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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

So what does a C section feel like???

42 replies

horseshoe · 11/03/2008 22:04

having delivered my first 2 vaginally it looks like this might be a c section due to breech.

I am sort of thinking great as I dont labour that well but is it as simple as that?

I know its still a surgical procedure but someone told me they have you out of bed really early on now and you no longer stay in hospital for days?

Also the tugging thing!! Is it unpleasant?

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minster · 11/03/2008 23:07

I've had two, one emergency with an epidural & one elective with a spinal. I preferred the epidural although most people I've spoken to think the spinal is better. There wasn't any pain, just feels a bit odd - they really push on your tummy to get the baby out. The worst bit for me is that I react to the diamorphine (as great as it is as far as pain relief goes) & get very sick.

Both times I've been up, showered & dressed within 8 hours of the section (although with catheter still in place second time around because I'd been so sick they wanted to monitor my urine output). I didn't require any opioid pain relief afterwards & was quite happy with voltarol & paracetomal. The hardest time is the first night when the spinal has worn off but you are still fragile - I was happy to discharge on the second day but both my babies needed phototherapy for non-section related problems so we were in for a little over a week.

Most important thing is not to get constipated - if you're having a planned section have a very high fibre diet for the week before & take whatever they are offering (I had senna).

LeonieD · 12/03/2008 07:20

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LeonieD · 12/03/2008 07:26

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Jackstini · 12/03/2008 11:56

Oh forgot the only wierd thing was when I suddenly felt sick for a few seconds during the cs. Coudn't understand why nothing was coming up til doc said - you have a big gap in your stomach muscles at the moment - no heaving if you can help it please!
Not had an epi as it can take up to 20 mins to take effect and mine was em cs.
Spinal was fine though - I was numb from chest to toes but arms were ok.

VictorianSqualor · 12/03/2008 12:03

Honestly?
I hated mine. I felt sick, I cried all the way through it and felt all 'otherworldly' like I wasn't really there.
It wasn't the tugging sensation that got to me, it was lying on that tiny bed with a wedge underneath me and feeling like I desperately wanted to sit up, or better still run to the toilet, yet I couldn't even move my toes.

redadmiral · 12/03/2008 12:17

Well DP's ex had normal VB, and I had a planned CS.. I asked him which he thought was best and he said CS hands down!!!

Had two CSs and I would say that the discomfort is equal to say a filling at the dentist.

Never had a VB so can't really compare.

Alibobster · 12/03/2008 13:34

No pain whatsoever, and I have quite a low pain threshold. If anything, I found the whole experience quite nice as it was all very calm,no pushing and screaming so I was actually aware of evrything going on, there are lots of people in the room with you so I actually felt very safe. The hospital said I could stay in as long as I wanted, although it probably depends on hospital and how busy they are. As someone already mentioned I too found the worst part the surgical stocks you have to keep on afterwards. Good luck, hope everything goes well

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 12/03/2008 13:42

I felt like someone was washing up in my stomach when my son was born. I also had read something so knew not to panic when I couldn't move my legs. I had my son on Monday night and we wetn home on Saturday lunch time but I think they send you home quicker these days.

Don't life anything heavier than the baby and try and rest whenever you can.

If your bleeding stops and restarts you have been doing too much.

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 12/03/2008 13:43

lift

cass66 · 12/03/2008 13:47

have had 2 em sections, and a planned one this july.

not awful, felt like I was a handbag and they were rummaging inside me. I think you feel sick when they give you a drug to help you contract after the baby is out.

best/worst thing was hubby peering over the screen and seeing my 'innards', and me NOT being able to see them.

had both epidural and spinal, not much between them really. it's really odd though, you don't think it's worked, then they spray you with a cold spray and you realise you can't feel it!!

1st one had on mon eve and was out by thurs, I think, 2nd one had thurs morning and was out sat afternoon. recovered quickly, main prob is not being able to drive for 4 weeks, and being a bit sore turning over in bed. but it's not awful!

good luck.

midnightexpress · 12/03/2008 13:51

I haven't read the whole thread, but one thing that might happen with a spinal is shaking - with both mine (both crash cs) I got terrible shakes and felt really cold, which is apparently to do with the spinal.

My advice for recovery - take arnica, which helps with the bruising, and take all painkillers offered - they really work!

pollyblue · 12/03/2008 14:28

Hello
I had a planned c-section due to placenta previa. You should see the anaethetist beforehand who will explain exactly what's involved. The numbness the spinal block causes is very odd - i felt very heavy and tingling, like I'd slept awkwardly. I remember feeling like i was being mugged when dd was pulled out but no pain, just a lot of rummaging about! DD was born at 10.30am, I had a catheter in until 6am the next morning and yes they will get you up the following day, encourage you to have a shower etc. I came home 3 days later, mainly because the ward was noisy and I couldn't really get any rest. You will be offered good painkillers afterwards and sent home with some too. Rest as much as you can - expect to have to take it easy for up to 6 weeks.

Ellbell · 12/03/2008 14:51

Haven't read all other responses, but I really want to say that (just like with a vaginal birth, in fact - and I've had both - ...) it feels like the best thing in the world. Above and beyond everything else, it is the moment when a new life enters the world. Not just any new life, but your new baby. Anything else you feel - all the physical sensations - will be as nothing, because your baby will finally be with you. Try to enjoy it!

Having said that, if you want to know about the physical stuff, this is what I remember (from nearly 8 years ago now).

The injection for the spinal block stings a bit (like a bee sting) but takes effect really quickly. They test whether or not it has worked with a very cold spray which they spray on you and ask if you can feel it. you should be numb from your nipples to your knees.

I'd been in hospital for a long time before mine, and the midwife shaved the area one I was numb, but if it's a planned section and you're going in from home it would be nicer to do it yourself (or get someone to help).

Be prepared for there to be a lot of people in the room with you. I had two anaesthetists, the surgeon, his side-kick (might've been a student, I'm not sure), a midwife, a theatre nurse, a paediatric nurse and Uncle Tom Cobbley and all... (Not sure if I had more than is normal because I'd had a problematic pregnancy, but the room was full!)

The person you'll have most contact with is the anaesthetist who'll be up at the head end with you and your partner. Mine kept us chatting during the first part of the operation (while they were doing the incision), but backed off totally once dd arrived so that dh and I could enjoy holding our baby.

There is a certain amount of rummaging, which you can feel happening, but without pain. Then, just before the baby is born, the surgeon (or side-kick) pushes down quite hard on the top of your bump. This is to push the baby down, and when you feel it it means that your baby will be with you very soon. A midwife warned me about this the day before the op and I was glad I knew it was going to happen, because it did feel quite 'forceful' (again, though, definitely not painful).

There is also a hoover thing (??) that they use to suck out the waters. Can't remember, though, if this came before or after the pushing!

You should be able to hold your baby while you are sewn up.

I was in recovery for about an hour. My main memories are (a) a delicious cup of tea (had been on nil by mouth since the night before and was gagging for a cuppa!) and (b) the horrible flobby feeling in my stomach when the feeling started to come back. This is not unlike the feeling you get after a vaginal birth, though.... just saggy skin!

I got out of bed the next day. And my recovery was pretty easy. Keep moving - it's painful at first, but it's the best way. I had morphine injections (x2) on the day of the op, but hated them (made me feel out of control and scary). After that had paracetomol and codeine initially and then just paracetomol, plus voltarol. I found the pain very manageable. At first I had the feeling that my top half wasn't properly attached to my bottom half (iykwim) and so moved around very gingerly, but that soon got better.

I was in hospital for a week, but that was because my dd was being tube-fed and I wanted to stay with her for as long as possible. (In the end, I had to go home without her, which was a bit heartbreaking.) However, had it not been for dd, I'd have felt OK to go home (as long as there was someone with me to fetch and carry) after 3 days or so.

Hope this helps. Remember what I said at the start before all else! Oh, and good luck!

tori32 · 12/03/2008 15:24

I had a c-section for dd (emergency though) I can't tell you about the actual feeling when they operate- it should feel like pulling once they are inside, however, my epidural failed and I felt the initial incision and was very rapidly given a GA so didn't see dd born.

Thankfully with a breech and planned section this will be unlikely to happen. Plenty of time to put in the spinal etc.

However, you really need to be up ASAP because if you do not stand up straight from the beginning your recovery will take longer. The muscles contract as they knit together and therefore the longer you leave mobilising, the more it will hurt when you do. I had dd at 2100 at night and was up/showered and dressed by 0900 the next day and pushing the cot around the unit. I was home in less than 48hrs, although some mothers had been in for 10days . It is also quite tricky attending to a baby with a drip from your hand and a catheter. The baby was with me all the first night.

Its also not that simple because you are not legally allowed to drive without a Drs permission for up to 6 wks due to the risk of the scar rupturing if you needed to do an emergency stop, so all the things you take for granted and hop in the car for become massive tasks. Simple things like getting from kneeling to standing with a baby in one arm are difficult.

Sorry if its not what you want to hear, but I am 39wks pg and am praying for a VBAC!

cass66 · 12/03/2008 18:46

re driving, I rang my insurance company who said it was 4 weeks for any abdominal surgery. worth checking, as I thought it was 6 weeks as well.

beeper · 14/03/2008 17:44

Tori - I hope you get your VBAC. I hope that I get mine.

My dream is that I will wake up at home and feel a slight pain, then the urge to push then in one push baby is out, send husband to phone ambulance and then they say 'no need to go in, everything is fine, are you a indian squaw'

tori32 · 15/03/2008 13:59

beeper! Not long before I find out now, if I get my VBAC!

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