C-Section: Likely *should* have one, but spooked. Care to share experiences? Comfort? Sanity?

In My Humble Opinion
41

StaudtCJ has a good idea. Laboring and delivering on the back is hard on anyone without spinal issues. Don’t make any quick decisions about a C section until you can investigate that option further.

I had a semi planned C section, went in for an induction and before they could start the meds, my OB and neurologist decided the section was safer for me. My experience seems to differ from the other responses as I really think it sucked.

I hated the spinal. The pressure on my chest when they took my son out made me think I was going to die (thought I was having a heart attack,seriously) and the recovery was pretty bad. I did NOT have good pain control afterwards and I know this was a major part of the problem. It took weeks not days for me to feel better and more like myself again. For the outcome, a healthy, beautiful baby, I’d do it again in a second but I would seriously dread it.

Now I know that my experience seems not to be the norm so I’m not trying to scare you. I just wanted you to hear another perspective.

42

Thanks for the idea on alternate laboring positions. It’s something I’ll look into, but my initial reaction is it remains too risky. Regardless of birthing position (but knowing some are more stressful than others), the pelvis has to spread, and L5/S1 will take a large chunk of that stress. :::shudder::: I’d also hate to labor, reach the point of pushing, and then be rushed off to a C-section if it didn’t work; that’s worse to me than just scheduling the C.

Cattitude, no worries, you didn’t scare me. Like I said, I’m not necessarily looking for Disneyfied C-section storytime. I’ve heard some really gnarly stories already just from friends and folks I know on pregnancy/parenting forums, so honestly it’s refreshing to hear how exceptional their (and sadly, your) experiences are.

You know, thinking about it, I’m not entirely sure when the disc shattered, though I’ve always assumed it was during birth. The herniation (or spasm, or whatever it was; couldn’t get an MRI at the time to find out) at 7mos was excruciating, but mostly resolved pain-and-function-wise by birth. I didn’t notice my back at all during any part of labor or delivery, but afterwards I noticed there was a change to the feeling and pain; there was a grinding to it, and an immediate weakness followed by searing hot pain down the left leg when I stood. What I will never know–when exactly it ruptured–would be most useful information now. Stupid inability to know the unattainable.

43

Is this still true, though? Most of the people I know walk around until they can’t any more, or hang out in a hot tub, or all sorts of different things. My labor was 9 years ago and it was all walking around until I was falling asleep on my feet and walking into the wall.

44

Please don’t put yourself at unnecessary risk. The best person to ask is your doctor/midwife. Another thing to consider: If you are planning an epidural, then alternate birth positions are not a viable option, due to the lack of feeling. If you’re looking for that kind of pain management, a C-section is how I would go in your position. Again, I am not a doctor, just a mother.

I primarily mentioned the back position because of the epidural thing. They really don’t like you moving around too much if you get one, and water or standing is out of the question, because of the lack of sensation and risk of infection, according to my midwife. I also note that many doctors will let you labor however you wish, but want you to PUSH from the lithotomy (flat on back) position. The lithotomy position gives the attendant the best access to the genital area, and that can be important in an emergency.

45

One of my sisters was told 2 months into her first pregnancy that all her children would have to be by C-section (I never inquired in detail, but I gather it was an issue of anatomy, where her pelvis was incompatible with a full-term baby, the sort of thing that used to kill mothers before C-sections and prenatal checkups were the norm). In her case, they planned for C-sections, but waited for her to go into labor naturally. When it first started she went in to the hospital where she was prepped and had her C-section as planned, and not as an emergency.

46

Slight hijack: my wife was petrified of attempting to give birth vaginally, and virtually got a C-section on demand for our first child (medical justification was no more than “baby is big”). She’s since had our second child via planned C-section. She thinks of C-sections as the easy-breezy way of bringing children into the world.

Do a significant percentage of women agree with my wife, or is her mindset about vaginal-vs-caesarean somewhat eccentric?

47

Most women I know are fairly unhappy about C-sections, especially those that have had them. It’s a major surgery that cuts through your abdominal muscles. The rate is rising, though, so at least some women must be choosing to have them for non-medical or flimsy medical purposes, and one can’t deny that it’s faster than spending Og-knows-how-long in labor.

48

There is such a thing as a vanity c-section which are popular in some circles, especially Hollywood types. My ex-wive’s scars all but disappeared quickly and you couldn’t see them with any type of clothes on anyway except for the tinniest of bikinis which most mothers don’t wear anymore. I am male but that may make me more objective in some ways. Women fight on online message boards about c-section versus vaginal birth just like people here fight in the BBQ pit fight about any emotional topic with about the same level of success convincing others that they are completely wrong. Those are easy to google because there are so many. The only rational answer is that it is up to the mother’s preferences and her OB with various risks taken into account.

49

I had my c-section after being in labour, so I didn’t even notice the epidural between the labour pains.

The tugging was weird, that and the freezing didn’t “take” on my right side so at first I could feel the cutting. They upped the dosage and I didn’t feel anything except the tugging (which was weird).

One thing I forgot though, because I had already laboured and was probably dehydrated and without food (and throwing up a lot), I got the shakes - badly.

50

Exactly my experience, too. I was scheduled for a C-section at 38 weeks, but my water broke at 36.

51

My first baby was delivered emergency C-section, after 34 hours of non-productive labor. At that point, the doctor could have offered to take her out with a can opener and I would have gone along! :smiley:

With my second, I searched diligently for a doc that would let me try VBAC, and found one who said she gave me an 80-90% chance of delivering vaginally. Oh that she had been right. Nope. 36 hours of non-productive labor, another C-section. Now, I’m a big girl, but apparently the one small thing about me (besides my boobs. . .what’s up with that? :stuck_out_tongue: ) is my birth canal. And I have large babies. Baby one was 9lbs 1oz. Baby two was 10lbs 6oz.

Some years later, pregnant with my third, my OB asked me to remind him how big my first two were, which I did. He peered at me over his wire-rimmed half-glasses and said “You don’t stand a chance of delivering this baby”. But of course I had already guessed that. We scheduled her for Dec 29th, at 40 weeks gestation. We felt this was fine, since I’d gone into labor two weeks late with each of my first two. We monitored her growth, and for a while, he was threatening to take her early if she got much bigger. After a certain point, he said, the body just can’t support the pregnancy.

But she waited until the 29th, and my husband, daughters and I got up early that morning to go to the hospital to have a baby. The third one did take longer (for one thing, the doc had to cut around all the previous scar tissue; for another thing, she was so big that carrying her gave me a hernia that he fixed while he was ‘in there’). She came out at a whopping 12lbs 14oz. Good thing I had a section, huh?

Experiences, bad:
The first time, they did not numb the site of the spinal block before giving it to me. That mother hurt. However, it was pretty amazing how quickly it took effect.

Waiting for the spinal to wear off is maddening. During the process you get that same pins-and-needles feeling you get when your foot has been truly ‘asleep’ and starts to wake up! Ugh.

You never realize how much you use your abs for until someone cuts them!

Experiences, good:
I am an old hand (unfortunately) at surgery in general, so I discussed adequate pain relief with the docs before I ever got to the point where I needed it! So I had good pain relief. If you feel like your pain relief isn’t adequate, it helps to have someone to advocate for you. My hubby is very even-tempered, but oh, he can turn into a bull dog when he needs to!

I got three healthy, happy babies out of the deal.

I recovered just fine from all three. My youngest is now nine.

I totally agree with the Dopers who say that a “natural birth” is one where the mother delivers a healthy baby and makes a good recovery!

And cattitude, your doc sucks! I freakin’ hate doctors who won’t provide adequate pain control!

52

I have to step in with my own experiences: first child vaginal (after induced labor, severe tearing, I couldn’t sit up for 2 weeks). Second child C-section (I was 34 weeks, developed pre-eclampsia / HELLP, and baby was breech).

The vaginal delivery and recovery were hell. Induced labor, no pain relief (oh, I had an epidural, but they don’t tell you beforehand that those don’t always work, and they don’t believe you during when you tell them the damn epi didn’t work). Forceps, tearing…

The c-section… was a breeze. The doctor was not in the kind of “slash and grab” hurry she’d have been in if I’d been doing the labor / fetal distress / save baby’s life thing, so as a result I think she was able to do a much tidier job without collateral damage to my innards. I was walking within 24 hours (would have been sooner except I was in the ICU due to the whole HELLP thing). I took one narcotic pain pill (I was on them for most of a week after my first one due to the tearing).

Admittedly, my recovery may have been a little easier since Moon Unit was in the hospital for a bit longer than I was and so I had limited childcare duties, but still… if I had ever become pregnant again, I’d have demanded a C-section.

Don’t get me wrong: C-sections are major surgery. I felt pretty good once I was on my feet, but I was doing the “old lady” hunched-over shuffle for a few days, and when I started moving more normally, I’d be going like gangbusters then all of a sudden my body would say “whoops, there’s your energy expenditure for the next few hours, time to sit down now”. So if you do opt for c-section, be prepared to listen to your body and take it easy.

53

I had my c-section over 18 years ago. My daughter was already a week late and she had not turned. When I went to the hospital I was in labor and I mean in labor. She was coming fast. They did a quick ultrasound and determined the cord was not in a good position to deliver her breach so they called for an emergency c-section.

The worst part was when the general pain medication they gave me wore off and I woke up in the operating room strapped to a table like Jesus and having hard labor pains. My mid-wife was right there and helped me through it but man it was rough. “Don’t push”, yeah right.

The anesthesiologist finally arrived and I was put under. The next thing I knew I awoke in recovery. After an hour or so I was taken to a room and they brought in my baby girl.

I was out of the hosital in three days with only butterfly bandages on. My scar is practically invisable and is below the bikini line. I also had them tie my tubes since they were in there anyway. I will warn you though that the gas pains you can get after surgery were almost as bad as labor pains.

In about two weeks I was pretty much back to normal. My first was a normal child birth and the c-section was my second. I would vote for c-section.

My mom taped the c-section from a respectable distance so I was able to see my baby and hear her first cry etc. Many years later when my mom showed the tape to my daughter she was amazed. Not at her own birth but the fact that she thought her dad was once a doctor. :stuck_out_tongue:

54

How long ago was this? When my daughter was born, an epidural (vs. a spinal) was the norm; there are differences I know. I didn’t have any of the pins and needles that I can recall.

HOWEVER - I had long-acting morphine dumped into the epi once they finished the surgery, but before they removed the epidural tube. Which I think is a big part of why I only needed one narcotic pain pill (that morphine helped a lot). Only side effect was some itching, which wasn’t too bad. Often these days they leave the epidural attached, with patient-controlled pain relief pump.

I do have to say, my epidural didn’t quite work well enough for the surgery. I did NOT feel cutting - but apparently my bladder wasn’t completely numbed, and that gets pushed out of the way during surgery with a scoop-like “bladder blade”, and that gets jostled, a lot. It was pretty uncomfortable for a few minutes, though nowhere near as much as heavy induced-labor pains, and it was over a lot faster (5ish minutes). I didn’t feel the stitching either. I did feel pressure when they were cutting, in fact I distinctly remember saying it felt like they were drawing a line on my tummy with a felt-tip pen, and saying it was pretty cool.

55

I haven’t but a friend of mine did - the cord had prolapsed and they had to get the baby out FIVE MINUTES AGO and general was faster. She had a good recovery and had no complaints.

You might want to have a visit with your spinal specialist, and with an anesthesiologist (preferably the one who will be doing your actual surgery) in the near future. From what I recall of my epidural placement, it’s higher than where your back problems exist, so it might be just fine, but only those two specialists will be able to tell for sure. Make sure that the spinal surgery won’t implede the effect of anesthesia placed higher (it’d suck to have your middle numb but not your pubic area / legs, I’d imagine).

56

As the recipient of more surgeries than I can count, I will attest to this. However, if the surgery is planned, you can take some peppermint tea bags (not peppermint flavored tea, just dried peppermint leaves in a teabag-Celestial Seasonings has a good one) to the hospital with you. Sipping peppermint tea as soon as possible post-op will help. Ginger is wonderful for any kind of gastric upset, too (vomiting with staples in your tummy is not fun; I speak from experience).

Oh, and often the pain meds will constipate you, and ‘straining’ while recovering from abdominal surgery is a bad idea. Before my abdominal hysterectomy two years ago, I got this recipe, and it worked like a charm:
1C 100% bran flakes
1C prune juice
1C applesauce
cinnamon and honey for flavoring (it’s not nummy)

Mix together and let it get all mushy. Take two heaping tablespoonfuls at bedtime.
Your bowels will love you in the morning!

Oh, and while I haven’t had a C-section under general (thankfully I was able to have the spinal all three times), I have had general anesthesia more than a dozen times, and here’s what I’ve learned:
One, it takes up to a week for all the drugs to leave your system. Do not expect to be “back to normal” too quickly. Don’t make too many demands on yourself; listen to your body.
Two, when you come around in the recovery room, and the recovery room nurse asks if you are in pain/and/or nauseated, say ‘yes’, even if you’re not (at least that’s my strategy). Even if it’s not true at the time, it probably will be after the drugs they use to put you under wear off more. It’s never a bad idea (IMHO, IANAD) to head off nausea at the pass. If you are given a choice of nausea meds, ask for Phenergan if you want to go back to sleep (it’s really an antihistamine), or Zofran if you would rather stay awake. Both are effective (well, for me. YMMV), but Zofran won’t make you drowsy (again, YMMV).

Most of all, focus on the ‘big picture’. You are going into the hospital to have a baby. Unlike having a gall bladder, kidney stone, uterus removed (all of which I’ve experienced), you are going to come home from the hospital much wealthier than when you went in! :slight_smile:

57

Excellent advice and reminders. Heh, I told my husband at the time that the pain I was in from that “severely impeded” nerve was, by far and no question, the worst pain I had ever, ever been in. Labor and delivery wasn’t exactly akin to stubbing my toe, but I got a baby out of it. :slight_smile:

Good tips on preventing constipation (and gas pain), too. I dealt with that with my spine surgery, as the pissed-off nerve also had a role in urinary and bowel continence. Thankfully I was never incontinent, but you better believe was taking stool softeners after the surgery–no way was I even going to strain a little. Funny the muscles you discover are needed for various…erm…acts.

I’m going to print this thread and keep it with my baby binder. Thanks, Dopers. Y’all are neat and stuff.

58

I had an unplanned emergency c-section two years ago. I’m just happy we both came out of the process healthy. I had severe eclampsia and the baby and my health were at risk. Not to mention, the baby was very small and only 34 weeks along.

It’s important to remember this is your decision. Do what you think is best and the healthiest for you and the baby. I felt like a failure afterwards but quickly realized just making it out alive was a pretty amazing accomplishment. Having a C-Section doesn’t mean you’re less of a woman or a bad mom.

I do recommend taking it easy afterwards. Because our daughter was in the NICU, I pushed myself too hard with the visits and ended up back in the hospital because of an infection. Take your time and recover. Looking back, I should have asked for more help from people.

Even though I had a pretty serious infection, which required the incision to be re-opened, my scar is minimal and just looks like a cute smiley above my bikini line.

Take care and good luck!

59

Here’s the birth plan I promised you:

That “I would like to be told about the first incision” bit is because with my first C-section, I literally did not know they had started cutting until the doctor held up a baby to show me. It was very disconcerting. I was much happier knowing exactly what was going on, and my doctor explained what he was doing as he cut through each layer of muscle, fascia, etc., and then also told me what he was sewing up as he did that part. I know that I may be a little weird in wanting that much detail, though.