What to expect with a c-section

[tstracener]

Hi Everyone,

I went to my check-up at the doctor last Thursday (33 weeks with a baby with potters sequence) and we discussed scheduling an induction on September 23. After looking at the ultrasound, he told me the baby was breech and was unlikely to turn around, so we should prepare for a c-section. Does anyone know what to expect? Until know, I have been planning on a "regular" delivery. I want to be able to spend as much time with Samantha as possible. I am just worried that the c-section recovery time will take away from the few precious moments I have with her. Will I be able to hold her soon after like a "regular" birth or will I have to wait? Just seeing if anyone has experienced this before.

Thanks,
Tracy

[Nancy Reeves]

Hi Everyone,

Will I be able to hold her soon after like a "regular" birth or will I have to wait? Just seeing if anyone has experienced this before.

Thanks,
Tracy
I am hesitant to answer, since my daughter did not have any special needs at birth - but I don't want you to feel like you're calling out for support in an empty room, so I'll offer my experience.

I had an emergency C-section, but was able to hold my daughter shortly after birth and to try to nurse her. They did the "normal" weighing, cleaning, and apgar checking while they were sewing me up and then I was able to hold her.

You might want to talk to your physician ahead of time and explain your concerns. If the time you have with her is expected to be very brief, you might ask them to forego some of the things that could be done later - and put your expectations in your birth plan. It might also be helpful to make sure you have a strong advocate with you in the OR (spouse, parent, midwife), who knows exactly what you want to happen and who can be forceful about insisting that nonessential medical concerns do not intrude on your time with your Samantha.

I wish you a rich lifetime in whatever precious moments you ultimately share with Samantha.

[gtownherd]

I had my daughter on 6/23/2008 and was able to hold her as soon as her Dad was able to let her go.
She had trisomy 18 and we also did not know how long we had to hold her,
I have had 4 vaginal births and 1 c-section, truthfully no difference after the birth. Good luck to you, I hope you have some time with your beautiful
blessing.
heartbroken but a very proud mom of my angel Kasey.








s

[HAINAngel2000]

I have had 3 c-sections and all different for different circumstances and reasons.
The one that went the best was my premature son Gabriel's c-section. I was up and walking around that night! It went real well. My oldest son Justen's c-section was real bad. But that was almost 18 years ago when they did not know it was better for you to get up and drink water and eat. Plus they gave me meds I was allergic too and I didn't know it until then. So it was real bad. (Plus I felt severe pain during it. I was so young and did not know I wasn't so suppose to feel it, I did not tell them, of course later c-sections told me that I should have told them. It was ther most horrific pain I have ever went through. But again I should have told them so they could have uped the meds)

My youngest Paul I had to have a c-section and it went well during it, but after the recovery was tough. Mainly because the doctor did a tummy tick thing and he was using me like a Ginni pig and so it was tough. The doctor I guess did this surgery and really didn't know what he was doing and ended up being asked to leave by the hospital. Hundreds of woman complained. So now my stomach is damaged. Looks bad.

Anyway a normal c-section goes really well. I also have a high tolerance for pain. So to me the recover was not bad at all compared to what I hear some woman have gone through.
When I had my vaginal birth with my daughter Julionna it was pretty tough, but they had to cut me pretty good too. So that could have been why too.

Anyway I am not much help.

[Jennifer Cook]

I have had 2 c-sections. The first one 14 years ago and the second one was 4 years ago. It's different for everyone but for me it was difficult sit up in bed but I could do it. It wasn't bad walking around but stairs were a bugger as was getting up from the laying down position. Those were the times I felt it the most. You don't realize how much you use your stomach muscles for those motions but you might after your c-section. I still was aware of my children and what was going on around me. I was able to see them, kiss them, etc. My husband was able to hold them but I was not able to hold them until they finished with me in the OR. Be clear with your doctor about what options you have available and what YOU want to happen. Having an advocate in the room to make sure they follow your requests is a good idea as well. This is YOUR time with Samantha and they will most likely do as you ask but everyone may not be fully informed of your wishes so an advocate might be necessary.

Please know that there are many people who are willing to listen and talk to here. There are many shoulders ready to be leaned upon and helping hands ready to reach out to you when you need them. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

[Marcus Momma]

I have had 3 c sections going on 4. My first was an emergency c section and i couldn't hold her until she was 5 days old because she was supposed to have died but didn't. I was scared at first but its not scary once they start if you have good nurses. They let you know everything that is going on. I am guessing they will let you hold the baby after delivery and they clean the baby up a lil. My c section was up and down not bikini so its a lil worse than having bikini but i still did very well with it and healed very fast. I was bending over in the hospital the next day walking around of course i had to hold my belly for support but it was a very fast recovery depending on how well ur body does

[motherofthree]

I've had two c-sections - one with my older daughter, and one my younger, who had Potters and was, like your baby, breech. My doctor told me that the c-section also cut down on stress during delivery and was probably better for my baby since she was going to have a hard time breathing and hanging onto life, anyway. Our daughter was delivered, suctioned, then cleaned up and given right to my husband, next to me. After the first couple of minutes, they put her in my arms. My doctor knew that we didn't have much time, if any, and was very indulgent - my first c-section, they didn't want me holding the baby until I was cleaned up, closed up, etc. but this one, they just focused on letting me and my husband hold her. Ask your doctor to do the same; I'm sure they will let you do this since you may not have much time.

I held her the most. I feel a little guilty about it now, but they let me hold her until I was done in the OR, and then again after they transferred me to the hospital bed. I held her all the way back to the room, and after. They would check my stats while I was holding her, and while I did let my husband hold her as well as my sister, mom, grandma (for only a short while each) while she was still living.

Some benefits to the c-section were that we were able to let our NILMDTS photographer know EXACTLY what time the operation was so she could be waiting for us when we got back to our room. Also, I was able to stay in the hospital for three nights and was able to see Kavya as much as I wanted. The nurses kept her on the same floor after she passed, and I could hold her and see her whenever I wanted, and actually kept he body with me for the first two nights - sleeping with her in my arms was something I didn't think I would be able to do, but it was so lovely waking up to her beautiful face.

Another thing you could ask your doctor. Although we knew Kavya may never take a breath, let alone make a noise, we took a voice recorder and digital camera with video capability into the OR (with our doctor's permission). We got audio and video of her while she was alive and she DID make noises - the most beautiful quiet little mewls, and even a couple of cries. I treasure these today. Explain why this would be important to you, promise not to take pics of the procedure, and ask if they would mind the camera in the OR. The nurses even got a couple of pics of my husband, me and Kavya together.

The downside is the pain...but honestly, it's nothing compared to the hurt you're going to feel in your heart I'm sorry to say. If you have any questions and would like to PM me, feel free; I will also give you my email if you're interested... I'm praying for you

Sorry for my long reply again, but I really feel for you and what you are going through...

[Candy S]

I've had 3 c/s -

My last one was GREAT! They did a combo epidural/spinal thing and was able to leave the meds in my back for a "walking epidural" effect. I had a pump that I could use when needed. I was calling people from recovery and up walking around the next day. See if your hospital does this!!!

Many HUGS to you!!!

[Sheila Rutledge]

Hi Everyone,

I went to my check-up at the doctor last Thursday (33 weeks with a baby with potters sequence) and we discussed scheduling an induction on September 23. After looking at the ultrasound, he told me the baby was breech and was unlikely to turn around, so we should prepare for a c-section. Does anyone know what to expect? Until know, I have been planning on a "regular" delivery. I want to be able to spend as much time with Samantha as possible. I am just worried that the c-section recovery time will take away from the few precious moments I have with her. Will I be able to hold her soon after like a "regular" birth or will I have to wait? Just seeing if anyone has experienced this before.

Thanks,
Tracy
Tracy,
I've had 2 c-sections. One after laboring and one scheduled. The scheduled was double footling breech. You'll be able to spend time with your baby just like a regular birth. If you delivered, you'd still have to deliver the placenta. With a c-sect they'll have to stitch you up. Either way they will take the baby for a bit to do apgar tests and such. I was with my breech baby pretty much right from the start after the few tests.

[motherofthree]

I don't believe they'll take the baby to do any testing, since with Potter's syndrome, the outcome is known. We had Kavya in our arms in about 2 minutes, probably even less - quick suction and then a quick rubdown to remove most of the blood. We made sure to request no testing or anything that would delay our having her in our arms like the eye stuff or shots or anything. We also didn't take any measures to prolong her life, so they didn't intubate or anything. They were VERY quick in getting her to us while she was alive, since she was likely to stay that way for only minutes.

Tracy, if you are interested I could share a copy of our birth plan with you...just let me know.

[Marcus Momma]

I had the morphine pump the 1st one and the last one. The 2 nd one was the one i felt almost no pain because they put me on the 24 hour demeral not sure how to spell it. And got to hold my son as long as i wanted because i didn't feel too much pain i wish they would have done that with marcus so i wouldn't have stuggled getting around. I sat inthe wheelchair and held him i was moving really good but being sent home the next day after a c section is hard on your back when you have to stay on your feet preparing the funeral and getting things together. And by the way you will get gas pains thats what i took my meds for because the gas pains get so bad moving around helps them out the gas pains were worse than the physical pain. Just to worn you to move afterwards so they won't be so bad.

[motherofthree]

being sent home the next day after a c section is hard on your back

Oh, why in the world did they send you home the next day? You are supposed to get minimum of 48 hours from birth in the hospital! That must have been terrible - both emotionally and physically. I got three nights in the hospital and was offered one more (my OB said he could come up with a reason why if I didn't think I was emotionally ready yet). I'm so sorry they sent you home so quickly - too quickly!

[Marcus Momma]

No I asked to go home and my doctor said you only have to technically stay 24 hrs but they always keep you 48 for your rest. He let me go home because I begged him to. And plus i had to meet with the funeral home director that night. I didn't want to be there if my son wasn't so after they took him I left. I was already up and walking but couldn't get that must rest because of everything i had to do.

[motherofthree]

Oh, well that's different. At first it sounded like they kicked you out or something!

[Marcus Momma]

Yhea he would have made up an excuse for me to stay if he had to. I always stayed 2 days with my other kids and he always said if you want another days rest let him know. Does anyone agree that the gas pains hurt?

[Valerie'sMomma]

I have 2 children- the first birth was normal and my Valerie was an emergency C-section. Ask your doctor to let you hold your Samantha as soon as possible. They should let your husband hold her. My daughter was wisked away- they didn't know at the time that she had a bleed in her brain.

I am sure since your circumstances are different since you have a diagnosis, that they will let you spend as much time as you want with her. The actual c-section isn't bad- can't feel a lot and it takes awhile for you to wiggle your toes. Just make sure you hold your tummy when you get up to move or cough. The gas pains are pretty awful and when they give you meds to have a bowel movement while you are there.

When I am blessed with another baby it will be a scheduled c-section.

[Madge]

I discussed these things in depth with my ob. He gave me the duramorph injection, which works wonders on the pain without making you feel groggy. He also gave me a pump which injected directly into the incision site.

After Dekar was born my husband held him and although I couldn't hold him right then, I was able to touch his head and kiss him and talk to him.

Do you have a birth plan? I have one posted on Dekar's blog, which is accessed through my signature line. Please feel free to look it over and use anything that is helpful to you. Having everybody on the same page was SO helpful.

Please feel free to contact me. My prayers are with you.

[Lacey Canaday]

I have had two c-sections going on three. With Jillian I had been in labor with no progression for 24 hours.After that one it was hard, I ended up with a staph infection. With my angel Sophia, I was given a spinal, and a morphine drip afterwords, I only remember being very cold, the nurse kept bringing me blankets but nothing helped. i was up and around with in a day, healing went alot better, did end up with another minor staph infection, but not even as close to what the first one was.

[Tawnya]

I had two c-sections and was up walking later that night. Here they have you stay for 4 days. At least that is how long I stayed for both boys.

Your arms and upper body should be free. I don't think they let you hold the baby because you don't really have alot of strength. But I know you can kiss and talk and snuggle.

[Marcus Momma]

they were going to tie my arms down until I told them i was closterfobic(i can't spell today) and then they let them free I guess that one really depends on the hospital. Its not hard to get them to not tie them down.

[Miranda]

Mine was an emergency c-section where I was put under so I cant really tell you anything about that, but my recovery has went really well. I've healed up nicely and was up and walking around the next day. You will be very sore but that's to be expected with major surgery. And I would just explain to your doctor exactly what you want and I'm sure they'll be willing to work with you considering the circumstances. I hope everything goes as well as possible.