What do I need to know to prepare for c-section? - Page 3

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by klocke

Thanks ladies for all the wonderful info. I actually have only had a catheter once (with my first ds born in a hospital) and I ended up getting the worst bladder infection ever. Felt like I was peeing needles, sorry TMI. So I'm a little nervous about that. Honestly I'm nervous about pretty much everything,LOL. I talked to my doctor today and he said he would do stitches no problem. We are done having kids but I'll ask if he does one or two layer closures. I tend to have slow bowels after deliveries anyway so I expect this will be no different. It usually takes me 3-4 days to have a BM after birth.

I've actually read a lot of stuff about the one vs. two layer closure, and I think it's a lot more complicated than accepted wisdom. Suturing material makes a difference, too...but I don't know if it's on most doctor's radar.

I didn't even think of the catheter, because mine's been done after anesthesia every time. (Actually, I think they might have done it during prep, before anesthesia with Aaron, but I was honestly too far gone with...everything to have noticed more pain.) I honestly can't imagine why they wouldn't wait until after you were under to do that, unless it was a seriously panic-stricken emergency.

Has anyone had problems with pain during the surgery itself? I'm so scared that I'm going to feel them cutting me open or something crazy. I have had an epidural in the past and the darn thing didn't work right so now I'm terrified of them. Going to try for the spinal anyway though I think.

I've known women who have had c-sections with failed anesthesia. They were all under epidural. I don't know of anyone who has had that happen with a spinal. I'm not saying it's never happened, because I don't know everybody, but I've never heard of it.

I don't know if you've read up on it or not, but you will probably feel something. I always have. It's not pain. They usually describe it as "pressure or tugging sensations", which is fairly accurate. I have a lot of trouble with it, and it makes me want to puke - not so much physically, although that's part of it, as knowing what's going on, and not being able to tune it out very well, because of the "pressure and tugging". I don't even really like to talk about it, but I think it's better to be prepared for it. I wasn't, when I had dd1, and it really wigged me out.

[Storm Bride]

Just caught up on the posts. I forgot about the shaking. I've had it with all of mine, although not really badly. I didn't know until recently that it was the anesthesia. I always get it accompanied by chills, and a nurse after dd1 told me it was shock.


Norasmom: I just saw that you talked with an anesthesiologist ahead of time. Was it the one that was actually in OR with you? I wanted an anesthesiology consultation, and I got one - and it was a total and utter waste of time, because the one thing I really wanted was to have dh with me, and she couldn't say one way or the other, because she wasn't my anesthesiologist! I'd heard people talk about consultations and thought it would be useful, but I wouldn't do it again. I went through a fairly negative emotional experience (they had this whole "what to expect from your surgery" video I had to watch before the consult, and it brought back a lot of bad memories) for absolutely no reason. Fortunately, I did get to have dh with me, but I didn't know one way or the other until I was standing outside the OR.

[Norasmomma]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

Just caught up on the posts. I forgot about the shaking. I've had it with all of mine, although not really badly. I didn't know until recently that it was the anesthesia. I always get it accompanied by chills, and a nurse after dd1 told me it was shock.


Norasmom: I just saw that you talked with an anesthesiologist ahead of time. Was it the one that was actually in OR with you? I wanted an anesthesiology consultation, and I got one - and it was a total and utter waste of time, because the one thing I really wanted was to have dh with me, and she couldn't say one way or the other, because she wasn't my anesthesiologist! I'd heard people talk about consultations and thought it would be useful, but I wouldn't do it again. I went through a fairly negative emotional experience (they had this whole "what to expect from your surgery" video I had to watch before the consult, and it brought back a lot of bad memories) for absolutely no reason. Fortunately, I did get to have dh with me, but I didn't know one way or the other until I was standing outside the OR.

Yes he was, his name was Dave. I live in a pretty rural area and every time these threads come up I realize our little hospital is awesome. He came to my dr's office, met with me explained about spinal vs. epidural, talked about going hiking, what to expect, etc....I didn't watch some freaky video. My DH was totally allowed(both times) and I made sure he was allowed to stand up and watch the surgery. With DD's the dr realized DH was craning his neck to see and they told him he could stand up and watch. I wanted him to be able to do that because he desired that. He told us when to take pictures, he told me what was happening, he gave DH the assurance he'd take care of me, so DH could go with our son-he was amazing and wonderful. Like I said before it was the first time in a loooooong time they were doing a c/s in which the gender was an unknown, he asked if the baby was a boy or girl and when I said "we don't know" the whole team got excited. Plus we knew our L&D nurse personally, all those factors made DS's so enjoyable-at least in terms of a c/s.

Our hospital ROCKS in terms of hospitals, at least for having babies. They room in, no procedures w/out parents, nurse on demand, breastfeed only(unless there is a problem of course), waterbirth friendly-they are wonderful.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by Norasmomma

Yes he was, his name was Dave. I live in a pretty rural area and every time these threads come up I realize our little hospital is awesome. He came to my dr's office, met with me explained about spinal vs. epidural, talked about going hiking, what to expect, etc....I didn't watch some freaky video. My DH was totally allowed(both times) and I made sure he was allowed to stand up and watch the surgery. With DD's the dr realized DH was craning his neck to see and they told him he could stand up and watch. I wanted him to be able to do that because he desired that.

Oh, no - dh was allowed in for the c-section. That's SOP at our hospital. I also wanted him there for the spinal, which was where I ran into the difficulties. My OB booked the consultation, and I don't think she realized how pointless it was going to be. It might have been useful if it were my first time doing a c-section under spinal, but everything the doctor talked about were things I already knew.

Our hospital ROCKS in terms of hospitals, at least for having babies. They room in, no procedures w/out parents, nurse on demand, breastfeed only(unless there is a problem of course), waterbirth friendly-they are wonderful.

Ours is good in those ways - well, I don't know about waterbirth. I haven't gone in there for anything except scheduled c/s in 17 years. They're very breastfeeding friendly (the way they're breastfeeding friendly hasn't been good for me and my kids, but at least they don't shove formula at people). Rooming in is standard, and dh coudl spend the night in my room, as well.

[Norasmomma]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

Oh, no - dh was allowed in for the c-section. That's SOP at our hospital. I also wanted him there for the spinal, which was where I ran into the difficulties. My OB booked the consultation, and I don't think she realized how pointless it was going to be. It might have been useful if it were my first time doing a c-section under spinal, but everything the doctor talked about were things I already knew.

Oh I thought you meant in the OR, that's what you made it sound like.

I don't think ANY hospital allows them there for the spinal. I know that mine didn't, the anesthesiologist said DH was allowed in immediately after mine was administered. I'm pretty sure that is just the way it is, due to the sterile environment and the fragility of the procedure, IDK if I'd want DH there. Oh well I guess for me it doesn't matter because I won't be doing that again.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by Norasmomma

Oh I thought you meant in the OR, that's what you made it sound like.

I probably said "OR", because I was in the OR, but I meant before the surgery.

I don't think ANY hospital allows them there for the spinal. I know that mine didn't, the anesthesiologist said DH was allowed in immediately after mine was administered. I'm pretty sure that is just the way it is, due to the sterile environment and the fragility of the procedure, IDK if I'd want DH there. Oh well I guess for me it doesn't matter because I won't be doing that again.

Most places don't allow anyone to be there, but it's an anesthesiology call, not the hospital's call. I don't know how much it matters to most women. It was a huge deal to me, though. I'm so glad she let him come in.

She had me sit facing the opposite way from the first two times, so that dh wasn't between me and the sterile instruments (this was explained to me as the concern), and then just went ahead. So, I got to hold his hands instead of a stranger, while they were doing the spinal.

I prefer general anesthesia by a long shot, though. Numbness freaks me out, and for any normal level of pain (ie. not surgery), I'd rather just feel the pain.

[moaningminny]

When I had my first DD, I had a general anesthetic - it was the most horrible experience I've ever had.

I was catheterized before I was put under, which also wasn't pleasant - it definitely hurt. I was told I was cath'd before it because they want to get the baby out ASAP without having the effects of the general anesthetic, meaning they wanted me to be under for as little time as possible before DD was pulled out, so the cath was done first.

My second was done with a spinal anesthetic. Loved it. I did vomit afterwards but it was mostly because of the drink they give you just before you go into the O.R. (sodium citrate - not entirely sure if that's it). It's disgusting with a horrific bitter aftertaste.

You have a lot of great tips here, I don't have anything else to add, other than good luck.

[triscuitsmom]

Originally Posted by Norasmomma

I don't think ANY hospital allows them there for the spinal.

Just curious about this... does anyone know why? If partners/support people can be there when they administer an epidural for a vaginal birth (and both of the hospitals I have delivered in did) then why not in the OR? I understand the OR is a different environment from a sterility standpoint but the procedure has to be done in a sterile field either way and if they can come in after it's in why not before? Is it a spinal vs epidural difference?

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by triscuitsmom

Just curious about this... does anyone know why? If partners/support people can be there when they administer an epidural for a vaginal birth (and both of the hospitals I have delivered in did) then why not in the OR? I understand the OR is a different environment from a sterility standpoint but the procedure has to be done in a sterile field either way and if they can come in after it's in why not before? Is it a spinal vs epidural difference?

I believe it's an OR vs. L&D difference.

The way it was explained to me was this:

When the doctor is doing the spinal, you're sitting on the bed, with your knees over one side. The doctor is behind you. There's nurse standing in front of you, holding your hands (at least they always have with me). Behind the nurse, another nurse is laying out the surgical instruments on a tray, and there's a sterile field. If the spouse/support person (our hospital allows one support person - it can be a spouse, doula, friend, whatever) is beside the nurse, there's a concern that they'll invade the sterile field. They don't want them behind the patient, because then they're watching the needle.

I was also told they didn't want to be "responsible" for another person, in case he fainted or something. I explained that dh A) is extremely short-sighted (legally blind - his corrected vision is about 20/220) and wouldn't be able to see the needle, and B) had absolutely no interest in watching it, anyway. He only wanted to be there, because he knew I wanted him there. I don't know if any of that factored into the doctor's decision to allow him in or not. I suspect it was mostly the "this woman has a previous loss, so she gets treated better than other moms do" syndrome.

[HappyMommy2]

Make appts with your pcp for a full physical including a thyroid check, within a couple months after the surgury. Also take a test for hormone imbalance. My NP gave me a saliva test kit that I mailed in.

My C/S caused a severe hormonal imbalance which caused my hashimoto's hypo-thyroiditus.

I just happened to have a full physical 3 mo pp, and discovered the thryoid issues. I just now discovered the hormone imbalance... and am still trying to get everything taken care of!

Good luck mama! Congrats on your pregnancy and twins!!

[mizznicole]

I had a ROCK STAR team for my c-sec. I'm so thankful to this day for them.

My only problem at the hospital was that they ignored my DECLINE for heb-B and eye goop - and DH didn't know to stop them on that or on washing baby. Oh well - this happens in an emergency.

I had a HORRIBLE time with constipation afterward. I mean, the worst of my life. I did not know that I needed to keep taking stool softeners with the narcotic. Last time I will ever make that mistake. I won't even tell you what I ended up doing to have a BM.