Advice on C section

tiamai_d

DONT LIE DOWN IN THE BATH!!!

Sorry, that's my only advice that has not yet been mentioned. I had a horrible emergency c section that was not run of the mill and took me a long while to get over (other things went wrong to).

Anyway, they told me to go for daily baths and I lay back... then couldn't pull myself back up!!! That was after the getting into the bath drama (get a sturdy chair into your bathroom). Luckily DH was in room with me and helped me up, I would have have been mortified if I had to pull the red cord!

Lots of pillows help.

rheme

Had a c section a few years ago now, however, have had a couple of major stomach operations since. As earlier posters have said listen to your body and follow the advice given by the hospital and your GP then you shouldn't have any problems.

Salt baths are a great way of keeping the wound clean and aiding healing.

Tuck a pillow under your knees when in bed as this takes the stretch out of your stomach and is great as well as all the other pillow advice from previous posters.

Have you got a travel kettle? This is much easier to lift than a full sized one and gives you a little independence.

I put some household cleaners, etc. into smaller containers so that i could manage them.

Good luck and am sure you will be up and about in no time. Don't forget to keep us all updated. Won't be long before your posting advice and telling some-one else not to worry.

Jo_R_2

Hiya

Just thought I'd throw this in for those ladies who are in a similar position, some interesting viewpoints: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1384547

With DD2 I had an ECV at 37 or 38 weeks (can't remember exactly but it was pretty late on) and she turned like a dream in a couple of minutes and stayed that way. Not of course saying it's that easy for everyone who chooses to try it but I'll certainly be trying it again for this baby who is also breech if he's still head up at 36 weeks.

Crispy_Ambulance

carlita wrote: »

and there speaks a man
:T :T :T

surely an unplanned section i.e a section as a result of the baby getting in destress is worse for everyone over a booked c section?

Um no.

I'm a woman and I'm an antenatal teacher, so yes, I do know what I'm talking about.

The risks of ECV are small and give a chance of the baby being born vaginally, which carries fewer risks to mother and baby. C-sections are sometimes necessary - but best avoided if you can.

pinky8

Hiya,

Congratulations on your soon to be new addition. I have had 2 normal births and 1 emergency c-section (Inverted T) and I was quite shocked. I was up and about within hours but I was in alot of pain. I think if my baby hadn't of been in special care then I would have stayed in bed a little longer. If I had the choice I would 100% choose to give birth over a c-section but everyone is different, I had alot of bruising as there were complications with the delivery and the cut was bigger. My son is 8 months old now and I am still sore and my tummy muscles are pathetic. But I was allowed to drive at 3.5 weeks which was a relief I would get everything you possibly can out of the way before you have your c-section.

Even though my experience of c-section wasn't great I would do it over and over again as it was 100% worth it to have my son here happy and healthy

Good Luck!

Love Becci xxx

Mely

Hi Becks...first of all dont worry! My last 2 babies were born by elective c section as they were both breech.The consultant tried to turn them both but they turned back straight away. I was awake when i had them both and it was amazing! My then oh...was giving me a running commentary....the bums out now...and a leg etc lol. You do feel a bit of pulling and tugging....a feeling of pressure really but no pain at all. There is a screen in front of your face so you cant see anything. And as the surgeons were operating on me...one each side...they were discussing golf! You will have a catheter fitted. Which is a very simple procedure. My midwife did mine for me both times. I only had a drain with the last baby(i dont know why). So i had the catheter bag and the drain bag(yuk sorry!). When you are in the recovery room (at least in my experience) they offered me voltarol(sp) suppository which goes up the bum lol. Fantastic stuff and that made me feel more comfortable. Then i was put onto a self administering morphine drip...omg i loved that stuff ....lol. The alarm went off on it and it wouldnt let me have any more as i was taking so much lol. A day or so later they get you out of bed, as you need to be mobile asap. The first time you stand up it feels very tight and uncomfortable. But the more you walk about (little and as often as you feel you can) the better it gets. As soon as you can get to the loo the catheter is taken out,very simple procedure again. If you do have a drain then that is taken out some time later.When the staples/sutures were taken out that was fine too..just one or two slightly stung,but nothing really. A cushion on your lap for the new baby will make you feel much more comfortable.
But please, please please dont run before you can walk when you get home and do too much, as this will knock you right back! Make sure you dont do any lifting or exercise for 6 weeks.
All the best, Mel xxxx

Mely

Carlita...ive had 2 ECV`S at 37/38 weeks, both unsuccessfull. Yes it was uncomfortable but i thought it was worth a try. My consultant did them when i went to see him at his surgery, and as soon as he moved the babies around...i could see and feel them move right back as they were...lol.

Mely

Jane...did they tell you why you had a drain with one and not the other baby? I always wondered this myself and forgot to ask in the hospital.

Mely

Thanks to whoever mentioned the big knickers...forgot to mention them...there a must!

beckseven

I've just been reading all the replies to this thread and I'm overwhelmed with how helpful and reassuring everyone has been. Thanks for all the advice-I'm going to asda to buy big knickers tonight and have stocked up on arnica tablets. I had an ECV yesterday but it was unsuccessful-the consultant who did it told me it had a 50% success rate and although it was slightly uncomfortable it didn't really hurt-they injected a relaxant into your womb which sounds iffy but isn't that bad. She said that there was a 1 in 200 chance of having to have an emergency caesarean straight away but she said that it had never happened since she had been doing it. I thought I'd give it a go but as it wasn't successful they booked me in for the c section at 39 weeks which is the 16th. I found out the baby was breach at 36 weeks and did lots of stuff to try and make it turn-lying in funny positions etc but the consultant said to me that the baby's bum was well down in my pelvis so she couldn't get it to flip. I had my first baby normally but really didn't fancy giving birth to a breech baby vaginally and this wasn't recommended by my consultant anyway.

I'm going to stop panicking now and start cooking some nice freezer meals and stocking up on soup! Thanks a million to everyone who has replied-I really appreciate it.