C-section question.....?

Question

I'm considering a c-section and I want to know the healing time and what I'm going to be able to do being a single Mom. I want my baby to be healthy and recent events have come to light with my OB/GYN that makes me believe my baby's health is in danger.

Please any help with c-sections will help. You can post it here or you can email me through here. I just need healing rate times, what will happen, how easy it was after wards, any help would be wonderful.

I'm not afraid of loosing vaginal tone, I could give a care less about that. Its just the doctor has been less that honest about test results and when I describe some of the problems I've been having he ignores them when it could be a serious complication. And my friend that uses the same OB/GYN has had pre-eclampsia for about 4 weeks and it took another doctor to put her on bed rest because of the doc we see saying "everything is fine" when there is a serious problem.

Answer 1

When I had my emergency c-section a year ago, I really didn't do that much research before hand. I commend you for getting real advice from real people.

The first day or two, the hospital gave me good medication and I felt that I was able to do anything. On the third day, I went home (well, not exactly home...my mother watched my baby and my husband and I went to Wal-Greens and Wal-Mart). BIG MISTAKE. Halfway into the Wal-Mart store, I could NOT walk any further, and that's being nice about it. I was determined to be the "Strong Woman" and this was a huge ego failure.

The next week or two I felt a twinge every now and again, when I exerted myself, but definately not constant pain, or anything near what I had felt that night. After the third week, I was not in pain at all.

The biggest issue I had was that you are not allowed to drive for two weeks afterwards. I was going stir crazy! I later found out that even women who deliver naturally are suspended from driving for 2 weeks. Of course, this is not actually taken seriously alot of times. However, if you get into an accident, they are more likely to look to the new mother who was not supposed to be driving. That is not something a single mom needs to be dealing with.

Also, you are not allowed to bathe for 2 weeks following your surgery. Just keep in mind that you will WANT to take frequent showers...because of the heavy "bleeding" (gushing could also be appropriate), that occurs with all forms of childbirth. It is the body's cleaning process.

The moral of my story? C-Sections are just fine, as long as you know (and follow) your limitations. Don't set your goals for recovery too high and follow the instructions given to you at the hospital.

Answer 2

I have had 2 Scheduled C-Section the first because my son was
in a strange position and because the Doctor felt he would be a difficult delivery running the risk of cerebral palsy. I chose the c-section immediately. I went in got my spinal and 5 minutes later heard my son crying. I remember the whole thing. I got up as soon as they would let me about 14 hours after the spinal. The sooner and more you can walk the better off you are. I had my baby in the room with me and took care of him with only a little help. I went home when he was 2 days old.
My daughter was also a scheduled c-section. This time I wanted a VBAC but she was breech so a c-section it was. It was easier the second time I Think because I knew what to expect. I went home the next morning with her. I did have help from my husband with both the first week.
Most women I know have tried labor first then have the c-section so they are sore from labor and a different sore from the surgery.
You probably would want to stay in the hospital longer than I did if you have no one to help at home.
Also most of the time you shouldn't drive for a couple of weeks
I also could not lay on my left side for a few days.
For the first 6 weeks you can not lift anything heavier than your baby.

Answer 3

I had preeclampsia twice, ending in two C-sections.

It sounds like you don't trust your OB, which is unfortunate. I do, though, want you to know that the research on the effects of bedrest on preeclampsia is mixed, and many doctors now feel that all bedrest does is use up an expectant mother's leave and cause muscle atrophy.

I would NEVER opt for a C-section, if I had a chance at a good medical outcome otherwise. Especially as a single mom.

Both times, I was up and walking by the next day--maybe even by that evening (I can't quite remember). I was able to nurse, and to take care of myself. But it IS major surgery, and it DOES hurt. (I'm pretty tough, and I had to alternate Percoset and ibuprofin for at least a week, if not two? And I took ibuprofin alone for some weeks after that. You can't drive for at least two weeks after the surgery. You can't lift anything heavier than your baby. I couldn't sleep in my own bed because I couldn't get out of it without serious pain. (I had to sleep in an armchair.) Some doctors don't want you walking stairs. There are just a lot of restrictions that I would find galling if I couldn't rely on a spouse.

Immediate healing is pretty quick, but you will find that your scar area hurts whenever you overdo things for some months after. In fact, a year after my first C-section I still had a spot that was healing.

Your ab and core muscles will not be the same after unless you devote serious attention to them, and what mom has time for that?

If you're scheduled, you'll get a spinal, which I think is preferable to the epidural. (I've had both.) They'll insert a catheter, numb you up, then transfer you to the table, tie your arms down, and put up the screen. They'll shave the area, disinfect it, and then cut the skin and the muscles underneath. They pull up the uterus, determine where the baby is, then open up the uterus and pull the baby out. (They can get a baby out in less than 30 seconds if they have to.) Putting you back together is the part that takes a while.

Hospital policy and the form of anaesthesia you get will determine whether you have to go to the recovery room or can go directly to your room to hold your baby.

My first C-section was AWFUL. Preeclampsia, three weeks of bedrest, an induction, 52 hours of labor, 3 hours of pushing, then fetal distress and skyrocketing blood pressure, so emergency surgery. I was so beat up afterward, and it took a long time to heal. Plus my baby had severe reflux and a few other minor medical issues, so she cried 14 hours a day, every day, and I developed a major case of baby blues.

Second one was better: I lined up more help ahead of time, I understood better how to manage my pain and my activity level, and I was more comfortable as a parent. Plus I knew it was going to happen, so I wasn't expecting something else. But it was hard to not be able to play with my older child the way she expects me to. And it still took a year to heal up completely...

Second time was much better.

Answer 4

I can only offer up my personal experience...my first child was born via c-section and i am due with my second any day now also scheduled via c-section... healing time varies from person to person...I would recommend having a helping hand.. heavy lifting is a definite no. though the pain is generally managed through narcotics prescribed by your Doctor sometimes just getting in and out of bed can be a handful...I strongly urge you to ask a friend or family member for some support the first few weeks.. after that you are generally healed enough to survive. Remember too that it is major surgery no matter how routine and that you will need to take it easy and rest as much as possible (is that possible with a new born?) best wishes and good luck!

Answer 5

I had an emergency c-section 3 years ago due to my heart rate rising and my baby's heart rate dropping. I had to have a spinal, which in turn, meant that I couldn't raise my head up, sit up, or anything for the first 12 hours. I was also on a morphine pump, and that had me all messed up and woosy, so I didn't even hold my baby but a couple of times while in the hospital. The recovery time was about 8 weeks. I still have pain at my incision sight. I have been diagnosed with migraines since the c-section. I am pregnant again and since I had the vertical incision I have to have a c-section again. I say unless your baby is in danger, I wouldn't just ask for one.

Another thing, I bled for 3 months following my c-section. I don't mean like a period, I mean heavy bleeding, having to change clothes every hour. I had to be put on meds because my uterus wasn't contracting to go back down to size.

Good luck with everything and I hope it doesn't come down to this.

Answer 6

I have never had C-section but I do home care work and in the past I have had clients that were single moms. I would goto the home for a few hours a day to bath, dress, feed and put the older child down for naps. You may want to contact a social worker or Family Community Services and ask about a home support worker for 6 weeks following the C - Section.

Answer 7

As odd as this is coming from a man, I can recall when my now ex-wife had a c-section with our child. It took about 4 to 6 weeks for recovery (no lifting, proper treatment) of the operation. The proceedure is safe and has come a long way since the time we first did it. I even got to watch it in the delivery room (wow, what an experience and yes I did video tape it although it made me light headed) We're glad we did it and she used to say the worst part was the eperderal shot. Good luck & God Bless!

Answer 8

I had a C- Section with both my children and did fine. The recovery time is considerable longer than with a vaginal birth..but I had no ill effects. Maybe 3-4 weeks before semi normal routine again..and no heavy lifting for 6-8 weeks..You should be able to tend to the baby..but not alot else./ Good Luck

Answer 9

Well, Sweetie it just varies. I was good to go in about 3 hours. Honestly and seriously. I don't know if it was the thrill of my new baby or what. But nothing stopped me, I done what I wanted, just like a woman who had a vaginal delivery, only I had to have my stitches removed.
How it happened... I had a spinal, it required me setting on a table and not moving, while the anethstisiologits stuck that darn needle in my back 6 diffrent times, finally getting it the 7th! After that, my blood pressure dropped, from the anthestia, I started vomiting (remember my arms are tied down) my dr.s wife works with him as a nurse. she was using one of them suction things like the dentist does to suck it out. lol I asked if they had started yet, my dr. said "honey, she's almost out" I didn't feel a thing. They told my husband he better look, or he was going to miss it.
While I was being prepped for my c-section, the dr. told me it would feel like someone was lying on my chest, my husband said it was because someone was laying on my chest.
After that, and them untying my arms so I could rub my daughter, they put me in a recovery room (i.e about 15mins) til I could feel my legs again. My face itched off from the anthestia... They wheeled me into my final room and there was all of my family, they brought me my beautiful 8lb 15oz daughter with big blue eyes and red hair, and all of my worries were over. (except the vomiting)

hope this is what you were looking for!

Don't worry, C-sections are performed 100's of times a day!!

Good Luck and God Bless

Answer 10

I had an emergency c section with my son and i did great. They had me walking to the bathroom that night, i still had a cather in so they just needed me to clean up every so often. I could only pick up my son though, but my husband is in the military and works alot so i had to take him with me by myself to the doctor and stuff and it was fine, we went to the mall not even a week after he was born, i was so tired of being at home, and i needed a shirt to wear for christmas. Hope this helps.