I had been feeling that something was a little different
with my bump this pregnancy and last week I realised why. An ultrasound has
confirmed that Schmoonbee is sitting on her ass instead of turning upside down
as she is supposed in order to come out head first. Personally, I think this is
a very sensible approach – I have never quite understood why babies would
volunteer to float about upside down for a good three weeks before they emerge
into the world but from a mum’s perspective, of course, thank God they do
because their big heads take the most effort to push out.
I must confess that this pregnancy I have been overall
feeling quite tired, blah and not very fit and around a month ago, confessed to
V that I was pretty sure I had no energy to push Schmoonbee out at all so she would just have to stay in there like an appendage of my body. I had
been secretly hoping for a c-section despite knowing that the natural way is
best and all.
Anyway, with Schmoonbee in what is known as breech position-
her head is between my ribs and what I think is her hand is kind of around my waist; when she
moves it, I sometimes hold her hand which is very cool – I have the option of
an elective c-section. My sister is convinced that I sent a message to
Schmoonbee to not turn, which is nonsense because everyone knows that babies do
exactly as they please and noone can order them around with any success.
Of course, having been handed what I was hoping for all
along, I have to second-guess and doubt. The other option offered to me is a
procedure called External Cephalic Version (ECV) where a qualified doctor
manually turns the baby from the outside all the while closely monitoring the
mum and baby. The thing is that this is to be performed at 37 weeks and there
is some risk of it ending up in a c-section anyway because of the baby getting
distressed, water breaking etc. The hope, of course, is that once baby turns
one can proceed normally with a vaginal birth but what if it doesn’t? I really
don’t want Schmoonbee out next week.
Whereas an elective c-section, which I know is a major
surgery etc. (though doesn’t seem quite so major with half the women I know
having had one and varying reports on how awful the recovery is), can be scheduled
at 39 weeks, giving my baby more time to develop, especially her lungs.
Right now I’m kind of taking the cop-out route and leaning
towards the c-sec. So mums who had one, how was the recovery and if you
breastfed after, how did you go about that? Comment or email me your gruesome
stories at thebluebride@gmail.com.
24 comments:
Awww! hugs darling..wishing you all the best...you know my gruesome birth story right? Dont want to scare you again...
Wishing you a lot of luck..though I must say, I have a friend who did prescheduled C sec..and she was up and perfect in 3 days..not a bad option at all...go with the flow :)
relaying comment from Scoo: The thing with c-sections is this. when you perform surgery on inflamed and already traumatised tissue it is that muhc more painful and that much harder to recover from. this is what happens when you have a csec after inducing or after labour. however, if you have an elective--like she did, for same reason--it's all much less painful. this is not to say it isnt disorienting and traumatic and doesn't hurt like a bitch to laugh three months later. but still.
and from me: i remember them putting a cannula into my exhausted hand. wouldnt go in. hurt so MUCH! the next time i needed it, i was terrified, i cried and begged for local. then it went in nearly painlessly. soooo that traumatized tissue thing might be spot on.
I'm trying to recollect which Hindi movie I've seen this exact scene in - someone moving the baby from outside so that it comes out of the breech position.
Sorry, totally disconnected comment :-)
Hi
First of all, chill.
I have had c-sections in a span of 3 years. And I was up on my feet and walking around from day2.
And I breast fed my babies un till a year. So I dint have any problems with that.
But with any surgery there is always a risk,so if u elect to do so, just make sure you are in safe hands.
In fact I had taken spinal anesthesia, and held my baby within few minutes they were out .And those precious moments, will stay with me for lifetime.
And yes I am in India, Bangalore and had to go for my first c section, in 36th week bcoz of complications and the second one since I had another baby within 3 years of my first one.
But at the end of the day, do what is good for your baby.That's the right thing to do.
An elective c-section seems to be the best bet- less trauma all around. And with modern painkillers and antibiotics, very very safe and comfortable. Follow your doctors advice, and don't worry about it all.
No hassles with breat feeding either.
Ah!! I was thinking of doing a post on C-sections because there are so many detailed labour stories, but not many on the C-sec...maybe because it all gets over so fast (if you have a scheduled one, that is) and the story might not be as moving (or horrific) as pushing a baby out yourself.
Here's what you can expect: mild discomfort when the spinal is administered. A catheter will be attached to your urethra. An IV butterfly will be fixed to your hand. You'll be awake, but you won't feel much (you might feel movements as the surgeons operate). The baby will be out in about twenty minutes or so after the spinal is administered. They'll clean the baby up, check weight, APGAR score etc, and show her to you while you're getting stitched up. Then the baby will be taken to be shown to the rest of the family.
Since you had a spinal, you'll have to lie in the same straight position for 24 hours, but you can breastfeed the baby with help (someone has to hold the baby while you nurse). Your BP will be checked when the doctor is on rounds and s/he will also check to see if your bowels are moving. You can't take any food or water. You'll get your fluids (and antibiotics) from the IV. An absorbent mat will be placed beneath you to take care of the bleeding (you'll also be wearing a maternity pad). Day 1 post surgery, you can take liquids (juice, coconut water, plain water, soup) and try and pee (the catheter will be removed). If you are able to make it to the toilet with the help of an attendant, you can do so...otherwise use the bedpan (I forced myself to get up and go though it does hurt). Day 2, you can start taking solids and pass stools if possible. You'll be on painkillers throughout this period.
Though you can start walking around as soon as you feel up to it, my doctor advised me to lie down as much as possible on Day 3 as there's a possibility of developing a terrible headache because of the spinal.
Day 4 morning, the doc was ready to discharge me but I stayed an extra day because GBM had mild jaundice and was under phototherapy. I was discharged on Day 5 morning after the pediatrician gave her clearance.
Breastfeeding can be challenging with the IV fixed to your hand and your inability to move much. There may also be some hospital staff who aren't supportive of breastfeeding and advise you to give the baby lactogen because your 'milk' (which is actually colostrum) isn't enough. You might require the support of a family member to shoo them and other interfering relatives away. But since you've breastfed before and are probably aware of all this, you might have smoother sailing.
During this period, you can take sponge baths, but not an actual one. The doc changed my dressing to a waterproof one before discharging me, but she still didn't want me to take an actual bath for a week. You'll be on painkillers and antibiotics for three more days after discharge. You can take more painkillers if you need them after that though. The doc will check your stitches after a week and if everything's fine, the dressing will be removed. You'll be allowed to take a bath (she advised me to wear a towel protecting the wound area though) and maybe use an anti-bacterial cream in the area after bath. A week after that, if she thinks everything is fine, you can continue with life as before!
You can start exercising after 6 weeks, lifting weights after 6 months.
From my experience, I had no pain at all apart from Day 2 when I'd to get up and go to the loo. There was a mild soreness in the area sometimes, but otherwise, I was absolutely fine. I had bleeding (1 pad a day) for about 2 weeks or so. While all this sounds so cumbersome, it isn't really that bad. I'd my contractions pain to compare this with and I felt the former was worse.
You also won't face issues like urinary incontinence and stuff in future with a C-sec.
Phew, I should have just written that post instead of commenting :D
Oh! All the very best!
Hey! And there is still time for the little one to turn,if you still have a few weeks time. A normal delivery would still be possible.
Having said that,C-sec is definitely not bad - I went through a C-sec myself and I can tell you-I had no problems during/right after and at anytime after delivery. Compared to the horror stories I've heard from friends who went thru normal - I think I was just lucky! *Touch wood*!
@R's Mom I reread your birth story (thought I'd commented on the post) and felt so angry. It is possible for a woman to suddenly dilate and go into labour and the baby to emerge very quickly (which maybe left no time for episistiomy and epidural) but I still feel there were things they could have done better. Such as communicate with you and your family what was happening. And I think they could have delivered the placenta for you with a painkiller instead of making you push.
@MinCat ha! good point about the traumatised tissue. Actually my uterus feels kind of tender anyway which is also why I don't want anyone pushing and prodding at it.
@SS Where c-section is not an option, I guess this (moving the baby manually) is what they would have done. It is safer than doing a breech delivery, though I don't know how safe if the entire process isn't monitored as it is now.
@Musica HK has a very high rate of c-secs (sad that I'm going to be contributing to it soon) so the docs here I think are masters of c-secs. Still, not too be taken lightly but I'm in good hands (I hope).
@Dipali thanks, I feel better.
@GB Was hoping you would see the post and share your experience further. Ew no eating for a whole day...why why why!!! Why did I not practice fasting on Good Friday? After nine months of literally living a hand to mouth existence (i.e. hand with food in it going to mouth every half hour or so), this is going to be a toughie. Or maybe I'll be too zonked to notice. Also used a bed pan once and hated it. But these are not good enough reasons to not do a c-sec I guess.
In the private hospital I'm in, I expect they will feed the baby formula initially sadly. In the public system in HK, they are more pro-breastfeeding but still for c-secs I think they do a couple of formula feeds. Anyway, will just have to hope I can establish breastfeeding after.
@RS yes, I'm going to do some exercises to give her a chance to turn till the last hour. But I have a feeling she won't. She's a lump, this one.
snippetsnscribbles: It was in 'Three Idiots'.
@The Bride: Sorry for that irrelevant comment, but that movie was the first thing I thought of when I read your post.
Whatever decision you take, all the very best to you and the baby!
Okie, I am commenting cos I read the much more detailed descriptions of c-secs out here, and wanted to let you know my version!
I had an emergency C-sec after 30 hours of labour so you can safely assume I was exhausted. However, I started walking around (albeit slowly) in 12 hours time, and was discharged in 2 days flat!
I started feeding the baby within a half hour of me being out of the OT, and though there was discomfort, and some help was needed, it was never too bad!
It's 2 and a half months now, and I am back to normal, so I would say it is much better option when you know a natural birth might be tough! All the best either way!
Okie, I am commenting cos I read the much more detailed descriptions of c-secs out here, and wanted to let you know my version!
I had an emergency C-sec after 30 hours of labour so you can safely assume I was exhausted. However, I started walking around (albeit slowly) in 12 hours time, and was discharged in 2 days flat!
I started feeding the baby within a half hour of me being out of the OT, and though there was discomfort, and some help was needed, it was never too bad!
It's 2 and a half months now, and I am back to normal, so I would say it is much better option when you know a natural birth might be tough! All the best either way!
I haven't had a baby before, so i have no clue. Good luck with whatever you choose.My friends who have had c-secs have been able to be up and on their feet in 3-4 days.
Well GB has covered the procedure completely and since I have been through a C-section myself not very long ago (though you have already read my birth story)after reading your post and the comments before me, here are my two cents;
Mine was an extreme case with many complications (though my baby was in a head-down position from week 28)I was w/o food i.e. on IV fluids for almost four days post surgery.
Next, with today's advancements in medical science and medicines, the surgery is very safe and pain reduced to very bearable limits.
Don't stress about breast-feeding for as DI mentioned in most cases, you'll be able to feed within half an hour to an hour with assistance from the nursing staff.
Indeed allowing for further lung development is a crucial point but weighing your personal medical condition and seeing to the breech position the baby is in, if you need to go for a C-section,go for it.
Hugs to you and the little darling and wishing you both the very best :)
P.S- The movie SnS had mentioned was Robot.
Lurker, delurking.
Did the doc say what the chances of the baby turning by herself are? She might still do so....
To give you an idea of surgical procedures outside India, since I don't know what post operative protocols HK follows: in the US where I am, I was made to walk (to the bathroom) 6 hours after my c-section, was allowed any and all foods (with appropriate caveats about gassy foods since I was b/f) soon after surgery and was in the hospital a total of 3 days (vaginal deliveries are booted out in two). The baby was bottlefed for the first couple of feeds and then I took over. Mine was a scheduled C-section, but I bled too much and they needed me to rest more than usual - friends who have had C-secs without my issues said they b/f their babies right after surgery.
The cut wasn't sutured but surgically stapled, and I was allowed to shower (no sit-down baths) the day after the surgery. I could not bend over for about 3 months - diaper changes had to be on a table-height surface. The pain was probably a level 5 (on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being lowest) or so - I avoided most painkillers after the third day, trying to stick to one a day to keep the pain to a manageable level. Stopped all painkillers after a week. I had no headache from the epidural, no other side effects except the itching from the hair on my stomach growing back! (They helpfully shaved my entire torso from below my breasts!).
Oh I should mention that even 12 years after the fact, the nerves around the C-sec incision haven't regenerated completely - I have a few numb spots, and the scar tissue is a bear - I also have other lady-part issues, and the last laparoscopic procedure I had, the doc had a hard time getting the lap past all the scar tissue. But that is very person specific...
And my second was a Vaginal delivery, so no issues from the C-sec on that front. The scar has faded almost completely now (if you care about such things) - I think it was fading by the end of two years or so, and now is just a line above my pelvis, but I am not a bikini wearer so it doesn't bother me.
Good luck...
M
@Ramya no worries, it wasn't that irrelevant. I think I missed that part of Three Idiots (the pirated video got stuck!)
@DI and MyEra thanks for the encouragement. HK hospitals are not that breastfeeding friendly so they won't bring the baby to me and all. Not the best start for breastfeeding but well...I have to live with that.
@Bhargavi thanks!
@M thanks for sharing the details. I think my baby will also be bottle-fed initially - hospitals in HK aren't that breastfeeding friendly - so nice to know one can succesfully breastfeed even after some bottle feeds.
Also, good to be reminded of the risks of c-sec like the scar-tissue thing you mentioned. Hope they don't shave my tummy; what a pointless added irritation to have it itch growing back and not like we are sooo hairy anyway. I think I'd be quite proud of my scar so not worried about how it looks.
Since you mentioned about shaving tummy and concern about the sensation returning around the surgical scar, let me add:
My tummy was shaved and five and a half months after the operation my tummy is fully normally sensitive to normal sensations (including the incision line and surrounding areas).
So it is totally dependent upon the surgical skills of the operating surgeon.
As far breastfeeding, mine was a rare very complicated case, so my daughter had to have quite a number of formula feeds.
The visit was useful. Content was really very informative. visit giftwithlove dot com(portal to send gifts and flowers to India.).
Long time lurker, delurking.
Good luck with whatever decision you make and i hope that the delivery is smooth whatever way you choose.
I had a c section with my twins (transverse and breech). The only bit of advice is to get the best anaesthetist and obviously a very good gynaecologist who will do the surgery. I had my section in the morning, had a light tiffin (toast and tea) around3 and a proper dinner and even a midnight snack. I had a shower the next day. Ask for lots of painkillers and do take them before you feel the pain, that’s the advise my anaesthetist gave me and it was worth it. I was walking on day 3 around the hospital, back home on day 5, changing nappies was painful, i did not attempt to bath the babies for a month, but that is because my kitchen counter was very high.
For what it is worth, i had to be up and functioning almost normally within a month, and it wasn’t too bad. The only problem i have is the scar (it itches terribly) but i scar badly. Regarding breast feeding, i did not have a good supply so my babies were more on formula than breast milk for a month and a half, my son latched on beautifully after 6 weeks, (he had a tongue tie) and my daughter latched on quite early. I had to however stop breastfeeding her because of her reflux and expressed till they were approximately 8.5 months.
Kirthika
Good luck!
Citric Acid from Bangalore:
I had a non-elective C-section, was a breeze. Other than the fact that they asked me not to eat anything 4 hours before and 12 hours later. Even fluids was restricted to prevent the possiblity of a throw-up that might put a strain on the stitches.
When I was given my first Marie biscuit after go-ahead from gynaec, I ate it like it was nectar dropped from heaven. :)
I had cough and the stretch on stitches while coughing hurt. As you're on painkillers, it is manageable. I was breastfeeding from day one, though there were more formula feeds by the over enthusiastic nurses than I would have liked.
I was discharged in 48 hours, went home walking and after 6 weeks of not lifting much weights, general care, I was back to normal. Breastfed exclusively for 6 months and continuing to breastfeed.
I do not know how it feels to have a normal delivery. But my experience was like what GB had written. It was easy and I thought - what is the big hype about childbirth anyways?
Had a C-section when all along I was hoping for a natural delivery. The delivery itself was smooth - the recovery was painful and long(atleast a month). You will need help after the delivery - hubby and somebody else too.
Hugs and all the best!!! And take lots of pics of you now!!! You will look back fondly on these pregnant days.
Good luck with whatever happens - there are pros and cons all around...so pick the cons that work for you! :-D
Would only say hold on to Schmoonbee as soon as she is out. If you're zonked out, tell them to place her and hold her for you for at least a bit. There's no substitute to that.
I'm sure you'll make the right decision with the help of your family and doctor. Have you asked your mom her opinion, coz grandmothers to be have amazing instincts.
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