How was the c section for you Any advice?
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Hi Sophie, I'm in the same boat as you. I had a complicated internal 3rd degree tear after my 1st that required surgery straight after delivery. The doctor that did the repair recommended a c section for future deliveries straight after the surgery when she came to see us in recovery. So I'm having a c section this time and I'm also 32 weeks 😊 you're not alone. It is daunting, but I'll be honest - I think this might be an easier thing to deal with without the 2 nights of labour / lack of sleep prior to the surgery 😅
I had an emergency c section, the spinal block stung a little bit once in didn’t feel a thing. They will give you lots of pain relief. Weirdest thing I thought was not been able do mine my legs even though I could see them. You have to stay in for 24hours after the section and when you get home you need to rest and listen to your body to let it heal. Worst part for me was the not driving for 6 weeks, getting in and out of bed from a lying down position was also painful
@Katie yeah, I had a 3b tear and had to go straight into surgery too. Gee 2 nights! That would have been intense. My labour was two and a half hours.
Thank you so much everyone!
@Sophie 2.5hrs, I can only dream! I was pushing for 2 hours alone 😅🙈 sounds like you're in a v similar boat to me. In my head the c section won't be too dissimilar to the surgery I had - spinal, about an hour long etc. then the tricky recovery. So I think we're well prepared!
The spinal is over so quickly and not anywhere near as bad as you think The only thing that took me by surprise was the actual sensation of being numb! You actually feel heavy and your breathing is more shallow as it’s in your chest not diaphragm. All normal but wasn’t expecting it - this time I will know before hand. I had a play list of songs that genuinely just chilled me out and I loved soooo much and that helped a lot. Peppermint tea and senna tablets as soon as you can to help with the wind and constipation 💗
All of this and something I was not prepared for: sometimes c section babies keep liquid in their lungs and my son had to go into Nicu for 2 days to just help him work it out with oxygen. It’s no guarantee but it freaked me out way more not knowing what to expect! C section babies don’t have the fluid pushed out like vaginal babies. It’s not a big deal, but in the moment when it happens it feels huge and unsettling
@Dayna @Kassidi omg! That is scary. Thank you for notifying me!
@Katie 2.5 hours was quite horrific. There was no break between contractions. I had no rest between or anything just in constant agony and it went to quick to have an epidural or even think. I lost a lot of blood. I remember at one point I was like “I think I need to pee. Well, trying to walk with those contractions was shit so I’m just gonna piss in the bed.” Turned out it wasn’t piss. I gushed out blood and they started talking about blood transfusion. My body went into shock afterwards and for about a week I relived it in my dreams and would wake up with panic attacks like my body completely shuddering. I was chatting to another woman who had a longer labour for her first and then had a short one like me and said all that I completely normal for a short labour and she experienced the same. However that is all I know. I wouldn’t have a clue what along labour is like. Yes it does sound like we are in the same boat. How is your body traveling along with this second bub?
@Sophie Oof that sounds tough, and scary. Sorry, that wasn't me trying to compete - There really is no winning in giving birth 😅 just different ****. A long labour is just exhausting, which is what I've always said was the worst thing about my labour. I did it all with gas and air, in my own little world mostly, but I had the same feeling of "what happened?!" And went into shock after too. I also wouldn't (couldn't?) get off the bed to go to the loo 🙈 Doing alright with this one.. ish? I think I was lucky to get a really good repair... I wouldn't want to tempt fate at getting lucky twice though
@Katie no, I didn’t see it as competing at all. I hope my response didn’t come across that way. I was the same with the Gas. That gas was my friend. Haha!!!! I just would be in pain and try to focus on my music. Until became double. I remember when it was time to push and the doctor said to push. But I was hearing everything in three by that time I didn’t know if she said don’t push or push. But shit I suddenly felt that urge and I was like “fuck this I’m pushing!” I don’t know how a person can try not to push with that sensation happening. My sis there had an emergency c section and she had to try and hold in a push when changing beds to go to her c section! It was so long ago for her c sections that she can’t remember anything much to give advice. Yeah, it’s like when those contractions take over you really don’t care if you piss the bed or not. Bahaha! Same, if I didn’t have the surgical ward saw me back together I honestly don’t know how I would go with another.
@Elissa thank you!
I had an emergency (category 1) and an elective C-section. The elective was super calm, well planned, our music was playing and it was a beautiful birth. Of course it is major surgery, so you need time to heal afterwards. You get a local anaesthetic before the spinal. The local anaesthetic stings a little for a moment, but more like a bee sting, nothing too bad and after that you don’t have any pain. You feel pulling etc, but no pain.