C-section in 2 weeks, any advice?!

[KeepingHope12]

So, today my doctor made it official! I'm beyond ecstatic to announce that unless our little girl has other plans, she will be arriving by c-section on June 20th! I can't believe this is finally happening!

With that being said, this is also my first baby and I know almost nothing about c-sections besides where I'm going to be opened up at. lol. Is there anything that I should be aware of or anything that took you by surprise? Do I pack my hospital bag the same as I would for a vaginal birth? I have already bought some super-huge granny panties to try and avoid irritating the incision, but other than that, I'm so clueless. What do hospitals in the US usually provide for c-section patients during recovery? Is OH allowed to stay overnight since 3 days is usually the average stay after a section? Any advice at all is super-appreciated!!

TIA, everyone!

 

[Emj30135]

Hi! And congratulations! I will be having my 2nd c-section in 10 weeks, can't wait! The hospital did let my husband stay overnight. The thing I was unaware of is that they strapped my hands down when they were performing the c-section and until after they sow you up. I'm not sure if they will do that at your hospital but I'm guessing it's so people won't freak out and try to touch their baby or belly or something while the surgery is performed because it is supposed to be very sterile. Also, I hope you have plenty of help for about a week when you come home. It is nice to have family, or a friend or your husband to cook supper and take care of you. You will be sore and have to recover but it's nothing a woman can't handle. You will do great! And just think about your baby during the procedure and it will go by fast!

 

[Sweet Lullaby]

Hi there

My first was a c-section baby. The hospital may tend to keep you a little bit longer than a normal delivery..but not always. So pack for a just in case longer stay.

I remember being very very very cold during thd procedure. My teeth were chattering at one point

They had to lay 3 hot blankets on my chest.

I felt drowsy for 12 hrs after surgery. I couldnt hold my baby for too long. Arms were weak.

I was walkinv by the end of day 2. I encourage you to move around. The quicker you can start walking.. the better for you.

I wasnt able to lift anything apart from my baby for 4-6weeks

But you know wat... 3 years on..i dont remember much of it

Good luck for your special day xx

 

[cantwaitforu]

Before you go in make sure you do everything you wanted around your home. I found it hard to Load and unload my washer and dryer for a couple weeks. I also needed a step stool to get in to my bed - DH had to help me out for a little while.

Walk around as much as you can once your hospital/doctor gives you the ok. Helps with recovery.

Make sure you have help for the first week home.

Pack for a couple days longer. I wore a hospital gown for the entire time as I found it to be more comfortable.

Take te pain meds if you need them!!!

 

[havestar]

1. Take the full dose of pain meds - don't do halves or skip! You're supposed to take them exactly as the directions state.. delaying a pill reduces the effects.

2. Use a heating pad. I recently read that the heating pad makes the blood flow to the area, speeding up healing. Just make sure it's not too hot when you're holding your baby.

3. Get up and walk around ASAP. The sooner you start walking, the easier it is.

I only stayed for 2 days. I only plan on staying 2 days again. If you have kids already.. or will have kids visiting.. make sure they wash their hands and you wash yours after contact with them. I was super careful with my incision area - kept it clean and I washed my hands tons, but I got an infection towards the end. I was healing up so nicely, and then it became incredibly painful and it took an extra two weeks to heal up.

Oh and sitting on the toilet is rough. It's like you have to fall, since you can't use your muscles very well. If you have one of those seat stools, that would make things easier. I'm going to get one this time around. LOL

 

[Malingo]

I had a emcs with my son, and other than what people have already said, I found using a sanitary pad over my incision site after to be quite soothing and cushion me against clothes! Also if you plan on breastfeeding LO then get somebody to show you a football hold for nursing as this takes all the weight of your scar! There is the bonus of a lighter 'period' after the birth as they sort of hoover you out too. I only had a 6 day light period!!!

 

[KeepingHope12]

Thanks, ladies! DH will be staying home with me for the first 7-9 days so I will have some help moving around and such. A lot of family lives within 40 minutes of us, so I know I can call them if I need help after DH goes back to work.

The hospital we will be delivering at has a lactation specialist who comes in after the birth to help with breastfeeding, so I'm pretty excited about that. I do have a question about that though... So far, I've not had the leaky boobs or anything like that, so will I still be able to BF immediately after surgery? I'm afraid that I won't have any colostrum or anything for her after she's born. I want to exclusively BF for (at least) 6 months. Also, did your milk come in as normal or can that somehow be affected by the c-section/medications? I know some of these are probably dumb questions, but I honestly don't know. lol.

Thanks again!!

 

[KeepingHope12]

There is the bonus of a lighter 'period' after the birth as they sort of hoover you out too. I only had a 6 day light period!!!

I was hoping this was a bonus of having a c-section! lol!

 

[ispeakinsongs]

Congrats and good luck. I had an emergency c section in April. I would advise you to make sure you have plenty of help in the first three weeks in particular. You will be in quite a lot of pain for a few days and need to take things easy, so just brace yourself for that and the you'll be fine good luck xx

 

[mrs_park]

I think the other ladies have covered it all. But to answer your question re breastfeeding, have skin to skin cuddles with lo as soon as possible (in recovery ideally) and get her nursing ASAP. And don't worry about jot leaking yet, I didn't until well after my lo was born.

All the best Hun

 

[HHenderson]

I can give you a few pointers.

The hospital has socks (US) and they arent too thick and have the non-skid. So while your legs are under the covers you might want to bring your own non-skid socks that are thicker so they dont catch the blanket when you move. My feet were so cold they put like 15 blankets on my legs down afterwards.

Do not get depressed if the drugs they give you while doing the c-section puts you out after its all over with. Mentally tell your self this might and probably will happen so you will see your baby in your husbands arms after an hour or two sleep. I was able to be awake during her delivery and being wheeled down the hall past the window she was with my husband and the nurse and that was the last I remember until waking up in the recovery room two hours later. I got so depressed because I didnt get to hold her, feed her or even change her first diaper. But my husband was there holding her waiting for me to wake up.

For me when the next day when I had to get out of bed, I needed someone there with me 24/7. It hurt, it took time just getting up and out and I had to pee alot for some reason all the time. So I needed help and the nurses liked to take their time coming to my room. Sitting down on the toilet and getting up I needed help. My mom even helped grab my panties as they were too far for me to bend down and get at that point. After leaving the hospital it was easier for me to do things on my own but it took TIME.

 

[cantwaitforu]

I was concerned about BFing with my son. Pretty much immediately after we were able to express colostrum. My nurse helped with that as DS didn't latch right away.

I expressed for the first day into a medicine cup - he literally got a couple drops every two hours. Then the next day, they brought the pump in and got more colostrum for him.

By the third day, he latched onto one boob and my milk started to come in.

It takes time, but the additional benefit of a c section is that you are in the hospital for longer and can get more support from nurses (my hospital and nurses were great with coming into my room every two hours - even through the night - to check on us and force me to try feeding him).

We successfully bf'ed for 12 months until it became too hard for me as my pregnancy was taking a toll on my stamina and energy levels.

 

[MnMommy]

I guess my csection experience was a little different than what is described by other people here.

First, my colostrum came in just fine. I started nursing the same day I delivered and nursed for a year with almost no problem.

I was able to hold my baby within 2 hours of giving birth.

I didn't expect the blood after. I stayed in the hospital for 6 days due to an allergic reaction I had, but that whole time I was bleeding heavily- and I felt bad for the nurses who had to keep coming in and helping me change the pad because ewww, but I couldn't do it myself.

I started walking probably 4-5 hours later- its a little blurry exactly how long, but it was the same day. Get walking ASAP as it makes the recovery WAAAYYYY BETTER.

Bring the same stuff you would for a vaginal delivery- just more clothes as you will be there longer. Maybe bring more to do as the hospital can be very boring. I did some reading while my baby slept on my chest after a couple of days.

I was driving within a week of being home. My biggest problem with being home was that first night- it never occurred to me that the bed I was getting out of at the hospital was mechanical- so I got up from a sitting position. I tried to get up in the middle of the night to feed the baby and was shot with the worst pain of my life. I had forgotten I couldn't go from laying down to sitting up on my own. Then it took DH and I a few minutes to figure out how to get me out of bed without it hurting worse. I slept in a recliner for a couple of nights just to make it easier to get up.

Overall, I healed faster than many of my friends who had a vaginal delivery.

Each person will be different though.

Ask your hospital ahead of time if OH can stay with you- most hospitals in the US at least will allow it. Just remember to bring him a pillow, blanket, change of clothes, etc. My hospital did not provide anything to DH except a fold out chair to sleep on. The thing my DH wasn't expecting (so you can warn OH) is that they really pull out all of your guts and put them on your chest/stomach to get the baby out. There was a partition up, but DH is tall and could see right over it. Fortunately he's not the woozy type- he actually thought it was cool. But it may freak out some people.

Finally one poster said her hands were tied down- mine weren't. I was able to touch my baby as soon as he was born (when DH was holding him).

I was surprised by the cold, but also by the feeling of nausea during the process (from the meds they give you).

Overall though, I had a great experience depsite it being an emcs. I have no hesitation in having another cs this time around.

 

[HHenderson]

I forgot about the tied down part. I wasnt tied down either. LOl But this was almost 9 years ago. I had my arms straight out on both sides on an arm rest thing. They needed to get to the tubes just in case I needed more medicine. I was able to touch her right after the c-section and kiss her.

My husband was able to stay with me the whole time but it was very uncomfortable for him.

 

[Xxenssial]

This is a great thread I've got a section booked in three weeks

 

[KeepingHope12]

Thanks, everyone! After the excitement wore off from realizing how close DH and I are to meeting our girl, I got to thinking about how much hospitals freak me out....not to mention surgeries. lol. After reading all of your posts though, I feel a lot better with it. I'm actually pretty excited that my husband will be able to hold her first, tbh. I've gotten the chance to carry her for 9 months, so I can't wait to see him hold her for the first time.

Thanks for all of your input; its been most helpful and has really eased my fears a lot!

 

[Amberyll23]

Hi there! I will be having my second DD via C-Section the day after you, on June 21st!!!

Here is what I remember from my first C-Section:

1. They will tell you not to eat or drink for hours ahead of time--listen to them, because just like any other surgery with anesthesia, you can find yourself quite ill

2. Make sure you tell the anesthesia personnel about any pressure or issues you feel during the Section, they will make adjustments to help make things easier for you (pain meds, etc.)

3. You make get some serious shakes afterwards. I got them while they were sewing me up. My doctor told me it was hormones, but it really freaked me out, I was afraid I was having seizures I was shaking so bad!

4. Post-Op, they pushed on my stomach for the next day or so to help your uterus contract--this is painful! I hated it and am not looking forward to it again! ugh!

5. They also put a machine on my legs to help with circulation and to prevent blood clots, that was left on me for about 12 hours or so.

6. Bleeding--you will bleed a lot, just like anyone who has given birth. The hospital supplied me with plenty of pads and even mesh underwear so I did not have to ruin my own. But I did bring some in my bag for going home. If you bring pads yourself, bring extra large overnight ones!

7. Holding my baby--I could not hold her during the Section, but they gave her to DH right away after they cleaned her up and I got to give her a kiss. She was put in my arms before I left the OR, however, and I got to hold her as they wheeled me back to my room.

8. DH staying overnight--I'm sure every hospital is different, but my hospital let my DH stay with me and baby 24-7. We won't be able to do that this time with a toddler in tow, but the hospital will let her stay later as a sibling, just not overnight, so DH will be going home with her.

9. Breastfeeding--I had zero issues other than immediate post-op. I was severely nauseous so could not put her to breast right away. Once that passed, i was able to breastfeed and pump colostrum, my milk came in just fine while in the hospital.

10. What to pack--Pack what you would for a normal vaginal delivery, only you may want to bring puzzles, a book, IPad, etc. as you do stay a little longer than vaginal delivery births, and hospital TV entertainment is not always the best!

11. Soreness--They will make you get up and move around sooner than you think. I actually felt GREAT the first day and was walking all over. The doctor smiled and said I still had pain meds in my system and to wait for the following day. She was right, I was so sore the day afterwards, haha. But recovery was fine for me, I can't complain. The first few days were definitely the hardest, but after I had my staples pulled out, I started to feel immensely better each day.