Hellobee Boards

My experience was fine/great. The worst part was the shot before the spinal, the spinal itself didn’t hurt at all and I couldn’t feel anything during the section. I couldn’t believe I had been so worried about the part! My husband was right there with me, holding my hand, once they got me all prepped, and my OB talked to us through every single step. As soon as LO was born, she held her up for us to see and then LO had to get checked by the nurses because she had some fluid in her lungs they needed to remove. As soon as they did that, they gave LO to me for skin-to-skin contact and I held her while they stitched (well, stapled) me up. Then we all 3 went together to the private recovery room where we were left alone for 1 hour (or more if we wanted). A couple hours after that the meds wore off and I could feel my lower body again. They gave me oxycodine for pain management (very low dose, still safe to BF), and the next day I was up and walking and able to use the bathroom on my own, etc. After a few weeks I was comfortable enough to take long (slow lol) walks of several miles, and after 6 weeks was cleared for basically all activity.

I didn't have a great experience, but I'm hearing that my experience is not normal (based on my friends who have had c-sections).

Mine was not planned and that definitely affected me mentally. I thought the drugs would totally numb me but I felt pain and they upped the meds in my epidural twice during the procedure. Because LO had meconium (lots of it) I didn't get to see her until she was all wrapped up. It was weird to have the nurses and then my husband hold her first when that wasn't how I envisioned it.

We were able to do a little skin to skin in the recovery room but only after my midwife and the doula had to basically yell at the recovery room nurse. I didn't see my baby again for hours

Recovery was painful for me and I didn't start to feel ok until about 5-6 weeks after the surgery. Although I still have pain when I work out or walk too much.

It was very traumatic for me and I ended up seeing a therapist who specializes in birth trauma after delivery. 6 months later I don't feel as bad about the birth experience as I did before, though I am still scared to have another child. I want the baby without the birth!

But like I said, I've heard that my experience is not the norm--one of my friends just had a c-section and she said it was completely pain free during the surgery and she was out of bed practically running around the hospital soon after! I wish!