Couple of questions about my elective c-sec

[Gurraun]

I'm booked for an ELCS on Wednesday and went to my pre-op assessment yesterday. I have a few questions that I'd be grateful for anyone whose been through this to answer:-

1. did anyone get the itching from the diamorphine afterwards? How bad was it, how long did it last and did anything relieve it?

2. I'd planned on doing an immac job on myself but they've specifically said not to as they'll shave me. This goes against everything I've read on here - any thoughts?

3. I've been given a list of things to take to theatre which includes a sanitary towel but no pants. Is this just an oversight? Surely they'll not just whack it between my legs?

4. They said the cathetar (sp?) would stay in for 24 hours - that sounds a long time? Were most of you up and about before that?

5. They've said to expect a 3 - 4 night stay. Again, that sounds a long time - esp as the hospital has a V&D virus so only visitors allowed are daddies and naturally all my family want to visit ASAP. How long did you stay in if everything went well?

Thanks very much - any other useful tips, advice also appreciated :-) [can't believe by this time next week I'll be a mummy!!!]

I had an elective cs with DS2 last August

1. No itching for me thankfully
2. I did it myself (using a mirror!) and they encouraged me to do so.
3. You won't need pants for the first 24 hours as you'll have your catheter in. You'll have a maternity mat underneath and they'll change the maternity towel between your legs regularly. I can't believe they're telling you to take your own into theatre though!
4. Yes,24 hours is normal, it will go very quickly. I was very wobbly even then and had to sit down after I'd gone for a shower. They wheeled me back to my bed in a wheelchair!
5. I stayed in for 4 nights, no complications,I probably would have found going up and down the stairs at home hard before then - no downstairs loo. Although I wasn't in pain at any point, movement was slow. Hard for you not to have visitors though, maybe you'll feel ready to go sooner than I did.

Good luck!

1. yes. Terrible, so much so that I am sure I had an allergic reaction to it. I had sores on my chin & nose...not great for the pics!

2. I let them shave me. I am supposing they don't want chemicals on your skin & bits.

3. They do just put it there! You can barely move, so there is NO way you will get knickers on for a day or so. Also, they check it & change it for you, so knickers just a hindrance.

4. Mine stayed in until I was out of bed. That was the next morning. If they remove it, you will have to get up to use the toilet & this can be difficult due to pain. Also, you will need to rest for a while to let things settle.

5. I stayed for 5 days with dd1 & same with dd2. Dd1 I was discharged, but I could have gone earlier with dd2, they were waiting for me to say when I was ready, only they didn't tell me that!

When you are left for the first night (if dh doesn't stay) make sure EVERYTHING are you likely to need is to hand. I didn't think of this & had to keep calling the midwives in to fetch stuff for me.

I am concerned about the noro virus visitors rule. was told at pre-op-dh, siblings and parents but saw sign up yesterday saying no visitors. Not sure can bare not to see dd1 for even a day

And to be honest, I hated visitors. I felt horrible, due to itchy face & sores, I could barely move. I wanted to sleep as much as possible...maybe not having visitors that much will be a good thing!

I saw it as a bit of a rest too, the need to recuperate etc.

I have to say (feel terrible) I found dd1 very hard to cope with. She was almost 5 ( a month after dd2 was born) and she wanted cuddles from me, to climb on me, she wanted me to draw with her etc. Which was hard as I could only move slowly & sitting & getting up was a major chore.

Either that, or it was all daddy, daddy, daddy.

I missed her like crazy, don't get me wrong....but her need to be either all over me, or nowhere near me was very hard to handle, physically and emotionally!

Morning.
I had 1 emergency cs, then an elective.

I can't help with number 1, as for the others...here goes:

1. With my elcs I shaved myself! in fact I shaved myself for my emergency one too. Them doing it was not an option in my book! They certainly didn't specify I wasn't to do it myself. My friend had a wax the day before hers!

1. No pants...you'll be in no position to get pants on and off for a few hours until your spinal wears off and even then it will be extremely uncomfortable. They do indeed just 'whack it between your legs'.

1. Personally speaking, I demanded they took the cath out as soon as I could get on my feet, but be prepared for longer as the loo may be a painful hobble away. I had my cs in the morning and had the cath taken out early eve as I was determined to get mobile asap. But I'm a stubborn cuss and the midwife finally gave up trying to persuade me to keep it in. The cath was in for longer with my first cs but I didn't give a monkey's as I was so exhausted after labour, induction, cs, etc.

1. I was in for 2 days, but had no complications, no infection etc. Be prepared for longer, especially if this is your 1st cs. I think I was in for 3 days with my 1st cs, although may have been 4 - all a bit of a blur now!

Wishing you all the very best.

1. Don't know, sorry

2. I was told the same. Nurse shaved me. Go with the flow.

3. They will indeed just whack it in between your legs - and you won't care.

4. I had catheter for 24hrs.

5. It's major abdominal surgery - your family will have to wait. You'll probably enjoy the peace tbh.

Congratulations and good luck.

1. My eye and nose itched like mad for hours, I got sores on my nose, very unsightly.

2. You could always try and shave yourself. I've had two electives and shaved myself as couldn't bear the thought of a MW doing it.

3. You'll be immobile, so the pad won't move anywhere.

4. 24 hours is the norm, although I have seen a couple of women get up and about later in the day at their request.

5. The 3rd day after a section is usually when the pain kicks in. I can remember having really ore back muscles. No way could I have gone home feeling like that.

If the D&V bug is going around, best to keep your DD away, as you don't want to be worrying about her, your DH won't be able to visit and you'll be at risk catching it, which isn't a good thing when recovering from major abdominal surgery. It's bad enough sneezing or coughing.

Good luck with your section

Also, be prepared for the fact that you may feel really sick after the op. I was as sick as a dog. I had DS on one boob and a sick tray propped on the other until a very lovely trainee managed to find someone with a magic syringe.

i has an emcs in april 09 but here's my experience in any case...

1. no itching but can't remember having diamorphine - had every other drug though!

2. they shaved me with some sort of babrbers type clippers - not a grotty bic job (i remember the whirry buzzy noise)

3. no idea what they did down there as i couldn't feel much for some time in that area after the epidural and spinal block. sounds about right though as you wont have pants on because of catheter and the fact you can't move! oh no hang on i do remember sort of nasty netty stretchy pants things. eugh they were icky!!

4. catheter was in from about mid afternoon epidural to mid morning next day. make sure you drink lots as i got a urine infection from mine. felt like i was going to die from back ache and could hardy move!

5. i had an emcs and was in hospital for less than 2 days after Ds was born. he arrived 10pm on sunday night, and i was home on tuesday afternoon!!!!!! with hind sight when they asked if i'd thought about going home i should have said i was staying put!!!! i was desperate to sleep in my bed and pee in my loo etc!!!

i only had DH visit and it was lovely - the family all arriving/ popping in over the next week was exhausting!

make sure your freezer/ cupboards are full of yummy easy to prepare meals as no one will want to cook. if relatives come they MUST be helpful - wash up/ bring food etc.
DO NOT do anything for anyone but you or baby! you have just had a baby AND had major abdominal surgery!!!

best of luck! i'll be having an elective cs when i'm on to no 2!
How long did you stay in if everything went well?

Thanks very much - any other useful tips, advice also appreciated :-) [can't believe by this time next week I'll be a mummy!!!]

oops copied and pasted your questions and forgot to chop the end off! d'oh

Thank you very much everyone - I'm getting nervous but it doesn't sound 'too' bad (she says hopefully) especially compared to some of the horror stories my friends have told me following natural births which don't sound a real picnic either!

One other thing I've remembered is that they told me to only have showers for at least 2 weeks afterwards. To me this sounds devastating as I LOVE baths - however, from what you've said it might be hard to get in and out anyway............?

Can't comment on the first few, esp. as mine was emergency CS not elective - but even after that I was only in for 3 nights, and would have been only 2 nights if we hadn't been asking for more help with breastfeeding.

Also agree with someone above who said make sure your bag, drinks and anything else you might need are within reach before your visitors leave, else it's really frustrating when you can't move to get them (at first) or it is sore (later)!

I don't think I got told not to have baths, but can't remember for sure - I DID get told to do plenty of walking once I was able though, and I think that did help - just build up gradually.

Don't worry too much, it is possible to have a much better delivery and recovery with a section than some people have with a natural birth (a few of my friends also had horror stories after "normal" births, but I had a really good recovery).

Yep, showers are the way to go. Something to do with the risk of infection being higher...but don't quote me. Also much easier to get in and out of the shower. And to be honest, it will feel better to wash the blood away rather than sit in it. Sorry if that's tmi.

Good luck

I was in the bath a week after DD was born I think.

How you planned what you would like done with your baby when he/she is born? DH had skin-to-skin with DD and sat with me whilst I was stitched up. You can most definitely request that baby is not weighed/measured until you are in recovery and can watch. Both of the above were important for DH and I.

I should add that I had a horrific time with DS1's birth - hence DS2 being born by elective CS, which was such a great experience, calm and enjoyable. The recovery was fine too, although needed help with DS1.

1. no itching here...but as someone else has said, was terribly sick after first CS, 3rd anti sickness drug anathetist tried worked...

2. I shaved for first, not for second, they used some buzzing trimmer as I was being prepped and catheter inserted. If they have told not to shave, dont.

3. Yup, will be whacked between legs on top of a disposable mat...you will be bleeding and have catheter inserted...you dont want knickers on!

4. Mine stayed in both times until the following morning. My advice is to allow it to stay in overnight..I was incredibly thirsty after both cs' and drank heaps of water. Was a godsend not to have to get up to pee until the following morning. Although wwas up to wash both times by the night of the OP.

5. I stayed 5 days with first. 2 days with second. I asked to go after 2 days with DS2 as there was more threatened snowfall and I didnt want to be trapped there for days away from DS1. But my advice is to stay in for the 3-4 days. The journey home with DS2 was far harder on me physically and stairs at home caused huge discomfort. Coming home 5 days post op was much better for me. And IMO - minimal visitors in hospital is a good thing. You will be recovering from major op, concentrate on resting, feeding and bonding....your family can come and see you at home. Trust me on this one!

Good luck! Both my CS were great experiences!

Thank you all for your helpful advice and reassurance.

The pre-op assessment was so quick (well sat around for 3 hours but when I saw people they rattled through everything in about 90 secs) that it's great to be able to ask people who've been through it.

Just want it over and done with now....!!

I've had two electives (2005 and 2008)

1. I didn't get the itching at all

2. First time they shaved me (had no idea they were going to do it and found it quite humiliating). Second time the midwife said 'Do you want to dor it or should I?', so I went off and did it myself. I would have snatched the razor out of her hand if she hadn't offered, to be honest

3. Bring several pairs of big cotton knickers. i got a couple of six packs from M&S. Invaluable.

4. First section the catheter stayed in for roughly 24 hours, and then I was up and about. Second time the catheter was out the following morning (after afternoon section) and I was up and about straight away, but very shaky on my legs.

5. 4 days first time, 48 hours on the nose secind time. Different hospitals have different policies, and it will change if their beds fiull up (ie. I have heard of women being booted out 12 hours later!)

p.s. TRY NOT TO WORRY. It is a surreal and overwhelming experience, but I didn't find either of my sections unpleasant and, in fact, my second section was lovely and I would do it again tommorrow!

Please excuse typos!

I had a section 2 weeks ago so here goes:

1. No itching for me just the shakes for about an hour after

1. I shaved myself the night before

1. Pad put between my legs and mat on bed, no knickers

1. Catheter till next day

1. I was in 3 nights cos of complication but the other 2 girls on ward just 2 nights.

I had a bath as soon as i got home. I was really worried about section but wasent to bad and recovery ok. Inever felt sick or anything and am now only taking paracetemol for pain x Good luck x

Hello,

I had the itching but only during the op and a little after however it wasn't bad - just annoying really.

I shaved myself, and wasn't told not to, however I read somewhere that they don't like you to due to infection / ingrown hair etc, but they didn't comment on me doing it.

Massive pad whacked between the legs and you are laying on a mat also both of which get changed regularly so no don't think I wore pants until I got up the next day but you'll need them to go home!

Catheter came out the next AM - so yeah 24 hours ish

I only stayed overnight. They don't "like" you to go that fast, but I begged as I hate hospitals. I had to wait on another blood test as I had a little clotting or something but after that I was out.

My advice is, if its all really straight forward (it will be ) then get up and walk around the next day as soon as possible. It hurts a little as you'll be stiff from laying there all night but I think it truly made a difference getting mobile fast! I also too Arnica which I'm not sure if it made a difference or not as It is the only time I've taken it and the only CS i've had, but I healed really fast and it was a good experience. Good choice, you'll be fine, and congrats!!

An advantage to the hospital stay (esp if it is your first) is that you can get breast feeding established with their help.

Hi Just to add a note. If you are allergic to sticking plasters, ie you get an itchy rash with them, mention it when you go in re the dressing they put on. In my hospital with ds2 they put on a new dressing called a "slick" which is a big see through plaster. I didn't realise this as with ds1 it was just bandages etc. I got an allergic reaction so bad that I had weeping sores all over my wound and fanjo. They have left bad scars as they went unchecked for so long. the nurses wouldn't check why I was in so much pain they said its just because you've had an operation. I ended up on delicious morphine...Add that to the scars from the c-sec and the pie-bald pony effect of bad bic job, and you can tell I was looking great.

1. No itching. Had volterol up the bum. Much more effective.

1. I had a bikini wax 48 hours before the CSs and shaved really low on the day. Don't let the nurses dry shave you.

1. Pad in recovery and on ward until you can walk. I was up and able to get help changinging about 6 hours afterwards.

1. Yep, cath removed at 6am the next day. Sounds more awful than it really is - you'll be glad not to have to howk yorself out of bed to go the loo!!

1. I satyed 3 nights the first time and 2 nights the second. BUT, I was up and about v quickly so I was very confident to get home.

Get your baby on the boob ASAP in recovery and let them stay there for hours - feeding whne they want to, snuggling close to you when sleeping. it's the best start they can get. Keep them naked for maximum feel-good snuggles

You might be frightened to move, but do get up and on your feet as soon as you can feel someone tickling your toes and you can wriggle your toes.

Breastfeeding in bed is totally uncomfortable, so try and move onto the chair if help is available. It's much easier if you can brace your feet.