C-Section Date Scheduled and Curious

[hopefultobeblessed]

Hello Multiples Communtiy! I'm still so excited about the fact that we have this now!

Anyway......I'm scheduled for a c-section on 3/31/09. On that day I will be 37 wks 5days along.  I was pretty nervous about it at first but I am feeling better about it now. My most recent concerns are regarding caring for my twins once I am home and anything I can do ahead of time to prepare. I heard from a friend that the meds given to you post delivery make you sleepy and make it hard to stay awake. Is that true?  I'm sure there are more than a few ladies here who have had c-sections. Can you please lend some advice?

[Kat_624]

I had a C-section with my twins (2nd C-section, first was with my older daughter), I agree with what others have said.  I took the stronger meds for the first 1-2 days, but after that, I was okay with just Motrin, as long as I stayed ahead of it.  I think I was off meds completely after a week.
As far as when the babies are home, I'd say to try different things to see what works best for you over time.  As much as you can, have others help clean & prep for feedings.  Even if it's just getting the pilllows/boppy and burp cloths all in one place ahead of time.  Also, have a bottle of water handy for yourself.  When you have 2 hungry babies, it's nearly impossible to grab things, even if they are just across the room.  
Not sure if you are planning to bottle or breast feed.  I ended up doing a little of both.  I never quite got the hang of feeding both at the same time.  I always managed through the feeding in some fashion, but generally found it easier to feed them one at a time (though they didn't always cooperate on that one).
It may be overwhelming at first, but I'm sure you'll do just fine.  Best wishes on delivery day!  It's great that you've made it to 37 weeks--that's awesome!

[tbeards]

Yes, the catheter was weird the next day. I had a little pain on urination due to the catheter being in for 24 hours.

Regarding picking up the babies together, I think it is really hard right now as their heads are so floppy. They only way I have successfully done it are these ways.

1.) In the nursery, I put the 1st baby on the changing table perpendicular to the table (feet toward me) and then I put 2nd baby next to 1st baby and then I slid my arms under each baby and had one head in each hand and their backs on top of my forearms with their legs under my armpits. Then I could bend over them and pull them up to my upper chest and then keep my arms on their backs and heads as support. This was pretty easy for me but my babies are pretty tiny (still under 7 pounds each).

2.) Using the Moby D sling I bought, I used the twin positioning and it worked well although since the babies are small, they didn't stay up high on my chest like the picture. I think I need to pull the wrap around me tighter. It works well while sitting down.

3.) If you have an oversized chair and ottoman like me, I would put 1st baby on the ottoman in front of me with feet toward the chair where I would sit. Then I would use the same process as the changing table.

Please note that I had the babies in a tight swaddle for picking them up so it was easier to do. Also, I would put rolled up towels on each side of them so they wouldn't roll off the changing table or ottoman (used boppy on the ottoman). I am not sure how I will change the way I pick them up after they get bigger though?????

I have recently found that I LOVE the baby papasans I have (nothing fancy, just vibration and music on the seat panel). I didn't use the one I got when I had my dd but it is a godsend to have with the twins. They love the vibration of the seat also.

[kindergal]

I do not know what that is..so I guess I did not use it....

[hopefultobeblessed]

One more question. Has anyone used a postpartum binder? A friend of mine said the hospitoal would give me one but if not I was going to buy one. Is it necessary? Does it help with recovery?

[kindergal]

All great advice above!!  I had a c-section due to one of the babies being breech.  It was NO problem. I did barf a lot that first day, BUT I do that with anesthesia...no surprises there for me.   I took the meds when they told me too and recovered very quickly. I he meds did not make me too sleepy...the meds for the barfing did...I haven't slept that good since!  HA!  I sent my babies to the nursery at night.  My husband and I needed the rest and honestly, at night there are a zillion nurses in there and they got great care.  Mine were born at 36 weeks and spent no time in the NICU.  I had pre-term labor at 28 weeks and was given the steroid shots so that helped I am sure.
Having a baby(even more with two!) is a miracle no matter how they get here!!!!  I may have opted for the c section even if I had not had one breech...so much can happen in a short amount of time I wanted them out and out quickly!
We have always fed our babies at the same time.  If one wakes up to eat, the other usually wakes up or we wake him up to eat.  If not, we would be feeding all of the time.  Mine had difficulty latching on so I pumped for four months.  This was good since it allowed others to help me feed.  We also had to start formula in the hospital so they were used to that.  I was able to use both with no problems.

As far as things to do to prepare now...just have everything in the nursery ready to go!!!  Diapers out, wipes ready, clothes washed and ready....swings/bouncy seats put together and ready to use.  ALSO, I was on bed rest so I did not get to do this BUT if you can prepare meals and put them in your freezer that will be a big help.  I lost all of my baby weight plus some in the first two weeks after having the twins because we did not have time to prepare food to eat...   This really affected my milk supply.

Good luck and keep us posted!!!!!!

[hopefultobeblessed]

tbeards: Thx so much for the advice. It is really helpful. I am looking forward to getting started caring for my little ones.

pookie1121: I am having a c-section by force due to the position of the twins. At my last OB appointment they were both presenting breech and since I have excess amniotic fluid they seem to be free to change positions often. My OB is concerned that they may turn while I am in labor.

TwinsMamma: I am looking forward to a good nights sleep. I wasn't sure I'd want to let the babies go to the nursery but we will see. I have not slept through the night in a long time.

[TwinsMamma]

Hi,

I had an emergancy C-Section with my first who went into distress after 8 hours of induced labour and an hour of pushing. At the time a was happy to just get him out safely and alive.

My twins are due 14th August 09 and I have been told I will have to have a C-Section. If a was having one baby they would of been happy for me to have a natual birth. With twins the risk is too high that the previous scar will rupture during a natual birth.

The Doctors at my hospital are amazing, and I was looked after so well after the C-Section. I didn't have much pain at all, I kept taking pain meds when I was due for them, and didn't give them the chance to wear off. I had the best night sleep the first night. After months of getting up 3-4 times during the night to go to the toilet during the pregnancy, I got to stay in bed all night because they had a catherter in.

The worst part of the C-Section was when they took the catherter out the next morning and I had go get up out of bed for the first time to go to the toilet. When I stood up I felt like my stomach was going to fall on the floor. Felt like I had no stomach muscles. You get used to it pretty quickly, its amazing how you dont even think about yourself or pain when you have a baby to fuss over.

I got plently of help when I got home a week later. My husband had time off work and both set of our parents live close. Our hospital even had a free home-help program which was great. I had a lady come around once a week and vaccuumed, mopped floors and cleaned the bathroom. If she had time she could even hang washing out. This was to make sure I have plently of time to rest and also so I wouldn't lift anything heavier than the baby. This will be very helpful when the twins come. Some times its hard to accept help, but my moto with the twins coming, is the more help the merrier!

Also making extra when you cook dinner and freezing them in meal sized portions is very helpful. Pasta sauces, cassaroles, curries and rice and using frozen veggies for meals saves so much time when your partner can just put something in the microwave oven and serve up your dinner for you.

Wish I could help give advice on how to juggle two babies, but dont know much myself yet! Tbeards comment was very helpful.

Does anyone know how you pick-up two babies to hold or breastfeed at the sametime? I remember with my first, a needed both my hands to pick him up! One hand under the head and the other picking up his body. Im finding it hard to get my head around the lodgistics of twins sometimes!

[pookie1121]

Hi. I havent had my twins yet and I never had a c-section before, so I cant give advice, but I am just curious: why are you having a c-section scheduled?  your choice ?  necessary because of babies positions?  previous c-section?

I am very nervous about a possible c-section because i had my DD totally naturally.  The thought of c-section is scary to me.  Actually the thought of hospitals and everything associated with it and medical intervention are all scary to me....

[tbeards]

Hi Hopeful! Isn't this forum great!

I am so happy for you that you are on track to go the distance with your pregnancy : )

I took Oxycodon and 800 mg Ibuprofen and it did make me sleep. The good thing is that you will be in the hospital for the majority of the pain and make sure you stay ahead of the pain. I never understood when other women said this (keeping ahead of it) but it is true that if you don't it is hard to get the pain under wraps. I actually told my nurses to just bring it to me when I was due instead of having to ask them for it. The pain from the gas in my abdomen and constipation (from the pain meds, didn't know that) for me was much worse than the incision. I really, really wish I would have asked for a suppository after a couple of days since the stool softeners didn't really help me much.

While you are in the hospital, you can send the babies to the nursery when you are sleepy. If you are breastfeeding, they will either bring the babies to you when they get hungry or you can have the nursery feed them a bottle for one of the feedings at night. This is a little controversial with many people and the whole nipple confusion thing. From my experience, my girls were fed with gavage tubes for the first two weeks solely (with my colostrum and breast milk and any needed supplements) and then breastfeed during the day and bottles at night the last two weeks and by the time I got them home, they were exclusively nursing. They adjusted just fine so a bottle here and there IMO is just fine. It is more important for you to get your sleep and keep your milk up so you can get a good supply established. I would also recommend pumping in the hospital since the babies really don't suck for that long and it will help your milk come in sooner making the days at home easier.

When you are home, I think the hardest part is keeping up with the feedings for the first two nights (and days) while breastfeeding. My girls were up every 1-1/2 to 2 hours to eat and I ended up using the bottled milk I had stored for some night feedings. Then you can have someone else feed the babies (or at least one of the babies - helps a lot) so you can get some sleep. You can always pump to keep from getting engorged. We are exclusively bottle feeding at night now. Since my babies were in the NICU for four weeks, I didn't have to manage the pain with sleeping but I do know that the Oxycodon was the pain med that made me sleepy. The Ibuprofen didn't and when I was released from the hospital I only went home with the Ibuprofen.

Here are some other things we have done that I think really helped us get better sleep. Some people may not agree with them but here goes:

1.) We have the babies in their cribs in the nursery from day 1 at night. We learned from when my dd was first brought home that we slept much better between feedings by having her in her crib. Babies make so many little noises and our twins actually seem to "talk" to each other with these noises that it would keep us up. We have three monitors in our bedroom now. haha

2.) If bottle feeding and only one baby is up, start feeding that baby first. If baby #2 wakes up during that feeding, stop feeding baby #1, change the diaper of #2 and then feed both babies at the same time. We use two boppies or two papasans side by side to keep them upright and feed both at the same time. It seems like baby #1 would scream when you stop feeding for the brief time but I think the initial milk keeps them happy for a few minutes (also a good time to take a break). If baby #2 doesn't wake up before #1 is done, we didn't wake the baby up until #1 was back in the crib. It is hard to jugle feeding and burping both babies and I found it easier to feed one after the other.

3.) If breast feeding and using the twin nursing pillow, when one baby wakes up, change their diaper and then set them where you are going to feed them. Wake up baby #2, change the diaper and set the baby side by side next to baby #1. Put on the pillow, get one latched and comfy and then pick up baby #2 and latch and comfy. This was hard for me to get used to doing and found that it was easiest to do it on the floor of the nursery : ) Also note that not many chairs fit the twin pillow so a bed, oversized chair or floor work best.

Hope this helps. The first two nights were really hard for us and we even had them on somewhat of a schedule already by being in the NICU but it was like that with our daughter too. I think it is just adjusting to your new living arrangement. Just remember that it gets easier day after day. Our girls are now sleeping 3-4 hours in between feedings and we feed them at the same time so I am getting about 6 hours of sleep each night in blocks of either 2-1/2 to 4 hours.