Advise for 1st planned c-section really worried x

[carpediemells]

hi ladies ,

im currantly 17weeks along but already have my planned c-section date due to medical reasons this is my 2nd birth but i had a natural delivery with my lo so have no idea what to expect with a planned c-section .

whats it like ?
Hows the recovery like?
what do i need to pack ?
Is it scarey and really clinical ?

any advise would be so great thanks x

 

[Kalabear]

Hi! Congrats on your lo!! I'm not sure where you are but I'm in the US. I will give you my experience.

I was quite disappointed I had to have a planned c section but after it happened I was happy with the experience. And it turned out to be very special! We went in the morning and started IVs an hour before. My doctor, surgeon, and anesthesiologist all came in to talk to me and explain the process. I went to the room and it was really bright and cold so hey gave me warm blankets. They gave the spinal which I didn't think was bad at all...I couldn't even really feel it. The doctors and nurses talked to me and each other making the environment really easy going. Music played although I don't remember listening to it. I felt sick so they gave me medicine. Soon my DH was next to my head and I just listened to everyone talk...I felt tired from the medicine so just listening was nice. Then they told me I would be able to breath easier in a minute and would feel some pressure and that's when my lo was out!! They showed him to me and took to weigh him. My DH was with him on the other side of the room....after two or so minutes they brought him to me for skin to skin and it was amazing! After twenty minutes they gave him to my DH for skin to skin while I switched beds. We went to recovery where I started bf immediately. They tried to make it very special and it was I was lucky that the hospital I gave birth at is very baby friendly. Push for skin to skin during surgery....this is what I was most upset about when I found out I had to have a c section. It was slightly clinical only because it was a surgery but the people tried to make it easier.

I was pretty scared but once it was happening it was easy....absolutely nothing to worry about...then once I had my baby I couldn't even think about anything else.

Recovery was the hardest part...I couldn't have done it without my DH. I was walking by the end of the day...I moved slowly but kept up on the pain meds. Each day got better and better in terms of pain. Around the one or two week pp I was frustrated because I wanted to be able to do all of the things around the house that I was used to but couldn't (clean, etc.) you just have to ask for help. By three weeks I was almost completely back to normal! Be good to yourself and patient

I definitely overpacked haha. I was thankful for my cute nursing nightgowns with matching robes...it didn't touch my incision and I looked presentable when guests came. I wasn't in pants for a week or so. I did bring my boppy pillow but just ended up using regular pillows as they were so soft on my stomach.

Good luck and congratulations!!! I can't wait for our next lo!! Can't wait to hear how it goes!!

 

[sethsmummy]

I LOOOVED my planned section. I had a disaster of a natural birth with ds1 which ended in an assisted delivery from hell.

whats it like ?
I was admitted the night before and got all the papertwork out of the way along with the pre-bloods. I had the consultant and aneasthetist come talk to me about what would happen and the midwifes were lovely soothing some of my concerns. AND I was told that I could have my NATURAL SECTION where everything is done a bit slower
The next morning they came in and told me i was first and id be taken down at 9am, i was given my gown and some special soap that i had to use whilst in the shower to make sure everywhere was properly clean.
At 9am after my husband had arrived we were walked down to the theatre, hubby was taken to get gowned up and i was taken into the theatre. everyone was lovely and made a lot of effort to make sure i felt at ease. Once that was sorted and i was in position my husband was allowed in. They started before i even realised it lol i did feel sick during as i was being suffocated by my boobs but they soon sorted that out. Once they had got into baby they SLOWLY STEPPED him out bit by bit like i had asked and dropped the drape so i could see him as soon as he was out. they then put the cover back up and waited 3 minutes before cutting the cord then took ds2 and dh over to get him weighed and a little clean. they brought him straight back over to me and asked if i wanted skin to skin while i was being stitched... i had to refuse as there was just no way i could fit him on my chest because of my boobs so dh held him beside me the whole time. We were all taken through to recovery where icould sit up more and got my skin to skin and bf straight away which was magical I never got this with ds1. I was taken to my room after an hour


Hows the recovery like?

Recovery was even better than my first birth! I was on my feet by the end of the day although not often because i had to keep my cathater in as i wasnt producing enough urine. at 6am the next morning though i got it out and i was straight into the shower and felt like a new woman! I managed everything by myself from that point on and didnt need any help from the midwives who had done all the lifting for me that first day. i even managed to pick up ds1 when he fell without too much discomfort. I had my section the tuesday morning and was back home thursday morning, as soon as i got out the taxi i was off for the 20 min walk to pick up ds1 from nursery. I did everything except lift the pram up the 2 flights of stairs to my flat (i carried the car seat with ds2 in it though) and hoover. After a week i was doing it all but i think i was very very lucky in my recovery. I will say keep on top of your pain meds and never wait till they run out before you take the next ones. Try and sleep propped up as it makes it so much easier to get in/out of bed. and dont eat any big meals for the first few days as it makes your stomach feel reaaalllyy heavy and uncomfortable

what do i need to pack ?

I packed waaaaaaayyy too much! A few pairs of BIG knickers, some socks, dressing gown, slippers, A few tops or nighties and a coming home outfit and a pair of loose fitting pj bottoms. For the first day i was just in a top and knickers and socks.. the day after i got dressed properly in some pjs and then i wore a tracksuit the next day to come home.

sanitary pads/wash bag/phone/camera/plenty change/ and then babies things. If you feel you want to have more if youv got a car you could make a seperate bag that your partner/friend could bring in for you if its needed

Is it scarey and really clinical ?

It wasnt in the slightest for me when it actually ame round. the day before i was terrified. but thats only because im a bigger woman and the aneasthetist was quite mean and said he didnt think id get to stay awake because of my size he got the spinal in fine. the actual section was amazing.. and i will happily do it again if i ever have any more children

 

[Mrs Doddy]

My first was natural too , I was scared but it was ok actually, becuase I didn't go through all the contractions thing i was a lot more alert and not so tired, I was scared of the spinal but didn't even feel it it's the after recovery that's hard especially with a toddler too. I was up and out of bed the next afternoon, i felt 100- couldn't put 1 foot in front of the other, a few days later it got better, tho at the moment 2 1/2 weeks on I don't feel like things are improving - I'm resting a lot but seems to be all undone when I do get up an do a few things

You will need help at home afterwards for quite some time, for you and for your toddler too.

You will need fat pants mothercare sell c section over the bump style pants so the line of the pants are completely away from your scar - other than that the usual stuff is fine apart from changes of clothes as you may be in for a while

Good luck x you will be fine tho

 

[carpediemells]

thanks ladies so much for replies .... im uk based and its so good to hear some positive experiences ,ive been reading up abit and alot of planned sections seem to be better recovery ect so im really hoping thats the case for .

question about your parterns .... how much of the cutting ect do they see my partern is so blood quesy its crazy u prick your finger and he faints lol .

im worried he might see to much and flake out on me but thinking if im well covered he should be fine and experiances on this .

thanks again x

 

[sethsmummy]

if he stays at your head hun he will see nothing. my other half wanted to look but they wouldnt let him lol. The only time he could see anything was when he went over with the midwife to cut the cord and weigh baby because he had to walk around the operating table to get there

xx

 

[Kalabear]

It depends on if he wants to look or not. My DH is the same....very quesy about blood. He said there were times that if he could have seen blood but just looked away (like when he was walking in or walking to the baby warmer and back.)