My (very long) birth story!

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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!

Member since 5/06

32461 total posts

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My (very long) birth story!

First of all, thank you to all the ladies for their support, answers during this last months. This site is wonderful!

So... let's start!!!

Like a lot of you know, I have had major issues with the "back door" area (AKA hemorrhoids) during the pregnancy. At 24 weeks, then again at 29 weeks, I had to see a surgeon to "relieve" me and CUT ME down there due the number of them (that they were thrombosed) and with the excruciating pain I had. So, after much debate I had a scheduled c-section. The OB and rectal/colon surgeon warned me that the quick fixes in the 2nd trimester could reoccur at anytime during the pregnancy and that a vaginal delivery would be brutal AKA weeks of recovery.

So...off for Friday 6/22 I was scheduled. With all my luck.. guess what.. I had a major "attack" on Wednesday night (yes, 1.5 days before the c-section... the whole purpose for it!!!!!). I literally suffered in pain on Thursday unable to go to work. Unable to do anything about it since I would have the anesthesia the next day. I barely slept on Thursday night.

On Friday I was even more miserable. I had not eaten or drank anything since the night before. I was scheduled at 1pm but was pushed out by 2 hours due to 2 other emergency c-sections. I was so miserable with the “back door” that you would have thought I was in labor. The Dr. even tried to call the colon/rectal surgeon to see if they could evaluate the situation after the c-section. Desperate, I had asked them to call ANY surgeon to take care of the issue at the same time of the c-section. With no time to prepare for it, it was decided that the surgeon would come and see me while in the recovery. To top that, I found out I could not get a private room. They were all booked. My one “splurge” for this pregnancy. I would have to share a room with someone.

Finally, it was my turn. They prepped me. I got a spinal …..aaaawwww. What a relief! I felt warmth all over. I felt NOTHING, my pain was gone. The best I felt in 2 days. They opened me up. DH by my side. I heard baby Ethan crying but could not see him. They asked DH to come cut the cord….. yes, that meant he would be on the OTHER side of the shield. So, let’s say DH knows me now INSIDE OUT. He came back with Ethan in his arms and I was able to kiss him. It was so surreal. He was MY BABY. Off we go to the recovery area. I asked to BF my DS. They kept asking me if I was up to it. I was totally surprised by the question honestly. I was shivering from the anesthesia but nothing that would prevent me from BF. Let’s remember I was on cloud 9 at this point with no pain. I am glad I indeed BF at the time. After they took DS to the nursery to be cleaned up more, from there… it went down hill. They had given me something in addition to the IV to avoid the nausea from the anesthesia. Well, that did not work. Shortly after, I started nausea. The nurse started the “alcohol” swab smell trick under the nose. It worked for 3 minutes. Then… here it came, the non stop nausea. Of course, I had not eaten anything for about 24 hours at that point. BILE… yuck!!! Non stop for hours. They gave me another dose through the IV of the same thing they had gave me prior to the surgery. Nothing. Put me on Zofran. Nothing. Finally, they had to call the anesthesiologist again to find out how to stop the vomiting. I was not allowed to leave the recovery room until I stopped. Then they put me on Benadryl. It worked after 7 hours in recovery. The colon/rectal surgeon came and told me I would have to wait for 2 weeks and go see them. Just keep doing the “home remedies” (yeah… that did not work for 2 days!!!). But he assured me I should feel better since the pressure was lessen by the baby being born.

By then it was 11pm. I was totally drained. I went to my room. There was the roommate… on the phone until 11:30pm. Chatting on her cell phone. I tried to forget about the private room and held my tears. Finally I fell asleep for 1 hour. Baby arrived in my room at 12am to be BF.. then again at 3am then at 6am. I was exhausted but still amazed about my little one. Luckily he latched on right away. What a relief! At least something worked. By 7am, my roommate could not stay in place… flipped pages of magazines. I guess it was the end of my sleep too. By 8am, she started calling again. How horrible her vaginal delivery was, etc….

Early that morning, nurses came to check on me, my incision, bathe me, etc…My little “peepee” hole started to bother me. I still had the catheter in me. They removed by 10am. OMG… the pain. Another one of my trial in this recovery. I felt I had to go but I could not and the pain was so bad. DH arrived and I told him how bad it was. They help me getting up (not possible on my own at this point). Finally after 3 hours, tears of excruciating pain, I was able to go…. BAD catheter.. BAD!!!!

To my surprised, they asked me if I still wanted a private room. I almost scream “yes”. The roommate had now 7 or 8 loud visitors and I still could not sleep. Of course, she managed to tell his family that it would be the only kid he (the DH) would get out of her. Sweet!!!!

The private room was such a relief. At least it would peaceful and quiet.

On day 3, OMG.. Holy engorgement!!! The nurses got me a manual pump right away to help relieve the pain. I was so glad it happened at the hospital.

The 4 days at the hospital were “SHORT” and I am glad I stayed that long there.. The help of the nurses was invaluable, bringing me the baby during the night.

Ladies, I will not lie to you. A c-section recovery and BF is brutal. You are in serious pain and you can’t sleep if you BF.

Now after 11 days, I am finally feeling better. BF is still brutal.

But on the bright side, at my dr visit yesterday (10 days after delivery) for the incision check, I weighted myself.....I LOST 26 Lbs Chat Icon I am now only 5 Lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight. No flat belly yet but in all in good time!!

Message edited 7/3/2007 2:10:22 PM.

Posted 7/3/07 2:01 PM