What's a Caesarean like?

[Miss E]

My CS was an emergency one, so a little different in the lead up, but I had talked to my OB about my wishes at length before hand so in some ways we were prepared. All in all I can say that it was a good experience and while I had hoped for a natural birth that wasn't to be. Anyway to answer your questions...

What happens in a c-section? I mean, I get the general idea, but can anyone take me through it step-by-step (notwithstanding that everyone's experience is different)? How long does it take? Will they allow him to be handed straight to me/DH and not take him away for weighing, etc unless I say? Will they transfer baby with me to Recovery as a matter of course? Apart from medical reasons, is there any reason why baby will be separated from me?

DS was delivered and shown quickly to me before the paed took him. I think he had him for all of 2 minutes (if that) to do his APGAR and bundle him up so he didn't get to cold. He was then placed on my chest and I got to cuddle him while they stitched me up. Once they were done with me I was taken off to recovery and DS went with DH to be weighed etc. Some hospitals will let you have your baby in recovery with you, but unfortunately mine wasn't one. But I would ask your hossy beforehand and see what they say.

I was out of recovery within about 30 mins from memory. They took me to my room and DS and DH got there about 5 minutes later. Then we spent the first night together as a family.

And afterwards - is it easy enough to have skin-to-skin contact? How long before I can sit up in bed? How long before I'm mobile enough to get myself to the toilet? How much pain relief will I need, and for how long? How long will I need to stay in hospital to recover? What's the bleeding like afterwards?

Afterwards skin to skin contact isn't a problem. The nurses propped me up a bit so I was half sitting. I stayed in that position all night and DS slept on my chest, it was such a wonderful night. They kept my catheter in overnight (DS was born at about 8pm) and took it out the next morning. They then got me up, helped me have a shower and made sure I could go to the bathroom okay etc. i could move around, but was still a bit sore and tender so I spent most of the time in bed or in the chair. The bleeding is there and yes you do go through the pads, but I expect it is pretty much the same as a natural birth.

Oh, and because I've been going through the Birth Centre so far, can anyone say whether co-sleeping will be possible in the hospital maternity ward in the first days after the birth? Will I be comfortable enough to co-sleep? Or too drugged and sore?

Not sure, like I said DS spent the first night on my chest, so I guess if you wanted to co-sleep they would be okay with it. Because you're pretty tender I don't think you would have to many worries about moving and squishing you LO, you'll definately wake up before you try to move in your sleep.

HTH, whatever way your LO enters the world I'm sure it will be a magical experience. GL hon

[MummaSue]

Okay, so I've spent 8 months of pregnancy being focused on a natural vaginal birth at a Birth Centre. We've done our reading, signed up a Doula, attended independent birth classes, written the Birth Plan...but it seems Aristotle might have some other ideas about his entrance into this world. He's sitting transverse, still, at 34+ weeks. I'm holding out hope that he'll move, and trying to move him with some positioning, acupuncture, etc, but I also need to prepare myself emotionally for that other possibility - a caesarean.

So...lay it on me. When will the hospital/birth centre start talking about scheduling a c-section? When do they try and deliver a transverse baby - or how long will they give him to move?

What happens in a c-section? I mean, I get the general idea, but can anyone take me through it step-by-step (notwithstanding that everyone's experience is different)? How long does it take? Will they allow him to be handed straight to me/DH and not take him away for weighing, etc unless I say? Will they transfer baby with me to Recovery as a matter of course? Apart from medical reasons, is there any reason why baby will be separated from me?

And afterwards - is it easy enough to have skin-to-skin contact? How long before I can sit up in bed? How long before I'm mobile enough to get myself to the toilet? How much pain relief will I need, and for how long? How long will I need to stay in hospital to recover? What's the bleeding like afterwards?

Oh, and because I've been going through the Birth Centre so far, can anyone say whether co-sleeping will be possible in the hospital maternity ward in the first days after the birth? Will I be comfortable enough to co-sleep? Or too drugged and sore?

Okay, that's probably more than enough questions for now. I'm trying to be optimistic, but my way of preparing for this is to find out now, rather than wait for it to hit me at 38 weeks. If you can answer any of the above questions, even one or two, please post!
What would you like to have known before you had a c-section?

TIA, Seph

Hey mate,

Our little baby had been sitting transverse for pretty much all of my pregnancy (in my opinion). I had my last antenatal appointment at 39w3d and they could see that she was still very very transverse so they gave me 2 options.
To have an ECV - which I said no way to - too sore even when they were poking around to see if she was definitely transverse.
Or a scheduled c-section. I chose the c-section. They kept me in hospital though as they felt that I was at too much of a risk if I went into labour for the cord to come first - I was escorted from the antenatal clinic to the maternity ward where I spent 6 days before getting my c-section. Bubby was born at 40w2d - I had to wait in hospital for 6 days because of the Easter public holidays!!
I found the whole procedure to be fairly straightforward - baby was taken to be weighed etc but DH was there through the whole thing and they gave her to him straight away. We then did skin to skin contact in recovery where she was put onto my breast and we started feeding.
I found it to be quite frustrating not being able to get out of bed to deal with bubby though, it takes a good 6 hours for the spinal to wear off. I went through the public hospital system and DH wasn't allowed to stay so overnight when bubby started crying, I had to buzz for the MW who then took a few minutes to get there (being busy and all).
I made sure that my catheter was out the very next day and my IV fluids too - and got myself out of bed, up and about. It was sore and I was sorer than I thought I'd be but soldiering on was the best thing and I was feeling 100% 3 days after the operation.
I had a reaction to the morphine and was vomiting for a good few hours after I got back to the ward which was awful as I was starting to feel my wound area and legs etc. But that isn't a standard reaction so don't worry about that. Was just awful to be b/f and vomiting. Not pretty.
The hospital I was in (Mater Mothers Brisbane) has a no co-sleeping policy so bubby was in a crib next to my bed where I lay and looked at her all night long.

PM me if you have any questions about transverse stuff babe - it was a scary 6 days for me in hospital because all they kept asking me was if I was getting contractions, whether I was losing fluid etc - they took it very seriously that the cord could come first with me being so far along in the pregnancy.

I'd be asking your ob/ MW questions about the transverse position and risks when you see them next.
All the best
Sue xxx

[kyliealysha]

Mine was an emergency c section. I wish I'd thought about them more prior or had some plans.

Basically I was wheeled into theatre and given an epi/spinal. This was tough as I was having contractions but had to keep as still as possible Then I was laid down and one arm strapped to the BP monitor and the other one strapped across my chest. I really didn't like this and would be requesting this to not happen next time. I guess it is standard at the hospy? It meant I couldn't hold Emma as both arms were restrained. So they checked I was numb and started cutting. Not sure at what point DH came in but he was there too. It seemed like no time at all before the OB was pulling her out and telling us we had a girl. She was checked and then DH and a midwife took her to be weighed etc while I was stitched up, then I had to wait in recovery on my own hanging to get back and see my baby. If there's a next time I'd definitely be requesting the baby came to recovery with me.

I was returned to my room with self dosing pain meds hooked in to my epi site. I wasn't in pain though so kept forgettng to press the button. The midwives would press it for me. I didn't co sleep with Emma but I could have although officially it is against hospital policy a few of the midwives suggested it. I was too scared to though. The next morning I was begging them to unhook me so I could get up. Getting up and down was painful but I used that handle thing above the bed. Oh and if you are about to cough, sneeze or laugh hold your belly first! So day two they were giving me oral Endone for pain but I asked them to stop as it was making me feel really out of it and they brought panadol instead. Day 3 I told them to stop bringing the panadol too as I wasn't in pain unless I was getting up or down.

FYI it's not true that you can't drive for 6 weeks afterwards. We checked with our insurance company and they said it's up to my doctor, who cleared me to drive at 4 weeks.

[Persephone1]

WOW! Thank you ladies, so much, for sharing your experiences and wisdom. It's gone a long way to demystify the c-section for me, and I'm really grateful for that.

To be honest, I'm not at all sure that Bub is transverse - personally I think he's still got lots of room to move, because his head appears at all angles under my ribs and to the side... although perhaps that's his bum I'm off to see the MWs tomorrow so will have some questions answered and hopefully start to feel more calm about the whole thing. If nothing else, I'll go into a c-section knowing all my options and having made an educated decision.

{Sarah}, thanks for link, that was really informative. And thanks again to everyone for sharing their stories.

You all rock