recovery 2nd time around?

Hi everyone...

I am in the middle of weighing up my options as to which way I am going to go to birth my little boy, I have had a previous c section due to babies size apparently, this one looks like he is going to be a big boy too.

But anyway, I am just wondering for those who have had more than 1 c section... How did you recover the 2nd time around?

My C sect scar is sore lumpy stretched and swollen at the moment hurts just to wear undies, and I am thinking how much more it will be affected cutting into an old wound and with it being so sore now.

My friend seems to think you recover more quickly with each one, I took 6 months before I could walk properly the 1st time, and 12 months until I was right again.

Has anyone had any huge issues with recovery time, or complications during a 2nd C section because of the old scar?

Thanks for your help, muchly appreciated:D

hi danielle
i had my second c-section on april 18 last year - i recovered so much more quickily this time - i choose to have them leave the epidural in as pain relief for the first 24hours & it helped so much
they cut through my same scar & it healed much better the second time (just wore those grandma undies till it was healed)
all in all i found the second time so much better than the first (which was an emergency due to bubs size 5.1kgs!) plus having it planned helped alot too

hey Mel,

Thanks for your reply, gee I am so happy I am not the only one having to have surgery to get bubs out due to their size! 5.1kgs!!! holy moly! My 1st was 4.8kgs (10lbs 2 oz), theya re predicting this one will be 10lbs again or above. Can I ask why you had the 2nd cesar? was it bubs size again? I will have to ask them about leaving the epi in for pain releif, cause god it was hell, I had no pain releif offered to me for the 1st 48 hrs! I have no idea why but it was hard to get around without it for the 1st 2 days I will be begging for it this time.

As for grandma undies, I have been wearing them for the past month hehe cause my ceasarean scar has been so sore, they are terrific, not very sexy hubby got a laugh out of it, but very comfy! hehe...

thanks again:D

Hi danielle,

I will be having my 3rd c/section in May and i can tell you that second time around i healed much much faster (hopefully 3rd time will be even easier :pray:)

It was a much more pleasant expirenece the second time round also because you know what to expect

I have to have a ceasar because of type 2 diabetes and bubs weight also,DD2 was 4.990kg

I dont know why they didnt give you pain relief right away thats ridiculous,i got morphine tablets as soon as the spinal wore of along with tramadol and nurofen
so make sure you demand your pain relief

lol danielle i know the undies are a real turn on!

i went for an elective with my 2nd cause they said she would be big (though looked small compared to the first but was 10lb) i also had gestational diabetes with my 2nd

yeah my first was a suprise at 11lb 4oz & she was 58cms long - i laboured for so long that there was no way she was going to come out

i had my first at RBWH & my second at Nambour general - they were both great but i was never offered the epi as pain relief the first time & it was hell - only drawback is you are stuck flat on your back & relie on midwives & family to help you but made for such a better recovery

good luck :dance:

so I am certainly not the only one having to have surgery from big babies?

I am not sure if I will be doing the right thing by having another c section, but the baby certainly does look big again if not bigger, and the Obstetrician is worried of me labouring with such a big baby apparently alot of the time labour fails to progress with big babies and you end up in emergency theartre anyhow. He is also concerned about the way my scar looks, its so stretched swollen and sore, and I have done my hip in too at 25 weeks which could become a concern labouring with a big baby. I want to badly give birth vaginally but am beginning to think like everyone else that maybe its in my best interest for the baby and me to have an elective c section again. If I do go ahead with it I will have him here in like 2 weeks, they want to take him at 39 weeks, Im not allowed to go overdue from my previous c section and the pressure on my scar especially with such a big baby.

I really feel like a bit of a failure from having a c section the 1st time around and probably even more so this time, but when it comes down to it knowing that I do have big babies, I really dont think I would be able to birth a baby that big, my cousin ended up brain damaged from being stuck in the birth canal for too long from a similar situation, it really just scares the hell out of me. But then again so does having another c section because my 1st one was horrible, I have to be brave and get through it for my new baby and my family, its so hard having 2 weeks to stue over it!

How did you girls prepare yourselves mentally for another c section? I just cant seem to come to terms with it. Some women say its the easy way out, but in my experience it was the most horrid thing ive ever been through.

thanks again ladies nice to know im not the only one out there

Hi,

It was never my ideal choice for me to have a c/section ,DD1 was a emergency c/section due to my high blood pressure and her head getting stuck in my pelvis.
DD2 was a attempted VBAC so i wasnt prepared for a c/section because i really thought i could do it.But for the saftey of DD i had to go c/section after only 3 hours of active labour and its a good thing i did make that decision because she ended up in NICU for 3 days because of feeding and blood suger problms.So this time round i am not gonna fight the docters because i am a diabetic and i know bubs will get really big so forme to have a c/section at 39wks it best for me and bubs.Because the most traumatic thing for me to go through was seeing DD2 in NICU hooked up to machine and getting *****ed every minute for tests.
What im trying to say is whether you have a c/section or not is up to you and if you dont have any medical problems and bubs is looking good then bubs being a big baby is not an issue,if you want a vaginal birth you can do that with a big baby.trust me if my only prob was that i have big babies i would have gone for a vaginal birth.Anyway good luck with your descision and whatever you decide to do in the end you will have your beautiful baby....oh yeah also there is NO easy way out of childbirth whether vaginally or through your stomach having babies is a tough thing to do:)

Hi Danielle,

I can sooo understand your aprehension for having another caesarean. It sounds like you had a really rough time with your recovery 1st time round. Which hospital did you have bub at? Maybe if you end up having another caesar you could talk to them about your concerns and maybe they could look at doing things differently. When I had my caesarean (which ended up being under a general anaesthetic :cry:) I didn't have morphine for pain relief, but I did have capadex tablets (similar to panadiene forte apparently) and voltaren suppositories. I know the thought of suppositories doesnt sound great but seriously I had virtually no pain - just a little discomfort. Also my incision was closed using staples which were taken out 4 days post OP and I had absolutely no probs with the scar. Just a thin line and I was pretty much fully recovered within 3-4 weeks.

If you don't mind me asking, how far overdue did you go with your first bub before you had the elective caesar?

My elective caesar at 38 weeks was because I had PE and bubs head wasn't engaged so my Ob told me an induction wouldn't have worked. I have to say that I fully regret having the caesarean at that point as in reality the PE hadn't gotten to a dangerous stage and I had a really hard time coming to terms with having been knocked out. I felt like I had no birth experience and it also seems a bit weird to me that I haven't even got a clue what a single contraction feels like.

I will be attempting a VBAC for my next baby as I don't think I could handle it if I had a caesarean and had to get knocked out again. I am going to tell the hospital that I want to allow myself to go a week overdue and that I will be happy to have daily monitoring to ensure that bub is still completely healthy. Maybe that is an option you could look at and at least if you don't go into labout by 41 weeks you'll know that perhaps a caesar is mean't to be.

Also you can do things to make you caesar a more pleasant experience such as ask for skin to skin with bubs while you are in theatre and while you are in recovery. Also if you're keen you could ask them to take down the screen so you could see bub being delivered.

:hugs: Hugs to you and all the best with your decision. Let us know what you decide.

I've never had a cs but thought I would share the experience of a friend of mine who's had three.Her first two were in South Africa and while she recovered well after the second she could never hold on to go to the loo. This time she had an elective cs in Perth and the surgeon found that her bladder had been put back in the wrong place! He was fantastic. He cut out old scar tissue and tidied it up so even though she was operated on for longer she has recovered much faster. Talk to your DR about the probs you had last time and like my friend he/she might be able to prevent them from happening again.

Good luck

hi there, im so sorry to hear about your recovery the first time, that was rediculous, my 1st was born naturally after 23 hours, and gas, my second was induced as the stupid ultrasound showed he was gianormous,, grr which he didnt end up being, after 6 hours, his heart rate dropped, his cord ended up being around his neck ,and as the contractions were fast and strong from being induced he was taken c-section,

im due for my 2nd c-section.... 3rd baby. in 2 days, i have decided to go with surgery as i recoverd so well after my first , and there is only 13 months between my last one,so im not game enough to try naturally- fear of rupture.

I personally was petrified of the pain of a c-section, i had a spinal block , which i have heard is alot better than epidural as so many people can still end up feeling through it..then have to be knocked out,
the spinal block makes u numb for 2 hours, then provieds pain relief for 12 hours, after this i had capadex and panadol, you can choose what you want for pain relief.( just ask for it)
as some drugs effect people worse than others, for example, panadene forte knocks me out after one!:asleep: :S

i hope what ever you choose, is your decision in the end, i havent had my second c-section, so i cannot let you know of recovery as yet , but i was fine with my first after 4 weeks, i was back on my excercise bike... walking ect.
make sure u rest the days you are in hospital and keep moving when at home but no heavy lifting ect.. take advantage of all help..

good luck, i wish you the best it is such a hard decision, but let it be ures only, it doesnt matter how you get your bubby ,, you will love it just the same.:)


me 21 him 27

Patience 05- :confetti:
Kynan 07- :cool:

and bubby girl to be born, April 1st 2 days !!:dance:
my little april fool :lol:

my first caesar was an emergency kidneys decided to shut down and had high blood pressure, and bub got stuck...had an epidural, and after the caesar i was soo sick epidural was left in for afew days... not good!!!
Second bub was another caesar but this time round i also had high blood pressure again and an added bonus of pre-eclampsia :) i didnt have an epidural this time i had a spinal block, which is much better!!! i was up not long after it wore off as i felt dirty and wanted a shower and to be able to sit up instead of laying half down to feed bubs... my recovery with the second caesar was much quicker..
this next bub will also be another caesar... just have to be careful with BP and pre-eclampsia again.... am also requesting a spinal again, and will also request dissovable stitches...

I have been told that spinals can make you quiet sick and vomiting? Did this happen to any of you ladies who had a spinal?

My epidural I was shaking and almost vomiting during surgery but it was probably more the hands i could feel in my tummy was making me sick.

With a spinal can you still feel movement and everything in your belly like with an epidural?

Danielle i have had a spinal with both my CS and although i felt nauseous throughout both surgeries i was never sick. Once i was in recovery i started to feel better so i think nerves may have had a bit to do with how i was feeling.

With regards to recovery 2nd time around i felt fantastic i even came home on day 3 and was looking after my 2yo full time too. Of course you still have to take it easy but i felt great and i was very nervous about recovering with a toddler.

Apparently if you feel nauseous make sure you tell them and they will give you some anti nausea medication.

I will talk to the OB about my worries, I think the worst part of my c section with Lily was the nausea and shaking during the surgery, oh and I felt as though I couldnt breathe, maybe from lying on my back for so long. I hope it will be better this time around, I am pretty sure I will be having surgery again, with the way my scar is stretched and sore and its so swollen, have to wear granny undies at the moment to keep anything from rubbing on it, and the way my hip is too, the OB seems to think it would just be too risky birthing sucha big baby as well, and I know he's going to be big, so sense tells me to toughen up stop crying about it and have the surgery done so me and bubby are safe.

I will have a think about what I didnt like last time around and see if they can make it any better this time around. I will be ok I just need to stop being such a sook, it was pretty horrific for me the 1st time around its a pain having this long to think about it all this time too.

With the spinal block, how do they administer that? Is it a tube thingy in your back? would it hurt more than an epidural? They had to use the epi on me 4 times before it worked, I am not overally familiar with a spinal block any experiences or advice would be great. I have thought of asking to go completely under because I didnt handle it all real well last time, but then I think about my little crying boy, I have to go through it for him. Cant stand the thought of him crying until his mummy wakes up.

So I am 37 weeks pregnant now, they say they want to get him out at 39 weeks, so I have 2 weeks until I am a new mumma again, I am excited, nervous, scared pooing myself hehe. Once I have hiim in my arms Im sure Ill be fine. I have everything organised now too to bring him home yay! :D

thanks for all your replies its been great being able to get a little support for C section, when so many people are against it.

Hi Danielle,
:hugs: I wish you all the best for a more pleasant c-section experience with this bub. Yes definately make sure you discuss all of your fears and concerns with the Ob and they should endeavour to make things better where they can.
A Spinal is just a one off injection in your spine that makes you numb from the chest down for about 2 hours. (unlike the Epidural where the anaesthesia is constantly fed into your spine through an IV).
From personal experience, I wouldn't go under a general if I could avoid it. Firstly it's more risky for you and Bub. Also, being asleep and missing out on your bubs first hours of life can be very traumatic. (well it was for me - resulted in b'feeding problems and PND)

All the best & how exciting, you will be a mummy again in 2 weeks!

PS: Sassymummaof2: all the best for your c-section tomorrow!

Hey again!

thanks for the replies!

I had my 2nd growth scan at the hospital yesterday, even though it can be .5 kilo out either side, he measured 4.5 kilo, thats almost 10 lbs already I think, and I am 37 weeks, it was expected my 1st was 10lbs 2 7 days overdue though hehe. Turns out I dont have diabetes or anything, I just make big healthy babies, no one knows how or why cause I am not big myself. The OB has reccommended C section again due to bubbys size he says he can tell he's a big boy just by feeling my tummy, oh and hes pulled his head out of my pelvis and turned around posterior again too the little bugger his feet permanantly live up my rib cage now! The ob also said it would be best given the looks of my scar its so stretched fromt his big baby and swollen and sore, and my hip is out of joint too which wouldnt help a great deal birthing a baby that big. So I took his advice as much as I dont want a repeat C sect, I really dont care how I get my baby as long as me and him are safe and healthy.

Bit of a bother they wreckon there is no room left in there already for him and this is the time they put on their most weight in the last few weeks. They dont like taking them out before 39 weeks because of their lungs and being matured, and they only do c sections here on a Thursday, so the thursday after I was 39 week was only like 3 days before I was due anyways, How on earth is he going to fit??? It hurts its uncomfortable, Im flat out walking the weight on my hip hurts bad.

So I will have my little boy on the 17th April 2008. 2 wks 3 days.

I have no idea how I am going o prepare myself mentally for this again no idea I am terrified again. But its what I have to do to make sure we are ok then so be it sheesh...

i have had 4 c- sections not by my choice i would love to know what labour feels like but i say each one the healing time was better and better and even with the last one the dr said how could my scaring was

I recovered betyter after each of my c/s . I found my 2nd was heaps better though.

I would say you have some scar tissue there. Ask the Dr doing the surgery if that is the problem and if he or she can cut some away..

Good Luck..

I had an elective 4 weeks ago and I was up and about the day after the c/s and it took me about 2 weeks to feel normal again, at three weeks I was pretty much pain free and stopped taking any medication. My husband was home for 2 weeks after I got out of hospital to help with our 2 year old. Unlike my first c/s which was an emergency when he could only take 3 days off when I got out of hospital. Trust me if you have someone to cook, clean and run around for you, you will heal much faster.