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C-Section Mamas
I have a few questions for you. If you don't mind answering I would totally appreciate your help. :-) THANKS! If you don't feel comfortable answering on here, feel free to shoot me an e-mail. jennriggsdoula at gmail dot com -- I am using this information to make improvements to my doula business. I'm thinking there might be a need for post-partum c-section support.
1. How much information did you receive on cesarean scar care while at the hospital and at your post-partum visits?
2. When was your first post-partum visit after birth? How many post-partum visits did you have total?
3. Have you experienced any issues because of your ceserean adhesions (abdominal pain, pelvic pain, sexual pain, incontinence, breast-feeding issues)? If so, did you get help for any of them? Did anybody inform you that you might have these issues? If so, did they tell you what you could do if you did experience one?
Neena Mae. 1/7/10
"A baby nursing at a mother's breast is an undeniable affirmation of our rootedness in nature." - David Suzuki
Re: C-Section Mamas
1. How much information did you receive on cesarean scar care while at the hospital and at your post-partum visits?
Minimal, but enough ... if that makes sense. I'm not sure if there are different procedures which require different healing processes. Mine was pretty low key, just a matter of keeping it dry and to wear loose fitting clothing. There was no ointment, creams, cleansers needed. I am very happy with the way my scar healed and I didn't have to do anything. It wasn't anything the Dr. dwelled on, so I wasn't concerned about it.
At my 6 week post-partum visit where I had some oozing/opening and asked, but was told not to worry and that I was just taking longer to heal than some.
2. When was your first post-partum visit after birth? How many post-partum visits did you have total?
Umm... there was a visit from the doctor to be released from the hospital around day 3. Every day I was checked by a nurse until I was released to go home. And then it was like any other pregnancy, we'll see you for your 6 week check-up.
3. Have you experienced any issues because of your ceserean adhesions (abdominal pain, pelvic pain, sexual pain, incontinence, breast-feeding issues)? If so, did you get help for any of them? Did anybody inform you that you might have these issues? If so, did they tell you what you could do if you did experience one?
The only "issue" I have is numbness. I mean we're 18 months later and the "pad" above my who-ha, the area just below the incision, is still very numb. I can feel it, but it's not a pleasureable feeling... its more how you would feel yourself touching a foot that is asleep lets say. I wasn't (or at least don't recall) being told about any adhesions and what to do if I experienced one. . . most of the post-op talk was more about getting up and moving around as quickly as possible, stomach movement (bowels, since all that area could be/was effected) and not doing anything strenuous.
- - - -
I loved my doctor's old school approach, others might complain about "lack of know" but she didn't baby me, and didn't give me worse case scenarios, it was very much positive reinforcement and if you have a question don't hesitate to ask, other than that enjoy your baby.
When I left the hospital I never felt like I just had major surgery and loved that since I was a hospital virgin up until that point.
ETA: Unlike L&M I had dissolving stitches, no staples.
1. How much information did you receive on cesarean scar care while at the hospital and at your post-partum visits?
I received very little info. I had a little bleeding (from the incision) the day after we came home, and DH had to call the on-call dr because we had no clue what to do about it. I ended up going in the next day to get it checked out and the dr put a bunch of steri-strips on it.
2. When was your first post-partum visit after birth? How many post-partum visits did you have total?
I went 6 days after birth, but that was for the bleeding mentioned above. Other than that I went at 6 weeks.
3. Have you experienced any issues because of your ceserean adhesions (abdominal pain, pelvic pain, sexual pain, incontinence, breast-feeding issues)? If so, did you get help for any of them? Did anybody inform you that you might have these issues? If so, did they tell you what you could do if you did experience one?
I didn't really have any issues related to the c-section, that I know of. The nurses informed me of some of the issues that could occur.
My c/s compliant was that if you're having a normal pregnancy there was VERY LITTLE c/s discussion among my own OBGYN and the hospital staff during laboring.
While I don't feel the emotional scars that Lisa does post birth, I do however remember being very frightened 14 hours into labor when the c/s word was used. I understand it was a quick decision, but I would have liked to have known more about the what-if before hand. Once I agreed to a c/s, things took off and I remember feeling very overwhelmed until they drugged me up.
My case might be a little different. I have a rather large vertical scar because in addition to having elle they also removed my cyst and an ovary so a double surgery in a sense.
1. Enough--keep it clean, what to do with the staples, when to have them removed, avoiding workout--the nurses at the hospital, my MD, and the office nurse all repeated them.
2. I want to say a week after I got home to remove the staples. I just saw the nurse that time, then another visit with the doc who did my surgery(2 weeks PP), and then my OB(6 weeks PP).
3. I still have weak abs. I am not sure if my BF issues were related to my c-section or my other surgery. I was told of all the risks but in my case the risk of the cyst bursting was greater than other risks.
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1. How much information did you receive on cesarean scar care while at the hospital and at your post-partum visits?
Not very much. I must have had dissolving staples (or whatever) also because I didn't have to go and have anything removed. They told me to take the steri-strips off about a week after birth.
2. When was your first post-partum visit after birth? How many post-partum visits did you have total?
It seems like I had one about a week after birth so that they could check the incision and then I had the normal 6-week checkup.
3. Have you experienced any issues because of your ceserean adhesions (abdominal pain, pelvic pain, sexual pain, incontinence, breast-feeding issues)? If so, did you get help for any of them? Did anybody inform you that you might have these issues? If so, did they tell you what you could do if you did experience one?
Now that I'm pregnant again I have had some discomfort along the scar due to stretching, but I think that is to be expected. The only other thing I did have was breast-feeding issues. My milk NEVER came in and I quit trying when Marshall was about 10 days old. The nurses knew that I was trying to breastfeed and never mentioned that a c/s can cause a delay in your milk coming in. My mom found that out when she was researching things for me when it was talking SO long for it to come in. She also found that long labor can cause a delay as well. So I had a double-whammy...I labored for over 24 hours AND had a c/s.
I really have no issues with the fact that I had a c/s. I feel like my dr. did everything he could to try to avoid it. At one point he mentioned c/s, but didn't go right to it, he let me labor longer to see if we would/could get any progress. When he decided to do a c/s was when I was dilated to a 6 or 7 but he said that he was able to stretch me to a 10. He said that meant that my body had done everything that it could and I was "ready" to give birth, but Marshall wasn't engaged. At that point when the dr. would touch his head he would just float up out of the birth canal. He felt that he simply wasn't going to fit. When we did finally decide on a c/s I think I might have kissed the dr. on the lips if I was able to get up out of the bed!
Non-c-section soon to be mama butting in -
A friend of mine had a c-section about 2 years ago after having a lot of issues during labor with the baby ultimately getting stuck. She has a visible horizontal scar and hoped she would be a good candidate for a VBAC. She is pregnant now with number 2 and when she asked her doctor about a VBAC, they consulted the surgical notes from the c-section and found that although she had only 1 external horizontal scar they had actually had to make a T or Cross shaped incision internally which means that she is not a good candidate for a VBAC now because of increased risk of uterine rupture. The whole point of this being - that you may want to advise your clients to ask the doctor at their post-partum check-up if there was anything unusual or anything "special" that they should know about their surgery.
Such great input, ladies!!! THANK YOU!
I've recently become a bit obsessed with a physical therapy by the name of Isa Herrera --- check out her link to find out what she specializes in.
I was reading one of her articles, Cesarean Scar Care, and it dawned on me that more women might need more support when it comes to cesarean recovery, care, and knowledge.
Also, it's great to know that some of you wished you had known more about c-sections so that when the time came to have one (emergency) you wouldn't have been as overwhelmed.
THANKS AGAIN!
Neena Mae. 1/7/10
"A baby nursing at a mother's breast is an undeniable affirmation of our rootedness in nature." - David Suzuki
Great info! Thank you!
Neena Mae. 1/7/10
"A baby nursing at a mother's breast is an undeniable affirmation of our rootedness in nature." - David Suzuki
1. How much information did you receive on cesarean scar care while at the hospital and at your post-partum visits? I don't remember really getting any info other than if it becomes infected, give the nurse a call. But I was pretty drugged up the whole time I was in the hospital (because of the c/s) so maybe I just don't remember what they told me.
2. When was your first post-partum visit after birth? How many post-partum visits did you have total? A nurse came to my house at 6 days post-partum to check on baby and my incision. Other than that, 6 week pp check-up. I had stitches that dissolved.
3. Have you experienced any issues because of your ceserean adhesions (abdominal pain, pelvic pain, sexual pain, incontinence, breast-feeding issues)? If so, did you get help for any of them? Did anybody inform you that you might have these issues? If so, did they tell you what you could do if you did experience one? I have lots of numbness near the incision area 2 1/2 years later and don't expect to ever have feeling down there again. With this current pregnancy, the Dr. always apologizes for the cold jelly that she puts on my belly for the doppler, I can't feel if it's cold or warm. I can't eve tell she's touching me. The numbness was something that I was never told about.
My milk didn't come in for 5-6 days, not sure if that was related to the c/s. I went into labor on my own and labored for 33 hours then had a c/s.
I think the emotional pain has been the biggest issue. I feel like a failure for not being able to vaginally deliver a baby. I gave up after 3 hours of pushing and cried during the c/s because I felt guilty quitting and taking the easy route. To this day, I regret making that decision because now I have no choice but to have a c/s with this next LO. Being pregnant again, every little ache and pain I feel near my incision area, I worry that my uterus is ripping open and I'm bleeding internally. I wish I would have been more knowledgeable of all of this prior to having the c/s. I'm not sure if that would have changed anything though.
Aspen Marley ~ 12.22.11
My Blog of Randomness - Pocketful of Roses
(((HUGS))) to you, Mama! Have you looked to see if there is an ICAN in your area? If not, you should look into it because they provide wonderful support for c-section mamas.
If this question seems to obtrusive, you don't need to answer. Are you not able to have a VBAC because there are no providers in your area that will perform VBACs or is there another reason?
Neena Mae. 1/7/10
"A baby nursing at a mother's breast is an undeniable affirmation of our rootedness in nature." - David Suzuki
There aren't any ICAN chapters in Wyoming. The closest to me would probably be Denver. There aren't any providers in this area that will perform a VBAC. There's no medical need for me to require a c/s, it's just the hospital has a policy against VBACs. It sucks because if we still lived in Minneapolis, I would be able to find someone who would let me try a VBAC.
Now that I am further along, maybe I'll bring it up again with my doctor. At my first appointment she mentioned that I could refuse a c/s.
Aspen Marley ~ 12.22.11
My Blog of Randomness - Pocketful of Roses
Cut the Crap - Weight loss journey of a Few Fat Chicks
1. How much information did you receive on cesarean scar care while at the hospital and at your post-partum visits?
I received basic info from my OB, then more detailed information from my surgeon at my pre-op appointment the week before my scheduled c-section. I was also given hand-outs with bulletins on what to watch out for, cleaning, etc. Post-surgery, I was given the same handouts by the OB nurses (they also went over them with me at discharge), and was also given another quick run-through on the second day when my surgeon came to check the incision.
2. When was your first post-partum visit after birth? How many post-partum visits did you have total?
I had a post-op appointment scheduled 2 weeks after the c-section with my surgeon in his office, where he checked the incision & removed the last of my steri-strips. Everything looked good, though, so it was a really quick appointment. My first (and only) real post-partum appointment with my OB was 9 weeks after the c-section. That was it...
3. Have you experienced any issues because of your ceserean adhesions (abdominal pain, pelvic pain, sexual pain, incontinence, breast-feeding issues)? If so, did you get help for any of them? Did anybody inform you that you might have these issues? If so, did they tell you what you could do if you did experience one?
Truthfully, I really had no problems whatsoever. My milk came in the same day I was discharged from the hospital, and I've since had no problems there. I was slightly worried about infection the first couple of weeks afterwards because I thought it smelled funny around the area where an internal stitch surfaced, but the surgeon insured me it was just odor from the steri-strips/stitch, and he cut the end that had poked through at my post-op appointment. After that, no other problems. I wasn't aware beforehand, though, that a stitch could possibly just pop out like that, and it really freaked me out when it happened because I thought maybe my incision was opening up.
BFP 11/25/2009 ~ Blighted Ovum Discovered 12/10/2009 ~ Natural M/C 12/24/2009
BFP 3/29/2010 ~ EDD 11/25/2010
Sawyer Marshall ~ November 16, 2010
This is similar to the type of incision(s) I had. The plan was to do horizontal incisions both externally & internally, but based on Sawyer's positioning (he was frank breech and hadn't "dropped", so his feet & head were under my ribcage), so they ended up doing a vertical internal incision to get him out. Even so, they still ended up needing assistance in physically pushing him down to where the incision was. It was kind of a bummer that my chances of choosing a future VBAC were negatively impacted because of it, but my local hospital doesn't offer it anyway, and I'm not sure if I would have decided to travel for OB care either way, so it doesn't bother me much.
Continuing with what Amy said, too, is the slight feeling of judgement that comes along with a scheduled c-section. Until recently, I was the only mom among my friends who had had to schedule a c-section, and in conversation I always felt like my experience was kind of brushed off as being the "easy" way. I also kind of feel slighted in a way in that I have a baby, but I never "had" a baby (if that makes sense). I'll always wonder what giving natural birth is like, especially since I never had any dilation, felt a single contraction-not even braxton hicks, or any of the other things associated with labor... although some of those things might change in subsequent pregnancies.
BFP 11/25/2009 ~ Blighted Ovum Discovered 12/10/2009 ~ Natural M/C 12/24/2009
BFP 3/29/2010 ~ EDD 11/25/2010
Sawyer Marshall ~ November 16, 2010
This times 1 million. I'm still mad at myself for not being more informed before it came time to deliver. I have no idea if it would have changed how things went, but the possibility that it would have is hard to deal with.
Not sure that helps you Jenn since if they are seeking your services they are probably on the more informed side, but it is definitely my biggest regret.
Oh, it helps! :-) Stats do show that women who are informed in the childbirth process have a lower chance of getting a c-section or other unecessary interventions. Same goes for those with doulas.
You're right, though, being informed may not have changed what happened. Three of the couples in our Bradley Method class ended up with c-sections (one breech, one pushed for 7 hours, and one had dystocia). But, in talking with them, they did say that since they knew what their options were, they felt better about making the decision to have a c-section.
Regardless, please know that a c-section is just as much a birth as a vaginal birth! After watching a c-section I have SOOOOO much respect for those of you that have experienced one.
Neena Mae. 1/7/10
"A baby nursing at a mother's breast is an undeniable affirmation of our rootedness in nature." - David Suzuki
I feel badly that so many c/s Moms feel like they are judged for 'taking the easy way' out - - or however you want to phrase it. My roommate post-partum had had a c/s and holy crap it was not an easy road for her. Jim and I have talked about this MANY times. I was in labor and pushing for so long that I was BEGGING them for a c/s. In the end, I didn't have one, and I pushed for hours and tore and they had to manually extract my placenta, blah blah blah. HOWEVER, the next day, while I felt broken and sore, my poor roommate was crying, she couldn't even get out of bed, she was in so much pain. I was up, showering, walking around, etc.
If anything, I felt like SHE had taken the hard road, not me. She had WEEKS of surgical recovery to face. I had a sore and broken down torn vajay.
So, I give tons of props to the c/s Mommas out there. That looked very rough too, to me. I think birth is birth honestly!
I am way late to this but I figured I'd chime in.
1. How much information did you receive on cesarean scar care while at the hospital and at your post-partum visits? I was instructed on how to care for the incision in the hospital. They removed my staples and placed the steri strips before I left and told me how to continue caring for it at home.
2. When was your first post-partum visit after birth? How many post-partum visits did you have total? My doctor visited me each day in the hospital (48 hour stay) then I had one follow up appointment at 6 weeks. I was due for my pap about 5 months later and they checked everything out again then too.
3. Have you experienced any issues because of your ceserean adhesions (abdominal pain, pelvic pain, sexual pain, incontinence, breast-feeding issues)? If so, did you get help for any of them? Did anybody inform you that you might have these issues? If so, did they tell you what you could do if you did experience one? I was surprised at how weak my abdominals were after the c-section. It took me a long time to do simple tasks like sitting from a lying position without using my arms. I did experience some pelvic/sexual pain but I really think that was from my attempt at a vaginal delivery instead of the c-section. I occasionally experience a little snissing, but again that could be from my attempt at a vaginal delivery or just pregnancy in general. I felt informed going in, but I think it's different to read about something versus experiencing it.
*Edit* It posted before I was finished!
To jump in on the judgy debate I feel like people hear I had an induction turned c-section and jump to conclusions. I was induced early for a medical reason. My labor did progress perfectly on it's own with almost no pitocin. I did make it to 10cm. I did push. But Molly's heart rate started to drop and I still ended up with an emergency c/s. Sometimes I feel judged for not doing everything I could to have a vaginal delivery like forceps or the vacuum. But having a cousin die from a vacuum accident decided that for me. I don't regret going for the c/s in my situation, but sometimes I still feel like I have to defend it to others if that makes sense.
Once the bandage was taken off, I was told to keep the incision area dry and exposed to air. They told me to pat dry the area thoroughly after a shower. Staples were removed before I left the hospital. The incision area was sensitive for some time and began to itch as it started healing. I did experience abdominal pains but doctors had already told me that it would happen ? just the uterus getting back into pre-pregnancy state.
After my 6-week PP visit the doctor said I was doing fine and so was my baby. C-section recovery was not all that difficult for me but I am looking forward to VBAC the next time.