What to expect, US ladies

[FarmersWife5]

At my appointment yesterday my OB discussed with me, that I may need a c section.. due to babys weight. Ever since the beginning he has been growing fast. I had an ultrasound last week and they are guessing he will be easily over 8lbs. My OB said she wanted to do another ultrasound in 4 weeks to check on his weight... and that if he was 9lbs or more, she recommend a section. Due to his weight and also my small frame as I am only 5'2.

I am a FTM so I do not know what to expect if I do have one... This may sound silly but I am a little worried about getting strapped to the table and not being able to feel my whole lower body.. like that I'll freak out? And also how do they numb you? Do you receive medication through the spine?

Thank you ladies!

 

[wish4baby]

This is what happened with mine
So, first I got taken into the OR without my DH. There, I sat on the edge of the bed and they stuck me in the middle lower spine with a small shot to numb that area, then a couple minutes later, they did the bigger stick, to put in the epidural.
The shots weren't that bad, it was worse in my mind than in real life lol.

Then I laid down & became completely numb from stomach down within a few min. I don't think I was strapped in or anything and it wasn't freaky - and I am a serious claustrophobic. I even freak out if my hands/arms are unable to move! I remember being cold, and shivering a lot. They did have one of my arms out, strapped to a board, with blood pressure, o2 reader, and some other stuff I think. They put up a wall, then let DH in to sit near my head, neither of us saw what went on on the other side of the wall. I felt pressure and pulling, then heard my baby

Recovery was annoying because I had to move my toes to get out and I kept trying and trying...it was so weird, but not panicky, because I could move my upper body fine. I kept shivering uncontrollably even in recovery, but it wasn't that bad. The epidural stayed in for a few days, and they used it like an IV, to give me meds and stuff. But I was only numb/unable to move my legs for a couple hours at most

 

[FarmersWife5]

So how long were you in the room doing the section? Do you remember? And if they had the epidural in for a few days.. does that mean you were unable to get up and go to the restroom etc? That would be sucky!!! I am pretty claustrophobic too! It is good to hear how it went for you though, because I am pretty clueless on it! Just want to feel a little prepared if we do find out that is the route we are going with.

Thank you soo much

 

[wish4baby]

The section didn't last long...I was probably in the OR a total of 50min, and most of that was prep, or sewing me up. I went in about 9am, baby was born at 9:32am and I was in recovery by 10am.
The epidural is like a hollow tube going in your spine. Anytime I needed pain medicine, they'd inject it in my epidural, if I remember correctly. So basically the super strong medicine is just for the surgery, that numbs you completely, then once that wears off and you can feel again, they'll just inject a regular pain med as needed into the epidural (or give you a pump that you can use anytime you feel like you need it, but it has to be like 30 min between pumps or something). The nurses were all over me to walk, walk, walk, go to the restroom, shower, etc. With my first, I was back home 48 hrs later because all the moving around actually helped (although I did NOT like it at the time) and I was able to go without pain meds & do all they needed me to do to get out.

 

[2ndprincess]

The one thing I wish I knew ahead of time is that I had a heavy feeling on my chest and I felt like I couldn't breathe. That gave me extreme anxiety and panic. So now I know, you do not just go numb from the waist down, it's all the way up to your chest as well.

 

[jenmcn1]

When it comes to a large baby, it can be difficult to deliver. My son was born at 37 weeks and it was a forcep delivery due to him getting stuck (shoulder dystosia). He was 8lbs 13oz. He had shoulders like a line backer! Anyways with my 2nd baby I carried her till 39w4d, and she turned breech last minute. So I had a csection. They wheeled me into the OR. Sat me up right on te side I the bed, and had to curl up in a ball, nurse helped me, and they did the spinal tap. Which is stronger than the epidural. Once it was in (not very painful). They laid me down on the table and put up the blue sheet to prevent me from seeing everything go on. Then brought my husband in to sit at my head. Te anesthesiologist was also sitting by my head to monitor how I was doing. Within 8-10min baby girl was out, and it took them about another 30-40minutes to finish stitching me up. Wheeled me into recovery. I was in Recovery for quite a while, b/c I was waiting for a room to be cleaned up for me. All was good, baby was a healthy 8lbs 3oz
So with regards to your csection....if your not comfortable with it, then say no. Csections are just easier for doctors, but ultimately you need to make that choice.

 

[FarmersWife5]

When it comes to a large baby, it can be difficult to deliver. My son was born at 37 weeks and it was a forcep delivery due to him getting stuck (shoulder dystosia). He was 8lbs 13oz. He had shoulders like a line backer! Anyways with my 2nd baby I carried her till 39w4d, and she turned breech last minute. So I had a csection. They wheeled me into the OR. Sat me up right on te side I the bed, and had to curl up in a ball, nurse helped me, and they did the spinal tap. Which is stronger than the epidural. Once it was in (not very painful). They laid me down on the table and put up the blue sheet to prevent me from seeing everything go on. Then brought my husband in to sit at my head. Te anesthesiologist was also sitting by my head to monitor how I was doing. Within 8-10min baby girl was out, and it took them about another 30-40minutes to finish stitching me up. Wheeled me into recovery. I was in Recovery for quite a while, b/c I was waiting for a room to be cleaned up for me. All was good, baby was a healthy 8lbs 3oz
So with regards to your csection....if your not comfortable with it, then say no. Csections are just easier for doctors, but ultimately you need to make that choice.

I don't think that its that I am not comfortable with it.. More so I just am not educated on it.. Which I am sure if that is the route we go with, my Dr will inform me of everything. It is just nice to hear from those who have actually gone through it! I just do not want him getting stuck because he is too big.. as you mentioned with your son! Time will tell what we go with.. But I am feeling better hearing how things typically gone during the process. Thank you!

 

[JessPape]

they shouldn't even be considering a csection due to babies weight unless baby is above 11lbs... Ugh, irrates me that doctors pull this card its against the ACOGR or whatever its called in the US... ultrasounds can be out 1/2lbs, and being short means nothing, nor your husbands height either....

Having said that, if you have a csection and deliever a small baby will you still be okay mentally?

Generally they do the Epidural and take it out after the surgery, your in the room for about an hour to an hour in half. Than recovery room for another hour or so. They will give you other medication for pain, some doctors prefer to use the spinal than the epidural for non emergency csections..


large babies and small babies can be difficult to deliver, some women get 4th degree tears with a 5lbs baby and a 10lbs baby can slide right though no problems. It actually comes down to babies position, moms position during the delivery stage and other things.

 

[FarmersWife5]

they shouldn't even be considering a csection due to babies weight unless baby is above 11lbs... Ugh, irrates me that doctors pull this card its against the ACOGR or whatever its called in the US... ultrasounds can be out 1/2lbs, and being short means nothing, nor your husbands height either....

Having said that, if you have a csection and deliever a small baby will you still be okay mentally?

Generally they do the Epidural and take it out after the surgery, your in the room for about an hour to an hour in half. Than recovery room for another hour or so. They will give you other medication for pain, some doctors prefer to use the spinal than the epidural for non emergency csections..


large babies and small babies can be difficult to deliver, some women get 4th degree tears with a 5lbs baby and a 10lbs baby can slide right though no problems. It actually comes down to babies position, moms position during the delivery stage and other things.

My OB actually said anything above 10. but based on my frame etc even 9 would be too big. But I fully trust her and I personally think your body frame could make a difference. But even if baby was smaller than expect.. I would be okay mentally.. I know some people have issues with sections etc but it does not matter to me... All that matters is my baby gets here healthy and happy, no matter how they are birthed.

 

[x__amour]

I know an EMCS and an ELCS are quite different but I already had an epidural in place so they put all the medications through there, with an ELCS they'll give you a spinal. My arms were laid out but not strapped down, they just asked me to try not to move them, they actually had put blankets on them. I was already numb from the epidural and it never really bothered me. Before they began, they scratched my chest with a dull needle and asked if I could feel that and I could. Then they scratched my belly and asked if I could feel that and I said no.

I have my birth story in my signature if you'd like to read that. I do want to say though that sometimes their guesstimates are off. They told me my DD was going to be 8-8½lbs and she was 6lbs, 5.4oz overdue.

 

[MMW430]

I'm a FTM and I had my baby via c-section due to him being large. He was born at exactly 39 weeks and was 8lb9oz at birth. It was annoying for me because I was scheduled for my section the day after he was born (I went into labor).

One of the annoying parts about it was the fact that my doctor wasn't there so while I had a perfectly competent doctor, I was being pressured to try doing it vaginally. I trusted my doctor and refused. Then, amusingly enough, while I was being stitched up I heard her say "yeah. This wouldn't have worked the other way" so I would have labored for hours with the same outcome.

It was a difficult recovery, but by two weeks I was fine. I'm sure when we decide to have another, I'll be having another section over a vbac.

 

[tristansmum]

they shouldn't even be considering a csection due to babies weight unless baby is above 11lbs... Ugh, irrates me that doctors pull this card its against the ACOGR or whatever its called in the US... ultrasounds can be out 1/2lbs, and being short means nothing, nor your husbands height either....

Having said that, if you have a csection and deliever a small baby will you still be okay mentally?

Generally they do the Epidural and take it out after the surgery, your in the room for about an hour to an hour in half. Than recovery room for another hour or so. They will give you other medication for pain, some doctors prefer to use the spinal than the epidural for non emergency csections..


large babies and small babies can be difficult to deliver, some women get 4th degree tears with a 5lbs baby and a 10lbs baby can slide right though no problems. It actually comes down to babies position, moms position during the delivery stage and other things.

My OB actually said anything above 10. but based on my frame etc even 9 would be too big. But I fully trust her and I personally think your body frame could make a difference. But even if baby was smaller than expect.. I would be okay mentally.. I know some people have issues with sections etc but it does not matter to me... All that matters is my baby gets here healthy and happy, no matter how they are birthed.

I'm 5ft And very petite. My second (which was a vbac) was 9lb 4oz! I don't believe you can't birth a bigger baby vaginally. There are lots of other factors that are more important. Obviously be guided by your doctor but know it's not impossible x

 

[burningred15]

One thing I wish someone had told me was that your face gets really itchy while you are recovering. Not too bothersome, just really weird when you are not expecting it. Best of luck to you!