Advice for impending caesarean?

jellyhead

you have to submit things to be tested here, takes 24 hours min - no good if you're in labour and want a fan! husband bought me a fab little battery powered one with a water squirter, he squirted my face with water mist while i was giving birth and it was heavenly :-)

Gingham_Ribbon

It would sound heavenly, jellyhead, except for the bit about you being in labour! :rotfl:

Actually, I would say the same about being in the birthing pool. Water has astonishing pain relieving properties.

I had an epidural, spinal and general and I STILL think that the water worked best! Don't think they can do a section under water though. Shame!

jellyhead

they have a jacuzzi pool at my hospital, i wanted to use it but couldn't. i was watching the clock after they broke my waters, walking around and trying to get labour started within 4 hours, if it had worked then i wouldn't have been on the drip and i'd have been allowed in the pool - bah!! i had a bath the previous day when the gel gave me contractions and the bath really worked wonders.

Gingham_Ribbon

I used the bath for a while while the pool was filling. (We have poor water pressure in our house.) It was lovely. The midwife appeared with a jug and my mum and hubbie took turns pouring water over the top of my bump with each contraction. Worked well.

jellyhead

sounds perfect :-) if i ever have another baby i'd like a home birth with a pool. need to convince my husband we should have another

also, i know this sounds selfish but i'd like to have a baby and be the first person to hold it, rather than screaming in agony for an hour or more afterwards because the drip is so nasty lol!

Gingham_Ribbon

I hear you! I was unconscious when mine was born and it was a while before I could hold him. I'd like to have a planned section next time to avoid the possibility of it all happening like that again.

But under any other circumstances I'd go for a home water birth any time. It was the best part of the whole thing and I'm glad I tried.

Best part that is until 3 days later and I was clear headed enough to realise I had a son and I suddenly realised how happy I was!

jellyhead

i've had 2 births, both on the drip, first time i was ill and didn't hold the baby for a couple of days although they did put his face next to mine so i could see him, second time my husband held the baby and chatted to him for a while because i was still on the gas and air having a horrid time of it.

i hear that they've become more aware of this when doing sections and now let you see and touch the baby etc. straight after the birth.

Melissa22_Mum

I didn't have a cesarean, but I can give you a few pointers.
I found that when I was in the hospital after having my daughter, that I was well and truly exhausted which is expected I know but I was told to get lots of sleep which is hard when you want to but every little snuffle the baby makes you wake up at plus the excitement, midwives and doctors were more or less constantly in and out of my room waking me up!!!! If someone comes to visit let them have a word with a midwife on duty to stop so much traffic in and out if your room. Try to get as much kip as possible, when your at home, stay in your bedroom or wherever feels comfy and stay there with your baby for a few days, the midwives dont mind seeing to you during your after care at home if your still in bed, dont bother with tidying up either, all I could see was mess every where and that nesting instinct doesnt go away for at least three months. I know everyone says it but get someone else to do it! My best friend had a cesarean and was hoovering the stairs within a few days! not reccommended! give yourself time to heal, the longer you rest the quicker you will heal, definately get some cooking done, food you can freeze and stick in the microwave fruit and things to nibble on, you can easily "forget" to eat when you have your little baby to stare at and feed! especially when your breast feeding, or if you are. The last thing you need is other people giving you earache about eating properly so your baby can eat properly. Get somone to help get the house gleaming a few weeks before your due date, get everything prepared like clean bedding etc, make sure it will be surrounding you whereever you lay your head when you get home so you don't have to bother when you get home with the little one!

well thats it for now i'll probably think of more, if i do i'll post some more!!

good luck!

melissa xx

Gingham_Ribbon

I think that's a great idea. I know some women have a hard time bonding with the baby and being seperated for a time can make matters worse.

I had an odd first few days because I wasn't really with it and remember very little of what was going on. But that wasn't what confused me. Because of the general, I didn't really link the baby I was falling in love with as having anything to do with my pregnancy and for months it was like he was adopted. I loved him with all my heart, but I didn't feel like he was biologically related to ME (although he was the spit of DH.) It never mattered to me. I knew I was his mum, just not flesh and blood.

Then one day he just looked so like my grandpa and I could put all that behind me. He even has my dimple and my nose so there's no mistaking him as being anyone but my son.

I'm sorry you had a hard time both times. My friend told me yesterday that she was at a friend's house having a 'curry' night to try to move things on for a very pregnant mate. She went into labour during the curry and gave birth on the bathroom floor 20mins after everyone left. What a shock! I wouldn't fancy it myself. It must have been a bit scary, but how EASY was that!!!

jellyhead

i wouldn't say i had a hard time the 2nd time, i just wish i had been allowed to do it without the drip. first time i was exactly the same as you, because i was out of it for a couple of days and the baby was bottlefed by family and staff i felt as if the baby had nothing to do with my pregnancy, i still felt pregnant and kept wondering where the bump was lol! i did bond with him, i just didn't equate the baby with what had happened, felt like i hadn't given birth.

i've been looking at baby roo this week wondering who he looks like, his eyes remind me of someone but i can't place it. my mum and sister think it's hysterical because he has my eyes, i didn't realise, what a muppet :rotfl: