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c-sections advice
I will be having my first c-section in 10 weeks and am looking for some advice. What are some things I need to know that noone tells you? Have any of you used the bellybandit? Was it worth it? I will have a 21-month old to come home too as well! Any advice is appreciated, thanks!
Well im a surgical tech in labor and delivery... I specialize in c-sections... Plus I had one with my son... All these ladies gave u good insite. Most are done with u awake. And yes they will put up a drape but its only for your safety. Everything on the opposite side of the drape is sterile so that there is no contamination to you or ur baby. So by no means at all should you or the person with you attempt to look over the drape. And its bests to cooperate as much as possible. They will only put u to sleep if u are combative.... And at that point everyones safety in that operating room is at risk. There are all sorts of sharps on the other side and it can be dangerous. After they remove the baby and begin to close u up they will inject pain medicine inside the incision site before putting on your dressings and bandages... Also the anesthesiologist will remain in the room thru out the entire surgery to assure that u feel no pain. The surgery should only lasts about 30-45 mins without any complications. Also at the end you may be a lil sleepy because of the meds....
Congrats and goodluck
Congrats and goodluck
I was told not to go up and down stairs more than once a day for the first few weeks, so we moved into one of the rooms downstairs for the first month.
I had an abdominal support for my second c-sec, and did find it helped.
Take your pain meds regularly in the hospital. They will not automatically bring them to you when you are due- you have to ask for them. If you wait until the pain is too bad, the meds don't work as well. The key is to take them as you feel the pain coming back, and most likely you will need them as often as you are allowed. Have someone help you keep track of your pain meds.
I had someone stay with me every night in the hospital with both c/s. You will probably need help getting in and out of bed, using the bathroom, etc... and I didn't want to bother the nurses for every little thing. It was nice to have someone there to get me water, snacks, help me, etc... Also, you will not be able to get in and out of bed with the baby in your arms in the beginning. It is helpful to have someone there to hand the baby to you, help with the changing, etc. If you are breastfeeding, you will want someone to pass the baby to you, help burp, etc. Of course, the nurses can do this, but sometimes they are not available. I kept the baby in my room, with the exception of 1 24 hr period with my second when she had jaundice and had to be under the lights. When we went to the nursery to visit her, there were so many newborns laying in their bassinets screaming :( I know mommas need their rest, but it was heartbreaking to see such tiny babies crying, and sometimes the staff can't rock them all, feed them, etc at the same time. Having someone with me made it possible to keep the baby with me after my c-sections.
I had an abdominal support for my second c-sec, and did find it helped.
Take your pain meds regularly in the hospital. They will not automatically bring them to you when you are due- you have to ask for them. If you wait until the pain is too bad, the meds don't work as well. The key is to take them as you feel the pain coming back, and most likely you will need them as often as you are allowed. Have someone help you keep track of your pain meds.
I had someone stay with me every night in the hospital with both c/s. You will probably need help getting in and out of bed, using the bathroom, etc... and I didn't want to bother the nurses for every little thing. It was nice to have someone there to get me water, snacks, help me, etc... Also, you will not be able to get in and out of bed with the baby in your arms in the beginning. It is helpful to have someone there to hand the baby to you, help with the changing, etc. If you are breastfeeding, you will want someone to pass the baby to you, help burp, etc. Of course, the nurses can do this, but sometimes they are not available. I kept the baby in my room, with the exception of 1 24 hr period with my second when she had jaundice and had to be under the lights. When we went to the nursery to visit her, there were so many newborns laying in their bassinets screaming :( I know mommas need their rest, but it was heartbreaking to see such tiny babies crying, and sometimes the staff can't rock them all, feed them, etc at the same time. Having someone with me made it possible to keep the baby with me after my c-sections.
Brit- she had photos and videos but she took them down. She was most likely getting spam or having issues with people about them. So I would suggest watching YouTube vids. I really appreciate that Morgan went from having not-so-pleasant cesareans to beautiful ones where she felt part of the process and decisions being made so I just really like her information. Even with a cesarean you have choices, specifically with how your baby is cared for after birth. I bet you'll do just fine!
She emailed me that she may be deleting the blog soon so you may want to copy and paste some of the more important stuff to Word for future reference if you can't read it all at once.
She emailed me that she may be deleting the blog soon so you may want to copy and paste some of the more important stuff to Word for future reference if you can't read it all at once.
THANK YOU LADIES!
I had a difficult and painful recovery from my first vaginal delivery so I'm hopeful this maybe won't be quite as bad! I went home on pain meds for nearly 2 weeks before I could wean myself off.
thanks @vacuumprincess, I will be awake during the surgery, and my husband will be there with me!!! I'm mostly nervous bc I've never had surgery before and it kinda freaks me out!
thanks @JoyRenee, that website looks so helpful!
I had a difficult and painful recovery from my first vaginal delivery so I'm hopeful this maybe won't be quite as bad! I went home on pain meds for nearly 2 weeks before I could wean myself off.
thanks @vacuumprincess, I will be awake during the surgery, and my husband will be there with me!!! I'm mostly nervous bc I've never had surgery before and it kinda freaks me out!
thanks @JoyRenee, that website looks so helpful!
I have a wonderful resource for cesarean prep!
http://adventuresindiapering.blogspot.com/p/c-sections.html
This is an online friend of mine, Morgan, and she has had five cesareans. She just has a ton of wonderful information on what to pack, what not to pack, expectations, how to have a peaceful cesarean, a birth plan, etc.
http://adventuresindiapering.blogspot.com/p/c-sections.html
This is an online friend of mine, Morgan, and she has had five cesareans. She just has a ton of wonderful information on what to pack, what not to pack, expectations, how to have a peaceful cesarean, a birth plan, etc.
I had a c-section 6 yrs ago. Recovery was a breeze for me. The only thing I hated was the big swoolen lump around the incesion that was there for months. I didn't know anything about a belly bandit??? i will look into that.
Will you be awake for the delivery? They will put a screen up around you so you can't see anything. You will feel a lot of pressure, pulling & tugging but it will not be painful. You should be allowed to have someone in with you. I think mine took about 1/2 hr from start to finish??? epidural & everything. I did not hold my daughter immediately after, but I did not ask to either. If you have to be put to sleep, most hospitals make you go in alone.
I was very tired right after delivery & slept for about 3 hrs (it could be coupled with the fact that I had been in labor since the afternoon before. or it could just be blood loss from surgery) I did get up & walk around the same day without feeling bad really.
You will not be able to lift up your other child for a bit & you will be tender. As far as the pain... I was so uncomfortable in my lasty few weeks of pregnancy that it was less uncomfortable than being pregnant.
You will find ways to "roll" out of bed or use something to grab onto to sit up. Other than that... not anything to worry about. You will still need pads. You still shed blood. pads are also great for using as an insision bandage! They may give you something to help your uterus contract back. ask about that.
Will you be awake for the delivery? They will put a screen up around you so you can't see anything. You will feel a lot of pressure, pulling & tugging but it will not be painful. You should be allowed to have someone in with you. I think mine took about 1/2 hr from start to finish??? epidural & everything. I did not hold my daughter immediately after, but I did not ask to either. If you have to be put to sleep, most hospitals make you go in alone.
I was very tired right after delivery & slept for about 3 hrs (it could be coupled with the fact that I had been in labor since the afternoon before. or it could just be blood loss from surgery) I did get up & walk around the same day without feeling bad really.
You will not be able to lift up your other child for a bit & you will be tender. As far as the pain... I was so uncomfortable in my lasty few weeks of pregnancy that it was less uncomfortable than being pregnant.
You will find ways to "roll" out of bed or use something to grab onto to sit up. Other than that... not anything to worry about. You will still need pads. You still shed blood. pads are also great for using as an insision bandage! They may give you something to help your uterus contract back. ask about that.
I laughed so hard I popped a staple and it got infected...not bad but still. It was what my Mom and Best Friend were saying that made me laugh so hard, it was the look on their faces when they tried NOT to laugh becuase I told them i was in pain from laughing. That made me bust out laughing even harder and OUCH!
thanks ladies. No laughing, got it!! I'll have to ask if my hospital has a belly bandit, that would be much nicer than buying one!
Its actually kinda embarassing but I suffered more trauma (than we originally thought) when I delivered my daughter(19mos ago) and in return developed a fistula which I didn't see a doctor for until after I was pg with this one. So to keep from doing more damage (I won't have corrective surgery till after recovery from the birth) my OB, surgeon and I came to the conclusion that a c-section would be best. Its not how I wanted things to go but sometimes you just have to do whats best. Thanks for the tips. anymore would be welcome!!!
Its actually kinda embarassing but I suffered more trauma (than we originally thought) when I delivered my daughter(19mos ago) and in return developed a fistula which I didn't see a doctor for until after I was pg with this one. So to keep from doing more damage (I won't have corrective surgery till after recovery from the birth) my OB, surgeon and I came to the conclusion that a c-section would be best. Its not how I wanted things to go but sometimes you just have to do whats best. Thanks for the tips. anymore would be welcome!!!
I have had 2 c sections and yes laughing, coughing, and sneezing make it feel like that part of your stomach is going to fall off..lol I agree with the person above make sure to get up and walk around asap! With my 1st I was out for 24 hrs and then I was having some problems so I could not get up until 48 hrs after my c section and I was a harder recovery then my 2nd. Good Luck honey!
I agree about the laughing!! When I was in the hospital DH had said something and made me laugh and oh man that was a mistake!
I had a c-section almost 15 years go. Before they had the belly band it. The only advice I have is DON'T Let anyone make you laugh too hard. It hurts!
I had a c-section almost 11 weeks ago and the hospital gave me the Belly Bandit to use and I loved it! It helped support the incision. Make sure that while you are staying in the hospital that you get up and walking around as soon as possible I think that helps alot with recovery. And it's not as bad as you think it to be. What is the reason for the C-section if you don't mind me asking?
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