The dirty details ... total TMI

BTDT moms - feel free to join in and add your own

I can only speak for csection ladies since ive only have a csection but here are some of the dirty details that I wish someone had shared with me

First of all, ALL modesty is OUT the window. Dont be shy, dont be nervous. The nurses and aids, doctors and heck - even the workers who deliver your meals have seen it all.

I remember walking to the bathroom in my gown before my csection, trying to hide my tush that was partially hanging out the back of my gown - boy, i had NO clue what I was in for

1 - the post csection clean up. Since you cannot get out of bed to walk to the bathroom for the first 12-18 hours, they come in every 4-6 hours and "clean you up". Literally, they put a washable "chuck" underneath you and pull out the old pads. They squirt you down with a bottle, wipe you dry, put down new "wee-wee" pads and line you with pads. Then there was the sponge bath - didnt expect that. My nurse-aid was a blessing. She made me feel so comfortable, even while sponge bathing me from top to bottom lol.

(i did get up and sit in a chair about 8 hours after DS was born - back in bed 30 mins later, no walking)

2 - once you CAN get out of bed, expect a red trail. The first time I got up after my catheter was out, I walked about 10 feet and felt a gush. By the time I was in the bathroom, there was a trail of blood running down my leg and all over the floor. It was like a crime scene but my nurse said it happens to everyone when they first walk. DO NOT be embarrassed!

3 - the catheter Its really not that bad. At winthrop, they give you the spinal first and then the cath so you do not feel it. I was so scared about them taking it out. Literally, I didnt want them to do it - I was shaking thinking it was going to be painful. Its like pulling off a band-aid. They pull it out quickly and you hardly feel it, maybe a little pinch. DO NOT freak about it, stay relaxed and its NO big deal. It takes seconds.

4 - pain meds - TAKE THEM and take them often! Do not wait until you are in pain to ask for them. In fact, I would get on a 4-6 hour schedule with them. There were times when I would wake up shaking in pain because I wanted too long to take them.

5 - GAS. When they tell you that you will have gas, they arent kidding. At one point, I remember this HUGE rumble that lasted about 10 seconds. The passing of the gas was louder and lasted about 3x as long DH was proud. It can also be painful when gas gets trapped. Peppermint tea helps, any kind of mint tea really

The doctors will not OK you eating solids until you pass gas so expect liquids for the first 24-36 hours.

6 - the shakes. I got them several times. Its normal.

7 - EAT with vitamins or pain meds - whatever medication they give you. My nurse gave me a prenatal, an iron pill and a stool softener right before I left. Unfortunately, the day was SO hectic that I hadn't had a second to eat anything. I was SO sick for the next 3 days. Eat with ALL meds.

8 - sweating. you will go through periods of insane sweating. i would wake up drenched but was never hot. its all hormonal and normal.



ill come up with more

Message edited 6/12/2010 12:33:35 AM.

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

I also had a c-section, and will be having another in 10 days

The one thing I can add to everything above (which was VERY thorough and I agree with all of it) is about the spinal.

The idea of someone going at my spine with a huge needle FREAKED ME OUT. And then you watch A Baby Story and you see some woman flinching and crying because the spinal/epidural is so painful.

I am the biggest baby when it comes to pain...this was a piece of cake. The only sting was from the local anesthetic. The spinal itself felt "weird", but not painful. Mostly pressure, and then they tell you they're done.

I wasn't ready for the feeling of helplessness that came from being paralyzed from the chest down, though. At one point, the nurse told me to wiggle my toes, and I realized I couldn't and nearly had a panic attack. I learned quickly not to try to do that again until I got some sensation back in my legs.

Oh...the cuffs. They put these wonderful leg cuffs on your lower legs to keep your circulation going. They actually feel kinda nice, but they are made of plastic, so be prepared to sweat like a fiend and consequently want to take your legs off and rub them with sandpaper. I've already started to think of ways I can prevent that itching this time--my DH wants to bring his Under Armor shirts (the moisture-wicking material) and wrap them around my calves to try to absorb the moisture. We'll see if it works.

Oh, and if you're planning to use an LC, just be prepared that they will think nothing of swooping in and grabbing your boobs. That's their job, but I wasn't prepared for the fact that my LC had my boob in both her hands within the first 5 minutes that we met

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

omg I can vouch for everything you wrote except I had forgotten it all. Thanks for the reminder!

I was eating within 12 hrs because I had my c/s at 7:30m at night and as they were transferring me to my bed I passed gas. I looked around and said.. uh was that me? Because I couldn't even feel it! LOL the nurse said yes, and its a good thing, thats what we want to hear! LOL

I was also up and out of bed shortly after eating so I guess I moved along faster than I remembered. But oh the trail... definitely remember that!

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

Posted by MrsRivera

I also had a c-section, and will be having another in 10 days

The one thing I can add to everything above (which was VERY thorough and I agree with all of it) is about the spinal.

The idea of someone going at my spine with a huge needle FREAKED ME OUT. And then you watch A Baby Story and you see some woman flinching and crying because the spinal/epidural is so painful.

I am the biggest baby when it comes to pain...this was a piece of cake. The only sting was from the local anesthetic. The spinal itself felt "weird", but not painful. Mostly pressure, and then they tell you they're done.

I wasn't ready for the feeling of helplessness that came from being paralyzed from the chest down, though. At one point, the nurse told me to wiggle my toes, and I realized I couldn't and nearly had a panic attack. I learned quickly not to try to do that again until I got some sensation back in my legs.

Oh...the cuffs. They put these wonderful leg cuffs on your lower legs to keep your circulation going. They actually feel kinda nice, but they are made of plastic, so be prepared to sweat like a fiend and consequently want to take your legs off and rub them with sandpaper. I've already started to think of ways I can prevent that itching this time--my DH wants to bring his Under Armor shirts (the moisture-wicking material) and wrap them around my calves to try to absorb the moisture. We'll see if it works.

Oh, and if you're planning to use an LC, just be prepared that they will think nothing of swooping in and grabbing your boobs. That's their job, but I wasn't prepared for the fact that my LC had my boob in both her hands within the first 5 minutes that we met

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

I also did not like the idea of trying to keep my 'wound' dry after a shower and/or general sweatiness.

I was so afraid of causing an infection.

Especially now with summer coming I am so nervous about this

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

I've had two c/s and some of mine was very different. I was at Stony Brook so maybe that is why...

I wasn't stuck in bed that long at all. I had the c/s with at 3pm and the nurses had me out of bed by 9pm that night. Same with DD. They made me get up the same day.

Also they didn't not wait until I passed gas to let me have solids. I was on a liquid diet the same day as the c/s but by the next day they had me eating normal food.

I did not have a sponge bath. They removed the catheter the very next morning and I took a shower.

The red trail is gross. Totally happened with me the first time. I was prepared with my second one!

Totally take the meds. Waiting to long only results in more pain.

Gas sucks.... and pooping the first time sucks more. Take the stool softener!!

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

Posted by -DonnaMarie-

I also did not like the idea of trying to keep my 'wound' dry after a shower and/or general sweatiness.

I was so afraid of causing an infection.

Especially now with summer coming I am so nervous about this

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

you are awesome!!!!!!!! thank you for sharing this!!!!!

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

Thanks for sharing all the details!!

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

I also had a c/s. Overall my experience was really great. I feel fortnuate because some of my experiences are different than what the PP experienced.

I agree with the whole modesty thing. I didnt believe anyone until it was me. I too held the back of my gown getting up to go to the bathroom, the next morning after baby I was calling in the nurses to "clean me up" lol

Getting ready for the c/s the nurses put in the catheder. I too feared this. I dont know why but I had such visions of pain and I was so wrong. I barely felt it going in or being in.

The EPI scared me to death too. I sat on the table shivering with fear but my anethesiologist was amazing. I felt nothing. The sensation of not feeling my legs didnt bother me in the least I was happy just not to worry about feeling any pain.

After c/s I was sent to ICU here they cleaned me up, gave me morphiine and etc.. at this point was where I had the chills, they said it was from the pain meds. I was at South Nassau so I think my experience may be a bit different then some larger hospitals. I was put in an ICU room right in the maternity ward, there were only 2 beds in the room and I had 2 nurses taking care of me. My family was allowed in as soon as I was cleaned up and set up in the ICU. I was in there for only about 2 hrs. It was a great experience.

I was only allowed liquids for that first night. (I had baby at 3:10 pm) it had nothing to do with passing gas, they wanted to make sure I didnt get sick from the meds. the next morning for breakfast I was eating whatever I wanted.

Pain meds. If you are in pain take them.. no one needs to be a hero. For me my pain was minimal. I took one percaset in the morning, but I dont think I really needed it. After that I only took600mg of motrin maybe 2 times a day.

Gettng out of bed the first time, I did not drip or leak at all. infact I didnt have much bleeding overall. by the next morning I was walking around and doing everything for myself.

Measuring your urine. I only had to do this for the first time I went after catheder came out. Let me just say that after having a catheder in even just for 1/2 a day really makes you forget "hot to go" I sat on the toilet for no joke 20 min just waiting for something to happen. It was the wierdest thing. When it finally did happen it was like it just happened and I had no control over it. so wierd!

I was not told to keep my wound dry infact the drs told me that when i shower to not wash the area but to let the soap just run down over it. I did not shower at the hopsital I gave my self sponge baths because I was worried about infection from taking one in the shower there (my cousin things that was how she got one)

The gas after is bad. 12 days PP and I still get bad gas pains now and then.

i did not sweat.

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

I had a vag birth with an episiotomy. I will totally agree with the part about all modesty going out the window. Not only will everyone in the hospital have front row seats to your vag but all the fluids and blood that come out of you it is impossible to be modest. Remember they have seen it all and it is a natural part of the process. According to my nurse well over 90% of women who get to the pushing stage poop on the table. Most of the time you will not even know if happens they whisk it away so fast. They are constantly changing those wee-wee pads under you, so you don't think anything of it. The cath isn't bad at all, I barely felt it. You are going to bleed a lot.... I didn't feel much down there for the first day or so. Once I got home it was a little painful but nothing awful. For me the worst part of recovery was trying to have a BM because of the hemmeroids. I tried all the creams and the one that worked best was Preparation H Cooling Gel.

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

Posted by mamakap

BTDT moms - feel free to join in and add your own

I can only speak for csection ladies since ive only have a csection but here are some of the dirty details that I wish someone had shared with me

First of all, ALL modesty is OUT the window. Dont be shy, dont be nervous. The nurses and aids, doctors and heck - even the workers who deliver your meals have seen it all.

I remember walking to the bathroom in my gown before my csection, trying to hide my tush that was partially hanging out the back of my gown - boy, i had NO clue what I was in for

1 - the post csection clean up. Since you cannot get out of bed to walk to the bathroom for the first 12-18 hours, they come in every 4-6 hours and "clean you up". Literally, they put a washable "chuck" underneath you and pull out the old pads. They squirt you down with a bottle, wipe you dry, put down new "wee-wee" pads and line you with pads. Then there was the sponge bath - didnt expect that. My nurse-aid was a blessing. She made me feel so comfortable, even while sponge bathing me from top to bottom lol.

(i did get up and sit in a chair about 8 hours after DS was born - back in bed 30 mins later, no walking)

2 - once you CAN get out of bed, expect a red trail. The first time I got up after my catheter was out, I walked about 10 feet and felt a gush. By the time I was in the bathroom, there was a trail of blood running down my leg and all over the floor. It was like a crime scene but my nurse said it happens to everyone when they first walk. DO NOT be embarrassed!

3 - the catheter Its really not that bad. At winthrop, they give you the spinal first and then the cath so you do not feel it. I was so scared about them taking it out. Literally, I didnt want them to do it - I was shaking thinking it was going to be painful. Its like pulling off a band-aid. They pull it out quickly and you hardly feel it, maybe a little pinch. DO NOT freak about it, stay relaxed and its NO big deal. It takes seconds.

4 - pain meds - TAKE THEM and take them often! Do not wait until you are in pain to ask for them. In fact, I would get on a 4-6 hour schedule with them. There were times when I would wake up shaking in pain because I wanted too long to take them.

5 - GAS. When they tell you that you will have gas, they arent kidding. At one point, I remember this HUGE rumble that lasted about 10 seconds. The passing of the gas was louder and lasted about 3x as long DH was proud. It can also be painful when gas gets trapped. Peppermint tea helps, any kind of mint tea really

The doctors will not OK you eating solids until you pass gas so expect liquids for the first 24-36 hours.

6 - the shakes. I got them several times. Its normal.

7 - EAT with vitamins or pain meds - whatever medication they give you. My nurse gave me a prenatal, an iron pill and a stool softener right before I left. Unfortunately, the day was SO hectic that I hadn't had a second to eat anything. I was SO sick for the next 3 days. Eat with ALL meds.

8 - sweating. you will go through periods of insane sweating. i would wake up drenched but was never hot. its all hormonal and normal.



ill come up with more

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

thank you ladies soo much sharing.

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

Thank you all so much for this thread!!!!

I have been especially scared of the catheter, as crazy as it may sound. I don't know why, but I think it has to do with a surgical procedure I had when I was 5 years old that I barely remember that had something to do with my bladder... I just remember screaming in agony for what seemed like hours and I always associated it with what it feels like to have a catheter in. (In retrospect, I actually think they were doing the opposite and pumping fluids INTO my bladder, which could explain the pain.)

In any event, you all make this sound so... achievable... for lack of a better word. Thank you so much!!!!!!

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

I had both births. A c-section & then a VBAC.

For my c-section, I experienced all of what you said for the most part, but I did not wait that long to walk.

From my VBAC:

1) The swelling. I feel the need to share this because I was SHOCKED. Now granted I knew the logistics of what was happening & figured yeah, there'd be some swelling, but WOW. I remember as I was leaving the LDR room to go to my maternity room I went to the bathroom. I looked down & almost fainted. I was not prepared for THAT MUCH swelling. I remember saying to the nurse "OMG is it supposed to look like that?!" Don't worry though ladies, everything did go right back to normal within a couple of days.

2) The bleeding. Now this goes for a c-section too, but after my VBAC specifically I had lots of clots. That didn't happen with my first. I actually passed a blod clot the size of my fist & nearly passed out standing in the nursery. I found out from the nurses that it's common & normal.

I'm sure there's more, but I'm drawing a blank right now

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

Thanks for sharing

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

Thank you all soooo much for sharing your experiences.
I am most likely having a c-section and I am seriously scared to death. I hate the idea of being numb and not being able to move....I am not good at being helpless!
It does help to know what to expect, though. Thanks!

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

before i was even having contractions i would go to the bathroom and squat (because im just so grossed out by all bathrooms other then mine ) once i gave birth you couldn't pay me to squat...at that point you just dont care about who sees you or where you are you just need to be comfortable.

I remember calling a nurse into the bathroom and asking her if those blood clots were normal they understand and dont be shy to ask questions

at one point right before i started to push i remember screaming for the anesthesiologist to come in to give me something else because "the baby is coming out of my azz" he enjoyed that very much

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

Posted by -DonnaMarie-

Posted by jgl


I was not told to keep my wound dry infact the drs told me that when i shower to not wash the area but to let the soap just run down over it. I did not shower at the hopsital I gave my self sponge baths because I was worried about infection from taking one in the shower there (my cousin things that was how she got one)

I didn't mean keeping it dry during the shower, oh lawd what a production that would have been.

I mean air drying after. And after you are dressed. I don't know about most people but I know have a pooch that covers it a bit and well, does not make for a good drying, healing environment!

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

Re: The dirty details ... total TMI

I had a c-section one month ago and almost already forgot some of the joy

I wish my only modesty issue was keeping my tush in the gown when I went to the bathroom. I hope I am not the only only, because if I am I am very embarrassed, but my nurse shaved me before my surgery. And that was no small task on her part

Percoset is my best friend!!! I didn't think I needed it til I had it and man, is that stuff good! I was so excited when my dr said she would write me a perscription for it. And yes, I too had a mental note of every 4 hours. Come 3 hours and 55 min I was buzzing for the nurse to allow for "travel time".


One thing to watch out for is contraction- yes contractions- after you have the baby. I had some form of pitocin in my IV to push out the gunk in your uterus. At one point my vajayjay clench up like a fist and I thought I was dying!!!

They had me up about 8 hours after my c-section and it felt good to move. Just take it slow and hang all over the aide that is helping you!!!

Andnow for my biggest c-section issue- loss of bladder control. For about 48 hours after my c-section, when I got up for the bathroom, I started to pee before I was fully over the bowl And DO NOT let people make you laugh!!!!!

Message edited 6/12/2010 9:12:09 PM.