itsmemeg
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Post by itsmemeg on Apr 4, 2018 12:55:57 GMT -6
This will be a repeat c/s for me. My first was easy and recovery seemed easy as well. I’m trying to remember all the things from last time but you know...it’s all a blur.
Now with a toddler I’m sure it will be a bit more difficult. Any tips or tricks?
I didn’t do any special post partum c/s underwear last time but thinking of getting the c-panty since it’s like a panty and a binder in one, anyone have experience w this?
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armpants
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Post by armpants on Apr 4, 2018 14:39:20 GMT -6
I'm hacing a RCS as well. I'm hoping this one is better than my first, but im thinking not laboring for 32 hours first will help with that.
I got cheap granny panties last time and intend to do the same again. They came over my incision amid I didn't care if they got blood on them.
I've been trying to remember how long it was before I could drive again so I can arrange help with the toddler. I think it was 2 weeks, but I'm not certain.
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adeline
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Post by adeline on Apr 4, 2018 15:01:07 GMT -6
Everyone keeps telling me the recovery from a planned c section is better than an emergency, so I hope that’s true.
I didn’t worry about granny panties last time but I’m thinking of doing it this time just for extra comfort. I’m nervous about being in a 2 story house this time, stairs and surgery aren’t a great pair.
My recovery last time was ok. I didn’t drive til about 4 weeks but that’s just because DH was here so he could. Crossing everything for all of us that it’s all good.
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jessila
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Post by jessila on Apr 4, 2018 15:15:01 GMT -6
+1 for everyone telling me a planned c/s is way easier than an emergency because you're not physically exhausted from labor and surgery.
I had granny panties but have also been looking at binder/compression stuff.
I wasn't supposed to drive for 3 weeks and I think I made it that long. Luckily we're in a 1 level home so I don't need to do stairs. I know that lifting weight aka toddlers is a longer time frame than a vaginal birth.
As glad as I am to have an end in sight, I still kind of want to go naturally and try for a VBAC. My almost 3 yo is over 42 pounds and the idea of not picking him up for many weeks seems hard.
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itsmemeg
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Post by itsmemeg on Apr 4, 2018 15:22:21 GMT -6
Re driving. I was restricted for 2 weeks.
Re stairs: I have stairs and i was able to walk them first day back at home. Dr said to take it slow and only go up and down like 2x a day. Also, going up backwards was easier on my incision.
Re lifting toddler: my OB this time said ideally not to lift anything over 20lbs for a month! Yikes!!! She said she knows it’s hard to not lift your toddler so she said “try” for a month.
I had a planned c/s last time too due to DS being breech so I was fortunate that I didn’t have to experience labor prior to c/s.
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itsmemeg
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Post by itsmemeg on Apr 4, 2018 15:24:01 GMT -6
I just did granny panties too last time. Honestly I took home all the mesh panties and wore those for as long as I had them. I also got an abdominal binder from hospital last time but it wasn’t super comfortable which is why I’m leaning towards getting the c-panty this time
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itsmemeg
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Post by itsmemeg on Apr 4, 2018 17:20:32 GMT -6
Also, does anyone remember how long it was before you were walking fairly normal and not so sore? There is a festival I want to take DS to but I’ll only be 1 week post op so not sure I’ll be up for walking that much by then also with a newborn.
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Post by gustierx on Apr 4, 2018 17:37:13 GMT -6
Didn't have a c-section with DD but this one will be a planned c-section (unless something changes) due to his size. Obviously no advice, but following to learn from others!
I did hear from a friend she couldn't drive for 4 weeks so that's what I'm planning on. It sounds like forever.
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Speedy
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Post by Speedy on Apr 4, 2018 17:52:47 GMT -6
Following too. I won't have to worry about driving because between H and my mom I'll be driven everywhere anyways. Definitely good to have info though!
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jessila
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Post by jessila on Apr 4, 2018 18:41:42 GMT -6
I forgot about the mesh panties! I ordered a box from Amazon after I got home last time and used them for weeks. I have extra in my closet.
Motherhood maternity has a new line called Bounceback which is compression stuff. I ordered a pair of the cropped leggings since they were on sale for $15. I figure I'll wear them at some point afterward anyhow.
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ajm
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Post by ajm on Apr 4, 2018 20:00:01 GMT -6
So glad you posted this thread. I was going to post something similar since I had a vaginal birth last time. So I'm going to be following this for sure. I have no idea what to expect.
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adeline
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Post by adeline on Apr 4, 2018 20:03:03 GMT -6
itsmemeg you’re amazing for even considering this! I doubt I’d do it with a vaginal birth let alone a c section. I wasn’t that sore but I certainly felt tentative about walking up hills and on uneven ground for at least a week. Not to mention the sleep deprivation making it tiring too.
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armpants
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Post by armpants on Apr 5, 2018 3:23:22 GMT -6
itsmemeg I honestly felt normal pretty quickly after my c section. But I would be careful about the festival unless you know you'll have plenty of opportunity to sit down. You'll still have to be careful to not overdo it, even if you are felling pretty normal since you'll still be healing internally from where your placenta detached.
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itsmemeg
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Post by itsmemeg on Apr 5, 2018 4:58:11 GMT -6
Thanks ladies. Yeah I remember feeling pretty good last time and was completely off all meds by 1 week pp but you’re right I should probably take it easy. I may just see if DH can take him bc I really want him to go. We have missed it every year bc we usually do his birthday party the same weekend
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Post by daffodilsandcoffee on Apr 5, 2018 6:07:16 GMT -6
Hi! I’m nervous about this. I tentatively have a c section scheduled for the 27th of this month because baby girl is still breech at 36 weeks and I don’t want to try to turn her. I had a traumatic vaginal birth last time (massive hemorrhage and tearing. Recovery from that was a bitch and a half. I’m also overweight and don’t know how that will affect things with a c section incision.
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jessila
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Post by jessila on Apr 5, 2018 7:53:41 GMT -6
Hi! I’m nervous about this. I tentatively have a c section scheduled for the 27th of this month because baby girl is still breech at 36 weeks and I don’t want to try to turn her. I had a traumatic vaginal birth last time (massive hemorrhage and tearing. Recovery from that was a bitch and a half. I’m also overweight and don’t know how that will affect things with a c section incision. I am also overweight and the only thing that was likely affected by it was (TMI) hard to keep the incision dry because of the way my FUPA went over the incision. I know I"ll have a similar issue this time because that's where my body changed the most from having a kid (aside from pancake boobs from nursing) and never really found a solution to it. It was part of the reason I wore the mesh panties for so long-I was able to kind of push them into that space and keep things separated. I know someone on my BMB at the time got a yeast infection in her incision from the issue. I wiped the area a couple times a day with maybe preparation h wipes after it was healed them blotted it dry. There has to be some kind of powder solution but I was afraid of accidentally infecting the incision. Also, my OBs use glue and not stitches/staples so I don't know how that would affect things differently. Really for everyone in here that's having a C/S for the first time, the most important thing is to get yourself up and moving as soon as you can after surgery. Just get moving and walking around.
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Post by daffodilsandcoffee on Apr 5, 2018 7:59:06 GMT -6
Thanks, jessila. That was my exact worry.
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adeline
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Post by adeline on Apr 5, 2018 14:43:38 GMT -6
*snip* Really for everyone in here that's having a C/S for the first time, the most important thing is to get yourself up and moving as soon as you can after surgery. Just get moving and walking around. Totally this. I was frustrated because I’d had DD at 6.30am and I really wanted a shower but they didn’t want me up til the next morning. Maybe cause I’d had an epidural before the spinal block. I got up for a shower first thing the following morning and it was awesome. Being able to walk around asap makes you feel heaps better. I’ll see what time my surgery is this time but keen to get up and about ASAP.
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Post by theduchess on Apr 5, 2018 15:22:04 GMT -6
My first c-section was a surprise, in that I was still hoping baby would turn when I went into labor at 37+3. Alas, footling breech baby had to be delivered via c-section.
I feel much calmer this time around knowing I will have a required, scheduled c-section and I know what to expect.
Let me echo the ladies above that moving as soon as possible is crucial. It makes the entire recovery so much better. Definitely sucks the first couple times you're up and about, but after that it's great. When I was discharged, I walked out of the hospital carrying my baby with ease and it felt awesome.
I was told that I could drive as soon as I had weaned myself from drugs stronger than OTC ibuprofen. So I think I drove at like 1-2 weeks PP? I probably could have sooner, but I was definitely not running errands solo at that point anyway.
I'm definitely totally freaked out about having a toddler who will want to be held all the time when I get home from the hospital. And she weighs significantly more than 20#. She's on a daddy strike at the moment, so this should be interesting.
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jessila
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Post by jessila on Apr 5, 2018 15:51:09 GMT -6
Also, don't let your nurse make you feel bad about having to take prescription strength drugs the day after your c-section. Listen to your body. She insisted I cut my dose in half and I was crying in pain a couple hours later. The next nurse was upset on my behalf and told me she would discuss it with their head nurse person.
And stool softeners are your best friend. Also, super loose/yoga maternity pants with the panel or dresses are the way to go. And coughing/ laughing/sneezing hurt for a few weeks.
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Speedy
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Post by Speedy on Apr 5, 2018 16:07:58 GMT -6
I feel like they'll have trouble keeping me in bed TBH lol. I already apologized in advance to the nurse who was dealing with me 2 weekends ago for how much of a pain I'll probably be. When I had my wisdom teeth out last summer, I was up and cleaning like 2 hours after surgery, and went out to breakfast with hubby the next morning.
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itsmemeg
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Post by itsmemeg on Apr 5, 2018 17:24:20 GMT -6
Yes to all!
Moving as soon as possible and frequently is key! It will hurt but you can do it!
Also, I’m mad that the nurse told you to wean off your meds that early! STAY ON TOP OF YOUR MEDS! Especially those first few days. If you wait too long you will then be in a lot of pain and it will take longer for the pain meds to kick in. I took mine every time my dose was up and took the ibprofuen in between doses.
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tinyjoys
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Post by tinyjoys on Apr 5, 2018 17:37:09 GMT -6
Yes to walking ASAP, but also, to trying to lay for as long as possible. I was walking in the late afternoon/early evening, say 6ish, following my 8AM RCS with my (now) middle. I ended up with a spinal migraine and back in the hospital the day after we were released for a blood patch. It was the worst. I was only comfortable laying down with a towel rolled up at my spinal location, which was super doable with a new baby and a toddler (that's sarcasm).
I wasn't cleared to drive until my 2 week appointment, but I felt comfortable both times to just be on ibuprofen within a day or two of being released from the hospital. I was also told by my OB both times previously that I was allowed to lift my baby or anything that weighed less than my baby for the first 6 weeks. Not my baby in their carseat, just the baby.
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kiri
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Post by kiri on Apr 6, 2018 0:56:25 GMT -6
The biggest hurdle that slowed recovery last time was the swelling which made it really uncomfortable to get on my feet and walk around at the hospital (my legs were so swollen that it hurt to bed my feet just to stand). I’m hoping that not being induced and hooked up to the IV for 12 hours means that the swelling won’t be as bad.
My CS was late at night and I spent the night itching like crazy from the meds and not resting. It was awful! I’m really hoping that having a morning CS gets me off to a better start with recovery. I never really caught up with rest after being exhausted from the first night from the constant itching, nurses constantly taking vitals, trying to breast feed every 2 hours (I swear that they’d bring in DS after an hour!).
I’m probably the only one that didn’t love the mesh panties. They were super loose and the pads slid around. I like having everything a bit more snug so I got a few pairs of high waisted underwear from gap in a few different sizes for this time. Don’t laugh but last time I also got Depends and it made my life easier. I cut a little flap in the front so that they wouldn’t rub the incision and they were amazing. I’ll have to get a box for this delivery too. I would line them up with pads because there was so much bleeding and they would catch anything that leaked unlike the mesh panties.
I wish that I’d brought a nursing pillow since it was a pain to arrange the pillows at the hospital. It will come in handy to have something firm against my stomach in case I need to cough.
I wear daily disposable contacts and contacts were the last thing that I wanted to deal with (or glasses) being up every two hours for weeks so I’ll see if I can get the contacts that you can leave in for several days or a week.
I think that driving was off limits for 2 weeks but I was still sore if I did too much for another week or so.
Getting out of bed once home was a PITA. I remember having to wake up my husband one night to have him push me up and out of bed because of the excruciating pain. I was probably trying to sit up instead of rolling onto my side first and I wonder if I was taking all of the meds since I had a bunch left over.
I don’t know what I’ll do about shoes at the hospital. I guess flip flops because of swelling and the potential for blood but I hate my feet being cold.
At home my plan is to go up the stairs once to the master bedroom and try not to come down at all for the first 24 hrs. I think that I only made the trip up/down once a day in the beginning. If we don’t get help, then I’ll probably sleep in the guest bedroom that’s downstairs the first night.
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kiri
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Post by kiri on Apr 6, 2018 1:03:49 GMT -6
The hospital peri bottles worked fine from what I remember but I saw this somewhere
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armpants
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Post by armpants on Apr 6, 2018 3:38:39 GMT -6
I took my own stool softener to the hospital and started taking it as son as I got to my room. That really helped with that first poop.
I also made sure the nurse wrote the time of my next pain killers on the white board and would remind them if it was getting close and they hadn't mentioned it. I had a terrible nurse that kept forgetting once and I got behind. It was so hard to get back on top of the pain.
And that first shower was amazing. That was reason enough for me to get out of bed.
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tinyjoys
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Post by tinyjoys on Apr 6, 2018 4:57:54 GMT -6
I wish that I’d brought a nursing pillow since it was a pain to arrange the pillows at the hospital. It will come in handy to have something firm against my stomach in case I need to cough. I wear daily disposable contacts and contacts were the last thing that I wanted to deal with (or glasses) being up every two hours for weeks so I’ll see if I can get the contacts that you can leave in for several days or a week. I loved the Boppy for the ride home both times previously. I bought a My Breast Friend this time & I’m curious if I’ll love it as much or if I should take my 7 year old Boppy for in the car, too. I wear the long wear contacts & really like them. But, I only like them for my actual c-section. Otherwise my eyes are so itchy & dry. I change them out for my glasses the first night & put them back in once we’re home.
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kiri
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Post by kiri on Apr 6, 2018 7:34:16 GMT -6
I wish that I’d brought a nursing pillow since it was a pain to arrange the pillows at the hospital. It will come in handy to have something firm against my stomach in case I need to cough. I wear daily disposable contacts and contacts were the last thing that I wanted to deal with (or glasses) being up every two hours for weeks so I’ll see if I can get the contacts that you can leave in for several days or a week. I loved the Boppy for the ride home both times previously. I bought a My Breast Friend this time & I’m curious if I’ll love it as much or if I should take my 7 year old Boppy for in the car, too. I wear the long wear contacts & really like them. But, I only like them for my actual c-section. Otherwise my eyes are so itchy & dry. I change them out for my glasses the first night & put them back in once we’re home. I’ve heard lots of good things about MBF. I didn’t love the boppy last time and used a different pillow that I got off of Amazon. I’ll get the MBF pillow this time but also not sure what I’ll take to the hospital.
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itsmemeg
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Post by itsmemeg on Apr 6, 2018 8:24:40 GMT -6
I have 2 boppy pillows from last time but bought a MBF this time off a b/s/t site for $5 to try.
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kiri
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Post by kiri on Apr 6, 2018 9:41:21 GMT -6
I have 2 boppy pillows from last time but bought a MBF this time off a b/s/t site for $5 to try. That’s a steal!
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