What do they not tell you about c-section?

[Anonymous]

I am FTM having a c-section next week. As I prepare I keep stumbling over information that I didnt know. For example, I recently read an account about being shaved by a nurse and the placement of the scar in relation to pubic hairline. I feel silly but this was news to me.

The surgeon who will perform the procedure is not the OB who has seen me throughout my pregnancy (that's OK) but knowing my health system, I will be managed through by a series of very nice nurses and my time to ask questions of the doctor before they begin will be limited so I need to be ready.

Is there anything I should think about with respect to the procedure or the recovery? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Someone told me about a book about csections. I read it in advance and it told me everything. I assume it’s on amazon? Sorry I don’t remember the name.

Truly I had two csections and it was the most wonderful experience for me. I can’t imagine it another way. Just try to relax. Learn what you need to and go with the flow. The nurses and doctors will take good care of you. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I planned for vaginal birth and read a lot of stuff on ways to help make that happen and when I ended up needing a C I felt silly that I didn't really know any good questions to ask.

One thing that I remembered from one of my books when I got handed from midwives to OB was that there are places that stitch you up with a single stitch to save time, and places that stitch you with a layer of stitches on the inside of the uterus and another on the outside, and the latter is better for avoiding uterine rupture in subsequent pregnancies. So I asked the OB that question and she kind of took over answering all the "scared crunchy mom" questions I should have known to ask but didn't. It's okay to ask "is there anything I should know about recovery" or something open-ended and see what the doctor says.

[Anonymous]

I’ve had four csections. My last week was actually my least panic inducing, and that was during Covid. Go figure.

My OB said this to me and it made me feel better. He said with a Csection, you don’t have many variables - it’s routine and you basically know it will be done in an hour. And you’ll have a baby. A vaginal birth has a lot more variables and ways it could go.

I recovered well from all of mine. I would say the last one being my hardest but that was my 4th at 40.

The gas pains were the most surprising part of it. The Colace they give you works, and move around as much as you can (safely) - that will help

[Anonymous]

You must keep the gauze in place to avoid infection. Do not remove it until your doctor has given you the go-ahead.

[Anonymous]

A planned c-section is a much better experience than c-section after labor.

After a miserable pregnancy, I had an induced labor at 40 weeks with my first, made it to a couple hours of pushing even, only to find out I have wonky pelvic bones that prevent a normal delivery. It was my first surgery ever. That recovery was HARD.

The planned c-section was a breeze in comparison.

Be prepared for the trapped gas. Apparently my torso/abdominal area is prone to this, so I left the hospital looking 9 months pregnant still. Oh, and the weird creaky and gurgly sounds that come out of that area, too - mine sounded like the inner workings of a toilet.

[Anonymous]

Recovery - the belly band provided me a lot of relief post c section. My hospital provided the belly band. I wore it for about 10+ weeks all day and night, except when I washed it.

[Anonymous]

Also, buy stool softener in advance for your recovery

[Anonymous]

I have had 4 C-sections.
A few things that come to mind:
1. ask about the stiches and how the doctor plans to do that. As the pp said two layers separate is better. Stiches are better than staples.
2. Get up and walk as soon as possible. After my first the nurses did not get me up for 3 days and it was horrible. The rest of my C-sections I got up within 24 hours and recovery was much better.
3. They will not let you eat anything after until you pass gas and you pass a certain amount of fluid. Bring some flavor packs with you so that you can drink a bunch of fluid right away. On my 4th I asked the nurse for 3 pitchers of water and pulled out my flavor packs. She laughed and brought me the water. She also let me order lunch so it would be waiting for me once I got the fluid through.
4. Putting pressure on the scar with a compression band or a pillow will help if you laugh, otherwise it will HURT.
5. You use your core stomach muscles a lot everyday with out thinking about it. These actions will be painful after the csection. Things like riding in a car, sitting up. turning around and reaching for things.
6. The skin around my scar had no feeling for at least a year. It was very strange but evidently quite normal.

[Anonymous]

My planned C was very smooth and I had an easy recovery but I got very freaked about the spinal shot so if I had known I would in advance I probably would have tried to prepare myself better. The shot itself was fine as far as those things go, it was the idea of it when it was about to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have had 4 C-sections.
A few things that come to mind:
1. ask about the stiches and how the doctor plans to do that. As the pp said two layers separate is better. Stiches are better than staples.
2. Get up and walk as soon as possible. After my first the nurses did not get me up for 3 days and it was horrible. The rest of my C-sections I got up within 24 hours and recovery was much better.
3. They will not let you eat anything after until you pass gas and you pass a certain amount of fluid. Bring some flavor packs with you so that you can drink a bunch of fluid right away. On my 4th I asked the nurse for 3 pitchers of water and pulled out my flavor packs. She laughed and brought me the water. She also let me order lunch so it would be waiting for me once I got the fluid through.
4. Putting pressure on the scar with a compression band or a pillow will help if you laugh, otherwise it will HURT.
5. You use your core stomach muscles a lot everyday with out thinking about it. These actions will be painful after the csection. Things like riding in a car, sitting up. turning around and reaching for things.
6. The skin around my scar had no feeling for at least a year. It was very strange but evidently quite normal.

These two! I remember the lactation consultant trying to reposition me in all kinds of ways and looking for the various pillow to prop DD up to feed and every twist was so painful. Also I laughed at DH changing the first diaper and then felt sorry for myself for half an hour.

[Anonymous]

I had uterine fibroids, and they were worried about hemorrhaging if they had to cut through one of those. They did a sonogram first to mark where they were. But when I went into the operating room or whatever you call it, there were all these scary metal tools laying out on a table nearby. They told me that was the emergency hysterectomy kit if I hemorrhaged and they had to take my uterus. They looked like something out of the 1800s (I know nothing about surgery). It wasn't a pleasant thought just before delivery....

Regarding the spinal shot (which did not hurt me at all), the anesthesiologist told me ahead of time that if I started feeling nauseated to let him know. I did, and I told him, and he put smelling salts under my nose which completely freaked me out. I had never dealt with those before. That's an experience.......but the nausea was gone immediately.

And you do feel pressure, not pain. So the actual pressure of the baby being pushed out is odd.

[Anonymous]

I had two c-sections and wanted to highlight this advice from above: Putting pressure on the scar with a compression band or a pillow will help if you laugh, otherwise it will HURT.

I bought yoga bands with a supportive band and wore those non-stop over the first few weeks - it really helped with pain and feeling more comfortable.

[Anonymous]

One thing I did was give myself an enema right before I went in. It was really awkward but I did it. The hospital used to do that for you but they stopped it. By clearing yourself out before you go in, you don't have to do that really hard push to go in the first few days after the surgery (because they won't let you eat anyway until you have passed gas, and you will have stopped eating before you went in). So bring sugar water snacks because you will be starving.

Also, get up and walk around as soon as you can. I was shuffling over to the nursery about mid afternoon the next day (I had a very late in the day section). They were at first concerned about me moving around (I was using my IV stand as a support) but then they said it was fine and good. And unless you have someone else with you all the time, send that baby to the nursery for the night and any time you need a rest. "Baby friendly" is a synonym for "cost cutting".

And don't let them tie your arms down on the side. That was the only thing that was truly unpleasant. Most hospitals have stopped that, so it's not dangerous not to.

[Anonymous]

I had one and it was great. Don't try to micromanage it too much: it is a routine surgery and the hospital will follow their procedure pretty much regardless.

The night before, eat a light or liquid dinner and start your stool softener. This will lessen gas and constipation.
You'll also be asked to wash with a special disinfecting soap.

The nurse will shave the top of your pubic area where the incision will be. You likely will go alone into the OR to get your spinal block put in and then your partner comes in after (assuming partners are allowed right now).

The anesthesia causes many people to feel cold and shiver uncontrollably. It sucks but it's normal. The nurse should give you hot blankets.

One arm will likely be immobile for the IVs.

The OR nurse will hopefully offer to take a family photo and also to help you breastfeed while the surgeon closes. If not, ask.

Hospitals differ about whether baby can stay with you in recovery while the anesthesia wears off -- many don't allow it because you are left alone periodically but can't yet hold the baby safely. You may want your partner to go with the baby to the nursery for shots etc instead of staying with you (recovery is boring).

You will probably feel great after you move to the maternity ward. This is (partially) the painkillers. Take your meds as scheduled even if you feel fine. Rest and move carefully even if you feel fine. Your body needs to heal.

By the time they let you eat, you will be ravenous! Stay on your stool softener until you've pooped a couple times.

Hospitals are noisy and you will want to go home ASAP.

Take lots of pictures. Some of my favorite pictures of DD as an infant were taken in the hospital.

Good luck!