Tips/Adivce for PLANNED c-section

[Guppy051708]

Well, its not decided yet, since i still got a little bit of time, but baby is still presenting as transverse lie (laying sideways) and im 34+2. I was planning a HB, however, for obvious reasons if she stays that way then that cant happen and i'll need a CS. MWs say if she isn't head down by 36 weeks then i'll have to transfer to an OB. It would be a planned CS due to risk of cord prolapse, etc. I dont know if she will flip or not (probably not since ive tried everything under the sun to get her to flip and she wont), but ya never know. So i just want to mentally prepare myself in case ill be getting a CS in a few weeks time.

So, do you ladies have any words of wisdom for prepping for the CS, during it, the hospital stay, and being home (Especially with little ones running around). I really can use all the tips and advice i can get. So please share with me anything that come to mind. And especially any items that you think would have helped (or did help) during your CS.

As a note i will also be BFing. Ive had two vaginal births and so im not sure how BFing works with an incision and healing and whatnot.

 

[frsttimemama]

I have a little experience with some of it.. I had an emergency C-section not too long ago. Our little guy didn't make it, and he was our first one so breast feeding and chasing other little ones weren't an issue for me. I can say you will be sore so take the pain medicine they give you if you can -- it helps. Get up and get moving as soon as they will let you and keep moving. It helps, too. You're going to be sore from moving, too, so try to take the pain medicine. Let people help you. Rest when you can. Mine healed up without any problems. I Can't complain about my experience with a C-section. It was the best experience I could have had given the situation. Good luck!

 

[Guppy051708]

I have a little experience with some of it.. I had an emergency C-section not too long ago. Our little guy didn't make it, and he was our first one so breast feeding and chasing other little ones weren't an issue for me. I can say you will be sore so take the pain medicine they give you if you can -- it helps. Get up and get moving as soon as they will let you and keep moving. It helps, too. You're going to be sore from moving, too, so try to take the pain medicine. Let people help you. Rest when you can. Mine healed up without any problems. I Can't complain about my experience with a C-section. It was the best experience I could have had given the situation. Good luck!

thank you hon I appreciate your help.
So sorry to hear of your loss

 

[frsttimemama]

Thank you, and you're welcome. I hope it was helpful. I hope all goes well for you, too!

 

[AvianasMommy]

My planned csection recovery has been a million times better than my first one which was after many hours of induced labor. I second the advice of the PP. Take ALL the pain meds they offer ( I've been on Percocet and Motrin). First time, I refused everything and tried to tough it out. I was in agony. Take what they give you on a schedule -- don't wait until your in tons of pain. Taking your meds on schedule will also help you to stay active which is important. I had my cs on Thursday night and was up 12 hrs later. Set goals and stick to them. I made myself walk around the mom and baby floor (big square) once the first day, twice the second day, and three times the third day and then went home that day.

I didnt BF DD1 but have been with DD2. They brought her to me in recovery right away and I BF her there. She was great and latched perfectly immediately. I have to say though its been a struggle. You need to rest after major surgery and since your the only one who can feed her you don't get much rest. It's been tough at home for me getting up To feed her, especially with her bouts of cluster feeding but I'm somehow managing.

Trying to think of other tips... Oh, for me walking up the stairs hurt less when I went up backwards. Have plenty of comfy, loose fitting pants and undies. Take stool softener and gas pills regularly (you'll be thankful you did). You can try compression undies or an abdominal binder for when you're home. I used the binder the first time and it was a god send. This time I survived without it but have one in case. My best advice is really just to take those meds, stay active, but rest when you can and don't over do it. I've found that when I overdo it, I bleed alot more.

I'm almost 2 weeks out now and feeling pretty normal. I still take it easy but I'm okay. I would say at least see if your DH can be home for the first week to make it easier on you. My 5 year old has suddenly become really needy although she's in love with her little sister. It's been tough at times but nothing I absolutely couldn't handle (much easier with DH around though).

 

[SMoose]

I had to have an emergency csection... but I was originally planning for a MW birth.

I didn't find out till later- but you can still have a birthplan to give the OB for how you want your csection to go (you can do immediate skin to skin, delayed cord clamping, etc if thats something you would like to do). I found that out after talking to my OB about future csections since I had a classical incision.

Moving as soon as you can helps a lot. I had a belly binder that also was fantastic. My recovery from my csection was actually fantastic, I was off pain meds and feeling well (albeit had to do some movements slow!) by day 3. Loose sweatpants or yoga pants. I bought myself a set of mens boxer briefs to hold a pad down below and one over my incision site- it worked wonderfully. Also, stool softeners- pain meds make you constipated, softeners will be your saving grace.

Best of luck with your babies birth! Hopefully she will just turn and you can avoid surgery all together but, keep us updated!

 

[frsttimemama]

I forgot (I have no idea how!) about the binder and stool softeners. They were very helpful. My hubby was home for the first 2 weeks, too, which was VERY helpful.

 

[wookie130]

Yes...I agree with everyone else. Take your pain meds...whatever they offer you, TAKE THEM. Stay ahead of the pain, and stay medicated. Also, do keep up with taking your stool softeners. You'll thank us later.

I would also recommend a nursing pillow, so that you can rest your baby across it while you're nursing, so that she's not laying on your incision site. The hospital staff will encourage you to get and and moving as soon as possible (when your anesthesia wears off), and the more you're mobile, the easier your recovery will be.

I also was able to do skin-to-skin contact with Hannah within about a half hour of her birth. I didn't do delayed cord clamping (I'm not a huge believer in the benefits of it...but that's a different topic), but I had my baby latched to the breast very soon after delivery. You really just need to let this be known to the staff. Once I was stitched back up, my baby was laid in my arms, and did not leave my arms (except to be occasionally laid in her isolette, in our room) until I was discharged 4 days later.

My planned section was a beautiful experience. I have posted the video of my birth below if you'd care to watch it...there's no gore or graphic stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_NQg6xS3XU

 

[Melissa_M]

Just subscribing......have my first planned c/s booked Sept 10th

 

[wookie130]

If there is any way your DH or OH can take paternity leave or FMLA leave for 2 weeks after the surgery, that would be WONDERFUL. You will need help when you come home, both for YOU, and for your other children...you'll be sore, and at first, taking care of yourself (getting up and down, using the restroom, dressing yourself, showering, cooking, cleaning up) will be difficult. Someone will need to help feed and look after your other kiddos, while you can kind of stay put, and tend to the new baby without the need to chase after anyone, etc. I highly recommend your OH find a way to get some time off work to help you do what needs to be done.

It took me a good couple of weeks to really feel like I could handle everything, and my newborn was my only child. I do not know what I would have done had my DH not stayed home to help me dress, bathe, and bring me meals. Vaginal delivery is very tough, for the several hours you're experiencing it, but afterwards, given that there were few complications, you can bounce back pretty well. C-sections are easy in the sense that the surgery itself is typically uneventful, and you're well numbed, and you go in, have the baby, and you're done...however, it's the recovery that makes it very difficult. This being said, a lot of women do well after the surgery, and find the recovery to not be too bad. It was tough for me, but I was getting around pretty good after about a week home...and at two weeks, I was fine.

You're not to do any heavy lifting or major housework for AT LEAST 8 weeks after the c-section. No vacuuming!!! The rule of thumb, is that you cannot lift anything heavier than your baby for 8 weeks...so, you can carry your baby, but not baby in the carseat. Let OH carry the carseat. So, I would ask your doctors about carrying your other children around...it may be a no-no for a while. You are NOT to drive for 2 weeks after the surgery. You can ride in a car, but you can't drive.

I know it sounds like a lot of do's and don't's, but honestly, if you need to have a c-section, it is honestly what may end up being safer for you and for your baby in the long run. The point of pregnancy and delivery is to get the baby here safe, and also to keep YOU safe. In other words, the process does matter less than the outcome...so, do what will be safest for both of you.