I guess this is the new forum that Sheila was talking about.
I just wanted a place to talk about our own experiences. I know mine was not good and I just wondered how everyone elses went.

Did anyones DH get to cut the cord?
How long did it take them to do it?
Did you get sick?

Just stuff like that.
Or if anyone is having one that has never had one and they have any questions...I would be happy to let you know about everything I can remember.

I had both of my sons by c-section. The first one was an emergency since I was in a labor a full day when my son got stuck and just wouldn't budge. I had a hard time recovering from the surgery and wasn't very eager to do it again. I wanted to try for a VBAC the second time I was pregnant but in the end my OB advised against it because the baby was looking to be just as big as my first. I recovered so much easier from the scheduled c-section. Both surgeries took less than an hour and I didn't get sick although the first time I got the shakes pretty bad. DH didn't cut the cord either time but he did get to hold the baby within minutes after they came out.

Lora

I had an emergency c-section after 30 hours of induced labor (I only got to 2cm ...grrr). By that time I was so ready to have the baby out of me, that a c-section was so welcomed.

I did have the shakes on the operating table (and I had major itchies after the anethesia wore off that night) - but that was really the worst of all of it. Oh yeah - and getting out of bed for the first time the next morning. But after that it was smooth sailing. An easy recovery. I was doing stairs as soon as I got home 3 days later - walking outside the following week - driving the week after that.

I am planning on having a scheduled c-section with #2.

My c section was not too bad. I wanted a vag delivery but my son's head was turned and not moving.

It really didn't hurt at all. It felt a little tight when I walked too much but it was amazingly pain free. I imagine that having a similar injury to my crotch would be more painful especially when using the toilet! I want to try a vbac but part of me likes the idea of a familiar experience. We shall see.

I did...but I really don't remember much about it...It was an emergency c-section after I'd had PIH and a seizure...between that, and them starting me on Mag Sulfate...my memories are very hazy about what happened during the actual c-section.

DH didn't make it there in time...but I'm pretty sure that husbands are never able to cut the cord, as it's in the sterile field.

I had a lot of problems with wound healing, which were kind of annoying...I'm probably going to have a repeat c-section, and I'm hoping it doesn't happen again. (And I also hope DH gets to be there!!!)

I had them with my first son and my twins. I honestly didnt think it was a bad experience. Both mine were planned (but earlier than scheduled). They were very quick...I remember with DS, it was 10 min from slice to stitch. DH was there w/ me and took a zillion pics to document it, which was kinda cool. He did not, however, get to cut the cord. We asked about it afterwards w/ DS, and they said that if they had known, they would have left a longer length of cord and then let DH cut the length off once DS was in the warmer. With the twins, they had to be intubated, so we didnt even consider it.
Healing was fine....I healed relattively quickly with no problems.

= He did not, however, get to cut the cord. We asked about it afterwards w/ DS, and they said that if they had known, they would have left a longer length of cord and then let DH cut the length off once DS was in the warmer.

this is what they do at our hospital :nod: dh was able to 'cut the cord' while tony was on the warmer.

mine was also scheduled due to 'macrosomia' (enormous baby) tony was estimated to be over 11lbs :owow: . he turned out to be 9lbs 4oz, it was his huge noggin throwing off the measurements, it was 38.5cm.

anyway, it wasn't too bad. i did have a lot of pain the first week, but i know i was under-medicating myself. next time i will not be so stupid!

i will have one again this time, i am not even allowed to go into labor as i have both horizontal and vertical cuts on my uterus. (hard time getting him out, he never even dropped and the section was at 39wks 5d!)


oh, and the nurses took our camera and photographed for us. i'll post some later, they're on my other pc.

I had a c-section after 24 hours of labor, which was pretty horrid! Carter just couldn't get out - I was totally effaced and dilated though, so I was very ready! Maybe my pelvis is just too small. He was really jammed in there when they took him out.

It was very fast. Something like 10 or 15 minutes total. Dh did get to cut the cord, but not until after they had already cut it. I felt like I recovered from the c-section very well. I was up walking around right away (it was hard at first though). I don't think I recovered well from all the labor and drugs and lack of sleeping though. I think I will go for the scheduled c-section this time again because of how tired I was last time. I had a horrid labor with lots and lots of drugs! I didn't get the shakes or itchies like a lot of other people get. a friend of mine had gas bubbles in her shoulder afterwards! She said they were awful!

I had a section after 30+ hours of induced labor because I failed to progress due to Katie's size. It's just as wel because it turned out she was stuck because of her 39 cm head (she was 10 lbs 13 oz and 22 1/4 inches.)

I had severe PIH and pre-eclampsia when I was induced at 41 weeks and was on magnesium sulfate for my whole labor. I started bleeding out during my section and the surgery ended up taking 90+ minutes because they couldn't get the bleeding to stop--Brian said there was blood EVERYWHERE when he got up to go with Katie to the nursery.

I will have to have c-sections in the future because I'm at high risk for uterine rupture in the future.

I am another 30-hour induction survivor! :lol: Having a c-section worked out so well for me, I was so afraid of L&D that I almost didn't have any children! :eek: I didn't progress at all from the induction (never got past a fingertip dilated), plus I apparently have an unusually small pelvis (but my hips more than make up for that :rolleyes: ) so she just wasn't going to go anywhere no matter what.

I had a very easy recovery; in fact, every single nurse that came in to check me (so that's what, 2 a day for 3 or 4 days) said, "Oh, that's a beautiful incision!" So apparently my doctor knew what he was doing. I will definitely have a repeat c-section next time around.

I guess I should be more speacific when I say that mine was not good.
Well, after they had let me push for what seamed like ever they said that they didn't think I would be able to deliver. They said that they could see her head but that she wasn't getting any farther. I had been a 10 and 100% for about 8 hours. They didn't really know what the problem was. Even though MY DR. said that I was a high canidate for C/S because of my pelvis. SO ANYWAY when I get in there they say that DH can be in and take pics and everything seams fine. Well, they became aware that things were not ok within a few minutes of cutting me open. I guess I had addhesions all over the inside of my stomach. They didn't know what causeed them or why I had them, but they had to cut them out before they could get to the baby. Then when they finally got to her she was stuck down in my pelvis from all the pushing. I threw up all over DH from all the pushing and pulling and my BP kept raising up real high and then dropping back down low. Then after they got her out they had DH go with her and I felt like I was by myself. I was in there for another half hour while they got me closed back up.
A friend of mine had a c/s there and they let her DH cut the cord so I was happy that they would let my DH also. WELL, they didn't. They said that they never do that. GO FIGURE!
After recovery I finally got to see Syd and hold her after about 2 hours. Like a few others I was very itchy all over. My nurse said that she wasn't going to tell me about that side effect b/c some women don't get it. It was really bad so she gave me something for it. Not 10min. later I was in sooo much pain. It felt like I was having the baby all over again. DH had left to get a shower and some lunch so I was all by myself.
I couldn't even move enough to get to the page nurse button. I was crying and trying to call out to them. When she finally came back she was really apologetic and said that she would get the anesthesiologist to check on me.
WELL, he was pissed because he said that the drug she gave me was not on his list of drugs that I could have. And that he knew that drug would do that to me and that she should have known it too. He gave me some other drugs that knocked me out for about three hours and after that I felt a little better.
I had her on a Sunday and left the hospital on a Thursday. I could barely walk and had only had one bowel movement since I went in the Saturday before. It took me aabout 5 weeks to feel good enough to ride in the car or go for a walk.
AND NOW, almost 5 months later I am still itchy, still have shooting pains across my incision, and am still numb.
I want to have more children, but my hospital will not do VBACs, (not that I could have one) and I am really scared that I will have another experience like the first one.
Sorry this is sooo long, I just wanted you to know it all.

I ended up with a c-section after 17 hours of induced labor. I was only dialated to 5 cm when they said I'd need the c-section because my daughter's heartrate kept dropping with every contraction and my doctor felt she would not be able to handle much more labor. They told me at 11:00 I was going in for the c-section, I got shaved and they put my catheter in and wheeled me down.....my daughter was born at 11:41......she was stuck up high so the doctor said I would have ended up with one no matter what.......I was extremely sore but I think allot of it had to do with her being stuck and the doctor literally had to get on top of me hands and knees and push her while the other doctor pulled......my husband said it was the freakiest thing he had ever seen....not to mention they lowered my table almost to the floor when I delivered......I had the shakes really bad and I did itch afterwards but was given medicine for that.....I also had allot of gas pains so that was torture.....but my incision healed really well and within 3 weeks I was feeling much much better.

I am due with my second child in May and I'm going to schedule another c-section. Allot of people say the second time around is much easier, especially if you don't go into labor first.....for me, I guess right now the "known" is better than the "unknown".....let's face it, either way giving birth is not pain free.....each has it's own advantages/disadvantages

I had a c-section after being induced. I actually dilated fully after 12 hours and pushed for over an hour. Unfortonately, my dd was in the posterior position and wasn't turning or coming down enough. There was also some delcelerations in her heart rate whenever I turned onto the left side so they said there must of been some cord compression. The doctor then decided that even if I pushed another hour or so I would probably still have ended up with a c-section. Once the decision was made. Emma was born less then 30 mintes later. it all happened so fast. I had a lot of pain the first day (since the drugs just made me drowsy but didn't help for the pain) but by the next day I felt a lot better. My incision healed really well. I didn't have staples just dissolving sutures. At the time of the c-section, the OB said that I shouldn't have any trouble trying for a VBAC next time.

I had a c-section as well..I was induced at 42 weeks, starting on a Sunday night at 7...finally at about 7 pm Tuesday night (after two days of pitocin and cervadil), I was fully dilated and effaced..I then pushed for two hours, and Trey even crowned, then they figured out that he was stuck in my pelvis. So I had an emergency c-section. My recovery was great, and after the experience I had with labor (failed epidural, none of the pain relievers they gave me did any good, pitocin contractions that lasted up to 2 minutes at a time coming every 30 seconds), I'm glad I'm going to be having c-sections from here on out :lol:

I had a C-section after 26 hours of induced labor. I went on sunday night at 7:00 at 41 weeks, not dilated, baby still high. By Monday at 9:00 p.m. i had dialated to 5 cm. I had the shakes, was running a temp and babies heart rate was going down. So i had a c-section. After the doctor said that i probably would not have had the baby vaginally. So i was glad i hadn't pushed and then had a section. But recovery was o.k., i under medicated myshelf also, i was scared to get to used to the pain medicine so i didn't take much. I know better for next time.

Once I got home I undermedicated myself. I think I was afraid that Syd would wake up or need something and I would be out from the meds. At the hospital though, I took all the meds at the hour intervals permitted. Tuesday night I knew that I would be going home Thursday, so I tried not to take it every time. It was sooo bad. I was crying when the nurse came in and she made me take the meds and took Syd to the nursery. The Dr. perscribed me with percaset(sp) to go home. I had 30 pills in the container and I think I took about 7. I was told I could take one or two every 4 hours till they were gone. Those 7, I took the first four days I was home and then they started making me sick.

Jen, I wonder if a second c-section would be different since they know all the stuff that you went through last time. You should talk with your ob and see what they think. I understand being afraid of all that again though - it sounds like what you went through was terrible.

They sent me home on nothing but motrin...On second thought, I think they gave me a prescription, but it was for darvocet, and that makes me sick, so I never bothered getting it filled...

I had a really good experience with my c-section though, I wasn't taking any pain meds at all Thursday and Friday (had Trey on Tuesday night) :shrug:

I had an emergency c-section. At 10:40 am my Dr. said I needed an emergency c-section right away and Alexia was born at 11:04 am. I needed one because the baby was stressed (her heart rate would dip with each contraction) and something with me having hypertension (high blood pressure I think...I never had HBPressure during my preg. though).

I was scared at first and everything was happening so fast. I was scared because I never prepared myself that a c-section may be something that could happen. HOwever, fortunately it wasn't half as bad as what I though.

I had a spinal and it didn't hurt AT ALL. I loved the way it stopped my painful contractions immediately! :) When they cut me it wasn't bad at all...just alot of pulling and tugging feeling.

I was drugged up on morphine so I didn't feel no pain afterwards. I believe it was the following day when I felt the pain AND I had a monsterous headache!!! I think they said it was from the spinal or something (can't remember). I also remember having the shakes after they pulled Lexie out. It was sorta freaky. As much as we had planned on James cutting the cord, they said with an emergency c-section he couldn't. :( They quickly had to whisk Lexie to NICU anyway.

So all in all my experience with a c-section was really good. So good that if we have another one, I would like to inquire if I can have a scheduled one (not sure if you need a medical condition to request one or not. ??? I have to find out). Like Stacey said, I definately like the idea of a familiar experience. :) Oh yea, and also I was recovering from a phlemy cough I had a couple wks. prior and the worst part about everything was trying not to cough. It hurt so bad (the incision with the staples) and trying to cough it up was so hard (even putting a pillow against it). That was probably one of the most painful memories (besides not being able to walk or stand up the next day).

I had a c-section after 10 hours of induced labor. I wasn't progressing (only dilated to a 4 and 75% effaced, Julian's head hadn't dropped at all), and I'd been on partial bedrest the last three weeks of my pregnancy due to high blood pressure. With my BP being kind of wonky, the doctor said he didn't want to run the risk of letting me continue in labor, because as slowly as it was going even with a lot of pitocin (I got an epidural after eight hours so they could crank it up and try to get things moving), I could labor for another day or so before Julian was born. So off to surgery I went! I was scared to death - I'd never had *any* kind of surgery before, much less anything as major as this. It wasn't bad, though. The hospital staff was wonderful - the anesthesiologist was real good about talking to me and explaining what was going on and keeping me calm. The incision didn't hurt, I just felt a bit jostled around. I had the shakes while the anesthesia was wearing off, but I was able to move my legs by the time I was in recovery, so that didn't last long. No nausea, no itching, no other anesthesia-related issues. And my recovery was no big deal - I was out and about the day I got home (four days post-op), albeit moving slowly, and off pain pills within a week. I think the worst thing about recovery was my hugely swollen ankles from all the IV fluids I'd gotten and razor burn from where they prepped me for surgery! :lol:

Kevin didn't get to cut the cord - neither of us thought to ask about it. He barely remembered to take any pictures of Julian after he was born! :lol:

All things considered, if I have another child, I wouldn't have any problem going with a scheduled c-section. My experience wasn't bad at all.

I had a C-Section too. I was induced at 37 1/2 weeks due to preeclampsia. I labored for 12 hrs and when it was time to push she wouldn't budge. She never dropped at all during my labor. She was face up and my pelvis was too small. I tried to push her out for over an hour. I was totally exhausted and in a terrible amount of pain. When my OB suggested a C-Section, I was more than willing to go.

Dh was in the OR with me the entire time. I was really scared and I was so glad to have him there. I did get sick and throw up on the OR table. It was nothing new to me since I had been throwing up the entire 9 months and during labor. :dead: I really didn't feel anything during the C-Section just a little pulling and tugging. Dh was able to watch them pull her out but they wouldn't let him bring a camera into the OR . :( I was really wanting him to get some picture so I could see too. The nurses did have a polaroid camera and took a picture of Dh with Olivia and then me and Olivia. Dh did get to cut the cord. I was really suprised that he did it. He is really squeemish. DH went to the nursery with Olivia and I was left alone in the OR. This is when I started to feel my OB putting everything back in. :eek: I told him that I could feel what he was doing and he said that there was no way I could feel that. Trust me, I DID!!!! Finally after I started crying from the pain they gave me some more pain med. in my IV. I was in recovery for about an hour before I was taken back to me room. I did get the chills and the itching afterwards. They gave me something for the itching that really helped. I was on Magsulfate for 24hrs after the delivery due to high blood pressure. That stuff was horrible and I was so so sick. I have never been that sick in my entire life!! I would be freezing one minute and burning up the next. The evening she was born is just a blur to me. I was so tired and so sick that I really don't remember much about my visitors. :(

The next morning when I got up for the first time, I thought my insides were falling out. I have never in my life felt such incredible pain!! I couldn't straighten up when I walked and I was passing huge clots. (Sorry, TMI!!) I also had some MAJOR gas pains that were causing me to double over. It was worse than any AF cramp I had ever had. It was like labor pains again. I was trying to feed Olivia at the time and I was in so much pain that I had to get the nurse to take her. :( After that first day, things started getting alot better.

Things were going fine at home until the night before I was going to go back to my OB to have my staples removed. As I was getting ready for bed my incision started oozing. Being a LPN, I knew that wasn't a good sign. Reather than spending the night in the ER, I waited until the next morning to go to my OB. When he seen what was happening he said, Uh oh, I can tell you that the incision didn't close properly. GREAT, just what I wanted to hear. :rolleyes: My incision healed properly except for a couple of places. So, DH had to clean and pack the incision for 2 weeks until it healed. He was so great and was really gentle. It did hurt when he cleaned and packed it, especially when it was almost closed. After that, I was fine.

IF I have another baby, I'll definitely have another C-Section. I'm not looking forward to that.

Michelle

Despite the reasons, I had a pretty good c-section experience. They started inducing me at 42 weeks and after a week of failed inducing, they broke my water at about 1cm dilation. Ethan's heart rate went down and stayed dangerously low for about 10 mintues so they rushed me off as fast as they could to get him out (he also had the cord tangled around his neck and arm). I had the shakes bad in recovery (I have never had a good experience being put to sleep). I also had a weepy wound that took a while to heal but I never had pain. I had Ethan Monday night at 9:33 and went home Thursday afternoon. I was walking the morning after I had him and was driving within a week.

The way I look at it, in the end it's all worth it if you and your baby are alive and healthy.

Due to the incision I have and the fact I could not stay in labour and some other issues from the birthing process, I am very sure I'm going to have another section. I'm going to ask to have it scheduled and request that I am awake for it. The biggest disappointment was I didn't get to see him until after 3 hours after he was born.

I had a c-section after 33 hours of drug-free labor and about 8 hours of pushing!! I attempted a homebirth, but transferred to the hospital after pushing for 6 hours (I believe that I was pushing too soon because I never felt an urge to push)!! My son was right there (I could feel him about 2-3 inches inside of me), but I just couldn't get him to come all the way out. The doctors let me push for another couple of hours, but when he wasn't budging, they decided that a c-section was best and we agreed to it. We really didn't want to go that route, but we didn't know what else to do.

The c-section wasn't bad at all. I had a spinal and didn't feel a thing, well except for some tugging. The only pain I felt was when the nurse was pushing on my chest to get the baby to come down. My DH was in the OR with me during the surgery and he got to cut the cord. What sucked though was that I only got to see my baby for like 5 seconds before they rushed him off to the nursery and I didn't get to see or hold him until the next day!! I'm still not sure why they did that because he was fine.

The first 3-4 days after my birth were very painful, but I made sure to take my meds every 4 hours. By the time I went home, I didn't need the meds anymore. In fact, I felt normal with no pain within a week!! I could bend over at the waist without any pain. Heck, I even drove at 8 days PP! But despite having a good experience, I could do without another major surgery. So, I am going for a VBAC this time!

I had a c-section because of a breech baby. I was 36 weeks when I went into labor, didn't know I was in labor, but when I went to the hospital (I was having some strange cramps, not painful, but weird), I was 8+ cm!!! So, they started prepping me at 5:35am and Ellen was born at 7:13am.

My c-section was actually really, really easy. I know a lot of that was that I was totally not focused on me at all and had to get out of bed every two hours in order to see my daughter (she was in NICU for 6 days). NICU was the floor above me, so after the first day, I walked (after they took out the cath, which meant I didn't need the wheelchair). I think the key to a fast recovery, at least for me, was walking as upright as possible as soon as possible.

Our hospital doesn't allow the dad's to cut the cord, plus Ellen had to be worked on immediately after being born but NICU doctors. But, she was kind of stabilized within 15 minutes and Brandon was able to hold her and bring her to see me for a few minutes (and our first family picture) before they whisked her off to NICU (unfortunately, Brandon accidently walked in and saw what they did to her there :blue: ). But, after I got out of recovery for 30 minutes, I was able to go to see her with my best friend and hold her for the first time... my angel.

I didn't take any meds for the first probably 20 hours, but then the epi wore off and I took what they offered. By the time I was released, I was on only Motrin, but not many. After the first week, I was pretty much fine (okay, tired... but who isn't?)

I'm with Heather... despite a really easy c-section, I am going to try a VBAC with #2, maybe even without any pain medication (okay, I say that now... but I'm not even TTC yet!!!). My labor was so quick with #1, maybe it will be the same? But, if I do have to have a c-section, I'm fine with that, too. All that matters is that my child comes out healthy.

It's amazing how many C-sections we have here! WOW!

It's amazing how many C-sections we have here! WOW!
Yeah, I'm not surprised, since one in four women have c-sections these days.

I had a caesarian too...I found it so much better than a normal delivery. I was really nervous when they told me I had to have one because I'd heard such negative things about them.

I had a c-section. Honestly, I wanted one to begin with. My OB couldn't justify it before hand but did say she wouldn't drag out my labor if I wasn't progressing.

As it turned out, my little one was trying to come out face first....she felt his nose coming out my cervix (and i never dialated past 2cm) so she said "you just bought yourself your c-section!"

The good news is that next time I can schedule it!

I am lazy- i'll copy and paste the birth stories from my journal. I had 2 c-sections.

My dear son didn’t want to come out on his own. In week 42, they induced labor, after having given me the option of doing a C-section right away because he was big. Since he was my first I wanted to try natural birth- I did try for many hours but …. His highness wouldn’t even enter the birth channel… So after being induced at 11 am and having started labor at 6 pm Tuesday, I ended up pushing for 2 hrs straight btw 3-5 pm Wednesday. In btw I had 2 epidurals. But when they came and told me no go, gotto do a C-section around 5:50 PM Wednesday, I happily agreed. Thank G-d there were no complications and he was born healthy, weighing 4.250 kilos. That is …wait a sec…9.37 pounds.
The worst thing I remember about his birth was getting up from bed the first time after the surgery. It was the next day at 10 am. They made me get up and walk all the way to the shower (in the same room but it seemed miles away...). I remember looking back when I reached the shower and seeing a trail of blood leading from my bed to where I was... It was a horrendous sight I won't forget! :dead:
I also think it was plain stupid of them to give me a shower right away.:furious: i almost fainted in there.
Oh- and a funny thing: I was scared a bit (not too much, i was way too drugged and exhausted ...). when i try to cool myself down I often count- in swiss german, from one to ten. SO i did that. first quietly and then louder and louder and louder.... until the doc told me to shut up!:lol2: (I started again immediately but quietly). When Yumi was out, the docs came out to DH (since it was an emergency c-section, he wasn't allowed in) and asked him for my glasses. MIL,FIL and my mom asked if they were done. DH told them:"No, i am sure they want to show her the baby so she demanded her glasses..." he was absolutely right!:akiss:

Shoham's birth was easier but scarrier. I am afraid of SEEING syringes so you can imagine how i feel about surgery...
It was pre-scheduled because they thought she might be big which she wasn't. If we had waited until end of week 42 like with Yumi she might have been. She was born 3,460 kilos. Anyway, I was scared to death when they wheeled me into the OR. The doctor giving me the anestysia (sp??) was great and helped me calm down. DH was allowed in only after everything was ready for the cut and was sent out the moment Shoham was out. So I was pretty much alone and scared. But I was back to normal (doing tons of stuff) within a week of the c-section. Oh- and they changed their policy about the first getting out of bed by the time Shoham was born. I was first put in an armchair where they made sure I was OK. Only much later did they let me walk and take a shower. And no trail of blood anywhere!

I had one of each - an emergency c-section at 29.5 weeks with my twins and a VBAC with my son Charlie in 2003.

I have had 2 c-sects. My first one was an emergency c-sect 8 years ago. I was fully dilated and was actually pushing... but he got stuck in there so I had to have the c-sect. Then I had my daughter almost two years ago and I chose to go with another c-sect even though I feel that I probably could have had her VBAC. I'm glad I made the choice to go with the c-section though becase I already knew what to expect with it :nod: I healed up wonderfully with both c-sections and had no problems with either one.

I also had an emergency section - but unlike those whose came after a horribly long labor :hug99: mine followed a super fast labor. I went from 1 cm to 7 cms in less than 3 hours. Apparently the baby had a very hard time with the frequency and intensity of the contractions and at 7 centimeters his heart rate plumeted to 40 BPM :owow: (thank God he was being monitored) I was given a shot to try to slow the contractions and get the baby's heart rate back up but it didn't work. I was absolutely petrified. The doctor was like "This baby has to come out now." So, I was rushed into the OR (while an alarm was going off!) and put under general (there was no time for an epidural or spinal) When I came to, I really did not know if my baby had made it or not - it was that uncertain and scary when I was put under. Thank God he was ok and I feel so grateful that the doctor in charge got him out so quickly and was so on top of the situation (my doctor did not get there in time and I had never met the doctor who did the section - she is my angel now though:angel: ) This story could have had a totally different ending if all the cards had not been in order so to speak. My emergency c-section was one of the best things that ever happened to me and I am so proud of my "battle scar" No complications afterwards - just very tired from the general and Brice was quite druggy for about three days. Art obviously was not in the OR (no time) and did not cut the cord as Brice needed some breathing support immediately following. My OB said that if I have another baby she will do a scheduled section at 38 weeks.

I had a c-section after being induced. I actually dilated fully after 12 hours and pushed for over an hour. Unfortonately, my dd was in the posterior position and wasn't turning or coming down enough. There was also some delcelerations in her heart rate whenever I turned onto the left side so they said there must of been some cord compression. The doctor then decided that even if I pushed another hour or so I would probably still have ended up with a c-section. Once the decision was made. Emma was born less then 30 mintes later. it all happened so fast. I had a lot of pain the first day (since the drugs just made me drowsy but didn't help for the pain) but by the next day I felt a lot better. My incision healed really well. I didn't have staples just dissolving sutures. At the time of the c-section, the OB said that I shouldn't have any trouble trying for a VBAC next time.
I was just reading this and you could not have described labor/delivery any better for me. Except that I delivered vaginally and hurt like you wouldn't believe. My DD was on the verge of not making it out alive with all the heart decelerations either. What surprises me is that my midwife allowed me to push for 3 hours before calling in the dr. He then used a vacuum and foreceps to deliver her. Why they didn't do a c-section is beyond me.

I had a c-section after 36+ hours of induced labor. My husband was able to cut the cord, right after they pulled her out of me! I have a picture of him doing it too(the anesthesiologist took it!). I didn't get sick, and didn't even feel any of the pulling/tugging that many women say they felt. My c-section was a great experience. No complications, I felt great afterward, and went home after 2 days in the hospital. You can bet that next time I'm signing up for the c-section right away! :supergrin

I'm a little worried about having another c-section, but you guys are making me feel better after reading what you have to say!

I guess this is the new forum that Sheila was talking about.
I just wanted a place to talk about our own experiences. I know mine was not good and I just wondered how everyone elses went.

Did anyones DH get to cut the cord?
How long did it take them to do it?
Did you get sick?


1. Nope, our hospital said they don't allow it during c sections. I cried at first, but DH was fine with it, so I got over it.

2. Maybe an hour from start to finish? I think we left my L&D room right around 9, she was born at 9:32pm, and we were back in the room shortly after 10...don't quote me on those times, I wasn't exactly watching the clock. I'm having another one this Wed morning at 8am, so I'll try to let you know after I'm back!

3. No, I didn't get sick, but no one warned me about the horrible itching!! I guess it was a side effect of the epidural or something, but afterwards, my face itched so badly I felt like I was clawing my skin off. Even in the OR, while they were cleaning Emily up, I wanted to dig at my face. bizarre!!

All in all, I had a really good experience, and was up and about the next day. I do remember the gas pains as being extremely uncomfortable, but nothing I couldn't handle. DH did fill my pain prescriptions, but I barely took them, so I doubt I get it filled this time around. I drove 8 days PP, and felt almost 100% normal that same weekend. I had a horrible induction (cervadil insertions twice, then 1/2 a cytotec pill...neither worked, I never dilated/had contractions/nothing, but was in intense pain from the repeated internal exams) and 24 hours later finally got the c section I was begging for. This time around I definitely opted for a repeat section!!

I did have some pain on my side from where my dr stood and was pulling/tugging, but that didn't show up til about a week PP...I didn't 'feel' anything during the actual surgery. I have a different OB this time, so it'll be interesting to see if I have as much bruising/discomfort.

I had two c/s and will have my third with this one.

My c/s were okay, the actual birth was not bad, the recovery is not exactly easy. I am not built for giving birth, well actually I am if the baby is like 6 pounds with a tiny head and if the moon is in the right position...

The hardest part for me, is not being as mobile afterwards as I would like. not being able to walk with the baby etc.

I had an emergency c-section after 30 hours of induced labor (I only got to 2cm ...grrr). By that time I was so ready to have the baby out of me, that a c-section was so welcomed.

I did have the shakes on the operating table (and I had major itchies after the anethesia wore off that night) - but that was really the worst of all of it. Oh yeah - and getting out of bed for the first time the next morning. But after that it was smooth sailing. An easy recovery. I was doing stairs as soon as I got home 3 days later - walking outside the following week - driving the week after that.
This describes mine to a tee, except that my labor was only 8 hours (and 3cm) and my son went into fetal distress. I was rolling down the hall at 10:15pm, Alex was born at 10:28 and I was nursing in recovery at 11pm.

My DH did cut the cord and held Alex right away, carried him to the table for tests, weight, etc. and then over to me while they stitched me up. I was a bit tender once I got home, but recovered and healed very fast.

I had a planned c-section with my first child (not my choice, but the overall experience was okay, I guess). Sadie was breech and after a manual version failed (her heart rate dropped to 40 and she stayed breech) my Dr. scheduled a c-section for two days later. I was 38.5 weeks and 2 cm dilated and he didn't want to risk me going into labor and having an emergency c-section. (just a note I was slightly bruised and really sore at my pelvic bone where the do the incision because the Dr. who was helping out pushed too hard during the version.)

I was completely prepared for natural childbirth and the idea of the epidural scared the pants off me as did the idea of them cutting open my belly.

I had the shakes, but they were from fear entirely. We got into the L&D room, the nurse (who had herself had a c) shaved me and did an absolutely lousy job there was blood everywhere. If I had know how low they went I would have gotten waxed or done it myself before hand.

When the time came, the nurse walked me and my IV into the operating room. By then I was shaking so bad the nurse asked if I was cold. The anaesthesialogist was great, he explaned what he was going to do, told me he would make sure I didn't have any of the side effects like itching or shaking (which I didn't). I still was so nervous about the epi that I jumped the first time he tried. He got it the next time, about 2 minutes later they laid me down on the table and let Paul in the room. He was followed by my Dr. and his assistant (a new Dr. in his practice). They immediately set to work. They let Paul video tape and take pictures.

I felt lots of pressure and tugging as they pulled Sadie out but no pain at all. My Dr. immediately showed her to me and then they took her to the corner and started to clean her off and check her APGAR. Paul left my side while they were stitching me to watch what they were doing with Sadie. He did get to cut the cord (symbolic gesture - the leave it long so the dad can basically trim it.)

When they were done sewing me up, they wrapped Sadie up, transferred me to a gurney, covered me with warm sheets and placed Sadie between my legs so we got to ride back to the L&D room together. The whole operations from start (walking into the OR) to finish (being wheeled back into the L&D room) took 20 minutes. I was able to nurse Sadie within the first 30 minutes of her life (she latched on like a pro).

I never took any pain meds stronger than motrin, they offered but I refused, I wanted to have a clear head so I could enjoy my baby. The worst pain I felt by far was NOT from the incision itself but from the gas! I tohught I was going to die from it and almost passed out several times. It finally started feeling better after they gave me gas X and a stool softner.

My dr & the nurses were insistant that their c-section patients get up and start walking right away, so as soon as they removed the catheter I was told I had to walk. The first walks were from the bathroom and back but quickly I was instructed to start walking the halls a couple times a day (this also eventually helped relieve the gas pressure.)

Within a week of giving birth I was walking about 1+ miles a day. It definitely helped with a quick recovery.

All that said, I am going to try for a VBAC.

Michele

I ended in a C-section for both my children.

With Aiden I was induced due to GD at 38 weeks, from the beginning I was told he was posterior with his head cocked side ways but we tried to deliver him naturally, after close to 20 hours labour and only 2cm's dilation and his heart rate started dipping i was sent in for a emergency C-section. during the whole thing I felt terribly sick. (except for that moment of elation when I saw him and got to hold him) Hubby got to cut the cord though which I was happy about!.... I truly hated having the c-section and when i went into recovery I couldn't even keep my eyes open, I just remember feeling totally sick and I wanted to sit up i couldnt' stand being flat on my back... the recovery was hell on eart as well, i remember for 2 weeks after wards i couldn't even walk upright and every movement brought an excruciating pain as if something was pulling in there.. it was YUCK!!

So needless to say after that experience I wanted a VBAC, so I had GD again but due to the fact i ended in a CS with my first i wasn't allowed to be induced, so we waited for him to come naturally, when he didn't i was booked in for a C-section but thankfully I went into labour thenight before my CS.... I was in labour for almost 24 hours when he got stuck (once again posterior) and all I dilated too was 3cm... this time round I wasn't as sick, I felt a little sick, but i had a spinal block instead of an epidural so i dont' know if that made a difference, hubby got to cut the cord again and in recovery i couldnt' keep my eyes open again but i was sick... recovery was still as painful as the first time, and I feel like I have truly missed out on something not being able to deliver my children naturally. but there isnothing I can do about it so life goes on... i know my ob won't let me try a VBAC now after 2 CS but I am not going to completely disregard it... we will have to see what happens if I get pregnant again!

I had a c section after a fairly unpleasant labor experience. My water broke on my due date but I wasn't even a little bit dilated and only 50% effaced. I was also GBS+ so they didn't want me to go too long without delivering. I had 9 hours of labor followed by 9 hours of pitocin (mostly without an epidural - it was awful!). At that point I was still only a fingertip dilated and 80% effaced. His heartrate was dropping significantly with each contraction and I was more than ready for a c section. The surgery itself was no big deal except that Nathaniel was very high in my belly (he never descended) so they had to push hard on my chest to get him out! I was totally awake and talking with the drs the whole time (my DH and I are both surgeons, too, so it was pretty weird being on the other side of the table!). Tom did not get to cut the cord but we also didn't even think to ask. Nathaniel was born at 6:40pm and I had breakfast sitting in a chair the next morning. My recovery was quick and my scar is small and very low. I really don't think I would even consider VBAC...

Amanda