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Childbirth

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

C section booked 12/12 tips? Advice? Worried sick!!

10 replies

ameliathomas84 · 23/11/2019 22:39

So I have a planned section booked for 12/12 at 38+3 due to having two previous emcs, although due to on going problems with the pregnancy, reduced movements, dropped growth, high PI Doppler , signs of oc and Pe it's possible I may have to go in earlier! Have pre op and steroid shots Monday , Doppler repeat wed and growth scan following week plus blood tests every x3 days!
I had two awful failed inductions and emcs follows by infection and haemorrhage (last one 10 years ago) however due to all this my anxiety is through the roof!!
Would appreciate any tips/advice on the planned section as never had planned before!
Anything I will need?
How long I'm likely to stay in hospital?
Recovery tips?
Experiences?
What will happen during?beforw? After?
And anything to make me feel better and not panic lol

OP posts:
NaviSprite · 23/11/2019 22:50

Mine wasn’t planned (emergency section for twins) I did have a planned one in place for them but they decided they wanted to come earlier than that!

As for the procedure itself, the hardest part for me was keeping still for the spinal block because I was having pains - but as soon as that got sorted I had an oddly euphoric feeling, I was worried but the anxiety drained away.

Not being able to feel my legs was bizarre but my DH just sat by me and kept me occupied with small talk, which I didn’t seem to mind. It just felt like pressure against my abdomen during the procedure and thankfully both twins came through fine. They too had reduced growth and movement due to issues with the placentas not delivering enough blood flow, so they were tiny! Weighed under 1kg so they were straight into an incubator and into NICU but that was down to how very premature they were as well so try not to fret.

As for recovery, mine was fairly straight forward, the incision healed completely within 6-7 months, the stitches were dissovleable, the area remained numb for about 12 months in total, but since feeling has mostly come back.

As for what to take with you, all I can recommend is loose fitting trousers and maybe some disposable absorbent pants.

If there’s anything you’d like to ask, feel free, but just wanted to offer my general experience for you, it wasn’t as scary as I had thought it would be once the whole thing was underway Smile

Iwantedtrianglesnotsquares · 23/11/2019 22:55

Good luck. I had a planed c section due to breech baby. I didn’t expect to walk myself into theatre! Then also you don’t lie completely flat on your back, you are tilted to one side (well I was for the planned c, and then 2nd baby unplanned c). You will have to take your bandage /plaster off yourself a few days after the op which I wasn’t prepared for. I found it very hard to pick up my baby that first night- I couldn’t lift her without help, or bend to change her without difficulty, so I had dh leave a couple of sets of everything out and very close by so I could could reach everything in the middle of the night. Take extra pillows to help keep you comfy as you might be very tender whilst trying to do all the brand new baby bits! You will still bleed loads so have plenty of pads as you will be in hospital for probably 2 nights if it all goes ok. Have lots of dried fruit to eat, as your stomach muscles are very sore as they’ve been pulled about and sometimes cut, so anything that helps bowel movements is good!

Good luck and try not to drop anything on the floor as it’s gonna stay there a long time.

NaviSprite · 23/11/2019 22:57

From a friend who had a planned section not long after, the experience was roughly the same minus the panicking general rushing about to prep a room and get the relevant staff Smile - sorry I have brain fog so didn’t see you’ve experienced EMCS already!

Iwantedtrianglesnotsquares · 23/11/2019 23:00

Also humongous high wasted pants as otherwise they will press on your scar. I also had no feeling around the scar and some tingling for about 12 months the first time. Second time was a better recovery for me, first time wasn’t good. Also as it was planned c section, the hormones hadn’t kicked in so I found it very hard to produce milk straight away- be prepared that you may need to use bottles as well in RI l your milk comes in, as the hormones that come from labour are not there in a planned c section... it’s given artificially in a drip, but I ended up mix feeding and giving a bottle on the second night as I struggled and my dd was on the brink of having to go to the jaundice unit. She just wasn’t feeding as I wasn’t producing - even with a lactation nurse.

BlueEyedFloozy · 23/11/2019 23:16

I had an EMCS with #1 and a planned CS with #2.

The procedure and recovery themselves weren't all that different tbh although I was more nervous beforehand with #2 because I had time to think about it all.

The actual wait and procedure was all very calm - DH and I walked down to theatre together then waited whilst anaesthesia and stuff was sorted then chatted throughout. It was all very quick and painless even though they had to use forceps as she was transverse and reluctant to come out at 39+5!

I was pre-prepared with peppermint Rennie's for trapped wind pain, a feeding cushion to place over my wound, a water bottle to keep by me so I could just drink when needed with one hand rather than reaching for a cup all the time and a pack of baby wipes - even when I was stuck in bed I liked to be able to freshen up as I struggled with sitting in heavy lochea filled pads (sorry tmi).

ameliathomas84 · 23/11/2019 23:25

Thanks for all that! Yes I had two emcs however first was under general due to epidural failing and obviously they were both a long time ago! So all I do is appreciated!
My main worry is the bleeding! As I haemorrhaged after when on the ward as I tried to breastfeed, baby pulled off me and crash button pressed and very scary experience! So I have this fear of bleeding ! Funny enough I recovered very quick after this and was home alone with a 5 year old and new baby 3 days after doing everything myself! But this was all a long time ago! My nerves are through roof and I think been a nurse doesn't help as sometimes you can "know" too much! Which doesn't help the worry!

OP posts:
Frank05 · 24/11/2019 00:00

Aww I was exactly the same as you before my planned section, was so anxious about it all but it was very relaxed and the nurses and surgeons were fantastic.

I walked into the theatre and they put in the epidural - they numb the area on your back first - then they put up a screen to stop you seeing the op, they also put a catheter in but you don’t feel anything. Then hubby came in and they started. You’ll feel some tugging but it doesn’t hurt atall and you won’t care as you’ll be desperate to see baby. My little one was out in 5/10 mins and on my chest then they take about 30 mins to stitch you up and that time will fly as you’ll be so besotted with the baby. They will then hand the baby to your other half and he will meet you down in recovery.

I was in the recovery room for 30 mins or so and had some water and toast whilst having more skin on skin with baby then moved up to the ward after. I had my little one at 3pm and at about 3am I managed to get out of bed and change her nappy on my own - the nurse was there in case I did need her though and I also got them to remove the catheter. Then at about 7am I went for a wee - they will give you a cardboard bowl to wee into to check you can empty your bladder ok. I did feel a bit sick going to the loo but it was fine. At about 12pm I had a shower then went home at 2pm. They do enhanced recovery now for planned sections where they encourage you to get on your feet as soon as you feel able, but if you want to stay longer in the hospital you can. I was just desperate to get home.

I’d say you’ll need a button down nightie - I got a short sleeve black one from morhercare. I also took a dark coloured dressing gown, some slip on slippers so I didn’t have to bend down, some Boots maternity pads (the thicker ones), a phone charger, some food as you’ll get hungry in the night and your toiletries like toothbrush and paste, hair bobbles, deodorant, hairbrush). For baby you’ll need a few outfits and a hat, nappies, baby milk in case you don’t want to BF or struggle to BF (Aptamil do a starter kit with 6 easy made bottles and 6 sterilised teats, I found these so handy), a blanket, water wipes (my hospital said to bring a plastic bowl and cotton wool to clean the baby’s bottom but I used these wipes instead).

The best advice I can give is stay on top of your meds. Even if you think you feel ok that’s most likely the meds working. I stayed on top of them and set an alarm on my phone and so did hubby. Just don’t try to do too much either, I was loading the washing machine the next day and the midwife told me off as she said you might feel ok but you need to rest and recover.

Sorry for the essay lol hope it helps a bit.

NewNameGuy · 24/11/2019 00:10

Make sure you're happy with the screens- my dw got really claustrophobic from the screen by her face and didn't think to ask to move it

ameliathomas84 · 24/11/2019 00:12

@Frank05 thankyou that's great! And @NewNameGuy I remember something about this actually from last time!!

OP posts:
Weathergirl1 · 24/11/2019 00:58

Take a strap to tie around the end of the bed so you can pull yourself up with your arms (I used the sort you get to tie stuff onto a roof rack) - massive difference!

Also I'd been warned about people not being given pain relief and had gone prepped with paracetamol, but I didn't use it when I should have done when they twice failed to give me my dose on time (first night after the section...) - led to a cascade of other issues and a longer stay than I wanted Angry

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