| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 1086.1 | | TLE::STOCKSPDS | Cheryl Stocks | Fri Aug 16 1991 11:29 | 45 |
| Wendy,
I have had 2 C-sections. I was prepared for the possibility of a C-section
with my first son, for reasons similar to yours. After 24 hours of labor,
the doctors concluded that the baby just wasn't going to be able to
fit out (his head wasn't descending at all), so they did the C-section.
For my second, they said "you'll need a C-section", period.
Both times, I had a local (epidural?? they injected the anesthetic through
a needle inserted in my spine). I couldn't see what was happening,
because they hung a sheet up between my head and abdomen. My husband sat
next to my head (so he couldn't see the actual surgery either). The
anesthetist was also next to my head, and talked to me the whole time,
partly to explain what was going on and answer my questions, partly to
verify that I was fine (especially the first time, when I had gotten into
sort of bad shape, had been on oxygen for a couple of hours, etc.).
Delivering the baby was very quick (under 10 minutes, I'd say) - closing
up the incision took a little longer (maybe half an hour?), but that part
didn't matter to me, because I was so elated to have "met" my baby! I
absolutely don't feel any lack of bonding with my kids. I think that the
important thing is not to get so emotionally committed to the idea of
having a natural childbirth that your response to the necessity of a
C-section is to feel cheated or inadequate or whatever. The goal is
a healthy baby and mother, not use of some specific pre-planned
technique.
If I were you, with the conditioned reflex of "hospital - panic!", one
thing I'd ask the doctor about would be the use of a local anesthetic
*plus* a "calm-you-down" drug - I have no idea whether this is feasible,
but I'd think it might mean you could get through it with a shorter
and easier recovery than with a general. If just being in the hospital
is anxiety-inducing for you, how are you going to deal with the time you
spend there during labor, even if everything goes smoothly? Anything
that interferes with your ability to relax will make your labor more
difficult. I would definitely talk to the doc about this, if you
haven't already. I don't mean to scare you - I just think it's
something that you might be able to plan for a solution to ahead of time.
Being in labor does mean that you get very self-absorbed, so it may well
be that the hospital won't bother you the way it normally does, because
you'll be somewhat oblivious to it.
If you'd like to talk more about this, send me mail.
cheryl
|
| 1086.2 | Hope this is reassuring | TNPUBS::STEINHART | Pixillated | Fri Aug 16 1991 12:11 | 110 |
| Wendy,
Please try to take it easy. I know it is very anxiety-provoking to be
facing a c-section, which is BOTH abdominal surgery AND childbirth, AND
becoming a parent (if its your first). Whew!
I went through this myself and survived just fine. Granted, I was
incredibly anxious until the baby was born. It turned out well.
Here are some answers to your questions:
a. What kind of anesthesia did you use?
They use a sort of spinal. I was extremely anxious about having
this done. I haven't had surgery since I was little, and the
thought of having something stuck and injected in my spine made
me crazy. While the anesthesiologist was doing it, my heart rate
shot up. The good news is, it didn't hurt, and was minimally
uncomfortable. It's just the thought if it that drove me nuts.
They left the little connector in place until I recovered, which let
them put the pain-killer in through a little tube. It was
uncomfortable, but not nearly as much as the one in my wrist.
The nurse inserted a urinary catheter which was also minimally
uncomfortable, and I was real glad later to not have to get up,
or even think about peeing.
I was pretty unhappy about all these hookups once I started
recovering, and I do HATE hospitals. The more motivation to get
up, walk around, and get out real fast.
b. Anesthesia.
They gave me a sedative. After the prep work was done, and the
sedative kicked in, I was positively mellow.
c. Did you watch the procedure?
No. Are you kidding? I even told the staff to not describe what
was happening until the baby was born and they started stitching me
up. Even with the sedative, I didn't want to be grossed out.
d. Was your husband present?
Yes. He was fine about the whole thing. I had to very clearly tell
him how he could support me through it. He was curious about
everything going on, and the C-section didn't bother him at all.
Since I was down for the count (so to speak), I insisted to the
staff and to him that he hold the baby from the moment it was born.
Except for when they weighed, measured, wiped, suctioned, and wrapped
her, he held her and gave her the first bath. He proudly walked her
down the hall and showed her off.
e. Bonding
I was very "druggy" for several hours after the birth. I just
wanted to know that the baby was perfect and the stitching-up went
fine. I held her briefly in the recovery room, but I was too weak
to hold her long. In awhile, I started nursing her.
I did feel kind of strange that I didn't have her vaginally. In a
way, I couldn't quite feel she was "mine". It didn't prevent me
from cuddling, nursing, and caring for her, but it took awhile to
feel that I loved her. I guess this can happen after a vaginal
birth, too.
f. Everything has its tradeoffs. Look at it this way, if you go for
a vaginal birth, you get to have all the "pleasures" of labor. I
had more discomfort afterward, I guess, or maybe just different.
Either way, you and the baby pull through just fine and it doesn't
affect your relationship at all.
g. The scar healed up okay. I never had a scar before, so it has
taken awhile to accept my body the way it is now. My husband,
as usual, is fine about it.
h. If I need to have another planned c-section, I will be calmer
about the procedure, having been through it before. I had a
very severe emotional postpartum 2 days later. This is the only
thing I am afraid of. I will discuss it with the doctor, and expect
her to tell me that it was a result of particular circumstances and
not likely to recur.
i. I decided not to be concerned about other people's opinions, and not
to discuss my medical history unless I really wanted to. Some
things are just too private. If necessary, I said, "I don't want to
discuss it." It's hard enough delivering and raising a child,
without being concerned with other people's opinions about birth
methods, nursing, potty training, clothes, daycare, and every other
darn thing right up to your child's choice of college, spouse, and
career. I decided, starting with her birth, to do the best I could
and not feel I had to justify everything to everyone. As long as
we are well, the devil take the hindmost, I say.
On the light side, I laughed hysterically when the anesthesiologist
walked into the prep room with his cart full of tools and supplies. It
was the same Sears brand tool cabinet my husband uses. Sounds stupid,
but when I saw that, I somehow knew everything would be okay and we'd
be back home in a few days with our new baby. The anesthesiologist
said he liked the Sears brand better than the medical suppliers'.
Well, just enjoy the small things and the real big one - your new baby.
Tell your husband to splurge on flowers and balloons for your room.
Let the nurses wait on you. Bring a nice nightgown and robe to wear
when you feel well enough to shower (a major event), and a new pair of
slippers. You'll be home in no time.
Laura
|
| 1086.3 | Worth it to be awake.. | FSOA::EFINIZIO | | Fri Aug 16 1991 12:45 | 66 |
|
Hi Wendy,
Guess I'll throw in my adventure of C-Section land. I went into
labor with Matthew on a Thursday a.m. I went into the hospital,
and they sent me home. Friday night I went back into the hospital,
after going through labor all day, they kept me all night.
Sat. a.m. they induced after being about 2cm dialated...I
progressed very slowly...although my contractions were very intense.
I think they put me on the Pitocin around 8a.m. I requested an epidoral
around 2 p.m. At 11:00, I was still on between 7-8 cm dialated...
and the Dr. said a natural delivery didn't look good. At this
point he gave me and my husband the choice ...to continue, or have
a C....biggest decision in my life. The problem was, every time
they'd increase the Pitocin, Matt's heartbeat would go down...real
scarry..and they were monitoring his heartbeat vaginally, and
monitoring his oxygen intake through his head.
I had everything plugged into me...I was exhausted and couldn't
continue. So wasn't my husband. So we made the decision of the
C... They increased the epidoral dosage..and prepped me. Now that
I think back on it...I was so tired..all I wanted was for it to
be over. I don't think I ever had the time to be nervous about it.
The funniest thing was when I was in the operating room, and my
husband walked in with his cap and gown....he has such big feet
that they made him put caps on his feet...it was the funniest
sight.
I didn't want to miss out on seeing my child born...They won't
let you watch the procedure, but they were great about everything
(I had him at Memorial). They actually took pictures of him
coming out (which I never thought I'd want).. Then Bob was
snapping away with our camera. He walked Matt down to the
nursery after he was all cleaned up.
I didn't see Matthew again (it was 12:45 a.m) until around 3:00
or so...hard to remember I was so drugged up. I was to exhausted
in the recovery room to see him. One thing about a planned C-
is that you definately have more time to bond in the recovery
room. I really never missed the fact though that I didn't get to hold
him until later. Sometimes I think the bonding issue can be
overly exerted. It takes awhile to really get to know your
child...and vice-versa. It's the time afterward that really
makes it special. Like one of the other noters mentioned..
flowers..candy, visitors...and just seeing that little baby,
after nurturing him in you for 9 months.
I know I missed a lot from having him naturally. I guess the
biggest thing here is really never seeing him born (vaginally).
I always think...he really came out of me? It a strange feeling
from one moment having him in you..and the next he's lying
in your arms.
Now I'm nervous about having another one. I fear having him
vaginally.
Anyway...Wendy..if you really can get through the initial
C-section, it really is worth it to be awake. It's a miracle
to see that little one when they hold it up...
Good luck!
Ellen
|
| 1086.4 | | NAVIER::SAISI | | Fri Aug 16 1991 13:15 | 3 |
| This may be a stupid question, but is the afterbirth expelled
vaginally? How do you push to do this part with the abdominal cut?
Linda
|
| 1086.5 | Laura's right about this part | TLE::RANDALL | | Fri Aug 16 1991 13:17 | 13 |
| > I did feel kind of strange that I didn't have her vaginally. In a
> way, I couldn't quite feel she was "mine". It didn't prevent me
> from cuddling, nursing, and caring for her, but it took awhile to
> feel that I loved her. I guess this can happen after a vaginal
> birth, too.
Yes, it took a while for me to feel attached to two of my three.
If you find yourself feeling that way, don't blame it on the
surgery (or on anything else that happened during the delivery or
pregnancy) and don't think it means you're a bad mother.
Sometimes it just takes longer to fall in love.
--bonnie
|
| 1086.6 | I had a general | JAWS::TRIPP | | Fri Aug 16 1991 13:51 | 31 |
| first, as for .4, don't feel like you're the first one to ask this
quesiton....I did too. I asked my doctor if I'd even have vaginal
bleeding after. He sort of chuckled and assured me that even though
they'd take the afterbirth out , well after the birth, I would still
have bleeding. But maybe not as much.
For me I had a general anesthesia. I had had 2 spinal surgeries and my
epidural was "spotty" I still had feeling in some abdominal sections.
From the begining I was very disapointed not to be able to labor. Our
first birth, (our stilborn daughter) was a lovely labor. I literally
slept for 10 hours, after being induced, pushed twice and gave birth,
no meds, no stitches. I wanted another experience like this.
I hated the urinary catheter, I hated three people coming at me at
once, one to take blood, one to insert an IV, on inserting the catheter
and shave my privates. Fortunately for me, the catheter was removed
before I left the OR, and I was up and walking to the bathroom within 8
hours of the section. (I DON"T do Bedpans!!) They also never knocked
me out that deeply, I do remember hearing his first cry, and a couple
comments between my OB and husband. My OB made some comment that the
stapler was made by "craftsman", (this is for the one who commented on
the anesthesiologist's craftsman cart)
I was given pain shots in the recovery room, and medicated anytime I
needed, unfortunately due to his birth defect and knowing he needed
surgery very soon, I didn't get to see him for 15 hours.
Relax and enjoy...this CAN NOT be said enough.
Lyn
|
| 1086.7 | More | TNPUBS::STEINHART | Pixillated | Fri Aug 16 1991 13:59 | 28 |
| In answer to the earlier question:
The doctor removes the placenta through the incision.
You still have a red to brown to pink discharge after the birth, same
as if you had a vaginal delivery.
The nurses made us be very hygienic even though we had C-sections. I
thought this was strange since my cervix hadn't opened or even thinned.
Because of the painkillers afterward, I felt no pain in my abdomen. I
was very weak, though, and had trouble moving around. This was
better within a couple of days. The nurses help you with everything
until you feel better. The scar was itchy for a long time. But that's
about it.
For me the biggest thing was setting my mind on how to answer people's
questions, as I described earlier. It's worth your time to
a. Set your own mind to rest on the correctness of your decisions
before and during labor - you made the best decision you could
b. Think about how you want to handle this with inquisitive people.
I discussed it fully with only a few close family members and friends.
For others, I said "The doctor said it was the best thing for the
baby." If they pressed me, I said "I don't want to discuss it." I was
fully prepared to say, "It's none of your business, so butt out."
Fortunately, I never had to do that.
Laura
|
| 1086.8 | what matters now may not matter _then_ | TIPTOE::STOLICNY | | Fri Aug 16 1991 14:01 | 17 |
|
Not specifically on the subject because I haven't had a C-section,
but I want to add something anyways! :-)
I almost fainted when our childbirth class was brought up to the Labor&
Delivery wing of the hospital; particularly when we toured the delivery
/operating room. I was determined NOT to have to give birth in
that sterile, disgusting room. Well, when the time came, you could
have wheeled me out into the middle of the street and it wouldn't
have really bothered me! Modesty is kind of left at the door
during childbirth.
What's my point? Just that, although it seems overwhelming and
somewhat "unnatural" and frightening, it may not seem so awful at
the time and.... you will get through it!
Carol
|
| 1086.9 | How true it is | JUPITR::MAHONEY | | Fri Aug 16 1991 14:18 | 19 |
|
I too did not have a section. But I almost had to. After 15 hrs of hard
labor the baby had faced in the wrong direction and the Dr. told me I
had to start pushing in all kinds of poitions to try to turn her or he
would have to perform the C-Section. Well, I was at the point that I
didn't care because I was in so much pain I just wanted it to be over.
I don't think I had too much time to think of being scared.
To make a long story short, I pushed for 4 hours and she turned and I
delivered vaginally. I was so tired from being awake 22 hrs that I
would have welcomed the surgery, but I gave it a shot and had the
experience of delivering the way I had expected.
It's true what the other noters said about being afraid of having a
section,when you are in that state of mind. You don't think twice
about the possiblilities.
sandy
|
| 1086.10 | hope this helps | NAC::KNOX | Donna Knox | Fri Aug 16 1991 14:37 | 91 |
| Wendy,
I also have had 2 sections - first unplanned, second definitely
planned.
With the first, we had no reason to suspect a possible section.
Until I was in labor for almost 2 days and still only dialated to 7
centimeters. Similar to Ellen in .3, we got the choices to 1)continue
like we were (no way!), 2) start pitocin (non-choice really because my
contractions had been at 2 minutes apart, lasting to 90 seconds, for
over 6 hours with no progress in the last 4 hours), or 3) take the
baby by section. I really didn't care at that point, was ready to beg
the doctor for a section in order to get that baby out of me. I had
been on an oxygen for I guess 12 hours or so by that point because the
baby's heart rate went way down during contractions without it.
So they put in a catheter (minor discomfort compared to contractions),
inserted an IV tube in my hand and wheeled me off to surgery.
For anesthesia, I had a spinal. As I understand it, they insert a
needle between the disks and vertebrae and inject the anesthetic. I
also had a small amount of time release pain killer to help with the
surgical discomfort after the spinal wore off. With my spinal (as
opposed to an epidural) no taps or tubes or anything were left in the
spine after the injection. The warm feeling spreading down my torso
and legs was so relaxing. To watch my belly contract without feeling
any pain was incredible. Anyway, the anesthesiologist stayed with me
on one side of my head until I was wheeled into recovery afterwards.
She was wonderful and explained how I was going to feel at each step
and why and kept giving me/doctor updates on my vitals which was
reassuring.
Once I was numb, the nurses set me up as a sterile area with those blue
sheets and cleansers. My husband came in with the doctor in his hospital
blues and settled by my head opposite the anesthesiologist, instamatic
camera at the ready. They set up a blue sheet at my chin so I wouldn't
get 'splashed', so I couldn't see what was going on. However the doctor
gave me a blow-by-blow commentary all the way which really helped. My
husband stood up and watched everything after the initial cut into my
abdomen and took pictures of my daughter coming out of me. I really
liked having the pics to put an image to the words in my head.
They unstrapped one arm so that I could hold her after she was cleaned/
measured/printed but before she went to the nursery. That made me feel
so good about the whole thing that even now, 4 1/2 years later, sitting
here typing this in, I've got a big grin on my face and this wonderful warm
feeling in my chest just thinking about it. I guess that started the
bonding. I've never felt strange because I didn't deliver vaginally or
that I was missing out on something. I was just so releived to have
her out and healthy and labor over and done with!
After I was stitched up inside and out, I spent about 4 hours in
recovery where I slept the whole time. I held Jessica again when
she was 5 1/2 hours old and started the first of many creative nursing
sessions trying to find the best position for not straining my
incision.
Second time around, my doctor and I planned a section for a few
different reasons. I had no qualms about it and was quite relaxed
that morning, taking a shower, playing with 2 year old Jessica,
and getting a ride to the hospital. The same routines as the
first time, except I only slept 2 hours after because I was not as
tired.
If I have any adivse to give it is for you to relax. I know it's
easier said than done, but it is important. As long as the baby and
you are healthy in the end, what does it matter how s/he got out.
RE: vac-u-suck
My cousin had this used for her first child because the baby was
'stuck' at the crowning point, pushing was not helping like it is
supposed to. Her doctor put on the little suction cup and, timed with
the next contraction, pulled out his head. My cousin pushed the rest
of him out on her own. IMO, I wouldn't call it 'more fun for the doctor'.
I'd call it 'do what you have to do to get a healthy baby and mother'.
RE: .4 the placenta
The placenta was removed by the doctor before stitching the uterus
back up. Basically, he located it using the umbilical cord, then just
reached in and scooped it out. After examining it closely, he also
removed the rest of the ambiotic sac and suctioned out my uterus
somewhat before closing it up.
Well, I hope this helps you somewhat to understand one c-section
experience and to alleviate some of your fears about it.
Call or send mail if you want to talk more off-line.
Donna
|
| 1086.11 | | SUPER::WTHOMAS | | Fri Aug 16 1991 15:07 | 40 |
|
Thank you for the responses, as many of you have picked up from
this note and from previous notes, hospitals are not my favorite place
to be and I have a lot of outstanding issues with them (one of which is
that I've had previous surgery at the hospital in which I am to deliver
and the nursing staff almost crippled me (literally) from their lack of
knowledge and neglect, they wouldn't listen to me when I complained
(for 36 hours) about a complication that I was having from the surgery
and kept telling me that I was being a baby and just wanted more
medication, no one got the Doctor until I called his office from the
hospital directly and got him to help me (by that time the help had to
come in the form of STAT emergency treatment in order to save my leg)
I don't know that I have ever forgiven or been able to trust that
hospital since).
Knowing that I have to go back to that place, even *rationally*
understanding that it is a different department and for a different
reason and outcome is certainly causing it's own little anxieties.
Aren't phobias just grand?
As far as me ranting and raving about physicians having "fun" with
all of their "toys", understand the position of fear and bitterness
that I am coming from and please try to accept it for what it is, I am
in no way trying to insinuate that any one method of birth is better
than another or that any necessary tool used in order to get to a birth
is in any way "bad". If it becomes necessary to use such items during
my labor, then they shall be used (however, I reserve the right to be
grouchy about it).
I think that I just need to stop thinking about this for awhile
(I'm always like this the day after our childbirth classes) and try to
concentrate on something else for now. All of this is really beyond any
kind of control that I have anyway and I seem to be wasting lots of
energy on what "could happen".
Maybe I'll stop off and buy some flowers for the house on my way
home from work instead.
Wendy
|
| 1086.12 | | KAOFS::S_BROOK | Lost at C | Fri Aug 16 1991 17:24 | 44 |
| My wife had all 3 of our girls by C-Section. The first was a general
and I wasn't allowed in the o/r but took the baby to the nursery.
The second and third were by epidural. Suffice it to say that not
all epidurals and not all generals are the same.
Jane was "out of it" with the general for several hours and really
only "met" our daughter several houurs afer delivery. She experienced
a definite "this can't be ours reaction". The recovery from the
general was not easy with nausea and all the other symptoms ...
Longer term recovery from the surgery really took all of 10 days.
The second child (first epidural) was either not positioned quite
right, or not allowed long enough to work, because she suffered
a lot of pain. Post-op recovery was quicker in spite of some post-op
shock and long-term recovery was about 5 days.
The third child was much better altogether ... no shock ... post-op
was a matter of a couple hours ... and long term recovery was only
a few days.
In each of the epidurals, I was present ... Jane couldn't see a thing
with the draping, and could hear everything clearly. I could see
plenty ... all if I wanted ... but I must admit that the cooking
flesh smell from the scalpels got to me more than any amount of spilled
blood! I was very perturbed the first time that the conversation in
the o/r was about golf and houses and things rather than about my
wife in pain on the table! The second time was much more business
like and there was far more concentration on the task in hand.
Talk to the Doctors and if you can, the likely anaesthetist.
Beware though whether you deliver vaginally or by section, that you
can meet over-worked nurses that you have to tell what you need.
Remember after a day you'll be mobile and because you are vertical
you'll have much more power over the nursing staff than if you are
horizontal!!!
In spite of all the horror stories, most experiences are not that
bad ...
Stuart
|
| 1086.13 | could you change hospitals? | TLE::RANDALL | | Fri Aug 16 1991 17:28 | 16 |
| Wendy,
I think the flowers are an excellent idea :)
Are there reasons you have to deliver at this hospital and can't
look for a different one?
If I'd had an experience like that at a particular place, you
couldn't get me inside it again if I was conscious. No way. And
I don't think that's anything irrational. A C-section is major
surgery and you want competent people. If you can't trust the
people you get, you should look elsewhere if at all possible. I
know that with insurance and medical plans and whatnot the way
they are today, we sometimes don't get a choice. . .
--bonnie
|
| 1086.14 | | PERFCT::WOOLNER | Photographer is fuzzy, underdeveloped and dense | Fri Aug 16 1991 18:03 | 64 |
|
My labor was very erratic and never got to a steady "every 5 minutes"
-- it was more like 17 min, 6 min., 22 min., 8 min... all over the map.
Finally most of the intervals seemed to be getting shorter, so I went
to the hospital (5:00am), whereupon the contractions stopped. After
about 1/2 hour of this non-labor, I was told to walk around to get it
going again; after a couple of minutes I felt something wet, decided it
must be my water breaking, though I was afraid it was incontinence (!).
I scurried back to my assigned birthing room, went in the lav and
discovered that it was *blood*. All bets were now off as far as
"natural" childbirth went; the doctor broke the sac and determined that
the bleeding was probably only a minor blood vessel rupturing. Labor
progressed to 8cm (why do they say "SOHN-ti-MEETERS"--either prounounce
it all in French or all in English, not half-and-half!), then stalled
at 8cm for 2 hours. When my doctor returned from lunch (grrr!), he
decided a c-sec was in order, due to "failure to progress". I had
snuck in a few pushes, which felt GREAT!, but I mostly acquiesced about
not pushing/having the section because 1) the blood had really gotten my
attention, and it hadn't been resolved yet; and 2) labor was getting
really OLD... I felt like saying "just gimme a rusty saw*, I'll do it
myself." Other noters are absolutely correct in saying the
surroundings are NOT going to matter to you. You leave your modesty at
the maternity ward door, and you can even lose sight of the object
(baby) in the throes of labor. To answer your questions:
> What kind of anesthesia did you use?
A spinal, adminstered during a contraction! It's really ludicrous
trying to curl up in a fetal position "around" your belly so the
vertebrae separate enough for the needle. But it is possible, and for
me the relief was INSTANTANEOUS.
> Did you watch the procedure?
BAHahahahahaha! Beforehand, I wanted to have a mirror ready in the
birthing room or whereever I would be. I didn't count on the pain of
labor making me nauseated enough to toss cookies with pretty good
regularity. They put up "the drape" and a nurse narrated the whole
procedure; a detatched part of me was very interested (and wishing I
had a tape recorder on), but the other part of me was getting TOO vivid
mental pictures of it all.
> Was your husband (or SO) there in the OR?
Elective single parent here. Biodad saw her later; my coach was in the
OR and took still pictures of us immediately after Alexandra was born
(but not pictures of the procedure).
> Did you feel that you missed out on some kind of a bonding
> experience with your baby because of this?
Absolutely not. They put Alex on a little cart next to me while doing
the APGAR and I kept saying "Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!"--and she
would stop crying every time she heard my voice. She was in the
recovery room with me too, under the "bilirubin lights," which she
HATED (she still hates bright lights and complains that the sun gives
her headaches). She was born at 2:30pm and we were nursing at around
8:00pm back in my room.
Leslie
|
| 1086.15 | Here's 2 .... | BCSE::WEIER | Patty, DTN 381-0877 | Fri Aug 16 1991 22:56 | 83 |
| Wendy,
Don't have time to read all the replies ... I have had 2 C.sections,
one in 1985, one in 1988.
What kind of anesthesia did you use?
The first I had a spinal. Not bad - a little uncomfortable when
injecting because you have to bring your knees to your chest while
laying on your side. You want me to do WHAT?!?!????? That was about
2-3 mins of discomfort. After that the numbness set right in.
The second I had an epidural, and would never ever ever ever ever ever
recommend this to anyone - not even my worst enemy. It was a little
more than 'no' anesthesia, and I've never experienced any kind of pain
like it. WOW!!! To this day it brings tears to my eyes thinking about
it.
Has anyone used general?
No. That was not an option as these were planned c.sections, with
'high risk' pregnancies, and it was thought best not to subject the
babies to anything else.
Did you watch the procedure?
EEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!! NO WAY! I was draped from the chest
down - couldn't have seen if I wanted to. I wouldn't have wanted to!!!
For the first, when the baby was delivered, there was a loud gush of
various fluids hitting the floor. That was more than enough to start
me going.
Was your husband (or SO) there in the OR?
My husband was there for both of them and watched both of them. He was
not allowed in the OR until after the initial incision for the first
one. Apparantly some men REALLY freak out when they see someone going
for their wife/SO with a large knife. He thought it was really cool
and none of it bothered him a bit.
Did you feel that you missed out on some kind of a bonding
experience with your baby because of this?
I do because with my first I was not given the chance to hold him. He
was born at 8:32p.m., and I didn't get to hold or see him till almost
12 hours later. Part because of the spinal and I couldn't move. Part
because he was 5-6 weeks early and tiny (but healthy!!). Both babies
got 10s on their apgars and were absolutely beautiful - perfectly
shaped, no conehead. The second one I was allowed to hold him close as
soon as he was born and I don't feel I lost anything. Make SURE they
let you hold the baby!!!
> noises (even muffled through a sound track) in the operating room, it
I will say, for noises, that everytime I hear a finger-nail
clippers it's identical to the sound of them cutting for the second one
(yech!). I don't remember hearing anything w/ the first, but I was
pretty groggy anyway.
If I had to do it all over again, I'd have another c.section, with a
spinal. It's not that bad really, and the worst of it is afterwards
recovering, and even that's just a week of discomfort (GAWD, don't
sneeze or cough!!), and pretty much back to normal. The scar is
incidental. It was funny because w/ my spinal, I was laying there all
numbed up, and the Dr.s were doing something, and suddenly Dan appeared
in the room, and I thought to myself "Hmmmm, that's strange - they said
they weren't going to let him in until after the initial incision.
They must've changed their minds!". And he sat down and we kinda
talked for a while, and about 10 mins later I asked him if they were
going to start soon. Everyone broke up laughing .... 2 minutes later
Chris was born. I never felt a thing!! For the epidural they actually
stopped twice to administer more anesthesia, and in the end you could
tell they just said to hell with it, and went for it. After they
closed, they asked me to slide my hand down my stomach, as far as I
could still feel it - they had to stop me from touching the incision.
Think twice about this one for surgery, ladies!!
It's been 3 1/2 years since my youngest was born. Having the c. never
bothered me at all, until I was talking to a friend of mine. His wife
was just having a baby and we were talking about the delivery, and he
was saying how really neat and awesome it was to see all the effort and
pain end in something so wonderful and beautiful ... only then did I
regret never having had a natural birth. So, I think it'll always nag
a little, but not a lot.
Good Luck!!
Patty
|
| 1086.16 | | BUNYIP::QUODLING | I'll have some of what Marketing is Smoking... | Sat Aug 17 1991 17:54 | 12 |
| Our OB/Gyn advised against a Spinal as he and several of his colleagues
had seen persistent followon back pain in the area of the injection...
Barbara had a full aneasthetic, For which the doctor insisted I wait
outside (Spouses get panicky seeing their SO's out of it...). He said
back in 15 minutes. Sure enough out was wheened Andrew 15 minutes
later, and after about 20 minutes helping with the weighing/measuring
etc with him, we wnet to Barbara's room where she was just coming to...
q
|
| 1086.17 | What are the stats? | BCSE::WEIER | Patty, DTN 381-0877 | Sun Aug 18 1991 13:31 | 38 |
| On the note of Spinals .... I'd really be interested to find out the
exact stats. for possible spinal-complications. I know a handful of
people who've had spinal headaches, and everyone else I know never had
a problem. And it's more than a few people. The basic possible
complications that I've heard of are;
Spinal headache - Almost always eliminated by laying flat for 24 hours.
I got up after 12 hours and was fine.
Backache in the area of injection - Usually caused by anesthesiologist
(what I was told) who's new to spinals - get a more experienced
anesthesiologist!! My injection site felt bruised for a few days,
but that was it. (of course so did everything else! (-;)
Leaking spinal fluid, causing on-going headaches - This was one of the
more severe side effects, and I believe required surgery to repair
since it was from the injection site not closing, causing spinal
fluid to continuously leak into the system, which causes INTENSE
spinal headaches.
Paralysis - Caused from anesthesiologist hitting the nerves during
injection. Never heard of this happening to anyone - get a GOOD
anesthesiologist, and LAY STILL when they tell you!!!
Again, I'd be interested to see how often these things happened. And
after having an ineffective epidural, I'd gladly suffer through any of
the above (except the paralysis!), if I had another c.section.
.16 said "several of his colleagues had seen persistent followon back
pain in the area of injection..." ... but how many PATIENTS?? Just
because several Dr.s have seen something doesn't mean that it's
something that the majority of PATIENTS experience. I try to keep in
mind that most Dr.'s these days are very afraid of malpractice suits
and are taking the safest possible route, with the least possible
long-term effects. Ask lots of questions, and lots of WHYs? and How
Often? questions.
Patty
|
| 1086.18 | my experience | MARX::FLEURY | | Mon Aug 19 1991 09:15 | 27 |
| Wendy,
I think it's great that you are thinking ahead about all the possibilities
for childbirth. As I recall, my pregnancy was so easy (except the
all-day-sickness), that I certainly wasn't going to need a C-section. Well -
you guessed it - Michelle began showing signs of distress after I had been in
labor for about 36 hours, so they took her by section.
They gave me an epidural with a little bit of morphine in it (in addition to
whatever else it is they use). The morphine took about two days to wear off
completely, so I was spared most of the pain people complain about after
childbirth and surgery.
As far as bonding is conderned - we bonded WONDERFULLY! But not until after
I had gotten a good night sleep. I was so exhausted after being in labor for
a day and a half, all I could think about was sleep. The fact that I had
a C-section had no bearing on when I got to hold my baby for the first time.
I did, and do still feel disappointed, and somewhat a "failure" for not
"succeeding" at natural childbirth. But I think those negative feelings are
largely a result of my inflated expectations about the birth process. If I
had taken the time, as you are, to prepare myself for all the possibilities,
I probably would not feel like I "failed".
Good luck - the best is yet to come.
-Carol
|
| 1086.19 | The headache was the pits | JUPITR::MAHONEY | | Mon Aug 19 1991 09:45 | 16 |
|
My spinal headache lastest a week. The only way I got rid of it was to
go back to the hospital and get what they call a Blood Patch done.
They take blood from your arm and insert it in the hole where your
epidural was to stop the spinal fluid from leaking into your spine. It
was like having an epidural all over again. In my case they had to do
this in two holes because the Anesthesiologist had to take two tries to
give me the epidural during labor. After the Blood Patch I had to lay
on my back for several hours and the next day it was as if nothing had
happened, the headache was gone. I have to say that the Epidural was
fantastic at the time, but you neve know what the outcome will be after
it wears off.
Sandy
|
| 1086.20 | General...and husband watched | JURAN::WATSON | | Mon Aug 19 1991 10:58 | 43 |
|
I had our daughter by emergency Cesarian after being in labor
for 17 hours. The reason was, she wasn't getting enough oxygen.
After hearing that, I got VERY nervous that she'd have brain
damage if they didn't deliver her immediately. While my obstetrician
was trying to tactfully suggest a Cesarian, I told him to do one
and to use general anesthesia. Sorry, but I didn't want to be
awake while I was being sliced open. I was also shaking so much
that I seriously doubt they could have safely given me an epidural.
I was calm all day, but the minute the doctor broke my water, reality
set in and so did my nerves.
Anyway, my husband got to watch the entire procedure after the
incision was made. I woke up, expecting a son (just had that
feeling) and couldn't understand why everyone kept saying "it's
a girl" but no-one was saying what WE had! Still laugh about that.
We both wanted a daughter, but would have been happy with a son too.
Kaitlin turned out to be perfectly healthy, 7lbs 2� oz. and 21".
She is now 6 months old and a real joy.
As far as recovery goes, I was in a lot of pain when they made me
get up the next morning. It feels like everything is going to fall
out, but it doesn't. My first pain medication was morphine, which
I rarely used because I thought it was what they give to heroin
addicts and that it was highly addictive--not so. I did try percoset
too--too strong for me. I got headaches from that that were worse
than the incision. After about a week, I began to feel better, but
I wasn't really back to normal until 7 weeks...still tired then, but
able to drive and get around.
Regarding your question on "bonding"...I fell in love with Kaitlin
the minute I met her. I don't feel any sense of loss or failure
for having had an operation instead of a traditional delivery. I
was in labor for 17 hours anyway, so I am very aware of what
contractions feel like. Mine were nowhere NEAR as bad as I expected.
Best of luck with your delivery! It isn't important how
your baby arrives, but that she/he is as healthy as possible.
Robin
|
| 1086.21 | c-section-question | NODEX::DAVILA | | Tue Aug 20 1991 10:59 | 55 |
| Dear Wendy,
I had one c-section and two vaginal births.
What kind of anesthesia did you use?
I had an epidural, of which I was terrified, but it went just fine. And the
relief from the contractions ( I was in labor already) was immediate.
Did you watch the procedure?
No, because of the screen that they put in front of you. My husband sat next
to me and didn't watch either. We brought a midwife in with us, and she watched
and she told us what was going on.
Did you feel that you missed out on some kind of a bonding
experience with your baby because of this?
Back then I thought I did, but after having the other two children, I realized
I had the same reaction every time! The babies didn't really become "mine"
until after a few days later. They felt like strangers for a few days. So it
wasn't the C-section.
I understand all too well how you feel about keeping procedures to a minimum.
I was veeeeery late for my first delivery, and we still kept ourselves out of
the hospital as long as we could. When the time for the C-section came, we felt
we had done everything we could to prevent it.
We belong to an HMO, and we did switch centers so I could give birth at Beth
Israel in Boston rather than Brigham and Womens. 6 years ago (I don't know
the numbers now), Beth Israel had half the Cesarean rate of Brigham and Women's.
I wouldn't rule out trying to switch centers or doctors if you're in an HMO.
The doctors do like to inform you of all the problems they can run into. If
something goes wrong, they feel they can tell you "we told you about it".
My doctor made me sign forms stating that I was giving them permission to
do what they thought was best, and I signed another form before the anesthesia
that basically said "we might make mistakes". Yes, they can make mistakes,
but signing these forms doesn't mean that you agree with everything they will
do and doesn't mean they can't be sued later (of course this is besides the
point, since what you whant is a healthy you and a healthy baby.)
Ask questions. They'll make you feel like you're pestering them. They did that
to us also. Perhaps hiring a midwife to go with you to the appointments and
delivery is not a bad idea, she can ask the questions for you, and she doesn't
feel threatened by the "authority" of the doctor.
I had very good experiences at Beth Israel, not so good at Emerson (gall bladder
operation). At Beth Israel they seemed to listen to me a good deal and they
provided as many answers as I requested.
Good luck. Hope any of this helps.
Mari
|
| 1086.22 | | SUPER::WTHOMAS | | Wed Aug 21 1991 10:24 | 28 |
|
After thinking (obsessing) about this topic long enough, I've
decided to try to implement the lesson of the rabbit (learned from some
North American Indian Animal cards that I use for guidance on
occassion).
Apparently the rabbit was cursed so that he would be so afraid of
things that he would call his fears to him. For example, he would stand
out in the woods and cry up to the hawk how afraid he was and how he
worried that the hawk would catch him. The hawk, of course, was able to
locate the rabbit by the noise he was making and ended up catching him,
thus bringing to the rabbit his own fears by the calling of them.
Although I'm NOT going to deny that the possibility of a C-section
is there, and I AM going to find out information and have prior
knowledge so that (hopefully) I can make some deliberate decisions, I
am going to try not to call the fears to me. (I know of one woman who
was so worried about the actual labor that she swears "she" couldn't
relax and that was why she didn't dialate any further, She had been
doing fine and then heard a woman screaming down the hall and stopped
all dialation from then on, she required a c-section).
Me, I've got enough other things to worry about right now (Like is
the house ever going to be in order enough for the baby to come home
to?)
Wendy
|
| 1086.23 | | KAOFS::S_BROOK | | Wed Aug 21 1991 11:39 | 28 |
| Wendy,
>
> Me, I've got enough other things to worry about right now (Like is
> the house ever going to be in order enough for the baby to come home
> to?)
>
In a word ... NO!
If you don't believe it's in sufficient order now, it won't really ever
be ... and just wait till you get the baby home, you'll then be too
exhausted to really even CARE if the house is in order enough. So,
relax and stop worrying about that too! In fact STOP WORRYING!
We got my wife a Tee Shirt a couple years ago while she was depressed
that said "Don't Worry -- Be Happy"! Kind of simplistic but still a
good idea. Also, remember the so-called Serenity prayer ... the one
about being granted the serenity to accept the things you cannot change,
the strength to change the things you can and the wisdom to know the
difference!
So, when you find yourself worrying, stop, relax and ask yourself what good
you are doing by worrying about anything!
Take care,
Stuart
|
| 1086.24 | what would i do if i didn't worry? | CNTROL::STOLICNY | | Wed Aug 21 1991 11:40 | 4 |
|
But Stuart, some folks thrive on worry! :-)
carol
|
| 1086.25 | | KAOFS::S_BROOK | | Wed Aug 21 1991 12:47 | 5 |
| When my wife puts on this tee-shirt, and starts worrying about something
or another, I tell her to "Don't Happy -- Be Worried!".
Yeah, there are some people who worry abouut worrying, and worry about
not worrying at the same time! What a way to live ... it worries me ! :-)
|
| 1086.26 | | SUPER::WTHOMAS | | Wed Aug 21 1991 13:07 | 25 |
|
True, obsessing about things will not get you (or me) anywhere, but
telling a pregnant woman not to worry is kind of like trying to hold
back the night with a match, no?
I understand that whatever will be will be, but on the other hand, I
also understand (perhaps too well) the complications and difficulties
that can arise. I also know of the success stories that can happen.
I think that taking precautions and thus preparing yourself is a way of
taking care of YOUR SELF. I'm not entirely sure that worrying about
things related to a pregnancy is completely without merit (or can be
stopped by the admonition of "hey, just don't think about it")
How can pregnant women NOT worry? We are directly responsible for a new
life until that life leaves us, the "what ifs" are many.
Stuart, I know you mean well and I know from mail and this notes file
that you are a very caring person, but telling me not to worry?
Geesh, that makes me worry a little bit about you. ;-)
Wendy
|
| 1086.27 | no matter what...you will get through it | JUPITR::MAHONEY | | Wed Aug 21 1991 13:21 | 13 |
|
Wendy, I agree that every pregnant woman worries. But, as you've heard
from many of the previous noters we all overcome these worries. If you
were to have a c-section you will get through that too. We all have
had fears of that procedure, and it's ok to worry about it, just don't
make yourself crazy over the "what if's", your body is under enough
stress just being pregnant. Take it one day at a time, and "if" it were
to happen just think of it as it is being done for the health of mother
and baby!!
Take care, and try to relax a little. ( I know that's not easy though)
Sandy
|
| 1086.28 | constructive worrying | MARX::FLEURY | | Wed Aug 21 1991 13:49 | 34 |
| > How can pregnant women NOT worry? We are directly responsible for a new
> life until that life leaves us, the "what ifs" are many.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I just had to chuckle when I read this. I am sure you probably didn't
mean this the way I read it - but I just had to laugh at the though of
someone thinking the worry ends after the baby is born. THIS IS JUST
PRACTICE! The true olympic class worrying is yet to come.
Now that I've had my little chuckle...
Wendy, you are right. It is impossible to just tell yourself not
to worry - especially when you have all those extra hormones helping
you out. And there are plenty of things that can go wrong during
labor and delivery. For years many children and women actually died
during childbirth. But in these modern times with modern knowlege
and technology, there are very few problems that cannot be correctd
or at least handled safely and quickly. Try to remember you are not
doing this alone. Your husband, a nurse, and a midwife or doctor will
all be there to help you. They will do everything in their power to
prevent any harm from coming to either you or your baby.
One thing that helped me as to concentrate my worrying one things that
I had control over (lets face it - I was one of those people who wasn't
going to be happy unless I could worry about something). For example:
worry over the health of the baby was pointless and destructive since I
couldn't do anything about that. But worrying about having all the right
baby equipment was fun because I got to go out shopping and buy lots of
baby stuff.
Good luck. I've said this before but I will say it again. The best part
really is to come.
-Carol
|
| 1086.29 | My story is a bit different | TRACTR::MAZUR | | Wed Aug 21 1991 14:21 | 57 |
| Hi Wendy,
My C-Section story is a bit different than most of the previous
entries. My water broke (no one knows why) almost 5 weeks before
my due date. I went to the hospital thinking they were going to
send me home. (I remember saying to my husband on the way "they'll
send me home and I'll pack then"!)
Well, when I arrived they tested me to see if in fact, my water
did break and it had. Then they tested the baby's lungs to see
if they were mature--they were. I don't know why they let me lay
there for 40 hours, but they did. After the 40 hours I began to
show signs of fever, I began vomiting and was terribly achey and
week. It is a long story, but they finally took me into the
labor room 4 hours later with a temp of 102 -- with absolutely
no strength left in my body! I was not dilated, but they had
"no choice" but to use Pitocin. Well, they "upped" the dosage
twice in the 4 1/2 hours of hard back labor and then checked me and
I was 1 1/2 centimeters dilated...so my husband followed the doctor
out of the room and ordered him to do a c-section because we were
so worried about the baby.
Well, I guess I began apologizing to everyone (I don't remember
too much about this)...it was late and I guess I felt like I was
putting everyone out. I had general anest. and my husband was
not allowed in the operating room -- the doctors knew they had
to move fast. I was amazed to learn that it only took about
5 minutes to take Alexa "out".
It turns out that I had "picked up" the Beta Strep virus
from laying around the hospital for 40 hours with my water
broken. Alexa got the bacteria from me and had to have many
tests including a spinal tap on her first day of life. I
didn't get out of recovery until 11:30 p.m. so I didn't get
to see Alexa until the next morning. I bonded with her
immediately and when she heard my voice--no kidding--she
opened her eyes and smiled at me--even though she was
still groggy from the antibiotics.
The doctor said "God only knows what would have happened
to the baby if you hadn't demanded a C-Section". The spinal
tap was negative which means that the bacteria had not yet
traveled to her spine. The doctor actually said to me "you
saved your baby, you know" -- well, since then I feel like
C-sections are my friend!
The recovery was not bad at all, and I would have another
C-section in a second if it was best for my baby. The first
step is the toughest and it gets easier from there! It's really
no big deal as long as it is the best thing for the baby!
Well, I've babbled on long enough,
Best of luck to you,
Sheryl
|
| 1086.30 | | PROSE::BLACHEK | | Wed Aug 21 1991 14:37 | 21 |
| I worried about a c-section too. I had a spinal fusion done for
scoliosis done when I was 15 and wondered about them doing a spinal.
So I asked my OB about it, and they set me up with an appointment with
the anesthesiologist.
He asked me a lot of questions about back pain and the like.
Basically, at the end he said that he would not be willing to do a
spinal at all because he didn't want me to sue him afterwards, if I
then had more back pain. And an epidural wouldn't work, due to the
location of my fusion.
So I resigned myself to having to undergo general anesthesia if
necessary. However, I also knew that I wasn't going to allow a
c-section until I felt it absolutely necessary.
Luckily, it was never an issue. I do think though, it is best to know
all your options, and think about them in advance. Plan for the worst,
but expect the best is something I live by.
judy
|
| 1086.31 | Worrying used to be my middle name! | KAOFS::S_BROOK | | Wed Aug 21 1991 14:45 | 18 |
| I know as well as anyone that trying to tell anyone who is worrying
not to worry in the literal sense is like telling the Niagara Falls
Commission to turn off Niagara Falls! I ought to know for I spent
a good many years of my life worrying about worrying!
Others have expressed probably better than I that it is good that
you are concerned and trying to learn about all the things you can,
but it is just my concern that from the sound of some of your notes
that you are burning a lot of nervous energy and living with a lot
of stress which isn't good for you or your unborn.
Rather than literally "Don't Worry" what I'm really trying to say is
take some time to relax and try to put aside your worries and fears
temprorarily, perhaps making it easier to cope with these mental and
physical demands on you.
Stuart (who possibly worried more about the birth of our first child
than his wife!)
|
| 1086.32 | | KAOFS::S_BROOK | | Wed Aug 21 1991 14:49 | 2 |
| p.s. Ever heard of sympathetic pregnancies ? I had 'em! Nausea,
sleeplessness etc. Doctor told me to stop worrying!
|
| 1086.33 | our experience with a C-section | CRONIC::ORTH | | Thu Aug 22 1991 13:01 | 65 |
| Our last one (#4) was born by C-section, since he was "positionally
unstabel", and in a very unusual breech position. The doctor was leary
of attempting an external version for 2 reasons. One...the drug they
give you prior to a version to relax the muscles, tends to skyrocket
blood sugar, and since Wendy was gest. diabetic, he didn't feel good
about this. Second, the baby had been in at least 3 different positions
(transverse, vertex and breech) whithin the last 48 hours, and he held
little hope that he'd stay vertex if he could manage to turn him. So we
agreed to a section. We went into it rested and prepared. Wendy had an
epidural, which (sorry, Patty!) was no big deal at all. She'd had them
with 2 of the previous pregnancies, and they were no problem then
either. She did say that after the second epidural she'd had (with
child #3), that she had some soreness over the epidural site, sort of
like bruising. They do give a larger dose of medication with an
epidural for a section than just as pain relief for labor. She said
there was less pain from them putting in this epidural than from the
previous two, but that was possibly cause she wasn't in labor this
time! By the way, she's had an epidural two different ways...once lying
on her side curled into a ball (incredibly awful!) and twice sitting
ont he edge of the bed, bent forward (much more tolerable). See if your
anesthesiologist would allow you to sit if necessary.
Bonding was not an issue. She knew the baby came from her. She said
that the feeling of release fo pressure when they removed him during
the section was almost identical to the feeling when they baby finally
emerges vaginally. I held him and fussed over him immediately, but she
didn't hold him right away, as she had the shakes very badly and was
afraid she'd drop him. She got to hold him and nurse him about 2-3
hours later when back in her room. Never any problem with loving this
little one immediatley. I think that th issue of bonding immediately at
birth is greatly overated...bonding is a process, not a moment in time.
As far as recovery from the sectiuon, it went remarkably quickly! Wendy
has had 4 different birth experiences. First was natural, no pain meds,
no episiotomy, up and about hours after the birth. Second was natural,
with an epidural, no episiotomy, still upa nd about in several hours.
Third was natural with an epidural, but Daniel thrust his arm up over
his head just as he emerged, so that it wasn't just his head which had
to squeeze through, but his elbow, too. To that end, Wendy had an
extremely severe fourth degree tear, which took over on hour to stitch
up. She was in *extreme* pain and discomfort for one week, and moderate
pain and discomfort for approx 2 more weeks. It was a nightmare for
her. Comparitively speaking, the C-section was a picnic! One nice thing
they used as far as pain meds for her (at Memorial hosp. in Worcester),
was something called a "pump". this was a small device that you wear
like a bracelet that hooks into your IV. It contains morphine, and it
drips slowly into a small chamber in the bracelet. When you push a
little button on the bracelet, it releases this into the IV. You
control how often you push it, but you can't get too much, because it
only fills up the chamber at a fixed rate, and it takes (I think) 6
minutes for it to refill. So if you push it at 6 minutes, you get a
"full" dose, if you push it a 3 miunutes, you get a half dose, if you
pushed it every couple of seconds you'd only get a drop or two. Also,
if you waitred 10 minutes, you'd get no more than if you pushed it in
6. They explained to her, that the dose was small enough so she
wouldn't get "hooked" plus she'd only be allowed to have it for 2 days.
She needed it quite a bit the first night, but not so much the next
day, and by the second nite, hardly at all. She then went on Percoset
for the pain, which was not all that severe.
All in all, not a bad experience! She said she'd take a section any day
over what she went through with Daniel, but recovery from the natural
uncomplicated first two births was definitley the easiest.
--dave--
|
| 1086.34 | A good experience | ASABET::MACGILLIVARY | | Fri Aug 23 1991 19:58 | 26 |
| Wendy,
My daughter was born C-Section on August 2nd. I had been prepared for
a section because I had developed gestational diabetes and even though
it was controlled through diet, the baby was getting very big. I had
gone though 2 days of induction with little success when the C-Section
was done.
I had a spinal, which I did not even feel the needle. I did not watch
the operation, but my husband did. I had absolutley no discomfort at
all. I could not hold the baby right after, but when the nurse brought
her to me, she was crying and when I spoke to her to opened her eyes
and stopped crying. That memory is one that i will never forget. My
husband went with her for the weighing, etc. They then brought her to
me about 1 hour later. I may not have been able to do a lot of the
things, such as change her diapers for the first couple of days in the
hospital, but my husband took very goos care of her and I have to say
it was a wonderful chance for them to bond together.
If I had to do it again, I would choose a C-Section. I was very
concerned that something might go wrong during a vaginal delivery
given the babies size and so the C-Section eased my fears.
I hope you have as good an experience as I did if you do have to have a
Section. Even the recovery afterwards was not as difficult
as I was expecting.
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| 1086.35 | I would choose a Section Again!! | ODDONE::AMBLER_J | 100,000 lemmings can't be wrong..... | Fri Sep 20 1991 04:19 | 40 |
| Wendy,
I had a section last May (four months ago now!) it had been likely that
I would need some sort of intervention from the moment they found I was
carrying twins, and then when I reached 34 weeks and they were both
breech the odds began to narrow in favour of a section... In the
end there wasn't any choice as I had developed severe toxemia (at 36
weeks) and the Consultant wanted the babies out quickly (mostly for my
safety as the babies weren't distressed). I was asked what anaesthetic
I would prefer and I said which ever was safer for the babies - they
opted for epidural.
It was nerve racking (a bit like at the dentist when you expect it to
hurt but it doesn't) but exciting as well. I didn't feel a thing, my
husband, Tony, was with me the whole time, hiding behind the screen
with me (though I could see nothing because theyed taken my glasses
away to allow oygen masks etc. When the babies were about to be born
one of the midwives told him to look and he actually saw both of them
delivered. He didn't feel at all queasy - though he had expected to!!
When we got back to my room afterwards I cuddled both of them and Tony
fed them both from a bottle. (Subsequently I breast fed both with no
difficulty - one on each side).
The next day I was drowsy but OK. The day after I was up and about
carrying my bits with me! I seemed to be in less pain than some of the
ladies who had had "normal" births, but pain is very subjective thing
so that probably counts for nought.
The scar had healed to a discrete line within a month, and now is
barely visible (it's actually below the hairline).
If I have the choice next time (and if there is a next time - something
to think about with the high probability of a second set of twins) I
would definately opt for another section.
Hope this helps.
All the best,
Judith
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