C-section Mommy Club!

[chuck]

There is a 1 in 200 risk that your scar could 'rupture' with another labour, but pregnancy shouldnt cause too much bother, probably make the scar itch I imagine as the skin stretches a bit but the cut is so low it shouldnt stretch too much

Section incisions are placed low down and horizontally now to reduce the risk of rupture, the old fashioned vertical cuts were more likely to rupture that's why VBACS weren't really common place when they used to cut like that. The cut is low because the contractions are strongest at the top of the uterus so the further up the uterus you cut the more likely it would be to suffer in subsequent labours.

But when they say 'rupture' it doesn't always mean literally burst but that can happen, a scar may stretch and come apart a little but it wont always mean a life threatening situation by any means -far from it.

My scar was itching like crazy last night, I've started running and I was clearly wearing teh wrong knickers last night, they were rubbing and being sweaty didn't help it was horrid - 4 and a half miles with an itchy scar! yuck.

 

[MommyMichele]

I'm going for my 6th c-section in September, never had any scar issues during my pregnancies. Sneezing can hurt though! lol I never had any problems breastfeeding right after surgery either.

As for those surgical socks, never had them. I wore my own. Bring lots of them!

Can we try and keep the thread supportive? I know we all had different experiences, some good some bad but we have some members that are afraid of c-sections, we don't want to make it worse. Just saying.

 

[pink23]

i think my c-section went well and aslong as you rest you heal fine. my scar doesnt hurt which im glad.xx

 

[Freyasmum]

Hi :wave:
My daughter was born by emergency section 4.5 years ago. Labour was induced when she was 11 days late. I laboured to fully dilated, but she just didn't go anywhere. They decided to do a section after I'd laboured for about 8 hours.
I had no problems after the section. BFing was absolutely fine, I was out of hospital within two days, and healed quickly and well.

My second pregnancy was (obviously) about 4 years later. I had no probs with the scar during pregnancy. I opted to have another section because there was a good chance the same thing would happen again, and also because (and I'm not trying to scare anyone here, the odds of it happening are incredibly small) a very close friend of mine did suffer a uterine rupture during a VBAC attempt with a tragic outcome.
My waters broke and I went into labour a few days before my scheduled section. Within an hour or so I was having very painful contractions, less than 2 minutes apart. Went straight to the hospital where I was monitored for a while then taken for emergency section.
Everything went very smoothly again this time. I was on my feet again quickly, out of hospital less than 48 hours later, back driving within a couple of weeks...
It has knocked me about a bit more than last time, but then I'm 37 now, and I would expect the second one to be a bit harder...
I'm BFing again, and have had no problems there.

I have found this time that my tummy a few inches above my scar is quite tender, and there are a few areas with no sensation at all. It's weird, but apparently quite normal.

 

[cheekybint]

Hi Ladies

Do you mind if i join you?

I'm Mel and I'm currently TTC my 4th baby, which will be born by CS just like the rest!

My first section was at the age of 17, 16 year ago. He was breech, and after only dilating 4cms in 24 hours they convinced me a section was the best option. After 24 hours of labour i was inclined to agree lol

My 2nd was due to be born vaginally but at 36 weeks there were signs that my womb may rupture, she was a porker lol So at 38 weeks I had my section.

By the 3rd there was no option, c-section it was!

I now have 2 girls aged 10 and 12, and my boy, who's 16.

Working on the next one with my new OH. I was sterilised after my 3rd child and had a reversal last November. Recently discovered I've one tube blocked so I'm expecting a long TTC journey this time round!

I've never experienced a vaginal birth, and I do wish I had but it's nice to know i'll not have labour either lol I didn't have any bad experiences with the sections themselves, obviously there's the pain afterwards, but the new baby takes your mind off that!

 

[chele]

Can we try and keep the thread supportive? I know we all had different experiences, some good some bad but we have some members that are afraid of c-sections, we don't want to make it worse. Just saying.

Agreed!
Actually after I posted my birth story I received lots of positive comments about how positive I made my section sound

My scar is still weeping! It smells horrible too. I just can't get any air to it thanks to my apron. any advise?

Also when did you all get your first period? I stopped expressing 5 weeks ago

 

[chuck]

eek don't let this thread die...lets try and keep it up.

How are everyone's scars doing?

5 months on and mine has healed real well just a thin red line but boy is it still sore sometimes - usually when a certain someone digs his little feet in it or kicks me when I'm changing him! The skin around it is still a little numb though it's very strange feeling.

 

[HannahGraceee]

Had my c-section March 13, 2009... willing to answer any questions you all have! On here or by PM! I am VERY familiar with infections, so if you have questions about that, you know where to find me!

My advice, lol:

1) take your pain killers on schedule.. BEFORE you "need" them.. or you'll be sorry! Figure out what works for you - the nurses wanted me to alternate Tylenol and Advil, but I was finding after taking the Advil I was having pain really quickly, so I took just the Tylenol. In my hospital, we were given our own medication (tylenol, advil, laxative... and then in my case, antibiotics). The nurses would ask you if you took your medication, but you had a tracking sheet for it, and you were to take it on your own on time. I loved that. Take your laxatives too. But even with those I think it took me like 5 days to have a bowel movement.

2) if you have staples... don't let them take them out for about a week I'd say... I had my daughter Fri @ 1:30pm and had my staples removed Sun @ 8pm. Not nearly long enough, my incision opened by the following Sat... and it put a huge dent in my recovery time. One of the visiting nurses told me to make them let me keep them in and have them out at my doctor's office next time around closer to a week after.

3) get out of bed... it's really painful to switch positions the first few days, ie: going from laying in bed to sitting on the bed to standing up off the bed... but it's so important to get up and walk around!! Use the hospital bed to your advantage, I'd adjust it so I was nearly sitting up supported by the bed, then lower it so my feet could touch the ground easily to get up from bed.

4) I wish I had a Boppy pillow... not sure if it would have helped anything, my daughter took FOREVER to feed the first few days, and it would have been helpful (some extra support) -- I used formula, so can't say if it'd be useful for breastfeeding!

5) probably common sense but don't carry those wretched baby carrier car seat things... difficult to do after a c-section!! Also if you're short, they're just generally annoying, bashing into your legs, etc.

6) though it SUCKS being in the hospital.. stay in as long as you can.. I was desperate to get out of there and I ended up back for an additional 3 nights, the maternity ward is NICE, more nurses/attention, more visitors, etc. If you have to go back and get put on a different ward... it's not nearly as fun.. lonely, no babies, less nurses, less guests!

7) No baths! Not until your incision is well on its way to being healed up!

8) Pick up steri-strips at the store, they come off in the shower.

9) REST. Leave the laundry, cooking, etc for someone else to do, just focus on the adjustment to parenthood & the recovery from MAJOR surgery!!

10) Let people visit on YOUR terms. If your mom is going to be helpful.. let her come, let her help. If your coworkers want to come over and you'll feel like you need to entertain them.. hold off on letting them visit for a couple of weeks!

Amazing advice, i would agree with every single one of these good work tashha x

 

[HannahGraceee]

Can we try and keep the thread supportive? I know we all had different experiences, some good some bad but we have some members that are afraid of c-sections, we don't want to make it worse. Just saying.

Agreed!
Actually after I posted my birth story I received lots of positive comments about how positive I made my section sound

My scar is still weeping! It smells horrible too. I just can't get any air to it thanks to my apron. any advise?

Also when did you all get your first period? I stopped expressing 5 weeks ago

Agreed, i was so scared i was going to have a c-cestion, i was just thinking over and over again "omg what if they have to cut my belly open" but i did have to have one, i was wheeled down there, and every was soo lovely, they were nearly done, and i was asking if they had started YET! so you feel nothing expect tugging, its such a werid sensation lol it doesnt hurt after but its all worth it so good luck with everyone thats having a c-cestion

THE PLUS SIDE, my scar is tiny! and its like on my bikini line, and were it is, no pubics grow, so like a permenant bikini wax LOOL

 

[mrsraggle]

I haven't read the whole thread - I had my Eloïse by emergency c-section 4 weeks ago. I was terrifed of c-sections and throughout my pregnancy I was adamant that as long as I didn't have one I'd be happy. But I can tell you, it was the nicest part of my labour and birth!! And I won't be having another baby unless I can have a c-section!

My only regrets are not asking for skin to skin or even to hold her once she was born. Eloïse was taken from my tummy straight to the Paed for checking and then MrRaggle got to hold her and it was about 3 hours before I even got a hold of her. I think this seriously affected my chances of breastfeeding as after 5 days PP we still hadn't established a good position/latch and I had to start expressing and FF.

Oh and I was told on the Sunday that you start to feel much better by the third day after a section and I did so keep that in mind! They had me up and in the shower by 11am the next morning, but be aware of the surgical socks and get your partner to check they're not rolling down or too tight. I have scars around my ankles where they had to peel them from out of my skin they were on so tight!!

 

[pink23]

hi, my scar is just red now. i get the odd twinge, yesterday it was sore. I didnt get skin to skin contact and wish i did. I just hope if I have to get one next time its booked before and i know im having one. i was induced 3 times and was just waiting around. I was so tired for a while. hope everyones doing ok xx

 

[MommyMichele]

I didn't get any skin to skin right away and I won't this time but I'm going to ask them to bring Charlie to me in recovery so I can tuck him in where he belongs!

A little advice about the pain killers! EAT when you take them! Being in pain is no fun but vomiting because you didn't eat when taking them is even worse!

Any weepy smelly leakiness from your scar needs to be looked at ASAP! Don't play around with waiting. Infection while recovering is serious!

15 more weeks till c-section #6!

 

[chuck]

jeez what is wrong with hospitals..my friend was induced and ended up with a section - why are there sooo many sections now it's unbelievable!

 

[pink23]

i think if i had been told what was happening and could of gone home i probably would of waited. but they just werent let me know anything and i was getting fed up.
I really dont know what i will want next time . Tbh im quite scared of a natural birth. im a bit of a wimp.

 

[Freyasmum]

jeez what is wrong with hospitals..my friend was induced and ended up with a section - why are there sooo many sections now it's unbelievable!

I remember at my ante-natal classes (bearing in mind this was 5 years ago) that they had a lot of statistics around c sections at our local hospital. I can't remember the figure exactly, but I think it was around 25% of all births there!!
The odds of having a section increase with each bit of intervention you have...
So if you are induced, there's a greater chance. If you have an epidural, or are put on a monitor, again your chances increase.

For me, I'm glad that option exists, and that I made the decision to do it. There was no way I was going to get Freya out naturally. I don't feel that I have missed out on anything by not delivering naturally. I've had no problems with healing, or breastfeeding, or bonding with my babies.

 

[MommyMichele]

Personally (very truly sorry if this offends anyone) but if baby gets here safely no matter which way, it shouldn't matter HOW baby got here. Some just aren't meant to come out vaginally.

I had an argument with one of my sisters over MY c-sections. She's anti-section 100% and thinks she's the first in our maternal line to go vaginally. Uh, no, grandma didn't have c-sections with hers. Sister goes on and on about how terrible I am for getting c-sections. I didn't tell her it's medically impossible for me to push a baby out. Blah blah blah. I yelled at her "IT'S NOT MY BIRTH! IT'S MY BABY'S BIRTH AND AS LONG AS MY KIDS GET HERE HEALTHY, IT DOESN'T MATTER!" Idiot.

She got on me about c-sections but didn't say a word to our other sister who'd baby had THC in it's system at birth.

 

[pink23]

i wasn't upset i had a c section. I just wish i wasn't so tired lol x

 

[Freyasmum]

Personally (very truly sorry if this offends anyone) but if baby gets here safely no matter which way, it shouldn't matter HOW baby got here.

I completely agree.

 

[chuck]

i wasn't upset i had a c section. I just wish i wasn't so tired lol x

i was i still am it eats me up inside that i ended up with a terrible section - what gets me is I know sections can be every bit as involved and wonderful as a vaginal birth but mine wasnt, I was alone and wasnt spoken to except to ask if I felt sick once.

ergh horrible.

My baby wasnt even in distress - I was because of all the intervention - drip pushed to max failed epi = lots of unnatural pain I'd just run out of time darned hospital timelines!

 

[chele]

Anyone got a skin tag on their section scar?

I had a skin flap after my section and it's now turned into a red skin tag. Eek