summerlump
11-07-2007, 05:32 PM
Well I've come out the other side. I had my "elective" caesar a week ago or rather scheduled as the way he was tangled up he would have ended up going into foetal distress and been emergency caesared.
Where to begin?
The night before I couldn't sleep. i was too excited and nervous. I rejected the sleeping pill as i wanted to prolong the night as long as possible. I was really fearful of the procedure because of what so many people had told me about it.
The worst part was not knowing and my own anxiety over the birth. As soon as I was wheeled into the theatre I was shaking from nerves. Fortunately, I had an amazing team of midwives and medical staff. The insertion of the IV/epidural was probably the worst part of it even though I had the gentlest and experienced of anaesthetist. It's the whole idea of a needle going into your spine. Freaked me out. But once it went in, I felt all warm and fuzzy. I didn't get the shakes too much because the nurse put a warmed up blanket over my top. The anaesthetist held my hand, the nurse and my husband were also at the head end of things. The doctors were really gentle and respectful, and within minutes my son was dangled across the drapes to me.
I was in recovery, Bubs was taken with Dad to the nursery but it did not in anyway affect the bonding process. I took a nap in recovery and then the most difficult part of having a caesar began. Being hooked up to an IV and PCEA was uncomfortable. I used very little of the self administering pethadine because I disliked the feeling of it going into my bruised spine. I relied on anti-inflammatory suppositories and just the pure warm fuzzy bonding sensation of being with my new baby. He was the best pain relief because everytime it felt uncomfortable I remembered what it was for.
I had to be quite assertive with the midwife and tell her to take the epidural/bung out a few hours earlier than it was due. I hadn't used the PCEA for hours so I told her it was pointless leaving it in as it was stopping me from sleeping and resting. It was supposed to be in for 24 hours but I had it in for about 18 hours.
Oh and the machine they hooked me up to to prevent deep vein thrombosis was
The next day i felt very ginger but the nurses encouraged me to get up and shower which was the best thing for me. They also taught me how to lie down and encouraged me into the double bed with my husband as soon as possible.
It hurt to pee post catheter removal but it wasn't that bad. Still I don't know why some fetish kinky people have catheter fetishes...it's kind of disturbing.
Day 3 I felt a big strung out as in the attemp to "get on top of the pain" I ran out of pain meds by 7pm and couldn't get any until midnight. I got rather irritated with a nurse who tried to push a pethadine injection when all I needed was a panadol. I got my friend to smuggle in some panadol the next day and I rationed the oral pain killers they gave me. eg. they gave me 2 panadeine, I ate one and stored the other one away for when i needed it.
I found out a bit later that the nurses stuffed up the dosage and I was entitled to that one extra anti-inflammatory per day. If I have to do it again i would definitely bring in my own supply of voltaren and panadeine...that's all I was on. It's not about the pain so much but knowing that you have some control over it. In the end I took less pills than I was entitled do.
The most difficult part about a caesar once you get on top of the pain is not being able to do very much. You really need your partner to take time off to help you especially in the first 24 hours when you're bed ridden. DH had to give Bubs his first bath, first nappy change etc... A week later I'm able to burp him and lift him out of his bassinet but rather gingerly. I'm just so grateful DH managed to get a few weeks off work.
Also everytime the incision pain got a bit too intense I tried to look at the up side. There was no pain in pooing or peeing, the pelvic floor muscles work.
I'm also happily breastfeeding. It was a concern to begin with because I'd heard stories of c-birthing women who had probs with milk supply. Some of the drugs do go through to baby, but not enough to affect the bubs. Am now down to panadol a week later. My milk came in on Day 3 thanks to drinking fennel greek tea constantly from post-op onwards.
With the nerve damage question, i saw an OT who said to gently massage the stomach, area around the scar when it feels better...use hot/cold packs to stimulate the nerves and in time it can regenerate. Also eating well helps.
I think I'm going to post this in the birth story section as well ...after all it was a birth!
One of the biggest myth around is that a caesar is not a birth.
I still wouldn't choose to have one because I am limited in movement whereas V-birthing mums are up and about lifting, doing stuff...but it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
It definitely was a positive experience.
:wave:
Where to begin?
The night before I couldn't sleep. i was too excited and nervous. I rejected the sleeping pill as i wanted to prolong the night as long as possible. I was really fearful of the procedure because of what so many people had told me about it.
The worst part was not knowing and my own anxiety over the birth. As soon as I was wheeled into the theatre I was shaking from nerves. Fortunately, I had an amazing team of midwives and medical staff. The insertion of the IV/epidural was probably the worst part of it even though I had the gentlest and experienced of anaesthetist. It's the whole idea of a needle going into your spine. Freaked me out. But once it went in, I felt all warm and fuzzy. I didn't get the shakes too much because the nurse put a warmed up blanket over my top. The anaesthetist held my hand, the nurse and my husband were also at the head end of things. The doctors were really gentle and respectful, and within minutes my son was dangled across the drapes to me.
I was in recovery, Bubs was taken with Dad to the nursery but it did not in anyway affect the bonding process. I took a nap in recovery and then the most difficult part of having a caesar began. Being hooked up to an IV and PCEA was uncomfortable. I used very little of the self administering pethadine because I disliked the feeling of it going into my bruised spine. I relied on anti-inflammatory suppositories and just the pure warm fuzzy bonding sensation of being with my new baby. He was the best pain relief because everytime it felt uncomfortable I remembered what it was for.
I had to be quite assertive with the midwife and tell her to take the epidural/bung out a few hours earlier than it was due. I hadn't used the PCEA for hours so I told her it was pointless leaving it in as it was stopping me from sleeping and resting. It was supposed to be in for 24 hours but I had it in for about 18 hours.
Oh and the machine they hooked me up to to prevent deep vein thrombosis was
The next day i felt very ginger but the nurses encouraged me to get up and shower which was the best thing for me. They also taught me how to lie down and encouraged me into the double bed with my husband as soon as possible.
It hurt to pee post catheter removal but it wasn't that bad. Still I don't know why some fetish kinky people have catheter fetishes...it's kind of disturbing.
Day 3 I felt a big strung out as in the attemp to "get on top of the pain" I ran out of pain meds by 7pm and couldn't get any until midnight. I got rather irritated with a nurse who tried to push a pethadine injection when all I needed was a panadol. I got my friend to smuggle in some panadol the next day and I rationed the oral pain killers they gave me. eg. they gave me 2 panadeine, I ate one and stored the other one away for when i needed it.
I found out a bit later that the nurses stuffed up the dosage and I was entitled to that one extra anti-inflammatory per day. If I have to do it again i would definitely bring in my own supply of voltaren and panadeine...that's all I was on. It's not about the pain so much but knowing that you have some control over it. In the end I took less pills than I was entitled do.
The most difficult part about a caesar once you get on top of the pain is not being able to do very much. You really need your partner to take time off to help you especially in the first 24 hours when you're bed ridden. DH had to give Bubs his first bath, first nappy change etc... A week later I'm able to burp him and lift him out of his bassinet but rather gingerly. I'm just so grateful DH managed to get a few weeks off work.
Also everytime the incision pain got a bit too intense I tried to look at the up side. There was no pain in pooing or peeing, the pelvic floor muscles work.
I'm also happily breastfeeding. It was a concern to begin with because I'd heard stories of c-birthing women who had probs with milk supply. Some of the drugs do go through to baby, but not enough to affect the bubs. Am now down to panadol a week later. My milk came in on Day 3 thanks to drinking fennel greek tea constantly from post-op onwards.
With the nerve damage question, i saw an OT who said to gently massage the stomach, area around the scar when it feels better...use hot/cold packs to stimulate the nerves and in time it can regenerate. Also eating well helps.
I think I'm going to post this in the birth story section as well ...after all it was a birth!
One of the biggest myth around is that a caesar is not a birth.
I still wouldn't choose to have one because I am limited in movement whereas V-birthing mums are up and about lifting, doing stuff...but it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
It definitely was a positive experience.
:wave: