Nervous - Allen,TX

Planned c-births can really be a breeze. Emergency c-births or ones done after hours of agonixing labor can be a little more challenging.

My 2nd was a planned c-birth. Got the block which was a cake walk. Got an IV and I think a catheter (see? it was such a non-event...I can't even remember a cath in my urethra =). In the delivery room, I did experience a moment of dizziness/nausea....Just tell the nurse right away and they will inject an anti-nausea right into your IV. Don't try to wait any "funny feelings" out.

Cut cut cut. Snip snip snip. And baby was right there howling away with an apgar of 9 and my husband was right there to cut the cord and help with his first bath...I could see him the whole time. DH held the baby next to me for kisses, songs, etc. all while I was being put back together, so to speak.

Next I was wheeled into a temporary recovery space and baby got brought to me within 20 minutes of delivery for about 20-30 mins of nursing and cuddling with family, grandparents,siblings, etc. all crowded round. Baby then went back to the nursery while I got situated into my permanent room. I got unhooked, took a bedside sponge bath, and touched up my lipstick. Baby was delivered into our room to stay right away. Never used IV meds for pain or percocet, etc. Used extra strength ibuprofen and only did that for 2-3 days. Was up and walking the halls by lunch time.

I was back home 3 days later doing my usual stuff...Though I did avoid picking up my 4 year old or lugging laundry baskets downstairs. Other than a twinge or two (and that comes with a v-birth too), it was a walkin the park.

I've had two. One emergency (baby #1) and one scheduled (baby #2). I dont' have the vaginal to compare to, but the upsides of the c-section... you don't have tearing in your "other" region, so that discomfort isn't a consideration. Also, I found that the recovery wasn't horrible. When I had #2 I came home to #1 in a body cast (hip dysplasia) so she weight about 40 lbs at the time (cast included). I was able to hold her and even move her around within a week. I did walk up and down stairs much sooner than "recommended". You will be sore, don't do more than you can handle, listen to your body and you really will be fine.... I dreaded having one, and it really has turned out fine. The other thing is that although you can't see your baby right away, the time goes faster than you think b/c of the medication so it is not so "sad". You will see the baby right away after the birth and soon after recovery.... You can nurse as soon as you can see the baby.... the pain won't be a factor for several hours right after birth b/c of the drugs.... which won't harm the baby. Enough rambling - enjoy and look forward to the miraculous outcome of what sounds like a very difficult pregnancy!

I have had 2 c-sections. The first one was horrible but the 2nd was night and day. Of course since it is surgery, the recovery will be longer and more painful than a vaginal birth. I believe my first c-section was complicated because of the preeclampsia I was suffering from and the magnesium they had to give me to stop seizures. Plus my incision split open due to the horrendous swelling from my preeclampsia. It took a good 4 weeks to recover.

My 2nd c-section was totally different. It was just a standard c-section with no extra medications. Hopefully the situation you are in. After the surgery, they brought me and the baby into a recovery room where I immediately was able to hold the baby and feed him skin to skin. The anesthesia could make you a little nauseous. I had to cut the feeding short to vomit but I was totally coherent (unlike my first c-section).

The c-section itself is extremely easy. No pain at all other than maybe the IV and spinal. They prep you with a fetal monitor, vital signs, IV, and lots of questions. Your partner will be given an outfit to wear during surgery. Then they wheel you into the OR where they will give you your spinal and catheter. The Dr and your partner will come in and then it gets started. You may feel some tugging and pressure but no pain. Then you'll hear your beautiful little one cry.

It has been 2 weeks since my last c-section and I feel great. The incision has healed and I haven't had pain meds in a week. I have been able to take care of my kids without much problems. I hope this helps.

I had a C-Section 4 years ago at Preby Allen and am having my second on the 21st. It really is not that bad at all. I don't know who your doctor is but with mine they do a pain ball after C-Section which is a small catheter that feeds right to the incision sight so the incision is completely numb for a while. After they took my daughter out my husband went with her while they cleaned her up, measured, etc. then they brought her right to me (I would guess within 30 minutes or so??). But of course right after she was born they showed her to me and my hubby and we were able to kiss on her a little before they took her to go get clean, so it was not like I didn't get to see her for 30 minutes. When they take the baby out it seems like they start giving you meds so you are kind of groggy and it really doesn't seem like that long before they give you the baby.

The recovery was not a big deal at all, I stayed in the hospital two nights (the day I had her and the following day) and then left the next morning. I was walking up steps and getting around great when I got home, taking minimal pain medicine just had to take it a little easy.

You are naturally going to be a little nervous not only because it is unfamiliar territory but also because it is surgery and you are having a baby but try to stress as little as possible. A C-Section is really not as bad as you would imagine!

I have had two c-sections so I'll tell you what it was like for me. One good thing is a scheduled c-section is way better than an emergency. Your body doesn't have to go through all the labor first so it is better when it's scheduled. When they actually do the surgery it's not that bad.....you are totally numb and the only thing I felt was a little tugging sensation when they pulled her out (which was weird) but it didn't hurt. I then got to see her for a min. kiss her head and take a few pictures. Then my hubby went with her while I went into the recovery room. They wrap you up in warm blankest and have you rest until you get some feeling back in your legs. Once you have some feeling they will take you to your room and you will get to be with your baby. It is kinda sad to not have your baby right away but I felt good knowing my hubby was with her and I was only in recover for about an hour or so. Then once I was in my room I got her and nursed her. After that the recover is hard. you will be in the hospital for about 3 to 4 days. It will hurt to do anything involving your stomach muscles like coughing, laughing, walking, getting up and down from a chair or out of bed etc. But they give you pain meds to take home and after a couple weeks you will feel a lot better. Yes it's a much harder recovery but you'll get through it :) I have done it twice and I'm pregnant again now so I guess that means I'm prepared to do it yet again :)

my first section was emergency and second was scheduled. First one was horrible, but second one another story. I was holding and nursing my baby 10 min later . Walking the next day , out of the hosptal 3 days after taking care of my toddler and a newborn at home with no problems. You will have to take it easy afterwards, it is a major surgery, but you will be just fine

I've not had a C-section, but know some who has......it's going to take some time to get back on your feet, but you will do fine........

Everything is going to be fine, let's just hope that everything goes back to normal after this.........

Focus on the new little one coming your way.......think good thoughts and remember everyone is different, so you may have no problems at all...

Take care and Congrats on the baby.

The short answer is - it depends. Having a scheduled c-section is much easier to recover from than an emergency one, but I don't have a vaginal experience to compare it to. You will be having abdominal surgery, so the recovery and pain is associated with that. Sitting up, pressure on the belly, gas, etc. They do give you narcotics to help with the pain and I think I only used mine this last time for about 9 days.

The process is a really early arrival at the hospital to get prepped, then into the operating room and get the drugs, and wait for them to kick in while you lay there. Then they insert the catheter and start the surgery, it is pretty quick, or at least seems that way. The depends will be the baby. With my first, there were some breathing problems and he was sent to the NICU. With my second, after they got her where they were happy, my husband got to hold her while I snuggled with her head. Then they took her and my husband to my recovery room and did what they needed to in there while I got stitched up. I joined them shortly and got to nurse as soon as they were done with her. You won't go up to your room until you can move your legs.

I've had 2 csections both at Presby Plano (TX Health Plano). 2nd one was scheduled. Both went well. My recovery from my 2nd was harder but I believe that was b/c I was older then.... I had more blood vessels around the 1st incision area so the healing took longer. I lost more blood than usual after my 2nd one.
But the good news is.... these days, well at Presby Plano, I was able to hold my daughter immediately after they wheeled me into the recovery room (after stitching me up and finishing up the surgery -- I'd say they took about 30 mins or less to stitch me up and wheel me out of the OR). Once I got to the recovery room, They pulled the front part of my gown down and stripped the baby down so we could have skin-to-skin contact and bond! And she nursed then too! It was so wonderful. But really she never left my sight. They had a nursery bed there next to my head so I could see her -- nurses did all their checks, tests, cleaning right there. So they never took her back to the nursery and left her there. They even gave her her 1st bath in my recovery room bathroom. They let all my family come in to my recovery room and take turns holding her (after my permission).
You'll be loopy afterward so you'll probably be going in and out of sleep b/c you'll be so tired. But that's OK.... you do what your body's telling you to do. Just make sure you speak up and always tell your nurses what you're feeling & if something doesn't feel right. They have experience to know if something is normal or something is a sign of something else.

don't worry. It'll be wonderful! Congratulations!

A scheduled c-section is much easier to recover from than an emergency one. I had the latter with my second, and I was up and walking about 12 hours after surgery. By the time I was discharged from the hospital, I was slow, but had no problems getting where I wanted to go. By contrast, I was barely even able to take steps by myself after the first emergency one! Recovery was great this time, just remember that it is surgery and you have to be patient with yourself and give yourself time to heal.
I got to touch my baby in the OR but really hold and nurse a few hours later. It wasn't a big deal to me because during the time I was waiting for the baby, I was getting feeling back in my own body and taking a few hours to regroup. This time, I asked my parents and in-laws not to come in till I had had the baby for an hour by myself. The first time, they were there before the baby came in, so when the nurse brought him in, I had no alone time with him until they left later. I missed having him all to myself at first!

You'll go to the hospital at your scheduled time, check in, change, get a bed, catheter, and then wait till the OR is open from any emergencies they've needed it for. In my case, they gave me the epidural in the OR right before the surgery (and had to turn it up because i could still feel things- be honest with them!). DH was brought in after i was numb, the area was prepped, and they started. Can't feel a thing except pulling and tugging. He got some amazing photos over the sheet of my baby out of me but still attached with the cord!
Took baby and cleaned her off, brought her over to me so i could see and touch her for a minute, then left with her- DH followed baby the entire time, so i was alone. They stitched me back up, turned off the epi, wheeled me back to a recovery room for a few hours. After the meds wore off satisfactorily, they took me to the maternity ward and I got my baby. All in all, a piece of cake!
Have to be on a liquid diet till you can pass gas, but that wasn't too long..... and now i have two needing my attention :)
If you have any other questions, let me know!

I HAD A EMERGENCY C SECTION IN 2009 is not that bad i saw my baby like 8 hrs after delivery is painful the 2 first day after that not to much you will walking small steps at your second day ,the recovery is long almost 1 month but you can bond with your baby during that time :)
i was taking care of my babys (twins)at 2 months old by my own with my husband working all day.

don't worry you will be fine!!!!

I had an emergency c-section. It wasn't that bad. My only complaint was that they would not let me hold my baby for about 3 hours. After the surgery they wheeled me to recovery and my husband and baby came with me. They kept the baby in the room with me the entire time, I just could not hold her. Either my husband or the recovry nurses held her. I asked to hold her and they told me no. I was kinda pissed, but I guess the anesthesia had to wear off first. About 3 hours post surgery they finally gave my daughter to me and I nursed her right then and there.

The recovery really was not bad at all! I was walking about 4 or 5 hours after the surgery. I honestly wasn't in much pain at all. I was discharged 3 days later and I felt fine at home. No problems at all. They gave me pain medication, but honestly I didn't need or take it.

Everyone has a different experience. Good luck and try not to be nervous!

I have had 3 C-sections and they were different. With my first I was up walking within 24 hours, and I had no problems recovering. With my second, something was not right from the beginning. When the gave me the epidural a sharp shooting pain went down my right leg. After having her I could move my right leg for two days. (Rare Instance) My third, was as good as my first, but it took my body a little longer to recover. I think that is because they were only 18 months apart. After surgery, I was able to hold each of them probably 30 minutes after I had them. Maybe it was not that long, but it felt like forever. They leave the epidural in for 24 hours to help with the pain, and after they remove it you get pain killers. You can expect to be pretty sleepy for the first couple hours after delivery.

AS for the process, you check into the hospital 2 hours before the scheduled c-section. After you are there they will hook you up to all the baby monitor machines and stuff, shave you for the surgery, and answer any other questions you might have before going into surgery. Once in the operating room, they give you the epidural, and prepare you for the surgery. The total delivery process takes about an hour. They will then take you to a recovery room, and family can come see you. You stay there for about an hour, I think, and then you are moved to a regular room. While in the recovery room they bring the baby to you so you can hold them.
Best wishes for a safe delivery and congratulations!

I've had 2 c-sections. The first was emergency, the 2nd was scheduled. I think it is much easier on the recovery if you know you are having a C in the first place. It takes a couple of hours before you can hold your baby after they clean them up, so my husband followed the nurses to take pictures, etc. during the bath, weighing, measuring, etc. I will say that I was fairly out of it the first time since I had labored so long and was on pain meds. The second wasn't as bad, but DO take the pain meds in the hospital and after you get home. I didn't do it the first time around and wish I had. I would wait too late then ask for them at the hospital and it made things worse. It takes a little getting use to being able to move around and getting out of bed. I would just have the nurse or husband hand me my baby, nurse, then have them put in the bassinet. Be careful not to do too much, rest often(when baby does), and ask for help. The recovery takes about 6 weeks, or at least it did for me the 2nd time. More like 10 weeks the 1st time b/c I didn't follow directions :/ Good luck with everything! It will be fine!