Unplanned C-Section Recovery Questions

[abemom2]

Hi! My sister just had her first via CS, due to Frank Breech. She was fully dilated when she got the the birthing center, due to quick labor. She planned on a birthing center... Her midwife accompanied her to the hospital and because of that she got to nurse her baby 5 minutes after giving birth for a 1/2 hour. The nurse said enough, and the midwife proved to her that the baby was really nursing... She was closed with stiches inside, and staples outside.

They tried turning the baby - 3 different doctors, different positions. She's 4'11'', her husband is tall, and the baby was 7.5 lbs. There wasn't space to turn the baby.

It was really quick after that, she got a spinal, CS immediately, due to being fully dilated already.

No BF problems thank G-d, due to having the spinal only a few minutes before the birth, so it didn't reach the baby yet. Boy does she nurse!


What now??

What should she do/not do? (My mother had all natural, as I did, so we don't have any advice.)
Any good book to read?
What natural pain relief? Arnica?

What should we get her? She's coming home today, and would love to make a nice package for her. But I don't know what's needed for her recovery.(She'll be by my parents for as long as she needs.)

She feels horrible. Not only because it wasn't natural, but she's in a lot of pain physically.
Her baby has double hip dysplasia, so tomorrow they're off for a brace. She has so much to handle now.

Thanks, Ana

[2xy]

Originally Posted by abemom2

What now??

What should she do/not do? (My mother had all natural, as I did, so we don't have any advice.)

What she should not do is lift anything heavier than the baby. She also shouldn't drive for at least two weeks. She needs to get enough rest, watch her incision for proper healing (keep it dry!), and have lots of help with the baby. I'm sure her doctor and nurses will tell her all of these things when she's discharged.

What should we get her? She's coming home today, and would love to make a nice package for her. But I don't know what's needed for her recovery.(She'll be by my parents for as long as she needs.)

The only thing my nurses recommended (for which I was grateful) was some sort of control top panties to wear while healing. After you've been cut open, you have no muscle tone and you feel like your insides are going to fall out onto the floor. The support of a control top was appreciated. I also liked having a giant bunch of pillows behind me in the bed, because laying flat on my back was impossible (as well as getting up again).

Other than that, I didn't need any material things that are different from what any new mother needs.

Her baby has double hip dysplasia, so tomorrow they're off for a brace. She has so much to handle now.

My friend's baby was born with hip dysplasia, and she was determined to keep her baby out of that awful brace. I know that many doctors will recommend against this, saying it's outdated and doesn't work, but she used the double-diapering technique. Her daughter's hips are just fine, and she runs around like any other 4yo. Just a thought.

[JesiLynne]

First off she is going to need alot of emotional support. LOTS! Even a c/s that needed to happen, still is very traumatizing. It sounds like they did all they could and it was the only alternative left, but she is most likely still going to feel really terrible about it.
I was angry about my c/s but there was no one to be agree at. Which I think made it worse. I didn't let on about it though and it just made me feel even worse. So being there and encouraging her to talk I think would be helpful.

Arranging to have people take care of the house. It WILL aid in recovery. She can't focus on healing if the laundry is piling up. Even if she is at your parents someone has to at least re-assure her that everything is taken care of.

I found that something for me to grab onto, next to my bed was very helpful.
I tried really hard to keep the pain meds to a minimum, ( bfeeding premie twins) so it was nice to have something to help me up out of bed. I was able to grab onto the un used crib which was about 4 inches away.

[meganmarie]

One warning (based on a very sad story), if she is a naturally minded mama wanting to bf she may of course wish to co-sleep with her newborn but SHOULD NOT do so if she is taking percoset or other pain medications during the initial days of recovery from the c-section. She can use a side-car crib or arm's rest co-sleeper or bassinet in her room...until she's managing without medication and can be sure there's no risk of accidentally overlying the baby.

You are a very sweet sis for looking to help as much as you can!

[Friday13th]

Something comfy to wear, with a higher waist than she might normally wear. I have always worn low-ish riding pants, including my maternity pants and found after my (unplanned, emergency) csect. that my incision was right where my pants hit, it was VERY uncomfortable. So maybe some nice sweats or nightgowns she can nurse in and some high waisted undies.

Also, I never thought about not co-sleeping with DS, despite pain meds but found it much easier for him to sleep next to/on top of DH and that way DH could get us both situated when DS need to nurse (I couldn't lie on my side or sit up on my own for a week or so)

[chandasz]

Get her in contact with ICAN.

Do not tell her that the important thing is that she has a healthy baby.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by meganmarie

One warning (based on a very sad story), if she is a naturally minded mama wanting to bf she may of course wish to co-sleep with her newborn but SHOULD NOT do so if she is taking percoset or other pain medications during the initial days of recovery from the c-section. She can use a side-car crib or arm's rest co-sleeper or bassinet in her room...until she's managing without medication and can be sure there's no risk of accidentally overlying the baby.

Accidentally overlying the baby? Does that actually happen in the first couple of days post c-section? I couldn't have accidentally rolled over while recovering from any of mine. Lying flat on my back was tolerable, but any change in position was painful and difficult.


OP: Help. What she most needs is help. From experience, it's not quite as brutal with just the one baby to look after (I think this was her first, or did you say?)...but the house is still hard. Everybody and their dog wants to "help" with the baby. That's not where I've needed help. Cook a meal (or two...three) for her freezer - something that can be easily heated up by her or by her dh. Come by and do a load of dishes or laundry. Sweep or vacuum. Get a list from her and go shopping.

Even the most basic housework post-section is a nightmare.

Emotionally? I can't say. We're all different. I have two relatives who shrugged off their c-sections like nothing. Mine have emotionally devastated me. Just let her talk and find out what she needs. I wouldn't go much past "how are you feeling?" when talking to her.

[wombatclay]

ICAN is a good suggestion for down the road... some mamas are fine with their sections, some think their fine with their sections for a few weeks/months and then realize they really aren't ok, and others never feel fine and need a place to process from day one. It varies a lot, but providing her with general "new mama" handouts from ICAN, LLL, API, or any other local natural minded group could help. There is also a group called SOLACE that provides online and phone based support for mamas who have suffered any sort of "challenging childbirth". But let her lead the discussion... it's great to just give the info and let her get back to you if she feels like talking.

On the physical side, I found that I couldn't use a ring sling since dd1 would sort of "bounce" right against the incision site. The moby wrap was the only carrier I could find that spread the weight out and didn't hurt (and wrap would work I'm sure) and it also provided a little extra mid-section support even when dd1 wasn't in it.

I know some mamas feel fine after their c/s, but do encourage her to take her pain meds if she is in pain. A c/s isn't a natural birth... it's major surgery and the ground rules change. Arnica is good, and there are a number of Bach flower remedies that I found helpful as well, but if she hurts don't make her feel like taking the meds isn't appropriate. I know I felt like a real wuss when I took the pain meds, but they really did help!

Oh, and along the line of meds... a c/s can really mess with your bowels. A gas reliever (like gas-x or even the baby mylicon drops) and a stool softener (like colace or even milk of magnesia for short term use) can be a big help. Staying hydrated is good too and if she retained a lot of water or had a long term IV she may find she is having "night sweats" so a pile of soft flannel shirts (easy to nurse in, easy to adjust temp in, good to soak up sweat) may help too in terms of comfort. And it sounds silly, but I made dh go out and get one of those "toilet toppers"... I don't know the official term, but they raise the height of the toilet a few inches? I see them in the pharmacy section of Target, and in general pharmacies, usually in the aisle with "mobility aids" since they're designed for people who have difficulty getting up and down easily. Which was me for about two weeks post c/s.

I couldn't have rolled over to save my life (in my ICAN group it's split about 25/75 between people who found side-lying ok and people who found side-lying absolutely horrible) so DH was on "baby transport duty" for the first few weeks. The side-car was on his side of the bed and every time dd1 stirred he brought her around to me and helped us both get adjusted. Then after she was nursed to baby coma he brought her back to her snuggle bed. And while hospital beds make it easy to get in and out without bending, most home beds (and especially futons or mattress on floor) are a lot less easy! Something to grab onto while pulling up or laying down, a way to roll out of the bed onto hands and knees, or some sort of assistance may be helpful if she is having discomfort in the first few days/weeks.

Hmmmm... after a few weeks she may want to start scar massage to help with healing and decrease the chance of adhesions. There's info about scar massage (and other healing options) in the "Natural Cesarean Resource" thread at the top of the Birth & Beyond forum. I had a really good recovery from what I can tell and I still didn't feel "right" at 8 weeks post c/s (and I bawled my eyes out since I'd been told I'd be "fine" by 8 weeks and then I wasn't and I was so afraid that my 8 week state of being was my "new normal")... so it's good to remember that while some mamas feel fine within days, others don't feel ok for months. And that's normal.

Big hugs to you all, and congrats on the little one!

[glendora]

Food. Laundry. Cleaning.

Does she have a breastfeeding pillow? 'Cause a lot of the usual bf positioning advice goes right out the window.

Also, a back scratcher!

I had terrible pains in my shoulder from the anesthetic, plus just general achiness from being stuck in so few positions. BenGay or PainBustR might be helpful.

Also, while I understand that it's good to be sensitive to c-section trauma, it might not be the best thing to go in acting like it's the end of the world, too. It is what it is. I was really irked by someone who insinuated like I'd come 5 inches from being a REAL mom.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

I know some mamas feel fine after their c/s, but do encourage her to take her pain meds if she is in pain. A c/s isn't a natural birth... it's major surgery and the ground rules change. Arnica is good, and there are a number of Bach flower remedies that I found helpful as well, but if she hurts don't make her feel like taking the meds isn't appropriate. I know I felt like a real wuss when I took the pain meds, but they really did help!

I don't have a problem with people taking pain meds post-section, but I'm going to avoid them in June, if at all possible. I tore out one of my staples after ds2, and I'm almost positive it was because the pain was "managed" to the point that I over-extended while climbing back into bed. Since I ended up with an infection on that side of the incision and it didn't close fully for almost two months, I don't want to take any chances, yk?

Oh, and along the line of meds... a c/s can really mess with your bowels. A gas reliever (like gas-x or even the baby mylicon drops) and a stool softener (like colace or even milk of magnesia for short term use) can be a big help.

It's probably a bit too late, since she's already had the surgery, but I've found a new trick for myself. During that first couple of days or so, I eat a lot of fruit, juicy stuff - plums, peaches, grapes, etc. It seems to help with the constipation problems...and while people don't like to talk about it much, believe me, being constipated with a fresh incision across your abdomen is nasty.

[abemom2]

Thanks so much everyone.

To reply: She's acting very natural, and no one is walking on a tight rope near her. She says: "I guess this is what G-d knows is best for me." She isn't mourning her birth plan, but she is a bit disappointed, and we'll see with time how things will be.

She's doing her walking. She won't be doing housework. She has my parents -who both do housework, her husband is also good with that, and 2 unmarried siblings there. Her husband and my family are changing the baby's diaper, so she doesn't have to bend and deal with it.

The rope idea is great, as she's on an average/ high bed.

Regarding the control top underwear, and low rise: Her midwife gave her a band to wear across her stomach, and it feels good for her, so she had no problem getting dressed.

I'll let her know about the support groups, but knowing her - she probably won't go now. She is more closed by nature, and not the bigget talker. She also has the hip thing to deal with, so that's a lot of running back and forth to the doctors.

Regarding the nursing pillow, she's going to wait and see how the baby will be with the harness to figure out what would be the best position to nurse in.

I'll mention the toilet seat idea.

She can't lie on her side.

Thanks again.

[claras_mom]

It sounds as if she's got great support. Best thing after dd was born via unplanned c/s was that my mom was there. She handled cooking and cleaning; snacks magically appeared at my elbow. Re the breastfeeding pillow--I found that a couple of blankets folded into a rectangle and placed on my lap worked better initially. And dh did all the lifting in and out of the co-sleeper for those middle of the night feedings...and the diaper changes....and extra walking around and rocking on the few times dd didn't drop off to sleep again right away.

[JesiLynne]

chiming in again, something I have and some other moms I know have had, is yeast issues at the incision site. Warn her about them, they came as a total shock to me, and I FREAKED out thinking I had a major infection or something.

[liseux]

I took every pain med I could ( and I'm not a big drug taker normally) and I found, like the others, I was most comfortable on my back, with baby on my chest all the time, and a pillow under each arm. Its safe and I do think close proximity to baby & lots of breastfeeding are the most healing things for a c/s.

[2pinks]

Originally Posted by liseux

I took every pain med I could ( and I'm not a big drug taker normally) and I found, like the others, I was most comfortable on my back, with baby on my chest all the time, and a pillow under each arm. Its safe and I do think close proximity to baby & lots of breastfeeding are the most healing things for a c/s.

this is exactly what I did as well. I was either propped up in bed or in our recliner and I made sure that dh checked on me very frequently to make sure the baby and i were ok.

[wombatclay]

I found the boppy pillow to be painful... it was pushing on my incision. For the first few days (week?) I used a football hold with a pile of pillows under my arm/supporting much of dd1's weight. I don't know how the harness might affect that positioning though, and a lot of mamas I know didn't have any problem with the boppy (and I found a "softer" nursing pillow that was comfy so it may just have been that one individual boppy).

It sounds like she's doing well!

(Storm- youch! Dd1 managed to totally mangle one of my nipples in large part because the pain meds immediately after the section prevented me from feeling just how bad her latch was. And that was with an LC standing right there and a bad latch of maybe 3-4 minutes.)