Has anyone had a C-Section?

Question

Dr told me today I am most likely going to need a C-Section due to how large my baby is and the fact that he is breech and most likely will not be able to turn in time. I am really worried about the procedure and the recovery. My husband can only take a week off of work and most of that week I will be in the hospital. I am also worried about the scar and what it'll do to my stomach. I am very self conscious as this pregnancy I never got a hard round bump - some how I only got round and hard above my belly button and below a got a flappy pouch. It's gross. What happens during the actual procedure? Am I able to hold my baby right after?

Answer

I had an emergency c section and was absolutely terrified when they told me I needed it. I've never had surgery before in my life. I won't sugar coat this for you. It is a scary experience.
You will feel the procedure. You will feel them touching you and tugging and a lot of pressure. However you will feel NO pain. You will be lying on the table with your SO next to you. There will be a curtain in front of you so you cannot see. My advice: don't look at the lights. I could see the reflection of what they were doing in the lights!
Once your baby is born, they will clean her up and make sure she is okay. You will see her first as soon as she is born but won't get to hold her for a few minutes. My experience, my arms were outstrectehd and I was too medicated to actually want to hold her out of fear of dropping her so my boyfriend held her right next to my face. Once they finish the procedure, you and your baby will get your golden hour (skin to skin) and taken to recovery where you will stay until you are no longer numb (a little over an hour for me). 
After you will be oh so sore. You will have so much gas pain. Your insides might feel like they're going to fall out when they get you to stand up. Don't laugh or cough or sneeze. It will hurt! They get you to take a shower I think it was after 24 hours, and you feel so great but at the same time I was so scared of falling or bursting the glue that held me together. And I was in the hospital for 3 days, mainly for my baby, and by the 3rd day I was able to walk around fine and pick up my baby from the bassinet.
When you get home, try not to go up and down stairs, don't do dishes or clean. Take it easy. You should feel much better within a week or 2. But you definitely won't be completely healed until about 6 or 8 weeks.
Any other questions just ask :)
I'm in NS, Canada btw so things might be a bit different in other places!

Answer

The procedure is really quick. I wasn't able to hold him right after, only after getting stitched up, but some hospitals will let you. My recovery was not so wonderful, but everyone's bodies react differently.

Answer

I went in to the hospital on Monday afternoon to have my son via section and was out on Wednesday. As long as you're doing well, you don't have to stay an extended time. Healing hurts but you can do it fine. Even if you stay 3 days, your hubs will be there 4 after. It's not as bad as people make it out to be. I still prefer all natural but section isn't HORRIBLE lol. Within a week, you feel so much better. By 3, my bleeding had stopped and I was only slightly sore. (Mom of 7- I've had natural, induced, early, late, emergency section and planned section)

Answer

It depends on the hospital and the doctor. Ask for the Bikini cut. For me the recovery has not been that bad. You want to get up and walk around as soon as possible. I was up and walking about 14 hour after. I got to hold my baby in the OR for a little bit and than in recovery I got to hold him longer.

Answer

Well first of all congratulations on your new bundle of joy!! I had a c section with my first because baby didn't like the contractions lol. I was sooooo worried 😩 but to be honest it wasn't bad at all I didn't even take pain medicine afterwards. After the c section you go into recovery for 2 hours and they have your baby with you so you can have skin to skin moment or to try to breast feed I did right away and she latch right away. After the two hours they take you to the room and I was up about 4 hours total after the c section and I was feeling great my husband had to go back a week too but I had no problems whatsoever I have no family and both of our mom passed away so I did everything by myself. The scar is not bad I will show you a picture. Now I'm pregnant with baby number 2 and I will be having another c section so I'm not worried at all. Just prepare yourself by not worrying too much and just be ready you will be fine.

Answer

I was in much the same boat with my 1st pregnancy. The recovery is manageable, even though you will be pretty sore at first. Make sure to roll to your side & push yourself up to sitting position when you get up from lying down. When you wash your hair, bend forward to rinse instead of leaning back (I learned this the hard way). As for the scar, don't worry about it. It's an incision around where your bikini would rest, so the only people who will see it are your husband and the medical staff. I found that wearing high waisted shapewear helped relieve some of the discomfort. They even make special c-section panties that you can find on Amazon. You can do this.

Has anyone had a C-Section?

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