Having a ceasarian next week!

[Cajun_Girl]

Hi all,

I’m 39 weeks pregnant with a due date of October 23rd. My doctor told me today that I will probably require a caesarian section. I’m showing no signs that I’m going to go into labor anytime soon, and inducing labor would be inappropriate because the baby isn’t really in position. The doctor also estimates that the baby is too large for my pelvis, so labor could be dangerous and would probably end with a caesarian anyway.

I was given the option to schedule the procedure this week, but I decided to wait until next week. I actually panicked a little at the idea that I could have this baby right away. I feel as though my body is telling me that it’s not time to have the baby right now, and so I am as emotionally unprepared as I am physically unprepared. My fear at this point is that the baby won’t really feel like he’s mine and that I’m going to have some bonding problems early on, particularly since I won’t even get to hold him after he’s born (if I’m understanding what caesarians are like). I’m also on bed rest, so every instinct in my body is naturally saying that I can’t possibly have a baby when the house is a wreck and I can’t do anything about it!

I’d love to hear from anyone who has had a caesarian or knows anything about them. Did you find that it caused you to have any bonding problems, and how did you cope if so? Did you feel unprepared because you didn’t have the benefit of labor pains?

On a happier note, the baby is a boy named Leo, and he seems to be healthy (if a little chubby). This is my first pregnancy, and it’s been pretty much as easy as pregnancy gets up until now. I know that many women have had much more difficult situations and have had to make more difficult choices than this, so I do feel very blessed and am trying not to worry too much.

Thanks!

 

[rayne89]

I didn’t get to hold my daughter until the next morning and had absolutely no bonding problems what-so-ever. I have a heart problem, so the moved me to the cardiac for observation over night after my c-section. I think its your nerves as a first time mom that’s causing you concern. You’ll do fine.

 

[Belle10]

My fear at this point is that the baby won’t really feel like he’s mine and that I’m going to have some bonding problems early on, particularly since I won’t even get to hold him after he’s born (if I’m understanding what caesarians are like). I’m also on bed rest, so every instinct in my body is naturally saying that I can’t possibly have a baby when the house is a wreck and I can’t do anything about it!

Congratulations!!

On the bonding: I’ve only given birth once (not a c-section) so I can’t speak to that, but I’m sure you’ll bond with your son just fine. He already knows your voice and he’ll know you when he sees you, smells you, hears you.

As far as a messy house, don’t worry. Our DD was 3 1/2 weeks early, and we weren’t ready (house a wreck, no car seat yet, etc.) but everything turned out just fine. Besides, Leo won’t notice the mess, so who cares?

Praying for a healthy delivery for you.

 

[GhostMan]

My wife had eight C-Sections and I was present for seven. You will not be unconscious, unless it is an emergency one. You will hear them as they deliver your baby and they will bring him to you as soon as his cord is cut. They will either hold him against you, or let your husband do it. You will have time to begin bonding. Then, like any other newborn, they take him for a few minutes and do initial screening. All the while you are being stapled up. Once you are in post-op, you can have him lying next to you. He will be against your breasts or cheek.

Don’t worry about C-Sections; unless they are emergency, things are not bad at all. Make sure your husband is with you to ensure that you have complete access to your baby. He can insist on holding him for you if necessary.

 

[udoc89]

I had c-sections and I can promise you will have no problem bonding with your little one. I saw my babies immediately (I cried, of course…) I can’t imagine that I would have felt any more (or less) if I had delivered naturally. I was on bed rest for my last pregnancy. Who cares if the house is a wreck? Staying in bed before you have the baby is a great time to read, write in a journal, and get to know your child before he or she is born.

Blessings to you and your family. I am sure your c-section will be a positive experience. I personally think it’s the only way to go I’m just kidding, but really, I don’t think you’ll have any regrets.

 

[dkoinzan]

I have had planned ones and emergency ones. I have been awake for all of them. It can be a little scary just because you don’t know what to expect. You will be awake for the whole procedure, They put a curtain just below your breasts so you can’t see what is happening. My husband always sits at my head. They tie your arms down if they can’t trust that you will keep them away from the surgery. You have an IV and a epidural. Your legs are numb and floppy. They cath you and shave your private area. There is pressure on your belly when they reach in to get the baby. It all happens in less then about 15 minutes once your are in the operating room. The operating room is cold and because you are nervous, you will shiver. They will tell you when they are going to cut the cord. They give the baby a quick once over, put him in a blanket and hand him to your husband. My husband cuddles and hold all my babies up for me to see. If the baby doesn’t require a lot of extra care they allow him to stay with you and your husband in recovery for a while. You will be moved to your room once you can move your toes. I always work like crazy to get those things to wiggle. Once you are into your room, your husband can bring your baby in. I recommend you stay on top of the pain. Don’t let it get away from you or you won’t be able to move around much. The more you move the better it gets, but be careful. Take a pad of paper and a pencil to write down things like when you nursed the baby and for how long, when the baby had a diaper change, when you last took pain meds., when you went to the restroom, how much did you go…etc. Bring socks. Your feet freeze. Bring something to do…announcement, books, you get bored and baby sleeps a lot. Bring a robe so that you can go walking. They won’t let you leave until you do a number 2. You will have absolutely no problem bonding and your baby knows your voice already and can pick it out of a crowd, so don’t worry. Don’t be afraid, it all works out.

 

[dconklin]

My wife had two c-sections. The 1st was more of an emergency. I got to hold my daughter for what seemed like forever. She and I are so much alike, but that is more of a genetic thing.

Both times my wife did very well and enjoyed being able to take a longer time to recuperate. We were not kicked out the next day.

Our prayers are with you. Congrats!

 

[Truly_Beloved]

I didn’t have any bonding problems, but I did have problems nursing. Ask your hospital if they have Lactation Consultants on staff. If they don’t, ask for referrals for one, and see her as soon as possible after birth.

The nurses wouldn’t let me hold the baby for the first several hours after birth (no explanation; I didn’t have complications, either)… Now that I’m older and wiser, if I must have another cesarean, I’ll just hold my baby whenever I want, without getting “permission.”

 

[mizznicole]

Hi,

I’d encourage you to research what your hospital does to the baby after the cesarean and demand that you get what you want ( cord cutting, eye drops, washing, etc.). Also, I would encourage you to research how doctors are sewing up women these days and demand he does the best. Not sure how much I can say about this on this board.

By the way, the average time for labor to start for a first birth is 42 weeks.

I’m sure you will have a positive experience if you go in there with the best information and education.

 

[maria29]

I had an emergency C-section. I had had an epidural for the birth and then they gave me morphine as well. My hands/arms were not tied down and I was awake.

I didn’t feel a thing except for a little pressure.I had no problem with bonding with our child. Also don’t worry about scarring. You can’t even see mine anymore. I didn’t have to show that i could wiggle my toes or anything they just took me to my room.

THe worst pain was the next day.I felt like i’d been in a horrible car wreck my body was so sore. They did offer me morphine in the morning but I declined.

 

[kage_ar]

I’ll talk about after you and Leo come home.

You and your DH, remeber, you will not only be welcoming a new baby, you will be recovering from major surgery.

TAKE HELP THAT IS OFFERED. Me, DH could not be off work (he worked nights), so, I actually stayed at my mom’s house for the first week.

If your husband will be there for some time to get you back on your feet, good!!

Make sure your freezer is full of food so you don’t have to worry about that.

When someone asks what they can do, say “come do laundry” or “bring us supper” - don’t be afraid to ask

Prayers!!

 

[dorisbonkers]

I just wanted to wish you the best of luck.

As it happens, I’m booked in for a c-section that day myself for my child. And it’s my birthday!

I’ve never given birth before but strangely I’m much less apprehensive about a section than I am about natural birth.

All the best.

 

[Cajun_Girl]

I As it happens, I’m booked in for a c-section that day myself for my child. And it’s my birthday!

I’ve never given birth before but strangely I’m much less apprehensive about a section than I am about natural birth.

We may have some stories to share next week!

I do agree that a c-section sounds easier in some ways than a vaginal birth. Having a date set is also helping to make this birth more of a reality than an abstraction.

I’ve had to admit to myself that I’m getting cold feet! Being around people who are constantly telling you about how happy you’re supposed to be can give you a real guilt trip when you realize that you’re not feeling all that prepared! So my sweetie and I are coming up with some ways to make us feel ready. We went to a bookstore yesterday, bought a book on newborns, and sat in the cafe’ section for a while and talked about everything. Since I’m a compulsive scrapbooker, I’m going to finish up my last scrapbook so that I can focus on baby pictures right away. I’m also going to put together my little hospital bag and have some fun picking out Leo’s first outfit. (It’s absolutely shameful how many articles of baby clothes I’ve been given recently!) I wish I could do some shopping right now, but I think that we at least have everything we’ll need for the first few days of Leo’s life.

Anyway, thanks for all of your reassurances and advice!

 

[dkoinzan]

When they told me that I would have to have a C-section I began to cry and said I didn’t want one. The male nurse tried to explain that I would still be a good Mom even if I didn’t give birth naturally. I know I must have seemed really shallow because I looked at him with a silly look on my face and said that I just didn’t want surgery I I hadn’t even given his view point a thought. There is no describing what it is like to see that baby for the first time. You want to use everything to drink in that new life. You love that child instantly.

 

[Mommyof5]

You sound so much like me! My first one, my water broke at home 2 weeks to the day early. By the time we got to the hospital (an hour away), I was in severe back labor. During 8 hours, I never dilated past 2 cm, Matthew was posterior (“sunny side up” not breach) and he wouldn’t turn, and my contractions were very close together. We ended up doing a cesarean…I had ZERO problems with bonding, was awake the whole time, and we were allowed to have in with me in recovery. Had basically the same issues with my 2nd child. My third child was, ironically, the only one I had naturally…and I think that was God’s doing. He passed away after 2 hours, had been born premature, and I don’t know how I would have gotten through everything (funeral, etc.) had I been recovering from a cesarean. My last child (our MIRACLE!) was a scheduled cesarean and it went BEAUTIFULLY!! I was separated from her, however, while I recovered due to some blood pressure issues I was having and she was pretty ticked off and hungry by the time I saw her (2 hours later)…but we had NO PROBLEMS bonding and she went straight to work for her first meal!

Just be sure to ask a lot of questions and make sure that everyone around you knows everything that you are wanting. If it makes you feel better, go in with everything written down ahead of time and MAKE them put it in your chart. Unless there are there are issues that require other measures, there are no reasons you need to be separated from you little boy.

Blessings to you and Congratulations!!!