Cesarean Section Support Thread August 2005 - Page 3

[Storm Bride]

I've quit taking any painkillers for that reason. Pain is a sign from my body that something is wrong, and I don't want to miss it.

Well, my doctor said the incision is infected, but she doesn't think it's too serious. She prescribed an antiobiotic ointment and I have to clean and dry the incision, apply the ointment, then dress it with gauze daily. She also took a swab and sent it to the lab to rule out and "funky bacteria" as she put it. So, she didn't dismiss it, but also didn't freak out. I hope that's a good sign...

[greenmansions]

Robin, sorry to hear about your baby. Take care of yourself during this sad time!

[Ligmom]

Robin,

My apologies for not seeing your post sooner--I didn't mean to overlook it. I am so very sorry for the loss of your baby My heart goes out to you...I am thinking of you and your family

Lisa--glad to hear the doc doesn't think it's a serious infection. Did you mention your PPD? Hang in there, girl...things will get better

[soccerchic21]

Hi,

This is my first time posting on a c-section thread. I am 4 weeks out of my first section tomorrow. My first birth was a vaginal birth and I am now having many issues with this birth. I had planned on going to a freestanding birth center because I hated my labor with my first birth in a hospital. We were so prepared this time...took bradley classes the whole works. IT was supposed to be this great birth and my husband was supposed to catch our son.

Well for some reason in the 40th week of my pregnancies I swell up and my blood pressure elevates. So I got sent to the hospital for induction at 41 weeks after an ultrasound that showed little fetal movement and no fetal breathing (heart rate was a-ok), then after an NST and high blood pressure (wonder why) I was transferred to the hosp for induction. Thankfully my contractions started on their own...probably from stress.

They still gave me pitocin and I lasted almost the whole way. However I was complete twice....first time after transition the water bag was holding my cervix complete then when it broke I went back to 7cm because baby's head was not there. So I hit transition again.

Anyway in the end I guess baby was stuck...I know perfect...was he really? I am sure you are all thinking. His heart rate was declining and that is all you have to tell a laboring woman to get her to agree to a c-section.

So here I am. I did go to an ICAN meeting the other night which was helpful but there are so many people I know having babies and why do I have to be the only person that had a c-section. The ONE person who absolutely didn't want one.

And I am sick and tired of hearing "well you have a healthy baby that is all that matters"....yeah of course I am happy to have my baby but can't I mourn the birth I didn't get too? Of course all the people that tell me this had vaginal births. And then I get the "well you did have a vaginal with Riley so you did get that expericence once at least".....WHO FREAKING CARES!!! I want that experience all the time!

Ok see hostile..I think someone else said they felt hostile. I don't want to feel this way.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by soccerchic21

...there are so many people I know having babies and why do I have to be the only person that had a c-section. The ONE person who absolutely didn't want one...

Oh - I know what you mean. I know so many women who have the "oh, a cesarean would be okay" attitude, and none of them ever had a problem with their labours. I never ever wanted one, and never had any reason to expect them, until this last one, and I've ended up with three. I never expected life to be fair, but sometimes you just want to scream...

And then I get the "well you did have a vaginal with Riley so you did get that expericence once at least".....WHO FREAKING CARES!!! I want that experience all the time!

I have to admit to occasionally thinking this, just because I sooooo want to know what a vaginal birth is like. But, I'd never ever say it, and I don't really believe it, anyway. Having a c-section is having a c-section, whether you've had a vaginal birth before or not. If you really don't want one, other births have nothing to do with how you feel about this one. I'm so sorry it turned out this way.

Ok see hostile..I think someone else said they felt hostile. I don't want to feel this way.

I feel hostile...sometimes more than others. I don't like feeling that way, either. But, sometimes I feel as though I was mugged and beaten and everyone's telling me to consider myself lucky. It's hard not to be angry. All I can say is give yourself time. If you're like me, you're never going to be okay with having the surgery, but it does get better over time.

[Storm Bride]

And, just let me add...you have beautiful kids!!

[Storm Bride]

Robin: I'm so sorry. I somehow missed your post, and someone's reply made me go back and read it. I can't even begin to imagine how you must feel right now. I'm sorry you lost your little boy.

As for your questions. I've had three c-sections. I don't know anything about the state of my scar tissue, as I've never asked. I do know that my doctors were totally okay with me VBACing, until dd turned out to be breech. So, I don't think they were concerned about my scarring.

After my first, it took me 3.5 years to get pregnant again, then I had three miscarriages. I was definitely afraid that something had happened during my first section that had left me incapable of growing a baby again. It was depressing and scary and I had several really bad years. However, I now have two more healthy children...dd was born 10 years, 2 months after my first. All I can suggest is try not to let the fear overwhelm you too much. Each pregnancy is different and having a bad outcome once doesn't mean it will happen again.

Best of luck.

[soccerchic21]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

I have to admit to occasionally thinking this, just because I sooooo want to know what a vaginal birth is like. But, I'd never ever say it, and I don't really believe it, anyway. Having a c-section is having a c-section, whether you've had a vaginal birth before or not.

I am sorry. I guess I should think of the people who did really never experience a vaginal birth. My mother never did as well. She had 2 cesarians.

But, sometimes I feel as though I was mugged and beaten and everyone's telling me to consider myself lucky.

YES!!!! I am going to use that quote. I hope you don't mind. If you are mugged and beaten you would still feel violated.

And, just let me add...you have beautiful kids!!

Thanks!

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by soccerchic21

YES!!!! I am going to use that quote. I hope you don't mind. If you are mugged and beaten you would still feel violated.

I was sexually abused as a child.
I've been attacked at knife-point.
I've had three miscarriages after years of ttc.
I ended a 15-year relationship because my ex-husband had become emotionally abusive.
I've attempted suicide twice.

My c-sections rank up there with any of those things in terms of emotional trauma. The cavalier attitude that exists about them drives me up the wall...

[kyle98sean02]

(((Robin))) I am so sorry for the loss of your precious son.

I had a lot of scar tissue after my second c-section. My bladder is now adhered to my uterus. The doctors I have seen have told me it shouldnt make a difference. I just found out last week that I am pregnant again. It took me a lot longer to conceive this time, but it was possible. It may also just have took longer since I am older too. Once again, I am so sorry for the loss of your son

[kyle98sean02]

Lisa- I am so sorry you are feeling so bad. I hope your incision heals quickly and feels better real soon. I also go through PPD after my c-sections and i dont think it helps that i always have a hard time nursing at the beginning too. Once I am feeling more "normal" and my life starts getting back on track, my PPD subsides. and if you ever need someone to just listen, feel free to pm me or e-mail me. Be gentle to yourself and I am sorry you got backed into another section.

[eilonwy]

I can't believe I forgot to subscribe to this thread! :LOL

[Storm Bride]

Heather: Thanks a lot. I don't even really like calling it PPD, because I know it's mostly related to the c-sections. I know that doesn't change anything, but...I get the "well, you could be depressed, anyway" thing from people and it's frustrating. I know I could suffer PPD even with a natural birth, but I honestly don't think it's likely. I've had hormone-related depressive periods before, and this is very different.

I really seem to be bouncing back fairly quickly, which is odd, as I've never had an infection before. I really think that being able to hold Evan and nurse him so quickly made a huge difference to my psychological state. And, if I do have another baby, I'm going to be pushy about going into labour before the surgery. It helped a lot (although it also frustrated me tremendously under the circumstances).

And, I know what you mean about nursing! This time wasn't quite the same, but I had a horrible time with my first two. It's actually one of the things I really hate about the hospital - all the unasked for advice on breastfeeding just makes me more tense and stressed about the whole thing.

[MamaPear]

Hi everyone. I'm new to this thread, but I did lurk on the last one. I had my DD via emergency c-section and there are days where I still struggle and feel guilty. These threads have helped me SO much with coming to terms with my c-section. Also, I've been told that I will not be a candidate for a vbac b/c I have an inverted T incision on my uterus. So, finding the c-section birth plan in the last thread was incredible! Now when we get pregnant with our next child, I will have control! (something that I really lost with my first c-section).

Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for having this thread. You ladies have helped me out more than you could ever know.

ETA: Ok, now that I've read through the other posts.

Robin: I am so sorry for your loss. Many to you and your family.

[MamaPear]

Ok, while I'm here. Can I ask you all a question?

After your c-section, how soon did you nurse? I didn't nurse DD until 3 hours after my section. But, with the next baby, I'm hoping to nurse asap! Just wondering if any of you were able to nurse in the OR.

[Storm Bride]

1st section: It was about 13-14 hours until I nursed ds. I was unconscious in post-op, and then they gave me a sleeping pill.

2nd section: It was about 1.5 hours after the birth than I nursed dd. I had to recover in post-op first.

3rd sectoin: It was about 30 minutes until I nursed ds. I had to wait while they sewed me up - but I was holding him most of that time. Then, I was wheeled back to L&D for monitoring while I recovered, and I nursed him there.

[chantald]

Originally Posted by MamaPear

Ok, while I'm here. Can I ask you all a question?

After your c-section, how soon did you nurse? I didn't nurse DD until 3 hours after my section. But, with the next baby, I'm hoping to nurse asap! Just wondering if any of you were able to nurse in the OR.

MamaPear: For me.. it depended on the hospital and the nurses.. With my first, I did not nurse him for about 3 hours after my section. I was sent from the OR to recovery and then after that to my room.. This led to a whole cascare of issues that we struggled with for 9 weeks..
With second, another unexpected c/s, I nursed my baby an hour after birth, I was sent from the OR to my ROOM to recover and my baby was waiting there for me. It would have been less than an hour had i not been in surgery that long due to complications...





Robin: Have you contacted ICAN to ask your questions about getting pregnant again? They have an email list, it is really high volume.. but I am sure that someone there would either know about the difficulties getting pregnant with scar tissue or has experienced it and could offer some info



Chantal

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by MamaPear

After your c-section, how soon did you nurse? I didn't nurse DD until 3 hours after my section. But, with the next baby, I'm hoping to nurse asap! Just wondering if any of you were able to nurse in the OR.

I didn't get to nurse in the OR or in recovery, but I did nurse BooBah an hour after my emergency c-section in my room. I didn't get to nurse my son for more than 24 hours following the VDFH, so this was a *huge* improvement to me!

[kyle98sean02]

I reacted to whatever was in my spinal and so they knocked me out with whatever they gave me so I would quit barfing and shaking so I didnt nurse for almost 20 hours after my c/section. I think Sean was pretty drugged up too, because he pretty much slept and didnt even try to eat until then. I am surprised they werent trying to get us to give him a bottle earlier, but I was adament about it and he was int he room with dh and I the whole time. They tried to latch him on earlier, but he didnt want anything to do with it until then. Its funny to me now, because once that kid did latch on, he nursed non-stop for 17 months.

[fiddledebi]

Hi everyone,

I've been lurking on this thread for a bit, and finally feel ready to jump in and ask all you smart mamas about some things that have been bothering me about my recent c-section (on 8/3). Thanks in advance for any ideas!

First off, I have two very tender, sore spots on the far right and far left of my belly, above and about an inch in from my hip bones and about half an inch below my bellybutton. I can't see anything on the outside, but it feels like two symmetrical bad bruises. Could this be where they held me open during the surgery or something? If the elastic from my underwear is directly over these spots, they get even more tender.

And then the other thing is...ummm...TMI here...pooping. Oh my, this is a miserable experience! I'm taking the colace they gave me at the hospital, and I can't imagine what would happen if I wasn't...would my poop actually be made of hardened cement? It's the worst constipation I've ever had. Is this typical? Does it have to do with the c-section or just general postpartum stuff? I don't remember it with my first daughter's birth, which was vaginal. I'm eating the same (good healthy) food I did last time -- veggies and fruits and whole grains and drinking lots of water. So wassup?

Thanks in advance -- this c-section was a big surprise for me and I'm still reeling a little. I've decided not to think much about it for a bit, until I'm ready to really process it without postpartum hormones clouding the issues for me -- but I do need to deal with these physical issues right now.

Thanks all.

-Debi