Cesaren Section Support Thread October 2005 - Page 5

[mommy2girlies]

Originally Posted by Ben's Mommy

Yes! Please let us all know how to loose the pooch....aka shelf belly! :LOL

i thought i was the only one who said that!! :LOL

[mommy2girlies]

ok ladies, i finally have to make the decision to fight for a vbac or schedule a c-section. we were thinking of having a third and now we are! im hoping to be able to have a vbac, but not sure if that's a possibility. im a good candidate, have had a vaginal birth w/ my first and my c-sec. was due to the cord being around her neck twice causing her to drop with each ctxn. not anything anatomical...so : that i'll be able to!!

[Ben's Mommy]

Kelly - Congratulations! I hope you have a wonderful pregnancy! Good luck on your decisions for birthing, I hope you are happy with whatever type of birth you decide on.

[mommy2girlies]

bensmommy thank you so much...i know i have a long time to think it over, but its too hard to just not think about it...but i don't want to ruminate over it for 9 mos...kwim?

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by eilonwy

Today it was rainy and I could *feel* my scar all day, even though it's difficult to see. I should take a picture while I'm down here, it's difficult to explain.

I had the bad weather itch for about four years with my first one. My second and third haven't done that at all...so far. But, my third one is only three months old, and it's still quite numb.

I was overweight before I got pregnant, so I'm not sure what belly you ladies are talking about. But, I think mine is shaped differently, so maybe I'm on the same page, after all...

[its_our_family]

HOW DID I DO IT??

Taebo. That and a yeast cleanse. I'm on week 5 and have lost 22 pounds. But I really think it was the taebo that got rid of the flap. It is slowly shrinking from an all over skin overhang to just a little smile.

We'll see what happens when it is just skin and no fat. I've planned a tummy tuck since my first c/b. But it looks good now so maybe I won't have to have one

Oh, and I just saw a pic of Britney Spears post c/b.....um....never seen a post c/b belly look like that unless they did a tuck at the same time.

[gethane]

I'm sorry to jump in here, when I don't participate in this support thread regularly. But a few months ago while reading one of monthly c-section support threads I saw someone mention something about asking for stitches vs. staples. My first c-section was stitches, and I had a pretty flawless recovery. My second was staples, and I was miserable. As my c-section date draws nearer (Jan. 5 at last discussion) I've been thinking about asking my OB for stitches this time but wondered if there are any articles or anything about this issue I could use to show her?

[chantald]

I had staples the first time and my recovery was pretty good.. I had stitches the second and my recovery was pretty similar. I think it has to do with the skill of the Dr and the individual. The ICAN website might have the studies you are looking for.

Chantal

[egoldber]

Originally Posted by chantald

I had staples the first time and my recovery was pretty good.. I had stitches the second and my recovery was pretty similar. I think it has to do with the skill of the Dr and the individual. The ICAN website might have the studies you are looking for.

Chantal

Mine was the opposite: stitches first and staples second, but both my recoveries were similar. I agree I think the skill of the surgeon and some degree of luck regarding infection, etc.

[OnTheFence]

Originally Posted by gethane

I'm sorry to jump in here, when I don't participate in this support thread regularly. But a few months ago while reading one of monthly c-section support threads I saw someone mention something about asking for stitches vs. staples. My first c-section was stitches, and I had a pretty flawless recovery. My second was staples, and I was miserable. As my c-section date draws nearer (Jan. 5 at last discussion) I've been thinking about asking my OB for stitches this time but wondered if there are any articles or anything about this issue I could use to show her?

Ask her if she was being sectioned which she would prefer. If she tells you staples, ask her why. I've not had one female doctor, and all of mine have been females, say they would prefer staples.
There is a slight infection rate increase with sutures but the plusses, including vanity ones, were worth the risk to me. I've been sutured twice and if we go for another baby (which I am strongly considering) I'll do it again.

Kim

[Ben's Mommy]

Kim - any news about your 2ww!?

[eilonwy]

I'm allergic to surgical steel, so staples aren't really an option for me anyway. I had no idea, until I read over this thread, that you *could* get staples for a c-section; where I delivered my baby, all of the doctors seem to prefer sutures in most cases.

My scar looks incredible, it's practically invisible. In fact, if you didn't know for sure that I have indeed had a c-section, you might have a hard time believing it!

[gethane]

Thanks for the input. Does anyone know if there is any relation to incisions reopening and staples vs sutures? I have to admit, my incision reopening and oozing stinky pus for weeks afterward really contributed to my poor recovery. I felt gross, physically and emotionally.

[soccerchic21]

This is going to seem like a dumb question...

So when we are talking staples vs. sutures we are just talking about the outside most layer right?

I had staples with my one and only so far c-section. I didn't know there was an option.

I do remember them closing the layer just before the last up by cauterizing it. Is that bad as well?

Why are staples bad? Mine were taken out before I left the hospital and I guess my scar is barely visible. I healed really well.

[Storm Bride]

Mine have all been stapled. The scars was barely visible after my first two, but seems more visible this time. I also had an infection (fortunately I wasn't asked to go back to the hospital, because they'd have had to drag me) with my last one. The staples don't bother me, and I don't really care what my scar looks like - the inside damage (both my uterus and my mental state) are a way bigger deal to me than a line on my lower abdomen.

[gethane]

Originally Posted by soccerchic21

This is going to seem like a dumb question...

So when we are talking staples vs. sutures we are just talking about the outside most layer right?

I had staples with my one and only so far c-section. I didn't know there was an option.

I do remember them closing the layer just before the last up by cauterizing it. Is that bad as well?

Why are staples bad? Mine were taken out before I left the hospital and I guess my scar is barely visible. I healed really well.

I don't think they necessarily are. I just heard a discussion here a few months ago where someone said they were having their doctor do sutures instead of staples and a few other people thought that was a good idea. I only have 2 of my own c-section experiences, and I did feel I healed easier/better after sutures, however, I was also a lot younger.

And yes, its just the outer layer we're talking about. With the staples last time, I just felt a lot more.. ginger, about how well the skin was staying together I guess you could say. I'm going to talk to my OB as the time draws nearer, but was just opening it up for discusson here. I hope I didn't worry anyone.

[egoldber]

I've had both staples and sutures and I honestly have no preference. My scar has been practically invisible both times. The staple removal was done in the hospital on day 3 and was absolutely painless. The sutures required no removal, but I also had steri-strips (like little butterfly band-aids) with the sutures and I did have to remove some of those manually about 2 weeks post surgery.

I think the difference is what the OB is comfortable with, and probably depends on how they were trained. Honestly, from my perspective, I'd rather have the surgeon use the closure that he/she is most comfortable and therefore probably more skilled at.

[its_our_family]

I had staples both times with no problems. I also a "gorgeous" scar.

NOt sure sutures would have been like except more time in the or.

[Ben's Mommy]

Originally Posted by egoldber

I think the difference is what the OB is comfortable with, and probably depends on how they were trained. Honestly, from my perspective, I'd rather have the surgeon use the closure that he/she is most comfortable and therefore probably more skilled at.

I only had sutures. Had the steristrips also. No problems with them at all. Staples just sound scarey to me!

[rachelsmama]

Hi, I've just started reading this thread and thought I'd say hi. I'm 5 months pp with my dd and still having a hard time getting over the dissapointment of the c-section. I'm finding it confusing being exstatic about my healthy baby and horified about how she came out. It's realy helping seeing other peoples' experiences. It's amazing how little information doctors gave me about the healing process. I was told six weeks to heal, period, no mention of numbness and weird sensations. I mentioned the term "shelf-belly" to my husband and he got a mischievious smile and said "Yeah, I try not to talk about the elephant in the corner".

I've been meaning to ask my doctor about how the internal incisions are closed up, but I keep forgetting. Does anybody know what's comonly used to close the various layers?