It's good that you're preparing now IMO, as although your caesar should be a wonderful experience, it might take some planning on your part to make it just as you want it. I will come back later and post properly, but for now I just wanted to say that my caesar was awesome! I have had both types of delivery, and they are both truly wonderful.........after all, you are bringing your child into the world I only had two days to prepare for my caesar, and our bub was prem, so there are some differences there, but hopefully I will be able to answer to some more of your questions later
I was booked in to have Csec on the Tues but I went into labour on the Sat night before. Went to hospy, had the spinal. Met DH in the op room and he stayed up by my head. There were loads of people in the room laughing and joking and made me feel at ease.
They took her out and showed her to us quickly over the top of the partition, I found out later that she wasn't breathing and it took them a while to get her breathing. II can't remember all that well but I think it was about 5 mins max before they gave her to me but I was worried about dropping her so DH held her next to my head.
Then I went to recovery and then my room but DH stayed with her the whole time, I think about an hour till she came up to my room with him.
I think maybe if they are breathing and everything is ok then they will go straight to you without being taken away first? I'm not sure...
I could sit up straight away (with a bit of help). She was born at 12.04am and she slept in bed with me that night. I think I was cuddling her and then we both fell asleep but I remember she slept in my arms. When I woke up the next morning I could walk and have a shower etc.
I was given a morphine drip and a little button to press whenever I needed more, I think I could only press it every five minutes or so...it did hurt but the anticipation of the things that might hurt was worse IYKWIM? As in, I was worried before I sat up and then when I did it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would! The thing I was most worried about was having my staples out the next week...but that wasn't too bad! So, I think after having the morphine for a while I moved on to Panadeine or something?
DD was born in the early hours of Feb 16th and I went home on my birthday Feb 20th but it was my second child so I was happy to go home as soon as possible
As far as I can remember the bleeding was less than with my other natural births.
I pretty much co slept...I mean, I held her till we both fell asleep and nobody told us off! It was a pain having to get somebody to move her first though if I wanted to get up because it was hard to sit up by myslef, let alone with a baby in my arms.
I think thats all your questions! It's hard to remember to be honest, it was a while ago now!
My first c-sec was not the best my second was FANTASTIC.
#1, Ben. I had preclampsia bad and high blood pressure etc.. So booked in
Went in 12 epidurals later they were finally able to numb my right leg.. 10th time DH was about to pass out and was sent to theater as he was no use to me then.
Then in theater I asked for a "running tally" of what was going on. I just didnt want them to say oh and out he comes.. i wanted to know.. cutting through first layer of skin, and ok soon.. ok yup get the camera out.. etc.. They were fantastic..
Then ben was sent to the table., cleaned up etc,, and then found out his bloods were not fab... as they were sewing me up my DH was holding Ben.
Then into recovery for about 30 min and tried B-feeding..
Then ben was sent to special care nursary and I went down there 5 hours later to see him. i was wheeled down there.. 10 hours later I had a shower and cleaned up and started walking around.
DD #2,
I laboured for 24 hours with broken waters, after that risk of infection too high so c-sec it was again.
1 epidural , fantastic, and there were heaps of lovely people... joking and once again I asked for someone to tell me what was going on every step of the way, That was the BEST thing i have done. is be informed with waht was happening.
Oh ya both times when they were topping up the drugs in my IV>. it STUNG SOOO BAD>> so I asked for some pain relief for my hand. was like a million bee stings.
I was up and walking as soon as i was able to feel my feet, the nurses showered me and 2 weeks later the doc and insurance company gave me the ok to drive and do things.. was fantastic..
I have had 2 cs and they are not as bad as people make out.
1 was emerg and 1 elective. It depends on your hospital and how they do things.
Emerg I was IOL for PE a d after 14 hrs I was 9cm and obstructed, had epidural topped up and had a short cuddle in theatre but it was so cold him and DH taken out and were back with me asap in recovery. I was up less than 12 hrs later walking and showered and bathed DS1.
But my elective cs was fantastic couldn't fault the care or running of things.
Admitted 0630 had obs etc done.
0820 down to theatre and sat with DH and mw until we were taken thru.
Sat on edge of bed and IV and spinal inserted followed by catheter.
DH bought back in for cs.
Once they were were suctioning amniotic fluid DH stood up to watch, Baby held up for me to see, handed to mw beside me to put a towel around and me to kiss baby then taken for 2 mins for very quick check and wrap in warm blankets.
Placed on my chest until they were stiching skin (approx 30 mins) then DH and baby taken to a room to wait for me.
Once they washed some of betadine opff etc approx 5 mins then taken to room and baby attached to breast and fed well. We stayed there for 40 mins then transfered to ward with baby still in bed with me.
As it was AM cs i wasnt allowed up till next day but as soon as I could was up showerd bathed baby etc.
After about 2 hrs on ward baby was weigh and dressed.
Last edited by feeb; April 26th, 2010 at 08:23 PM.
My first c-section was pretty bad but my second one was really good, just about to find the links for you as I have them written in BB somewhere.
But on a positive note I thought I would let you know that I was transverse when my mum went into labour with me and I turned about 4 hours before I was born. Mum really didn't want a c-section so it is possible.
Thanks for posting these questions Seph. I've been quietly ignoring the possibility of CS, but it's something that may be out of my control (best laid plans some time just don't work).
Reading these stories is really comforting, and has put me at ease about the procedure should I need to take that path.
My cesarean was really good. The painful part was the spinal block but then I didn't feel anything below the waist. They had a drip in my arm and gave me some happy drugs because I was so scared when they were about to cut me open but apart from that, as soon as I saw my baby girl i forgot about everything else. You will be fine!
hello!Just wanted to relate my experience too.I found the ceaser fine!I would actually opt for one next time,mine was emergency so was very rushed and no time to think but i was wheeled in and they gave me an epidural so i had to just sit on the bed and didnt even feel it then i laid down and they started i didnt feel a thing and within 45 minutes it was all over baby out etc then only half hour in recovery room with bubs on my breast oh hang on so well with mine being emergency they took bubs out and then did the adgar thing and then i got to hold her but then and then they wheeled me back to a ward with her still laying on me then they hook you up to morphine and my legs started the feeling coming back about 7hours later i think,well she was born at 8pm and at about 2am i remember one leg coming too (hehe)and then i was up walking the next day no worries yes quite a bit of pain at first but if you do have one my best advice is try to stand up and walk around more,i found it hurt more to sit then stand up and i think i healed quicker because i stood up straight quicker.I didnt have any bleeding at all after which i asked about and they said quite normal with a c-sec and was all good no problems or anything.You will be fine!Im just trying to think of anything else to tell,you will have a catheter which is ok too and i said yes to it coming out the next day so i could get up quicker(the quicker your up and around the quicker the recovery)so i was out of bed by lunch time the next day i mean walking a bit slow ofcourse at first.The time in hospital depends i think because i had bubs thursday night and by Sunday morning I was allowed home since doing ok,all the best,any other questions let us know.I didnt know enough because just assumed id have a natural birth and wish i knew more then i wouldnt have been so afraid
I think it's a great idea to be prepared so well done hun.
Not sure if you are after the technical bits but basically they'll put in a spinal block, lay you down and make sure you're comfy. Then they put on the BP cuff (spinals drop your pressures quite significantly unless you're a 'special' PE pt) and the chest dots to monitor your heart trace. SOmeone will insert a urinary catheter.
When all is good they'll do a couple of tests with a pin ***** and ice to check you can't feel anything and they'll tell you they're going to start.
They'll put up a screen so you can't see and your DH will be seated near your head.
Then they'll do a skin incision, and work their way down (skin, fat, fascia, muscle etc) until they find your uterus. They have a feel of bub to find the head and there, they make a small incision and suck some fluid out (some docs to lots some only a bit). Then they make the incision larger (some cut with scissors some tear) and lift bub out. Usually they'll show you straight away - tell them exactly what YOU want. You will need to specify if you want to have the cord intact for DH to cut or to stop pulsating as many will just cut straight away without a thought of it. While you're in awe of your new creation, they'll take out the placenta and give that a good going over to make sure it's in tact and check it's condition.
I got to cuddle both of mine after they had been suctioned and wrapped. Both of mine had issues out of the womb (mec for both, DD had trouble breathing and DS I had a uterine rupture) but once they were right they couldn't get them to us fast enough. DH held them while I was sewn up. Takes about 45-hour.
Neither could I take to recovery and not in any hossy I have assisted with c-secs have done it either. That is usually because a middy has to be with you and often one can't be spared for that sole purpose, but make sure you ask them and specify that's what you really want. You never know if you don't ask.
For both of mine I've been in recovery a bit longer than average (average is an hour), but me and babies/anaesthetics don't go well together. Bub has had DH by their side until I got back. Weighing etc was done then.
DD I didn't get to BF for a few hours and had heaps of trouble. DS I latched on straight away and he was sensational.
Speak to the aneasthetist in depth if you can before the surgery. Tell him what your tolerance is and what you want to be able to do. I didn't know when I had DD that morphine causes me great issues. With DS I did and could work out with the aneasthetist what was best for me. Not all hospitals offer a PCA (patient controlled analgesia that CQ mentioned) after a c-sec but will give you one if it's needed or asked for.
It is major surgery. All your muscles are cut/torn. Recovery is a big deal, but if you take it as you can, just like labour - small positive steps towards a great outcome, you will be fine. Take the analgesia if it's offered or if you fell you need - ask. Take it slowly. I only needed oral analegesia after the first couple of days and panadol after about day 4 for both. However everyone deals with pain differently and if you need painrelief I can't stress enough that there is no point being a martyr. Some people really find it unbearable for a really long time.
You will stay in hossy about 5-7days depending on the hospital (5public, 7 private).
I sat up within an hour and had skin to skin with DS as soon as I got back (I just got my gear off). With DD I was too unwell. You will have the catheter until at the very earliest you can weight bear and the spinal has worn off completely (usually 4-8hours I think). Some hospitals have an overnight policy. Even so I found it relatively easy to move myself up and down the bed. If the babe was next to the bed I could lift them in and out OK. Obviusly found it a bit difficult to change nappies that first day.
I co-slept with DS straight away. I knew the midwives and they were sympathetic to my choices. I know many hossys are not, so it always pays to sus it out beforehand so you don't get a shock and are angry and upset when you should be happy and recouperating.
Um bleeding for me was just like a heavy period for a fortnight, but that is really dependent on the person.
I only had two days to prepare for my caesar, and our bub was prem, so there are some differences there, but hopefully I will be able to answer to some more of your questions later
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks