What helps to recover from a planned C section? PLEASE HELP! Only 2 days and no idea what to do!?

I went in today, after months of plaining for a all natural birth, they told me I have to have a C section.





The baby turned himself breach at week 37 and now at week 38 they cant turn him. He just is to big, and doesn't have enough fluid to turn.





They are afraid that he will get twisted in his cord, or the cord will come out before him if I go into natural labor, so they want to do a C section ASAP.





So now I have 2 days to plan this all out, and think of all the things I need to have prepared to have the baby by C section.





PLEASE! If you have had a C section, what can you tell me to help me prepare now so it is easier to recover?

What helps to recover from a planned C section? PLEASE HELP! Only 2 days and no idea what to do!?
I haven't had a c but my very good friend has and I know it was the last thing she wanted to do- but she did as her bub was footling breech.





It's a horrid shock at this stage- for all concerned. But you need to try to be logical about it.





Who (involved in the birth) can you speak to about it?





You have to also take into account that you are (thankfully) full of natural hormones at this stage and you need to think twice about whether you are making rational or emotional decisions.





BUT if you have to have a c section- it's not the worst thing in the world. It may not be your preference, or 'the plan' but you may need to consider other concerns.





EG: how to cope with less mobility immediately post birth; optimising breast milk production (if desired) without the natural birth 'starters'...etc. There are many groups that you can contact eg 'breast feeding mothers' group in your area.





But although I've never had a c section: please, please, you are bearing a child, your future, your immortality. If the plan is not quite to script, you WILL deal with it, and don't; please, don't feel less of a 'mum' because you haven't had a 'natural birth'. Every ONE and every MUM is an individual. Just try to be well informed about what you need to deal with. And deal with it as best you can.





Fond wishes and strength to you.





Cheers and sunshine
Reply:Most people are truely unprepared for the recovery after a c-section. I know I was. You will need a girdle and a small chair you can fit in the shower. I was extemely lightheaded when showering and had to do it on the floor because I was worried about fainting. Getting up and down from the floor was awful.





You will need at least one WEEKs worth of meals prepared in advance unless your husband or caregiver can cook (my husband cannot, lol). Make sure you can get in and out of bed easily and that you will have help for the first week.





If you are not ready to leave the hospital- don't. They will let you leave after 48 hours but are required by law to allow you to stay 5 days.
Reply:hi,


dont worry ..there is nothing to worry about c section. It will be painless as it will be done under anaesthesia...u will not feel a thing...postoperatively u will some pain which also will be taken care of by the anesthetist....anesthesia can be under spinal block or general anesthesia....go for spinal...u can be consciuous during the surgery and can see ur baby on table....happy section
Reply:I had an emergency section and tried to do too much afterwards. Rest, rest, and more rest is the key. Don't try and lift baby too soon, and really rope in friends and family to help. C-sections are major surgery and you need to remember that. If you can get people to help with bringing casseroles etc. that would be great, so that when you do get home you have something that can just be popped in the oven.





It's OK though - better to have a c-section and a healthy baby and mum! It's all worth it!





Just accept all the help you can get with housework, babycare, and cooking, and make sure you look after yourself and get plenty of rest. Good luck!
Reply:the best thing i can advise is to be positive about it. I was in same position as you with a breech bub and had to have a c section. it was a bit of a shock when they told me and i had about a week to get my head round the idea. Just remember that you have no choice really, that this is the best thing for the baby. You will be sore and a bit immobile afterwards but you can take painkillers and you will be able to get out of bed the next day. Just start walking around slowly as soon as you can, that helps you recover faster. it was actually a lot better than i thought it would be, mainly because at the end of it I had my beautiful baby girl and how she came into the world was/ is still irrelevant! just take it easy once you have the baby and i hope you have a partner/family around to help you out a bit. After having the c section i could still look after my baby without any problems, but it was a bit tricky doing housework etc (but that is probably true for all new mums!)


there is nothing you can really do to prepare yourself to make recovery easier, aside from any instructions the doctors may have given you. good luck, you'll be fine, just focus on the baby that you are going to meet in two days time!!!
Reply:Relax. my baby was on her way out when i had a emergency section. you can't get around like you think, you must take help from your support network, especially if you have other children. no heavy lifting or carrying or driving. i was fine after 10 days but normally they advise 6 weeks to be sure.
Reply:-Set out comfortable clothing easy to reach. Choose items like bathrobes, nightgowns, sweatpants with a drawstring rather than elastic. You won't want any material or elastics even sitting around that area of your body. Oh and if you're nursing, get a nursing bra. I highly recommend slip on slippers and slip on shoes (for when you have to go out). Bending at the waist is a little difficult at this point.





-You may find it diffucult to sleep in a flat bed for a while because it is tricky to get from the lay down position to the upward position. Sleep in a reclining chair instead or if you must sleep on a flat surface, it may be easier to " roll off slowly" rather than try to elevate yourself.





-Stock your fridge/freezer with easy to prepare meals like microwave diet meals, microwavable pizzas, etc, fresh fruits and veggies you can eat raw. The objective here is eat foods that require little or no effort, no dishes, no cleanup. As far as any fresh fruits and veggies just be careful to buy the ones that don't perish quickly or ones that need a lot of washing, prepping, dicing, slicing.





-You can lift and carry your baby, but truly try your best not to carry ANYTHING heavier than your baby. You be the judge.





-The doctor will probably prescribe 2 kinds of pain killers and if not you can buy the non-prescription strength ones. Now I am no doctor and I accept no liability for the following advice but just ask your doctor if this is right for you. You can take "Tylenol (acetimenophin)" and "Advil (ibuprophen)", in a dosing schedule whereby you are taking something every 2 hours. Eg. Tylenol, then 2 hours later Ibuprophen, then 2-3 hours later Tylenol again, then 2-3 hours later Ibuprophen. Your swiching them back and forth for "breakthrough pain", and Ibuprophen must be taken with food so eat a couple of crackers.





-I'd personally avoid outings for the first week maybe 2, if someone wants to see you and the new baby let them come over but I cannot stress this enough YOU ARE NOT ENTERTAINING THEM! IF YOU HOUSE IS A LITTLE UNKEPT TOO BAD, IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT THEY CAN PICK UP A MOP AND GET RIGHT TO IT! Any offers you get for help take them.





If you're baby is napping, then nap too. You may have a night owl on your hands, never know. Your time is valuable and is going to fly by. Enjoy your baby, and don't let yourself get caught in the "new baby, company coming, gotta prepare a 20 course meal and the floors need to shine".





If I can think of anything else from my personal experience of having had an emergency c-section after 30 hours of labour and then a scheduled section for my last child, I'll answer you again.





Enjoy this time, have others take a lot of pictures.
Reply:o_O ask the doctor
Reply:be prepared for swelling and your going to have to walk through the pain because this is a major surgery even though the Dr. will say this is something they do all the time. some people have a large gas build up and the only thing that eases it is to walk around. please have help for the first week because life as you know it will change 110 percent. wishing you all the luck in the world. congradulations to you and your family
Reply:Relax and take a deep breath first. A planned C-Section is always better than going for the emergency C-Section. I was in active labor when they rushed me for the emergency C-Section (7yrs ago)as the baby was in distress inside me. The baby was in full term (40 weeks) and yet they induced and waited before the emergency C-section inspite of knowing that the baby is in distress. So i would say... planned C-Section is always better and this time around i am pregnant again and i wish to go for a planned C-Section and i have spoken already to the doc.





Now regarding the preparation.... First and foremost, you need to be mentally prepared to accept the fact that this C-Section is planned for yours and your own baby's good. So stay happy and understand that everything is going to be perfect. Pack yours and your baby's bag and keep them ready. Keep the room ready for you and your baby... so when you get back home, you will be able to relax and take rest. If there is someone around to help you atleast for the first few weeks, then it would be great. As for me, i had no one to help me around and my husband also left for his work soon after i got disharged from the hospital and he could visit me only once a week due to his job schedule. So... i definitely know how tough it would be to manage things alone. So seek help from someone at least during the initial days.





Start getting up from the bed after the surgery when ever your doc suggests to recover soon from your surgery. Walking around and keeping yourself active can help you recover early. Take plenty of rest when ever possible or when ever your baby is sleeping. The initial rest for the first few weeks matters a lot.





Dont worry... it is not that tough. Things will be fine soon and you will forget the pains of the surgery when you cuddle your bundle of joy. Use pillows to raise ur baby to ur breast to feed the baby comfortably. Also find positions that would make you feel comfortable to sleep as well and sit and feed your baby.





Good luck to you and i am sure you will find this easy.





Wishing you a very smooth, safe and a peaceful delivery! :-)
Reply:I honestly don't think there is anything to prepare. Just do what your doctor says, and when they tell you to try to get out of bed after the C-section, try to get up. I think just getting up and walking around helped me(my son was in ICU the first week, and I kept having to walk down every few hours)
Reply:My daughter was breech at 40 weeks but she did turn. They put all kinds of fear on me too. I would suggest that you call a midwife and ask for her opinion first. I would hate to think that they are just bullying you. There may be justification for it but I would always second guess them especially at 38 weeks.


If you do end up having the CSection I would encourage you to take the pain meds when needed and get up and move around as soon as possible and as much as is reasonable. Get some help at home if possible so the weight of the recovery and the baby is not all on your shoulders. EAT HEALTHY! Lots of dark leafy green veggies, red meats ie steak, blackstrap Molasses. Get some healthy snacks in the house to keep your energy up and recovery quicker.








Best wishes for you and the baby!!!
Reply:Hi, Congratz! My little girl was born by C-Sec 6 weeks ago.. She was breech too, Thankfully i had more time to prepare!





The ABSOLUTE BEST advice i can give you is to ask the midwives if they can wrap your stomach tightly in bandages, They don't offer it to you in australia because it takes time i guess but it helps SO much, My friend in the USA suggested it for me, It will save you feeling as though your stitches are popping when you move around, it also prevents the 'overhang' some women get (When your belly hangs over your incision) and helps make everything feel more secure.





Make sure you get up and about ASAP, The sooner you do it the better, It's like ripping off a band-aid - lol - Having said that... Rest as much as you can too, Don't say no to painkillers if you need them because the pain gets worse and worse.





Take a hair-dryer to hospy with you to dry your incision after you shower, I felt more confident doing it that way.





DO NOT LIFT ANYTHING HEAVIER THAN YOUR BABY FOR 6 WEEKS - They tell you not to but then you feel better and forget... OUCH.





Don't worry about it too much, I felt amazingly better after 7 days, i was out of hospital in 2 days (not recommended. but i survived) and by day 4 i went out for a full day.





Hope that helped... and made some sence... have had about 12 hours sleep in the last six weeks -lol- That's something else to prepare for!! =D
Reply:Talk to your doctor.
Reply:I had emergency c-sections with both of my pregnancies.....my oldest is 12 now, and my twins are 8. The first time I was in labor for an extended length of time and the c-section was done due to failure to progress after the she started showing signs of distress. My twins were taken right after a doctors appointment for low amniotic fluid, no labor. The difference is night and day. I was exhausted after having my first, because I was in labor for 48 hours.....yes, 48. I pushed for 3 1/2 hours, she was face up and kept getting stuck on my pelvic bone. By the time they did the c-section I was so tired that once I had anesthesia and couldn't feel anything I fell asleep on the OR table.





The second time I had zero labor, I went to the hospital, they did the c-section and Poof....two babies. The only thing that I will say, is when they inserted the catheter for the epidural with my first pregnancy, I was in so much pain from the labor I didn't even feel it. With my second pregnancy I had a spinal and I am not going to lie......it hurts when they are injecting you.....but the pain doesn't last very long because you go numb pretty much immediately.





Afterward, coughing/sneezing, getting up from laying down or being seated, stairs, etc......are going to be uncomfortable. With my first one I wasn't in as much pain as I expected to be, it really wasn't all that bad......but getting up from chairs and coughing hurt. The second time was a breeze......I was a little uncomfortable.....but I didn't even need the pain medication they gave me, advil was all I needed. I was up and about, driving (which they will tell you not to do for at least two weeks) three days after.





Use a pillow to apply pressure to your abdomen when you need to cough/sneeze, or get up from a chair. It really helps.


Other than that there isn't a lot you need to prepare for that you wouldn't need to prepare for with a natural delivery.





Good Luck and Happy Baby!
Reply:Firstly, don't worry about the C section. What matters is that your baby gets here safely, not how he arrives! I've had a natural birth and a planned C section, and the C section was far less painful and had a much quicker recovery - I had a horrific natural birth experience with 35 hours active labour, stuck baby, complications - The most important thing I can tell you about the C section is the first time you get up afterwards, put your hand flat over your wound as you get up and force yourself to stand up straight. It's really important not to hunch over to protect your belly, as the muscles will cramp into that hunched position, and you'll be doing the "caesarian shuffle" for a long time afterwards. Make sure you stand up straight every time you walk around, and you'll be in a lot less pain. I felt good enough to do the ironing when I got home 8 days afterwards! Also, get your partner to take time off when you get home, not in hospital, as you'll need help for about 6 weeks. Freeze meals now, take your make-up to hospital so you'll feel pretty, and enjoy your precious new baby!