For women who have had a non-emergency c-section?

Question

I have a scheduled c-section at the beginning of April (it's not elective.) I need to know, bascially, what I need to do to prepare to make it easier afterwards (such as what I need to do around the house, etc.) I'd also like to know the amount of time it takes to recover generally, how scary the experience itself is, the amount of pain, etc. Please only reply if you have had a c-section or some kind of relevant experience. I have read all the textbook stuff, I just need to know how it really is.

Answer 1

I have had 3 c-sections...the first one was emergency and the other 2 were scheduled. To prepare I did all the things you would normally do before you have a baby...I made sure the house was clean and all the laundry was done...I didn't pre-make meals because my hubby is a chef, but I know that a lot of people do that. I did make sure that I had plenty of easy snacks and meals for myself for when my hubby went back to work.

No here's the c-section related things I did...

I made sure that I had whatever I needed downstairs and upstairs...like diapers, wipes, extra clothes etc.

I put a pillow in every bathroom...I'm not crazy!...after you have a c-section it hurts to do pretty much everything...especially going to the bathroom so hugging a pillow helped me.

Make sure you have plenty of OTC pain reliever to take opposite of your prescription meds so you don't get too reliant on the "good stuff"

It's going to hurt afterwards of course but the BEST advice I was given and I always pass on myself is to get up and walk as soon as they tell you that you can. It will hurt like a motherfu***r but the sooner the better. And walk often...take laps around the maternity wing. It was great bonding time for me and my hubby...he would push the baby and we would cruise at my scuffling speed!

I personally have had great experiences with my csections for 2 reasons I think...I listened to my nurses and I also listened to my gut. Also I have an incredibly wonderful helpful hubby who did whatever he could to help me but didn't let me milk it.


Good luck...you will be fine and congratulations on your upcoming arrival!

Answer 2

Honestly, I am glad I had a c-section. I had been in labor for about 22 hours and I was only dialated to 5. My baby's heart rate kept dropping everytime I would have a contraction. I didn't feel a thing when they did the c-section, so I was very thankful. I got to hold and feed my baby right away. The pain was pretty bad for the first couple of days, but by the time I was ready to leave the hospital I was almost back to normal. I could pick up my son and do my normal stuff right away. so, I am glad that I get a c-section the next time I get pregnant. Good Luck

Answer 3

I had a c section with my first son it wasn't planned or an emergency they gave me an epidural first I stayed awake and had no pain just pressure the hospital I was in put a curtain between my chest and other regions just so you don't try to grab out of reflexes afterwards I was in recovery for an hour I had to stay another day and a half. The thing that was most helpful was having the babies room ready and all the laundry caught up. It took a couple of days to be completely able to bend and reach. Also make sure you have everything you'll need for the first couple of days so you don't have to go anywhere and can rest. CONGRATS and good luck.

Answer 4

I have had 2 c-sections. I would definetly make sure that there is no major housework that will need to be done once you get home, it will be a little difficult for you to get around. It will be slow going. Also, make sure that if you have any out of the house errands that will need to be done, that you have someone to drive as you will not be able to for 1-2 weeks (depending on your dr).
The experience itself isn't very scary, at least it wasn't for me. Its pretty quick, I went into surgery at 10 and my son let out his first scream at 10:18. You will not be able to get out of bed until the next day (catheder will be taken out and meds will wear off by then) For the first few days I was in a fair amount of pain. It took me about 2 weeks before I could move at a close to normal rate of speed and about 8 weeks to fully recover.

Definetly have someone at the house for the first week maybe two with you as much as possible. You will need the help. It will difficult to move around and you will have a newborn to take care of.

Good luck and congratulations

Answer 5

There really isn't much you can do to prepare for a C-Section home wise, other than the stuff you would do if you were going to have a natural birth (freeze a few meals, clean). Your significant other will just have to help you out so that you can rest afterwards. You won't be able to pick up a lot of things as your belly will be sore and lifting too much could open your incision back up.

I had a c-section in January and it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. The only pain I felt was a pinch when they gave me the spinal. During the actual procedure, there is just a lot of pressure as they move your insides around to get to the baby and when they pull the baby out. After the baby came out, I felt like I was breathing in a bunch of dust, even though I wasn't. It just lasted a few minutes and not everyone feels that. Afterwards, try to get up and walk around as much as possible. It hurts like hell in the beginning, but the more you do it, the easier it gets. The hardest part for me was to get out of my bed, but once I was up I just walked around slowly and it wasn't so bad. Once I got home, I did pretty much the same things I was doing before. I just didn't lift as much and tried not to bend over a lot.

My baby was premature and in the NICU so I wasn't concerned with the pain I did have. I was more concerned about him. Maybe someone who had a healthy child felt more pain than I did.

Don't worry about it. Your baby will be so worth it!

Answer 6

I even have had a scheduled section and could gain this back in December. A scheduled section is achieved for one in all 2 motives... the 1st reason is that in case you have pre-clinically determined undertaking that could forestall you from having conventional shipping. In my case, I had a fibroid that replaced into blockading my daughter from turning around over the previous weeks of my being pregnant. The generic practitioner recommended that I even have the technique so as that we the two do no longer bypass via any stress of hard artwork. the 2nd reason may well be in case you had a prior section, your generic practitioner/coverage might recommend having yet another so as that there may well be no injury to the uterus. An emergency section is merely that. in case you having a sluggish or non-cutting-side shipping, your toddler is in threat, or you're in threat, you may get further at contemporary. In the two strategies, you bypass for the duration of the comparable technique. you're unsleeping the whole time in maximum situations. they supply you an epidural on your decrease back and practice you for surgery. Your better half or kinfolk member could be interior the room with you for the duration of the technique except some thing is appreciably incorrect. From start to end the technique commonly takes 30 minutes. may well be longer finding on how many sections you have gotten had because of the buildup of scar tissue. wish this facilitates.

Answer 7

You'll get tons of diverse stories here, but thats what you want, I guess! I had an emergency c-section last year. (I guess you'd call it that...doc said baby was in distress, but it took them a darn hour to gather the O.R. team....it was 9pm---small town hosp.) My experience was rough, due to amniotic infection...I had fever during labor and for 2-3 days after. So that hindered my recovery as well. As far as the actual surgery, it was nothing. The spinal was great, I was awake and felt nothing. It took about 1min. after the incision was made for doc to get my baby out. If I had it to do over.....(haha!)...I would be more persistent about getting pain management for the hours after surgery when the spinal wears off! I made the mistake of trying to be tough and waiting til I was in severe pain to ask for meds....NO, NO, don't do that. They don't work near as well, if you're already about to die when you get them! Make sure your nurses are going to remind/ or offer you pain meds. every 3-4hrs. This will keep you from being miserable. It's hard to have a good experience and remember it well when you're in constant agonizing pain. The meds will work, but you have to take them regular!! When i look back, I don't have good memories because all I remember is being in pain, and waiting for meds to kick in! I was in too much pain to breastfeed, or hold my baby. So don't try to be tough! Take any meds, any help, and any service you are offered. Also, try to plan on having help with baby/ chores at home for the first week. And take ANY opportunity to sleep, no matter how much work you have to do......lay down and rest anytime someone takes baby for you, or offers to let you!!
Best of luck to you. I hear planned sections go much smoother, with faster recoveries than emergencies do!

Answer 8

My son was delivered by c-section. There's nothing to it. Most hospitals will give you like an epideral in your back to numb you all the way to your toes. I was fully awake during mine. They cut around a bikini line, pull and tug to open the way (it doesn't hurt. You feel a little pressure but no pain.), then they get the baby,and afterwards, they start to put things back inside you (like your uterus). Then they staple you up and send you to recovery for about an hour. Then the hospital stay is usually 3 days if no complication.