Anybody having to plan a c section?

[liseux]

Hi fellow April ladies,

I have had 2 natural births & then got some very high risk issues and now have to have c births. I am having my 3rd c section in mid April. I am wondering if anybody else is in the same boat & what you are doing to prepare for healing well.
I used to plan so intensely for my homebirths and now I put that energy into planning on having as good of an experience with a surgical delivery as possible. Does anyone have any tips that worked for you ?

[MaryTheres]

I am planning a c-section.

The things that I am doing to hlep with healing/coping after is

1.Taking Floradix Iron Supplements - My iron was a tad low and ALOT of blood is lost in a c-section (plus baby taking iron) so I am making sure my iron levels are good because being anemic after giving birth is hell (I've heard). Floradix is great is really is non-constipating and gentle. I cannot stomach the liquid version at All byt the tablets are great. Just make sure your iron levels are good and if they are not - get them good.

2. Taking Acidopholos (sp?) Supplments - Antibiotics are administerd during c-sections so to prevent any thrush/breatfeeding issues I am taking acidopholos now and after birth.

3. I got this http://designveronique.com/cgi-bin/ic/dv2/853.html post surgical compression garment to help with healing (used this last time I though it really helped me recover from the emergency c-section)

4. I think the brest friend nursing pillow is great and way more comfortable for those with an incision than the boppy.

5. Husband plans to be home from work 2-3 weeks.

6. Will have the house professionally cleaned day before surgery so that I don't have to do anything for a few weeks cleaning-wise.

I have already spoken to the hospital twice about no ethromycin, no hep b shot and no circumcision and no visitors unless specifically authorized by us (no surprises). We have the OR booked and a private room with DH able to sleep in and baby too (researched hospitals that I could do this at once I learned I would most likely need a c-section - very important to have your support person/partner/husband stay with in the hospital to help you with baby if you have a section, imo).

Here are some links to help with planning the actual surgery - helping to make it less traumatic and un-natural. I will be discussing these articles with my doc next week:

http://ican-online.org/pregnancy/fam...tered-cesarean

http://www.guardian.co.uk./society/2...icineandhealth

Hope That Helps!

[liseux]

Thanks! That's exactly what I was hoping for, tips to help those of us with surgery in our future.

I also do the acidophilus, it is crucial to avoiding thrush post section.

I need to get a compression garment for the belly afterwards, MaryTheres, is it better to get one like yours? Or is a tummy only one OK?

[claras_mom]

Another one here.

I think the compression thing I had after my last was just abdominal; the OB actually "prescribed" it, and they gave it to me before I left the hospital, so you could ask about that possibility.

Having the house professionally cleaned is a really good idea; I'm going to try to arrange that.

I just used a folded blanket for nursing.

I can't think of anything in addition. I've got help lined up for the period immediately following, so that will take a lot of the pressure off.

[mamamccloud]

I'm also planning a c-section.

I'm taking the probiotics and Cod liver Oil (I just think it is an overall good).

Since I have a date, March 20th, I'm planning to plan a cooking social with some friends of mine to see if I can get some meals made before the birth at my home with my food and not all of my own labor. I love that people bring over food, but usually it is dinner and there are 2-3 other meals each day. Plus I just think that it would be fun to spend time with these women and be productive at the same time.

I've been thinking that since I'll have my mom staying with us (me, dh, and two toddlers) I am going to take advantage of her help and dh's and stay in bed for a week like I've heard other cultures do. (I may plan to take a walk each day just to keep things moving). But I think that this will be a good healing bonding opportunity for baby and me. What do you all think of this? I've never done this before, I usually just get up and get going. But I'm going to be ECing and I had some post-partum last time, and I thought that it might help everything to relax at first. The second week I'd like to move down stairs during the day, rest on the couch and slowly start participating in real life.

Since I have a date this time, I am noticing that there is a lot I can do to be proactive. I am really happy about being able to prepare a birth plan, this time and have more influence over how things go.

What is a compression garment?

Thanks for starting this thread. I can't wait to hear more ideas.

[MaryTheres]

Originally Posted by liseux

Thanks! That's exactly what I was hoping for, tips to help those of us with surgery in our future.

I also do the acidophilus, it is crucial to avoiding thrush post section.

I need to get a compression garment for the belly afterwards, MaryTheres, is it better to get one like yours? Or is a tummy only one OK?

So gladd my post helpful. I'd think a 'just tummy' one would be fine. I got the one I got becuse I just though it seemed like it would be more comfortable and more effective. I have heard good things about the belly bandit (which is cheaper, just tummy, and sold at Babies R Us). However, I have a short torso making just belly ones and the belly bandit type ones usually too big for me and not fit or feel right - the one I bought just seemed like it would be more comfortable better fit and more effective for someone like me. I did not start wearing mine last time until I came home frmt he hospital (4 days later) I am going to try and get one on this time while I am still in the hospital.

[MaryTheres]

Originally Posted by mamamccloud

Since I have a date this time, I am noticing that there is a lot I can do to be proactive. I am really happy about being able to prepare a birth plan, this time and have more influence over how things go.

What is a compression garment?

Thanks for starting this thread. I can't wait to hear more ideas.

Yes, this is definitely the good part of the while thing... I feel like I really can plan and make and get alot of 'demands' (LOL) discussed, cleared and out of the way before-hand.... esp since I know who will be the doctor and who will be my staff, etc. I find that they can really run rough shod over me in emergency situations.

A compression garment aids patients recovering from aesthetic and/or reconstructive surgery and are designed to make post-op recovery easier. But I find them great for c-sections. Adequate compression in surgical sites plays a crucial role in healing providing targeted compression helping you to "feel" better and really helps to reduce swelling and helps you get smaller/back to your orignial size faster. I think it helps the abdominal muscles come back together faster and more effectively.

[claras_mom]

Originally Posted by mamamccloud

What is a compression garment?

The one I have is sort of like a stretchy ankle or knee brace--in material; probably a little heavier--except it's for the abdominal region. I really should find it....it's about 12 inches wide, adjusts with velcro, and wraps around the upper hips/lower abdominal area. I thought it was sort of goofy when the nurse brought it by, but the first couple of times post-partum I went out with dd, it felt good to have that little bit of support over the region of the incision.

[claras_mom]

I keep meaning to plan some menus, at the very least, but I know I don't really have to for the first little bit. Mom announced that she's cooking again and plans to keep us well fed. I've been collecting/trying out quick recipes as well as crock-pot recipes, so that we'll have some go-tos that are easy to throw together.

I'm more concerned right now with getting my taxes done (Schedule C, because I have a small amount of self-employment income) and doing advance planning for my job/leave. Things like deciding what class to teach in the fall, because that call for course descriptions will come while I'm off. And motivating students to get information in to me that I'll need before I come back in mid-May.

Not as bad as it sounds, by the way....I'll be on modified duties, which means mostly stuff I can do from home. I'll be back at work for about 4 weeks, then off for the summer.

[mamamccloud]

Do you all have dates for your c-sections? Mine is March 20th The baby will be 37w 4d, we're going a little early because of my previous scar and uterus issues.

[claras_mom]

April 1st. 38w6d

[liseux]

I'm hoping to get a date this week! We are aiming for 39 weeks, but I have a blood incompatibility so if my titers change, it could be earlier.

[mamamccloud]

Have you developed a birth plan for your c-section? I'm hoping that 37w 3 days will be enough time for my lo to be perfectly healthy, because I am envisioning having the baby put on me and not taken away and having dh hold the baby with me as I'm being sewn back up. I really want to experience a new baby, I don't want anyone cleaning or weighing him/her. All of that barring any unforseen events. I have an appt. on wednesday and we're going to go over the plan. Since I'm going to have to have a c-section, I want it to be as close to the real thing as we can experience. I'd love to hear what some of your ideas are.

[MamaPam]

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. I have had two vaginal births and my last was a c-section because baby had turned breach. We moved during towards the end of this pregnancy (Jan.) and I haven't found a OB here that will do VBACs. I do know the OB from my first two pregnancies. I've got other health issues that make me high risk so we're just staying with this provider and will have the c-section.

This time at least I can be prepared. I appreciate all the suggestions about iron and acidophilus etc. I want to make the best of this physical health wise as well as emotionally for our whole family. I'd like to get a birth plan written out. We're in the process of arranging for help with the girls since we don't have any family close by particularly while I'm in the hospital. I know we've got a few people at least that will bring meals.

I've started kind of late but am trying to get some extra stuff frozen. I've got stuff for tacos (meat, tortillas, cheese) in the freezer, 3 loaves of bread, and 2 halves of pound cake, and 2 servings of spaghetti sauce. I'm hoping to get some more baking done especially simple breakfast/snack items for the girls. DH cooks and is very good at it too so that will be a big help also.

We'll schedule the section for 39 weeks, but the closest to term I've gotten is 36 weeks which I'm at today.

[mamamccloud]

My section date has been moved up one day. March 19th. We went over my birth plan and had to compromise on some things, but I feel pretty good about the new plan. I'm going to watch the baby come out through a mirror, and get to see everything that happens. The baby will be given to the nurse and then given to me to be skin to skin with minimal rubbing/cleaning and what not. So the baby will not be going over to the warming table. I am a warming table! So I can't believe I have 1 week and 1 day left. I'm sooo ready. I hope the baby is ready. I'll be having a discussion with dc about his/her early arrival and the whys. I have my amnio on the 17th and an appt. later that day to for my history and physical and the results of the amnio. 18th pre op and the 19th birth. So that is our plan.

[jenholle]

Thank you so much for all of the advice on this thread!!! I found out today that I will likely need a c-section after 2 natural-vaginal births b/c baby is breech and due to neck position not a version candidate. I'm doing acupuncture, chiro, and inversions but time is ticking...all of your suggestions are really great!!!!!!

[liseux]

Hi Jenny!
I hope we are some support to each other, all of us who have to plan c sections. Do you have a date yet?

I wanted to add, I don't know if its been mentioned, but walk early & often. I think 8 hrs after the section is a good time to get up and walk, but did anyone walk earlier?

I had a scary dream last night where I had general anesthesia and I felt surprisingly great afterwards, except they brought me the wrong baby! :

[claras_mom]

Well, I'm trying to figure out if the hospital still permits bringing the baby to the mom during the initial recovery period. I've got a call into the head of maternity services at the hospital to talk about it.

Four years ago, it wasn't a problem. But just a couple of weeks ago, a woman actually walked out with someone's newborn--5 hours old--and so there are a lot of changes going on vis a vis security on that wing. (They tracked her down and had the baby back with his mom within 7 hours, but still--even with the alarm bracelets etc., the woman got 75 miles with an infant not hers). When I asked my OB about it this morning, he told me that policies are changing daily and gave me the name of the woman to talk to.

My optimistic guess is that they'll treat the recovery room as if it were the post-partum room and bring the baby on over, even though it's on the opposite side of the floor. On the other hand, I think they're a little twitchy and may overreact.

[claras_mom]

Head of L&D called back. They'll still bring baby to recovery. :

A lot of what they're doing is enforcing long-standing hospital-wide policies having to do with the number of visitors allowed/visiting hours. And they have a security guy signing people in and out.

[jenholle]

My c-section is tentatively scheduled for 4/2...but I'm still hopeful that baby will turn. I had an appt. with an acupuncturist today and she thinks baby might be head down or close. I hope so, but I've started to work on my c-section birth plan just in case.