Caesarean Chatter #4

Hey Linda,
My catheter was put in once the epidural was put in. It didn't hurt but, MAN, did it feel odd! I looked at Neil and said "Things aren't meant to go up that hole!!" LOL
Gabby also had a scalp clip monitor on her head so I had all kinds of tubes coming out of me, LOL.
I had my c-section at around 5pm and the catheter wasn't taken out until about 10am the next morning (after I had asked for it to be taken out as soon as I woke up at about 6am cos it was really uncomfortable). I didn't sleep very well because of the catheter and because I was flat on my back.
It will be different for you tho. I imagine because you are having an elective c-section, you will be up and moving before the end of the day rather than sleeping it off over night??

thanks everyone!! LOL debbie about 'things arent meant to go up that hole'!!! i am booked in to have the c/section at 8am, so hopefully it will be taken out before bed that night? fingers crossed.

im glad to hear it goes in after the epi or spinal block. dont like the idea of something going in 'that hole' while im still feeling it!!

Linda

I had one, but didn't feel it going in or out. Didn't bother me in the slightest physically, although the idea of it freaked me a little bit!

Kerrie

That reminds me. Having it pulled out was weird-as!! It didn't really hurt - just felt strange. My first wee stung a little bit but I was ok after that. The funny thing is having to monitor your wee afterwards. You have to measure it and tell the nurse each time you have been. Ahh.. nothing like measuring your bodily fluids to take the romance out of childbirth LOL

That's interesting Debbie....I didn't have to do anything like that! They just asked me if I'd gone and if it was ok.......they were more interested in the workings of my bowel LOL!! 8-[

Deb - I also didn`t have to measure my urine but like Melinda they were more interested in my bowels working and they wouldn`t let me home until they started even when I mentioned I only go once a week 8-[

thanks guys!! this is great being able to ask you all how it was for you. i have another Q:

how long did you stay in for after a c/section? i would be happy to stay as long as possible first time, as i want as much help as i can get with bf. so if you are not in a hurry to go home, how long do you usually stay (and is it different with your first)

Linda

You normally stay in longer for a c/s than you do a vaginal birth. Normally around 5 - 6 days. I was in hospital for 6 days and by that time I was more than ready to leave LOL!!

I had Matthew at 5.15pm on a Tuesday, I was transferred to my post natal hospital on the Thursday and stayed there until the Tuesday morning, so 1 week but I could have stayed longer if I wanted, it was all left up to me as to when I wanted to go home and DH stayed with me all except for 1 night so that was great as I had his help when I had a shower, he had to dress and undress me as I couldn`t bend to take my undies off or put them on.

It depends on you and the hospital. I left on the 2nd day as I couldn't stand the majority of the midwives, so I was able to do hospital in the home. I think the policy was 5 days, but I can't be sure.

*hugs*
Cailin

yeah ours had the policy of 5 days, but I left after 3.... and had hospital at home. I'm pretty sure if you are going well with breastfeeding & all your functions are okay they will let you go, but if you are going well & know that you will have to do stuff at home, stay as long as you can LOL!

If I wasn`t being transferred to another Hospital I would have been going home less then 2 days after my c/s, I didn`t like any of the midwives at my delivery Hospital but they were fantastic at my post natal hospital

dee - your post natal hospital sounds so good. it would be so great to have DH there as well.

i hope the midwives are nice to me!! [-o< i am known to be a bit sensitive at the best of times!!

so i am hoping that if they are all nice and i am learning from them to stay in about a week, but i guess until i am there i dont really know if i want to stay a long time or not.

i just hope they dont try to 'rush me out the door' IYKWIM. i want to feel like i am capable of BF properly etc before going.

thanks again for all of your responses,

Linda

Linda - I was in for 7 days (6 nights) which is the standard time for the Private Hospital I was in. Vaginal birth is 5 nights.

Linda - I stayed for 5 days and I could have stayed another but it was good friday and I wanted to leave. It was like a ghost town in the ward anyway. Everyone wanted to be home for easter. I stayed as long as I could because I was having trouble with my BM supply. I am glad I did because I don't think I would have coped if I came home any earlier.
I felt like I was in a daze when walking out of the hospital (I also felt like we had stolen a baby, LOL).
I must say, though, being at home was wonderful. The hospital is so noisey and, if you have to share a room, the babies generally don't sleep at the same time!
Most of my midwives were lovely. There were a few that were a bit gruff but they left me to my own devices after a couple of days and I just buzzed them when I needed them for something (apart from the medication and check-ups of course).

Linda,

From a mum and a midwife's point of view:

A catheter usually goes in after the epidural or spinal block (unless it is an emergency and then we put it in asap but this won't be a problem for you). We usually leave it in for 24 hours as this gives the woman time to recover from major abdominal surgery and not have to think about getting up and going to the toilet. If the woman gets up the next day and is moving around then we tend to take the catheter out earlier. Alot of it has to do with the woman but usually, it's up to 24 hours and then you have about 6 hours to pass urine after having it removed before it goes back in again due to the risk of retention and bladder damage.

In going home, length of stay: most hospitals don't have a policy on length of stay (I say most and by that I mean public). It is the woman's choice how long she stays for both vaginal and LSCS birth. When I had the twins I stayed until the twins were allowed home (which was about two weeks)I refused to leave them and they had nowhere for Mums to room in until the babies were released from the NICU, with Lily, who was an elective caesar, I left on day two as I had lots to do and I felt fine and Lily was fine too, I had the midwives come and visit me on the early discharge programme and it was fine. With William, who was a vaginal birth, I discharged against medical advise on day three to follow him down to Westmead and I am going to play it by ear with these two as I am going to be hospitalised for four weeks before the birth, which will also be a caesar at 34 weeks. The hospital that I am birthing in also does not have rooming in facilities for mums with babies in the NICU, so it will be interesting.

HTH

thanks tiggy!!

Linda

Well Linda

For my 4 c/s I was in for 5 days each time except for Lachie cause he was flown to Sydney 12 hours old in respitory distress(but that's another story!) So I was on an aeroplane morning of Day 3 post op. Anyway I would get out of bed the morning after and walk around and get the catheter out, have a shower(heaven) and had the same problem with bowels(they were obsessed!) and each time was given something to move things along! it was good to get home and Iwas ready...my advice is to stay until you are ready..there are no nurses on a buzzer at home!

I also had a few terrible midwives, but I just dodged them when they came on shift and really annoyed the good ones :D

Anyway good luck sweetie!!!

Jan xx

oh and by the way, my catheter was put in before the epidural/spinals ( I have had both) and taken out the next morning, so 24 hours

Jan xx

jan - did it hurt getting a catheter put in with no epidural? what did it feel like?

Linda

Linda It doesn't actually hurt,it is uncomfortable and really quick...once in I didn't even feel it was there, until of cours you have to move or stand up :-# anyway I know it may seem daunting but it really isn't such a big deal..or I didn't think so anyway..just a tip, make sure bladder is empty...Don't be scared or worried about your c/s, i have had four and everyone of them went smoothly :D

Jan xx

thanks jan, that eases my worry a little. i am just getting a little overwhelmed ATM that all of this is going to happen next week... 8-[ having you guys reassurance really helps though

Linda

oh you poor thing :flower: Linda...

I remeber what it was like the first time...the element of the unknown!

Well when you have that georgeous bubba in your arms you will wonder what all the fuss is about!! :D

I know you probably won't sleep much the night before due to excitement and nerves, but do try to get some sleep...you'll need it!!! I wish you all the luck in the world and hope that everything is just perfect..

Feel free to pm me if you need to...

Jan xx

oh thank you so much jan,

just reading your post makes me feel so much better, i really appreciate it. i know it will all be worthwhile and cant wait to meet my little bubba!!! :D

Linda

No worries Linda!!!

Just let me know before you go!!! I can't wait to hear the result! :D

Jan xx

Linda - I had a catheter put in briefly to drain my bladder before I had an epidural (I think I put that in my last post?!) and then it was taken out again. It didn't hurt at all. I had the next catheter put in with my epidural and that is the one that stayed there for 24 hours.

sorry for sounding dumb here - but i have no idea what the catheter actually even looks like or size etc. i guess i sort of imagine a tube like thing going in....actuallly i really have no idea.

could someone describe it to me?

thanks again :D

Linda

You know what, I can't say I actually paid much attention LOL. But yes, it is like a thin tube.....both the quick one I had and the one that stayed in.

Hey girls

I had a c/s 14 days ago and was wondering if anyone elses scar kept popping open in places?The middle section has come apart slightly, should I rush off to see my gp?The last time I saw my doc it was for the side part that hadn't come together then overnight it did and he didn't seem to concerned.Just not sure what to do.It is a little red to but I am already on antibiotics for it.

Personally, I'd go back to get it checked again. It may be nothing, but it pays to be on the safe side I think.

Hi Kirsty,

Mine came away at the side and they kept covering it until it healed ok. It took a few weeks longer than the rest.

I would go back to your GP and see what he says.

Just thought I'd add that I had little bits at the sides that were a bit red/weepy on occasion and the skin seemed not quite fused together there, but it healed perfectly fine.

Is Gemma still around?? I fell Pg within 3 months of my c/s and I have not had many problems. The worst is that the scar does hurt when you have a big growth spurt in the tummy. It doesn't stretch very well. But no MAJOR problem. Oh, except placenta brain with avengance!

My two will be 11-12 months apart and I am greatful Kat is such a good baby. It's very tiring and can be stressful at times because as you get further along, it's harder to do things and your baby wants you to pick them up and you just can't carry them as much as they want and you can't play on the ground as much as they want....but I AM looking forward to the arrival of my little accident. I wouldn't have chosen to do it again so soon, but I am happy to be pg and looking forward to meeting her!!

Thanks Kerrie, it's good to know that some women can do it and it is fine. Congratulations on your pg and I'm sure it will be great to have the two so close together. I think I posted earlier to say that we have decided to wait until 6 months after Amy's birth because of the risk of the placenta attaching to the scar. They don't actually have stats on the risk because not too many people get pg so soon after delivery but my Ob thinks it's low. Good luck for the birth!

Hi Girls

Just wondering how long everyone watied before taking the plunge......ummm having sex again?And did it hurt?My sex drive has come back but am terrified of sex hurting expecially since I went through 23 hours of natural labour and many many internals, then had an emergency c/s.Just wondering how everyone else managed and when they tried...............(sorry if to personal)

Heh... not yet, for me! I'm still too tender.

Kerrie

I had a similar labour Kirsty - a long labour with internals and an emergency c/s. Not fun!

You know I can't really remember right now how long it was until we DTD again to be honest, but I know it wasn't for a good couple of months at least (I was too tired and a bit of a wreck!) I remember being a bit anxious, but everything was fine........

I'm sure it was 2 months before I was ready to even think about it LOL

I think it was a couple of months for us as well.

Nic

It was a couple of months after for us as well.