Those who have had a planned C-section

It looks like I am most likely having a C-section and I am very nervous. Can anyone give me info?

How long did it take until you recovered?

How long until you were able to walk?

Were you able to take care of your baby (lifting and bending to put down) immediately?

How big is your scar?

Were you aware of everything going on while you were in the OR?

Were you able to wear pants or did they irritate the incision?

Would you have another if you could choose?



Any other info would be helpful!

Re: Those who have had a planned C-section

How long did it take until you recovered? Fully recovered. About 6 weeks or so. I had a ton of post p
How long until you were able to walk?artum bleeding which didn't stop till 12 weeks pp

Were you able to take care of your baby (lifting and bending to put down) immediately?
- yes absolutely I was able to care for her in hospital my only issue I had was getting up out of bed/chair while holding her so I made sure to get up first. If I wanted to sit in bed with her I would place her on the bed sit down get comfy then pick her up off the bed much easier that way.

How big is your scar?
- about 6 inches and its literally right at the hair line totally hideable I even wore a bikini this past summer

Were you aware of everything going on while you were in the OR?
- yes I had a lot of complications so I ended up under general anesthesia after I heard my dd cry so I don't remember anything after that I have no pictures and wasn't able to hold her till about 6 hrs later

Were you able to wear pants or did they irritate the incision?
- pants were not easy for me. I wore maternity pants just the stretchy waste kind for 12 weeks after Abby was born you tend to have a lot of numbness from the belly button to the incision point because they sever nerves and its them trying to heal and reg pants were just not comfy. But everyone is different. I was given amazing advice in the hospital. Get those big huges thick surgical pads they give you in hospital and place one over your incision it adds extra padding and prevents underwear or pants from catching or irritating your incision especially when you have the staples in.
Would you have another if you could choose?
- absolutely dispite how horrible my experience was I'm choosing to have a scheduled section this time around I'm just more prepared.

Only other advice I have is to have a pillow over your belly when holding baby on hospital to take pressure off your sore belly and allows you to rest your arms with baby on that and not your belly.


Let me know if you have any other questions


Eta: I was walking 15 hrs after she was born

Message edited 5/14/2011 8:03:50 PM.

Re: Those who have had a planned C-section

I had an emergency c-section.
DS was born at 4:24 pm.
Before DH came to the hospital the next morning, I was out of bed and dressed in normal clothes... get maternity undies... they are high enough not to worry about it. Once I was home, I only took ibuprofen for 2 or 3 days... then no drugs.
I was able to do everything, however, DH helped a lot so I didnt have to get up if not necessary. The hardest part was getting out of bed in the middle of the night... just move slow! I slept propped up with pillows for the first week to make it easier.
My scar is about 4 inches long and barely visible (DS is almost 8 months)... Its so low, its in the crease below my pouch.
I was aware of everything happening... it was very quick! I remember feeling like I was gonna pass out when they were sewing me up... i told the anesthesiologist and within seconds I felt fine!
I will be having another one in December. HTH

Re: Those who have had a planned C-section

How long did it take until you recovered?

- a full recovery for me was about a month.

How long until you were able to walk?

- the first day, they made me get up and sit in the chair for a bit, and then get back to bed. the next day, they wanted me to walk around a bit. it wasn't easy.

Were you able to take care of your baby (lifting and bending to put down) immediately?

not really, I had DH stay with me in the hospital the entire time. It's hard to bend over, get up, move around, etc.....it CAN be done, but you're limited and tend to go very slow.

How big is your scar?

4 or 5 inches maybe? it's really not bad @ all.

Were you aware of everything going on while you were in the OR?

the first time was an emergency c/s, so I had no clue. For my planned c/s, yes, I had some idea of what was going on...I mean, they didn't tell me what they were doing, but my doc kept giving me updates as to how much longer it was.

Were you able to wear pants or did they irritate the incision?

yeah.The first day or two, they have a dressing on it, so once they took it off, I wore old lady underwear that was high-waisted. A great tip is to take a pad and stick in sideways in your underwear (so that it is protecting your incision)

Would you have another if you could choose?

after having 2, I have no other choice....here is the thing: you won't have to go into labor. there is no screaming or pushing. there is no vaginal tearing, no stitches down there, etc. You get to walk in and have a baby. However, the recovery is long and it takes awhile 2 feel normal again.

Re: Those who have had a planned C-section

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Message edited 5/15/2011 7:59:23 AM.

Re: Those who have had a planned C-section

How long did it take until you recovered?
I'll be honest - the first day is hard. But it gets better each day. When I went home, I was still careful walking, but it wasn't bad. I was walking 2 miles a day at 2 weeks PP and running 2 miles a day at 5 weeks pp

Were you able to take care of your baby (lifting and bending to put down) immediately?
It's harder in the hospital, but I let the nurses and DH do most, except BFing.

How big is your scar?

5-6 inches...right on the bikini line, so most bathing suits cover it no problem. and it's healed pretty well.

Were you aware of everything going on while you were in the OR?
Yes, OB and I were telling jokes back and forth. He also gave us car advice...LOL

Were you able to wear pants or did they irritate the incision?

I wore the gown in the hospital and DH's cotton shorts when I got home...I pulled them up Mr Furley style.

Would you have another if you could choose?
My first was an emergency c/s and I still got pregnant 2 more times. I will say that I'm not looking forward to it, but I have just accepted it as my reality.

Re: Those who have had a planned C-section

Re: Those who have had a planned C-section

How long did it take until you recovered?
- I had slight pain once the meds wore off, but I was doing everything that I normally would within 1 week.

How long until you were able to walk?
- I was up and walking around the next morning

Were you able to take care of your baby (lifting and bending to put down) immediately?
- Yes. It was uncomfortable to stand up and sit down bc of the incision, but I was able to do everything.

How big is your scar?
- My scar is about 4 inches long. At 5 months PP you can barely see it.

Were you aware of everything going on while you were in the OR?
- Yup!!

Were you able to wear pants or did they irritate the incision?
- I wore pants. They bandaged my incision up so well that it didn't make a difference at all.

Would you have another if you could choose?
- Absolutely!! It was umconfy to stand up and bend over, but I really had little to no pain at all. I didn't take any pain meds, not even a motrin. It was way better than I would have ever imagined. I had a great recovery... I still feel numbness above my incision at 5 month PP... not sure when that will go away.

ONE MORE THING...
There is a lamp overhead in the OR. DO NOT LOOK UP! DH watched the entire surgery through the reflection on the lamp LOL.