calling all who have had a c-s

[starshaker]

i was told today by the consultant that i have a very hight chance on needing a c/s and was wandering what every1s experiences were.

how long did it take to get back on ur feet
were u able to breastfeed
and anything else u think it would be worth while me knowing

baby will be here on friday go in tomorrow so rushing about doing washing sorting baby clothes leaving lots and lots of notes for dp and generally trying not to think bout things 2 much

Good luck starshaker, hope everything goes well for you!

Hi I had emergency c section due to high blood pressure and undiagnosed breech.The recovery for me was painful, but I found pain lessened with exercise- not aeorbic!!-going for walk round the block, to my local park etc. Dont lift anything too heavy, but no need to avoid stairs! just take things at your own pace. xx

Take your painkillers when they are offered - no point being a martyr, and yes, VERY BIG PANTS! Good luck, there's no feeling like looking into your baby's eyes for the first time.

some v good advice on here re: Big Pants, pain relief (anticipate it, don't wait for it to happen) and getting privacy if you can afford a private room, you will be given priority. also - i took my own catheter out after my 2nd c/s and moved around cautiously the following day. do not overdo it though as I went to the hospital shop first time round and came back looking ashen and very weepy because of the sheer effort involved. first c/s i had an epidural which was great as i was v alert when dd1 was delivered. however 2nd c/s was a crash one, and the GA does take it out of you more, however went on to breastfeed successfully (after some initial soreness and mastitis - do find a bfeeding counsellor the moment you have any problems) for ages (still feeding dd2 2 yrs on..)

I'll second big pants, I spent 4 weeks wearing my dp's boxer shorts!

Also, I had infections aplenty after my CS, so if they have to restitch you in hopsital (as they did me) INSIST on anti biotics, and knock any infection on the head before you leave. I didnt and it took 6 courses to get rid of my infection.

Hi Starshaker
I had an elective cs because of placenta praevia.
The op was great (well... you know, as great as any op can be). It was all very calm (I guess this is a bit different if it's an emergency cs) and I got to hold my baby as soon as she was born. The anaesthetist took some photos of me and dh with her when she was just a few minutes old. They are really special, so get your partner to take a camera in.
The best thing I was warned about re. the op itself is that just before the baby is born you feel one of the doctors pressing down really hard (obviously you don't feel any pain, just a sense of pressure) on the top of your bump. This is them squeezing the baby down through the opening... and you know when you feel that that the baby is about to be born. It was not at all unpleasant, but I was glad I'd been warned about it because otherwise I'd have wondered what the hell was going on!
I was worried about having a catheter in (don't know why, it just sounded gross I think...) but actually it was fine. I couldn't feel it and I didn't want them to take it out in the end (cos I knew that then I'd HAVE to get out of bed!).
The recovery was nowhere near as bad as I had feared. I was out of bed the next morning. Generally the sooner you get back on your feet the better it is, even though it does feel wierd at first. I was given a morphine injection for pain relief immediately after the birth and didn't really like it (made me feel really spaced out and I couldn't remember what we'd called our baby which made me feel really panicky), but I know that other people love it and describe it as being like having had a couple of large G&Ts.
The best advice I was given was to get some REALLY B-I-G knickers for afterwards. Normal 'briefs' fall right on the scar and will irritate it. Get the biggest granny knickers going... not sexy, but effective!
I had problems breastfeeding, but that was nothing to do with the section. My dd was born at 35/36 weeks, but was small for dates and probably a bit undernourished due to the problems I'd had with the placenta. She was fed by NGT for about a couple of weeks and had to stay in hospital. I expressed milk for her to have down the tube and did persevere till she was 6 weeks old, but she was not gaining weight (and was still very small) so in the end I gave up. But, as I said, that was unusual circs, nothing to do with the cs.
Good luck with it all.

Have had 3 c/s to date, (with one to come),

1st one, emergency at 26 weeks, but was v.poorly with Pre-eclampsia, so spent the few days after drifting in and out of hallucinated sleep, not very nice (although nothing to do with c/s)

2nd elective at 38 weeks was ok, apart from midwife dragging me to toilet for a wee 4 hour after op !! Ended up colapsing on ward floor.

3rd elective at 37 weeks, was fine, asked for catheter for 24 hours after op. Found BF hard that first night not being able to move very well. It was also very hot on the ward and I was lying on an'pamper's caremat' type thing which felt disgusting! Had catheter out early in the morn, had a shower and felt much better! Was moving around fine when I left hospital 3 days later.

Went on to BF both babies successfully for months!

Scar fine too BTW

Thanks for this post I'm starting to think of requirement for next (and last!) c/s

this is sooo helpfull getting excited now cant wait to meet bumps now. told mum to get me more big pants as did have disposeable ones packed 2 and when went to look realise i dont have that many normal pants and think some1 said disposable ones not good

starshaker, don't know if you're still on mn to read this!

my cs was a not-desperately-urgent emergency, due to failure to progress. i'd had 17hrs active labour so was v tired and a bit disorientated, but the theatre staff were v lovely so it all felt calm and not nearly as scary as i'd feared.

i'd agree with whoever said to keep talking to the theatre staff (and birth partner!) - will take your mind off what's going on behind the curtain too.

i can't remember how long it all took, but it all happens v quickly and efficiently - they wheel you in, put the anaesthetic in, put you on the operating table with your arms folded into your gown across your chest, stick some monitors on your chest, check the anaesthetic is working, and off they go. you feel some pushing and rummaging, and that's it. you'll be too focussed on the baby to notice how long the stitching takes!

it's worth thinking about whether you'd like them to hold the baby up to show you as soon as it's born - it didn't occur to me, and so i didn't see ds's face for at least 10mins as he was over the other side of the room on a resuscitaire .

it took me a long time to recover, mainly emotionally as the long labour and cs had been a big shock, not at all what i expected - at least you've got the chance to prepare yourself.

i also got an infection in my scar, probably because i didn't keep it dry enough - it was hidden under my overhanging belly! next time round, i'd really prioritise cleaning and drying it regularly.

because of the infection, i didn't drive for 7 weeks, but i know people who've driven after 3 - just depends on whether you can do an emergency stop (and your insurance co's requirements - mine just said if your GP says its ok, then its ok).

bf was fine, fortunately - i just reclined the bed a bit and put ds on my still rather large belly.

looking after ds afterwards was fine, although i had to pull him out of his cot by his armpits instead of cradling his head, cos i couldn't straighten up easily after bending over, iyswim. i wish i'd had someone with me for a bit longer after we got home tho - dp's paternity leave was half used up by the time we got out of hospital, so i only had him around for the first week after we got home.

and big knickers are great! so under-rated - i'm still wearing mine nearly 6mths later

anyway, hth, and best of luck with the birth!

im always online lol trying to pass time till tomorrow yay

Haven't read the other posts as I'm supposed to be working.

I had an elective CS at 9am on a Monday. On my feet briefly at 3pm to change DS's nappy and fully (with catheter bag ) by 7pm. In the shower next morning, bowels and wee back to normal that morning.

Establishing BF not a problem - just offer the breast ASAP and very frequently. My milk came down, along with comedy Pamela Anderson boobies, within 48 hours of delivery.

Take your own Paracetamol and Ibuprofen (400mg tabs). Note down when you take them as you get sleep-deprived quite quickly! Stick to the max dose for 3 days then wean off. You won't need IV morphine or anything like that.

Whilst your catheter is in, go mad with fluids and fruit juices. You'll do comedy farts as well

Have a 'thorough' (low) bikini wax beforehand.

Invest in a pack of 'up to your armpits' knickers to prevent oedema above the scar.

If you've kept fit throughout your pregnancy, like all types of delivery, you'll make a swift recovery. Twisiting of the abdomen is uncomfortable for a couple of weeks, but keep moving and you'll be fine.

Good Luck with the munchkin!

Arnica, arnica, arnica.
By all accounts I recovered very quickly and I think this had a large part to play.

Right, what the recommendation on arnica? I'm planning my second section in mid/end May (don't have a date yet). I want to try arnica, but have no idea what dose to take, how much, when to start/stop, etc.

yeah good point is it cream or tablets and how much

Well, I had a look at the cream in Holland and Barrett and it said not to apply to broken skin so I thin cream is out for caesarean wound. But, the tablets come in 2 strengths.

will have a look and see if i can find anything bout it

Arnica tablets from Boots - 2 every 6 hours - I took them before and afterwards with my painkillers - made a HUGE difference........

took arnica first section, took none the 2nd because it had been outed as a placebo by some research piece (sorry can't remember source now .. but think it was based on the standard dosage people took and you actually needed higher dose)

must say I saw NO difference in the actual scar healing from first to second

I don't think it made any difference to the scar at all - I think it helped internal bruising that comes from the actual operation itself and seemed to make me a lot more mobile the 2nd time.

will ask dp to pick some up for me what strength shoul i get

The strongest ! Think Boots and H&B do 6 and 30 - I took 30 and like others on here think it helped. I started taking it when i started to be induced which was about 3 days before CS

I took Arnica both times (when I bloomin' remembered) It is supposed to be very good for bruising, and you will get a awful angry looking bruise!

It's also supposed to get through in you breastmilk to help baby get over the trauma of birth (Apparently!!)

Well I suggest take it, it won't do any harm.

I was always confused about the strength, so you reckon the higher dose? Brill, will know for next time!

had two - one emergency and other elective, one in the UK and one in Australia

Was able to breastfeed no2 - no1 was a totally different story ( best left out as an example) Breastfed no2 in the recovery room.

Both times up and about next day. Scar has healed well. I used a few drops of tea tree oil in some warm water, using a flannel - patted my scar with that. Helped with the healing too. Used paper towels to pat my stitches dry rather than the bathtowel.

Used Arnica tablets second time round and healed very nicely and rather sooner than expected. I was able to drive three weeks after with the second section - am sure arnica helped with the internal healing. I was ok with insurance as long as I had a gp's okay and the GP gave me the okay as long as I was not being silly with it.... ( i did have a 2 1/2 yo who was not walking too so had to take it easy with her)

Both times recovered quite well.

It is important to remember that this is major surgery and to be kind to yourself and allow yourself time to heal. Can appreciate the middle of nowhere and wanting to drive sooner - but enjoy just getting to know your baby and recovering yourself.

Granny knickers for the first little while to take pressure off the area. I just bought cheap cotton ones that I could chuck afterwards. Forget the diposable - very uncomfortable.

Timing - dd1 ( and probably dd2) was four minutes from the time they started cutting to the time she arrived - I know I timed them ( sad I know) but that is what the surgeon told me before we went in and I wanted to see if he was right... so once the prep is done and you are taken in - bring the baby out is the quickest part of the whole procedure, prepping you and stitching you takes much longer.

starshaker - dd1 was an emergency and had to be born.... that morning - went from an ultrasound to surgery.... and just had so much to worry about the birth process did not concern me - just glad she was here and okay.

dd2 was an elective of sorts... she was 10 days overdue, big baby and showing no sign of arriving..... so scheduled me for a section. I desparately wanted a VBAC - as I had a toddler with sn at home that did not need a mum out of action ( of sorts) for six weeks and on hospital for a week, dh started a new job the day after dd2 was born - so no help there, no family to help and figured healing etc on the VBAC would be better for everyone concerned. A part of me also wanted to know if I could do it - you know have a vaginal birth.

After dd2 was born I realised that whilst it wasn't my ideal - it didn't matter - dd2 was here, was fine and we all managed..... I know it is not the same for everyone but I figured whilst giving birth vaginally is the ideal and a wonderful experience - I had a lifetime of wonderful experiences with my 2 dds to look forward to and having a caesarean did not make me any less a woman. ( I hope I haven't spoken out of turn with this.... but can understand you being concerned about the surgery and perhaps wanting something else.)