Few qquestions/ Advice

[BethHx]

Ok so next Tuesday i will find out the date of my c-sec. I will be 37 or 38 weeks.
It is half elective but was adviced to me by my gp, midwife & consultant.
So i have a few question i'd be grateful if you'd answer - im only 19 so i am finding this all a very scary thing, yet very excited!

1.Can i leave the hospital the following day if all is well?
2. Does it hurt when they put the catherter in/out?
3. Were you able to hold your LO the same day?
4. Are you able to take LO out the cot in the hospital or will the midwifes have to pass her to me?
5. Any advice you can give me about my stay in the hospital, what to take etc?
6. Any advice on the recovery after - anything you wish you'd been told but hadn't?
7. How long did it take you to feel 'normal' after e.g. when could you walk up the stairs without pain, get in & out of bed etc?
8. What is pain out of 10 - is it really that bad?
9. What is best to wear in the hospital after? I was thinking big baggy nighty, leggings & BIG pants?
I will also be moving out 8 weeks after having her, will i be able to do any lifting/carrying?

Anything else you think i will find useful.
Thanks in advance ladies

 

[mare]

Hi Hun, I'm using my phone so I can't see your post as I'm replying but I will try and answer a few of your questions.
Everyone is different but here is my experience.

I had emergency section so a little bit different.
I had to stay in 1 and a half days.
Cathator goes in when spinal has been given so you don't feel it at all. It doesn't hurt to be pulled out. I also had a drain (tube) put in my cut after sewn up but that didn't hurt either to be pulled out.

I don't think the pain after was too bad just very achey. I was up and walking and showering the next day ( had lo at 11.30 pm)
I would take dresses or maternity leggings and big pants. I used disposable pants. I just threw them in the bin after use. Don't take anything to wear which the elastic lies on your scar such as regular jeans or pants.

I was able to hold lo as soon as I was stitched up. Within half an hour.
For the first few hours the midwifed passes me lo all I had to do was press my button.

I don't know about the lifting though Hun sorry.

Hope this helps. Don't be worried I had two v births and this one c section. Make sure you have plenty of pain killers in and don't be scared to ask for them in hospital before you feel any pain. That's prob why I didn't think it was too painfull.
I am now 3 weeks post c section and feeling great. Still a little achey at night but other than that all good.

 

[mare]

I took baggy nighties to wear in hospital. Also take some food in as I was bloody starving lol!

 

[_Lexi_]

They advise you not to do heavy lifting for at least 6 months. I couldn't feel the catheter going in as it was after the spinal, just a strange tugging when it came out. I was able to hold Joshua whilst I was being stitched up, but different hospitals/surgeons have different views on this. I can't advise about getting him in/out of his cot as he was in nicu and sadly grew his wings at 13hrs old. I was up about 3hrs after my op, but just to get into a wheelchair, and the pain was pretty bad sitting up that soon, but had to be in nicu. I also took disposable knickers, and just chucked them. I wore a loose nighty, and pj bottoms, as they sit higher than leggings. I still find now that it hurts if I wear jeans all day or anything rubs on it. Make sure you hold a pillow over your wound uf you laugh/cough/sneeze. Ask for stool softners as that was the most painful experience!! Don't forget slippers, and flip flops so you don't slip in the shower. I was in 4 and a half days, and had a slow recovery. It took a while to feel normal again. For at least 3 weeks it hurt getting into/out of bed, into a car (again, had to have a pillow so seatbelt didn't rub) and getting onto/off the sofa. It does gradually get easier, but don't push yourself too much. x

 

[megangrohl]

Catheter stung coming out for me. Bring shampoo as you'll need it for your shower. I was in a hospital gown the whole stay so can't say much for the clothes but I will tell u this - bring large underwear and lots of pads. I was allowed home on my 3rd day.

The pain afterwards isn't bad as you'll have painkillers. My only advice is to get up walking as soon as possible as it will help the recovery and the narcotics may cause constipation so drink alot of water. I was allowed to hold my daughter after i was stitched up. The nurses helped me pick lily up for the first 24 hours them after that i was on my own to learn how to with the pain etc. No heavy lifting for a longtime so you're going to most likely need help when you move. And it took a good 3-4 weeks to feel somewhat normal.

Good luck.

 

[Arisa]

Hey I am here to answer all your questions

1.Can i leave the hospital the following day if all is well?
NO please don't, you need to be able to shower, have your tape around your wound removed and have stockings on to prevent DVT then you will get injections in your tummy for three days and they hurt but are easy to take. Leaving early means coming back to hospital with a burst wound so stay at least two nights
2. Does it hurt when they put the catherter in/out?
Nope, they give you the spinal first then put the Catheter in and you do not feel a thing, its great the first 24 hours as you do not feel yourself peeing and do not have to go to the loo to pee. When they take it out it just feels like tampon being gently removed, its easy as
3. Were you able to hold your LO the same day?
YUP, the same night, I would have held her earlier but it was an emcs and baby had fluid in her lungs so we had to be separated but two hours later it was fine and i cuddled her on my tummy all night
4. Are you able to take LO out the cot in the hospital or will the midwifes have to pass her to me? the midwives will have to help you there unfortunately until day two or three depending on how well you walk and sit up, go to the toilet on your own etc on day two
5. Any advice you can give me about my stay in the hospital, what to take etc?
Take some of your own pain releif as I found morphine did not work that well and then they just give you codeine and paracetamol. Also DO NOT push yourself to get well, I wanted out that hospital by day three after two nights and got my wish but was sorry for it as I had bad back spasms from the spinal oh yeah you might get back contractions as a side effect from the spinal/epidural and they DO hurt, more than the procedure itself and the drips and the blood tests, you will have a few blood tests but I had more and had blood pressure checks because of my pre eclampsia so that is not normal. Yes so my advice would be not to leave too soon and let the back spasms and uterine contractions die down, they do after three days and when they do come on only last seconds really. Be prepared for the blues to hit around day 2-4 because you are post partum regardless of whether you BF or not
6. Any advice on the recovery after - anything you wish you'd been told but hadn't?
7. How long did it take you to feel 'normal' after e.g. when could you walk up the stairs without pain, get in & out of bed etc?
Well I am almost three weeks PP and can walk up stairs but it does still hut so I would wait a good six weeks personally
8. What is pain out of 10 - is it really that bad?
When the morphine wore off, it was never any more than a 6/10 and I had morphine and codeine for two days. you will also be given top ups of anything you need
9. What is best to wear in the hospital after? I was thinking big baggy nighty, leggings & BIG pants?
I wore a skirt with high waist and extra large leggings, they both helped
I will also be moving out 8 weeks after having her, will i be able to do any lifting/carrying?

After 8 weeks yes you can but you need to wait, I was told for three months before doing heavy lifting and workouts, but you can surely do light lifting and moving

 

[mare]

Sounds like everyone's experience is different hun. I had no problem doing a number 2 no pain at all. I am 3 weeks post c section now and I am allowed to drive (insurance company and health visitor approved) I still wear big knickers and dresses.
The thing I found most painful was getting in and out of bed but the midwives showed be how by rolling over.
Also I was given the injections to put in my tummy at home. I did them myself no problem. The first onE was scary but easy after that.

Please don't be scared or worry yourself. Holding your baby in your arms takes away all the pain in the world for just a few moments and it will be a moment you treasure all your life. Focus on that and not the actual operation. Best of luck x

 

[BethHx]

Thankyou everyone but ... What injections do i need to put into my stomach?
HUGE blood & needle phobia going on here lol have never had an injection without fainting ...

 

[_Lexi_]

The injections are to stop blood cots and you need them for 7 data after surgery. I had to get my partner to do mine as I couldn't do it myself x

 

[BethHx]

Ohh ok, i had them when i went into hospital at 23 weeks, stung but weren't that bad. I'll get my mom or OH to do it for me x

 

[megangrohl]

I never had the injections after. you will have the needle put into your spine (to numb you) for the c-section so just listen to the nurses and you will be fine.

 

[BethHx]

Does that hurt?
How does it compare to steroid injections or the one to prevent blood clots (if you've had either) x

 

[megangrohl]

No it doesn't hurt or at least it didn't for me. I was having really strong back labor contractions though so that may have covered up the pain from the needle. It's really quick though the medicine kicks in really fast. I never had steroid injection as I went 10 days overdue and I never had the other injections either. Just the epidural/spinal.

 

[DJ987]

I think it's quite standard for the injections afterwards in the UK. I don't know anyone that hasn't had them. My OH did mine for me, and he's doing them now as I'm already on them due to my SPD.

 

[Arisa]

Ohh ok, i had them when i went into hospital at 23 weeks, stung but weren't that bad. I'll get my mom or OH to do it for me x

They honestly are not that bad, the build up to them is worse than the actual injection itself, i only one injection once a day for three days then that was it.

Also if you take a lot of lactulose and eat tons of grapes and other fruits you will find going number two is easy, possibly easier than going after a vaginal birth. it did not hurt me first time at all, it just felt weird on my incision but the second, third and fourth time you feel like you did before getting pregnant when you go

 

[BethHx]

Oo thats good then, ive been taking lactulose throughout so have plenty in the house will midwifes wake me through the night for pain relief?

 

[DJ987]

Mine didn't, but I was up all night with my DD anyway!

 

[babynewbie]

Thanks for posting this, im having an elective section and was wondering alot of the same things! I've never heard of the injections in your belly afterwards though, I know a few people who have had sections and as far as I know didn't have to do this.

 

[BethHx]

Thanks for posting this, im having an elective section and was wondering alot of the same things! I've never heard of the injections in your belly afterwards though, I know a few people who have had sections and as far as I know didn't have to do this.

Do you have your date yet?
I have so many questions about recovery etc but now im realising everyone is different.
I only know 2 people that have had sections, one was 24 years ago the other was 2 years ago & she was put under for it so its compltely diff

 

[babynewbie]

yeah its on 6th july, ill be 38+6. I guess its the same as natural birth as in everyone copes with things differently kind of thing. No way of knowing how it will be until your experiencing it yourself i guess! I hope recovery will be ok as i have my son to look after too so im hoping it all goes well!