ELCS on Tuesday - a couple of questions!

[Readytoburst]

1. When should I start taking the Arnica?
2. I'm blind as a bat without glasses and I understand I won't be able to keep my lenses in. The problem is, when Ive had surgery in the past they've taken my glasses away. If they do this I won't be able to see my baby as they hold him/her up to show me what I've got! Will I be able to wear them?
3. (this is an odd one!) If I can't have skin to skin immediately I'd like my dh to do it. Does it matter that he's quite hairy and therefore won't have exposed skin?! :o

I started taking arnica the morning after my cs - but I don't know if this is right or not!
I was allowed to keep my glasses on throughout (had a spinal block - if they had to knock me out, they would have given them to DH)
After surgery, as soon as I got back to the ward, I had skin to skin with ds. It was within an hour. I didn't ask if DH could have skin to skin, but the theatre was quite chilly and the mw's were keen to get ds wrapped up.

Hi, the only question I can answer us that they should be able to give you skin to skin straight away if requested but if not it will be within the hour.

What is the arnica for as I am hoping for c- section and did you request c- section?

It reduces bruising. I didn't request a section, it was recommended after nightmare birth first time round.

1. Didn't use Arnica for either elcs. No bruising.

1. Kept my glasses on throughout.

1. Don't know. I had skin to skin within 40 minutes both times.

Good luck.

Hi there,

I'm not a homeopath, but my friend is and reccommended I used Aconite (I think for the for the shock) but most importantly Bellis Perennis for "deep internal bruising". Arnica may be useful after you've weaned yourself from Bellis Perennis? I healed very well I think.

Helios Homeopathy (0)1892 537254 (14 lines)
can sell remedies and also have trained homeopaths that you can speak to before placing an order, to be sure of diagnosis. Also to check which strengths are suitable for yourself. Really friendly, helpful and free service.

Good luck!

I would start the arnica the day before as it builds up in your system.

MW told me I could have skin to skin immediately in the operating theatre (so long as all is fine with baby) and I can try to bf in the recovery room. Will find out how true this is in 7 months time. Mind you, after being ignored so much with last birth, this one dh and I will be much more confident and will demand things go our way.

Not sure about glasses - let me know when you find out.

Good luck xx

Should be no problem to keep glasses on. My ELCS is tomorrow and they have said I can keep them on unless they have to give me a general.

1. dunno

1. They took mine away - it's because they use electricity to cautarise the incision iirc. Why can't you wear your lenses?

1. no, not at all. It's the warnmth, heartbeat etc that is soothing.

1. Homeopathic "Arnica" contains no arnica or other active ingredients. If you want to take it, the pillules are just sugar really so take whatever you want (you cannot overdose on homeopathy).

1. I was allowed to wear my glasses. I've got plastic frames, don't know if that meant anything. Ask to have them with you and just take them off if needed.

1. That's fine. You probably won't be able to have skin-to-skin in theatre as it's often too cold so baby gets wrapped in a towel. But you should be able to cuddle baby on your shoulder and have skin-to-skin in recovery.

I don't know why but I've never been able to wear lenses in any surgery. I'll be fighting to keep the glasses - thankfully most of you seem to have been able to - I can hardly see my hand in front of my face without them let alone be able to determine the sex of a baby!!

I kept my glasses on during CS for DD1. The anaesthetist wanted to take them but I insisted as I wouldn't have been able to see anything and would feel very vulnerable, so he wound some insulating tape around the arms so that the metal didn't touch. Apparently there's a very very small chance that when they cauterise the incision, if you have metal touching you the current could go out through there and burn you, but wrapping them would prevent this. That's why you have to take off rings as well.

They say they will tape rings so hopefully I'll keep my glasses!

I kept my lenses in for my elcs, they are day/night lenses that I wear constantly for a month and then replace so I sleep in them normally. I felt if I needed a GA suddenly they would be fine still in and no one seemed to have an issue with it once I explained I sleep in them.

1. Didn't take arnica
2. Kept my glasses on
3. Had skin to skin when they'd finishing checking over DD & kepther under my gown all the way up to the ward

good luck was a really positive experience for me & dh

Had my section last Thursday took arnIca for 5 days before during and still, was my 4th section and honestly haven't felt this good before, pretty pain free tbh,I Had skin to skin when in recovery. good luck. X