* what was it like? I had an emergecny CS the first time and it was quick and I didn't really know what was going on. I had an elective the second time and it was great - a lot calmer, I was nervous and cracked jokes the whole way down and howled when they pulled Alex out.
* good aspects of the surgery? I knew what was going on and when it was going to happen. With the emergency CS after labour stalled after being 13 days overdue, it was a mess and I was disorientated. Cait was no where near ready to come out and I should not have been induced but I did not know that at the time. But with the elective, I knew what was going on. Tres happy with it.
* not-so-good aspects of the surgery? Feeling exposed while I was cleaned up. I could feel them washing me down there and it was bit gross.
* involvement of your partner/DH? Was there for it all except the spinal block. Went back upstairs both times with the babies while I was in recovery. He cut the cord, posed for pics.
* amount of time between the surgery and holding your baby? I think they cleared him out and bought him straight back.
* recovery issues? Hurt the second day but was up and about. Planned daughters 4th birthday party 2 weeks after, I don't recommend that !
* tips for good recovery? Don't lift wet washing.
* any issues with breastfeeding? First time was hard and took about 6 weeks to get into. Second time I had so much more milk and he fed like a dream from the first hour.
* tips for getting yourself psychologically ready for a c-section? I was really busy in the days leading up to it but still didn't sleep much the night before.
I just read about mums not being able to hold their babies - I had no trouble either time, you can't really roam the halls with them straight away, but I sat in the bed and the chair a lot with them.
what was it like? I had my 40wk check up at 8am on a Friday, and ended up stairs in the ward that arvo. A nice dr came around the next morning (after I had been awake all night) and wanted to give me something to make things "progress faster" I declined, pushed for 2 hours before being asked questions about my tailbone, and was told my baby was stuck. She was born via emergency c/s Sunday morning just after 3am! A long labour, which didn't help with my recovery time.
good aspects of the surgery? - I got to finally have a sleep after 43 hours LOL! Seriously though, I had a beautiful healthy baby.
not-so-good aspects of the surgery? Spinal didn't work (not sure if they left enough time for it to take effect or not?) and I was given a GA. My DH was sitting there all by himself with no support, hearing every word they said about myself and DD.
involvement of your partner/DH? Not a lot, poor thing. I had no birth plan in case of a c/s, but the midwife made him go back to the ward with DD. So he got to cuddle her for a few hours before I came back.
amount of time between the surgery and holding your baby? This was about 3-4 hours, only because of the GA though.
recovery issues? Took a while for me to get my energy back. I had DH help me get dressed - mainly putting my knickers on and pulling them up far enough for me to do the rest.
tips for good recovery? I had a workmate who had 2 previous c/s, tell me that should I end up having one the first thing to do was get out of bed ASAP. She said her Dr told her it might hurt, but getting up out of bed uses muscles which then start healing.
Midwives were planning on getting me out of bed that afternoon, but I was so tired it wasn't funny. I got out of bed the next morning and had a shower.
any issues with breastfeeding? None, DH bought her in to the room and the midwife helped me get DD on the breast straight away even though I was still groggy as hell!
tips for getting yourself psychologically ready for a c-section? Would love to be able to suggest something, but we haven't managed to get the 2nd bub happening yet
I second Aussienic's suggestion on the pillow on your tummy while coughing I also did the pillow on tummy when I went to the loo, for no other reason than it gave me mental comfort I suppose!
I found a book in my local bookstore today...it's called "delivery by appointment" and is basically a whole book (Australian) about c-sections...
It takes a very moderate stance...tells both sides of the c-section story...I'm half way through it and are finding it very helpful...
It's written by a mother who has had 4 c-sections...and is NOT a book debating the pros and cons...just stating the facts on either sides...very research based...the author is Michelle Hamer...
Thanks again for these experiences...muchly appreciated!
My first & last were c/secs. Both emergencies. I was in labour for both, although not advanced.
I asked for a GA the second time because I HATED the feeling of the epidural. Also, DD was premature so I knew she was going straight off to NICU.
I was thrilled with my recovery the second time. I had the PCA out within 10 hours and took oral Endone. Up & in the shower as soon as the PCA was out. I have never heard of the rectal suppositories, but Monnie, it's just a different way of taking meds. In Europe suppositories for EVERYTHING are sooo common.
For the second delivery, we had a little time to plan (she just ended up coming even earlier). I had organized a midwife to be with DH. He had to be out of theatre just for a minute while they actually put me out, but was there the entire time before & after. The midwife was great about supporting him, explained everything, went with him to NICU, spent several hours with him even though the delivery took place at 2 am.
There were issues with breastfeeding both times... the milk took 5 full days to come in. With my vaginal deliveries, the milk was in within 24-48 hours.
Monnie, having seen your other posts, would still encourage a vaginal delivery. Believe me if your OB felt very strongly about a c/sec, he would never have presented it as an "option".
One last word, as several people have said, if you have an emergency c/sec that happens at night & you've been in labour for ages, you will be so SLEEPY tired anyway for the next few days. An advantage of the planned c/sec is that you know it will take place during the day!! However, the same goes for vaginal deliveries. With one I laboured all night, baby born at brekky time. I was tired for several days. With the other, went into labour in early morning, born late evening so I was in bed by 11 pm. What a difference.
Thanks for posting about the book you found Monnie, I will write that one down for future reference
Just thought I would come back in and say I'm going for a lap next week and with all my admission paperwork, there is some pre and post op info. It says with coughing, you should brace the surgery site (if abdomen) with a pillow and cough at the end of the 5th deep breath, every hour. Don't know if that will be helpful or not, but I thought of you and this thread when I read it
Great thread Monnie, I hope you get the answers you are looking for.
I also had a failed induction – waters broke, got to 2cm if I was lucky after about 22hrs labour, induced then baby’s heartrate was dropping and she was distressed. She was born by emergency C/S and the cord was around her neck twice.
what was it like?
Actually it was a really good experience. It was in my birth plan and although I really wanted a natural birth, I didn’t get upset when I had to have a c/s. No pain and a bit of tugging which the Ob told me about.
good aspects of the surgery?
Amy was born at 4:16am so the hospital was quiet. The theatre was quiet and relaxing. The anaethatist (sp?) talked through every moment of the surgery which was great. There was my Ob, an assistant, two or three midwives (one took lots of photos) and a paedeatician. Although Amy had to be born ASAP, everyone was relaxed and there was music playing.
not-so-good aspects of the surgery?
I didn’t get skin to skin contact as I was in a gown but will look into this for next time.
involvement of your partner/DH?
DH was by my side during the surgery and peeking over the curtain. He then went with Amy when she was weighed and measured while I was being stitched up. He didn’t want to leave me but wanted to be with Amy too and it was in my birth plan that he go with her if I had a c/s. Also DH gave Amy her first bath and changed her nappy so that was also positive.
amount of time between the surgery and holding your baby?
She was bought to me after she was checked and wrapped and I think it was only a few minutes. When the midwife was bringing her to me, DH stepped in the way to hold her but the midwife bypassed him to bring her to me.
recovery issues?
The epidural crept up to my shoulders so I was in recovery for a while. Amy had the best bf she would ever have in recovery and the two midwives that stayed by my side were lovely. It did hurt for a few days. I stopped pain relief after 2 days. Out of the physio class a few days after birth, I was in the least pain of all the mums and I was the only one that had a c/s. No short term or long term recovery problems. Scar healed really well.
tips for good recovery?
Ditto to what the others have said – move around and brace your scar if you laugh, sneeze or cough. I had a normal double bed and it was hard to get up. Next time I will ask for a hospital bed so I have something to hang on to when I get up.
any issues with breastfeeding?
My milk came in on day 4. Colostrum was syringed to Amy then she was comp fed and I never had much milk. I had a breast reduction 15 years ago but I am determined to bf this time. She attached okay but once she started on the bottle she wasn’t interested in bf. I expressed for 3 weeks but only got about 20-30ml each time.
tips for getting yourself psychologically ready for a c-section?
Relax. Know that this is a safe option to have your baby. Yes there are risks as there is with any surgery. Yes having a baby naturally is ideal but it isn’t to be for everyone and if you have a medical reason to have a c/s, then sometimes it is outside your control.
I am having an elective c/s with this baby for medical reasons and my own reasons.
what was it like?
i had an emergency c/s after 24 hours of labouring (although they tell me it wasn't labour because my contractions weren't close enough, well it bloody hurt anyway!)
i was out of it on general anasth. but i can tell you it was a million times better than the pain i'd been in, with only gas as pain 'relief'
i had no problem that I didn't have a vaginal birth, as long as the baby was safe and healthy, which he was. in fact he was perfect!
good aspects of the surgery?
happened pretty fast and i was out of it beforehand on gas so didn't know much of what was going on.
not-so-good aspects of the surgery?
not being awake when the baby was born, dh not being there, being sent straight off to dreamland and not seeing my baby until the next morning, cutting off the iv painkillers after 24 hours!
involvement of your partner/DH?
he was waiting in the waiting room, he saw and held the baby before he went home for the night
amount of time between the surgery and holding your baby?
when i came out of recovery, they placed him on my chest, he looked at me and we said hello
recovery issues?
none, i was up and around in two days and healed quickly. i was driving the first week out of hospital. you're so tired and busy with the baby you don't have time to think about surgery or scars anyway.
tips for good recovery?
get up asap after the surgery, it will hurt but best get it over and done with. i think arnica tablets are good for healing too, i didnt' take them but i've had them for other surgery.
any issues with breastfeeding?
took a few extra days for my milk to come in properly, probably due more to the trauma of labour and fatigue than the actual operation. i hated it but that's not related to the operation!
tips for getting yourself psychologically ready for a c-section?
going through that now (getting ready for possible second elective c/s) but i think not to worry, at least you won't have hours of agony to have your baby in your arms!!
Hi know the person who asked this has already had ber baby - congrats, but since others will read I thought I would add my experience
what was it like?
i had an elective c/s suggested due to my advanced age !! (36), twins and second baby was across, plus IVF (Dr said that we had been through so much to get this far wouldn't want to risk anything)
Anyway the hospital was fantastic. I had the boys at the day before 39 weeks so no expected worry health wise, the room was full of people, eg 2 nurses for babies etc. I had offered to donate my code blood but for some reason it can't be done for twins, but they asked if they can use it for training, though why not it was going to be thrown out anyway, so extra people there for that too.
The orderly (I think) was young and nice, laughed trying to guess if I was having boys or girls, he was easy to deal with and looked after me well. and he took photos with our camera as well as polaroids. The babies were both very healthly. As soon as Adam (1st) was born checked and wrapped DH had him to cuddle, then within minutes Hayden was born and once he was checked and wrapped I cuddled him (still covered with white vernix) cuddled him the whole time they were stitching me up. Then all four of us went to recovery, I breastfed Adam but Hayden didn't want any. We all left recover at the same time, DH and the boys to nursery to be weighed. I was hardly in my room and bed and DH cam in with the boys. Totally fantastic - the one thing I was worried about was being separated from them - didn't happen.
good aspects of the surgery?
Quick, no problems, being able to cuddle my boys straight away.
not-so-good aspects of the surgery?
Nothing - everything went better than I expected
involvement of your partner/DH?
Totally involved, they didn't bring him in the theatre till they had started cutting, but then he had to sit down (think so he couldn't see over the drape) but then totally involved in cuddling babies and cutting cord.
amount of time between the surgery and holding your baby?
Only minutes
recovery issues?
Vomited a little that evening, but apart from that all was well.
tips for good recovery?
Walking, Since I wasn't allowed to drive for 6 weeks, I walked everywhere - pushing a twin pram! and I live in the hills.
any issues with breastfeeding?
No breastfed in recovery, just normal waiting for milk to come in, did lots of expressing in hospital encouraging it to come in, then would feed the boys that by surringe plus breastfeed them.
tips for getting yourself psychologically ready for a c-section?
I was preparred for it from about 2 months before, Even though I originally wanted a Natural birth, I understood and didn't want to risk anything. I think accepting that you need to have a C/S makes it easier.
Ooh interesting thread - like Kelly W I just wanted to add my experience too in case others may read the same thread and find it useful....
what was it like?
I had a vaginal birth first time, second a totally unexpected emergency c-section, and third a planned c-section which was organised from early pregnancy. In terms of stressfulness and uncomfortableness, I would say the vaginal birth was the worst, then the planned c-section and the most pleasant was the emergency c-section. I think that was partly as having a lot of time to plan ahead and read up can cause undue worry, whereas the emergency c-section was upon me before I had a chance to even think about it let alone worry in advance.
good aspects of the surgery?
With both the caesarians, the process was well-organised and predictable. Highly competent medical staff were there for the job; the procedure was quick and my energy was relatively intact in order to respond to my newborn straight away.
not-so-good aspects of the surgery?
Feeling a little wounded for a few days afterwards.
involvement of your partner/DH?
I loved the level of hubby inclusion in the whole thing; he was treated respectfully by all the medical people and able to hold my hand and chat with me the whole time, then take photos/cut the cord/cuddle bub and assist me.
amount of time between the surgery and holding your baby?
Baby was immediately handed to me for a cuddle when she emerged from my body.
recovery issues?
3 and a half days of feeling uncomfortable, then fine but just had to take things a little slowly: not too much walking around or stretching, and not to carry anything heavier than bub. I'm two weeks post c-section at the moment and am finding it fine although I do still need hubby around (he has 3 weeks leave from work) in the day to help with the kids and housework.
tips for good recovery?
Have somebody there, preferably your partner, to help with anything physical until you feel comfortably fit again.
any issues with breastfeeding?
My third bub breastfeeds beautifully - latched on and suckled well while I was in recovery and is a fantastic feeder. Milk came in properly on day 3.
tips for getting yourself psychologically ready for a c-section?
Relax; trust that you will be in good hands; remember that millions of women have happily had c-sections before you.
My husband was overseas with the Army and only got to come home for a week for the birth of our little one, so we decided on inducing my labor at 39weeks. The first two inductions did not take and unfortunately had to go for a third try (very painful process). This one took, but after 17 hours of labor, I only dilated 4cm, so we went for the c-section.
what was it like?
Very surreal. You go in and come out with a baby. I couldn’t feel or see anything, but the drugs made me feel very nauseous and I did end up being sick once baby was born.
good aspects of the surgery?
Over and done with very quickly and if you elect, you can plan your life around it without having to worry about your waters breaking in the supermarket or how long the labor will take.
not-so-good aspects of the surgery?
I don’t think I have connected as well with my bub as I would have if I had a vaginal birth. Also, when bub was born, he wasn’t breathing and they had to stick a tube down to his lungs to suck out all the gunk. My husband didn’t realize this could happen and really freaked out. He was really upset by it. (Apparently in vaginal births, going down the birth canal helps squeeze the gunk all out.)
involvement of your partner/DH?
My husband stayed with me and watched the birth. He got to hold bub for over an hour while I was in recovery. This gave them great bonding time and I am so glad they got that opportunity, especially seeing he had to go away again. He took photos of the operation and of bub coming out.
amount of time between the surgery and holding your baby?
I got to hold bub as soon as they got him breathing and while they were stitching me up for about ten minutes, and then he went with my husband to get weighed etc. He stay with his Dad for about an hour while I was in recovery.
recovery issues?
No problems. Being on my own from Day 5 I was forced to get up and on with it and was back to washing, cooking and looking after bub with no trouble. I started driving again at three weeks. To be honest, I don’t understand why everyone makes a fuss about the recovery time with c-sections, although I haven’t had a vaginal birth to compare it to.
tips for good recovery?
Really take it easy the first few days. Get some Ingrown hair cream – Ingrow Go is good. I got the worst ingrown hairs in my scar and this caused my scar to take a long time to heal.
any issues with breastfeeding?
I didn’t get a chance to breast feed until I was back in my room a couple of hours later. I had trouble attaching the first few days, but once bub and I got the hang of it, we haven’t had a problem since. He is now 7 months and still loves his boobies.
tips for getting yourself psychologically ready for a c-section?
You’ll be fine. Do some reading, so you know what is normal and what isn’t, so you don’t freak out like my hubby did.
I know this forum is a little old now, but I thought I'd share my experience anyway
what was it like?
Awesome. I knew I was having a C-section as I had asked for one. Was clearly advised by my OB GYN how everything was going to happen - so I felt really ready and prepared. Even went into the fact he was going to use staples on my wound instead of stitches as apparently it gives a neater scar. I don't know if this is true - but my scar is barely noticable now and very neat. good aspects of the surgery?
I knew exactly when my little man was arriving and was calm and ready. We were booked in 1st thing on a Monday morning a week before I was due, so I was lucky enough to be able to work right up until the Friday prior. We arrived at the hospital at 6.30am to 'check in'. Was weighed, baby's heart rate checked, completed some forms, had some numbing cream put on my hand for the drip and met our mid-wives (who were fantastic!) Was taken in on my own to have the epidural at 8am - apparently partners are not allowed in during this time, but as soon as they started cutting, DF was able to come in. Little man was born at 8.30am. Happened SO quickly! They had him checked in the room by the paediatrician and given to Dad for a cuddle and a visit outside to see Nanny whilst they finished closing me up - and then all 3 of us went into recovery for about a half an hour when he had his first feed. He never left our sides for the remainder of the stay. not-so-good aspects of the surgery?
I'm not going to sugar coat it, and I think the operative word is 'surgery' It is pretty major surgery, so expect to be in a bit of pain. I couldn't walk for about 24 hours afterwards so DF had to carry me into the bathroom so I could have a shower. I thing the trick is to get yourself mobile as soon as you can, but don't over do it. I took as little pain medication as I could so that I'd know if I was overdoing it. The second day in hospital I was up on my own (hobbling at first) and everyday it got easier. I got pretty bored as my little one would sleep non stop, so I used to walk the hallways pushing him in his bed for support. They recommend you stay in hospital for min 5 days but I discharged myself after 3 becuase I was feeling fine and felt well enough to be able to care for bubs on my own. involvement of your partner/DH? amount of time between the surgery and holding your baby? About half an hour recovery issues? I was lucky, my C-Section didn't really faze me too much, and I don't know if this is becuase I was prepared for it and knew what to expect? I went back to hospital a week afterwards for a final check of me and bubs and removal of my staples which was completely pain free tips for good recovery? Kepping positive and keeping yourself moving any issues with breastfeeding? None, my milk ran out after 8 weeks - but I don't know if this was because of the casearean as it's only my first tips for getting yourself psychologically ready for a c-section? Just ask your OB GYN exactly what is going to happen on the day. DO NOT read horror stories online about C-sections, they will only make you nervous. To an extent - your experience is helped by your attitude
* what was it like? - Mine was emergency after 1.5 days of the gels, they didn't work my cervix was posterior. I had a spinal, I freaked out because I couldn't move my legs, they had pins and needles, I wanted to move but couldn't, ended up having some morphine to help with that * good aspects of the surgery? - The surgery was pretty relaxed for me * not-so-good aspects of the surgery? - Just the feeling of the spinal * involvement of your partner/DH? - Hubby was there with me for the beginning, the anethetists ended up taking the camera of hubby, after hitting him on the shoulder telling him to stand up as they bought DS out. Hubby then went to the other room to be with DS and could take heaps of photos and video and cut the cord * amount of time between the surgery and holding your baby? - I didn't end up holding DS until I was back in the room about an hour after * recovery issues? - I was sore (to be expected) I was up and about the next day, once they took out the catheter. Once I was up and about and home, my recovery was good * tips for good recovery? - don't do too much, rest when you can, but still move around * any issues with breastfeeding? - I attempted to breast feed but due to a breast reduction 6 years ago, it turned out I couldn't * tips for getting yourself psychologically ready for a c-section? - After being induced and nothing happening after 1.5 days I was quite prepared to have a c section just to get it over and done with, I was over the gels not happening and over all the internals to see what was happening, and after seeing DS's head I was kinda glad he didn't come out the other way!!!!
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