Cesarean Birth Support Thread 6 (February 2004) - Page 3

[OnTheFence]

Originally posted by Monkey
i wanted to get up and walk around bc i wanted the cathiduer OUT and i thought t also the nurses encouraged me to move around but were in aww that iwas uop moving around. + if you move around you will heal better thats whta they said , moving around is good. i also stopped takin med tylonal with codine and ibpro 800 mil abouty 1 week after surgery i hjave nevr been big on pills expecailly bc i was bf.

well if the fisrt is the hardest then that really will encourage me to have more bc honestly looking back, it sucked but i can definitly do it agin!! ahahahhhhaahhh monkey beats on her chest:LOL

how long is your inscion? mine is 5 inch's is yours that long???

My incision is 7 inches. Part of mine incision was ripped with m y first cbirth.

[OnTheFence]

addint to Jess' post

I wanted to add to Jess's post.
In many pro-VBAC circles, books, and even ICAN uterine rupture is downplayed. The truth is, because there is such a repeat csection rate I think that its really hard to estimate or give a percentage of what the rupture or about rupture rate is. I am all for VBAC, and if I could do it, I would. I think each individual person had to decide for themselves. Some of us are risk takers, and some are not. I am not so sure at this point in my life if I would take the risk having had the experiences I have had with my three other children. (even my adopted child was a csection baby) I also think its an instinct thing. You must go with your gut. If something doesnt feel right or you dont feel comfortable with the risk, then dont go against that. I dont car how much evidence based material you are presented with, you need to go with your gut.

[kimberlylibby]

Hi! I'm Kimberly

I'm due in August with my 2nd child.

I have finally decided to put to rest my dream of vbac. My ob said no, the midwives I spoke to said no, the birth center said no, and the vbac specializing doc said no. Okay, okay, okay, I get the picture!!!

I have a 14 month old daughter who was born via c/b after 48 hours of induction due to Eclampsia/HELLP.

My epi wore off a few minutes into the c/b and I will never forget the horror of the pain I felt. I am most afraid of THAT happening again.

So many things made that experience bad.... and I'm determined to have a GOOD c/b this time around. I will have a doctor I know and trust (versus the oncall ob who came in the room and said TO THE NURSE "prep her for surgery, she needs a c/s" and didn't say a WORD to me!!!)

My incision was 9 1/2 inches long. THIS will also hopefully NOT happen this time!!!! I know DD was stuck, but 9 1/2 inches???

I'm glad to find a place where I can be supported and not condemned and told I need to vbac.

Kimberly

[TexasSuz]

WoW! I am so glad I found this thread! I had my ds by c-section in 2001 and we are currently ttc #2. We got pregnant right away with #1 but are have not been successful for 4 months now. Can my c-section have anything to do with that? I have regular periods every 27 days.

My c-section was totally pain free but the recovery was H*LL! The epidural did not wear off for over 30 hours and I also had a reaction to the Stadol that they gave me during the surgery. I also had a balloon of puss develop under my incision and it got infected. It was sooooo gross! My sweet dh had to clean it out for a week!

I am one of those moms that can't have a vaginal birth - they told me when I had my first vaginal exam at 12 that I was not built for one (my bones are out of place). I really want my next section to go better than the last one. When I get pregnant I will be asking y'all lots of questions. I don't want to feel so drugged this time around. I don't even remember much of the first 24 hours.

Also, what time is best to have a scheduled section? I had mine at 1pm but I think the next one should be more like 7am or 8am so that the epidural wears off during the day and not in the middle of the night. What do you think?

Glad to have the support here!

Susan

PS - I had my section on thursday and they did not let me eat until Sunday morning! So I had not eaten since Wednesday at 7pm! I was so hungry! Is this normal? I also did not have to have a BM in the hospital but boy was it painful at home! I will never forget that!

[OnTheFence]

Originally posted by kimberlylibby
I have finally decided to put to rest my dream of vbac. My ob said no, the midwives I spoke to said no, the birth center said no, and the vbac specializing doc said no. Okay, okay, okay, I get the picture!!!

I have a 14 month old daughter who was born via c/b after 48 hours of induction due to Eclampsia/HELLP.

My epi wore off a few minutes into the c/b and I will never forget the horror of the pain I felt. I am most afraid of THAT happening again.

Dear Kimberly,

Welcome

I wanted to say a few things in reference to your post. I know its disappointing to know that a VBAC isnt going to happen, but I am here to tell you that you can have a great cbirth with all the trimmings if you prepare before hand.

Also, are you sure you had an epidural. An epidural can be redosed during the csection but a spinal cannot. I got a spinal with my first csection and it didnt work! Trust me when I say I know your pain and horror! You need to make sure of what you did get before going into your next cbirth. I think I will post my birthplan here for you to gander at.

Kim

[OnTheFence]

Originally posted by TexasSuz
Can my c-section have anything to do with that? I have regular periods every 27 days.

My c-section was totally pain free but the recovery was H*LL! The epidural did not wear off for over 30 hours and I also had a reaction to the Stadol that they gave me during the surgery. I also had a balloon of puss develop under my incision and it got infected. It was sooooo gross! My sweet dh had to clean it out for a week!

I am one of those moms that can't have a vaginal birth - they told me when I had my first vaginal exam at 12 that I was not built for one (my bones are out of place). I really want my next section to go better than the last one. When I get pregnant I will be asking y'all lots of questions. I don't want to feel so drugged this time around. I don't even remember much of the first 24 hours.

Also, what time is best to have a scheduled section? I had mine at 1pm but I think the next one should be more like 7am or 8am so that the epidural wears off during the day and not in the middle of the night. What do you think?

Glad to have the support here!

Susan

PS - I had my section on thursday and they did not let me eat until Sunday morning! So I had not eaten since Wednesday at 7pm! I was so hungry! Is this normal? I also did not have to have a BM in the hospital but boy was it painful at home! I will never forget that!

Susan, You have come to the right place. Some people believe that csection can cause infertility. I dont think so. I knwo so many cbirth mommas reproducing without problems. If your cycle is short, try checking your luteal phase length or timing of the baby dancing. I teach fertility awareness so I will help you if you want me too.

Your epidural did sound awful. O my. My first recovery was hell. Luckily no infection. That might have put me over the deep end!

It sounds like they really dosed you up and gave you amnesia medication during your surgery. I know this may sound scarey but opted and requested and signed my life away to have NO PREOP OR POST OP Drugs. I did not get phenegran, zofran, versat (sp), demerol, morphine, none of those things in my IV, before during or after my csection. I did get an epidural with a PCAPump that delivered demerol straight into my spinal column. So it did not go to my head.

Also my first csection they starved me. Not the second time around! I ate lightly the first night after surgery, and the second night I was eating fried catfish, augratin pot., snap beans, and a healthy serving of mississippi mud pie. (yes I'm a southern girl who likes food ) I left less than 48 hours post op.

I had both csections midday but I wanted the second one in the morning. My doctor had a surgery and she was not on call the next time she could get me in. It was crucial to my mental and emotional state to have things planned, so she had to deliver my baby and I wanted her on call that first night. So I took the lunch appointment. Which was nice, I spend the morning with my other children, showered, shaved, and built up all that nervous excitement. When I got to the hospital I walked up to L&D and talked with the staff (they knew me well after being in there every other day for NSTs -- I have high risk pregnancies and had high blood pressure with Jack) I felt very comfortable there, which made a big difference from the first csection.

I dont know what to tell you about that freaky epidural. Did they put Duramorph in it? It sounds like it. My initial block wore off in about an hour and a half. In fact I could even move my legs in the OR.

Kim

[kimberlylibby]

Thanks Kim

Yep, I had an epi.... I had it for the last 8 hours or so of my labor.

When they did the prick test, I said I felt a tiny bit and they didn't believe me.....

They did giveme lots of versed and at least ONE person apologized. The ob never believed me!!!

[OnTheFence]

My Birth Plan

Cesarean birth plan

As this is a planned Cesarean birth we are looking forward to a positive birth experience. We want to participate in this birth to the fullest. We have listed our preferences below, these decisions have been made after research, consultation, and thought. Therefore your help in attaining these goals is very much appreciated.

We would appreciate preoperative blood work and tests to be done on an out patient basis, and hospital admission on the day of the birth.

My sister, *******, is to stay with me the entire time, even for procedures and administration of anesthesia.

I would like an epidural for pain relief with Duramorph. < this I changed to the PCAPump, which left the epidural cath in my back where pain medication was directly put into the spinal column, it was like having a walking epidural and I could dose myself before moving around or nursing)

I would like the catheter put in after anesthesia is administered.

We do not wish to have medical students present during our cesarean. < I did have a student nurse and would gladly take another one, they pampered me!)

My arms are not to be strapped down unless general anesthesia becomes necessary during an emergency.

We would like the option of viewing the birth either by lowering the screen or positioning a mirror.

Kim would like a verbal description of the birth as is occurs. Kim welcomes conversation during the process. (while some people want quiet, I didnt. That scared me last time. I want some conversation)

We would like to take photos as we did of our first child. (we did not do video, but you can add this. my pictures are graphic)

Kim would like to see the baby immediately after birth if at all possible. She would also like to be given the baby or have it held near her in the OR. (my frist csection I did not get to see my baby)

No mind altering drugs are to be administered without Kim’s expressed permission. I am aware that some hospitals routinely sedate the mom for the repair portion of the surgery. It is important to Kim not to feel drugged or be unable to remember the events of the birth. We wish that no pre-op or post-op drugs be administered that cause drowsiness or sedation.

We would like our baby to be with us in recovery. Kim wishes to breastfeed immediately. Please do not give our baby bottles of formula or water and no pacifiers. ( I had Jack with me 15min after he was born, I actually was sitting in bed on the phone)

Kim does not want to be deprived of liquids or food after her cesarean.

Please remove Kim’s IV and catheter as soon as it is no longer medically necessary. She wishes to get up and move after the birth of our baby as soon as possible.
Kim would like to be promptly discharged as soon as she is well enough.

[OnTheFence]

Originally posted by kimberlylibby
Thanks Kim

Yep, I had an epi.... I had it for the last 8 hours or so of my labor.

When they did the prick test, I said I felt a tiny bit and they didn't believe me.....

They did giveme lots of versed and at least ONE person apologized. The ob never believed me!!!

What asses! I hate when they do that to people. I didnt remember Elizabeth's first day of life. My best friend said that I was actually exposed and 20 people were in the room passing the baby around while I was in lala land.

Never again I said! {{{HUGS}}} I know your pain sweetie!!!

[UD_CHICK]

Kkmama - I hear what you're saying about FTP.

I have one big question about what happened with my last birth. Once they took me off the terb (after 8 weeks on bed rest), my cervix started to dilate (fingertip), I lost my mucous plug, and my bag started leaking.

When the ph test came back positive for amniotic fluid, they said I was a keeper (we were at L&D triage) and the OB ruptured the bag completely. Well, because of that, I had to spend the next 13 hours on my back (or right or left side) because my daughter wasn't engaged and they didn't want to risk cord prolapse.

I wonder if he hadn't ruptured the bag completely, and I had been able to walk around laboring, if things would have turned out differently. We'll never know - but honestly, if we're able to give a VBAC a try this time around, I DO NOT want them to rupture the bag before its time.

jess7396 - I have found it difficult to find information about rupture - other than the general statistic of rupture risk.

I asked my OB about the symptoms of rupture and he said generally those who have experienced it report a tearing sensation. From what I remember of my kidney stone experience years ago - that was a sharp pain, not tearing.

Last week I had a sono to check my son's size and I asked the tech about checking the scar and as I recall (I'm forgetting EVERYTHING these days!!) she said it wasn't a very good diagnostic tool to check the scar. I could be remembering incorrectly, though. Do you have more information about how to have your scar evaluated before you attempt a VBAC? Boy, wouldn't that be great!

I've had one or two twinges at my incision site inside - last week. But since then I haven't felt anything out of the ordinary there. I think the baby has dropped (my hips are killing me and there seems to be more of my belly resting on my thighs when I sit). I told my doc about it last thursday and he wasn't concerned - told me about the tearing sensation I mentioned above.

Part of my wants to have the repeat CB to have my uterus checked out make sure things are still ok in there - we'd like to have a couple more kids.

Anyway - y'all are a great group of women. You're really helping me think through my impending birth experience without pressure!

[UD_CHICK]

OTF - thanks for posting your birth plan. I plan to borrow heavily from it!

[Monkey]

right kkmama!

thats what they said LOL to get up to move the bowles! omg i took the BIGGEST cr@p! about 4 days after my c/b it was terrible i strongly advise anyone who has had major surgery to TAKE THE POOP SOFTNERS! I declined thinking I would have no problem... OMG !!!!!!!!!

I WAS WRONG! that would be one thing i will do next time around.

OTF i like your birth plan list i might just have to print it out

[its_our_family]

I'm so glad this thread is busy

For those i have not met....

I had my second c/b 2.5 weeks ago ( 6 days after Patty...aka jess...) It was planned. I had intended to vbac but things were not looking that way. So, at 39 weeks I planned my c/b. We had it 2 days before my edd. Recovery is going great!!

As for rupture...I had the kind of pain that jess described this time around. However, I was not rupturing. I kept thinking I was but there weas no evidence of it. I agree that it is downplayed. It happens and no one talks about it!

As for being constipated after a c/b....HECK YEAH!! I resorted to a suppository in the hospital. I could tell it was "right there" but nothing was happening! I'm still having some issues with that.

I think that getting out of bed asap is important because it jsut helps! I hated feeling restricted to a bed. I hated not feeling my legs. I hated just sitting (made my tailbone incredibly sore!). My son was in special care this time for 30 hours and that was a HUGE motivation to get up! I also knew that if I was up sooner that everything would move along faster recovery wise and I could go home sooner! This time they put me on a regualr diet by the same evening....

My c/b was scheduled for 7:30 am. I am sooo glad it was that early! I liked being done with it all before lunch time! Then I could get rested during the day and gear up for night! But ds2 was in the sc nursery so we were without ANY children that first night. I still didnt sleep straight through but I got good sleep

[robugmum]

Hey all,
I am really sorry. : I didn't mean to sound unsupportive of necessary CBs. I was just posting about my own experience. I know that for many of us mamas a VBAC isn't a good idea. I just wanted to let any mamas, for whom it was an option, know that it can work out really well. Because of other issues with my health, there is a good chance I may have to opt for a C-section if I have another babe. I look forward to being able to come here for support if that happens.

[its_our_family]

Originally posted by robugmum
I look forward to being able to come here for support if that happens.

And we will al be here

[Peppermint]

As for the rupture pain, it was a sharp pain, not really a tearing, but it was only half of the scar that had started to tear: My kidney stone in the past, had resulted only in back pain, but when I had the pain in the front, my mom a nurse, and my dh a paramedic- assumed kidney stone, and the said the pain can be in the front, so I figured that was what it was the first time: .

IOF- I didn't know you had the pain too, you must've been scared- sorry . I don't want to scare anyone unnecessarily- my pain was bad enough that I couldn't walk through it, was yours like that? I certainly don't want to freak people out if they get that pain, but for me it was a bad thing, and for IOF- it wasn't: Now, I'm quite confused.

I have also heard that U/S is not good for looking at the scarring level, so I don't know other than just VBACing in a hospital and being super careful if you have incisional pain- what you can do to avoid rupture. I take that back- make sure that you have double layer suture of the uterus

Babe crying, off I go.....

[UD_CHICK]

Our bodies sure are complex machines, aren't they? And there's just enough difference between everyone that sometimes it's really hard to 'know' anything with certainty.

I think Patty has said in previous posts that it is important to trust your instincts and internal feelings - you're the only one who experiences your body fully all of the time!

Today, after getting about 3 hours of sleep, I'm thinking - just take the baby out of me. I don't have the energy to be in the 'right mind' for delivery. I'm still working through my books (natural birth the bradley way, vbac companion and the sears birth book) - I'm overwhelmed.

Can I tell you one of my crazy fears about a repeat CB with a boy - that his penis will accidentally be cut off! Last year I saw a special about little boys whose penises had been accidentally cut off at some point in the few minutes after birth. They were raised as girls and generally had troubled lives and a troubled sense of self and sexuality. Of those participating, finding out that they were actually 'boys' really helped them overcome their problems.

Isn't that crazy? Being a parent is difficult I think because I don't have complete control - but I have complete responsibility.

I'll stop rambling now.

Hope you all have a great day!

[Peppermint]

Originally posted by UD_CHICK

Isn't that crazy? Being a parent is difficult I think because I don't have complete control - but I have complete responsibility.

I had never thought of the penis being cut off, suddenly I am glad I won't be having more, I'd never get that fear from my head The Ob did knick my dd's finger during her birth, but nothing major.

Yes- it is all about balancing knowledge with your own instincts

[its_our_family]

My pain was a stabbing pain but not as intense as what you are describing. Oh, and you didn't scare me...I was already wondering about it!

As for baby getting cut....Bryce did. he has a slice mark on his eye lid It will probably scar but at least he still has his eyeball!!

[OnTheFence]

Originally posted by its_our_family
My pain was a stabbing pain but not as intense as what you are describing. Oh, and you didn't scare me...I was already wondering about it!

As for baby getting cut....Bryce did. he has a slice mark on his eye lid It will probably scar but at least he still has his eyeball!!

OMG! How did that happen? During the csection? where was his head. I'm freaking out. I have seen a lot of kids cut up and have brain injuries from forceps. They scare the hell out of me.

Kim