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1. How long ago was it? December 2012
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? Planned
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural? Epidural
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure? It wasn't painful - it kinda felt like I was being manhandled...tugged back and forth a lot. I was really nauseated at the beginning, so they gave me something. I was also really shaky/shivery which is normal. The brain wasn't sure how to regulate body temp because it got no signals from my lower half.
5. Did you watch? Did your SO? No, neither of us. DH did catch a glimpse at one point once the baby was out. He didn't enjoy that.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?) horizontal, very low.
7. Who held baby after it came out? Doctors took her - she had the cord wrapped twice around her neck and wasn't breathing well to begin with, so I didn't even know she was out. They took her very quickly to the warming tables at the side. DH held her once she was taken care of.
8. Who cut the cord? OB
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? Surgery was probably an hour total, most of which was being stitched back up.
10. When did you get to hold your baby? In recovery.
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? 4 days or so
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…i was given an oxycodone prescription, but i didnt take anything stronger than tylenol and anti inflammatory.
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own? 2 weeks, I was still in some pain getting up and down, but was fine. Everyone said stairs would be bad, but I had no problems with them from day one.
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out? Dissolvable stitches and steri strips. I removed the steri strips around 10 days as advised by OB.
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section? We stayed 3 nights, but that was because of the way discharge worked,
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? Yes.
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section? No.
18. How does your section scar feel now? A little numb - there are still a few numby spots around my abdomen.
19. Anything you’d like to add? I had a pretty decent recovery and not many negatives, if any, to report! -
1. How long ago was it? 11 months ago
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? unplanned. i was induced and labored for 24 hours before the doctors discussed c-section. I had labored until 9cm and she was stuck and not coming.
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural?
I was given an epidural during labor and then bc I already had a line, they added heavier anesthesiology that numbed me from chest down.4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure?
nothing really. the room was freezing and i was shaking really bad. but you feel slight tugging and that's it5. Did you watch? Did your SO?
no. the anesthesiologist kept me preoccupied and gave me a play by play. my SO was by my side so I assumed he didnt watch (but apparently he did after the baby was out)6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?)
its horizontal. right in the bottom of my bikini line7. Who held baby after it came out?SO
8. Who cut the cord?SO
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? After baby, I delivered placenta, then they stitched me up right away. The whole process probably took like less than 30 minutes. The baby went straight to cleanup (there was a little bit of stuff when my water broke) and to be tested but it was in the same room. like I could see her while they were doing it and my husband was right there with her
10. When did you get to hold your baby?
after they cleaned her up, they held her up to me so i could see her face and took a picture. then we were wheeled into recovery and i got to hold her there11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? 2nd day a little, 3rd day more. but i had started pumping and pumping
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough?
the hospital only offers pain med thats okay for breastfeeding. i was given a narcotic and the next cycle (3 hours later) i told them i didnt need it. then i was given motrin until i left hospital. i didnt really need any after that.13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own?
probably about a week later14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out?
not sure what kind of stitches but it was the ones that dissolved so i didnt have to get it taken out15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section?
we stayed 4 but i was cleared to leave after 3. we chose to stay another day to be with LO bc of jaundice issues16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? yes. even during jaundice treatment. in fact, they rarely took her to nursery
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section?
no.18. How does your section scar feel now?unnoticeable
19. Anything you’d like to add? C-sections get a lot of negative treatment but my experience wasn't that bad. I was walking around the next day, going up and down stairs the next week, doing light housework. The recovery went really well and I had no problems.
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Glad to help
There were a lot of things that surprised me about my C-section1. How long ago was it? 6 weeks!
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? Unplanned; she got stuck in my pelvis and after 3 hrs of pushing she needed to come out.
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? I had an epidural
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure? At first the epidural didn't take, so they had to keep upping it, but luckily when they actually stared the procedure it was fine. It just felt SO weird.
5. Did you watch? Did your SO? Nope, there was a screen all the way up
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?) Nice unobtrusive bikini scar. That was a nice surprise; I thought it would be way more noticeable
7. Who held baby after it came out? DH!
8. Who cut the cord? The doctor. DH was too scared lol
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? I honestly don't remember. I know they started almost immediately
10. When did you get to hold your baby? Not for a couple hours
DH went with her to the nursery and I went to the first recovery area where they had to do the pressing on my uterus crap (that SUCKED) and I didn't get to see her for quite a while. To be honest, I was in too much pain to care, as bad as that sounds. I just wanted to know she was ok!
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? Before I left the hospital, so before 5 days
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough? It was Norco, and it was enough but I was still in quite a bit of pain that first week. I basically had to heal from a c-section and a vag delivery, so it sucked
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own? I felt back to normal by 3 weeks.
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out? Staples, and they came out the next week. Didn't hurt to take them out!
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section? 4. Would have been 3 but I developed an infection so had to stay an extra day. I was grateful for the extra night to recuperate and get some TLC
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? No. She had jaundice and they took her to the nursery for a lot of the time. I'm actually pissed about this because the night nurse sucked and kept telling me she would bring the baby...then didn't. I wish I had thrown a bigger fit over it.
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section? No, everything has healed really well
18. How does your section scar feel now? The scar feels rubbery, but there is a big strip above it that is numb
19. Anything you’d like to add? You'll be fine! -
1. How long ago was it? 3 months ago
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? Unplanned, my LO's heart rate started rapidly dropping with each contraction
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural? Yes, epidural. I couldn't believe how immediate it was - at one point I thought my blanket was still covering my legs, then they said something about being almost done with the catheter...and then was when I looked down and realized my legs were uncovered and they were in the middle of putting in the catheter. I couldn't move my legs or feel a thing.
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure? Someone tracing on my stomach with a pen or pencil or something...no real pressure like I've heard described, even when they lifted him out of me.
5. Did you watch? Did your SO? Hell no!!!! DH did look after LO was out to see him, then quickly looked away. I specifically told them I did not want to see anything.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?) Horizontal, right at the bikini line. I don't even think about it - it's covered by the top of underwear/bathing suits, and is nothing compared to my stretch marks.
7. Who held baby after it came out? They handed him first to DH, who then handed him to me.
8. Who cut the cord? The doctor. As far as I understand that's pretty standard with a C-section, DH was fine with it.
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? I'm not sure...I pretty much lost all concept of time once I was in the hospital, apparently the whole thing took between 1-1.5 hours, but to me it seemed more like 20 minutes!
10. When did you get to hold your baby? After they cleaned him up a bit (I could have had just a second of immediate skin-to-skin, but I'm really squeamish and let them towel him off first) and checked his vitals and measurements. It probably took two or three minutes, although it felt like ages!
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? I was already leaking before the C-section.
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough? I had Motrin (ha...that did nothing) and Oxycodone, which helped a ton. They shouldn't offer meds that aren't okay for breastfeeding. It felt like enough.
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own? I'd say it took almost a week before I could easily stand up - before then I had to go slowly and ease myself up and often slouched over so I didn't feel like I was pulling at the incision. 2 weeks before I could walk around the house and do some chores. Closer to a month before I was basically back to normal as far as being able to go for walks, carry the carseat around, shower without being paranoid about the incision, etc.
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out? No stitches, they used staples which were removed after a week - and it actually didn't hurt at all! I barely felt it!
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section? Two.
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? Yes.
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section? I had hemorrhoids for a couple of awful horrible months, but that can happen with a vaginal birth too. I also had some issues with numbness in my arm just from my nerves going a bit crazy; I wore a brace for, it went away after a few weeks.
18. How does your section scar feel now? Fine. Occasionally numb if I wear tight-fitting pants.
19. Anything you’d like to add? I was absolutely terrified to have a C-section! I burst into hysterical tears when I found out it was necessary, but now that I've experienced it I might have another with my second - it was a million times easier than what I feared.
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. How long ago was it? 13 months
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? it was scheduled but I went into labor early and had the c-section anyway.
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural? Spinal, I was in labor and was having a contraction during the spinal so I was nervous about sitting still. It was so easy though, the doctor told me to take a deep breath, it was over and I had instant relief!!!
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure? I could feel my hips moving around, it was very weird but not painful. It was much lower feeling than I thought it would be, but like I said I was in labor and the baby had dropped so maybe that was why I felt it so low?
5. Did you watch? Did your SO? No, the drape was up.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?) The scar is pretty low, horizontal.
7. Who held baby after it came out? Immediately after coming out he was briefly taken to be checked out and my husband went right over to see him. I could hear him crying and didn't like that I couldn't see him yet, it felt like forever but it was probably 2-3 minutes before my husband brought him over to me.
8. Who cut the cord? The doctor.
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? My husband and the baby hung out with me for awhile, then when they were doing the final sutures etc. they sent them both back to my room. We were probably separated for 10-15 minutes.
10. When did you get to hold your baby? As soon as I got back to my room, I had my hand on him and he was next to my face though in the OR.
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? This was my second baby and it didn't take any longer for my milk to come in than the first time which was an unmedicated, vaginal birth. He latched on right away when I got back to my room after the c-section.
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough? Vicodin and ibuprofen. It was definitely fine for breastfeeding and managed the pain well.
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own? My most challenging time was weeks 3-4 when my husband went back to work and I had my 19 month old and the newborn to take care of. I was only taking ibuprofen 1-2x/day and getting around pretty well but then had to start taking the vicodin again. It was mostly related to taking care of my toddler though, if I just had the newborn I think I would have been fine by then.
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out? I had stitches and steri strips, I think? I honestly cannot remember.
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section? 2
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? Yes
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section? No
18. How does your section scar feel now? It feels like a ridge and is a little numb still in that area.
19. Anything you’d like to add? I had an unmedicated vaginal birth for my first and had some pp complications that resulted in the planned c-section for my second. I was mainly concerned about breastfeeding after surgery but it was just as easy as the first time. Also, take the pain medication, I resisted and felt awful, not pain exactly just a dull heavy feeling that makes you feel like you can't move. Then I took the vicodin and everything felt manageable again. Also, they gave me an abdominal binder at the hospital that also helped with getting up and around. -
1. How long ago was it? 16 months
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? unplanned
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural? Epidural
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure? When they increased my pain meds on the surgery table (before the csection started) I threw up
After that--not much. The medicine did what it needed to do but I must've asked for too much during the procedure (because I was scared of potential pain), I started seeing doubles. It was kinda trippy! I felt a lot of pressure and tugging during the procedure.5. Did you watch? Did your SO? There was a piece of fabric draped over me and DH sat at my side (anesthesiologist was sitting near my head). Right before they pulled the baby up they asked DH to stand to watch DS being born. It was beautiful and the first time I saw DH cry.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?) It is horizontal--my underwear covers it.
7. Who held baby after it came out? The nurse? I have no idea.
8. Who cut the cord? Pretty sure the doctor cut the cord but they left enough for DH to "clean it up" with a pair of scissors.
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? 45 minutes?
10. When did you get to hold your baby? 12 hours but hear me out--I developed a fever/infection overnight while laboring. LO went to NICU as a preventative measure so doctors could keep an eye on him around the clock. They initially told us that they would keep him in NICU for 48 hours but he was fine so they gave him back to us after 36 hours. If I did not have an infection LO would have joined me in our room.
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? A while... 4 days
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough? They gave me aspirin and narcotics--it was enough. I actually felt really good and stopped taking the pain meds after 5 days. The pain from surgery really didn't bother me much.
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own? I started getting around on my own in 24 hours, granted it wasn't too far. I was able to go to the bathroom, go to the snack room for juice, jello, walk with the baby and DH around the hospital.
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out? I received staples and the were removed before I left the hospital. After the staples were removed they placed medical grade "stickers" vertically to keep the wound in place. I was not to get them wet. and they were removed at my 2 week visit. The doctor said I "healed beautifully"
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section? 4 nights
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? No, see my answer to question 10 regarding my infection
Aside from staying in NICU the only time he left my side was when he went for his circumcision and tests. My hospital very much encouraged babies to stay with their mamas regardless of how they were delivered.17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section? Nope!
18. How does your section scar feel now? It feels fine! At first I lacked sensation in that area but sensation has returned. The scar doesn't bother me and I often forget it's there.
19. Anything you’d like to add? Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions!
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1. How long ago was it?
5 months ago
2. Was your section planned or unplanned?
Sort of both. :). I attempted an induction of breech twins, which failed, so I had a c-section. We knew going into that it was a likely possibility.
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural?
I had a spinal tap, which is awesome because it keeps some meds in your body longer than an epidural.
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure?
You can feel pressure, but no pain. Kind of a weird feeling, but it also made me feel somewhat connected to the process.
5. Did you watch? Did your SO?
I couldn't see over the flap. DH could seek perks of the procedure, but could see everything they did to the babies after they were out.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?)
Bikini line from side to side. I could literally wear a bikini without it showing if I had the body for a bikini!
7. Who held baby after it came out?
DH held both and they brought them over for me to see, kiss, etc., but then they were taken to the NICU.
8. Who cut the cord? The OB.
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? Maybe 30 minute sir so. I honestly have no idea.
10. When did you get to hold your baby?
They went to NICU, so no for several hours, but otherwise it would have been as soon as they took me to the recovery room.
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in?
Day 5
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough?
I don't know what it was, but it was awesome! Totally okay with breastfeeding. I definitely took all they would give me for as long as they would give me, but I was also pushing myself pretty hard.
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own?
I went down to the NICU a couple hours later and held the one I was allowed to hold & tried breastfeeding. By the next morning (surgery was at 8 p.m.) I was standing, picking up the babies, etc., but not walking long distances. By probably Day 3, I was getting around fine, but got tired easily and still needed Motrin.
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out?
They took them out before I was discharged and just had tape over the incision.
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section?
The boys were born Monday night and I was discharged Thursday.
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay?
They would have, but they were in the NICU for 8 days (not related to the surgery; they were just early).
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section?
Nope! It's still a little numb and itchy, but it's not a problem.
18. How does your section scar feel now?
See above.
19. Anything you’d like to add?
My biggest advice is get up and get moving as much as possible even if it hurts! I had to be able to do that to see and care for my boys (good motivation!), but I know that helped me get better very quickly! Also, ask for an abdominal binder if they don't offer it! It helps SO much!I reeeeally did no want a c-section, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I had imagined. It's very doable to have a c-section and still feel connected, bonded, and able to do most of the care for baby! Good luck!
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@Dandelion: I also blogged about my experience. Will add the link tomorrow.
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Thanks @Dandelion: for starting this thread! I read through everyone's experiences and I didn't realize how different everyone's scarring would be.
1. How long ago was it? 1 year, almost exactly
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? Unplanned
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Spinal block
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure? I couldn't feel any pain, but I just felt tugging
5. Did you watch? Did your SO? Nope, we weren't allowed to.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?) Horizontal and extremely low. It's below where my pubic hair starts.
7. Who held baby after it came out? DH
8. Who cut the cord? One of the medical staff.
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? Maybe an hour?
10. When did you get to hold your baby? Since we had to do a C because of fetal distress, immediately after she was taken out they cleaned her up and checked her out. They brought her to me for while they were stitching me up but I wasn't allowed to hold her... just look at her. After I got to the recovery room, she was taken to be examined in the NICU. I didn't get to hold her until she came back from the NICU about 1.5-2 hrs after she was delivered.
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? 6-7 days, and I never had the engorged feeling that everyone talks about. We had to supplement with formula for about 2 weeks because she had dropped too much weight but the supplementation didn't hurt us long term since I am still BF at 1 year.
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough? They gave me percoset for the pain, ibuprofen and aspirin. They told me all of that was safe for breastfeeding. I tried weaning myself off the Percoset but I truly needed it to manage the pain for at least 2.5 weeks.
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own? Probably about 7 days before I felt that I could get up and down the stairs in my home.
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out? Internal dissolvable stitches. Externally, they glued me, stapled me and used steri-strips. The staples were removed after 2 days. Steri-strips I took off at home maybe 10 days after?
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section? 2 nights.
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? Yes, our hospital doesn't have a nursery except in the case of the NICU.
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section?When I've worn tight pants, I've gotten a lot of pain in that area as well. It's also a bit numb and tingly from time to time.
18. How does your section scar feel now? I have hypertrophic scarring from it. It looks similar to a keloid. It's red, wide and raised. It also itches from time to time and its really ugly
19. Anything you’d like to add? I think my hypertrophic scarring isn't normal! I haven't had a chance to talk to my OB since my 6 week appointment so I don't know if there is anything I can do to minimize it. I hope you don't experience the same thing!
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1. a couple weeks shy of 2 years.
2. unplanned
3. epidural
4. it felt a lot different than I expected. I thought the pressure would all be in my abdomen and pelvis. It felt like they were pushing everything up into my chest. I told DH that I felt like the baby was going to be born out of my mouth.
5. I did not watch. I kept telling DH not too look. At one point he glanced over and told me that my uterus was orange.
6. my scar is horizontal. I can't remember the medical terms right now but it's very low and not on the contracting part of my uterus.
7. my midwife assisted in the delivery and pulled him out. The nurses cleaned him up and then DH got to hold him for a couple of minutes.
8. the doctors
9. maybe 30 minutes? I'm really not sure. I slept through most of it.
10. DH and baby went to the nursery for all of the initial checks and cleaning while I was being stitched up. I was in my recovery room for 10 minutes or so when they brought the baby back to me.
11. not long. I was able to get a little milk from pumping before we were even discharged from the hospital.
12. I was given Percocet and, I believe, Tylenol. If may have been Motrin? It was more than enough as long as I kept up with taking it. There were a few instances in the early days where I would put it off for an hour or two and ended up in pain!
13. at about 2 weeks PP, it was easier to get up and down without help. I overdid it a lot after that though and it slowed my recovery a little. I'd say it took at least 6 weeks to feel normal again.
14. I had dissolvable stitches internally and steri strips externally. I was told to let the steri strips fall off on their own. It took a few weeks.
15. my surgery was at 9:17pm on a Saturday and we were discharged around lunchtime the following Monday.
16. yes my baby stayed with me
17. none at all. I've been told I'm a great candidate for a vbac.
18. it looks and feels great! I'm pregnant with #2 and every doctor I've seen has commented on how amazing it looks. They all say how you can barely even tell I had the surgery at all.
19. I did want to touch on the baby rooming with you. We were told that the baby couldn't stay with me if DH had to leave for any reason but they didn't enforce it. The nurses were all very nice and helpful. -
@Mrs. Blue: I've read your blog on it! Thanks for sharing your experience!
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@sunny: I've really benefited from this thread...my husband and I feel way better about planning a c-section. I'm seeing that lots of members are reading it, so I hope it also helps others who are facing it. It's scary to think about, but these experiences don't sound so bad. Thanks for sharing!
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1. How long ago was it? 16 weeks
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? Very unplanned! Had been preparing for an unmediated birth.
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural? Epidural
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure? Pressure. It was uncomfortable, but not painful.
5. Did you watch? Did your SO? No and no.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?) It's horizontal and about 8" long. Very low right at the bikini line. The scar is very fine.
7. Who held baby after it came out? DH. I could have except that I was shaking too much from the anesthetic.
8. Who cut the cord? The OB, but they still did slightly delayed cord clamping.
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? About 45 minutes. DH and DD were beside me the whole time.
10. When did you get to hold your baby? As soon as I got into recovery. We did skin-to-skin and tried to get her to latch.
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? Five days. I was induced so that was probably a factor too. DD got enough colostrum so we didn't need to supplement.
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough? Morphine the day of the surgery, Advil/Tylenol combo after that. I had NO pain!
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own? I was up and walking around the same day. Felt pretty normal within a few days, but still had to take it easy to protect the incision etc.
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out? Self-dissolving, internal stitches (they weren't visible from the outside).
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section? Two nights.
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? Yes, that's the only option here unless your baby's in NICU.
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section? Nope.
18. How does your section scar feel now? There's a little numbness around it, but otherwise fine.
19. Anything you’d like to add? I was so opposed to csections, but ended up needing one due to significant real HR decels and maternal fever. It was actually really easy and I felt very well ared for.
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@Dandelion: I was really nervous going into it, but it was definitely better than I expected! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. I'm praying for you and the baby...
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@tinyperson: I'm so glad I made this post! I feel WAY better. And, to be honest, I hated labor...I survived, but I had back labor and I did not enjoy it. The idea of skipping it and going straight to a live, healthy baby, sounds almost like a dream. I'm still nervous, but me and DH are definitely more comfortable with it now more than ever.
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@hergreenapples: I was wondering if anyone delayed claming...that's great! I'll ask my OB about that. Thank you for sharing.
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@Dandelion: I'm glad this thread is helping
I know most people don't want to have a csection(I know I didn't the first time around), but healthy baby, healthy mommy is the key and they aren't as scary as most people think. Honestly, I couldn't imagine have a baby any other way and recovery isn't as daunting either. The first few days are usually the roughest, but it gets better Good luck to you on a healthy pregnancy, delivery and baby
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@sarbear: A year ago, when I was pregnant, I was all about the natural, unmedicated birth. Amazing what an experience and a year can do. Now, I'm all about just taking the baby home and skipping the labor. Maybe if mine wasn't such a nightmare, I'd feel more inclined to try again. But, no...I'm actually looking forward to the prospect of skipping the labor.
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Looks like you got a lot of great feedback, but I wanted to chime in since I had a really great c-section experience:
1. How long ago was it? 6 mos ago
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? Unplanned, failed induction, failure to progress due to length and position of baby
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural? Spinal
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure? Not gonna lie - it felt freaky, but no pain at all. Just tugging and weirdness. I'd never had any other type of surgery or anesthesia so maybe that has something to do with it.
5. Did you watch? Did your SO? The sheet was up and I didn't try to see. My husband was right next to my head and he said he could see a little bit, and if he tried, he could have seen a lot but he didn't really want to look until they pulled her out.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?) Horizontal, under the bikini line. Very low, no chance of showing even if I wore a teeny bikini, lol.
7. Who held baby after it came out? The OBs handed her over to another doctor (I guess a Pedi??) who was waiting to check her out, weigh and measure, then they gave her right to my husband. Within minutes he was holding her.
8. Who cut the cord? I guess the OB. I know my husband wasn't given the option.
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? Under 10 minutes? This felt like nothing compared to the tugging.
10. When did you get to hold your baby? My husband brought her right over to me, I'd say within 8 minutes of her coming out. After I was stitched up they took us into an interim room where I was alone with husband and baby for over an hour. It was perfect.
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? 5 days. This is one of those things that I just don't know if it was because of the induction or the c-section or it's just the way it would have been. She was definitely hungry by the time it came in, but we never had to supplement.
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough? I guess they gave me morphine before the surgery because I was super itchy and cold afterward, and the nurse said it was from the morphine. They gave me a painkiller prescription but I never took them. All I took in the hospital was ibuprofin. I took a few when I got home but didn't feel like I needed it after a few days. They assured me everything was and would have been safe for breastfeeding. Also, just wanted to add that LO was totally alert from the first second. She had no problem latching on and breastfeeding. I don't believe she was under any type of haze or anything.
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own? I was walking around in the hospital on the second day. In fact a lot of our first pictures have my husband laying in the hospital bed with LO and me standing at the bedside, lol. I had the surgery at 5 PM and really only the first night I couldn't get up but after that I felt much better.
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out? I think they were disolvable stitches with steri-strips. My OB took the steri-strips off after a few weeks.
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section? Pretty sure it was 3. I definitely could have gone home in 2.
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? Yes, she was never taken out of our room.
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section? No, I feel 100% normal.
18. How does your section scar feel now? Totally normal, very faint, someone might not even notice it.
19. Anything you’d like to add? I think a lot of people have already said as much, but despite the stigma, it was a positive experience for me and my baby. I was definitely planning for an unmedicated birth and because of the c-section ended up with allthedrugs but everything worked out just fine. I'm not a doctor and I can't know for sure if I would have been able to deliver naturally had I not been induced, but I trust my doctor and she believed we made the right choice.
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I don't have babies but my sister has had 4 and had a different type of labor with each one of her kids.
Kid 1: vaginal birth with no meds
Kid 2: vaginal birth with an epidural
Kid 3: attempted vaginal birth with an epidural but ended as an emergency c-section
Kid 4: planned c-sectionShe said of all her experiences her c-sections were much easier for her to recover from and she had a better time afterwards compared to her vaginal births.
After her first c-section I think she had some pain at her incision sight which the dr said was scar tissue forming but other than that she loved her c-sections!
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@Sweet T: If you don't mind me asking, are you planning to try for a vbac with this baby?
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@Dandelion: I am planning for a vbac right now. I'm trying to remain open minded in case something changes but right now everything looks good.
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1. How long ago was it? 2yrs
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? unplanned, she was breech and was in distress, had pooped.
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural? Epidural
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure? I didn't feel anything.
5. Did you watch? Did your SO? No, he did.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?) horizontal
7. Who held baby after it came out? My ex
8. Who cut the cord? the dr
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? Not long
10. When did you get to hold your baby? about 2 hrs, I was in the recovery room
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? not long, 2 days maybe
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough? Some kind of asprin, didn't need it.
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own? When the staples came out
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out? I was stapled...yeah...horrible when I laughed!
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section? 2
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? yes
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section? no
18. How does your section scar feel now? fine
19. Anything you’d like to add? -
1. How long ago was it?
16 months
2. Was your section planned or unplanned?
Planned
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural?
Spinal Block
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure?
It made me quite nauseous because there is so much pressure and they are moving things around. It was an icky feeling, not gonna lie.
5. Did you watch? Did your SO?
Oh hell no.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?)
Very low horizontal. About an inch below where my hair starts.
7. Who held baby after it came out?
The nurse who handed him to my husband.
8. Who cut the cord?
The doctor
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again?
Maybe 10 minutes
10. When did you get to hold your baby?
In recovery. About 20 minutes after I delivered.
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in?
4 days
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough?
They gave me a variety of things at the hospital, some by pill and some by IV that first day. But once I was home, I took Tylenol 3.
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own?
The 3rd day.
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out?
They used staples at the hospital on the outside, which were removed befor I left. They replaced those with Steri-strips.
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section?
I could have gone home after 2, but I stayed the customary 3.
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay?
No. I had the option to send him to the nursery and we did.
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section?
Nope
18. How does your section scar feel now?
Honestly, it sometimes hurts a little, especially if I lean on it. But for the most part, I forget its there.
19. Anything you’d like to add?
It was scary, but I survived. -
I haven't read the other responses yet, but here are my answers:
1. How long ago was it? Almost 8 months.
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? Unplanned
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural? Epidural. It was administered during labor, as I was attempting to birth vaginally.
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure? For me, it was extremely painful. *But* I had already been through over 30 hours of labor, and my epidural wasn't really working before I went into it. I could not feel any cutting whatsoever, nor most of the procedure. The doctor said I would feel pulling and pressure, but that it shouldn't hurt. For me, that "pulling" was extremely painful. So much so that I screamed at the top of my lungs and cried. They pretty much knocked me out at the end. I don't think that's normal, and I've heard scheduled c-sections are worlds apart from emergency because you aren't already tired/stressed/in top pain. I'm not trying to be scary, that's just how it was for me.
5. Did you watch? Did your SO? No. There was a drape up. Neither of us watched, and he held my hand.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?) Horizontal, in my bikini area.
7. Who held baby after it came out? They cleaned him and weighed him, then handed him to DH.
8. Who cut the cord? The doctor.
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? The whole surgery was maybe an hour, I think. I was out of it, so I had to ask DH. He says sewing me up took the most time.
10. When did you get to hold your baby? About 2 hours after surgery ended, but I was knocked out at the end, after they removed the baby, because I was still experiencing so much pain.
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? 4 days. I pumped to encourage it, and supplemented with formula before that.
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough? Ibuprofen and Percocet. I was told I could take them and breastfeed. I only ever took the Ibuprofen because I never needed anything stronger.
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own? Probably a couple of weeks for me, until I felt I could. However, DH wanted me to recover well and not push it, so I did very little for about a month. I basically just breastfed.
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out? I know I have double wall suture (I think that's the name), which my OB said she did to increase my chances at VBAC later if I want to try for one. They dissolved and never needed to be removed. I had tape holding things together at first, and removed it when I was at home (per doctor's instructions).
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section? 3 nights.
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? No, but he could have. I was exhausted the first night, but I think that was the 36 hour labor more than the c-section.
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section? Nope, none that I know of.
18. How does your section scar feel now? Fine! I barely notice it. It itched a little from time to time as the nerves grew back, but nothing bad at all. My c-section "shelf" is also not bad, as the scar is low.
19. Anything you’d like to add? My story sounds scary, but bear in mind that I had a long labor and a failed epidural. By the time they wanted to section me, I'd had enough (back labor is the pits) and was ready for it. It was scary and painful at the time, but I don't regret it. -
@LittleFox: I'm gathering that the planned ones are way better than the unplanned. I have a gut feeling that either way I go, I'll end up sectioned, so I might as well go ahead and plan it to make it an easy recovery. Plus, I had horrible back labor, too...I don't think I want to go through that again.
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I may be a little late to adding, but I thought I would put my experience in too... This is a great thread to read about everyone's experiences!
1. How long ago was it? 17 months
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? unplanned and slight emergency (water broke, baby was breech and I progressed too quickly and was fully dilated by the time I got to the OR)
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural? A spinal block I think?
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure? I felt some of the pressure and tugging and pulling, but no pain. I don't even remember the pain from getting the spinal but that may just be because I was contracting!
5. Did you watch? Did your SO? No, and No... DH only saw some when they pulled the curtain down after DS was born for us to see.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?) horizontal at my bikini line
7. Who held baby after it came out? Well, DS was 4 weeks early and having a hard time breathing, the NICU Dr checked him out for a while, DH held him a little, brought him to me to see & kiss but then DS had to go to the NICU
8. Who cut the cord? Dr. cut it but DH trimmed it down
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? DS was born around 10:30 am and I was in a wheelchair that evening sometime getting pushed to the NICU
10. When did you get to hold your baby? Special circumstances... because DS was in the NICU I didn't get to hold him until around midnight that night.
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? 2 1/2, 3 days maybe? But my nursing experience started with just pumping for the first 24 hours
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough? I was given ibuprofen and a prescription for Percocet but I never needed the Percocet. I was fine with just the ibuprofen and made sure to stay on top of taking it when needed.
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own? The next evening I pushed the wheelchair to the NICU and was walking to the NICU myself the day after. I felt pretty good and was walking easily by the time I was discharged.
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out? I didn't have any stitches for the incision, I just had steri strips. When I was allowed to shower I could even let the soapy water run over the incision and everything.
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section? My c-section was on a Thursday, I was discharged on Monday. I could have left Sunday but since DS was in the NICU they pushed for me to have another night there.
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? Special circumstances, DS was in the NICU the whole time
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section? Nope! I felt really great afterwards all things considered. My incision healed well too.
18. How does your section scar feel now? Fine, It's light pink but not too noticeable. I am pregnant again now but I don't notice anything from it.
19. Anything you’d like to add? I felt like I had a great experience all things considered, and I will say getting a c-section was one of my biggest fears going into labor. I think because my water broke and it happened so fast I just kind of went on adrenaline and wanting everything to be okay! I don't know if I put this anywhere but DS was 4 weeks early so that was the reason for the NICU stay, nothing directly c-section related. Drs have said to us that when babies are born vaginally they get more of a squeeze to get out and it pushes more junk out of their lungs so he might not have had as hard of a time if he was born vaginally, but they really can't say and that is somewhat speculation. -
@creativemomma15: Thanks for adding your experience! The more the better for me, so I don't think it's ever too late to add your story. The more people telling me it's not so bad the better, haha.
I had a NICU baby, too, for my first so I know how that goes. How long did he stay? DS was 8 weeks early and stayed 15 days.
Are you planning another c section for this one?
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1. How long ago was it? July 2012
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? Planned
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural? Spinal
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure? It hurt when they did the spinal, I won't lie, but I said to the nurses (when they asked if I was ok) that I knew it hurt less than labor and they laughed and said it sure does, and it was shorter too. haha. I went numb pretty quickly and couldn't feel much of anything. Maybe some tugging here or there, but ZERO pain.
5. Did you watch? Did your SO? No way, no how.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?) Very low, very faint. Can't even tell it's there.
7. Who held baby after it came out? Nurses/docs and then DH. Honestly, I felt a little druggy and I was ok not holding her.
8. Who cut the cord? Doctors.
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? Maybe 30 minutes or so. Honestly, and I know this will sound weird, but it was the first 30 minutes in 9 months where I felt relaxed. The whole pregnancy I was nervous something would go wrong/be wrong and once the docs checked her out and left the room, I honestly did not care about anything else. Once DH and DD left the room I gave a huge exhale and was SOOOOO relieved. It's hard to explain, but I will never forget that feeling and never forget that moment.
10. When did you get to hold your baby? In the recovery area. We didn't bond right away. I loved her totally, but we "bonded" the next morning and I knew exactly when it happened.
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? A couple days. I had some other restrictions with BF (breast reduction 20 years ago) but I did produce milk. I told everyone from the beginning that I was going to do formula and try breastfeeding once my milk came in. Everyone understood and was supportive. I would bottle feed and then latch her afterwards for a bit so she could practice and get any colostrum.
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough? I had a couple alternating pain meds and it was challenging for a couple of days. I won't lie. Every day it got better though, and I didn't have to deal with tearing, hemmroids, or many of the other painful issues moms get from traditional birthing, so it's all relative.
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own? I could get around right away, and was even shuffling around the hospital on day 4. By 5 or 6 it was pretty easy, with definitely feeling significantly better by day 7. By 10 days, I was feeling great.
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out? I have no idea, but didn't have to have them taken out so I assume they dissolved.
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section? 4
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? Yes.
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section? No
18. How does your section scar feel now? Don't notice it's there.
19. Anything you’d like to add? Honestly, it wasn't bad. I know it's not everyone's ideal birth but it was still a great experience and the recovery was not bad. I wouldn't hesitate to have another one. -
I'm late to the post too but here's my answers:
1. How long ago was it?
December 2012 / 8 months
2. Was your section planned or unplanned?
Unplanned
3. What kind of anesthetic is used?
Epidural
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure?
I felt a little pressure but honestly I was so sick at that point (blood pressure issues, vomiting, lightheadedness) that I wasn't paying attention, I was just trying not to throw up.
5. Did you watch? Did your SO?
Mostly trying not to vomit, but yes, both of us were watching. The curtain came down so we saw EVERYTHING.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?)
Horizontal, very low down below bikini line
7. Who held baby after it came out?
FI for a little while, but he was too focused on my recovery, so the nurses handled it.
8. Who cut the cord?
FI
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again?
Within 10 minutes
10. When did you get to hold your baby?
About 5 hours I was too sick
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in?
A day
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough?
Codeine and Advil were offered....i tried to be a hero and only take advil. not recommended!!!!!
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own?
about 6 weeks
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out?
Dissolving inside, staples outside. Staples removed after a week.
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section?
5 days
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay?
He was allowed to but I was too sick so he was in the nursery.
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section?
Nope
18. How does your section scar feel now?
Fine!
19. Anything you’d like to add?
The scar is practically invisible. I would much prefer planned over unplanned.....the "urgency" was the unenjoyable part. -
@Dandelion: I was pleasantly surprised by how well everything went too, especially because I was terrified of a c-section going in! DS was in the NICU for 7 days. It definitely could have been worse, but was still a challenge we weren't expecting going in. As of now I am thinking we will try for a Vbac. My OB says that I am the perfect candidate and due to family history and my history the chances that I make it to 39 weeks to schedule a csection are slim. So, I would probably end up going into labor anyway and with DS it was about 4-4 1/2 hours until I was fully dialated. I am a little nervous just because of the risk and fear of uterine rupture and ultimately if the baby wouldnt make it because of that. But, our dr said he would recommend a Vbac for me and that I am the perfect candidate. He said with my situation he gives me a 90% chance for success.
Sorry for the long rambling but if you can't tell it is really on my mind.
(oh and I totally misread question 9 somehow, I think it was like 20-30 minutes until I was stitched back up)
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1. How long ago was it? About 3.5 months ago, 5/7/13
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? Planned, baby was semi-breeched, laying sideways
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural? Epidural
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure?
I was numb from the chest down but I could smell the distinct smell of something being burned while they were cutting me open.
5. Did you watch? Did your SO? My husband was in the OR also but was shielded from looking at the operation. It was very fast, less than 30 minutes total.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?) horizontal, below the stomach area, smooth now, it healed nicely. Several nurses who checked on my incision area noted that the Dr did a really good job! It depends on the hands of the Dr b/c I have seen bad ones too.
7. Who held baby after it came out? Dr & nurses
8. Who cut the cord? Dr
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? Immediately, total time in OR was 30 min
10. When did you get to hold your baby? About an hour later
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? 3 days
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough? I think it was Vicodin and breastfeed was cleared and promoted by nurses and Dr
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own? I drove myself, (my me time) to run errands at 2 weeks but didn't feel strong enough to care for baby at outings by myself until 1 month
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out? Invisible tape or thread so I am not too sure?
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section? 4
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? Just during the day, at night she went to the nursery
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section? No but my abdomen area still has sensitivity to it, nothing painful, just a weird tingling feeling if rubbed.
18. How does your section scar feel now? Scar is completely healed and looks good, no pain at all.
19. Anything you’d like to add? I had a really good C-section experience and loved my hospital, it felt like a nice hotel experience. There was so much nice people and staff to help out! I cried on the first night at home because reality hit when I saw a pile of dishes that didn't get done yet. My husband saw me crying and cleaned the mess right away. I was still so emotional for a while. Thank goodness my dear aunt brought us dinner that evening and everyone who visited brought us prepared food! I think food was the best gift during that recovery period. Best of luck and Hope you have a good C-section experience too! -
I also wanted to add that by the 2nd night, I had to get up and walk around the L&D floor. The first night I had help when taking a shower but the 2nd night I was able to shower by myself while sitting on the hospital bench in the shower. I walked out of the hospital instead of being wheeled in a wheelchair. I really felt strong, the pain meds were good! I didn't feel the pain until much later, after I got home from the hospital.
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I really appreciate all the ladies who answered my questions. It has really benefited me. I've been told it has helped other ease their fears, also, so I may bump this periodically to fish for more answers.
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@Kimberlybee: Thanks for telling me about the burning smell! Little things like that tend to be a surprise, even after I ask a thousand questions, lol.
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1. How long ago was it? 1/8/13
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? I did have one planned, but ended up going into labor one week early and had the c-section early.
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural? Spinal block
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure? The worst pain I felt throughout was when they administered the spinal block and that wasn't too bad. Just felt like a big bee sting. I didn't feel anything else after that in terms of pain. I could feel the pushing and pulling, like pressure, but no pain with it. It's a surreal feeling.
5. Did you watch? Did your SO? Neither of us watched.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?) It's right below where a bikini bottom would stop, horizontally across.
7. Who held baby after it came out? DH held them both after they came out, he was handed them by the nurses.
8. Who cut the cord? My OB did.
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? They started stitching me up immediately after getting both boys out and the placentas. I can't remember an exact length of time, though.
10. When did you get to hold your baby? They offered for me to hold them immediately after, but my body was shaking pretty hard (a typical side effect from the labor and drugs, I was told), so I didn't want to hold them yet because I was afraid I would drop them! I didn't get to hold them until a few hours later, after I was out of recovery and moved up to my room.
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? 5 looong days.
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough? Immediately after and in recovery, I was given Morphine and Duramorph. Percocet and Ibuprofen after I was moved out of recovery. Yes, my pediatrician said it was safe for breastfeeding (I asked at the hospital). I stayed on on prescribed schedule so that the meds never wore off. I think I was off the meds totally after a week and a half.
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own? I was up and walking around (verry slowly) a little over 12 hours after the surgery. I think that really made a difference in how quickly I was able to recover. I stayed in the hospital for three nights afterwards and the day that I got home, I did go for a short (still slowww) walk around our neighborhood to get some fresh air. I waited to drive until almost two weeks afterwards.
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out? They were dissolvable stitches, so there was no removing them, which was nice.
15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section? My c-section was at 2 a.m. on Tuesday, I was discharged by noon on a Friday.
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? Yes, as soon as I was moved to a room, our boys were with us the entire time.
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section? Nope!
18. How does your section scar feel now? It can feel a tad tender at times. If I am leaning over a counter or something, I have to be careful not that it doesn't push directly on the scar.
19. Anything you’d like to add? My recovery really was super easy and quick. It was the safest way for my boys to be born and I don't regret it a bit! -
1. How long ago was it? 10 months
2. Was your section planned or unplanned? Unplanned
3. What kind of anesthetic is used? Epidural? General
4. What did it feel like when they were doing the procedure? Nothing - I was completely out.
5. Did you watch? Did your SO? No - My husband was not allowed in the operating room since it was an emergency.
6. What direction is the section scar? (Where is it?) A vertical scar from my pelvis up to right under my belly bulton (about 6" long)
7. Who held baby after it came out? A nurse
8. Who cut the cord? I don't know - a nurse I presume.
9. How long after the baby came out did it take for you to be stitched back up again? I don't know. They stitched my uterus but put staples on my skin. FYI, they removed the staples on my last day in the hospital and some of the wound began to re-open. Sometimes they just re-pack it but I requested that they stitch it up which they did with local (it didn't really hurt at all). I'm glad I had them stitch it back up so I didn't have to worry about re-packing it, infection etc.
10. When did you get to hold your baby? Hours later
11. How long did it take for your milk to come in? About five days
12. What kind of pain medication was given to you afterwards…was it ok for breastfeeding? Did it feel like enough? I was given motrin as well as ocycodone. Both were safe for breastfeeding and I took both. I felt like I had enough pain medicine (morphine was given in a drip the first 24 hours after the c-section).
13. How long did it take for you to feel like you could easily get around on your own? 2 weeks.
14. What kind of stitches did they use? When did the stitches come out? Staples at first - then when some of the wound re-opened they used stitches that dissolved. I can still feel some of the stitches on my uterus if I push (they stitched it up tight!) It's a weird feeling but it doesn't hurt.15. How many nights did you have to stay in the hospital after your c-section? Three
16. Did your baby room with you your entire stay? Yes
17. Do you have any ongoing problems from your c-section? No.
18. How does your section scar feel now? It's maybe SLIGHTLY numb but mostly feels fine. It's still hard and dark. Mine is very visible in a bathing suit because it's vertical - but I wear it as a proud badge of honor! I've grown to kind of love my scar in a weird way.
19. Anything you’d like to add? Man, the recovery the first couple days is rough... but pain medicine helps and once you get past those first couple days - you start to feel a lot better VERY quickly. The hopsital messed up my meals and didn't give me liquid only meals for the right amount of time... I couldn't eat and when I did I threw up (throwing up after getting abdominal surgery HURTS). Make sure that you get the liquid only food for the first two days. Also, be prepared with colace at home! Make sure you have help for the first week or so around the house. Just know that the discomfirt is short term. Knowing what the recovery was like - I would do a c-section again in a heart beat. I don't know that recovery from a vaginal labor can be all the much easier (with tears, etc). I also only had to recover from c-section only and not a failed vaginal labor and c-section (my heart goes out to those mamas!).
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@sunshineandsushi: How far into your labor did you get your c-section? Did you call your OB right away once you thought labor was starting? Did they have you come in right away? Sorry about the questions...that's just one of my "what ifs" I have going on, lol
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@alleyflowers: Yeah, I know all about colace! Vaginal births are tough...One of the reasons I'm wanting to schedule a C is to not have to deal with labor...it was the pits and the most recent one was just a nightmare.
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@Dandelion: Just wanted to pop in an add that I would definitely, definitely recommend wearing a belly band thing post-surgery. My hospital provided me one, but I know they sell them even at Babies R' Us, etc. Not so much for slimming your midsection, but it was totally helped to control any movement and therefore any pain. It really help keep everything held in tight, which really helped pain during recovery!!
There were a lot of things that surprised me about my C-section
DH went with her to the nursery and I went to the first recovery area where they had to do the pressing on my uterus crap (that SUCKED) and I didn't get to see her for quite a while. To be honest, I was in too much pain to care, as bad as that sounds. I just wanted to know she was ok!
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