C-Section: Help! I need more details...

[crazy4snoopygal]

I would love to hear your c-section story. I am absolutely petrified about having one. After getting a little more info about it, I have even more concerns.
What????! A catheter? what??!!!! Doesn't that hurt going in and coming out?
Vomiting on the table? Why? Is that from the anesthesia(sp)?
What do you really feel?
What about panicing because you can't feel yourself breathing?
How long does it take from start to finish?

I just can't get over the fear of being awake while they are digging around inside!!!! I know for sure that I don't want them to tell me the play by play action down there. Just let me know when it's over, please. Or better yet, just put me out and wake me when it's over!

[oneplusII]

Renee-

I had the same concerns you do!! I practically begged my doctor to put me under. Now, after two csections, I am glad that I was with it enough to see my babies right after they came out.

You will feel no pain. Seriously. Just tugging. Getting a root canal is worse than the c section!!!! The spinal hurts a bit, but not for long and then you will feel your lower half go numb. That's the worst part I think of the csection is not feeling your legs and feet. Another thing is they wouldn't let me have any water and my moutfh was so dry, I screamed for water, they finally gave me a wet rag to suck on! That helped a bit. They don't want anything in you in case your throw up. But I have never thrown up during my two csections.

Here's another tip for you. If you are really nervous and shaky ask them for some meds in your IV to calm your nerves or for pain. I did, but they said they couldn't give anything else to me until the babies were out anc once they were out, they put some miracle drug into my IV and I was feeling good.

Recover isn't that bad. Just make sure and follow your docs orders and don't do to much, because that can be painful.

You will be fine!!!!!!! Good luck to you!

[And Twins Make 5]

Renee,
It's really not that bad! I was nervous also, but the actually c-section part was a breeze. As Janie said, the only part even mildly painful was having the spinal put it, but that was only a small needle stick in the back (not bad at all!) They didn't put my catheter in until I already had the spinal, so I didn't feel it either. The taking out part was also not painful. I kinda hated to see it go, that meant I had to start getting up to go to the bathroom. I did get a little nauseous on the table while they were sewing me up, but I just told the anesthesiologist and he gave me something in the IV that worked in seconds, literally. I felt only tugging sensations as well, and the bizaare feeling of my stomach sinking after they pulled Sophie (Baby B) out.

Recovery is the hardest part, but absolutely manageable. The second and third day after are the worst, but the quicker you force yourself to get up and move around the faster you'll recover. Try not to worry, you'll do fine.

[Jinxy]

Renee-
The actual surgery wasn't that bad. I was nervous as well, but I think the hardest part was getting up that first time after the surgery. Every one had warned me that the spinal would hurt a little, but when I got mine I barely felt it. I did panic a bit after because I could not feel myself breathing, but the staff assured me I was. I did have dry heaves. There was absolutely no pain during the surgery, just a tugging feeling. After the surgery, I had the shakes real bad and was cold but that is the norm. I was also extremely thirsty and I think I sent my dh to the vending machine 3 times for ice-cold coke's (I swear, nothing ever tasted so good!!!).
The hardest part of the recovery for me was getting up that very first time, but after I was up and walking around I immediately started feeling better. Don't over do yourself, but I found the more I tried to move around, the better I would feel. You will do fine, and really, the surgery part isn't as bad as you think it will be!

[mama2jared+2]

I was terrified of my c-section too and it honestly wasn't bad at all. The most horrible parts were that my DH wasn't there and I ended up being all alone and in the begining I threw up (but I has been vomiting for days) and since I was laying on my back it got in my eye and stung like heck! :(
The spinal didn't bother me at all, just a little needle stick. After the spinal they were saying "Quick, lay down" and I was wondering why they were rushing me, I'm hugely pregnant when all of a sudden, I couldn't feel a thing. I was very suprised at how quickly the spinal took affect. The other thing I remember being suprised by was as soon as they got Jordan out, all of a sudden I could breathe like I hadn't been able to in months. I felt like my lungs finally had some room. It was awesome.
I loved my catheter and was sad to see it go. Getting up for the first time after the section was horrible, but I wasn't able to take any main pills other than Motrin. Most women get the good stuff and I've heard it's not as bad then.
All and all I was really expecting it to be much worse than it was. If I ever have another baby it will have to be a c-section due to my vertical incission and I am totally OK with that.
Good Luck!

[expecting2]

I agree with everyone else. It wasn't bad at all and I was very scared too. My first labor and delivery were a breeze, I didn't even need an episiotomy (not sure if I spelled that right) so I was pretty comfy immediately after delivery.
For my girls I had the c-section. They did put the catheder in before they took me down to surgery but if they do it right, it won't hurt much. It should mostly feel like a pinch. The spinal didn't bother me at all. The only thing that hurt a little was when they put the first needle in to numb me, after that it was pretty painless. It does take effect almost immediately! Now, for me I didn't get sick but I did start to kind of freak out (right after baby b was out-mentally I told myself I had to hang in there to hear both my babies cry) cause I didn't like the feeling of not feeling my legs. I felt like I was floating. They put something in my IV and it must have been some good stuff cause I don't remember anything after that till I was in recovery! Dh says I was awake but I don't remember a thing. Get up as soon as they will let you. I was offered pain meds before the nurse got me up and I declined...but after, I was *all* for some drugs! So take the pain meds, even if your not feeling pain yet. My girls were in the hospital for a week after I came home so we went up there once a day and that was a LOT of exercise for me. Probably more than I should have been doing but I do think it helped.
I'm sure you will do fine. As far as getting sick, some people get sick from the epidural as well so it just depends on how your body tolerates the drugs. If you start to feel sick just say something right away. Sometimes they can give you something through the IV before they even start if you ask.

[momto3]

My first child was born via emergency c-section. I hadn't even considered the fact that I might have a section, so I was shocked, scared and nervous all at once. It all happened so quickly, but it wasn't that big a deal. As others have said the recovery is a little more difficult, but as long as you do what the doctors and nurses encourage you to do you'll be fine.

The catheter I didn't feel because I was already numb, it is slightly uncomfortable coming out but not painful. As far as the play by play, the doctors who performed my c-section were talking about fishing the whole time. At first I was a little put off, but then felt relieved that they felt so comfortable with the procedure. I never threw up, but did feel a little nauseous.

Talk to your doctor about your concerns, maybe they can help you feel less anxious about the situation.

Remember that as soon as those babies are placed in your arms for the first time, whatever it took to get them there doesn't matter anymore. You will be just fine!

[isurvived]

Hi, Renee,
Sometimes the anticipation of the surgery is worse than the real thing. I will try to answer some of your questions.
The catheter is somewhat uncomfortable at first. Maybe you could ask to have it inserted after your spinal. You can have it removed the morning after surgery.
Sometimes you get nauseated from the medication, but sometimes it's from the manipulation of the uterus. More people are nauseated if they have a prolonged labor beforehand, than those who have a scheduled C-section. If you are a scheduled C-section, you won't be allowed to eat or drink after midnight until your surgery.
You feel pulling and tugging, and lots of pressure right before the baby comes out.
Usually you are in the operating room about an hour. Once the incision is made, your baby is out in 5-15 minutes (faster for emergencies).
Remember, if you can talk, you can breathe. You don't feel like you are taking a full breath because your anesthesia is about at the level of the diaphragm. The circulating nurse and the nurse anesthetist are there to help you. Just tell them if there's anything you need. You won't be put to sleep (unless there's an emergency) because that sedates the babies.
Hope all goes well for you. See if you can visit your L&D unit to get some of your questions answered, too.

[ttalbs]

I completely agree with what everyone else has said. The worst part of the whole experience for me was getting the IV and drinking the anti-nausea medicine. I was so big and uncomfortable I was ready to deliver, I think I skipped to the operating room:) - I honestly believe it was one of the most amazing things I have ever gone through.
I was really nervous about the shot in the back - piece of cake.
The feeling of being numb was a little strange, I could see them moving my legs putting the cath in but couldnt feel it - they were in and had baby 1 out before I even knew they had started.
The first 2 days or recovery for me were the worst - the first time the nurses tried to get me out of bed I could have killed one of them - but I did it and 3 days later when I went home I was up doing dishes, showering and most importantly taking care of 2 babies. And just in case you are worried abou the scar - mine is barely visible and its only been 6 months. I am glad I delivered via C-section because within 20 minutes both babies were out and taken care of, that was important to me. Before my surgery I heard extreme cases of good experiences and bad experiences from friends and even strangers. My experience was my own just as yours will be and its true, seeing those babies is amazing!!

[twins4me03]

My c-section was not bad at all. The worst thing for me was the catheter. I absolutely hated that thing prior to me having the c-section. I had such this urge to pee which they said was normal. I remember begging them to take it out so I could go pee. They said as soon as I got the spinal the urge would go away and not come back. Well, that was true. The spinal was a piece of cake. It literally feels like a bee sting (if that painful). I was numb before I layed down. In fact, there were four people that grabbed each limb and layed me down. I would of not been able to lay flat otherwise. As far as the c-section..... I remember telling the anesthesiologist to make sure they would not do anything until my husband came in. His reply.... "they've already cut you open and have been working on getting the first baby out". I about flipped. My husband made it before the first baby came out. As far as the recovery, you are so focused on your babies, you really don't think about the pain. In fact, the third day I was walking all over and my nurse had to hunt me down and said "you haven't had anything for pain all day, do you want anything?" Of course, I took it. The first day it the toughest. I don't remember much. But, apparently the meds were really affecting me and they called me a "lightweight". My doctor discontinued all meds the next morning except pain pills. I too, watched A Baby Story all the time. I learned a lot. Don't worry about the c-section, it was no problem at all. Good Luck.

[MommieofThree]

I had an emergency c-section too! I went up to L&D thinking I had ANOTHER bladder infection, turns out I was 5-6 cm dialated, and since Kaiya was breech and presenting I needed an c-section to get her out. My dh took a picture of my horrific expression when he told me and another one of me crying b/c I was so scared. All at once about 5 nurses came up to me to take my blood, ask me questions, insert the catheder (which I was most scared about) and I just freaked out. (Things dont usually happen that fast but like I said it was emergency) The doctor made everyone step away and explained to me step by step who was doing what etc and it made me feel soooooo much better. The spinal for me wasnt bad at all, a pinch and done. And like everyone said the c-section itself is just tugging, no pain. And then you see your babies!! The catheder feels funny going in, it is a bit of a nuisence but I LOVED that thing!!! I was also sad to see it go b/c it meant I actually had to get out of bed. The first week is the roughest b/c you are a new twin mom with double the work but yet they tell you to rest. Yeah right!!!!!

Well I wish you luck and I'm sure you'll soon be giving other pregnant moms your story and comfort!!

[crazy4snoopygal]

Thank You Gals for all the information and support!

I really needed this. I will try and stay positive.