Got any advice about C-Sections?

[corhorvath]

Hi All,

Yesterday, I had an emotional break-down about the wellness of my baby and what may or may not lay ahead for us. Since then, I've started thinking about all the possibilities of labor.

I'm thinking that since the baby's heart rate drops when she fiddles about in my belly, then labor would probably be pretty hard on her. Also, I've read that I have a higher chance of hemorraging if the amniotic fluid levels continue to rise. There's also a chance of cord prolapse and the placenta could rupture. So, I'm thinking they're going to want to do a c-section, especially since I live 1-2 hours from the hospital depending on traffic.

Since my next appointment is Monday, I'm trying to collect information over the weekend about how to prepare my body and mind for a c-section if that's what's best for her. Is there anything special I should do-like eat certain foods, drink certain drinks?? I'm probably just over-reacting, but I'd rather be ready with information and diapers than caught off guard so far away from home.

[Mariposa]

hi mama. i am a postpartum nurse, well was when i worked!

here are some tips i wrote out for another mama awhile back. they are mostly recovery tips. not sure what you are looking for, but hope they help.

as for preparing your mind, just try to remember that ultimately, the most you want your baby to be born safely. natural birth is wonderful and of course the ultimate goal, but sometimes we need hospitals and all the interventions they can provide. i know how hard it is to give up the dream of what kind of birth we wanted, losing my homebirth and being induced sucked, but now that i have my precious baby home with me, how she was born is the least of my worries. i am just glad she is okay!

this is from another mama/doula here about c-section plans (dynamic doula):
Who goes with the baby, who stays with mom? Who takes pictures? What if baby goes to the nursery? How do you want the birth to happen in the OR- can everyone be silent so that the baby hears your voice first? Can the nurses/docs not announce the sex and let you and your DH discover it together? Could your DH not unwrap the baby until you are both together and can discover your new baby together? Things like this help keep a surgical birth as a BIRTH and not a surgery. Maybe there is specific music you want played, or a prayer said as the baby is being born? Think through what your cesarean birth might look like. Hopefully your birth goes smoothly and without major event, but if something needs to change you won't be blindsided by it.

Maybe make a birth plan and include your wishes for a c-section.

I hope you don't have to have a c-section and that your baby is okay. Hugs to you mama. You have a lot on your plate emotionally right now.

************************************************** ********
Recovery Tips for C-section

-get moving as soon as you can. walk as much as you can. it hurts at first, but it helps a lot to get moving.

-if you need pain medication, take it. don't wait to take it until you are at a 10. stay on top of your pain, don't get behind it. i usually suggested taking the motrin/ibuprofen on a schedule and supplementing with the stronger stuff as needed. being in pain makes everything harder, don't try to be superwoman, you just had major abdominal surgery!

-if you haven't passed gas by 24 hours, ask for a suppository. it usually gets gas passing. many moms were in horrible pain until they started passing gas. most docs prescribe stool softeners and gas-x routinely to help, but the suppository can help as well. bring some chamomile or peppermint tea bags, we had them on the floor but some places do not. good for tummy stuff. some docs are more progressive and don't require mamas to pass gas before starting on real food, but depends on where you are.

-have someone who can stay with you in the hospital, so your babe can be with you and also to help hand you the baby and change the baby, etc. especially at night! getting in and out of bed can hurt!

-football hold is usually the best breastfeeding position for mamas recovering from c-sections. read up on it and try to get help from the lactation consultant. make sure you ask for extra pillows, you will need them for positioning or bring your own, hospitals are notorious for never having enough pillows!

-keep the incision clean and dry to help prevent infection. if you are a fluffy mama, ask for some gauze or washcloths to keep between the skin folds, to help prevent yeast as well. once home, keep incision clean and dry and blow dry with air only then keep gauze or washcloth between skin folds as well.

-part of the incision healing can be a burning feeling in the incisional area. ask the nurse for an ice pack or make your own at home.

[Birth Junky]

One more tip, from a (new) c-section mama:

Standard practice in many hospitals is to administer antibiotics at the start of surgery, to decrease the chance of post-operative infection. Since antibiotics can increase the chance of mom developing thrush, take some probiotics after the surgery to keep your natural flora healthy.

Good luck to you. One thing my midwife told me is that because I was going straight into surgery as opposed to having surgery after hours (or days) of labor, I could expect to feel pretty decent post-op. She was right; I was itching to get out of bed well before the nurses were ready to let me, and have been amazed at my recovery period so far (dd is 8 days old today).

[corhorvath]

Thank you! Oh, these are great questions to figure out. The tips you gave are great and I'm sure will come in handy.

I have a 4-year old already and understand what you said about just having your baby and having her be healthy and home. I gave in after 14 hours of labor and had a medicated birth with my first daughter and really after she was born, I didn't care. It's so wonderful to look back on pictures of her as baby, they really really do grow up fast. And it's wonderful. I love the 4-year old stage just as much as the newborn stage. Anyway, that's a whole different topic.

I'm not too upset about the changes in birth plans (if indeed it happens), I'm mostly worried about surgery. I can give blood but surgery-yikes!! So, I'm trying to come to terms with that and figured I'd start with you ladies since there is so much great knowledge and support here. I think I would have gone nuts without this online support. My family and friends are fantastic, but connecting to other people going through similar issues is so immensely helpful.

Have fun with your new baby!

[kaya3]

well,ihave had 3 and the last one was 2 weeks ago today. it was by far the best one,a ndi'll tell youwhy. the first reason, imho is becasue my arms were not srtapped down. with my other 2, my arms were strapped down tot he table,a nd it SUCKED! i had an anasteisiologist(i know i killed the spelling of that word) who understood that i wanted t still have apositive birth experience, sohe let me have my arms free. as a result i was able to hold my baby right after she was born. with help of course. i nver got to do that before. I actually got to hold her, and stroke er face, and kiss her sweet little hands right after she came out.

second, i just tried to relax. i know that sounds cliche, but it helped sooo much. with the other 2 i was so freaked out that i couldn't feel or move my feet, the whole time i just kept thinking "i can't move my freaking feet" this time, i jsut kept telling myself, you know you can't feel them or move them, don't try, don't thinka bout it. i kow it sounds goofy, but it helped me relax so much,a nd not focus on the fact that i was numb from the chest down.

also, i kept talking to the people around me. dh, the anastiegiologist, the OR assist guy. it helped me feel normal and in control. i asked dh to thell me stories, and talk to me abou twhat we were going to after going home, like all the cool baby stuff


afterwards, get up as soon as they let you, and don't be afraid to stand up straight. it makes a huge difference. take the pain meds,a nd don't be afraid to ask the nurses for help. that is waht they are there for

good luck,. and keep us infromed!

[nepenthesea]

Definitely get moving, even if it hurts. You WILL heal more quickly, even if it doesn't feel like it. It will also help in passing gas, which was almost as bad as labor pains (for me, anyway). Also, don't move to solid food too quickly. I was okayed to eat solid food after eating liquids for two days. I was so hungry I ate both the solid AND the liquid trays brought to me. I had REALLY bad gas pains after that, and requested the liquids again.

I agree with the pp who said talking to the OR staff helped her feel more at ease. By the time I had my section, I had already given birth to the first baby six hours before, and felt like I wasn't surrounded by complete strangers, because I had been chatting with the doctors and nurses the whole time. It made a weird situation a little less weird.

I also agree with pp who said to stay on top of the pain. I am pretty tough when it comes to pain, and would forget to take my painkillers. I would pay for it later, when it all caught up with me. I got on a schedule,and took my meds about every three or four hours. Except for when I had the morphine pump, in which case I pushed that button constantly, just to make sure I wouldn't be in pain!

One thing I liked having after my surgery was a nice fuzzy blanket that my mom had just given me for Christmas. I was cold alot after surgery, and had the shakes anytime I had to get up. Those hospital blankets just aren't warm enough!

Good luck with your c-section.I hope you recover as quickly as I did from mine .