AUGUST 2022 (Thread 4)

[Beth262]

New thread

Hi all, so I have my c section booked for Thursday and I’m now starting to get really nervous. I have got my pre assessment appointment this afternoon.

Think I’m just feeling a bit overwhelmed that the time is almost here, worrying how my 3 year old will be, worrying how I will be with 2 children and not 1, also worrying if everything will go ok.

guess I’m just after a bit of reassurance from anyone who has recently has baby no 2 and or had a c section. X

Congratulations!! How exciting x

@Magik8ball congratulations! Bet the postnatal ward was brutal, the outside world must be pure bliss 😊

@Secondtimemum1829 you'll be fine, really. Maybe not fantastic straight away but having a second is lovely once they get a bit more personality and watching them interact is such a joy. Even if your three year old is hell for a bit It's a really short period of time and so worth it.

@Secondtimemum1829 you will be absolutely fine! I can’t comment on how it will be with 2 kids as I just have the 1, but I had an emergency c section 10 days ago and was up walking around 12 hours later. It was painful and has been a slow journey to feeling more like myself, and I’m still not there, but I believe the recovery from an elective c section is a lot better! Your little one will be in your arms soon and you’ll wonder why you were worried! Wishing you the best of luck 💕

Induction booked for tomorrow evening 🫣 anyone have any tips for what has worked to get the baby out before? I've tried sweeps, spicy food, bouncing, clary sage, expressing, sex, and not nearly enough pineapple but far too much for me 🤣 last time just booking an induction was enough but I'm not hopeful this time!!

Congratulations @Magik8ball 🥳

@Secondtimemum1829 I can't help on the c-section aspect, but my 2.5yo DS has surprised me. On a few occasions he has asked me to put brother down mid (breast) feed to go play cars with him but 99% of the time he's been really patient and understanding that sometimes he has to wait. I have tried to be more attentive to him, leaving DP to pick up with baby and tried to involve him in nappy changes and bathing so he feels included. I'm sure your 3yo will be fine.

@Isonthecase Can't believe you've had to make it all the way to induction 😭 No tips - you've listed all the ones I've heard of apart from long walks up steep hills - but hopefully just having the booking will be enough. There's still time 🤞

Hahaha it was horrid! Thank you🥰

I did go regularly a few days before I went into labour but on the actual day of labour, I woke up in the early morning to go for a number 2 and then realised that the pains I felt didn't stop afterwards so it was most likely contractions and then I timed them🥰

Oh my gosh, it was horrible! I was moved to a bad ward and I just wanted to get my poor baby home
But it's all over now😁

Anyone know how long after a c-section you can have a bath? I have been having shower, but prefer to jump in the tub!

Eating prunes, walks and bouncing/circling on yoga ball are the ones advised to me!

@Magik8ball congratulations!!! ❤️❤️

@Isonthecase good luck, fingers crossed for you that it’s quick and easy.

@Secondtimemum1829 I just did this, and I am having a much better experience than expected. I was a bit nervous about the catheter weirdly but couldn’t feel it and it was a relief to not be up peeing 24/7 for once! The surgery was very fast, the doctors were busy chatting between themselves. After I was given staples and sent to recovery. Leg feeling came back in 2-3 hours. First day I was very sleepy and itchy due to the anaesthetic they used. I stuck rigidly to the painkiller schedule for a week. It’s day 8 now and the scar is a bit nippy at times if I do too much, but by and large, I’m done with painkillers. I’m up and moving around As much as possible, recommend doing that as soon as you can. The bleeding stopped at 5 days which is so different to my natural birth and6 week period! The belly band helped so much In the first few days. And a little step stool for getting into/out of bed. It’s weird but recovery has been very fast and I’m giving away my post pardum healing supplies today to a local mum 🎉. Also back in my pre maternity leggings but they’re definitely snug! One thing to know is that the post c section water retention/blood moving around the body swelling is no joke. I looked and felt like a blimp and could barely squeeze my sausage feet into the large flip flops I brought to hospital. But it’s gone down. The c section myth that the babies are calmer and sleepier as there’s no stress to them is holding true for me, he’s so sleepy I have to wake him to eat a lot of the time. Re. My 2.5 year old. She’s been accepting and great, but when overtired I really have to watch she doesn’t accidentally do something when losing her mind. She likes to snuggle with me in the mornings and wakes up and asks me to put the baby away, so I’ve been making that “our time” and she seems really happy with that. Lmk if you have any c section questions, happy to tell you how I felt

Apparently after bleeding has stopped to ensure all healed inside and stitching/staples out (if needed).
I'm waiting for the same, day 11 post op now and desperate for a bath. I haven't dared look at my scar yet!
Question- for those that have had their first by C section, how long did it take for it all to feel real? I know she's mine and I love her to pieces but it hasn't really sunk in that I've given birth and I wondered if that was because I had a C section rather than vaginal birth? Is that a weird question? Am I overthinking? 🤯😵

@Magik8ball congratulations ❤️

Feeling abit gutted I am 10 days to my due date and I had my youngest at this time. Been having pains etc all weekend but nothing consistent enough. I know I still have 10 days but with hearing how low baby etc has been sitting and pains I was hoping to have had the baby by now. We are scotland so back to full time nursery runs and it's getting harder each day waking! X

@LiMc1 i feel the same a bit! Like I know she’s mine and I had her but I don’t feel like I gave birth if that makes sense. Like I feel like I missed out on that. I got to 10cm dilated and pushed for an hour and a half before being rushed to theatre so I should feel like I did as I went through labour but yeah, feels like I’ve missed out on something.

Just a little update from Saturday. After being sent home, I had a nap, had a nice big lunch, relaxing bath and went for a few walks (had noticed these had been encouraging contractions for me). Contractions remained at 1 every 10 minutes or so but I couldn’t handle the pain anymore so went back in just after 5pm.
I was 4cm dilated so they kept me in and it stuck at 1 in 10 for a while and they said they would examine me at 10pm and if no progress, then they would break my waters.
Things suddenly went a bit bonkers and ramped up. Second stage of labour was 17 minutes and she was born just after 10pm!!
Completely natural birth with no interventions needed at all. Home by lunch time the next day.
I cannot believe the difference in labours between my first and second born - and in turn my recovery, the babies well-being and my mental health! If you’ve had a difficult experience, please talk to someone ❤️

@Coco9910 I'm glad it's not just me! I only got to 6cm before going for C section, she was not coming out naturally due to her position being diagonal and going into the side of my pelvis. I felt the gush of love when I heard the cry and absolutely adore her. But yeah, feels odd... it's weird. I have nothing to compare it to as it's my first. I mentioned to the health visitor today and she said there's no right way to feel but if it becomes more like depression to let them know. I dont think it will, just a very odd feeling!

@LiMc1 my DS is now 4 and was a planned C Section but I don't think it was until this pregnancy that it "became real" in terms of birth if that makes sense.

I had that instant sense of love etc but I don't think I really came to terms with the birth part and what my body went through. I think on reflection I was quite out of it on pain medication then sleep deprivation kicked in.

The first few weeks/months are just such a blur. Remind me why I'm about to do it all over again 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

Thanks for all your replies, it’s good to get everyone’s views. My first baby was a very long and traumatic induction that ended in theatre with forceps and an episiotomy. So I am happy with our choice this time, still a bit daunting though. Don’t think it’s helped as 3yr old DS has already started acting up, don’t know if it’s due to his baby sister coming soon, or partly age related, but it’s been exhausting and I want to enjoy the next phase for us as a family but can’t help worrying too x

I'm still at the stage where baby is a thing I'm fond of, but no rush of love such as (this is going to sound bad) I've had when I first brought my cats home.

Emergency c section with rather traumatic post birth experience (post natal ward is hell on earth). Also still havng issues with midwives panicking over him not being at his (inaccurate) birth weight yet. Latest drama is being caused by at least some of midwives scales not being calibrated correctly. Keep being sent to hospital for a loss only to be told 'why are you here, our scales say he's gaining nicely'!

Midwife today stated he hadn't gained weight in last 48 hours (which we can't believe with the amount he's put away and wet and dirty nappies) and someone coming again to weigh him after 24 hours, and stated will be sent to hospital again if still hasn't gained by then.

We're just hoping it's the same midwife as at least then if her scales are wrong they should still show a gain from last time.

I think I'll have better hope bonding once signed off from midwives. Hoping will be visited less often by health visitor and less pressure overall. Just trying to do the right things at the moment, and tackling one day at a time.

@ToCaden I know this sounds odd but will they not let you use your own kitchen scales for him so at least you can use the same scales each time? Or even proper scales that you can stand with him on and then deduct your own weight? Might be worth just keeping your own record of that anyway because at least then you can show them he is gaining and it might save you trips to the hospital that aren't needed 🤞 also it's okay to kick up a bit of a fuss or even just vent when this is the time you should be bonding and not worrying about mistakes the midwives are creating.
Really hope this gets sorted for you both and that it moves onto the health visitors for you soon. Sounds like you're doing a grand job though and you've been incredibly patient with everything going off so keep your chin up you got this 💪

@Sunandsea77 congrats on your baby too! I'm still scoffing pineapple & raspberry leaf tea tablets and walking around the house all day trying to get anything going but think the little one is being stubborn haha! Feel a bit daft as I was almost certain she'd be early but then again I was certain she'd be a boy too 😬🫣😂

Even with my DD who was a natural birth 3 years ago, I feel like I loved her, but didn’t feel those warm fuzzy feelings for about a year until she started communicating and became “her own person”. Everyone bonds are different rates. There’s no rush. The mums I know who posted all the “I love my child” on insta posts, a year later were telling of how they had PND, it was just social media feel better about myself posts at the time. Basically everyone gets there, at their own pace.

@AbiGoLucky Oh bless you - waiting is the worst!

I know it sounds annoying but they really will come when they are ready. With my son, I tried EVERYTHING multiple times and he still took pessary, gel. Drip and ventouse to be dragged into the world 🥴 I literally didn’t have any signs he was coming. Where as this one, I had signs for quite a while. We would go on a 30 minute uncomfortable walk each evening which seemed to really irritate things… as did expressing and honestly just relaxing and keeping busy.

Congrats to everyone who's welcomed their beautiful babies into the world.

My little guy arrived yesterday morning, 2 days past his due date. He's currently in NICU with breathing difficulties and a suspected infection. I'm devastated being apart from him, I just want to hold him until he's better.

@mamaof2girls im with you! I’ve also got (now 9) days to go. DD1 was already here, in a rush of waters breaking and no pre ious signs. I’ve had tightenings on and off all weekend, but nothing that sticks around it is regular. I know there’s still plenty time, but I’m so over the is it/isn’t it feeling….

hope your little one makes an appearance soon, so you’re off the tenterhooks!!

so amazing hearing about all the babies that have arrived. Sounds like everyone is doing amazingly!