c sections - need real person descriptions

boyohboyohboy wrote: i think maybe some of my issues with a c section might be relieved if i had some real experiences to compair them too.
can anyone who has had one tell me what it was like, and what to expect, and how recovery went,
i am going to have a new born and a 2 yr old to take care of, is that a reasonable expectation after a surgery like that? what was the pain like?
it would be really helpful if someone had a vag birth first then a c section to compair it too.

Jackie012007 replied: I've only had a c-section, but it was a breeze really. Mine was an emergency one , so that made me really nervous but really it was fine. They shave you, put an IV in, and then you go in. You have to sit on the edge of the bed, and they do your spinal - that was the worst part for me, I'm so short waisted, I couldn't roll far enough and it took a few pokes. Once that goes in, you immediately numb and they lay you down. For me, they put a sheet up so I couldn't see, and Carl came in. They they scrub you really well and it happens - the actual process of getting the baby out is really fast, it's getting the afterbirth and the stitch up that takes the most time. Then I went into recovery - I was there for quite a while because my blood pressure shot up. They put a big pad on you and press on your stomach to check your blood flow. I was in the hospital for 2 nights and then I went home a day early. It was kind of rough when the pain meds wore off but not unmanagable - my biggest thing was getting as much rest, laying on my back, as possible. The Boppy pillow helped too - you can put it around your waist to support your incision when you get get up and sit down. Putting pressure on the incision helped, like pressing pillows against it. HTH!!

A&A'smommy replied: Pretty much everything Jackie said.. I went home 5 days later (which is around average for a c-section patient to stay) and the day after I came home I was able to move around enough to clean the house.. I was still sore but was able to get comfortable

boyohboyohboy replied: jackie, did the spinal make you sick? some have said that when in recovery, it made them shake and sick....
also did you bf carly? i was wondering if it prolonged that process?
how long till you got to see the baby after she was taken out? and then allowed to hold her in your room?

lisar replied: I had 2 C-sections. 4.5 years apart. The first one was easier than the second one.
During the surgery I was completly fine. No pain no anything. After wards you will start to feel a little pain. The recovery wasnt that bad for me at all. I have a high tolerency for pain so that made it easier for me than some people I know who had them. Within 2 weeks after the surgery you will be back to your normal self at about 85% normal I would say. Just be careful how you move around afterwards, no sudden movements that will hurt.

my2monkeyboys replied: I had one, planned, as Will was a breach baby. After I went into labor they took me back and injected a spinal block in my back. I didn't feel it at all, so I'm not sure if I just had a really good person giving it to me or if it was bc I was in pain elsewhere.
Shortly after they gave me that I began to go numb from about the chest down. At first it kind of freaked me out bc I tried to move my legs but couldn't and it just was weird. The anesth. dr. talked me through it and was just great. He got my mind off of it and I calmed down pretty quickly then.
The surgery itself was quick.. maybe 10-15 minutes and out he was, crying and looking just beautiful. They stitched me up and I was in recovery for about 45 min. The pain wasn't terribly bad, except when I laughed or sneezed, but they give you a little pillow to hold against your stomach which really helped a lot. After 2 days I went home and only took a 600mg motrin once every 8 hrs or so the first day or 2, then only every once in a while after that. The hardest part is after I had been home a few days I felt so good that I'd end up stretching to reach something, and it would hurt then for a minute. Nothing really bad, though.
I have to say that I really had a good experience with it, considering it was surgery.
As for having a young child that worst part will be just not being able to really pick him up for a while, I think. Of course you'll be tired and worn out... normal new-mom stuff, but as far as the surgery making a difference, I think that will be the biggest thing to probably deal with.
I hope this helps, but feel free to ask any questions.

boyohboyohboy replied: stephanie, your story really makes me feel like this is something i can do..
did u bf will?
i wondered if that time apart made a difference with starting the bfing process?

also how long then till you saw will, was it after the 45 min recovery period? and did the spinal meds make you sick?

danahas4monkeys replied: I've had 3 first was emergency, second and third were planned. I was up and about and home in 3-4 days. I had the epidural the second time and spinal the third and thought hands down the spinal was better. i got to see the babies right away and I got to hold them within minutes of being back in my room. and honestly planning it was so much nicer I knew when it would happen which left me time to take care of the other kids and who would watch them. And one super tip, the faster you get up and moving around afterwards the faster you'll be back on your feet walk walk walk even if its just up the hall and back . I had no effects from the spinal. another tip keep a pillow over your tummy and hold it when you have to sneeze, laugh, cough it helps. its really not that bad and really it all boils down to whats best for you and the baby. good luck!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Okay, I had my first vaginal. Induced, regular delivery, everything went really smooth. No pain. My second, I had an emergency c-section. Induced again, rushed to the OR because Wesley was coming down the birth canal face up and starting out like a flying squirrel. Heart rate slowing. Doc was afraid he would break his neck or worse if he tried vaginal. BTW, my water had already broke so I was at about a 6 into labor. My c-section was NOT a good experience. I don't want to scare you, but I suppose when comparing the two, I would give the vaginal a 9 and the C maybe a 2 (but I'm being nice...it's really a 0).

Differences: Vaginal I was in a softly lit room. My epi was working great and I pushed for about 15 minutes. They gave me Wil right away, I nursed him, great experience. Recovery wasn't bad at all.

C-section....Bright lights, crucified on a table, stripped naked in front of about 10 or so people talking all this medical stuff, hubby couldn't be in the room until close to the end, doctor pushing your lower body around. Just plain yucky. Took baby before I could even see him. Couldn't hold him, just a quick photo near my head. Then off again. I was put into pre-op which I swear took four hours. DH was with Wesley, watched him take his first bath - I missed ALL of that. Bad bad experience. Recovery was worse than the vaginal. It was hard because Wil was just under two and still wanted to be picked up. And he likes to climb on my lap.

As far as BF though, I didn't have a problem...even after waiting four hours or so before seeing my baby. He latched on fine. I'm still BF Wesley, so that just proves having a C really doesn't effect that bond.

Anyhow, I really think if I had KNOWN and prepared myself for a C, I would have been fine. I had the vision of my first delivery in mind, which was a breeze, so it was difficult to go through a major surgery unexpected. I am a small person, so I really was bruised and sore after it all.

Sorry that was so long...

HuskerMom replied: Mine was fairly easy. I had already had my epi because I had been in labor for about 17 hours. The only thing that really got to me was that I couldn't stop shaking. It was really quick too. And afterwards they wheeled me right to my room after stitching me up and I got to hold Keith then. I was lucky I didn't have to wait. I think my hubby helped me the most, he just kept talking to me the whole time and tried to calm me down. And I had a really cool doctor. He talked about other things besides the c/s so that made me feel better too. Now I'm not scared to get a c/s next time. Luckily I can get the same dr.

I was pretty sore afterwards but I found that after I got home the more I was up and walking the better I felt.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I hope I didn't scare you with my reply. I have the comparison factor, so it really was such a different experience for me. Again, if it had been planned, I think things would have been easier. I was very shaky too and I think I let my emotions get the best of me.

What's important is you have a healthy baby...And this I had, so I shouldn't complain. GL

my2monkeyboys replied: I got to see him and touch his little feet before they took him to get bathed and all, which my DH was able to go in and help with that stuff. They brought him to my room pretty much as soon as I got there and asked for him. I had to wait about 5-10 min bc they were finishing up some stuff. I did bf, but we struggled with it at first. Even with the lactation consultant helping it was hard to get him latched on properly. I don't think it had anything to do with the c-section, though. He had a very small mouth, and my 'bottle' was not so small, but we worked it out in the end and he mostly bf for about 2 months, then I pumped exclusively (bc I thought I was going back to work) for another month or so.

boyohboyohboy replied: I think i am leaning towards just letting nature take its course....for the health of andrew, and the hopes that he wont have the medical issues the other two have had.
I hope to just start labor on my own before he is so large i need a c section, or at least be able to get him out on my own with no issues..
but i think i do feel a little better, that if i try and cant, then its going to be ok to have the c section. and neither of us will be any worse off for it.

i dont feel so frightened of the unknown now..and this thread has helped me make a list of questions for the ob when i go in on tuesday..

thank you

julesmom replied: I've had 3 c-sections. I did go into labor with my first, but he was too big and it ended in a c-section. My 2nd was breech, so he was another c-section. After having 2 sections, I was all ready for my 3rd. I went into labor with my 3rd, almost 3 weeks early. Ended up with an emergency section.

It wasn't that bad either time.
1st was epidural
2nd was spinal
3rd was general anesthia(I think that's what it's called. I was out completely.) I wouldn't recommned that way, but the baby's health is what's important, imho.

I bf all 3 of them with no problems. It takes alittle longer for your milk to come in with a c-section, but it does come in. None of mine had a bottle, no supplements. The football hold works after surgery.

My first 2 are 21mths apart, so I had a hyper 21mth old when I had a newborn.
Then when I had a 4yr old and 2 year old, I had my last baby. And I came home and cared for them pretty well by myself. DH had to get back to work.
Don't worry, you can do it!

my2monkeyboys replied:
Absolutely!!!

boyohboyohboy replied: thank you guys...i think i can do this...
although it is still kinda scarey.

lovemy2 replied: While I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion and to some people it is VERY important to have their children naturally - I have to be honest - I would NEVER want to go through labor and delivery - I labored for 2 1/2 days then had an emergency c-section with Olivia - it was HORRIBLE - recovery was tough only because I was sooo far behind the 8 ball so to speak from all the labor, etc. - so in my case I DID NOT have a good birth experience the natural way - with Dylan I had a planned c-section but went into labor three days before - had the c-section before labor really got going so it was a very smooth pleasant experience - the spinal did make me shake but I did not get sick - so IMO - I would go with a c-section everytime - by the time I got home from the hospital I was moving easily, etc. the key was to stay in the hospital as long as they let you....and I tried to BF Dylan we did it for about 6 weeks but he was brought to me immediately after he was clean for me to see, etc. DH was holding him, etc. and then we BF within an hour (or less) of him being born......

boyohboyohboy replied: every time i think ok, i am set for this, and get it in my head this is just how its going to be...i start to freak out and then change my mind...( i dont even know what options i have right now)
i see the dr in the am, for a non stress test, but i can tell already he is moving so much less.
i think he will want to induce us soon.
but i am so worried about the shoulders getting stuck.
i cant sleep at all, i have so much anxiety.

lovemy2 replied: It is a scary prospect but in my opinion - it is like rain on your wedding day - you can't do anything about it - it is going to happen how it happens and you have to do what is best for your and your baby's health - if that means c-section - so be it - at least in the end you and your baby are happy and healthy - to me the prospect of what I went through with Olivia - (her heartrate dropped dangerously low several times, etc. she was NOT coming out) was not worth my dreams or desires of how I wanted my children to be born....besides - c-section babies have nice round heads

Jackie012007 replied:
yeah after I left the OR and was in recovery, I shook pretty bad;y until they gave me meds in my IV to stop it. I didn't throw up totally, only felt like I was going to once when I sipped some water. They brought her over right after they cut the cord and cleaned her - they wanted to make sure she was alright, they had NICU nurses there because she was showing signs of distress, that's why I had the emergency c-section, but she ended up being totally fine. They brought her over and gave her to Carl, I was numb to my neck so I couldn't hold her. They snapped a picture then took her to the nursery to be cleaned up.

I was in recovery longer (3 hours) because I had taccacartia (sp?) so once my hb went down I was able to go to my room and they brought her in - I had her at 6:08 and I finally saw her at around 11pm. I didn't BF so can't help you there!

moped replied: I had one and it was ok - I think a planee done is much better than the emergency situation I had. 3 nights in and then i was home - it wasn't that bad at all and I am sure you will agree when all is said and done!

Try to relax, the baby has to come out either way right!!!!