TTMA: C-sections

[Leaf 🌱]

It looks like there’s a good chance I’ll end up with a csection. What do I need to know? What extra stuff do I need to bring to the hospital? Is there anything else I should do to prepare or make recovery as smooth as possible?

I’m very freaked out by a c-section despite several friends assuring me that they didn’t mind them at all. I think my primary concerns are getting skin to skin ASAP, issues with nursing, and how the eff I’ll survive afterwards with a toddler, a newborn, and a house with stairs.

[sweetc129]

3x c/s mama here. Shoot me any questions you might have. Here are a few things I got:

1. I was able to do skin to skin on the table 2/3 of my c/s, so ask. The one I didn’t was at a different hospital and they had different regulations that didn’t allow for this
2. My milk took 6 days to come in for my first c/s, so keep nursing and don’t give up
3. Use a belly binder, makes a big difference. I got mine from the hospital
4. Keep on top of your meds
5. You’ll feel better but it’ll be easy to overdo it for awhile. You’ll think you’re 100% and it’ll be like 6 months and you might lift something and all of a sudden you’ll feel a pain or pull in your incision area. It’s ok.
6. Coughing, sneezing and laughing hurt for a good week so brace with a pillow
7. You can’t drive for 2 weeks
8. You can’t lift more than 10lbs for 2 weeks

[sweetc129]

Yes it is kind of freaky being awake, but you won’t feel it. Yes there is pressure....a shit ton of pressure, but it won’t hurt just a little uncomfortable.

[mattsgirl2004]

I don't have a lot to add to what sweetc129 has already stated. It took 3-5 days for my milk to come in after my csections. I've never been able to do skin-to-skin after mine, but each hospital has their own regulations. So definitely ask. I've never felt pain during mine, but definitely weird pressure.

I would add that even if it's uncomfortable, do what you can to get up and walk when you're able too after having your csection and without over doing it, walk frequently (short walks). It does help with the healing process.

Also, I generally can't sleep or lay flat right after mine. So for the first few nights at home, I end up sleeping in a recliner until I'm less sore.

Good luck!

ETA: Will you have help for at least the first 2 weeks post csection? I've always been told to limit stair usage during that time, along with lifting other kids, etc.

[auri]

+1 to the belly binder, I also got mine from the hospital. I wasn't able to do skin to skin when DD was born, but that was due to her having trouble breathing and being taken to nicu for a few hours. I think mattsgirl2004 is right about different hospitals having different policies. I exclusively pumped and I think my milk came in a couple of days after...I was definitely producing some by the time she had her first pediatric appointment. I don't think you really need to bring anything different with you that you wouldn't normally pack. Just be prepared to spend longer in the hospital, mine made me stay 3 days.

[Leaf 🌱]

Thanks for the reassurance everyone! It sounds like nursing is less than an issue than I have been told which is a relief. I’m really hoping that the hospital lives up to its baby friendly repuatation and I can do skin to skin in the OR. If not, I’m sure I’ll survive.

mattsgirl2004 I think so but DH has some important training scheduled for mid-late April that means he’ll probably be gone for 16+ hours a day. It’s far enough away that if I wasn’t having a baby now, we’d just get him a hotel near the center. It’s an amazing opportunity for him and a huge deal that he was offered it, so I want him to go. My mom will be able to help I think.

Are stairs a hard no for most people? Or is it feasible to go down/up to my bedroom for the night? Selfishly this is one my biggest worries bc I use my bedroom to escape from visitors/nurse in private LOL

This question is super dumb: but assuming I never go into labor, I won’t need the tucks/perri bottle/etc, correct?

[auri]

I was able to go up the stairs to sleep in my own bed. Just take it slow and I wouldn't suggest doing it multiple times a day. No you shouldn't have to use a peri bottle, but I think I remember having a gauze or bandage that I'd have to have help changing.

[nuggetrn]

Leaf 🌱... I only just had my section but I am quite sure you won't need the tucks or peri bottle.

I now have an abundance of tucks and dermoplast that are useless. Yay wasted money. Lol.

[Leaf 🌱]

Hahaha ok good nuggetrn I was pretty sure it was a dumb question but better safe than sorry 😂😂

auri My sister is a nurse so I can ask her for help. I don’t love medical stuff. At all.

[nuggetrn]

My milk took maybe 5 days to come in? That's another thing that I have apparently forgotten. I just know that it was a reasonable amount of time and I was never worried about it

I agree with PP that it is super easy to over do it. You think you are just fine and then you most definitely are not. Take ibuprofen around the clock. I don't know how you feel about narcotics but if you need them, take them. I did. Don't make yourself suffer unnecessarily.

I have been using a step stool to get in and out of bed. Even though now at 5 weeks out I am finally feeling like my abdominal muscles work a little better I am still using it. No need to try too hard and mess up a good thing.

I was able to do skin to skin immediately. My nurse asked me before we went back if I wanted to be able to do skin to skin right away and I said yes. So she took a fitted sheet and wrapped it around my chest, tucking it in under me, so they would have a safe place to stick her while in was laying on the operating table. I am really thankful that she did that because it was definitely not something I was thinking hard about at that point. I actually just had to double check with DH how things went after she came out of me because again, fuzzy on the details.

[nuggetrn]

Mar 22, 2018 6:53:08 GMT -6 Leaf 🌱 said:

Hahaha ok good nuggetrn I was pretty sure it was a dumb question but better safe than sorry 😂😂

auri My sister is a nurse so I can ask her for help. I don’t love medical stuff. At all.

I have actually been meaning to try to offer some up to someone who may be procrastinating getting this stuff. Of course I bought a double pack of both. Oops.

Also... I felt them sewing me up (pressure not pain) and then HEARD them stapling me back together. When I asked the nurse when I would get my staples out they told me they were internal and that they would dissolve. Which is pretty sweet. I had no idea that was a thing. I just had steri strips on the outside and everything else takes care of itself. My incision was nicely healed by my two week appt and we took all the steri strips off at home in the next day or so. I made DH do it because it was just easier.

[sweetc129]

I could do steps no problem. You won’t need tucks or peri bottle, but don’t think because you have a c/s you avoid post partum bleeding. You will still get the nurses pushing on your uterus you’ll still get contractions and bleeding afterwards.

[sweetc129]

I shook a lot with each c/s, like a lot. I also threw up so don’t be afraid to tell them if you feel nausea they will hook you up with zofran and will keep it coming.

[Leaf 🌱]

Mar 22, 2018 7:19:27 GMT -6 sweetc129 said:

I shook a lot with each c/s, like a lot. I also threw up so don’t be afraid to tell them if you feel nausea they will hook you up with zofran and will keep it coming.

Ive heard a lot about the shaking. My last anesthesiologist said I was like drugging a baby elephant so I’m liiiiittle nervous they’ll under drug me and then over compensate. Thank you for the zofran tip.

[mattsgirl2004]

I have steps at my house and have to use them, but definitely limit how often I go up and down them the first week or two.

Definitely let your anesthesiologist onow about any and all concerns you may have. He/she will talk to you before, during the csection, and after. Let them know your concerns at anytime during the whole process. They can adjust things to make you more comfortable.

[yianna]

Leaf 🌱 maybe you could go stay with DH in the swanky hotel with baby!

(I have no other advice to give)

[aprilz81]

**lurking from Jan/Feb 18**

I ended up with a c-section after I failed to progress past 9.5 cm after 20 hours of induction/labor. It was emotionally more traumatic than physically painful because I wasn't expecting to need a c section at all. I was so tired and so hungry that I was just happy to have her out, whatever it took to make that happen.

I started shaking (big shakes) before they even put the spinal block in (I already had the epidural) and same with the nausea. I'm sure it was nerves. I told them about the nausea as soon as I started feeling "off" and they gave me something (not sure what) but told me that I couldn't have the good stuff until the baby was out. I ended up puking which wasn't fun, especially laying flat on my back, numb from the chest down and nothing on my stomach (I now know why they won't let women eat while in labor).

I was never in a lot of pain after it was over, I took the pain meds when offered and my pain stayed about around a 2-4 except when I coughed and then it went up to a 5-6 for a few seconds. I never filled my percocet prescription they gave me and took Advil when I remembered to when I got home. I never considered myself to have a high pain tolerance but I know the nurses couldn't believe how little pain I was reporting.

You really don't need anything "extra" for the hospital. The incision was super low so any soft pants should be fine as long as they hit you near your belly button. They will scrape your uterus out a while they are removing the placenta, I had a lot less bleeding and a ton fewer clots compared to my vaginal birth. You will still have bleeding (mine lasted about 3 weeks) but it should be lighter.

The more you are up and moving (within reason of course) the better you will feel. There was one day in the hospital where I spent most of it in bed and when I got up to take a walk around the floor the next day I could really feel it. I was a lot more stiff and uncomfortable, so I do encourage you to take a short stroll a few times a day if at all possible. I was able to do the stairs at home without a problem, I did have DH carry her upstairs the first few times until I was sure I was strong and stable enough to do stairs and carry her at the same time.

I wasn't able to do skin to skin until I was in the recovery room and I can't remember how long that was but not too long. I was so overwhelmed that I forgot to ask.

I did have (and continue to have) some supply issues, but I don't think it was related to the c-section. I had a breast reduction about 10 years ago and have PCOS, both which are affecting my supply. One of the lactation consultants helped me with a supplemental nursing system in the hospital, so ask about that if you think there are issues. It was too much trouble for me and since I knew I would likely have issues there was only so much I was willing to do to nurse. FYI she is 2 months old today and we are still nursing and supplementing with formula as needed.

Good luck and I hope you don't mind me chiming in!