How to Survive a C-Section
I have been thinking about this post for a few days now and then yesterday I got a lovely comment from a reader asking me to post on the topic. And you know my motto: Give the people what they want. And so tonight, with the help of my first glass of red wine in 10 months, I am ready to talk about what the c-section was like and what pregnancy has done to my body.
Long story short: It ain’t pretty.
Today I’ll talk about the c-section itself and tomorrow I’ll post about what it has done to my body. And (gasp!), I even have pictures of my post-pregnancy belly to show you. I’m either the bravest person I know, or the stupidest. Time will tell.
I wasn’t really concerned about having a c-section until about 10 minutes before the procedure. Chris and I got to the hospital with our families at 12:30 for a 2:00 surgery. When we got there, the family went to the waiting room and Chris and I went back to prep for surgery. The first thing they did was give me an IV for fluids. And who do you think was the nurse on call that day? That’s right! Nice Nurse Lady from my EVS procedure! And this time, she found my veins right away! Yay!
After about an hour, Nice Nurse Lady came back in to check on Chris and I and to give Chris his cute little pretend doctor outfit that he would wear in the operating room. We played with that for a while and before I knew it, Nice Nurse Lady came back to wheel me away.
I went first into the operating room to get my spinal and to get all set up for the procedure. Chris would join me just before they actually started. It was when I left Chris that I got a little nervous. They wheeled me into the operating room and put me up on the table and in walked the anesthesiologist. Dr. Feel Good told me they would give me a numbing shot to numb the area in my back before they did the actual spinal, which would be inserted into my spine directly. I almost fainted. But I kept it together on the outside and said something lame like, “Cool.”
Honest to God, I didn’t feel a thing. I didn’t even feel the numbing needle. I felt a small little pinch, like when you catch some skin in a zipper or something. And then I waited and waited for something big to follow. But nothing happened and in about 2 seconds, Dr. Feel Good said something equally lame like, “Alrighty,” and that was it. I had been spinal’d. Chris came in soon after that and we waited while the nurses and doctors all got into place to gut me like a fish.
The actual procedure was so surreal. I didn’t feel ANYTHING. Not one pinch, prod, or poke. They had a huge sheet up so that we couldn’t see the actual operation, so it was Chris and I whispering and giggling behind the big sheet for about 15 minutes. It was so weird though – I mean, what do you talk about in the minutes before they hand you your son for the first time? I think we talked about how the operating room was just like Grey’s Anatomy. We’re deep and reflective like that.
Chris tried to stand up during the procedure to see what was happening on the other side of the sheet, but Dr. Feel Good made him sit back down. Just about that time, I noticed that behind the doctors there was a glass cabinet holding surgical supplies. And if I looked really closely, I could see them working on me in the reflection. I pointed it out to Chris and just in time, too, because about two seconds later, we watched them pull the Bean out of my belly in the reflection. It was absolutely incredible.
As soon as the baby was out, Chris was able to go over and see him. He took his first picture – the now famous one of his little mohawk. And they wrapped him up, and Chris brought him over to see me.
Everyone said it would be love at first sight, and I knew it would be like that. But I wasn’t prepared for how strong a feeling that was. It was instant. The minute I saw him, I knew I was his mom. I saw his first birthday, his first steps, his first day of kindergarten, his high school graduation, his college dorm room, his wedding day. I saw it all in that minute. It was that strong. I cried, but not really. A few little tears escaped (Audrey Hepburn would have been proud), but mostly it was just a wonderfully, completely happy feeling. And then seeing Chris with the baby…well. That just melted me.
Chris smiled at me and whispered, “Hi Momma.”
The c-section itself was a piece of cake. At first, I felt guilty when I heard stories of those women who slaved for hours in labor because mine was so effortless. But what I have learned is that the work of a c-section is in the recovery. Recovery is no picnic. I had external staples which were so sensitive to movement that it was really hard for me to get in and out of the hospital bed. That made it really hard to do things like hold the baby for long and picking him up out of his bassinette was impossible. I couldn’t really feed him at first because he laid right across my incision and I couldn’t change his diapers because I couldn’t bend over to reach him on the changing table. This meant that the Beaner bonded first with Chris because it was Chris who was taking care of him. And while that sort of broke my heart, it was really sweet to see Chris learning and stepping up to the plate. He was a natural dad and it was really neat to see him come into that.
My staples were removed on the day I was discharged from the hospital, leaving me with internal stitches that would dissolve on their own in the next 10 days. The internal stitches were several layers deep because they have to cut through so many layers to get to the uterus during the operation. I was sent home with strict instructions – no lifting anything heavier than the baby, no climbing stairs, lay down as much as possible, and sleep as much as possible for the next two weeks. At first, I couldn’t have done those things if I tried. It was painful to really do much of anything, but I was able to hold the Bean now since my staples were out and I was so grateful for that. After the first few days, I started to feel much better. So, I made the brilliant proclamation that I was healed and I stopped taking my pain pills and I started climbing stairs and I started lifting things and bending over to change the Bean. I went a little crazy for a day. And that night, I was in so much pain that I thought I needed to go back to the hospital.
Luckily, that’s why God gave us Percocet.
It has been three weeks now and I feel 80% healed. I’m moving around and climbing stairs (carefully), but I still have some days when I really feel the pain. Its mostly in my belly where its just plain sore from the surgery itself. There’s a lot of pulling and tugging in a c-section and that means sore organs and muscles and even skin. My internal stitches have mostly healed, I think. But I still pull the incision the wrong way every now and then. A small twist or turn in the wrong direction can take my breath away. What’s weird is that the pain feels more like a burning than anything else. It is really strange. And it hurts like nothing else.
But I have to tell you, all of this is worth it for the Beaner, of course. But also because my hormones seem to be settling down. I am happier. I laugh more now. I don’t threaten Chris’ life. I shake things off better. In those last few months of pregnancy, I was really a drama queen to be around and I am happy to report that I have relinquished that crown and am back to my normal, happy self again.
This makes Chris happy. Very, very happy.
All in all, my c-section wasn’t so bad. It wasn’t as easy as I was expecting it to be, but it wasn’t terrible either. And at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter anyways. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat for the Beanie.
What can I say? I’m a sucker for a mohawk.
(Don’t forget to check in tomorrow for a glimpse at my AWESOME post-pregnancy belly. Bring popcorn. Its gonna be that good…)
23 Comments
KP
Thank you for writing about this honestly and openly! I have so many questions about the recovery period and this helped to answer many of them. I love reading your blog!
Morgan
Ive got to say I don’t even know you I found your blog through a friend of a friend’s twitter and for some reason Im hooked. I love the way you write and your stories are entertaining. Bravo!
Morgan
And randomly my birthday is the same as your son’s. 😉
Camille
I know nothing about any of this, but I’ve always been of the opinion that if they could numb me up and just cut the kid out, I’d far prefer that to my crotch being ripped open the size of a human head. That’s my two bits.
erin
Glad you are feeling better! Just fyi, I had a C also on May 11, had my 5-week checkup yesterday. I complained that my incision was still sore and achy (especially when she pressed on it) and doc said it would be like that for quite a while. So.
Miss M!
Staples??? EEEK! They just taped mine up! LOL! I’m surprised they didn’t let Chris look over the sheet. They actually encouraged my husband to look. I also could feel EVERYTHING, except the pain. That was weird. You’re only three weeks out – it’s still going to feel pretty weird for a while yet. Keep taking it easy.
Deb
THANK YOU! lol I agree w/Camille, a c-section has always seemed like a better option than the ‘natural’ way. But I’ve wondered about the healing process. Seems like no one really talks about it, maybe b/c it’s overshadowed by the bundle of joy that everyone wants to hear/see/talk about. But it’s so much of the experience too. And who better to hear it from than someone we know will tell us the blunt truth about it! Thanks again:)
Emilyc
So glad you’re feeling better. I never knew what a C-section was really like but it doesn’t sound that great, glad you survived.:)
Jenn
Thanks for writing such an honest account of his birth and your recovery.
Kathy
Very nice blog entry….I relived my own c-section. I just want to tell you that your hubby needs to have an eye exam. His one red eye and one white eye picture could indicate a serious eye problem. This is not a joke.
Mindee@ourfrontdoor
Yeah, the scheduled C is soooo much better than the labor-for three-days-and-then-have-an-emergency-C.
My middle child was a C-section due to breech too. You’re right – the recovery is So Much Harder than a regular delivery. With my third I found a doc who would do a VBAC and I’m so glad that I did. The delivery is harder (but also more exhilarating!)but the recovery is a breeze by comparison.
Kathy
Chris,
Sorry for being bossy, but I take care of everybody. Write the eye post….I’m interested.
Erin
I also relived my c-section reading this, although mine was an emergency. I didn’t think recovery was too terrible but I had a VBAC with my second and that recovery was much easier. Now, the 14 hours of labor was definitely not easier but it was amazing! Oh, and I also had one of those days where I thought I could do anything early on – why couldn’t I just listen to the doctor?!
Heather
You’re a great writer. I love reading your Blog. ;o) I had two Csections and you talk about it with such honesty, it’s refreshing.
Smiles
Heather
kay
i rate staple removal as the worst part of the delivery! ouch, i felt your pain. but raising teenagers will be much more painful, make sure your pain meds are alway refilled! just kidding, i love almost every moment of mommyhood!!!
http://randommusingsfrommypov.com
Jennifer
Thanks for blogging about this! I’m terrified of childbirth and have been considering a C-Section for when that time comes. The husband believes my lady parts will resemble the Grand Cannon if things go naturally. HA thanks for helping with my ‘research’. Love your blog.
Cate
Thanks for the C-Section post! My sister and I were both C Section babies and I have thought for years that it would definitely be the way to go. There are a lot of good arguments for both methods, but your honest, open perspective is great. Thanks for sharing!
Queen of Quirky
Thanks for sharing this. I’m sure it will be a resource to many in the future. Audrey would not be proud of me. I cried just reading that!
Emily
Thank you for the honesty in this post! It made me just a little squeamish, but it was a good read for those of us who haven’t been through the whole pregnancy/delivery experience!
Nellie
Had an emergency C with my first. Wanted to breast feed, so no pain meds 🙁 I was in the hospital for 6 days.
We lived in a 5-floor walk up apartment at the time, so it took me a really long time get up the stairs when I came home from the hospital. I stayed indoors for about a week so I could heal some before trying the stairs again. Our bed was a low platform futon.
Needless to say, I slept on the couch, with the bassinet next to me. At the time of the C section, I was exhausted and terrified. They put me out for a few minutes to calm me down before they started the surgery. I had no problems at all, but strangely, the scar is still sore sometimes even though my daughter is almost 17 years old now! Four years later, I had a VBAC and left the hospital 24 hours later.
Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com
Thank you for being so honest about what the c-section was like for you. I know someone who had a scheduled c-section like yours and she cried for days because it hurt and nobody had told her about the recovery and why had they LIED to her? I’m sure 80% of that was hormones, but I’m glad that someone like you is out there spreading the news about what it was really like for you because maybe it’ll help one person like her.
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