Csection mamas, any advice?

Question

I’m a FTM who is scheduled for a csection on 12/6. Baby girl is transverse and is apparently too comfy to move.
I’m super nervous and anxious because all I read is negative experiences. I know everyone is different but how was your experience? Did you bleed alot after? How long was your recovery? Any advice you would like to share? 
Thx so much! 🙏🏼🌸

Answer

First things first- go you mama, for making a decision to help your baby come safely into the world. Especially one so scary. 
Second off- yeah, C sections aren't exactly fun and the recovery can be rough but if you follow your doctor's directions and speak up when you are in pain, you can do it! The nerve pain at the incision was the worst for me, but I also was terrible at following the rules.
1- Don't lift anything heavier than your newborn. For real. Don't. 
2- Don't drive for 6 weeks. If possible, don't even get in the car if you don't have to. The jostling hurts, a lot. 
3- Take the pain meds befor you start hurting and ask for help no matter how much you don't want to. 
4- REST!!
5- Use that binder they give you for support. It will hold all the organs in place and help with the incision strain. 
You will have the same fundal massages in the hospital that a woman who gives a vaginal birth has (which hurt different because you have a healing incision in your uterus)--but you won't need the peri bottle or the cooling pads/etc to help with the tearing/trauma to the vaginal area, which is a plus. You are still going to bleed though, same as you would with a vaginal delivery, for weeks. Take those hospital heavy duty pads home with you!
I would also suggest avoiding regular jeans or any pants with a buckle/button because the tighter they are, the more they hurt. Stay comfy in your stretchy/loose clothing!

Answer

I just had my second scheduled section ten days ago and this recovery has been so much easier than my first! I attribute this to getting up and moving as soon as they said I could. The first couple of days it’ll be tough, but I promise it makes all the difference. This time around, I walked to the bathroom alone about ten hours after the surgery, showered on day two, and by day four was able to move pretty comfortably. 
I had the sensation of feeling like my organs were going to fall out after the first one, and I got an abdominal binder this time to help with that, and didn’t end up using it. Not sure if it’s mental or what, but didn’t have that feeling this time around. 
Bleeding will be heavy for the first few days and then it just turns into spotting. I switched to a regular pad the second day home. Definitely invest in some high waisted underwear (you can find some on Amazon) - even two years after my first, regular underwear bothered my scar. 
I did not take any narcotics for pain this time, I alternated Tylenol and ibuprofen, and it controlled my pain just fine, as long as I kept up with it. 
Let people help and rest when you can - you’ve got this, mama!

Answer

I loved my c section with my first. My baby was breach. I have my second on the 6th too as this one is transverse.
The anxiety of the surgery was worse than the actual surgery. I was cold, and shivering. After baby was out I got inpatient mentally while they were closing me as I desperately just wanted to be with my babe lol
The recovery is the hard part. Take the pain meds. All of them. Even if you feel like they aren’t working. I bled for 6 weeks, had a week without, then got my period even though I breastfed. 
Get up and get moving as soon as you can. The sooner you start walking, the better your recovery. Every day after I’d get up and walk. Even if it was a quarter mile, I’d get up and do it. 
I wasn’t given a binder so idk bout that. My abs went right back. I had a pouch but I think that was because mostly I still had 10 lbs to loose of baby weight.

Answer

I had an unplanned (non emergent) csection with my first. The delivery wasn't great but mostly as my partner wasn't in the room when they started but I have friends who had planned csections and said it was a surprisingly pleasantly experience. 
I healed well and quickly. I wore high waisted tights (Lululemon) to support my abds which helped. Start slow with activity and get help with getting in/out of bed (ensure you log roll) get the dad to bring baby to you to feed as i found that was most difficult part. After 2.5 weeks I was walking 2km carrying baby and doing fine. Listen to your body is best advice I can give. Start scar massage as soon as your incision has healed to help with hypersensitivity. 
You got this! I bet you can't wait to meet yoir little one!

Csection mamas, any advice?

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