Obese & C-Section = Positive Story?

[hippiekinz]

Hello Ladies,

I'm currently 36+3 and tomorrow I'm going in for my bi weekly appointment. My LO is currently breeched and my OB informed me ay my last appointment if he was still breeched by tomorrow (which I know he still is) then I will need to have a schedule c-section at 39 weeks.

Now I know that gives me a little time for him to turn, but I have this feeling he isn't. I'm really worried about a c-section because i've been googling like an idiot and they state woman who are obese are at higher risks with c-section. Now I'm more terrified and nervous.... Has anyone here who is over weight or obese have a positive experience? Is there anything I should discuss with my OB tomorrow? I did gain about 50lbs, but they never complained about it since my blood pressure is normal, no protein in urine samples, no swelling anywhere on my body, and when I had my GD test that was normal.

Am I just overreacting and should stay away from google or should i have reasons to worry? This is my first child and everything has been smooth sailing so far, i'm just nervous about this whole c-section

Thanks ladies

 

[NKL120309]

I would definitely stop Googleing. It will just cause you to over worry. I am over weight and had a c section with my first and will again for my second. It was very quick, recovery was about 2 weeks to be able to do everything and feel fine. It is a major surgery so that can be a little intimidating but any concerns I would ask your Dr.

 

[hippiekinz]

I would definitely stop Googleing. It will just cause you to over worry. I am over weight and had a c section with my first and will again for my second. It was very quick, recovery was about 2 weeks to be able to do everything and feel fine. It is a major surgery so that can be a little intimidating but any concerns I would ask your Dr.

Yea my husband said the same to me about googling. I will just ask him about what happens in a c-section and any risks and all. It's funny I wasn't nervous about delivering, but once OB mentioned a c-section to me I got nervous. I've been always nervous about anything involving surgery and what not.

Thank you for your positive experience though, it gives me hope things will be fine

 

[Try Rocking]

I had a good experience for the most part with my last c-section. I was about 320 lbs when I had my daughter by c-section.
The only issues that came up were due to her being stuck (Imagine sitting up with your legs around your ears lol) and having the catheter put in before the epidural. For me the catheter was the most painful part of the whole thing and this time I will be requesting that they put it in after the epidural.
My recovery was fine other than they took my staples out at 4 days (the day I went home) and that night my incision started to come apart so I had to go back to the hospital and get taped up.

You'll do fine

 

[lozzy21]

I know it's not what you asked but aslong as baby is coming bum first and not foot first then you don't need to have a section. You can deliver viginally. If YOU and not your doctor decide you do want a section then I would recommend waiting until later in your pregncy. One to give baby longer to turn and there are lots of things you can do to encourage baby to turn and two to give your LO longer to develop. Just because your past 37 weeks does not mean your baby will be fully developed. Another week or two can make all the difference between going home and having a NICU stay.

 

[Chalrhow]

I have had 3 c/sections and also overweight... My 1st c/section was because baby was breech... He was transverse the morning of my section at 38wks... Only problem i have had was it took my wound almost 10 weeks to heal after my 1st section, i had to go to tissue viability and have the wound packed and dressed... Hope baby turns for you !!

 

[hippiekinz]

Thanks ladies and lozzy21 - My OB said if he was still breeched he would schedule a planned c-section for 39 weeks, so Dec 12 probably? It would give him a few weeks to turn

My appointment is in an 1 1/2, i'm nervous and hoping, but i feel him hiccuping right now on my right side high up. He's been sitting pretty high as well and not going down. This will be an interesting visit

 

[Try Rocking]

 

[hippiekinz]

Well, OB did a quick ultrasound and he is still breeched. He schedule a planned c-section for Thursday Dec 12 at 9:30am (When I'm 39 weeks). He said for my next visit we will talk about the myth and facts of c-sections because I told him I was nervous about surgery in general. Well at least we know the exact date of when our LO will be here.

 

[Try Rocking]

Sorry to hear he's still breech. I was scared as well with my first one but it was really ok. It is nice to be able to be prepared and know exactly when your baby is coming.

 

[Nicolalove353]

I am overweight and my experience was not the greatest. I don't think it had anything to do with my weight though. Go in with positive thoughts. I'm not gonna lie, the recovery sucks. Some people have it easier than others. At about a week I started feeling a bit better and at about 2 weeks I felt almost normal. Just be careful to take things slow!! Even if you are feeling better. I thought I felt better and then starting hurting really bad again at 5 weeks. If it is important to you, ask to have your son put on your chest for skin to skin once he is born. I wish I had asked my dr about that before I went in. Also, get up and walk as soon as possible! The faster/more you walk the better you heal. I noticed that if I stayed down for long periods of time it made it that much more difficult to get up. Good luck!!

 

[minties]

I've had 2 c-sections whilst being obese. As far as I know everything went very smoothly both times. I had estimated blood loss of 400mls both times...I don't know if that's good or bad but sounds fine to me!

Recovery was fine both times, I drove home from the hospital with my son. It was a little more painful with Sophie but still nothing that stopped me from doing housework, driving and looking after a toddler and newborn baby.

The only thing 'funny' during was surgery was that they had to hang some sort of sandbag on a string over my shoulder, hanging off the back of the bed. That was to help hold my tummy out of the way. Embarrassing!

Having a fat tummy padded the scar area and protected it.

 

[dogluvr]

I just had my little one on Saturday via csection and I'm obese. I labored from Thursday night until Saturday morning with back to back strong contractions and only made it to 2cm and baby wasn't moving down. I was induced due to GD and preeclampsia. During my csection they discovered baby was stuck, he was coming with his head turned sideways and never would have come in his own they said. I had no issues with my epi and aside from being sore and tired I've had no issues. We are planning on discharging to home tomorrow.

You'll be just fine! Good luck Hun!

 

[sethsmummy]

hey hun, i loooooved my c-section. I am overweight and at the time of my section weighed in at 21 stone 2lb! There were no problems apart from my tum hung over the edge of the table (very embarrassing). I had a traumatic 1st natural birth with ended up foreceps etc so really enjoyed being in control! Ask for a natural cestion though.. thats what i had and they do everything a bit slower for you.. my son was "stepped" out slowly so head first then slowly shoulders then the arms and then very slowly the rest was pulled out, the dropped the cover for me to see him come out and they waited 2 minutes to cut his cord. He was shown to me straight away before being cleaned up then i was asked if i wanted to hold him... had to refuse that though as my boobs were strangling me lol so there would have been no room for him. I had a spinal not an epi though. I had my section at 9:40 am and was bk in my room for 11:30 (thats after i was in recovery) and i was up on my feet around 6pm.. had a little wander but couldnt go far as i had a cathater. The next morning i grabbed a nurse at 6am to get the cathater removed and was straight up and in the shower. I felt like a new woman after that! I had no problems doing anything at all and even had to grab my 3 year old just 25 hours after surgery because hed fell off the hospital bed and smacked his head whilst hubby was holding baby. Just take things slowly and youll be great. Also dont eat any big meals for a few days after.. it feels like a dead weight! small and often. And to help my scar heal i cleaned it 5 or 6 times a day with cussans mum and baby stuff in water, then patted dry. i also kept a pad on it for a few days to soak up any sweat.

good luck hun I hope you enjoy it as much as i did xxx

 

[Leikela]

I am overweight and had an emergency c-section with my first. They had to tape up the flab on my belly to get it out of the way. It took longer to sew me up because I was bleeding more than usual. Take the pain meds afterwards. I tried to be a hero and ended up crying from the pain. I am amazed at the women who say they were up and about by 2 weeks. At 2 weeks, I was just starting to sleep in bed again as it was too painful prior. I walked but very slow. I didn't drive until 6 weeks post surgery. Because of the belly overhang, I cleaned it with rubbing alcohol twice a day to keep a funky smell from coming. It did heal very well though and it didn't hurt to get the staples out. Everyone's experience is different but you will be fine. Good luck!

 

[hippiekinz]

Thanks ladies

Just 5 more days until my schedule c-section. I'm not feeling as nervous as I was, but I'm sure I will the night before and going in.

Either way, DH & I can't wait to meet our LO

 

[edthedog]

Hi Hun,

I have had 2 sections; first one was emergency as my son had turned last minute (got to 9cms before he turned) and second was elective. Both times I was up 4 hours afterwards, felt minimal pain (more discomfort - like you've pulled a muscle) and was driving 3 weeks later.

Don't get me wrong, would have loved to have had them both naturally but needs must and I won't hesitate to opt for another section if I can't have a VBA2C next bubs.

I am very overweight - not sure what I weight but I'm a UK size 22/24.

The only tip I would give is something a midwife said to me - when you get out of the shower, get a hair dryer on low and dry your section scar like that so you know it's nice and dry. I also used Savlon (a skin healing cream) on the scar once a day.

You'll be fine xxxxx

 

[sethsmummy]

.

The only tip I would give is something a midwife said to me - when you get out of the shower, get a hair dryer on low and dry your section scar like that so you know it's nice and dry.
You'll be fine xxxxx

ohhh mine told me this too.. although i got fed up of doing it lol it does feel funny the first few times.

also hun think about your prefference for being put back together.. i had one long stitch with a bead either end and it was fab.. but you can be stapled or single stitched and some even use glue. xx

 

[hippiekinz]

Just a late update, but my c-section went perfectly! I had NO side effects after wards like the shaking, itching, etc. The only thing that happen was a threw up when they were taking me out of the OR. Of course it did hurt when getting up way later to walk, but by day 3 it was getting easier. 10 days later and I can walk around like a champ like you would never of thought I had major surgery. I am still taking it easy as far as lifting is concerned. They used dissolvable stitches so everything feels fine so far

 

[Leikela]

Glad to hear all went well for you! Congrats!