Talk to me about what happens with a cesarean

[Allibear]

I'm booked in to have my cesarean on the 27th and super excited to meet my little one! It's a bit of an adjustment though, the whole way through my pregnancy I thought I was having a natural birth but baby seems to have other plans, shes full breech.

I just wondered what it would be like, especially in hospital afterwards? Where do they put my baby, will she be beside me on the ward while I'm recovering? When will people be able to come and see me? What's it like, are there other women in the same recovery room or do I get my own area? Thanks!

I've just remembered something else, when DH went back to work he used to get plates, mugs etc down from the cupboards for me before he went to work so that I wouldn't have to reach up to high shelves.

I've had an emergency and an elective and elective was lovely (well as far as birth can be anyway)
You'll do a birth plan and can say you want skin to skin in theatre if that's what you want. DH cut the cord too.
Bring a hat for baby as the surgery room is cold.
Recovery really depends on the individual. I was up and about the next morning. And home after 2 nights. I was wiggling my toes etc as I wanted to be home asap to see DS though.
Do take it easy afterwards as you might feel fine but there's lots of internal layers to heal.
For hospital a big sports water bottle is good as you won't be able to get up to get water at first. Comfy clothes for going home - over bump as you won't want anything rubbing on your scar.

I had a c section, all v smooth and easy. Make sure you walk as soon as you can afterwards - I shuffled up and down the ward a few hours afterwards and that helped a quick recovery I think.

I had v little pain but the postpartum bleeding is grim, be prepared for that.

Baby was with me the whole time, milk came in just fine.

Lots of luck

Thank you all! Its definitely calmed my nerves to hear all your positive stories and have a better understanding of what goes on. Im a little worried about being immobile in hospital by myself but I guess if all of you can do it, so can I!

You shouldn't be immobile but you will be slow and stiff! If you can get stretchy disposable pants, a dark nightie to hide any inevitable bleeding, and lots of pads, you'll be more comfortable :)

Ali you won't be immobile for very long. In the usual way they like you out of bed the same day if you can and in the shower the following morning. I had crippling SPD (I mean that literally, I was bed bound for a week before delivery and 4 days afterwards) so I needed a lot of extra help. They put me in a side room right next to the nurses station so they could get to me quickly.

If you feel you aren't managing, tell them and they'll help. There was a lady who really struggled when I was in and they took baby overnight for her.

I had 2 very positive c section experiences - an emergency one and planned. Both times the babies were passed straight to me for cuddles whilst being stitched up. Even the emergency one felt quite calm (I was delirious with tiredness and off my head on pethidine though). We were taken into a recovery side room and both times they latched straight onto my boob for a feed. Once I had been monitored we were transferred to the ward with other mums (mostly other c sections or more complicated instrumental birth). My babies were with me at all times and I had one night in hospital first time and 2 second time as I needed a blood transfusion. All in all very, very positive. Take all the pain relief offered to keep pain at bay and I found lactulose helped too. Good luck and enjoy!

You need big pants but they don't need to be disposable. These are cheap and good while you're still wearing massive sanitary towels.

www.tesco.com/direct/ff-4-pack-of-full-briefs/597-6748.prd?skuId=546-1826&pageLevel=sku&sc_cmp=ppcslmbgpx_-_campaign_not_set*&gclid=CjwKEAjwsuK_BRDD9ISR1bawwUwSJACbOiixmuwNktQz91OiJEV0nbMrgEfM3DdsW1lUEuD2VRbD6hoCKlPw_wcB&source=others

How long after the surgery are you able to start to try and walk about? For some reason I thought I'd be completely bed-bound for at least 12 hours

TAKE THE DRUGS. ALL THE DRUGS. And keep taking them when you are home.

And take lots and lots of food in with you.

It depends when the surgery is and honestly on how busy they are as someone has to take the catheter out and help you up.
With my emergency it was 24 hours but I was poorly. With my elective maybe 6 hours. Had the surgery in the afternoon and was up that evening but can't remember timings

I've not had time to read the full thread but quickly wanted to add I got the shakes during and for a while after my section its quite common apparently but it meant I couldn't hold ds2 until we went to recover. I had no idea this could happen luckily I didn't get to hold ds1 either so it didn't bother me but it could be upsetting for some people not holding the baby for a while. Never done either of them a bit of harm both are huge mummies boys.

You've had plenty of replies already, but I'll add my experience. Ds was born by elcs last year as he was breech.

I had to phone the hospital at 8am to check that it would go ahead and I hadn't been bumped off the list die to emergencies. Went in for 9am, and waited in a private room. Surgeon and anaesthetist both came and introduced themselves. Midwife explained the process. I got changed and walked into the theatre (room next door)

Sat on the table, was introduced to everyone else. Dh came in once hed got his coveralls on.

Canola in and then spinal which I was dreading which was very straightforward and painless. I did feel awful and vomited a lot for about 8 minutes but this was due to my medical condition and we expected it. Once that was out of the way, it was very swift! I think.i walked in at 12, wheeled out at 12.40

Ds was shown to me and then given a quick rub down and check, cut cord etc. He was then placed on my chest where he stayed for the next 4 months a couple of hours.

Wheeled back into the private room where we stayed for a couple of hours, then into a small recovery room until about 9pm. Then onto the ward. He was with/on me at all times. Mil popped in on her way home at 8pm.

I took a while to get movement back and mw passed ds to me or put him back, changed nappy etc until the next day.

Had catheter out around 6am and got up to stolen and shower around 9. Shuffled to the shower room. Word of advice, get someone to take the stockings off for you!! I didn't and nearly passed out.

I stayed in two nights. It was a great experience, and I recovered well.

Definitely varies with walking, I couldn't move for hours.

Walking is hugely varied. With both mine it was a good 12 hours after the birth before the catheter was removed, but as soon as that was done I was up. I didn't need more pain relief than paracetamol and ibuprofen taken round the clock - make sure you have plenty of both at home.

I had an EMCS and an ELCS. The planned section was lovely, so relaxed!
I donated my placenta and some other bits so there were a lot of people in theatre but it was fine.
DH stayed with me in theatre the whole time, he followed DS when they took him over to be checked out then he was put on me for skin to skin.
Was only in recovery for about 30 mins maybe then taken to a ward.
I didn't need any help with DS, I just used to controls to raise the bed to the same height as the cot so I could get DS in and out. Was walking about by then evening, just take it slow and no unnecessary bending!

Does anyone know if they will still let me have the cesarean if on the day my baby has turned over?

Mine said they would.

Thank you! I really hope they will as I feel mentally prepared now.

This is a brilliant thread. With dd I had a spinal as I was prepped for a c section, and was similarly immobile until it had worn off and catheter removed, probably about 8-10 hours.

I'm hopeful that my ELCS will be less traumatic than dd's vaginal delivery.

Does anyone know of a good guide for fathers? I'm not sure it's sunk in for dh that it's a major op.

Yes, you will likely be asked if you will donate your placenta so you might want to read up on this beforehand. I said no as I was taken by surprise just before surgery and hadn't had chance to read up on it. I just didn't like the thought of it being used for DNA research & development, for example.

Take lots and lots of easy snack food and drinks.

Take nightdresses (with button opening if poss for skin to skin/bf) not pyjama bottoms - firstly any waistband near the area doesn't feel good and secondly, you will find it awkward stepping into them post-caesarean.

Take BIG SOFT KNICKERS and plenty of them! Not paper knickers, they aren't that comfy. You want waist-high bloomers so the waistband is nowhere near the scar.

Take all the painkillers properly. If you do that, any pain is managed very successfully and you won't really be too aware of the cs.

Take plenty of easy reading. You might not be able to move for a while, but newborns often sleep a lot for the first day or two, so there will be times when the baby is asleep but you can't easily get up for wanders or to chat. You will be in for a minimum of 24 hours (some hospitals offer fast track discharge, where they take your constantly and if no probs you can leave after 24 hours). Other hospitals are a 48 hour discharge so there will be times with no visitors and baby asleep where you want something to do/read!

Please do follow the advice and don't think about hoovering, lifting anything or ironing etc any time soon after the CS. You can prolong your recovery if you try to take things too fast.

And finally, enjoy! I have had 3CSs (1 emergency, 2 planned) and all (even the emergency) were pretty good, minimal pain, good recovery, no problems breastfeeding from the start!

Thanks sunny! I found my partner understood after a midwife explained the whole process to us, especially after talking to the anaesthesiologist. Also, the hospital may give you a 'recovery guide' for you to look at so you know what it'll be like after.

Thanks diamonds, I didn't know the thing about the placenta! That's useful to know, thanks for all the information i thought you had to stay in hospital for 3-4 days? I guess it depends, i hope I'm not in for too long!

My hospital doesn't do a CS of a breech baby has turned - they scan beforehand to check, so I would suggest checking your hospital's policy. If you want to have an ELCS regardless, now is the time to make that very clear so it can be agreed.

Only other tip I would add is to take a remote phone charger in with you because the plug sockets might be out of reach and you'll want your phone for photos, Internet etc.

I had a. CS.

On the ward I wanted to hold my ds all the time. Partly because I was blown away by the wonder of him and partly because I found moving tricky and didn't want to leave him cry.
The nurse said I had to put him down if I closed my eyes.
So I didn't sleep. I just nuzzled my boy.
But
The midwife I saw at home after said that you can co sleep in the ward the nurses just have to do more frequent checks.
So
If you want to nuzzle with your newest love do it.
Tell the nurse you intend to co sleep and that they can do more frequent checks.

Good luck.
It wasn't bad at all.
I didn't even need paracetamol once I got home.
And the surgeon asked me for a cd with music I liked for the delivery. ( I didn't know that was an option so didn't take any, and it was a EMCS)
I did request that the cord was cut after at least 2mins (look at delayed cord cutting) , and that he was put directly on my chest so he could feed.