Cesarean Section (C-Section)

Hi all, I thought that I would jot down some things I would have found helpful before having gone to have my section in case it should help someone else.

1. On the day of the c-section make sure you take something for your partner to eat and drink. The hospital may offer him a cup of tea if you are lucky but mostly he will be left to starve and dehydrate. Take something to do to pass the time; waiting to go to theatre will take forever. I had to be at hospital for 8am and didn't go for my section until 2:30pm. 
2. Discuss with your partner before hand if you can whether they want to come into the theatre with you. The room I had my section done in was very small and hot and there were 12 other people in there not including me, the last thing you want to be doing is worrying about your partner flaking out. 
3. Do something to occupy your mind whilst they put in the epidural/spinal block. Singing "Amarillo" works, the more you flex your spine and keep still the better and quicker the procedure will go.
4. Be prepared to feel sick, the epidural can drop your blood pressure and laying flat on your back heaving isn't pleasant. You should have been given tablets and a drink to neutralise your stomach acid make sure you take them or you will burn your throat with stomach acid.
5. Once lo is born there will be a few minutes where they check him/her over and then they will bring them back to you and you can lay there looking at lo whilst they sow you back up. If they offer you Voltarol suppository take it, you won't feel them putting it in and it works for about 12-18hrs.
6. Once you are sown back up together they will take you to a room to recover, you might start to feel itchy as the sensation comes back into your body. Let the mw know they can give you Piriton to combat the itching as it is a reaction to the epidural.
7. You will probably feel tired for the rest of the day but not be able to sleep properly just try and relax and let yourself drift in and out of sleep.
8. They will allow you to breastfeed if you want to, might be a good idea to have your birthing partner up to scratch on how to latch lo on as the mw latched Oliver on then left him there and it took me a week to get rid of the blisters, the only blisters I have had I might add. I started to take Arnica obtained from the chemist the next day and I have had no visible bruising on my scar. You can also get very bad trapped wind after about 2-3days it traps in your shoulders and is agony; peppermint water works to get rid of this ask the mw for some. The sooner you get up and about and mobile the less trapped wind you will have and the better you will feel, also you will greatly reduce your risk of thrombosis once you are mobile. You will probably be given Codeine for pain relief whilst this is great for the pain it's not so great for the bowel as it causes constipation, start back on your anti-constipation routine that you used during pregnancy as soon as you can. You can not take Senakot tablets if you are breastfeeding but can take fybogel. Drink plenty as it will help the constipation and also help with the breastfeeding. Hope this might help someone.

Some Questions and Answers

Posted by Anon
 
Oh I like this thread!  I have some pearls of wisdom from my last C-section albeit an emergency one it still had a lot of lessons to be learned lol! I had a GA so can only offer advice on that. Basically on your third breath your out like a light and come to an hour or so later. You will not see your baby straight away as you’re asleep but your partner is allowed to bath him etc till you come round and then he will be brought to you. With a GA establishing BF is hard till about the second day or so, therefore if you’re wanting to BF it is best to let the nurses know before hand and they can try and put the baby on your breast to bring your milk in quicker rather then give him/her all bottles from the start. Re constipation I didn’t suffer at all though a lot of other women on the ward did. My advice is to not attempt to eat anything other then what the hospital gives you. Their meals and diet is designed to help your bowels get into position easily. The other ladies on my ward were brought meals from their partners or relatives and they all needed medication for constipation. For the recovery I agree the sooner you get up the better. You will feel as if your insides are going to fall out.... don’t worry they wont LOL! Using a cushion as your standing up to support your belly works wonders and then gradually let go of it. Same goes for if you’re lying down and want to cough etc holding the cushion on your scar works wonders! Another good point is to take vitamins etc as soon as the doctor says you can. It will help your healing and it will also help you have some energy throughout the day. Not to mention that at home you won’t be up to cooking so you will have the correct vitamins in you either way. To take to the hospital remember straws!!! Or a sports cap bottle. When you’re lying down you really do not want to be getting up just to drink water. Don’t forget to take an extra pillow from home to support your belly when you want to sleep on your side. Hanging belly to the side is a tad painful. If you know you’re having a C-section or not I would prepare for one either way that way you’re not caught out. Above all sort out your home! I cannot stress that enough. Precooked meals and easy things for food are a must! If you know you’re having a C-section make sure you have things like nappies etc downstairs. Getting up and down the stairs is not one of the best things for your recovery! Can’t think of anything more at the moment but will add for sure later on if I remember anything. It sounds complex but really its not and it can be very pleasant. Birth is funny because you can have a vaginal birth and take as long a C-section to recover etc so being prepared always helps a lot. Oh btw I was driving after the 3rd week but I guess you could as your insurance. I know that there was a guide in the old days when the scars were vertical and therefore more dangerous but I’m not sure if it’s changed now. When I had dd 3 years ago no one said anything to me about it. I will drive again this time as soon as I feel my body is ready for
 
Posted by Greedy
 
Thanks so much for the advice that is such a nice thought to share all this - I'm going to need it as I'm booked in for next Friday! Can I be cheeky and ask a couple more things - quite possibly these maybe TMI or personal so please feel free to decline answering!
 
1. Will I bleed as much (down there) so will I still need loads of maternity pads?
 
2. How big is the scar you've got (length wise) and is it under your pubes & if so, is it really itchy when the hair grows back?
 
3. Does anyone know anything about having a "spinal" and any tips for that? I think this is what I'm having although not sure, my consultation consisted of being given a leaflet about c-section and signing the consent form...
 
4. Has the c-section had any impact on bonding with baby? This is what I'm most worried about because I feel like I've been cheated out of giving birth naturally...
 
5. Really stupid question but did you just wear your nightie in hospital or get dressed after a few days? My hospital bag is enormous already, and don't want to add to it unnecessarily - I think I might need to put it in a trailer when we go lol...! All advice gratefully received, I'm bricking it... :(

Posted by MumSam
 
1) I haven't bled nearly as much as did with natural delivery, in fact have been stopped bleeding for 4 days now.
 
2) Scar is about 10cm long, can hardly see it already and have had no itching at all. It is under my pubes and will soon not even know it is there.
 
3) I had the spinal not very different to the epidural apart from they don't leave anything in your back so it can't be topped up.
 
4) This is what I was most worried about too. Has had no affect on me bonding with Oliver. I was worried I wouldn't know he was mine and would reject him but he never left the room once I had him which for me was important. The section didn't stop me holding him either or feeding him. I do still feel disappointed I didn't have him naturally but am happy he is safe and well.
 
5) I did ware my nightie in hospital I found pyjamas uncomfortable at first around my tummy as your womb doesn't shrink like a natural birth. I wore loose jogging bottoms home and big pants, no thongs....
 
I've just remembered something else - they stuck a massive sticky plaster (with padding over the wound) over my scar and when I peeled it off, I put on brand new massive black knickers (which I hadn't washed) and all the fuzz stuck to it - I've only just managed to get all the sticky stuff off today - so make sure that when you take your plaster off, you try and get as much of the sticky stuff off your skin before anything else sticks to it!!!
 
Off course if you are embarrassed about having been shaved for your c-section MrGreedy's tip of wearing black fluffy knickers will help by replacing your pubic hair with fluff. Just another little tip if you can shave yourself or get your partner to shave you it is less embarrassing than laying there with a nurse and a dry razor hacking at your pubes, you need to shave most of the triangle at the top of your legs off but not between your legs if you don't want to.
 
Posted By Anon
 
Mumsam I had a c-section on the 03 Apr and am still in quite a lot of pain. Can I be cheeky and ask you a few questions? Again you don't need to answer if you don't want to. When can you get in and out of bed without it pulling inside? When can I have sex again? (DF needs to know he says lol) bending down and picking things up of the floor is still very painful as is lifting things, when will i feel normal again? And roughly when can I stop wearing granny knickers? Oh 1 more, your womb doesn’t shrink like a normal birth, when roughly will it start to go down as I still look 4 months pg, I know it’s only been almost 2wks but I’m sick of wearing maternity clothes. Any help and advice is appreciated. Charlene & Jennifer 10 Days xx
 
Posted By MumSam
 
Hi depends on each individual when u tummy goes back 2 some sort of normality I had a c/s on 29 march and I have started 2 shrink back 2 normal so hopefully u wont have 2 wait much longer . as 2 the sex I have been recommended 6 wks but told 2 make sure u use contraception as u can get pg quite quickly after birth. I am also still wearing granny pants but I do have some inflammation of the wound some don't want nothing rubbing but I think its just when u feel you have healed enough for it not 2 be uncomfortable against your wound. bending again depends on the individual but if u remember 2 bend your knees that should help pelvic floor exercises should help with the healing process to but the best bit of advise is stay active but don't over do it if your in pain stop what your doing and take a rest it takes time but will get better hopefully by around 3-4 wks u should feel almost normal. hth angel xx

Posted By MumSam
 
Hi Anon, I had my section on the 21st March so can answer your questions compared to me; obviously people heal at different speeds. I have 12 days on you and my scar isn't pulling anymore, it still throbs now and then but not painfully enough to take painkillers more of a dull ache now that I can put up with. Do the stomach exercises that the hospital gave you it help you to heal faster by strengthening your stomach muscles and also by increasing the blood supply around the wound. The sex part is up to you, you might want to wait until you have stopped bleeding as the bleeding comes and goes a lot more with a c-section than with a natural birth, also you may need to experiment with positions more so you are not uncomfortable and use contraception.... You shouldn't be trying to lift anything heavier than your baby for at least 6wks to allow your stomach muscles to repair themselves, good rule to follow if it hurts don't do it. I am still wearing granny knickers as I have some bruising around my scar so don't fancy trying my normal knickers against the scar just yet. Try taking some Arnica if you have a lot of bruising as it does help reduce it and can be bought in either a chemists or Boots. I am now looking about 3months pregnant in the last week can still feel the top of my womb just above my pelvis so hasn't gone altogether yet but certainly not looking as big as I did a week ago. Just wondering when my bum is going to shrink as it also seemed to double in size this pregnancy. In the last week have stopped wearing maternity trousers and am wearing jogging bottoms, can also get a jacket on now and do it up so everything is shrinking slowly. Hope this helps a little bit xxx
 
This does seem ages ago now 9wks on Monday since my section. I recon it took a good 6wks before my scar stopped aching in the evenings and the bruising went. I still have a sore patch on the right hand side if I touch it and it feels quite numb too. It's all healed really nicely though and I am back in my jeans. I hope anyone having or had a section recovers quickly.

Add This Article To: Del.icio.us   Digg   Google   Spurl   Blink   Furl   Simpy    Y! MyWeb