C-Sections 101

Face it, no one really WANTS to have a c-section. Heck, the whole birthing process is a little frightening. Add the prospect of having your belly cut open WHILE you're awake and things get a little scarier. But sometimes c-sections are a necessity. I know that there are some diehards out there who claim no woman should have to have a c-section, but I beg to differ. As my OB told me right before child #1 was born, I would have been one of those women ages ago who would have died in childbirth. So thank goodness for c-sections. Sometimes, circumstances drift from your birthplan and your idea of the perfect birth. It's OK. At the end of the day, the only goal is to deliver a healthy baby and leave mom as safe and healthy as possible too.

I had two c-sections nineteen months apart and have a few tidbits to share. The bulk of what I'm going to write I gleaned from my own experiences; unfortunately no one told me this stuff before I hit the operating table.

On the table:

Draping: Once you have been spinaled/IV'd and strapped to the table (yes, you're strapped and yes, it is a little alarming but you've got bigger fish to fry) you will be draped with a dividing curtain from the chest down. Trust me, you will NOT be able to see your belly being cut open. This is a common fear - its not going to happen. You are numb from the breastbone down so even if you wanted to sit up and take a peak, its not going to happen. Moving on...

Tugging: Another common misconception (mine included) is that you will feel absolutely nothing when the baby is removed from your belly. You are numb and you will not feel cutting or any sharp pains, but you will feel that baby coming out of your body. I was shocked at the tugging and pulling I felt before ds made his entrance into the world. With #2 child, my husband told me later that he was surprised by how "rough" the doctors and nurses were with getting the baby out. It won't necessarily hurt, but you will feel tugging and pulling. No one said birth was painless, right?

The shakes: Almost everyone experiences shaking immediately post-birth. They are much stronger when you have a c-section. This is due to the spinal/epidural that numbed you for surgery and the trauma of having your belly cut open. With child #1 I shook violently for 1 1/2 hours. One nurse laid her body over my chest in an attempt to keep my body still. With child #2, I knew better. I told the anestegiologist that immediately after the baby was out he needed to give me SOMETHING to curb the shakes. I don't know what he gave me but I didn't have one shake. It was wonderful. So speak up and tell them to give you something for the shakes. It's your body and the only shake you should want is one with ice cream.

The incision: Mine is 3 1/2 inches long. That's it. I have heels that are that high. It's very low and very small. So don't be freaked out about having a huge scar on your stomach. Most sections today are lateral and between 3-5 inches, depending on the position of the baby. You'll probably be able to wear your favorite yellow polka dot bikini should you so desire (but that's another post altogether).

You will most likely have staples to close your incision. The staples are usually removed four to seven days after delivery, sometimes while you are still initially in the hospital. With child #1 I was nauseous with fear the morning my staples were removed. Such a huge build up for no reason - it was NO big deal. Barely felt it.

Off the table and into your room:

Drugs: You will be groggy, but not really in pain yet. The drug of choice following a c-section is morphine. This is fine for the first few hours but get yourself off of that as SOON as possible. With child #1 I was in a terrible fog, throwing up and itching like crazy. When I mentioned this to the nurse she said "Oh, its the morphine. Would you like something else?" Ummmmm....yes. So with child #2, I told them in the OR no morphine, find something else for 12 hours and then get me on a different painkiller. It made all the difference in the world. I wasn't foggy, was able to nurse without throwing up and still managed the pain. Get off the morphine if and when you can.

Pain: You're gonna hurt. A lot. But you just had a baby for crying out loud! Your incision will hurt, your entire stomach will be sore. Don't be a martyr - take your pain medicine. This pain medicine is prescribed for a reason. You won't be able to move or nurse or heal unless you can manage the pain and rest properly. So take it and take it ON TIME. If its administered every 4 hours call your nurse at 3 1/2 hours and make sure it is brought to you within 30 minutes. If you are slightly off with your timing in those first few days you will pay dearly with pain.

Moving: The secret to healing quickly from a c-section is moving. I was out of my bed and walking 12 hours after child #2. Oh, it hurt and I needed 2 people to help me from the bed to the bathroom but I did it. And once you get over that initial hurdle of getting out of your bed the rest is easy (barring any complications of course). You need to move. Walking will reduce the risk of blood clots, get your bowels moving and help water weight dissipate. Go slowly but GO. On day 2 or 3 start walking around the floor with your baby in a wheeled bassinet and dh or other family for support. It clears your head and reintroduces you to your body post baby.

Shower: I was pretty freaked out about taking a shower after my c-section. I was so afraid to get the incision wet (all psychological, I know) and even more afraid to SEE my incision. I thought that it might come apart when the water touched it. Make sure you have taken your pain medication recently before taking your first shower - it will take more effort than you realize. But once that warm water hits your skin....oh....so much better. And you won't come apart.

Hospital Stay: Depending on the hospital and your insurance you will stay for 3-5 days (longer if there are complications with you or the baby). If you have the opportunity to stay 5 days (as I did) and have other small children at home, STAY. Yes, you may be going out of your mind and wishing you were at home in your own bed, but at least in the hospital the only obligation you have is 1) to nurse your baby, 2) to heal and 3) to poop (that first poop is a bit frightful, but I think that's common with vaginal deliveries as well). Once you go home there is no nurse to remind you about your pills and eating and drinking enough. At home, those little children will desparately want you to pick them up. Once you're back, you're back. So if you can, take those few days in the hospital for yourself and your baby.

Home with baby:

Lifting: The doctors will tell you that you shouldn't life anything heavier than your baby. As soon as you get home you will realize that most things in your house/life weigh more than your 7 or 8 pound (or more) baby. But do the best you can. I came home to a 19 month old ball of energy who wanted SO much for me to pick him up and hold him. I did it a few times and instantly regretted it. My stomach wasn't ready yet. Give it some time. Find alternatives to medium/heavy lifting. For me, I stopped using the changing table with ds and changed him on the floor - I didn't need to lift him as much. And ask dh/family/friends for help. Heavy lifting will only add to your pain and recovery time.

Nursing: It's not comfortable to hold your baby across your stomach for nursing immediately after a c-section. I used the football hold when sitting up and nursed on my side while laying down. After a few weeks I was fine holding them across my stomach because I'd had time to heal. If you can, have dh/family member bring the baby to you to nurse.

S.E.X: Believe it or not, there will come to a time when you'll want to do the deed again and you'll wonder how's its going to go. Your doctor will tell you to refrain from intercourse for the first 6 weeks and then giddy-up when you're ready. With child #1 I figured that since I had not PUSHED him out of my body that all systems "down there" were fine and ready to go. So when I pounced on my husband 4 weeks after giving birth I was SO shocked to find that everything was not good to go. Just because you had a c-section does not necessarily mean that things in "that area" will feel OK. It's different for everybody, but consider waiting the 6 weeks and take it slow. Man, I learned my lesson on that one. Wince...

And finally, those silly comments:

I was so grateful when child #1 finally came out that I gave no thought to HOW he arrived. He was healthy and I was safe - that was all that mattered to me. But more than one person had the nerve to say to me "Are you disappointed that you had a c-section?" Ummmm....NO. I delivered a healthy baby. One of us could have died if he had come out the other way. Like I said before, the GOAL is to get the baby out. Your birthing experience will be different than those who deliver vaginally, yes. But again, the goal is to get the baby out. Don't allow anyone to discredit how you delivered. It's not their body and it wasn't their birth. Be proud that you got through it and survived and that now you can focus on being a mom. Congratulations, you did it!