C section for first baby

Hi Ladies,
I am looking at a C section for my first baby as she is breech, I had the ECV done today and it didn't work.
The DR doesn't think anything will turn this baby, so has put me on a waiting list for a C section at 39 weeks, the op can be cancelled if baby turns.
I have never had surgery, anasthetic or stiches before, so am very nervous about the whole procedure.
Here are some questions I have, if anyone can help me:
What are my options for anasthetic? It's not "normal" to go completely under is it?
If I'm not completely under, will I be able to hold my baby straight away?
What is the average time for being in the recovery rooms? As I have heard that some hospitals don't allow baby in with you.
Will I have stitches or staples?
Is there anything I can do to prepare for my recovery?
I want to try and have a good experience, so want to be informed as much as I can.
I'm at the Mercy in Heidleberg, if that helps at all.

Thanks!

There's still time for baby to move, have you checked the Spinning Babies website, there are some great techniques on there that could help :)

Otherwise to answer your questions:

What are my options for anasthetic? It's not "normal" to go completely under is it?
Nope, generally you will have a spinal anesthetic which means that you are numb but you're awake.

If I'm not completely under, will I be able to hold my baby straight away?
This is a tough one, some hospitals allow it, others don't. I have had two & both times I wasn't able to as my arms had to be stretched out with a drip in one & BP cuff on the other. If you ask the hospital & put it in your birth plan as long as everything is going well it should be ok.

What is the average time for being in the recovery rooms?
It depends on how you cope with the surgery. For my first I was in recovery for an hour, for my second I have a PPH so was in there for just over three hours. Again some hospitals allow the baby to be in recovery with you, ask them.

Will I have stitches or staples?
Depends on the doctor, but I believe it may depend on the hospital.

Is there anything I can do to prepare for my recovery?
Not much! Make sure you take big granny undies with you though! You defintely don't want anything like hispters as they will sit on your wound & rub. High cut knickers will go over the wound & you can put a pad in there over your wound & it feels much better.

Hi Emma, good luck for the rest of your pregnancy! There's still a ways to go yet so hopefully your little one will turn and you won't need to worry about a CS. I believe that the spinning babies website has some good tips to help them turn so it might be worth checking it out. But to answer your questions...

What are my options for anasthetic? It's not "normal" to go completely under is it?
- 99% of the time you will have a spinal block epidural so you won't be able to feel anything from below your boobs down. I think it is only in real emergencies that you would have a full anaesthetic so probably not be anything you need to worry about.

If I'm not completely under, will I be able to hold my baby straight away?
- as long as your baby is healthy you should be able to hold them pretty much straight away. There is ususally a paediatrician who will check them out quickly and wrap them up then bring them straight over to you. I was able to hold my DS for the entire time I was being stitched up.

What is the average time for being in the recovery rooms? As I have heard that some hospitals don't allow baby in with you.
- my hospital was one of the ones that don't let you have your baby with you. DH went with DS while he had all his checks done and I was in recovery. I was only in there for about 30 minutes, but I know some people are there a bit longer. I think it really depends on how quickly you recover.

Will I have stitches or staples?
- I believe this depends on the preference of the OB. I had staples, the idea of it grossed me out and I made a point of not looking at them. I had them taken out the night before I left hospital. I was scared that it would hurt, but it was fine.

Is there anything I can do to prepare for my recovery?
- not really sure about this one... I guess my only advice would be to go into it with an open mind and to discuss your wishes at length with your OB before hand. I had a great OB who was happy to accomodate all of our wishes. As long as you're both on the same page I believe that you can make a CS a magical experience.

Good Luck!

Hi Emma,
It is so great that you are asking these questions now as it will enable you to have more control over your birth and to be more likely to have things go a way that you want. I agree with the other ladies who have posted and my experience was similar. I didn't get to see my baby for about 2-3 hrs after birth as I had not asked for contact during recovery. They kept me in there for longer than I imagined and if I had my time again I would have changed that. I really missed having skin to skin contact straight after birth. See if you can negotiate it.

Still, as Sarah said, it is not too late to get your baby to turn :lol:! I have a book about optimal fetal positioning and it recommends a few really important things to get a baby moving.

• Avoid sitting in a couch or chair that allows you to sink into it. You really need your knees lower than your pelvis when sitting to open up your pelvis so your baby can move into the correct position.
• Sit on a dining room chair, kneel on the floor, lean on a bean bag or some cushions or sit on a sofa with some cushions under your bum to sit more upright. This is all to get your pelvis tilted forward
• Sleep or rest on your side with pillows behind your back and with your top leg resting forwards so the knee touches the mattress. Thus your abdomen is forward making room for babies movement
• Swim
• Practice yoga
• alternative medicine such as acupunture, acupressure and homeoathics can help
• Scrub the floors! Getting down on all fours regularly allows room for the baby to move.

Then there are things to avoid

• Relaxing in semi-reclined positions
• sitting with knees higher than hips
• long trips in cars with bucket seats
• sitting cross legged
• squatting

With regard to the C/s I had mine at the Mercy too. I am not sure about a lot of what choices you have as mine was not planned so I don't know what I could have changed if I had the choice. I have just finished reading "The thinking woman's guide to childbirth" by Henci Goer which has a great section on C/s. If you can get your hands on it I think it would be very helpful. There is some contention surrounding the type of incision you are given and its ability to heal/allow you to have a VBAC should you get pg again. You may wish to speak to your ob about that and look into what options you have.

With regards to recovery, pelvic floor exercises are essential (boring I know!;)) getting up and moving as soon as you can is said to aid recovery, it certainly seemed to help with me. Arranging help for when you get home is really important. You can't lift anything and you should avoid lots of bending and picking up etc so ask your friends/family to sign up for a roster to come over and deliver groceries or fold laundry. It is amazing how the nesting instinct makes you just want to do things which can lead you to doing damage to your poor uterus as it tries to heal! Just focus on picking up your baby!

And finally, be aware that all of that fiddling around inside your abdomen really stuffs with your digestion. I had severely chronic wind trapped in my gut after my C/s which was soooo painful! Take something like peppermint tea in with you to have after the birth. Anything that will help get digestion moving and ask the nursing staff for any suggestions. If I had known earlier and done something I may have avoided a bit of pain!

Good luck with whatever eventuates!

Don't know if it is true or not but my LC told me that peppermint tea is really bad for your supply, so if you are planning on breastfeeding maybe give the peppermint a miss...

Hi Emma!
All the best for the birth of your baby. My DD was still breech at 36 weeks and turned all on her own by 37. You still have time.
Best of luck!

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for all your kind words and support.
I have tried most the things suggested and will continue to do so, right up until D (or rather C) day.
Thanks for answering my questions, I want to have a good handle on what to expect if it comes to that....
The DR said it is unlikely for her to turn, but stranger things have happened!
I have an appointment on Tuesday, so will make sure I ask all these questions to find out hospital policy and the like.
Thanks again....

Emma, I had a c/s for a breech bub back in April. He was breech at my 36week appointment and I opted not to have the ECV. I did try positions from the spinning babies website, acupuncture and moxibustion but he didn't turn.

I had a spinal, so was awake but numb from about the chest down. You still feel pressure, but no pain.

It depends on the hospital as to whether you can hold your baby straight away. In most cases you would at least get a quick cuddle. DS was checked straight away because he wasn't breathing, they got him breathing and then brought him to me for a cuddle and some photos. They then took him away as they wanted special care to take a look at him.

Recovery can be a tricky one. I requested DS to be with me, but they need a midwife to be present and there wasn't one available so I was in recovery by myself. I was only in there for 30 mins as my BP and everything was fine. DS born at 5.38pm, they took him away at about 5.50pm, 40 minutes to stitch me up and then in recovery until 7pm.

Check with your Dr regarding the stitches or staples. I had internal stitches so didn't have to worry about having anything removed later. Just an awful clear bandage that was sticky and a bit painful to remove 2 weeks later.

Before my c/s I asked my naturopath about things to aid recovery and she told me to continue taking my vit c and zinc as they help in repairing collagen and healing from scarring and surgery.
Also, as previously suggested no lifting etc. Get as much help as you can once you are home. Get up after the c/s as soon as you can. I was stuck in bed for 18 hours before they finally took the catheter out (5.30pm c/s) and helped me get up. Dr wanted me up much earlier but the midwives were flat out, but I just kept asking.

If you have a chance, put all your requests down in a birth plan. The hospital had mine on file and knew I wanted skin to skin in recovery etc. I do feel that you lose that control when you have a c/s as it's so planned but all you can do is ask.
Good luck. Good on you for thinking about this now. I was so focused on him turning between 36-38 weeks that I didn't think too much about the c/s until about a week before he was born. Babies do turn late, but it's good to be prepared for what may happen if they don't.