for those of you who had a c section

I was told yesterday, I am 35 weeks, they are going to schedule a c section for me, my baby is breech and he does not think the baby will turn. It was the one thing I did not want, but of course whatever is safest for the baby I will do.

What can I expect? How is the recovery? and I am soley breastfeeding, how does that work with skin to skin after birth and start latching right away?
feeling really nervous.

Re: for those of you who had a c section

I had the exact same situation. The recovery was not so bad. The first few days are tough and then each day it gets a little better. I remember saying after 2 weeks that I couldn't believe that I had surgery! As far as BFing goes....I didn't think the c-section interfered at all. I was also to BF DD for the 1st time in the recovery room. We had no issues at all!

Good luck!

Re: for those of you who had a c section

LO may turn. My DD turned at like 37 weeks. As for the c-section, I had no problem with her latching on and recovery. DD was born at 1:06 inthe afternoon and I was up out of bed by dinner time- with the help of the nurse. They want you up and moving. The first time is slow and a little uncomfortable because you have the catheter and the IV. Once the cather is removed- mine was removed the next morning- moving is much easier. You still have to move slow, but I wasn't in discomfort. I would recommend taking pain med. I didn't take anything until 24 hours later, but I don't think I should have waited. I wasn't in pain, but felt uncomfortable. The meds definitely help. By 48 hours after DD was born, I was moving and feeling good. I moved slow just to be cautious, but had no problems with feeding her. Good luck!

Re: for those of you who had a c section

C-section really isn't that bad and might be less painful for you bc your body will not be going thru labor and then surgery. Best Advice: 1. Get up & move around- I used to walk the halls in the am & pm.You also might get a lot of gas bc of the surgery and the fluids they pump you with so getting up and walking will help with that. 2. Wear the support band they give you (most hospitals give a post preg. band to c-section patients its similar to belly bandit: Its awesome) It provides support to help you get up w/out pulling on the incision. I wore mine for 3 wks.
3. Take the pain meds or the motrin whatever you feel comfy with, especially the 1st day. Don't try to be superwoman bc you will only hurt yourself. 4. Don't stress about breastfeeding if you can't do it the 1st day. Let them supplement. I had to be put under with my DS and was out of it the whole day so I didn't feed him at all the 1st day, but I did the next day and I went on to successfully breastfeed for 5 months. 5. Take it easy for the 1st 2 wks and take as much help is offered. C-section is major surgery and so many people neglect themselves and end up with infections bc they did too much when they got home.

GL with whatever you end up with and remember that if your Dr. decides to do a c-section, they are doing so for yoursake and bc its best for the baby. Its not a reflection on you

HTH!

Re: for those of you who had a c section

Posted by christy811

C-section really isn't that bad and might be less painful for you bc your body will not be going thru labor and then surgery. Best Advice: 1. Get up & move around- I used to walk the halls in the am & pm.You also might get a lot of gas bc of the surgery and the fluids they pump you with so getting up and walking will help with that. 2. Wear the support band they give you (most hospitals give a post preg. band to c-section patients its similar to belly bandit: Its awesome) It provides support to help you get up w/out pulling on the incision. I wore mine for 3 wks.
3. Take the pain meds or the motrin whatever you feel comfy with, especially the 1st day. Don't try to be superwoman bc you will only hurt yourself. 4. Don't stress about breastfeeding if you can't do it the 1st day. Let them supplement. I had to be put under with my DS and was out of it the whole day so I didn't feed him at all the 1st day, but I did the next day and I went on to successfully breastfeed for 5 months. 5. Take it easy for the 1st 2 wks and take as much help is offered. C-section is major surgery and so many people neglect themselves and end up with infections bc they did too much when they got home.

GL with whatever you end up with and remember that if your Dr. decides to do a c-section, they are doing so for yoursake and bc its best for the baby. Its not a reflection on you

HTH!

Re: for those of you who had a c section

I went through labor and then a c/s so my recovery was bit painful.

Like a PP said, don't be afraid to take the pain meds. They are good for the first few days, and help get you through the pain of walking around. You do not realize how much you use the muscles where they cut you, until you are recovering from surgery.

I also was up and walking around by the morning after my c/s and I think it was the best thing. But don't overdo it -- walk around and then rest and use the meds. Do a little more with each time you get up.

Don't feel shy -- going to the bathroom, changing your pad, and cleaning yourself are NOT easy to do the first few days. My DH, mom, and sister all at one point helped me with these things. It was needed!

Do NOT and I mean do NOT hold your pee. If you feel you have to go to the bathroom, GO! A full bladder can cause pain against your incision and be VERY painful.

It can take a little bit for your milk to come in, so if you have to supplement with formula...don't feel bad about that at all. Plenty of moms who successfully BF have to supplement in the hospital.

Re: for those of you who had a c section

I didn't get my baby until about 3 hours after she was born, but she did latch right away at that time and they had given her some formula in the nursery due to a low blood sugar. So the section really shouldn't interfere with your ability to BF. Good luck!

Re: for those of you who had a c section

Posted by ar1stbaby

Posted by christy811

C-section really isn't that bad and might be less painful for you bc your body will not be going thru labor and then surgery. Best Advice: 1. Get up & move around- I used to walk the halls in the am & pm.You also might get a lot of gas bc of the surgery and the fluids they pump you with so getting up and walking will help with that. 2. Wear the support band they give you (most hospitals give a post preg. band to c-section patients its similar to belly bandit: Its awesome) It provides support to help you get up w/out pulling on the incision. I wore mine for 3 wks.
3. Take the pain meds or the motrin whatever you feel comfy with, especially the 1st day. Don't try to be superwoman bc you will only hurt yourself. 4. Don't stress about breastfeeding if you can't do it the 1st day. Let them supplement. I had to be put under with my DS and was out of it the whole day so I didn't feed him at all the 1st day, but I did the next day and I went on to successfully breastfeed for 5 months. 5. Take it easy for the 1st 2 wks and take as much help is offered. C-section is major surgery and so many people neglect themselves and end up with infections bc they did too much when they got home.

GL with whatever you end up with and remember that if your Dr. decides to do a c-section, they are doing so for yoursake and bc its best for the baby. Its not a reflection on you

HTH!

Thank you so much. I am glad to hear that its not as bad as I think it will be.
Do they give you the baby right after delivery?

I really appreciate all of your input. Its really helpful.

Re: for those of you who had a c section

I agree...the first 2 days are tough, but you have the hospital staff to help you.

i was walking 1-2 miles day by 2 weeks and running at 5 weeks pp

Both of my kids were given 1/2 ounce of formula at first (I was in labor for 44 hours with #1, so I was fine with it!) and went into their 12 hour "coma" so I didn't BF for a while and had no problems at all.

Re: for those of you who had a c section

I have had 2 scheduled c/s. First I agree baby might still turn. DS #1 didnt turn until 36 weeks and let me tell you he was born at nearly 10lbs! So there is still hope!

But I hate saying this, but I felt the recovery was "easy" I truly can't imagine having a better recovery if I had a v-delivery. My first OB with DS#1 swore by the theory that schedules are generally easier b/c your body isnt recovering from both labor and surgery but is just the surgery. First C/s I never took any pain meds stronger than motrin and never took anything after leaving the hospital when DS was 3 days old. 2nd one, I took pain meds at night mainly because I was having trouble sleeping and man did those things help!
Advice: Get as much rest as possible in the hosptial. Dont feel guilty for sendign baby to the nursery so you can rest--you have the next 18 years to take care of this kid, a few hours here and there isnt going to hurt anyone.
As the pp said, get up and walk around. My first c/s was in the Am and all the wires and such were removed the next AM. I got up immediately walked down the hall, then sat up alot during hte day in a chair. Whenever I could I walked the halls. DS#2 was born at 9pm, the next AM around 8 they came in and I nearly jumped up asking them to remove all the stuff... but they did and again I was up and around. Even in the middle of the night after feeding DS, I always walked him back to the nursery myself.

As for BF. I know with both of my babies, I was able to hold them from teh OR down to recovery. At that point they take the baby to do all the tests and they got me situated with pain meds etc. With DS#2 being that he was born late and I hadn't eaten since they day before, I was too exhausted to even think straight and I hate having hte baby by myself the first night because, you are confined to the bed and I just worried if something happened. So I had them FF DS the first night. After that I BF/FF in the hosptial. DS didnt latch well the first few days but he is now 8 weeks and latches fine. I am BF now nearly 100%, the .5% Formula he gets is because thats what I want to do and not for any other reason!.

Re: for those of you who had a c section

I didn't get to hold my baby until about 3-4 hours after the c/s. I was very loopy and out of it in the OR, then I was in recovery and they made me wait another hour or so before bringing her from the nursery to me after I was in the room.

Re: for those of you who had a c section