I'll soon have her in my arms! :) [advice needed]

My c-section is only 9 days away!!! (feb. 13th) I am sooooo EXCITED to see my baby girl and nervous at the same time! For the ladies who have had a c-section before, any advice on what to expect, how will I feel afterwards, how did recovery go, what not to do,.... etc etc.

TIA !!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I had my c-section Feb 7, 2011.
It went really well but recovery is a bitch. Just take it easy and have lots of help when you go home!

Is there a reason you're having a C-section rather than at least trying to have her naturally? Just curious.

I'm a two-time emergency C-section mama. Take it easy. If you have stairs, pick a floor and stay there for the day. Lift nothing heavier than your baby except baby plus infant carrier. SLEEP when baby sleeps. My first one I really felt fine afterwards and recovered quickly and easily. My second one, I was sore for a few weeks so it was harder to get up and move. I literally stayed in bed for like 3 weeks minus our doc appointments. Her cradle was next to my bed so the little bit of movement I did was either to her cradle or to the bathroom next to my room and that was it.

Quoting Blair Waldorf (SuperKink):" Is there a reason you're having a C-section rather than at least trying to have her naturally? Just curious. ... [snip!] ... next to my bed so the little bit of movement I did was either to her cradle or to the bathroom next to my room and that was it."

Yes, I had surgery on Dec. 5th & had my appendix removed so both my doctor and the surgical team said I HAD to have a c-section because it is too early after the surgery to push her out  
I really tried to get out of it but there is no way I could have her vaginally (they said). I'm kinda over the fact that I'm getting a c-section now, all I care about it that she is healthy.

Thanks for the advice! I'll keep it all in mind!!   

Quoting Janyllis Martinez:" Yes, I had surgery on Dec. 5th & had my appendix removed so both my doctor and the surgical team ... [snip!] ... getting a c-section now, all I care about it that she is healthy. Thanks for the advice! I'll keep it all in mind!!   "

Oh wow! Yeah they don't like you straining incision sites so soon after they make them.   But good luck! Just take it easy and you know your own body and how you're feeling. Don't push yourself to do too much. If you need help, ask for it. It's major surgery, which you just had, so you know how it is.

My second child was a non emergency but necessary csection due to his head being stuck on my hip. It took 3 hrs for me to regain enough feeling in my legs for them to let me out of recovery, and thus I didn't see my son (except the moment I was allowed to kiss him in the operating room) for his first 3 hrs of life, I was alone with just a nurse being monitored for those 3 hrs. I had no contact with my family and no one told me anything that was going on. It quite sucked. Then I spent the next 24 hrs with a catheter and an iv keeping me bound in bed. A nurse came in and massaged around my incision to help prevent adhesions (not the most pleasent experience but necessary) and encourage blood flow for healing. After I got home 3 days later I had a hard time balancing my bloodsugar with many bouts of lightheadedness probably in part from bloodloss form the surgery. I had a tough time getting around, little things like getting dressed (loose clothing is a must) and making myself something to eat would leave me shaking and sweating. I wasn't able to drive my car for over 2 months without sweating, as you'd be surprised how much you use your abdominal muscles when pressing the pedals.
All in all, be prepared to take it easy, and to feel lousy at times. While it is nice to have help from others so that you can focus on your new baby and your own health, it can be frustrating to know you are young and healthy and yet are unable to do things that are usually a fairly simple thing.
I hope this helps prepare you for some of the less than pleasant aspects, I did not have the most positive experience with my cesarean, I'm hoping yours will be better.

I had an emergency c section in 2008 with my daughter and have a scheduled c section the end of February for this baby. I've heard so mucha scheduled one is a lot easier than an emergency one. Although I didn't find it a horrible experience, I felt great and my doctor and nurses made me feel really comfortable. I was in the hospital for 2 nights. Only thing that was weird, my left leg was numb pretty much right until I was released to go home it was from the epidural. They want you to get up walking the next day, and it will help lots to recovery quickly! Only part I hated was the nurses coming in and poking and rubbing your belly every so often, it hurts! Also use a pillow to brace your stomach when you stand up or have to sneeze. I sneezed the day after and will never forget that pain, so make sure you have a pillow with ya!  

Good luck to you. Hope everything goes well!

Quoting Janyllis Martinez:" Yes, I had surgery on Dec. 5th & had my appendix removed so both my doctor and the surgical team ... [snip!] ... getting a c-section now, all I care about it that she is healthy. Thanks for the advice! I'll keep it all in mind!!   "

Make sure you eat a healthy diet high in protien to aide your body in healing. I was one of the unfortunate souls to have a c-section horror story. I will spare you the details because my situation was unique . Dont over do it when it comes to moving around, wear your abdominal binder like 24/7, keep the area dry and clean (which you already know from appendix surgery)and accept all the help you can get. When somone asks what they can do, thinks like make a healthy meal for your family, do a load of laundry, vacume your living area can make such a big differnece and help you from over doing it. When I took my baby out for the first 8 weeks, I always had someone with me to lift the stroller and the carrier when baby was inside. If I had to put baby in the car and I was alone, I would carry the carrier out and then take baby out and put him in the carrier once it was already locked in....best of luck to you!

Quoting Sonya B *Due in March!*:" I had an emergency c section in 2008 with my daughter and have a scheduled c section the end of February ... [snip!] ... and will never forget that pain, so make sure you have a pillow with ya!   Good luck to you. Hope everything goes well!"

Oh god I forgot about the coughing, lol. I had a terrible cold when I had my son, so I kept a pillow with me at all times. It feels like you're being ripped in half without it. That is probably some of the best advice that could be given to a new csection momma.  

Quoting motherofboys:" Oh god I forgot about the coughing, lol. I had a terrible cold when I had my son, so I kept a pillow ... [snip!] ... being ripped in half without it. That is probably some of the best advice that could be given to a new csection momma.  "

THIS and I used a pillow under the baby for breastfeeding too so that she wasn't sitting right on my stomach/incision.

<blockquote><b>Quoting motherofboys:</b>" Oh god I forgot about the coughing, lol. I had a terrible cold when I had my son, so I kept a pillow ... [snip!] ... being ripped in half without it. That is probably some of the best advice that could be given to a new csection momma.  "</blockquote>



Haha, that's one thing that terrifys me of having another c section is sneezing or coughing... After I had my daughter I was in the bathroom and I sneezed, I didn't think anything of it hurting and how much you actually use your stomach muscles to sneeze so I left a full blown sneeze out and it felt like I had been stabbed. I sat in there and cried in pain for quite a while before I could even walk out.

Quoting Sonya B *Due in March!*:" <blockquote><b>Quoting motherofboys:</b>" Oh god I forgot about the coughing, lol. ... [snip!] ... out and it felt like I had been stabbed. I sat in there and cried in pain for quite a while before I could even walk out."

I cringe and almost want to cry for you. That definitely has nothing on the bumps on the ride home or the joy of side nursing and having baby kick you in the stomach. I never quite figured out a good fix for that, as my son just kicked everything out of the way till he reached my stomach, lol.

Quoting motherofboys:" My second child was a non emergency but necessary csection due to his head being stuck on my hip. It ... [snip!] ... the less than pleasant aspects, I did not have the most positive experience with my cesarean, I'm hoping yours will be better."

Oh Hun sorry you had to go through all that!    & thanks for your advice, It sure open my eyes & I hope its wayy easier than that! Congrats on staying strong through all that! ;)

Quoting Sonya B *Due in March!*:" I had an emergency c section in 2008 with my daughter and have a scheduled c section the end of February ... [snip!] ... and will never forget that pain, so make sure you have a pillow with ya!   Good luck to you. Hope everything goes well!"

Thanks sweety.... I've heard that its better when they are schedule as well since it gives you time to emotionally prepare for it. & yes the pillow does help ALOT!!! I did the same thing after my surgery. TMI, but I couldn't go take a BM without the pillow lol (:

Quoting Trixie7678:" Make sure you eat a healthy diet high in protien to aide your body in healing. I was one of the unfortunate ... [snip!] ... carry the carrier out and then take baby out and put him in the carrier once it was already locked in....best of luck to you!"

Thanks!!
BTW, How bad is the scar ? did it shrink & lighten up ? My surgery scar doesn't look any different yet :/ I don't really wanna have two scars in my belly! lol