Questions about c-section. Scared to death....

[debgunn23]

Ok, i have a chance of not having one but the doc said i more than likely will because of my uterus. please tell me your experiences or side effects with the whole precedure/medication. I guess the only thing i dont want is vomiting! One of my fears... I dont wanna be sick. I havent thrown up since 2nd grade. Was pretty dang close in the first trimester though. How did you feel with the meds? When they were opening you up did you feel sick or pain? How did you feel afterwards? When should i eat afterwards? Thanks ladies...

[gokuangel]

I am also scared so i have been reading yalls stories! i have not had a kid YET! but i have some medical issues that will force me to have a c-section WHENI DO have kids! i dont know yet what my dr will say at that moment but if theres the health risks involved that i read about i just have the c-section cus i dont want anything bad to happen to my child! some of yalls stories are not too bad i dunno my sil had 2 c-sections and so my did my cousin i guess if they can survive i can too!!

[TeddiH]

Well, I would have to say that at any point in time if you dont have to have one DONT!!!
I had an emerg c section with my son. I never did get all the way to 10cm and they made me push so my cervix swelled back shut!
I was so scared! But it really was not that bad, I had a spinal not an ep. with the spinal you get morphine with it. When they opened me up it didnt hurt but I could feel exactly what they were doing. I didnt vomit, I did before the c section, part of labor for most women though.
The worst part of it for me was after I came home, I was in the hospital for 5 days, at the hospital they give you suppostories that REALLY help with pain. I had to stop them after about 2.5 days though because they were making me feel sick. When I was at home getting out of bed was almost as painful as being in labor (I didnt have any drugs). I was given T3s, however my sister in law has used purkasests with both of her c sections.
All in all, I will anything to avoid one next time but you will live through it and as long as there are no infections, things should go smoothly.
Good Luck!

[tiredbuthappy]

i never threw up in the hospital. i was frustrated because i was sooo hungry and thirsty, and they wouldn't let me eat or drink for the longest time.

i have a diagnosed, genuine PHOBIA of needles. Not a fear like most people say, but i had an actual phobia. i have worked hard and am overcoming it. Despite this phobia, i have to say the spinal wasn't too bad. I think your nerves are worse than the procedure. I thought getting the IV was much worse than getting the spinal.

I did have a weird reaction during the procedure. I started to feel an awful, deep pain/burning in my chest that shot through to my back. It made me start to panic. They assured me it was normal heartburn (which i believe, considering i hadn't eaten in 24 hours and i had terrible heartburn anyways). Anyways, as soon as they saw me panicking, they put something in my IV that instantly relieved me. Made me groggy as he ll, but it calmed me. when it was time for the baby to come out, someone literally jumped on me to push the baby down. that was definitely weird, but not painful.

i thought recovery was difficult. couldn't have been too horrible, since i'll be doing it again. i remember being in recovery and trying desperately not to laugh at the comedian on tv. getting up was very difficult. I did not feel pain when they removed the catheter. Peeing for the first time took forever, and of course the first bowel movement is nervewracking because you worry you'll pop a stitch (which you won't). i think next time i am definitely investing in a postpartum belt to help with movement. i did have to take some pain meds after i got home, and i have a pretty high pain tolerance (even my dental hygenist has commented on my high pain tolerance).

[eimperati]

With my  c-section it was rough..the epi wore off during it so i felt everything, the pain of trying to get up stinks..it hurts to walk a foot. your feet get so swollen its hard to put shoes on, you got to be careful not to get your staples caught in your underwear or pants, but the upside of everything is it went quick though

[babypooh]

After my c-section (4.5 years ago) I found it VERY extremely hard to get up on my own. I couldn't laugh without it hurting the poo out of me :) I couldn't get on the bed on my own because lifting my legs made my abdomen hurt sooo bad! They kept me on the IV at the hospital until the moment I left and i was soooo swollen; even more than how I went in. My hands were like balloons. My maternity patns were about to rip from my swollen legs, he he. But it's all worth it. The only time I threw up, was in the operating room from the anesthesia. It's horrible to throw up while you're laying down :( But it's worth it and it's the best thing in the world to be a mommy. In just a couple of weeks, you'll feel MUCH better! Good luck!

[Darkestlight]

Ok, when u have a c section. They bring u back into a room and give you a spinal injection to numb u from the mid chest down. Then they bring in whoever u want to be with u, only 1 person is allowed with a c section. They strap your arms down for safety, and begin the procedure. I felt NOTHING while they were working on me. You also have a iv and pain meds pumped through that. Most of the time you are too drugged up to be too emotional, or atleast I was. After the procedure i was given percocets X2 ever 4 hrs as needed. I never threw up. They also put a sheet over ur face so u cant see. Once the baby is out they clean it up and they bring it over to u so u can see him/her. After my c section i was fine. I took pain meds while i was in the hospital. The day i got out i didnt need them any more and was running errand the day i got out of the hospital. After the procedure about 1 1/2 they brought my daughter to me and that was that. I had her pretty much the whole hospital stay unless the doctors were checking her out. The only thing i will warn u of it after the c section or a couple days afterwards u may swell up, but its normal and its nothing to worry about.

[babydreams9]

Honestly.... my c-section was much easier than I anticipated (I had mine 9/27/08). I, too, was worried mostly sbout the meds because I *hate* medicine and especially pain meds. I worried they would make me drowsy and nauseated... but they didnt. The spinal was not as painful as people say - I hardly felt anything at all. They'll most likely give you percoset for the incision and ibuprofin for the cramping, but will give you a low dose and increase as/if necessary (if you're worried about how much, you can request in your birth plan to recieve the lowest dose first and see how it works - thats what I did)....You will need the meds. Sometimes people get nauseated/sick on the operating table but I didnt at all, which was surprising because I am easily nauseated! The only time I got sick was when they wheeled me back to my room; I was nauseated for about 30 seconds, barfed once and then felt totally fine the rest of my stay. During the surgery you'll feel pressure and tugging, but it doesnt hurt and it's fast. I was numb from the upper abdomen down for about 12 hours, then was able to walk (slowly) after that. I was able to breastfeed and hold my baby with no problems during that 12 hours.

Honestly, the most painful thing for me for the entire experience was when they removed my catheter. But, that too was quick and didnt hurt after it was out.

Everyone is different, but I only took the percoset for 3 days after getting home
(so, 6 days total)... I continued to take a regular dose ob ibuprofin for cramps for a few more days after that. It was painful but I was able to manage without the percoset. It is hard to move around for about a week, but you'll be back to yourself before you know it.

A c-section is not the first choice for most - it certainly wasnt for me - but it is not bad at all and if you do have one, I think you'll be surprised at how easily the process goes.

Hope this helps....Best wishes!!