C section with a 1 year age gap

[JellyBaby26]

So, for medical reasons to do with my DD i am strongly considering asking for a c section. Well aware i may be denied though.

But i want to know from those who have had them, how hard it is looking after a one year old during the recovery? Dh would be home for two weeks and family and friends could help after that. And how long is the average hospital stay? DD won't even have milk from anyone but me (ff) which is v annoying and becoming difficult now as i enter my third trimester.

I would ask how hard it would be with a one year old who has all the problems she has but i doubt anyone could answer that... she can't sit or even hold her head up properly and is incredibly dependant on me. She isn't a heavy child (19b at 9 months) but is long (96th) and as i say, can't do anything for herself just yet.

Her neurologist said that labour may have caused her energy failure which could have contributed to her condition which I have latched on to as the main cause and this has me a little worried and I would do anything for it not to happen again. It could have nothing to do with it but she is so unknown its all guess work...

also, my worst fear is having a catheter inserted? Please tell me thats not the worst part?

I am blabbering but any advice would be great before i ask the consultant on Tuesday.

[ACatCalledFang]

Can't answer your questions about dealing with an older child but don't worry about the catheter - they put it in after the spinal takes effect. I never felt a thing! If you're worried, tell the staff and ask for it to be inserted once you're numb (though I assume that's standard procedure). I was a bit concerned about it coming out but it wasn't even particularly uncomfortable.

I had an uncomplicated EMCS and a two-night stay. Got the impression that was fairly standard.

To give you an idea about recovery, I was able to go for a short walk to the park on day 5 and was able to do quite a bit after the first ten days, but lifting would have been problematic. The more help you can get with lifting (and life in general), the better.

Good luck, whatever you and the consultant decide!

[OfDragonsDeep]

I really didn't want a catheter either and was dreading it because I thought I would still feel like I needed to go to the loo, but I didnt feel anything. Mine was inserted while I was numb too. The actual op was fine, I was scared at the start but kept doing my breathing exercises to keep calm, once the baby was here (very quick) I was fine. My op was at 2pm and I had the catheter out at 6am the next morning when they got me up to walk about. Mine was uncomplicated and was only in for 1 night, I could have stayed for 2 nights if I'd wanted to, but I wanted my own bed.

[Cuppachaplz]

I am currently 36 weeks.
DS2 is 15m, small at under 9kg, and not yet sitting or moving, so needs a lot if support.

I have had 2 previous sections. I am keen to avoid another section, and my consultant agrees that I will not be able to manage his needs alone post op. I don't know how much this helps, but I hope you get what you want X

[chillipopcorn1]

Hi JJellybaby (waves from pre natal thread!) my friend just had a c-section and she has 15 month old twins. She has been absolutely fine (her husband was only around for 1-2 days but she has had her mum to help) and came into work for a meeting after five days! Brought baby along and fed her during. Very cute. She said recovery was not as painful as she feared and once she was first up it was fine. Completely understand your reasons for wanting a c-section as well and I hope the doctors listen to you

[elliejjtiny]

I was in a very similar position to you 2 years ago. I was trying desperately for a vbac (had section with then 1 year old) because of the lifting thing and ended up with a crash section. My DS4 who had just turned 1 at the time was at a very similar development stage to your DD. I needed help for about 5 weeks but if I hadn't got the 3 older ones and the school run to do I would have probably managed earlier. I was able to feed him his bottle after about a week, with the help of DH and a lot of pillows.

Catheter is fine, they put it in when you are numb from the epidural and when they pull it out it doesn't hurt, just feels like you're going to wet yourself though.

I think average hospital stay is 48 hours after a C-section.

[verytiredmummy1]

I hated the thought of a catheter too. When it was in I didn't notice it was in though!!
In terms of recovery I was walking around the same day as my EMCS but I know everyone is different. Good luck xx

[Dixiechick17]

Hey

[Dixiechick17]

Hey Jelly, waving from the May 2015 group (name change). Just wanted to say about the catheter, I had one put in at 15 weeks pregnant and again at 16 weeks pregnant due to baby blocking my bladder completely. It was uncomfortable, but that was about it and just felt a tugging sensation when they removed it.

Hope you get the C Section x

[iyamehooru]

I think you'll get c section based on what you've explained about your DC.

Apart from being unable to drive for four weeks. You can't lift much expect the baby at first. I had an 18 month gap and couldn't lift oldest child at all for several weeks. Had to get him to climb onto a chair to get in and out of cot. I would get DH to have two weeks paternity leave and then take holidays or see if family can help.

Catheter is a walk in the park, I asked for mine to stay in overnight with second section as it mean i wasn't up and down to toilet all night!

Good luck. I hope all goes well.

[29PaddingtonSt]

Don't worry about the catheter. I've had to have them before other surgeries before any anaesthetic and you can't feel anything. Also a PP mentioned you can't drive for four weeks. I was driving 10 days after my c-section and was absolutely fine.

[FuzzyOwl]

Hello

I recovered really well and didn't notice the catheter go in or feel it come out. I gave birth a few minutes before midnight, but was home within 36 hours and two days later I was able to go to the supermarket. For the first 12 (?) hours, I wasn't allowed to move out of bed and a nurse would come in to do feeds and nappy changes for me.

Sitting up and getting up from a lying position were the painful bits but when done slowly, they were perfectly manageable. This probably stopped being so painful after a fortnight but I was still slow when moving for another week.

I only had my DD to look after and my DH took two weeks off work but after that he was working away five days a week and I was alone, but able to manage. I found it useful to have a full changing station upstairs and downstairs, as well as feeding supplies and a Moses basket/sleepyhead. It meant I didn't ever have to go very far for anything at any time.

I agree that it would help if you DH could take holiday immediately after paternity leave, as it would make things less of a worry for you.

[FuzzyOwl]

P.S. My recovery was good enough that I intend to have another section later in the year and feel confident enough about looking after a baby and a 17 month old.

[JellyBaby26]

Thank you everyone. I have my appointment today...well it's a detaild brain scan with the consultant at her fetal medicine clinic so I think I can ask her!

Fuzzy - I have intentions of grilling you on Thursday :D

[FuzzyOwl]

Hope today goes well and feel free to grill away on Thursday!