BTDT moms -- c-section

please tell me everything there is to know about c-sections.. pros? cons?

i'm 26 weeks with twins. at my last doctor's appointment, my doctor and i started discussing a birth plan. when i went for my appointment last night, i was told that my c-section was scheduled

i'm not opposed to a c-section. i honestly just want the most stress-free delivery, if that's possible for me and the twins.

ETA: additional questions below

Message edited 1/6/2016 4:57:37 PM.

BTDT moms -- c-section

My C/S was unplanned but I knew it was a big possibility since I was induced at 34.5 weeks due to placenta issues. I’m going to be brutally honest and give you my experience. It was really painful and I was surprised because I tolerate pain well. I think one of downfalls was that I was apprehensive about taking any sort of pain meds bc I was nursing. I was stubborn and in retrospect should have taken them. They are safe. You may have lots of gas/pressure afterwards. I could feel the gas pain even in my shoulders. Walk. A lot. The sooner the better. Take it easy – that’s easier said than done. I was fortunate to have my mom stay with me 6 weeks post baby so she was a huge help. I think it took me about 3 weeks to feel better and move around easily. I had a lot of discomfort getting up from the bed or the couch.

I will say that everyone’s experience is different. Some of my girlfriends were up and about in no time and didn’t have any complaints. Hoping you have a good experience!

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

Walk walk and then walk more

I had my twins via c section and they had me
Up
Walking hours after. Yes the first time I got up sucked. And they had to call housekeeping lol

But I walked and walked and I was fine by the time I got home and never took a pain med

Every situation is obviously different. And never over strain yourself but walking is very important

If you have no medical reason why a c sectionis necessary and you want a v birth it's possible!

I have bleeding issues so for me a c section was a must

BTDT moms -- c-section

I had a C-section after a failed induction with DD2. I want to preface this with- this is my personal opinion/experience that I know others may not share. If I didn't know beforehand that I was done having children, I would without a doubt know now. It was awful. I never want to have that experience again. It was a complete mindf*ck to be cognizant of my own body being taken apart and put back together. The recovery was horrendous IMO. I had a rough induction the first time around that ended with a vaginal birth. I would take that any day over my C-Section.

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

My ds1 was a failed induction which resulted in a csection. Honestly I knew nothing else so I just kind of dealt with what it was. Ds2 was a VBAC so I can compare the two now.

If it is scheduled you will be able to plan and prepare beforehand. The feeling in my legs came back around 2 hours after. I needed to be able to lift my butt off the gurney to leave pacu. After the csection I was only able to have clears for about 24 hours. I had fluids during that time also and a foley. I think they removed the foley the next night. I had my son at 929pm and the next morning they made me get up out of bed. I had terrible gas pains from the surgery. Walk, walk, and more walking.

I kept my ds with me but you can easily send him to the nursery to rest. My DH stayed that first night but after that he went home and it was painful to get up and get the baby but it also promoted me to move and ultimately heal.

Go slow after. It takes time before you feel 100%. I remember grocery shopping at 2 weeks with my DH. I wasn't pushing the cart but just walking consistently the whole time I was feeling it by the end.

Overall, is it surgery - yes and was it a harder recovery than my VBAC - yes but that was how my ds1 needed to be born so I dealt and so will you. I literally can't even remember the actual pain after I just remember that I was uncomfortable.

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

I had a c-section after a failed induction with my DD (with my DS- first child- I had a vaginal delivery). I was having super bad contractions but never dilated past 5 cm, the baby's heart rate was low, so the doctor decided to do a c section. It turns out the cord was wrapped around her... I would think a "pro" of the c section is completely avoiding labor pains/contractions, but for me it didn't matter since I had to go through them with DD anyway... and this may be TMI sorry- but i felt like my post partum bleeding was worse with my DS (vaginal birth) vs. my DD which was the c section... The big con, is that the recovery after a c section is worse than if you gave birth vaginally. I also was pretty out of it from the drugs they gave me.

As long as the baby is out safely that's all that matters.

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

I had a planned C-section due to baby being breech, but ended up going in for an emergency one when I went into labor a few days early.
For the most part the actual procedure was a piece of cake. The epidural did not hurt, a little sting but that was it. Recovery was a different story. I don't know how long I was in recovery for, I slept for a while and then ended up getting sick (all over a nurse).
Like the others said, get up and walking around as soon as you can. It will also help with the gas.
I had horrible sciatic pain before giving birth and after I had a hard time walking around (actually lifting my leg to walk). So for me I had a harder time recovering in that aspect. Take the pain meds.
Good luck. Hopefully you will be able to have a vaginal birth and not worry about all this. Wishing you a safe delivery!

ETA: it was helpful to have the boppy pillow

Message edited 1/6/2016 3:59:02 PM.

BTDT moms -- c-section

I had a c-section after failed induction. I had a great experience. Yes, the first couple times out of bed were rough, but I went slow and was able to get up at my own pace. I walked as soon as they let me and I think that is ultimately what helped me not have terrible gas pain and bloating. I hardly needed any pain meds at all; I would take 1 in the morning and 1 at night for the first couple of days and that was it - and I never took any when I got home.

Definitely go slow and do things at your own pace. Do not overdo it otherwise you will be in pain for longer and it will take longer to heal. Just be smart and listen to your body.

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

thank you all for sharing your experiences

ETA: i guess my main issue is being awake during the procedure. it's really giving me anxiety. what was the actual procedure like? do you feel anything? see anything?

my other issue is that i would hate to be in labor or have a failed induction and end up needing a c-section anyway. my doctor also said that i could possibly have one baby naturally and then the other baby might need to be a section, which would be terrible. at least if i go with the c-section, it's a little more planned and a little less stressful on all of us.

i mean, i guess anything is possible at this point and i just have to wait and see how the rest of my pregnancy goes.

Message edited 1/6/2016 4:52:43 PM.

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

BTDT moms -- c-section

Mine was not planned but I actually had an amazing recover IMO.

I had to get up and walk as soon as they let me and walked the halls all the time. I had blood clots so my Dr would not let me stay put. I also never took pain meds. Take as little as possible. You don't want to completely mask the pain as the pain will tell you when you are pushing yourself too much.

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

Being awake actually didn't freak me out. They take the baby out pretty quickly, within the first 15 minutes, so that definitely took my mind off of what was going on. I was so busy holding her, looking at her, etc, that I barely realized they were closing me up. The whole time DH was right next to me, and the anesthesiologist, who is also by your head, was super nice giving me anti-nausea meds and helping me feel calm.

I had watched enough babycenter videos to know what to expect. You do feel pressure, but not pain (or at least I didn't feel any pain). To be honest, the worst part for me was when I was lying buck naked on a metal surgical table in the middle of a busy operating room! There is no modesty with delivery, that's for sure.

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

I was afraid of feeling something also and it toke my right leg a little longer to become completely numb. They were like ok we are going to start. I'm was like " are you gonna do a test poke?!?" My Dr said already done and it started. It was weird I guess. Towards the end I thought I was feeling pain but the doctor told me that was just them putting my insides back together which is GROSS to think about but then the stitching up felt like forever because you want to hold your baby. But I have a great scar so I am very glad she took her time.

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

Posted by h0peful2015

thank you all for sharing your experiences

ETA: i guess my main issue is being awake during the procedure. it's really giving me anxiety. what was the actual procedure like? do you feel anything? see anything?

my other issue is that i would hate to be in labor or have a failed induction and end up needing a c-section anyway. my doctor also said that i could possibly have one baby naturally and then the other baby might need to be a section, which would be terrible. at least if i go with the c-section, it's a little more planned and a little less stressful on all of us.

i mean, i guess anything is possible at this point and i just have to wait and see how the rest of my pregnancy goes.

BTDT moms -- c-section

I had twins - i had one naturally and one c-section - baby a was head down and born within 2 hours of water breaking. it was an easy delivery - got the epidural at 10 cm because they wanted me to have it in case something went wrong - Baby B was transverse - but when baby a left he had tons of room and would not engage either breach or head down - so i ended up with a c-section after 30 minutes of trying to engage

but my recovery was very easy - i took meds in hospital and walked a lot but i did not need any once i got home- i was ready to go home after 2 days but i did stay the extra day because they wanted the babies to stay another day

BTDT moms -- c-section

I had an unplanned CS BC of failed induction and didn't think baby would fit. The CS was very weird. I felt so much pressure and poking and they gave me twilight anaesthesia I guess to take the edge off. I was basically out during the procedure and didn't get to hold my LO right away. They whisked him off to nicu due to fluid in his lungs and me to recovery but once I made it to my room (2 hours) they brought him in. Recovery wasn't bad at all. No gas pain. But very sore and had a tough time getting out of bed. Basically you have to use all your upper body strength and shuffle out the first night or two. You have zero use of your core. All and all not bad. The surgery just freaked me out. Recovery was not as bad as I imagined.

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

Posted by h0peful2015

thank you all for sharing your experiences

ETA: i guess my main issue is being awake during the procedure. it's really giving me anxiety. what was the actual procedure like? do you feel anything? see anything?

my other issue is that i would hate to be in labor or have a failed induction and end up needing a c-section anyway. my doctor also said that i could possibly have one baby naturally and then the other baby might need to be a section, which would be terrible. at least if i go with the c-section, it's a little more planned and a little less stressful on all of us.

i mean, i guess anything is possible at this point and i just have to wait and see how the rest of my pregnancy goes.

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

Posted by h0peful2015

thank you all for sharing your experiences

ETA: i guess my main issue is being awake during the procedure. it's really giving me anxiety. what was the actual procedure like? do you feel anything? see anything?

my other issue is that i would hate to be in labor or have a failed induction and end up needing a c-section anyway. my doctor also said that i could possibly have one baby naturally and then the other baby might need to be a section, which would be terrible. at least if i go with the c-section, it's a little more planned and a little less stressful on all of us.

i mean, i guess anything is possible at this point and i just have to wait and see how the rest of my pregnancy goes.

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

I'm a twin mom and also had a c section for them and my 3rd. I always wanted to avoid the c section if I could only bc it was surgery. My OB told me I could try to labor as long as they were both head down. Baby A was head down but B was transverse so there went that plan out the window.

I actually delivered 5 days before my scheduled c section. I just felt weird and had a little bleeding which they never found the cause so my dr was like hey we're here anyway, let's just do the C section now.

We were literally calling our families as I was being prepped for surgery (we didn't tell them we went to the hospital because I had been there twice before for false labor so we didn't want to worry them).

C section itself was fine. The nurses are amazing and take great care of you. Just try to walk as soon as possible after. It was really hard but once I started walking I felt much better.

It's all worth it when you see those little faces!!!

BTDT moms -- c-section

At the time I thought it was the worst shit ever. Winthrop is a learning hospital or some crap and it took for ev er to get me back together. It was my dr saying "ok now cut here. Do this. This here". I kept telling my husband make them hurry up. What is taking so long etc. my blood pressure went up so high I almost had a stroke. (Legitimately I'm not exaggerating). So I was in recovery for about 4-5 hours which sucked. But once they got me into my own room I was pretty good. It hurt, but they had me up and moving and I was perfect a week later.

BTDT moms -- c-section

I had an unplanned c section after being in labor 20 hours. The surgery itself was quick was it weird being awake? Yes but you only feel a little tugging. Baby was out super quick my blood pressure was all out of whack from labor so I was heavily medicated after so I did not hold my son right after but I did in recovery. I was out of bed less then 12 hours after the section and walking the halls shortly after that. I only ever took Motrin for pain. I swear it is because I forced myself to walk and move. That is my biggest piece of advice for recovery. Walk Walk Walk. By my 2 week post partum check up I felt like myself again.

I also attribute my recovery wth my doctor who did a fantastic job.

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

DS was breech so I knew for a few weeks that I was going to have a c-section. I have to say that the anticipation of it was worse than the actual surgery. I went into labor so I was already in pain when I went into the OR, but nothing in there seemed scary or overwhelming to me. I didn't feel anything - not even the tugging or pressure they say you'll feel. Recovery, for me, wasn't bad at all.

For my DD, I had a planned repeat c-section, but again, went into labor early. Once I got to the hospital, I opted for a VBAC. The anticipation of having to push was pretty scary to me, too. But I only had to anticipate it for a couple of hours.

Honestly, I'd say the anxiety of the anticipation of a vaginal or a c-section probably would be the same leading up to the birth. Both are something you've never experienced. And both are major things your body will have to endure. But I will also say, once you're at the end of your pregnancy, you're so excited to meet your little baby (babies, in your case) that none of that really matters. You'll probably be terribly uncomfortable by then, too, and just want the babies out, no matter how they come out! Ha. For me, I was just focused on getting my baby out the safest way possible for them.

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

I had two C-sections. First one was a crash bc DS was losing oxygen and they put me under. Since I was under the recovery was awful. Not only was I recovering from the C-section, but also the anesthesia.

For my 2nd it was a scheduled c and MUCH better experience. I was also so nervous about being awake during it, but believe me it's MUCH better than going under. You are paying for the anesthesia so use it. If you feel sick then let your anesthesiologist know and they will give you anti nausea meds. Don't be a hero.
First they give you a spinal, which is nothing. I am the biggest baby when it comes to needles too. Then you will feel numb. Let your anesthesiologist know how you feel at all times. Sick, hurting, etc. They will take care of it. It all happens pretty fast. I think mine was about 40 - 45 mins. You'll feel tugging and pulling and that's it. After the baby is out you don't even know they are putting you together. LOL!
Then you will go into recovery with the baby. As others said... try and walk. Move your feet when you can. Once you get feeling back and you are ready they will take the catheter out and you can start slowly walking around the maternity ward with the baby and DH with you. Take the gas meds too.
It'll be fine!

Re: BTDT moms -- c-section

In my experience I had an epidural already from trying to give birth naturally so I don't know if they gave me more drugs or what on the operating table but I was so out of it that I could barely keep my eyes open with DD was born. I know that this is not the norm.

You don't see anything because they put a sheet up in front of you.