up opening my incision which wasn't too fun. I was doing too much. So take it easy.

Anything that helped your recovery? Things to avoid or be aware of? I would make sure you have some advil at home. Get help, accept help. I tried to do it all and that was a mistake.

ANY other advice you wish someone had told you? Try to cook before hand, get all throw away cups/plates. The last thing you want to be doing is dishes. I had a hard time getting in and out of my high bed the second time I had a c-sec so I ended up sleeping on the couch. My mom got me some awesome big pillows for my couch that I rested on, used for nursing, and sleeping.

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

i had a scheduled c at 38 weeks

i am no doc but imo and from what i heard from fam and friends recovery tends to be easier with a scheduled than a emergency

(before anyone jumps on my throat saying ahh my recovery was awful with a scheduled or the reverse,this is just what i have experienced..i am not a doctor lol)

mine was at 1130 am on a Monday

from midnight night before nothing to eat or drink..not even water and by 10 am next day i was begging for ice chips and they told me no

run some tests take some blood,all while dh was there..they make sure u r shaved properly at1130 i was brought in for the drugs lol..dh was not allowed in..it did not hurt,more pressure but i was numb from neck down in a second

he came in then docs etc there was like 10 people in the room lol..i felt very nauseous so they upped my zofran and before i knew it i told them i had to puke and my poor dh had to catch it in one of those pink tub things lol

they asked if i wanted a play by play,i did but my dh would have fainted so i said no..first cut was at 1157(they told me later) and at 1204pm my daughter popped her tiny head over the curtain lol

after babies were born and che ked them and my dh were wheeled out and i stayed in i guess getting sewn up for about twenty min then i went into recovery with them

recovery first time i tried to walk i wont lie it hurt a lot and so much blood poured out housekeeping was called


but every time i walked it got better..i had to walk a olt bc i have a history of dvt's and blood clots


but walk walk walk that is all i did

and the first night i took the meds

by the time we left the hospital i was ok and walking pretty good

take it easy with regards to bending or anything that will stretch your scar

and just keep walking!!!!

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

yes use the mesh undies! fold two chuck pads and use those giant pads they give u

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

BTDT Cesarean's -

I have low pain threshold I think. I needed those drugs after. I read here how many just took Motrin but I was on narcotics or whatever for like a week plus. And I'm young and stuff. So if you have low pain tolerance take the drugs!

I'm also the biggest baby I know and I did it. Twice.

And just rest up. You won't have a bowel movement for awhile so be sure to take stool softener (lesson learned the hard way - no pun intended).

BTDT Cesarean's -

Oh and gas pains after are insane. I had gas pains all the way up in my chest and thought I was having a heart attack. Nurse said I wasn't lol

So as much as it sucks - walk when they tell you to walk.

CS are no picnic. But everyone gets through it.

If I can .. Anyone can.

BTDT Cesarean's -

Save some pads for your first pp period.

Use nightgowns.

Move when you are ready!

Don't fear the catheder

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

I completely agree with the other ladies, walk as soon as you are able.
The epidural was not bad at all, and I have a very low tolerance for pain.
Do not be afraid to ask the hospital staff for help.
Motrin was all I needed to help with the pain, and I would say I started feeling better about 3 weeks after my C-section.

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

I had a section 30 hours after my water broke. My OB let me labor as long as I could before risk of infection. I did not make it past a "generous" 3cm.

I had already had the epidural from L&D. when I was brought in to the OR on the gurney I was transported to the table which is the width of a surf board and propped up hunched over a nurse for a spinal. They laid me down put up the curtain and DH was allowed in.

The OR nurse took pictures for us. If you want pics and your DH is skittish, ask the nurse to take some for you.

I did not feel a thing, not even pressure. I had no idea they even started cutting until my OB announced DD.

It took maybe 20 min to close me up. It's a blur. Time didn't exist after the baby was born. One of the only things i can remember is telling the OR nurse I felt sick and she pumped my IV with something while I dry heaved into a bed pan.

DH walked DD over to my head so I could meet her and give her a kiss.

After that I was wheeled to recovery where I stayed for 8 hours (not normal) bc I wasn't filling the catheter and my O2 levels where low. They brought DD to me to BF while I was in recovery.

Take the meds. Pay Attention to the time, especially over night. Call the nurses station 10 min before you're due.

Do not fear the shower. The soap won't sting your cut. I was so scared of the shower but it was where I felt the best.

Fill the little spray bottle in the bathroom with warm water to help you pee for the first time.

Get up and walk, sit in the chair, move around as soon as the doc allows. It SUCKS and DH had to practically force me but it helps so much.

Good luck!!

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

I guess I'm one of those who can't tolerate pain very well. I know I am! I took the drugs. I could not get up and walk right away. I was in a lot of pain for several days. What helped? Drugs!! I had the epidural in for 2 days...they wanted to take it out the next morning but I wouldn't let them.

I'm a pharmacist, so here is what I recommend: in the OR, if you're nauseous, it is probably because your blood pressure drops from the spinal, so if they give you phenylephrine, your BP comes back up, and the nausea goes away...immediately!! Do not let them give you demerol...it makes you sick, and drowsy but not much more. After delivery, if your hospital has IV acetaminophen (brand name of the IV form is Ofirmev), get it around the clock...it dramatically reduces the amount of narcotics needed to reduce pain. Also, Toradol, is a non-narcotic pain reliever which relieves pain as well as morphine, but is non-addictive and does not make you loopy. When I had to get up to get the baby, I'd ask for a Percocet and a dose of Toradol about 30 minutes before I knew I was getting up. Ask for simethicone tablets, 2 of them for the gas pains.

When I went home, I was taking Percocet and Motrin. The Motrin did help a lot, actually much more than I expected it to.

I felt "okay" after about a week. With my first, I only had her to take care of, so it was easier to take it easy. With my second, she was a surprise, so I was still trying to get stuff set up for her, and I had my older DD to take care of, so I ended up opening my incision. Definately take the time to heal and do NOT push it.

As for what you can do to make it better...sit with a pillow behind your back, whether it is in the chair in the hospital, or on your couch at home. Having to lean backwards will hurt. Use a pillow pressed into your belly where the incision is when you're trying to stand up or sit down, or sneeze, or cough...it will GREATLY reduce the pain.

By the time you go home, you'll feel well enough to enjoy your baby, and once they take the staples out, you'll feel like a new person!

Message edited 8/23/2013 11:48:27 PM.

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

Posted by DaniRella

Posted by 2BirdsofaFeather

Save some pads for your first pp period.

Use nightgowns.

Move when you are ready!

Don't fear the catheder

Catheter??! Can you explain please?

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

One other piece of advice, from the PP...pain is much easier to control if you keep it at a low level, under control. Don't let it get unbearable, or it becomes much harder to rein in. Take the pain medication on schedule and you'll have a better handle on it.

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

I had four!

You may cry when they make u get out of bed the first time. But u have to do it and force yourself up every so often and take small walks. The faster u get up and walk around, the better you will feel!

Always keep a pillow handy! Sneezing/coughing is not fun in the immediate days following a c-section. Hold the pillow tight to your incision if u have to do either.

The gas pains can be almost as bad as the incision pain. Make sure you don't hold it in and pass it when u feel the urge. Painkillers/Tylenol will help with that.

Two words.....stool softener. I had more trouble going #2 after my pregnancy than before. But it's worse bc you need the muscles right near your incision to push, so it's not only uncomfy but painful as well.

And don't be scared by what I just wrote! I ha two wonderful recoveries that didn't involve any of the stuff I wrote about above! Feel free to fm if with any questions!

BTDT Cesarean's -

Eta: ask for help! I was so modest with my first and was mortified when the aide walked me to the bathroom and saw my entire lower region, not to mention having to clean up the mess of blood on the bed. Remember, this is their job-they see it a million times per day. I still had trouble with this with my 4th but you do not want to fall so always ask for assistance those first few times. Your legs may not work like u expect them too after the epidural so it's important to have someone to lean on!

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

I had a failed induction, was 9 days late and my fluid was low. After over 24 hours of labor, I wasn't progressing and had a C-section.

I guess I'm super lucky that my recovery was awesome! My Dd was in the NICU bc I spiked a fever during labor and she had low blood sugar (probably from me not being able to eat for so long after they started the induction process). I was constantly up and going to the NiCU to EBF. They wheeled me down until they unhooked me from everything and let me walk. I didn't need any pain meds stronger than motrin (but take them if you do!)

I really feel that the walking helped A LOT! I was litterally up and walking to the NICU every 2 hours around the clock. Plus, I was so focused on DD and EBF that I really wasn't focusing on any discomfort I was feeling.

This time I'm scheduling a 2nd c-section and not even considering a VBac. I've heard it's an even better recovery when you don't have to labor first.

My advice would be to take the meds that you need to feel good, but don't take pain meds just bc they're offered (I was more afraid of the side effects of the Percocet than the little pain-it really bothers my stomach and makes me loopy). Also, take help and follow Drs orders but don't forget to get up and get moving (at your own pace of course). The first time may be hard, but the more you do it the better you'll feel.

Good Luck!

ETa: take the stool softener and gas meds!! I didn't have a huge problem with gas or going after, in fact I shocked the nurse when I told her I actually went in the hospital the 3rd day after my CS.

Message edited 8/24/2013 9:21:08 AM.

BTDT Cesarean's -

I had a section after a failed delivery at 37 weeks. My dr had me up and walking ASAP. Part of that was I had clots in my leg so I was not allowed to sit for too long but if def helps with recovery.

Stool softener and liquid only diet for 24 hrs.

I had almost zero pain and didnt even take Motrin. Avoid pain meds if you really aren't in a lot of pain. IMO you should be feeling some of your pain to know how much you can push yourself.

I was mostly back to normal in a week. Drove way before they said I could and always walked stairs.

Re: BTDT Cesarean's -

In your opinion... What to do and what not to do?
Immediately before you go to the hospital, poop. It will help you later so you don't get constipated.

Immediately after your c/s start moving your body. You will not feel like it, but you need to get up and start walking. Walk the length of the maternity ward on day one. Right after post op and once you are in your bed move your shoulders.

You need to fart after the surgery to show your bowels are moving again. Moving will help you get the process started.

How was your experience? What's your story?
My first c/s was horrible, but my second c/s was fantastic. I did not know you were supposed to move right after a c/s the first time and stayed in bed the first day. It was a huge mistake and really affected my recovery. On the second one I knew what I was supposed to do and it really helped me a lot. Now I did have muscle atrophy and complications for the first one that was not there for the second so I am sure that impacted it.

How was the recovery? How long until you felt 'normal'?

For my second c/s I felt normal a few days after delivery (about 6), for my first c/s it took me 3 months.

Anything that helped your recovery? Things to avoid or be aware of?
In the hospital wear a night gown, get granny panties that go over your c/s scar. Take any and all help that anyone offers. If someone asks what they can do for you, tell them please make a meal that we can have after we come home. Tell your DH that he needs to pick up the household chores for the first month (laundry, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen) everything else can wait.

ANY other advice you wish someone had told you?
Coordinate what is going to happen post op. I know families want to see the baby. I had DH go with the baby to the baby area, and told him as soon as he is able, take the baby to see me. Then have him sit with you and the baby in recovery. There will be no one to take the baby with you to your room and you need him there. Once you get to the room, have him go to the car to get your stuff. Everyone else can wait. Bring a nice bottle of liquid soap to encourage everyone to wash their hands before holding the baby. Don't be afraid to speak up to anyone to get what you want or need. The nurses are your friend. If you need to kick someone out of the room talk to them to get it done. Good luck! Oh during the c/s your arms will likely be tied down. To calm me, my husband and I recited 99 bottles of bear on the wall (it helped me avoid thinking about what went on behind the paper bind).
Bring a camera into the OR for photos. Good Luck!!