C sections

[tigwig]

I am after real honest (gory details if necessary) answers about what it is like to have a c section. I would also be grateful for info on how bad the pain was after and how long it took to recover. I am pregnant with my 2nd and may be offered a c section due to having a retained placenta last time. My midwife told me I was high risk ad it was dangerous so I'm booked in to see a consulatant in August. My problem is I'm a childminder and want to take as little time off as possible so I'm worried that having a c section will not allow me to do this. The plus side is that the baby would definitely arrive before Christmas and of course it would be all planned out beforehand! In your opinions if I had a c section on say the 18th Dec (think thats the Fri) would I be ok to return to working at the beginning of Jan10. My due date is 3rd Jan but I am told you deliver 2 weeks before.

[PringlesQueen]

Hi tigwig.
My own experience of a section were not wonderful as I had an emergency one under epidural.
The surgery itself was quick and despite the urgency it was really calm and peaceful. The stay on the ward afterwards was tricky as you will be bed bound for about 24 hours due to the epidural and the catheter.
Breast feeding was tricky too due to the pain, but with the support of the midwives they helped me to get a comfortable position to feed my baby with (it involved lots of pillows and a nursing cushion).
The pain at the incision site was always there for about three weeks. I took regular pain killers during this time, but the pain was enough to stop me doing certain things such as lifting. I could not lift my 2 year old as it was too painful.
It is suggested you do not drive for about six weeks after the surgery, but I did not feel good enough to drive for at least two months.
Going up and down stairs was painful for the first couple of weeks (probably did not help that we live in a three storey house with lots of stairs!).
Like all other mums (as you know) I felt physically and mentally drained for weeks.
This is just my experience, and as you know everybody heals differently.
From my experience I think you are being a bit ambitious with returning to work so soon.

[daffy654]

I had a retained placenta with my second pregnancy and went on to have a third child without a c section.At no point was I told I was 'high risk'. I know of several other women who have also given birth normally after having a retained placent in previous labours.

[sara3]

tigwig, as with all procedures you'll hear good and bad. Velvetee had a CS this weekend so may give you a recent tale!

I never had a CS, but a friend who did thought it was fantastic. she was up within a few hours and recovered very quickly.. twice!

hopefully you won't need one anyway :o)

[sqad617]

What's a retained placenta got to do with being "high risk?"

[barry1010]

My wife had a C-Section 25 years ago, with an epidural so she was awake throughout. She said it felt like somebody washing up in her tummy, which she found amusing. She was giggling the whole time, probably due to drugs.
She was able to hold our daughter straight away, and I was with her the whole time. No problem breastfeeding, with the help of a pillow to support the baby.
Very quick recovery, the only regret was that she never felt any labour pains, so she thought she had missed out.

[chinadog]

I had 3 C,Sections tigwig. 2 were emergency and one elective. The "Op" itself is nothing,it takes just 20 minutes that under general btw. On my first 2 I was in for 10 days,that was back in the 70's but on my last I was home within 5 days.my baby was 10 days overdue. I was a "stay at home mum" and too blinking tired to go to work with 2 kids and a new baby to look after as I was in my 30's then.

[Pigletion]

I don't think you can drive for at least six weeks after (same as having appendix out) as you could not emergency stop (or you could do yourself damage if you did so).

[tigwig]

thank you for the answers. squad I haven't declared myself high risk! Its what my midwife told me. She tactfully (not) said it was high risk as you can bleed to death! Thankfully I didn't know that at the time. I googled reasons for c sections and could not find anything on having to have one after a retained placenta but the way the midwife talks it sounds like its a possibility. I really don't know!
Why would I need to see a consultant? Any ideas?

[daffy654]

tigwig,I think your midwife is being overly cautious.As I said in my previous post,I had a retained placenta and had no problems at all in my subsequent pregnancy/labour.

[sqad617]

tigwig.....I know it was the midwife who told you that you were high risk.

Now, days of bleeding to death with a retained placenta have gone, in hospital it is dealt with quickly as it is in the home by the midwife or the "Flying Sqad" the main problem being blood replacement.

I know of no obstetrical studies which show that after one retained placenta that there is an increased risk in furure pregnancies.

Now........are you sure that your midwife and yourself are not getting mixed up with placenta praevia, which is something quite different?

Now, ar

[tigwig]

Yes I'm sure squad! Don't you think I'll need one then? It would be a relief I think, as much as labour is awful at least you feel normal a few days after.
Just glad my midwife now wasn't the midwife who delivered my daughter. It wouldn't have been nice to think I could bleed to death at the time of it happening!

[sqad617]

Tigwig........not my decision as I do not know all your obstetric or medical history.....BUT......from what you have told me, I cannot see any reason why you should need a C-section.

[Velvetee]

Well Tigwig, I can tell you as I had an Emergency C Section on Saturday just gone. I'm really not happy about it and hoped for a normal birth, but after 30 hours of labour and contractions stopping, I had no alternative.

I was prepped before going into Theatre and then given Anaesethic intrvaenously, guess it was stronger form of the Epidural. It took about 10 minutes to work and was told, whilst I'd have no sensation as such, I'd be aware of tugging, pushing etc, this was true and felt no pain whilst it was being done. I was fully aware of what was happening, but could see nothing, as they put a screen up in front.

My baby was born about 15 minutes later, but was disappointed they didn't lower the screen, so I could see him being pulled out, but then again, I didn't end up using my Birth Plan. Soon after he was pulled at I heard him cry and it seemed like forever before he was passed to my Partner.

My scar is in the bikini line and my stomach looks like it belongs to an 80 year old, I doubt I'll ever get my figure back completely. I asked the Surgeon to neatly stitch me up, but I think I'll end up with Keloid scarring. I also found I'd lost 1.4 litres of blood, probably because of my Fibroids, so on high does Iron tabs.

I was up and walking around about 5 hours later and now back at home able to do everything. The area is sore to an extent and I was told recovery would be six weeks, so should rest, but this is impossible with a new baby. I'm just taking Parcetemol and Nurofen to manage any pain, but for me personally, so far it's not been a problem with mobility, just won't lift anything heavy.

Good luck with your C Section, let us know how it went.

[alijangra]

The concern is that you are higher risk of a retained placenta occuring again, which makes you higher risk of post-partum haemmorhage (bleeding from placental site). It is still a very real danger, and yes it is less likely that you will bleed to death these days, however the latest CEMACH report will demonstrate it is the leading cause of maternal death in the developed world. Not to be ignored.
The high risk status will mean you are not suitable for a home birth and will require obstetric care however, a vaginal birth is not out of the question.

[tigwig]

Thank you for that info, you've scared me now! Only joking but I did want to go to the local birth centre which is 2 mins from my house and if not there would have considered a home birth but my midwife said no!