C section tomorrow any advice x

[4658Lou]

Abit scared for a c section tomorrow more
of the unknown and why I’m having one, been brought forward at 37 weeks 3 days due to PLFG blood test high risk for preeclampsia (my blood pressure was high at 36 weeks went into hospital for 2 days and was put on lebetalol blood pressure medication) that did seem to lower it so was discharged with the section being moved forward. My platelets were low so it was up up in the air if I needed a general anaesthetic not spinal, they seem to have raised now and ok from my pre op blood result and ok for spinal but they took them again to check again ready for tomorrow. I’m just abit scared of all this, the process, the c section what if my blood pressure goes really high from being do nervous? and the waiting around wouldn’t help it. I was told up 4 ladies can have a c section on the day and delays can happen if there is an emergency. I’m just wondering aswell with mine bring brought forward would I be priority over a lady that is 39 weeks and that’s her day of surgery due to why mine is being brought forward?

As a pp has corrected, what I meant was that from the moment you are in theatre ready to go, to the baby being born, is minutes. It's really quick.

Lots of hospitals only recommend ibuprofen and paracetamol now. I certainly didn't need anything stronger.

Orange squash

I had high bp
When I was taken in and they gave me a medicine to lower it before starting the cs. You're right it's fairly quick that baby is born and although it's 30/45mins longer you've got the baby so it goes quite quickly. Take any pain killers offered ... no point being a hero!

Good luck, it will be a breeze 😊 hopefully your result comes back okay and you can have the spinal. The worst bit is honestly just the nip of getting the cannula in your hand! The spinal for me was completely fine for my first, second time it was a bit more of a faff but was still in relatively quick. They have drugs for every eventuality that will be put into your cannula before you even know your bp is changing. Just keep talking to them and telling them how you feel. It’s honestly such a ‘nice’ experience from the minute you lie back. I just told myself from that moment on I wasn’t in control so it wasn’t my responsibility to worry about the rest of it. Just chat your way through the first few minutes about any random subject that comes to mind, avoid listening in or trying to guess what’s happening and you’ll be surprised how quickly baby appears! Don’t look in the light either and check if your partner can take photos immediately when you see baby. We didn’t do this first time round so don’t have the pictures of him but this time we got them the second we saw her so they will be nice to look back on.

Take it easy the first week. Just avoid any sort of sitting up at all but it will surprise you how quickly you start to feel normal again, even if you don’t think you ever will at first! Take all the painkillers, ask what the max amount is and take that the first few days. It will be great 😊 two of the best days of my life. Hope baby is all okay and you have the best day

First baby via c section 5 weeks ago.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR BOWELS.

Wise words my mum said to me after she'd found out I'd had an emergency c section. She had 3 sections with my sisters and I. The c section and the meds can really mess with your bowels. I listened but not carefully enough and ended up with horrendous constipation the last few weeks. Shooting pains in back and bum, impaction etc. Literally found it hard to sit down, made breastfeeding a nightmare for a few days. Think I had 4 movements in 4 weeks! Took the 10ml of Lactulose daily that they prescribed as standard. Didn't prevent anything! Tried everything - more fibre, prunes, more veg, laxatives, stool softeners, suppositories (!). Eventually called the GP and was prescribed Laxido which helped. I was so so desperate!

Advice:

• Avoid CODEINE if possible. It's the big culprit.
• Get moving daily, within reason.
• Keep hydrated.
• Lots of fibre and veg.
• Keep track of your movements. I 'didn't need to go' for about a week so didn't think anything of it. But that's the problem.

Sorry for the slightly graphic and unsolicited advice re constipation. It's just been surprisingly dreadful so I will tell anyone to avoid at all costs!

Agree with the above 👆🏼 I swear breastfeeding makes it way worse too! I think you need to be hydrated on a ridiculous level. Also weetabix weetabix and more weetabix! And drink peppermint tea or take colparmin to stop any trapped air. It can get stuck in your shoulder after surgery and can be really sore, I think I had the start of it this time but colparmin got rid of it

This is excellent advice! I also avoided codeine and that helped. See what you need - paracetamol and ibuprofen regularly was enough for me, which I didn't expect. Everyone is different though on pain relief.

All the best for today OP
I had my c section almost five years ago and as a larger lady my primary concern was looking after the scar to avoid infection. The medical advice is to let the scar air, but mine was tucked away under quite a bit of tummy. I found regularly dabbing with an antibacterial wipe / using a spray and then drying thoroughly with a hair dryer on a low setting worked best. Don't go near that thing with anything fluffy like a towel!
Please pay attention to the advice and do not lift anything heavy for several weeks even if you think it is fine. I lifted a heavy microwave from a low shelf at 4 weeks and really regretted it.
I actually found that the combination of antibiotics and other drugs gave me mad diarrhea and I couldn't go near dairy products for months afterwards, but I know most suffer constipation.
They sort of inflate your intestines before they stitch you back up. They don't warn you first....the wind is unreal afterwards though 😂
Whilst it wasn't the birth I had imagined, my c section was a beautiful moment in my life and I am very grateful to the wise team that brought my son into the world. They even sang happy birthday to him when he was born ☺️ All the best OP, I hope your experience is as wonderful as mine was x

Thank you!!!

OP you’re having major surgery, please demand stronger painkillers to have in hospital and go home with. My hospital givws dihydrocodeine.

Agree with everything said about bowels. Drink as much as you physically can before you have to be nil by mouth. Honestly avoid the codeine/dihydracodeine at all costs! Only take it if you really can't cope. I was absolutely fine on paracetamol and ibuprofen.

I took codeine with my first after a horrific assisted delivery (much worse than the C-section by the way) and dealing with my bowels was the most horrific experience. I was fine after the c section.

@4658Lou good luck with everything today

@4658Lou good luck for today hun

Yes yes weetabix and peppermint tea!

As PP said, you might be fine with paracetamol and ibruprofen. I only needed this after a few days. Honestly I was so surprised at the relatively low amount of pain I had post section. I was prescribed Co-Drydamol which is a combo of paracetamol and Dihydrocodeine. THIS is what messed me up so I stopped taking it as soon as the midwife told me it's the codeine. I was fine on paracetamol and ibruprofen after this but everyone's different.

Yes don't lift.

Move and do gentle walks but don't overdo it.

Again I was very surprised at how 'able' I felt even 2 days after. Remember, just because you feel like you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD. You can feel it afterwards and regret it.

And water water water. Breastfeeding makes you soooooo thirsty and dehydration will contribute massively to constipation.

Please don't aim a hairdryer at your wound. They're a breeding ground for bacteria (warm and dark). Just pat dry.

I hope all went well op.

How did it go op x

Hi everyone just reading everyone comments they helped lots I was very scared. @jadey1991 it was very different the numbness I don’t know what I was expecting but wow very surreal. I’m really struggling getting up etc I’m doing it but very painful so I’m having whatever they offer pain relief wise. Appreciate every comment they did help and hopefully someone else sees and it helps them too x

My feet feel heavy and stiff and the stomach wound is painful any tips? Finding it hard to swing my legs out of bed, I’m 9 hours after surgery, I walked to toilet but struggling, it’s going to be hard the recovery as others have said I understand that, no easy way is there vaginal or surgery x

Welldone OP! The bed has controls. Use them to sit up.

Take the liquid morphine! If there isn’t any my god cause a ruckus. Although go easy to make sure you have enough for home. I used a tiny bit every morning for the getting out of bed.

And I would speak to doc about heavy and stiff feet, I don’t remember that. I just remember utter pain in my lower midriff! And couldn’t feel my backside as didn’t realise you could reposition with the controls.

I had heavy feet and trouble lifting them for a few weeks, it was so weird!

Not sure if it was the spinal block or emcs.

Thankfully all back to normal but it was a weird feeling.

@4658Lou i found the first time I walked to the toilet was really painful and came back in tears but they gave me liquid morphine to help.
get the bed in a position that helps but try to do as much walking as u can as that will help ease the pain.
the wound pain will ease and numbness in the belly will be there for a while as mine still is

Congrats @4658Lou . I also had an elective C-section today (30th). I’m finding it much easier second time around. I also had one in 2008!

I feel that the thought of moving is the worst part and I’ve found pushing through that easier this time.

That and I’m also taking any and all pain relief available haha.

@4658Lou congrats!! I am day 4 post C section and I promise it gets easier fast. I would say the first 2 days after you struggle to stand up and sit down but by day 3 I found it much easier getting out of bed and moving around. I took the baby out in the pram yesterday for the first time!!l just be paitent and give yourself time to heal

@Alloveragain3 oh really I have too it’s hard to explain like stiff toes and feet? I can move my legs up and down etc but the feel weak. I mentioned to midwife and said she now tomorrow it’s no worse but noticeable x

Congrats OP!

This is why I said to take all the pain relief (inc codeine) as you’ve had several layers operated on so paracetamol just doesn’t do it for most women. Please ask for more pain relief, either codeine or oramorph. If you get codeine, don’t worry about constipation, i was fine. Just drink plenty, eat lots of fibre, get someone to bring you in some dried prunes and ask the hospital for lactulose.