Things they don't tell u about c-sections - Dont read if ur already scared!

[Annie77]

I had one emergency and one elective c-section.

My emergency was definitely a less pleasant experience. I had placenta previa so was supposed to get elective op 3 days later but started to bleed at 11pm so rushed in. I got operated on under spinal at 2.45am and transferred to general ward at 9am, having been woken every 15 minutes for obs in HDU. When I got to general ward they didn't put my leg things on again and told me to go into shower at 10.30am! I just did what i was told but was later informed 'off the record' by a midiwfe I should have been in bed until atleast 2pm, maybe later. My feet got really swollen but thought it was due to heat in ward. My recovery was fine though and was driving after 4 weeks.

My 2nd section was bliss - REM playing, easy spinal, watched the whole op via the theatre lights, got 24hrs in bed post op, catheter out, showered and then within another 24 hours they asked me to go home. I had a BBQ for 30 people 10 days later and drove at 3weeks. Will definitely get a section next time but am not dreading it at all.

Some points though;
1. Any painkillers containing codeine will make you constipated and iron tablets will make poos very uncomfortable and tarry. These painkillers are given after both vag birth and sections so most new mums will experience constipation. With a section you can press a small pillow across your scar to help when straining. If you have vag birth with tears etc this is much harder. Try to ask for non-codeine painkillers if you are prone to constipation.
2. Different hospitals have different anti-thrombolytic guidelines - some use inflatable socks and/or elastic stockings and/or blood thinning infections or tablets. Some will use more than one method if you are higher risk of blood clots ie over a certain age, overweight, smoker, diabetic.
3. A planned, successful section can be much better in the long run than a badly managed or struggled vag birth which can result in tears, episiotomies, pulled muscles, disc prolapses etc.

As long as we get our babies, then I guess we just have to do whatever is necessary.

 

[dancareoi]

I had c-section with 2nd due to breach baby.

I too was unaware of belly injections, but these were done in hopital so I didn`t have to do myself.

It was painful to lift yourself up, but the hospital I was in had a sort of rope ladder thing attached to the bed to haul yourself up.

They gave me volteral for the pain, but these gave me the runs, which was a most uncomfortable experience, I had to hold it in cos I couldn`t walk to the toilet!!

They got me out of bed on Tuesday to take me for a shower, I had a funny turn and had to sit down.

However, by the Wednesday I was up and walking about and went home on the Thursday.

The midwives came a couple of days later to remove the stitches, I was worried it would hurt but I didn`t feel a thing.

i was driving after 5 weeks.

When I had my third baby 2 years ago I had vaginal birth but the lady in the bed opposite me had a c-section the day before, she was up and about after 1 day as if nothing had happened!!!!

Hope this helps.

 

[cassarita]

Taking your first poop after a c-section is the most terrifying thing in the entire world.

 

[Supermaiden]

They didn't tell me I'd have to suffer the indignity of a bed bath the next day! Did everyone else get one, or was it just because I'd been so ill and wasn't allowed up yet?! I've always wondered whether it was a normal part of a c-section or not

I had this.. and the indignity of being on a ward with 4 others who at the time had their other halfs visiting and the curtain kept getting gaps in and I could see one of the guys! So he would have been able to see me in all my glory! You really woudl think they would pick better times for these kinds of things!

I also found it hard to move on and off the bed. I used the sheets to help me get around and knotted it up in my hands to pull myself up or down lol. The nurse came in and said it was worse than her teenager's bed It was just the easiest way! I was so scared to move!

 

[Snuffy]

Erm actually most of those things weren't true for me. No belly injections, no swelling, dissolvable stitches, and could get up kerbs just fine x

Mostly this for me. I had no belly injections after my EMCS either, although I did with my ELCS. I was shitting myself the first time I did it myself but it didn't hurt at all.

 

[KellyC75]

I also found it hard to move on and off the bed. I used the sheets to help me get around and knotted it up in my hands to pull myself up or down lol. The nurse came in and said it was worse than her teenager's bed It was just the easiest way! I was so scared to move!

Great idea with the bed sheets....

I do wish they would provide some kind of device to help us sit/get up ~ Its the hardest thing & extremley frustrating when you just want to get to your crying LO

 

[Snuffy]

I was taken by supprise after I had my emergency c-sec by all the things that happend to me that I'd never heard of or read about, so just wanted to share.....

1st and most supprising thing was that I had to have an injection in my belly a few hours after the c-sec and that I had to have one a day for 7 days, which meant doing them your self at home for someone who doesn't like needles this was a scary thought! Luckily I got someone to do it for me.

2nd The painkillers they give you cause constipation!!!!!! Constipation whilst your stomach is being held together by a few stiches is Not the one!!!! I'd never had constipation befor and actually thought I was dying

3 c-sec messes up your digestion and your not supposed to eat normally straight away! They give you all this info whilst your looking at your new born and it goes in one ear, out the other.....end result worse constipation!!!

4 your ankles and feet can swell up! I literally looked like the guy out of nutty professor when he balloons up, cankles were an understatement! Couldn't walk or bend or go upstairs for about 3 weeks!!!! Does make looking after a new baby quite difficult, especially if you keep dropping things and can't pick them up

5 I had a drain in my wound afterwards which they remove the next day...... VERY painfull, they only told me about the drain when they came to remove it "this will probably be quite painfull" oh thanks!!!!

6 day 5 midwife comes to visit, "I'm going to remove your bead stich now" wtf! Another painfull process I had no idea about!

Midwife books you an appointment, to come to the clinic! Erm I can't drive for 6 weeks and how am I supposed to walk with balloon feet

Finally start to feel better and venture out for a stroll with your new baby/pram! Your stomach muscles don't allow you to get the pram up kerbs you get half way down the road and actually a realise you feel very ill, and now have to try and survive the walk back!

SO! Anyone who thinks having a c-section is an easy option, ha think again!
But why don't they tell you any of this in the books

most of this is true, except constipation normally happens with or without the pain killers, and the swollen ankles etc is water retention and you can get that from natural delivery, but yes all in all very annoying! The injection thing is a new one instead of wearing those attractive blue socks during surgery

I had the shexay stockings and the injections.

 

[amipregnant]

Taking your first poop after a c-section is the most terrifying thing in the entire world.

I second that i was terrified i was going to pass out and no one would find me!
its still not right now!

 

[Lil_Pixie]

Indont remember thinking about it when I had my first poop. Lol I think there's something to be said for being so spaced out. The only time I managed to surface from the haze was to tell the doctor who was on canula attempt number five that i wasn't having fun anymore and if he can't get it in this time I'd rather just not have the blood transfusion.

 

[Laraa]

I had a section and actually had none of what has been mentioned..everyones experience is different!

 

[Snuffy]

I think the thing nobody told me about c sections was that they aren't necessarily horrendous. You tend to hear the bad stories but I healed and recovered well both times. This time I have had a fungal infection where the overhang of skin is but antifungal cream is clearing that up nicely and apart from the first two days of stiffness, that is the worst I can say about either of them.

This week (3 weeks post-op) I walked to Amy's nursery to pick her up with Ollie in the Moby sling (20 minutes up a steep hill) and felt fine. We would have walked back too if I hadn't promised the little lady a trip on the bus.

 

[Mummytobe85]

I never knew after a section that you cant walk for a day and a half (mine was EMCS)

That you could lose alot of blood and become weak - was on iron tablets and my no.2 was black

That it takes almost 2 months for the stitch to heal properly and it could get infected if not dried properly

That you have to have a midwife come round to remove the stitching

And lastly how much is hurts when they're actually preforming the section even though your all dosed up and your epidural is also topped up

 

[KateyCakes]

.

 

[littleblonde]

I had 2 sections,. the only thing i had where injections but midwife did those for me. apart from that nothing else you mentioned.

 

[embojet]

I had an EMCS and nothing terrible happened at all. Was just a bit painful moving afterwards, as to be expected.

 

[kitty17]

Ugh, the injections for me were the worst. I have absolutely no problem with needles usually, but when it's someone you know doing them its terrifying!

Also never realised that about an inch of skin around the scar would be totally numb...and how irritating it is to have a waistband rubbing the scar - I have to wear big granny knickers cos I can't stand it!!!'

 

[Kimmi82]

I had to have the injections for 7 days too, I was horrified when they told me! My midwife did the first two then my BIL who is a nurse did the rest, no way was OH doing it! They stung like a bitch too!

I had to wear compression socks for the first 6 weeks too, I knoe some people take them off more or less straight away but I was ordered to keep them on!

I had an emc so obviously hadnt prepared myself for it! I had a spinal block so couldnt move for the first day, nurses changing my maternity pads was prob the worst part, and the lovely bed bath!

 

[Snuffy]

I did the injections myself and didn't even feel the needle going in as it was so fine. Maybe it helped that I have rather a lot of padding around my middle lol.

 

[Lil_Pixie]

Ooh the black iron tablet poo my son is almost 9 weeks old and I'm still taking them. Had two blood transfusions too.

 

[BABYCAREY]

I was taken by supprise after I had my emergency c-sec by all the things that happend to me that I'd never heard of or read about, so just wanted to share.....

1st and most supprising thing was that I had to have an injection in my belly a few hours after the c-sec and that I had to have one a day for 7 days, which meant doing them your self at home for someone who doesn't like needles this was a scary thought! Luckily I got someone to do it for me.

2nd The painkillers they give you cause constipation!!!!!! Constipation whilst your stomach is being held together by a few stiches is Not the one!!!! I'd never had constipation befor and actually thought I was dying

3 c-sec messes up your digestion and your not supposed to eat normally straight away! They give you all this info whilst your looking at your new born and it goes in one ear, out the other.....end result worse constipation!!!

4 your ankles and feet can swell up! I literally looked like the guy out of nutty professor when he balloons up, cankles were an understatement! Couldn't walk or bend or go upstairs for about 3 weeks!!!! Does make looking after a new baby quite difficult, especially if you keep dropping things and can't pick them up

5 I had a drain in my wound afterwards which they remove the next day...... VERY painfull, they only told me about the drain when they came to remove it "this will probably be quite painfull" oh thanks!!!!

6 day 5 midwife comes to visit, "I'm going to remove your bead stich now" wtf! Another painfull process I had no idea about!

Midwife books you an appointment, to come to the clinic! Erm I can't drive for 6 weeks and how am I supposed to walk with balloon feet

Finally start to feel better and venture out for a stroll with your new baby/pram! Your stomach muscles don't allow you to get the pram up kerbs you get half way down the road and actually a realise you feel very ill, and now have to try and survive the walk back!

SO! Anyone who thinks having a c-section is an easy option, ha think again!
But why don't they tell you any of this in the books

Gosh!! Sounds like you had a difficult time!
Ive had 2 Sections so far,this will be my 3rd and have to say i havent had anything like you have!
Yes I was a little sore afterwards but after major surgery its to b expected!
Thankfully never had any swelling afterwards either! Could push my pram no bother!
I honestly think its gonna be different for each person! Some people have a higher/lower pain threshold than others!
I kno that in the last few yrs they have brought in injecting afterwards to help reduce clots! I did have those with my last but didnt have to carry it on at home tho. Midwife tuk charge of that every night!
Yes a pain esp when ya dont like needles but cud b lifesaving.
At the minute i have to inject myself daily with Clexane!Prob up until Baby is born!! Well ive now give that job to Mr C!!! Yuk.........
But all in all well worth any pain we go thru when we go home with the Wee Mites
xBC