Cesarean Section Support Thread August 2005 - Page 2

[chantald]

Lisa I agree with Ligmom.. you should not suffer through ppd alone.. please think about seeing someone.. Feeling like life holds no purpose is not something that should be brushed off or ignored.. Please talk to someone,,



Robin
I am so sorry for your loss...

Chantal

[LaughingHyena]

Originally Posted by WriterMama

Given the high probability that I will be having a c-section, can I ask a few questions?

How long was it before you felt normal? Normal as in, could pick up your toddler, drive a car, clean a house, stand up and sit down like you did pre-section, etc? How long did it take to get your energy back?

It took me about a week before I could sit down/stand up without thinking about it althou I think I was taking painkillers for about 10 days.

It the UK it seems that many insurance companies insist on 6 weeks before driving or they won't cover you so I waited till then. I think I could have happily driven earlier.

Again I was advised to wait 6 weeks before hovering, hangin washing etc and I saw no reason to strart any earlier than I had to

Originally Posted by WriterMama

In complete honesty, how long did it take for your incision to feel *completely* normal, as in no numbness, pulling, odd pain, etc?

It's now a year and day to day my scar has felt fine for months but it can still be a litle tender if touched too much.

Originally Posted by WriterMama

When could you have sex again?

I think it was about 3 months before it I was comfortable

Originally Posted by WriterMama

What are your suggestions for a quicker and better recovery? What do you wish you had known prior to your

Take the pain killers boefore youa re in pain. I was also advised by my midwives to watch DDs latch very carefully as with the pain meds I might not be so aware if it was'nt too good.

Originally Posted by WriterMama

ETA one more question: Assuming you had a non-emergency C-section, how long before your edd was it scheduled?

I was booked in for a scan at 36 weeks to decide if my placenta had moved, if not we would have planned the c/s then, however DD was born at 34 weeks due to complications.

[OnTheFence]

Originally Posted by rnweiss

After reading through this thread I am hoping a few of you who have had more than one c-section may be able to answer this question.

Were any of you told of the status of your scar tissue w/ a second (or 3rd) c-section? I guess I am looking for someone who was told they did have a lot of scar tissue and then went on to have another healthy pregnancy and baby.

thanks for any input cesarean goddess women,

~robin

After my first csection I was left pretty butchered, uneven scar and bad adhesions. I did go on to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. My second OB cleaned me up real nice. She fixed my outside incision and removed the adhesions. At my last csection, my third, when my current OB opened me up, she remarked at how little scar tissue I had and how well everything looked. I think many variables come into play with this, one is skill of surgeon and one is the person and their recovery.

Hopefully the surgeon who did your last csection cleaned you up a bit, removing the adhesions and fixing things. I am not sure if you will want to try for anothe VBAC but if not, choose an OB based on their skill. I wouldn't necessarily recommend my OB to someone wanting a Bradley Birth, but I would definitely recommend her for those who wanted csections.

[OnTheFence]

Originally Posted by chantald

Lisa I agree with Ligmom.. you should not suffer through ppd alone.. please think about seeing someone.. Feeling like life holds no purpose is not something that should be brushed off or ignored.. Please talk to someone,,


Chantal

I agree with Ligmom and Chantal. Get help. I take drugs for PPD and don't regret it.

Ligmom, I will call you soon! Things have been wild here.

[OnTheFence]

I never did answer Writer Moms questions about when my csections were scheduled. All of my csections were done at 38 weeks, two of those were based on US dating and one was based on my last period.
However this past time I think my baby was more like 36-37 weeks based on characteristics at birth.
In an uncomplicated pregnancy I would try for the 39 week mark. It would mainly depend on why you were scheduling a csection. Most OBs with breech babies like to deliver them around 37-38 weeks because they believe it decreases the likely hood of prolapse cord or feet presenting out the cervix. For me personally, had I has a transverse or footling breech baby, we would have gone in at 37 weeks. Babies presenting buttocks first I would wait a little longer. Placenta issues are another whole ball of wax. Those of us with uterine deformities would need to consider size.

[Storm Bride]

Thanks, ladies. But, I'm not seeing my doctor about this. At the moment, I don't trust my doctor enough to talk to her about anything, and this least of all. I was bullied into this section by a threat of withdrawal from my case at 41w, 5d. It has not left me feeling kindly disposed towards doctors in general, and less so with my doctor in particular. I also have no desire to discuss the aftermath of their "good outcome" with them. I've taken anti-depressants in the past, although not for PPD. But, this time I don't want them. I've been through this with both sections, and it will fade away to a great extent once I'm fully functional again. The limitations placed on me by the recovery process just bring me down very badly.

I don't like asking for help - I don't like getting help - and I really hate being jumped on every time I try to do something that somebody else thinks is beyond me at this stage of my recovery. Once I can pick up Emma again, things will be a lot better. I just need to work through things...and I may find a new doctor in a few months. I've been at that practice since I was born (although the doctor who delivered me is retired), so it's a hard decision. But, I don't know if I'm ever going to trust them again.

[rn]

Originally Posted by OnTheFence

I think many variables come into play with this, one is skill of surgeon and one is the person and their recovery.

Hopefully the surgeon who did your last csection cleaned you up a bit, removing the adhesions and fixing things. I am not sure if you will want to try for anothe VBAC but if not, choose an OB based on their skill. I wouldn't necessarily recommend my OB to someone wanting a Bradley Birth, but I would definitely recommend her for those who wanted csections.

thanks for your input, and no I will not try for another VBAC and will schedule another c section. I just want a baby next time. To me how the baby gets out has become a non issue.

[egoldber]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

but I have yet to see any suggestions about what to do when your toddler won't climb into your lap.

After my second section, if DD wanted to be picked up, I would sit down on the sofa and ask her to climb up on the sofa next to me for a snuggle. But my DD is a bit older (she was about 3 1/2 at the time of the C section), so was a little more open to reason.

And FYI, you don't need to see a doctor about PPD. In fact, I would not recommend that at all, since most OBs receive very little training. If you wanted to see someone, I would consult a therapist who specializes in PPD or PTSD. They can also prescribe meds if they and you think it would be helpful. But I also understand wanting to deal with things in your own way.

[egoldber]

"How long was it before you felt normal? Normal as in, could pick up your toddler, drive a car, clean a house, stand up and sit down like you did pre-section, etc? How long did it take to get your energy back?"

With my first section, I was driving 10 days afterwards. With my last section, I took a little longer because my scar felt odd. I saw my OB and he suggested that it was because I had a new scar growing on top of the old scar. Regardless, its fine now. As far as picking upn my DD, she is 35+ pounds, so I did not life her until 6 weeks. For full energy levels, that took me about 10-12 weeks.

"In complete honesty, how long did it take for your incision to feel *completely* normal, as in no numbness, pulling, odd pain, etc?"

Well, I still have an occasional twinge from my latest section in April, but not what I would call pain. I was at the gym exercising at full tilt by 12 weeks post partum. With my first section, I had regained pretty much full feeling around the scar, but it was over 3 years between my 2 sections.

"When could you have sex again?"

After my first section, we waited almost 3 months, but that was more the whole lack of sleep caring for a newborn thing. This time we had sex for the first time at 5 weeks, but in all honesty the first few times hurt a bit. Not in my scar area, but vaginally. All is normal down there now though and has been for a few weeks.

"What are your suggestions for a quicker and better recovery? What do you wish you had known prior to your c-section(s)?"

Get out of bed as quickly as you can. Ask to have your catheter removed as quickly as they will, shower and eat regular food. All of that will make you feel better. Wear your own clothes in the hospital. Wear tight shorts (like exercise compression shorts) to sort of "hold things in". Be active, but not too active. Stay on top of your pain meds for the first week and that will help your ability to be up and active.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by egoldber

...eat regular food...

:

I listened to the nurses with my first section and never did pass gas. I finally lied after 3.5 days, because I felt like I was starving. With this section, someone screwed up in the kitchen and put me back on a normal diet the morning after my section. (I was going to lie that morning, anyway.) Getting that meal into me improved my morale tremendously, and certainly didn't hurt my physical recovery any. DH also went to the grocery store and bought me a stash...a couple smoothies and some yogurt (because it was soooo hot in the bed they put me in) and a bunch of fruit...all juicy stuff, like grapes, plums and peaches. I was very careful to eat enough fiber and have lots of fluids...constipation is not fun to deal with after a section. I had that problem with my first, despite (because of?) the liquid diet.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by egoldber

And FYI, you don't need to see a doctor about PPD. In fact, I would not recommend that at all, since most OBs receive very little training.

I wouldn't see my OB about that, anyway. If I saw someone, it would be my family doctor, but she was also very active in pushing me into this last section, and I have a lot of issues with her right now.

When I saw her for Evan's first well baby checkup (last Wednesday), she told me I "did great" with my section. I don't even know what to say to comments like that. All I did was get led to OR like a lamb to slaughter and then I spend half an hour fighting down terror while they prepped me for surgery. I don't see how that's "doing great"...

[Storm Bride]

umm...have any of you ever had your incision become infected? If so, what were the signs? I think I have a bit of a problem here...

I'll be seeing the doctor tomorrow, so I'll have her check it out then.

[chantald]

Lisa

I think I recall the signs of a wound infection to be: hot to the touch, tender, red, perhaps oozing..

Can you find a MW that you can trust to see for your post op/post delivery care.. ??


Chantal

[chantald]

With my first I was on a "liquid" diet until I passed gas.. with my second I asked the OB about the whole meal thing before hand.. and he said I could eat whatever I wanted as soon as I wanted.. and that the whole "pass gas" thing was bogus... I had my section at 11:30 pm and had french toast, coffee, eggs and bacon at 8 am the next morning...

Chantal

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by chantald

With ...I asked the OB about the whole meal thing before hand.. and he said I could eat whatever I wanted as soon as I wanted.. and that the whole "pass gas" thing was bogus...

My OB told me this time that I should just lie to the nurses, as they were really into that whole "pass gas" thing. My mom said she only ever had problems with my brother...in 1963, when they were still doing routine enemas...

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by chantald

Lisa

I think I recall the signs of a wound infection to be: hot to the touch, tender, red, perhaps oozing..

hmm...it's red, tender, and oozing a little. It also seems to have an odd smell.
I haven't noticed if it's hot or not. But, there's definitely a hole where it hasn't healed at one end, which concerns me.

I'm also really fatigued, and it seems excessive. I'm getting more sleep than with either of my other babies (Evan's really easy), but I'm more tired. Maybe it's because we moved 11 days after the surgery, but I don't really think so.

I'll talk to my family physician tomorrow. I don't really feel entirely safe with her right now, but I do think she's able to deal with this. The worst she can do is try to put me back in the hospital, and that's not happening.

[chantald]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

The worst she can do is try to put me back in the hospital, and that's not happening.

She may Rx antibiotics.. if so..make sure you watch for signs of thrush, take lots of probiotics and if you are nursing, give some to the baby, they sell baby probiotics here in the US.



Chantal

[SKK]

Lisa, I'm so sorry you are feeling so bad. I've never had a pp infection, but it definitely sounds like something you should get checked out. I'm really sorry that you don't trust your doctor right now. Is it possible to see someone else about the infection? Just let me say, I read your story and I feel so sad that you felt railroaded into another c/s. That's just terrible.

As for me, I think I'm going to go the local ICAN meeting next week. Even if it never changes anything for me, I think I will feel better if I can help others in some way. Maybe I can get involved like that.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by SKK

I've never had a pp infection, but it definitely sounds like something you should get checked out.

This is the first time I've had any problems, also. I don't know for sure that it's an infection, but I can't imagine what else it would be. I'll see the doctor in a couple of hours, and see what she says.

I find this a little ironic, really. All the pressure from both of my doctors to have another c/s was based on their overblown concerns about VBAC and post-dates. They wanted a "healthy, happy" mom and baby. Well, Evan's as happy as can be, but mom's definitely not doing so well - which I knew would be the case at the time (although I was only counting psychological factors), but who listens to the mom? One of my doctors told me that I could have PPD even without a c-section. While I agree with that, I find it interesting that mine has cleared up every time as soon as I'm fully physically functional again...

[melixxa]

Robin, i am so very sorry about your baby.

[nak + typing on a keyboard from which the space bar was removed this morning by dh12 - very slow]

i'm checking in! i wanted to add to what others have written. i was feeling so good at the 2-wk pp mark that i overdid it. lifted my 30-pounder a lot (he demanded), etc. and i had a total relapse: bled for over 6 wks; much increased pain in my uterus, along incision, in entire general abdomen; had one terrible pain incident in the middle of the night and almost went to the ER (MW thinks it was uterus healing unevenly, a fold opening up); felt generally lackluster and ended up not feeling up to driving for about 3 wks.

Now it's 9 1/2 wks and i feel normal.of course i could not possibly imagine dtd yet. i can't stand the thought of something touching my incision, though it doesn't hurt - just feels oogy, even just the skin there. i can't imagine wearing tight exercise pants -that would hurt like hell. i'm all in loose-fitting trousers + underwear and know i will be for months. i'm all about the comfort right now.

i know it's important to get up again and get fit after. i just want to caution people not to do too much. i also took painkiller for 2 wks - seemed necessary, though i also think it masked pain that would have warned me to do less.