Caesarean General Chatter & Discussion #6

**nic** · August 23rd, 2006, 12:44 PM

Thanks Deb! Nice to know that my feelings are normal. I think I may have to just bit the bullet and get some reading material - and just skip those nasty, make me anxious pages! LOL.

Going to visit my parents next week, so might be able to check out some book shops while I'm there.

Nic

Debbie Lee · August 23rd, 2006, 12:54 PM

Good idea, Nic. I guess once you've been through it, you know how important it is to be better informed. I know I will be asking a hell of a lot more questions during my next pregnancy. I'll also probably be a bit of a PITA patient.. and, if I get the same arsehold sonographer as last time, I'll be putting my foot down!! LOL That's unlikely anyway as I am sure I'll be getting my ultrasounds done in Hamilton?? Or somewhere closer.
I would probably want to have the baby in Geelong tho... I wonder if I'll be allowed to do that?? There ya go... got questions already!!

**nic** · August 23rd, 2006, 01:03 PM

How far between Hamilton and Geelong Deb?

Nic

Debbie Lee · August 23rd, 2006, 08:39 PM

Ummm I know it's a 2.5 hour drive but I have no idea how far in KM's...

Whoo... I just had a brief read through the birthrites page and their suggestions for having a positive caesarian... I must say, I like the suggestions!! I didn't realise how much I had missed out on with my caesar with Gabby. Things like seeing the placenta, having skin to skin contact with her straight away:

I bet you would love to meet your new baby in his/her unclothed, naked newborn state - a wet, slippery baby? Then request that the baby please be placed on your chest with a warm blanket over you both. It would do a lot to make this surgical delivery a bit more natural for mother, father and baby. And it may even resolve a few inner conflicts that are faced after the birth.

Too right I want that experience!! 2 guesses what I'll be demanding next time!

**Trish** · August 23rd, 2006, 09:44 PM

Deb, when I had Noah I knew that I was a having a csection because he was breech. Anyway, the night before I sat on my computer and made up myself yet another birth plan. I made sure there were 3 copies, 1 to stay with me, 1 for Noah and 1 for my mum to hold on too because I knew if they tried to go against my wishes she'd give them what for.

I requested that no one else apart from Mark was allowed to nurse him. That he was not to be bathed. He was not to be fed a bottle, if there was some dire need for him to have any fed it would be from a syringe. The nurses were great, when I was finally taken back to the ward, Noah and Mark came in to me, Noah was still naked, they had him wrapped up in a blanket, my gown was pulled down at the front and his naked body was put on my chest for our skin to skin contact. Around this point he weed 3 times all over me

I wish I knew then what I know now and I would've insisted that he was not taken away from me at all. That all his checks were done beside me.

I guess in some ways I am lucky because even though I ended up with a c section that I did not want, I begged for them to let me try to birth him myself but no Dr's wanted to assist. I ended up with a pretty positive cesa experience. Funnily enough though, I didn't say that I wanted that naked baby, that was the nurse. I never did realise at the time how much it meant to me.

Debbie Lee · August 23rd, 2006, 09:53 PM

That's so awesome, Trish! That nurse obviously knew her stuff!!
It's funny tho. Before I had Gab, I wouldn't have known that I had any idea to have the "wet, slippery baby" handed to me for skin to skin contact was what I wanted. I guess knowing the bond that I have with Gabby now has taught me what's more important to me at the birth?? I think I was just a little too overwhelmed with having her... uno, fear of the unknown??

LOL... I'll have to tell Gab when she grows up that she was just the dry run, hehehe

**Trish** · August 23rd, 2006, 10:16 PM

LOL at Gab being the dry run. If that's the case all 3 of mine before Tehya were that. I watched my birth dvd again yesterday and I still get teary over it.

Here's to wet slippery babies hey

Debbie Lee · August 23rd, 2006, 10:22 PM

LOL... fourth time lucky, hey??

Yeah!! Here's to wet slippery babies, getting an eye-full of the placenta and cutting the cord!! LOL

**christy** · August 24th, 2006, 07:18 AM

Nic about the reading thing... I went whole hog into it and then had to put a few books down because I was over it, but I would pick them up again later. I started in my first few weeks of pregnancy and I think that helped heaps. Some are more scary than others!

**Helen** · September 4th, 2006, 07:50 PM

Hi guys, well I have had my little man Eithan and have posted my birth story. Thanks again for all your help leading up to the c/s.

I now have an infection along the skin either side of the incision. I was worried but was sure that I didnt have one, but went to dr anyway to get it checked. Lucky I did because it is only just infected so we have caught it in the early stages. I was pretty upset as I have looked after it really well, but the dr says it happens in about 20% of cases. Well anyway I am on antibiotics and have to clean it with dettol each day, so hopefully in a few days it will be better.

I have heard horror stories about infections so am so glad that we caught it early. Once it is gone do you think there is any chance of a reccurence?

Love

Debbie Lee · September 4th, 2006, 07:55 PM

Congratulations, Helen! And welcome to the world little Eithan. Sorry to hear you got an infection. I'm not much help as I managed to get away without getting one but I'm sure someone else will be able to help you out with that question

Kirsty77 · September 4th, 2006, 08:06 PM

Congrats Helen!! I also had a minor infection and was on antibiotics. I used a pad over the scar and that seemed to help alot and used a different towel each time I showered to dry it to prevent it getting re-infected.

**nickers** · September 4th, 2006, 08:33 PM

congratulations Helen. off to read your birth story now.
I am unsure how to prevent an infection re-occuring but what Kirsty said sounds pretty good, make sure you use a different towel when wiping, fash washer etc

Debbie Lee · September 4th, 2006, 08:46 PM

Oh and those pads at the hospitals are great for protecting the wound. They don't have the adhesive on the back so you can sit them there nicely (helps if you have a big gut like me... it held it there nicely

- nice to have at least one perk with such a big belly!).