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Childbirth

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Original poster

is it true if you have a cs, they don't even cut through the muscle?

165 replies

bluegreysky · 14/08/2008 22:52

they just pull the abdominal muscles to the side,as they seperate in PG anyway. then push down and clip the bladder out of the way then cut through the womb, remove bambino and sew up.

i can't really see whats so major about that.
not really what i'd class as MAJOR surgery.

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jimjamshaslefttheyurt · 15/08/2008 16:38

Having read that I feel all ready to go and do one myself. Simple!

Something they don't mention on there is the thumping they apply to your stomach. First one wasn't too bad- steady pushing. BUt the third one in particular they were really hitting and pushing my stomach. The anaesthetist said it was a slightly more complicated than usual delivery because of scar tissue and adhesions. . My stomach was quite bruised afterwards.

expatinscotland · 15/08/2008 17:06

the real problem is hte proliferation of all these bloody troll csection threads.

CoteDAzur · 15/08/2008 21:13

lollipop - As I said at 09:24:03:

Muscles are not cut in a c-section, only separated.

"There are two incisions to discuss with Cesarean births: the skin incision and the uterine incision. The skin incision is almost always a transverse, or "bikini", cut low on the abdomen. A few circumstances dictate the use of a vertical skin incision in the midline from just above the pubic bone to just below the belly button. In neither incision are the abdominal muscles cut. Rather, the two strips of rectus muscles are only separated in the midline and return to normal position after healing."

"I was recently asked a question by a patient that made me realize once more how many misconceptions abound relating to various medical interventions. The patient asked me how long her cut abdominal muscles would take to heal. As I was already busy working on this manuscript, the question was quite an eye-opener. I immediately decided that a short section explaining the technique of a cesarean section was imperative.

The answer to the above question is that no abdominal muscles are in fact cut. The only muscle that is cut is that of the uterus."

emma1977 · 15/08/2008 21:48

Although no abdominal muscles are cut during a standard CS, it is classed as major surgery on account of the peritoneal cavity being entered. Any surgery which involves entering the peritoneal cavity (where bladder and bowels live) is inherently higher risk.

gemprincess · 15/08/2008 21:53

Well i have had 4 sections and none of them were my choice! My first was due to pre eclampsia and hellp syndrome. If that was not enough after a 40 hr labour i was then injected with the wrong drug half way through and very nearly lost my life. I have since had 3 more sections, 1 due to breech, 1 as i was told i could not try for a vbac and my last 23 weeks ago which was a very real emergency at 34 weeks as i was in the throws of a uterine rupture. It really is upsetting when ladies make these negative comments,at the end of the day what ever way you give birth is hard work, There is no easy option and all woman should respect eachother as just growing a baby alone is amazing.

CoteDAzur · 15/08/2008 22:10

Definitions of "major surgery":

These are surgeries of the head, neck, chest, and abdomen. The recovery time can be lengthy and may involve a stay in intensive care or several ...
www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.cfm

any surgical procedure that involves anesthesia or respiratory assistance
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

So, it seems that any surgery other than arms and legs is "major surgery".

Can we now lay this matter to rest?

lollipopmother · 15/08/2008 22:22

Cote Thanks for the info, I haven't had a c-section, but I thought it'd be nice to know exactly what it entails as I'm 37+1 and it's always good to be prepared. I don't think knowing that the muscles aren't cut has made it seem any better, the diagrams .... ... if that isn't major surgery I don't know what is!

JimJam - I have heard that some c-sections are so rough that babies can have a bone broken when they are lifted out because they have to be yanked!

And yes - def put this grim topic to rest - c-section v's arse-sewing surgery, what a topic of conversation!

CoteDAzur · 15/08/2008 22:48

I don't mind this topic. It's the intellectual dishonesty and the fixation on "major surgery" that I would like to see put to rest.

jimjamshaslefttheyurt · 16/08/2008 08:33

er but wasn't that the point of the OP?

onceinalifetime · 16/08/2008 08:56

Not sure if this has been said already but I think one of the misconceptions about whether or not a c-section is major surgery is down to the fact that you're chucked out discharged from hospital so quickly and effectively left to fend for yourself. I was discharged from my second c-section in less than 48 hours and strugged to walk to the car outside the hospital, let alone do much else. I'm not suffering major trauma but I know now that it was too soon. If you had major abdominal surgery for anything else, I'm sure you'd be kept in for a lot longer.

callandermum · 16/08/2008 09:49

Oh dear God. This thread is one of the most morbidly facinating things that I have ever read. I had EM-CS after failed forceps and suction and 4 1/2 days of labour and suffered ongoing complications. I then had 3hr VBAC which was a walk in the park! I am not in a position to say that one was better or worse than the other however, as I was unlucky once and lucky once.

I also had lots of problems during pregnancy that I still have to live with now. Not fun. BUT... the most important thing is that mt DD and DS survived fit and well and they have no ill effects. I am not a martyr and i took a long time to come to terms with some of the things that happened to me but I will gladly live with my ongoing complications because my sprogs are ok.

HAVING BABIES AT ALL IS DANGEROUS AND FORTUNATELY NOT AS DANGEROUS AS IT USED TO BE. Can we just be grateful for their safe arrival? A sick baby is something pretty hellish and has to be worse than the suffering we go through? IMO that is.

callandermum · 16/08/2008 09:51

Sorry just reread the question and realised that I am totally off the topic and actually just ranting!

Divvy · 16/08/2008 10:08

"This reminds me of a friend of mine who claimed that at least when I had a cs I had "my dignity intact". Yes, I distinctly remember thinking that as I lay starkers on the table, legs in the air, while they shoved a Voltarol up my bum. In front of 10 people. "

My bum hole was torn during having this done! 2 weeks on its healed now, but the mind boggles how they managed to do it

onceinalifetime · 16/08/2008 10:13

Lol at Divvy and 'dignity intact' - something odd happened with my catheter in the middle of my first cs and indeed my dignity was long forgotten when they got some sort of vacuum to hoover out the urine. Dear God, had forgotten all about that!

Divvy · 16/08/2008 10:16

I quoted the above " " my bit was about my bum hole after cs!

Which was only 15 days ago now!

OMG the whole washing machine feeling is quite sickening, but healthy baby and healthy me, so all good.

OracleInaCoracle · 16/08/2008 10:18

i loved having my fanny shaved by a 103yo prune whilst the room was full of whispering consultants and mw's

madcol · 16/08/2008 10:38

Bizarre definition or major surgey Cote.

Don't think that would be a generally acepted definition in many hospital.
A leg amputation would be major surgery I would think.

I think the seriousness of C-section has been diminished bcause of its prevalence especially elective sections. Also the fact that yu can ask for one makes it seem less dangerous.

CoteDAzur · 16/08/2008 10:50

Yeah, well, type 'define:major surgery' into Google and see what comes up.

Everyone is an authority on these threads, it's unbelievable

sherbetdipdab · 16/08/2008 10:56

Definitions are made for medical staff so they can grade their cases and make up their theatre lists appropriately.

I really feel that any surgery feels pretty major to the person having it.

I consider my section next week to be major surgery and so does DH and he is an actual surgeon, so pretty well placed to advise on this

CoteDAzur · 16/08/2008 11:00

sherbet - Is yours an elective c-section, if you don't mind me asking?

CoteDAzur · 16/08/2008 11:02

sherbet - I don't deny that c-section falls under 'major surgery'. My point was that apparently ALL surgery except those on arms and legs fall under this category.

sherbetdipdab · 16/08/2008 11:05

Yes, I had an emergency section last year too.

The consultant has a policy of offering all section Mum's a VBAC 2nd time around but I said no thank you. Its just a new policy, but he advised section as DS was born only 12 months ago so its a new scar and he doesn't want me to go much over 38 weeks due to pre-ecl last time.

I think that as DH is medical and I was a nurse to us the whole section thing seems quite normal, if that makes sense? We are used to things being medicalised and operating theatres and are both aware of the risks etc.

Am I coming across as stupid as I think I am???

sherbetdipdab · 16/08/2008 11:06

Oh no, I wasn't getting at you, honestly! Just trying to say that the definitions are there for other reasons than how we might presume they are if that makes sense?

CoteDAzur · 16/08/2008 11:07

No, not stupid at all.

I will have an elective section next time (doctor already agreed, and I'm not even pregnant yet) so just interested in how and why others choose elective sections.

belgo · 16/08/2008 11:07

I just laugh every time I see this title - if they don't cut through muscle during a c-section, how on earth do they cut throught the uterus, which is in fact muscle?