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Pregnancy

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Original poster

C section questions

25 replies

ParsleyCake · 03/06/2015 21:41

I have to get a c section as my baby is breach and i have a couple of questions:

First, is it painful getting a catheter put in?

Second, if you need a catheter, presumably it's because you're bed bound. So...what happens if you need a poo? Or are you not bed bound long enough for that to be a problem?

Also, I was told not to shave or wax. Fair enough. I usually don't shave completely bare anyway but am just trimmed short. But I was also told 'the girls will take care of what needs done'. What does that mean? Will they shave me or something? And why would they need to? The cut is on my tummy isn't it, they won't need access to 'down below' will they? Lol

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StoryOfMyLife · 03/06/2015 21:54

I've had 2 sections and will be having another in the next couple of weeks.

They usually do the catheter after your spinal or epidural is done so you can't feel it.

I never even thought what would happen if you need a poo! You don't eat for hours before the section so I don't think there would be a need!

My hospitalDoesn't advise what to do re hair but I've read lots on the net about being shaved by midwives etc for the op. It's never happened to me yet.

pearly1980 · 03/06/2015 22:00

I had a c-section and you don't feel the catheter. Generally they remove it later that day/next morning then get you to walk around and go to toilet yourself (they keep asking you to show your urine colour I remember).

However shaved/trimmed you are they shave an area of your bikini area to make sure sterile process.

You'll find it will be a couple of days before you poo again as system so out of sorts

cookiefiend · 03/06/2015 22:00

Yeah the catheter went in after the epidural so you don't feel it at all. I had to keep it in for almost 48 hours because of a staffing issue, but it was a blessed relief following the end of pregnancy not to have to pee every 40 minutes- I had had really swollen legs and everything and they had to empty it loads to keep up so I was glad in a way of it.

I had a bit of hair shaved I thjkm at the top of my umm... Bush but again wasn't really was are of it until it was itchy growing back in. I didn't need to pop during surgery and didnt poo for a coue of days afterwards which it think is common. Good luck. I eas really scared of a section- emcs in the end- but it was totally fine.

iniquity · 03/06/2015 23:08

I can't remember catheter going in or coming out. I was just to overwhelmed with emotions at the time.

Hellohellohowareyou · 04/06/2015 09:19

I had an EMCS with my son and they had to shave me, they told me when they were about to do it and I offered to do it for them in my hazed state

natjayne213 · 04/06/2015 09:30

When I had mine they asked me to shave before I went.. however if I was too big the midwife would do it for me. And I had to wash in this pink soap stuff to make sure I was sterile.

The catheter went in once you had the spinal so no pain.. just a slightly strange sensation when they take it out.

The scan is on your bikini line.. so not your tummy.

Number3cometome · 04/06/2015 10:51

EMCS under a GA - didn't feel the catheter, I was asleep, but it remained in for my duration of being in ITU, saved getting up for a pee!
Didn't need a pooh, think your bowels go to sleep.

ELCS, didn't have a catheter, when I needed to pee (which was a few hours later) I got up and went to the loo.

Due another ELCS in a few weeks so we will see!

HardcoreInternetFriend · 04/06/2015 10:56

No pain getting catheter in as you are numbed with the spinal first, just a little bit of sensation there. It was a bit stingy coming out 24 hours later.

Hadn't considered the poo thing either, but I did need to go once the catheter was out, however I believe that most people are more constipated than that!

I had attempted to de fuzz but didn't do a great job as bump was in the way so the midwife tidied it up a bit with an electric trimmer.

piglet81 · 04/06/2015 11:07

I had a catheter put in long before I got my epidural. Baby had got into a funny position and was squashing my bladder so I couldn't urinate, which was terribly uncomfortable - I hated the thought of a catheter but it was a blessed relief and didn't hurt at all! Had an epidural and eventually an EMCS; incision was very low down, in the top of my pubic hair, but they didn't shave any as far as I can tell.

sophie150 · 04/06/2015 11:07

I didn't think they shaved any more as it is more of an infection risk? I tidied up ad best as I could but only trimmed- I didn't remove. I don't think they did any more In surgery.
The catheter is done after the spinal so won't hurt. I didn't feel it when it was removed either.
As others have said- you need to plan for the opposit instead in terms of poo. I brought packets of figs into hospital and was pretty constipated for a good 6-8 weeks after, partly because we were eating lots of toast/ sandwiches and other 'easy' stuff instead of my usual porridge/ salads which keeps everything moving!

hazelnutlatte · 04/06/2015 11:15

The c section cut is just at the top of your bikini line, so they will just shave the top bit.
Catheters usually go in after the spinal - and they do it in theatre so you have no awareness of it going in. Catheters are not usually painful to insert anyway, can sometimes sting a little coming out. When you have a spinal you will have no bladder control so that's why you need a catheter. If you need a poo post op before the spinal wears off you will need to use a bedpan - it's unlikely you will though as the anaesthetic + lying down + painkillers will make your bowels sluggish.

whittlefish · 04/06/2015 11:31

Can I just ask as I may need to have a c section due to low lying placenta. Do you still bleed as much afterwards as with a natural birth or is it different?

Number3cometome · 04/06/2015 11:35

Whittle

Impossible to say, but me personally, I did not bleed enough to warrant maternity towels, just normal sanitary ones.

It was red for a few days and a little heavy, then turned slow and brown for a couple (maybe 3) weeks.

chloechloe · 04/06/2015 13:48

whittle You tend to bleed a loss less after a CS - basically they clean the uterus out during the op. I bled for about 2 weeks but only needed to use normal sanitary towels.

whittlefish · 04/06/2015 15:36

Thanks ladies it's useful to know, just one of those millions of random questions in my head that you never know who to ask

MuddyWellyNelly · 04/06/2015 21:00

Re the hair, I was advised by my waxing lady to keep on top of my waxing and go for an extended wax. This means lower the top of the bikini line down significantly so there is far less chance they will have to shave you. I absolutely hate the shave re-growth and can't bear to think of the itch after a c-section, so am having these done regularly. At the moment my baby is breech and a c-section is a distinct possibility. I'll be definitely having my waxing done a week or so before in that case!

Incidentally I'm also having more off the, err, sides at the moment, as it's less for the lochia and other things to stick to.....

MummyPiggy87 · 04/06/2015 21:10

My scar is low down too literally just above my pubic hair line! They shaved me too I didn't realise either!

CultureSucksDownWords · 04/06/2015 21:14

This is so strange, as I had an EMCS and there was no shaving at all. The scar is very low down, but nowhere near any hair so I'm puzzled as to why people needed to be shaved.

Can I ask, are these recent c-sections where people were shaved?

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 04/06/2015 21:15

whittle I had 8 weeks of bleeding after c section due to low lying placenta. My placenta was partial though so I think that was why. It's just luck really.

They shaved me. Mine was emergency otherwise I'd have done it myself. I just remember midwives doing that and scrubbing nail polish as fast as they could whilst I was on the trolley!

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 04/06/2015 21:16

The shaving was in September and the scar is about 1cm into the hair if that makes sense

MummyPiggy87 · 04/06/2015 21:19

Mine was 8 years ago.x

CultureSucksDownWords · 04/06/2015 21:23

Maybe it's different if it's an emergency, and they don't have time to do it.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 04/06/2015 21:25

Mine was emergency and they did it when I was on the trolley. It was a crash section but I was conscious so not sure what category that made it, 2 perhaps? But I guess sometimes there's no time

Number3cometome · 04/06/2015 21:31

My scar is in the hair (8&12 years ago) I removed hair myself first as that is now I like to keep it.

worriedmum100 · 04/06/2015 21:47

Same as everyone else really. I has an EMCS. I'd had an epidural previously so didn't feel the catheter. Was also constipated for a while (the painkillers don't help with that!) I was definitely shaved by the midwife when I was in the operating table. I remember her poking her head up above the sheet barrier and warning me she was going to do it!

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