C-Section Questions? I’m nervous.

Question

Hey girls! 
So I guess when I started this pregnancy I thought that I’d have to have one anyway, and I guess I psyched my body into it.
Yesterday I was told that with the umbilical cord starting to show resistance, my low fluid and a very small breech baby, my best option will be a c-section. (I don’t need to hear the million “natural” ways to get out of it. I’m high risk, I’ve been on deaths door before. I’ll take the c-section with grace) 
That being said! What am I looking at here? What are some common procedures? What was yours like? 
I’m pretty laid back and easy going, so my requests are more along the lines of Skin to Skin, with me or the father. Arms not tied down. Breastfeeding asap. Stuff like that.
Did you make a preference list? 
How did the recovery go? 
I’m just trying to test the water of what to expect. I know different hospitals are well different, but maybe it help ease my mind. 
Thanks again for your help!

Answer

Where I work, we do skin to skin with dad in the OR after we check over the baby. Then once you’re stitched up and moved to the recovery cart we put baby skin to skin with you for the rest of recovery. You can breastfeed on demand during that time. We don’t tie your arms down but they do go on arm boards to maintain the sterile field and keep them out of the way. There’s nowhere else for them to go lol.

Answer

I needed a emergency section and I was fearing the worst. honestly I didn't find it that bad at all. I think the key is to try and keep moving even if it's only small steps. I found I'd stiffen up if I sat too long! 3 r 4 days made all the difference.  I was driving after 2 weeks as I couldn't stand being house bound! I'll be had a normal delivery as well as the section really wasn't that bad in comparison.  good luck xx

Answer

might be something to confirm with your chosen hospital as every one will have a different policy on what can and cannot happen but the basics are this: on the day your surgery is scheduled for, you will likely be asked to fast. you'll meet the surgical team (your ob, any residents, and the anesthetist) and they will explain what will happen. you'll be taken to the or and your SO will get to come in too and hold your hand the whole time. you'll be given spinal anesthesia - it doesn't hurt at all but you will feel a warm wash through your lower body (which in a way is nice because ORs are super cold). Youll be prepped with a catheter etx. during the procedure you will feel alot of pressure but you shouldn't feel any pain at all. there will be a curtain so you won't see anything going on. when babe is pulled out, they may or may not ask your SO to cut the cord. baby will be assessed and may be presented to you while they finish the procedure. in some hospitals you won't see baby again until after you are out of post op recovery but in others they will bring baby into recovery with you. during recovery they will be monitoring you for pain and waiting for the spinal to wear off. they've used ice cubes on me before to check this. once you're out of recovery, you'll go to your room and baby will be there too. I absolutely recommend trying to get a private room as you will be there for 3-4 days and it's hard enough getting rest in a hospital and with a newborn without dealing with neighbors. The sooner you can get up and walk around, the faster you will usually heal, but be sure to let the nurses know if your pain levels are high. place a pillow over your incision every time you cough, sneeze or get up to help support it. One last thing, not all hospitals will allow your SO to stay with you overnight, so take advantage of the nursery and nurses to help you with your baby. a c section is a major surgery and you need your rest.

Answer

Both of mine were different.  My first was a breeze however the hospital I was at wouldn't being her to me because when I got out of recovery the baby was still in the nursery and everyone had left.  They wouldn't let me alone with her so I didn't see her until some time later when her dad came back with smuggled pizza hut (😂) That was 12 years ago though! This last one I was put to sleep after an unsuccessful VBAC but as soon as I woke up they wheeled me to my room where baby was and I held her immediately.  I think it was different because 1) My sister was back with my smuggled Dunkin  Donuts before I got out and my hunny was with baby the whole time and 2) the hospital I was at didn't have a nursery, they Did everything in the room with us.  As far as recovery my first was a breeze! I remember wearing heels to get my staples removed  and I think I only had a hard time the first day or two home - I peed on my mom's floor because I didn't make It to the bathroom 😂 I just remember being out and about with no problems. My second was a lot harder but I think its because I'm a little bit older now. Getting to the bathroom was ROUGH, and getting up and down sucked but I made it through !

Answer

I’ve had 2 csection and they’ve never tied my arms down. As for skin to skin it might be a minute because you gotta get sewed up. its really not that bad. To help out with pain I suggest as soon as you are no longer numb you request getting up and walking (with help). If you wait 24 hours then its alot harder! My first they had me up and walking that same night and my 2nd they didn’t let me out of bed for 24 hours and I didn’t heal nearly as good the 2nd time then the first.

Answer

I had an emergency c-section and I got so scared but I calmed my body and my mind and let the doctors so what they needed. They praised me for being so calm.. It's helps the process... It felt like they were tugging inside me... It didn't hurt but it was such a strange feeling. After the surgery I had two hours in post op room where I was alone with my so and the baby... It was lovely... That same night I was able to walk just fine.... I would say I recovered very quickly... I stayed at the hospital for two days only and I didn't have to use hard pain medicine just ibuprofen when needed

Answer

You can request all that, but everything can go out the window in 2.5 seconds! My epidural quit working while my uterus was being cut open so I had to be put to sleep real quick. I never seen or heard my baby being born. My sister was in the OR with me and she told me what happened after I was put to sleep. My son was born blue so there was no time for delayed cord cutting. When I woke up he was already bathed and given his vaccine (I wanted to delay both until after 24 hours). I wasn't allowed to do skin to skin because they were afraid that the baby was going to hurt me (I didn't argue since I was still so out of it).

Answer

Get as much help as you can, hire a cleaning service if you can afford it. I couldn't do any housework for about 3-4 weeks and I needed my husband to help with the baby. If he can take 2 weeks off or your mom or someone else can come help too, that's ideal.

C-Section Questions? I’m nervous.

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