Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

C-Section imminent...HELP!!!!!!

55 replies

Harry2007 · 21/12/2006 23:13

Hello everyone

I've been told this week that due to severe SPD, I will be having a CS at 38 weeks (or sooner if the pain gets worse). The problem is that although over the last couple of days I've got used to the idea of having a CS, I haven't really given much thought to the practicalities.

What actually happens beforehand, during and after? Are there any tips I should be aware of? Do I need to take anything extra into hospital with me?

The more I think about it, the more nervous I'm getting so you help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
nearlythree · 21/12/2006 23:28

I've had three - one emergency and two planned. Personally I've had no problems and the planned ones have been the quickest to recover from.

You'll go in on the day (or the night before) and have some blood tests. You'll be shaved a bit - best if you can do this yourself or get dh-dp or your mum to do it. No jewellery or nail polish is allowed. You'll have to wear a gown - make sure you have a dressing gown to walk to theatre in a s I saw one poor woman walk down trying to stop teh back of her gown gaping open!

You start off by having the epidural put in and a drip put in your hand. I'm a big wuss but it's fine. You go all numb from the waist down - very weird feeling - think having a filling but in your legs. Then you go into theatre. You have a catheter put in, and then they start. within minutes you'll have your baby - the long part is being stitched up.

Then you go into recovery, and onto the ward. You'll be close to teh mws and will be in bed for 12-24 hrs until the catheter comes out. You'll get loads of pain relief - it'll be a bit sore but you'll be okay.

Once you get home your mw will come and take the stiches out. You'll find your tummy will feel more sore as the nerve endings heal together and feeling returns.

You can still do a birth plan. You can ask that your baby is given to you with the vernix on. You can ask for dh to find the sex of the baby - some may let him cut teh cord. You can ask for skin-to-skin in recovery for bfeeding. I also slept with a blanket for a week or so before each of my sections and asked for my babies to be wrapped in them after birth so that they could smell me until I could hold them.

Oh, and I found dh's boxers the best thing to wear until my tummy got less bruised - even big knickers were too tight - take some in your bag just in case!

Good luck!

Original poster
Harry2007 · 21/12/2006 23:31

Thanks for the info - I really am clueless about this as I don't have any friends or family who have had sections. Yours seemed to be fine though, I'm hoping mine will be as well. TBH, I can't wait now, but the excitement is taking over thinking about the practical issues!

OP posts:
kid · 21/12/2006 23:32

You can chose music to be played during the section too. They offered to lower the screen for my elective section so I could see DS being lifted out.

PortAndLemonaid · 21/12/2006 23:45

A few random thoughts...

The painkillers they give you should deal with the pain pretty well, but they are constipating so try to eat fresh or dried fruit to help to get things moving.

After the section you may want to carry a pillow around with you in hospital/at home and press it over the scar if you need to laugh or cough (I speak as one who had whooping cough after my c/s so had a lot of practice with that!). It helps to stop it pulling. Also in the car on the way home from hospital having a pillow between your incision and the seatbelt will be more comfortable.

Most anaesthetists seem to double as helpful photographers for the first pictures of you all as a family, as there's not much for the anaesthetist to do in most of the procedure once they've got everything in other than keep an eye on your vital signs.

You may find that you get side-effects from the anaesthetic of shaking and/or itching. These are both perfectly normal; the shaking will wear off pretty quickly although the itching may take a day or so.

Don't be surprised if you get more fluid retention/swelling after the birth than you had before. After a few days you'll sweat or pee it all out.

southeastastra · 21/12/2006 23:46

i would say just go along with it and don't worry! good luck!

nearlythree · 21/12/2006 23:57

It'll be fine .

As soon as baby ds was delivered he yelled and peed over the anaesthetist's assistant. Marvellous!

crumpet · 22/12/2006 00:08

Hi, I had a cs with both mine (one emergency, the other listed as elective, although had pretty much ran out of options by then). The elective was more stress free.

We had a few things we were concerned about (wanted to see the sex for ourselves rather than be told, for example), and other things we weren't so bothered about - eg the music - we were happy to go with the team's choice! I held ds s within miniutes of him being born, although I didn't with dd (the emergency).

Don't be brave - if you want more painkillers then say so and they will be provided! Also, the hospital for ds provided me with a rope contraption tied to the end of the bed so I could lift myself more easily - it was a huge blessing. Wish I'd had it with my first.

Some hospitals provide cribs attached to the side of the bed so there's no "side" between you and the baby - saves bending down. Worth asking about.

Don't forget to make sure you have as much pain relief as you need!

Good luck - you'll be fine. Wil you have someone at home with you so you can have breakfast/tean etc brought to you in bed? I would have survived without, but it did give me a few lovely days in bed with my babies!

crumpet · 22/12/2006 00:10

Oh, and I had no problems with breastfeeding with either if that is a concern - both babies knew what they wanted to do (took me a while longer to learn, mind you..)

JollyOldSaintNikkielas · 22/12/2006 00:19

Came along to offer some advice but seems to be just about covered
Good luck and don't forget to report back (apparently Mning and breastfeeding go well together !)

Original poster
Harry2007 · 22/12/2006 02:21

Thanks very much everyone - it's quite refreshing to have some positive comments - has anyone else found that other women seem to take it upon themselves to tell you horror stories about birthing experiences!

So just to sum up from what everyone's said so far:

1 No jewellery or nail polish
2 Take a dressing gown
3 Take a pillow - already have one of those nursing pillows so that should do the trick
4 Don't be a hero - ask for painkillers if needed - although this shouldn't be a problem either as I'm already taking strong painkillers at home with pethidine/morphine every couple of days in hospital for the SPD pain
5 Shaking/itching is normal
6 Breastfeeding shouldn't be a problem

Thanks everyone

OP posts:
Gem13 · 22/12/2006 05:14

Write a birth plan of things that are important to you.

I did and the midwife said it was unusual but it meant I reclaimed the birth rather than had an operation IYKWIM.

I put things down like I wanted DH to tell me what the baby was, how I didn't want the baby to be given formula, etc. Things that mattered to me. She was also able to explain things they wouldn't/didn't do - e.g. lower the screen, allow me to hold the baby while being stitched.

When is your date?

macneil · 22/12/2006 06:03

on the knickers point, I wear Petit Bateau boys' jersey boxers in bed anyway, and they're a great knicker post-c-section because they're softer round the waist than even men's jersey boxers (I wear age 16, they do age 18 too). BUT, they are devilishly hard to attach pads to, and you bleed tons.

Mom79 · 22/12/2006 07:06

Hi Harry,
I had a c-section too. Everything is pretty much covered here. Just to let you know after I felt quite cold (was shivering) for about 10 min but then all ok after!! Good Luck!!!!

knittingtinsel · 22/12/2006 07:43

You will have a catheter in place immediately after the op as your legs won't work for you to get to the toilet. They'll take this out for you within the first 24 hours and then it's time to get moving.
Ring for help lifting baby until the catheter is out though as you really shouldn't be twisting across to the cot and lifting him up even if you feel like you could do it.

I bought some cheapy shop and market stall old lady type pants that came right up to my waist (and possibly a bit higher) in a size larger than I'd normally wear.

They were really easy to attach the doubled up pads to as there was plenty of fabric in the gusset region and it made sure that the waistband never wiggled itself down to the scar area to irritate the wound. Buy plenty of pants as I was changing them twice a day due to blood loss as despite the pads there always seemed to be some getting onto the pants.

Pack highwaisted stretchy trousers (tracksuit/leggings type) to wear if you don't want to be in pj's/nightie all the time whilst in hospital.

I found it helpful to use a hairdryer on the wound after washing so that I could ensure it was clean.

Constipation from the painkillers is quite bad but I found that eating a whole bag of white seedless grapes (plus quite a bit of other fruit) sorted it out naturally.

Hint to someone who might be thinking of sending a bouquet that a fruit basket gift would be very welcome, I ate everything bar the pineapple whilst still in hospital (although my family helped when they visited as they are all fruit vultures)

You might have dissolving stitches so there is no need to have them removed later. They didn't shave me but my minge doesn't come up very far, some people say that they were dry shaved with a bic razor and they wished they'd wet shaved that area themselves at home (just the top bit, no need to go mad)

As you will be in hospital longer than for a normal birth you could take birth announcement stationery stamps and your address book and use the time that baby is asleep to get that done (It is not easy to catch up on your own sleep in hospital due to the noise and interruptions). I also took a pack of M&S "thankyou" cards and wrote them the day after visitors had brought gifts/sent flowers so that was already done before I got home.

Original poster
Harry2007 · 22/12/2006 11:15

Thanks for the tips - at least I know what to expect now!

In a bit of a quandry at the moment. SPD pain is agony at the moment and I'm undecided as to whether to go into hospital as I seem to be doing every couple of days to get a top up of pethidine or do I stick it out with the possinility that I'm going to have to give in at some point and risk being in hospital over Christmas? This is no fun

OP posts:
nearlythree · 22/12/2006 11:28

When are you due?

merrylissiemas · 22/12/2006 11:30

please take nighties instead of pjs, i only took pjs and had to walk around with my bum showing

hertsnessex · 22/12/2006 11:31

sorry, but severe spd isnt normally a cause for c/section.

i had it twice (crutches and wheelchair from 16wks) and gave birth vaginally. you just cant have your feet in stirrups and the relief after is fab!

y are they saying this?

Original poster
Harry2007 · 22/12/2006 11:32

Will definitely take a few nighties then!

I'm officially due on the 28th January nearlythree, but the CS will be booked for 38 weeks or sooner which will be around the 14th.

OP posts:
nearlythree · 22/12/2006 12:03

Assuming that you do need a section, the longer you leave it the better for the baby. With my last baby I had to spend 10 days in hospital before my section as the lie was unstable - awful as I had to be away from my dds but best for ds.

If all you need from the hospital is pain relief I'd go now and get it out of the way.

(ah, pethidine, lovely stuff!)

Original poster
Harry2007 · 22/12/2006 12:07

Think I will make my way into hospital at some point today.

I know that the longer they keep the baby in the better, but my Consultant won't let me go any further than 38 weeks and in any case, he has said that if the head engages, the pain is going to be excruciating, at which point, they'll do a CS immediately.

OP posts:
nearlythree · 22/12/2006 12:13

Best of luck! I will probably get shot down for this but I nearly lost dd1 going for a vaginal delivery when I should have had a section. IMO if there is any doubt a section is safer for the baby.

merrylissiemas · 22/12/2006 12:15

nearlythree's right. i had an ecs and it was terrifying. ds's head got stuck in my pelvis and they nearly lost us both. not worth the risk

Original poster
Harry2007 · 22/12/2006 12:18

IKWYM - all the way through this pregnancy, I've wanted to avoid a CS at all costs - I had a perfect pregnancy until SPD was diagnosed. Now though, I know that a CS is the safer option. It might sound selfish, but I feel more relaxed having one in any case. The reason for this is firstly I'm scared that if I had a vagunal delivery with an epidural and my legs were parted more than the 4 inches that is comfortable to do so without pain relief, I could suffer with the SPD for a long time and secondly, the baby is very big, estimated to be over 10lbs with a large head circumference.

OP posts:
merrylissiemas · 22/12/2006 12:21

glad you've been able to make your peace with it good luck