What happens when you have a CS?

[louloutheshamed]

I am 33 weeks pg with a low lying placenta. I have been told I need to have scans every 2 weeks and if still low at 36 weeks they may admit
Me and then deliver by cs at 38/9 weeks.

I had a normal vaginal delivery with dc1 and do not feel prepared for a section at all, still getting My head round it. Just wanted some advice on some practical/physical aspects, eg.....

What happens to the waters? I remember a huge gush in labour with ds, so what do they do in a cs?

What is the bleeding like afterwards- more
Or less than with a vaginal delivery?

How long does it take?

How is getting bf established different after a cs?

When people talk about the recovery, what do they actually mean? What is the heaviest thing I will be able to lift? (I assume not as heavy as my ds aged 2.5!)

I have heard people talking about wind afterwards...!?!

Thanks in advance, sorry for the silly questions!

I had an ELCS last year, and can honestly say it was a perfectly pleasant experience. I came to hospital fasting at 7.30 am, had a chat with the anaesthetist at nine ish, walked down to a small theatre in my dressing gown with DH, sat on the table and had the epidural inserted (which barely smarted), got numb from mid-chest down, DH sitting just behind my head. Baby out very quickly - no discomfort at all, only an odd feeling of being tugged about - checked over for thirty seconds then handed to DH to hold up to my face. I remember thinking the stitching up was much faster than expected.

Then back into my bed and rolled into recovery, where my son was put inside my gown to have skin to skin, and back to postnatal ward. I'd had a catheter inserted during the procedure, and a nurse periodically changed pads for the bleeding. I was back on my feet able to pee and shower about ten hours after the ELCS. Discharged 36 hours after the surgery. The only thing I found difficult back at home was getting up from sitting on a low surface.

I wasn't able to breastfeed, but don't know whether this was down to the CS or not. You would barely see my scar.

I had an emcs in 2010. All of the 'stuff' e.g. waters, placenta, any other miscellaneous tissue :) is all taken care of, you'll probably know nothing about it.

I did bleed for several weeks after but nothing worse than a normal period.

I had a high spinal (meaning I was numb from neck down) and some low BP issues but I guess I was probably in theatre for about an hour after DD was delivered.

They put a catheter in just before I left theatre which stayed in for the first night until I was up on my feet.

PS there was blood in my urine bag, no idea why, but I was told it's normal so don't panic if you see pink wee :)

After theatre they wheel you to high dependency ward where they monitor you until they are happy for you to go on the normal ward. I was there for a couple of hours and got tea and toast which was Amazing!

Re BF I wasn't able to do much initially due to aforementioned high spinal. But once the spinal started wearing off I held DD and she latched and fed like a pro. No issues at all.

I felt in a bit of a bad way after, although I had had 3 days of labour prior which would have made a difference. I couldn't do much for a while, lying down was a no no for about a week. I took paracetamol and codeine, later tramadol for about 3-4 weeks.

I never had any issues with wind or constipation but I hadn't eaten much at all in the few daysleading up as I was a puker in labour :)

Currently trying to decide whether to vbac or elcs this time, due in Sept

Hi LouLou

You've got lots of advice here so I'll try and keep this short.

I've had 2 emergency CS. One 'really' emergency as baby heart stopped 4 hrs in to labour and one when baby was coming at only 28weeks.

CS really isn't that bad. Particularly when planned. It can be a very calm experience.

The operation itself is very quick. You'll be shown the baby, dad can have a cuddle then once you're all tidied up afterwards the nurses will help you breast feed. I don't think there's any reason bf is any different with a CS. After my first I was breastfeeding her with an hour of her being born.

Never had wind. But constipation yes, that's because of the drugs.

It will probably take 4 weeks before you feel comfortable lifting your toddler. Your baby you'll be fine with after a few days.

There's not really anything to worry about.

Wind can be awful - right up under my shoulder blades made me think I was having a heart attack .

Agree with the poster re arnica tablets. I popped them like smarties before and after the birth.

But the calmness of a planned CS is great - peaceful delivery suite led to calm and peaceful baby. The gangly 16 yr old has just walked in oh for that peace again

Another tip from one that should have realised do your own shaving/waxing if you need to. Do not leave it to a junior nurse with a single bladed BIC and Hibiscrub...

Had ELC and it was scary when first went into operating theatre, had a small panic attack and after they said I was the most nervous person they had had for a long time. the poor buggers having to listen to my drivel

However, my fear was short lived, it all seemed very short, the most horrid part was when they do something and your blood pressure falls, I suddenly felt so horrid, but it was gone in two seconds as they adjust it.

Baby came out beautifully calm, but crying too, latched on immedialty, still BF now months on....

My tips would be after when you are back in bed and re gaining feeling, be very careful when you move side to side, a bitch of a MW told me to get moving, and I lurched to my side, literally an inch and got stuck and felt like I had ripped something internally. I then suffered from a burning pain there for a few weeks after.

Then weeks later I got the leaflet on how to move straight after the op! So be careful, when you move side to side.

Get a v pillow, this was invaluable for me, as was able to change baby direclty infront of me, on me, again no stretching or lurching or struggling for the baby, I also used this to wedge the baby next to me to sleep at night, me propped up with loads of pillows ( from home) too. One night she pretty much fed all night and slept across my boobs! My baby was the calmest in the ward, barely any crying.

After my first delivery I had issues with the moses basket. Yes its convient etc, but when fighting sleep, feeding baby at night you have to transfer baby back into basket, this can wake them up, wakes you up, you have to sit up a bit to get leverage to do it.

My first deliverly was normal and I rememever longing for hte side car cot I had in hospital. I was amazed they sold similar things when I was looking second time ruond, knowing I was having a section. So I got this from local paper, £75 quid.

www.mumsnet.com/reviews/nursery/cots-cribs-cotbeds/9963-arms-reach-universal-co-sleeper-bedside-cot

This cot has made my life 100% easier. All my nct friends moaning about lack of sleep etc. I have made my life easier by buying this. This is beacuse after the op you do not want to be reaching or sitting up. with this -you dont need to as they are right by you, you dont wake them up, they dont wake you up, you get sleep! My baby was a brilliant sleeper too, apart from a few windy nights, she was/is a joy she is still in it next to me.

All the joys of co sleeping but without the dangers and risks. I have another DC and I can honeslty say this cot was the best money I have ever spent on child related items. They also hold their price to re sell. I love mine did i mention i LOVE IT

Its also large enough to store other things in the corners to begin with as I lost my bedside table due to its size, nappies, wipes and so on.

I didnt get much wind, noting painful as others have had. I couldnt walk far for about two weeks, I went to London after three or four weeks and struggled.
Looking back I hardly think of it at all now, whereas my first birth left me traumatised for years, the elc was fine. Good luck.

mydarlingclementine I also bought a bedside cot (BabyBay) for my 2nd and I would STRONGLY recommend any parent get one, or similar.

I spent hours an HOURS rocking and jiggling my first to sleep. No such fuss with the 2nd because of this cot. He's a brilliant sleeper now. 3 yo DD not so good!!