C-section experiences

[Waiting4myprincess]

Just wondering if you all that had c-sections could share your experiences with me. I would like to know about your recovery, pain control, how it felt to get the spinal, how long it took you to get back to feeling "normal" again, how uncomfortable you were in the beginning, etc. Anything that you can tell me would be greatly appreciated. I am 9 days away from my c-section and I had a regular vaginal birth with my son and I am starting to get really scared about my upcoming c-section. Please help.

[filbert143]

I've had 2 c-sections and 2 completely different experiences.  With my first, I was in labor, getting ready to push...when they realized that she was breech.  So I had an "emergency" c-section - meaning that they wanted her out within 15 minutes.  So I quickly got an epidural (I hadn't had one up to that point).  The epidural was a piece of cake - with how strong and frequent my contractions were, I really didn't feel a thing.  Once they were ready, I had a great team of doctors who walked me through everything.  Of course you'll feel the tugging and pulling - lots of pressure - but no pain.  The hardest part is only being able to see your little one for such a short time before he/she is taken away while you are being stitched up.  That is what takes the longest.  It only takes minutes to have the baby delivered but much longer for them to clean you up, stitch you up and get you into the recovery.  Once I was in the recovery room, my hubby rejoined me (he had gone with my dd while I get put back together).  Soon after they brough my dd in and I got to nurse her for the first time.  

Now for my other one - it's like two posts in one :)  Anyway, my second was a planned repeat c-section - sort of.  I was scheduled for a c-section at 39 weeks, but she decided to make her appearance at 37 weeks.  But this time I certainly wasn't that far into labor, so we had much more time.  They hooked me up to monitors, put in an IV and prepped me.  Once I got into the OR, I got the spinal.  This time is was more painful, but not too bad.  I felt a sharp, shooting pain down my left leg, which they said was normal.  that was pretty short lived though, then I was numb and cold feeling.  Again, they walked me through everything.  I think they keep talking to you to keep you comfortable.  Within minutes my second dd was born...and the rest is similar to my first experience.  

As for recovery - with my first I was up and walking the next morning.  I could walk to the nursery to get her and even though I was moving slow, I was feeling pretty good.  My advice to you is to keep up with whatever pain meds they give you.  Once you start to skip doses, the pain will come and once its there, it's harder to make it go away.  You'll find that for whatever reason, one side will hurt more than the other.  They say that's pretty common.  By day 2, I was able to take a shower - that felt great!!  I did sit down for most of it, but I felt human again!  Both me and baby were going home by day 3.  No stairs, no driving, etc...but I was at home.  With my first I got the staples removed while I was still in the hospital.  With my second, I went back after a few days and had them removed.  I think with both, I bled for a good 2 weeks.  The more active you are, the longer you will bleed - I think that is pretty consistent regardless of how you deliver.

Well, I hope that helps to give you an idea.  If you have any specific questions, just let me know.  Good luck to you!!

[kellym]

I was in labor all day and at night finally a c-section was recommended.. I had the epidural already (scary I'm not going to lie) but not THAT bad. They added more numbing & morphine I think. I was hammered. We went to the er and the Dr. was getting the baby out and I started throwing up, ughh, I swear too much medicine. It is very hard to throw up when you are all the way numb. Anyways, I barely felt any pressure maybe a slight bit of tugging. Baby was out in no time. It really is a breeze. Although I had a terrible shaking reaction for about an hour afterwards we will make sure that doesn't happen this time! Recovery was Ok. I agree to keep up w/the meds whether you think you need them or not. It is major surgery and that pain will creep right up on you. I had a misconception that a c-section was horrible. It is really not. I only bled medium the first couple of days and more or less spotted the next 2 weeks or so. They really clean you out! You're scar will feel numb for months but it will all go back to normal. I did have some slight pain on my left side like trapped gas. You will be fine!! I promise :)

[KellyTexas]

I haven't had one but am scheduled to have one with the twins.  As the day gets closer, I get more nervous and scared.  I hate needles so the spinal makes me sick already just thinking about it.  After reading your posts, I'm still a little nervous but a little bit more relieved.  OK - no I'm still freaking out!!  :)

[Cheyenne_08]

Mine was not scheduled and was emergency because the cord was around his neck 6 times and he was 9 weeks early. Let me tell you, I don't know if I ever want to go through that h*ll again!!!! The spinal hurt a lot and took about ten minutes to get going. I too just fell a lot of pressure and tugging. I could barely move because my ab muscles hurt so bad. I was up walking the next day but it hurt really bad. After about 2 weeks I was still having quite a bit of pain, and ended up with a wound infection and back in the hospital for 4 days!!!! I had spent 12 hours laying in the emergency room while the docs decided whether they were going to open my incision back up!!! It was a HORRIBLE experience, and I hope yours goes much better then mine did.

[kennedydp5]

cheyenne_08....   omg... that's awful!!!

waiting4myprincess....  i have had 3 c-sections and will be having my 4th next june.  my first was also and emergency but i had already been given an epidural and i hoestly don't remember the whole experience!  w/ my 2nd and 3rd, i remember everything!  i have not yet had a bad experience w/ having a c-section and seeing as how i will be having another i hope it stays that was! lol!!!  the spinal needle wasn't that bad for me but i don't have a fear of needles.  yes, the doctors do talk you through everything so that is comforting for me.  i remember feeling the tugging and the pulling and some pressure and i remember last time having slight pressure up near my shoulders but the anesthesiologist told me it was normal (they stay in the room too).  i did throw up w/ the 1st one but not w/ the 2nd or 3rd (probably also from added medication b/c it was an emergency).  as far as afterwards, i was also up walking the next day.  yes, you'll be in pain,  but you'll be able to manage it ok.  mine lasted for about a week each time.  and on top of keeping up w/ your pain medication (i won't take anything that makes me drowsy or funny feeling so i manged w/ 800mg ibuprofin and tylenol), make sure you take stool softeners (that's the most painful part for me is trying to have a bowl movement for the 1st time after the surgery!)  

now even though i've not had a bad experience w/ going through 3 c-sections, i'm still scared every time i go...  i don't think that part ever goes away!!!  good luck, and try not to worry too much.  you will have a beautiful baby afterwards that will make it totally worth while!!!!!!

[tiredbuthappy]

i had one in july. spinal was a breeze- i thought getting the iv was worse personally. the other describe the surgery well- no pain just felt like some pushing my tummy a little. when they're ready to take the baby out someone basically jumps n your chest to push her down. not painful but weird. i had some crazy shooting chest pains while they were closing me. it was horrible but they took care of it within a matter of seconds (but felt longer). they said the pain was caused by heart burn. whatever they put into my iv to calm me down after that kind makes the rest foggy.

i also had very little bleeding afterwards. was using pantyliners by the time i was home. i found it very hard to care for a newborn after my section. there was a good deal of pain, moving was hard. we moved downstairs because i wasn't allowed to climb stairs more than once a day. make sure you have help for at least 2 weeks if possible. it was hard when dh went back to work after 2 weeks, but my mom stopped by every afternoon for a bit. now, almost 5 months later, it doesn't seem like it was so bad. for the first month i swore i'd never go through that again. of course i will...

[pertykitty]

my first was done after 3.5 hours of pushing, so that experience was more difficult. ,my second was a breeze, pain was less and was able to move like i had not had surgery very quickly, now at 3 weeks past, i dont feel as though i had anything done!  the scar is minimal im just waiting for the ok to get started on working on the abs (unfortunatly we dont look the same right after giving birth lol).  i hope everything goes well for you.  also i spent almost an hour in recovery (i didnt even feel like i needed it lol) then to my room.  the important thing to remember is everyone is different and our experiences are different from pg to pg.  go into it with a positive attitude and knowing what is going on so you arent afraid of what is going on.  knowledge is power~!  also, if you need pain meds after, take them. i tried to be tough, but it just caused my blood pressure to rise a bit, took my meds which let me move around easier and i was great.  

[Waiting4myprincess]

What about if I go into labor before my scheduled c-section date? How long do I wait to call my doctor? Do I wait until my contractions are like 5 minutes apart and then go or do I go earlier because I don't need to be dialated for the c-section. I am very confused about this part......

[pertykitty]

well i can answer that lol.  i was scheduled for dec 12 at 39 weeks for my c section.  at 34w6d my water broke at 4 am.  well needless to say i went right to the hospitol. if you go into labor then you call your dr or ask him ahead of time what he wants you to do.  lets hope you dont go into labor.  nothing sucks more than to have contractions for nothing haha.

[KellyTexas]

I was told that when my contractions reached 15 minutes apart that I could go ahead and call the doctor and head to L&D - with twins, they know for sure it's a C-Section so they don't want to put me through any unnecessary pain!!  I love my doctor!!!!

[BearHitch]

I couldn't dialate past 5 cm, and DS was very distressed, so I had a c-section.  Now, my epidural was a cinch and something I was dreadfully scared about.  However, at that point my back labor was so bad I couldn't imagine not having it.  When I was being prepped for my c-section, I was absolutely terrified and kept thinking I would feel it, so I think they gave me extras of the drugs.  Now, the epidural was not a problem, the actual c-section however was not good, I'm going to be honest.  Perhaps it is just "pressure and tugging" but it hurt like  ___ to me!  It seemed to take forever, so I am not sure how long it actually took.  DH was not able to be near me but was in the room.  After they had the baby out they gave me some kind of meds to make me loopy and tired, but stitching me up still hurt.  I am not sure what it felt like when he came out becuase they a) didn't tell me when it happened and b) he wasn't breathing so he didn't cry.  

As for recovery, take your meds even if you feel fine and DO NOT over do it!  Then you only regress.  However, don't just lay around and walk when you can because I've heard and experienced that it does quicken your recovery.  When I was done with the c-section, I was literally paralyzed from my ribs down for about 7 hours.  Then moving was quite painful, as is sneezing and such.  However, my last day in the hospital I felt pretty good and it only got better as time went on.  I'd say I was back to my old self at about 2.5 weeks, but that was with making car trips daily to NICU and that.  

Overall, I think I'm willing to go thru it again to have another, but I've only had DS home for 2 months, so I'm not sure :)  Good luck!