Things we should have been told!

Smartmum wrote: I have just found out that a c-section or rather abdominal surgery can give you endometriosis!!!!!!!!! TMI warning, but i have been having painful s3x and i have endo as it turns out from the abdominal surgery of 2 c-s

... just wondering who told you that you can get endometriosis from a caesarean section??

I think they're still unsure about the exact cause of endometriosis so it sounds like a bit of a porkie! However they may have found some existing endometriosis growths whilst stitching you back up. I'm intrigued..

I have had 3 csection, shortly to have my fourth, my sister has had 5. A couple of my were very emergencies and the 2nd was not such a rush. There are not as bad a s some say, however we are all different and so are our expectations. I never had a problem bonding with my babies and 2 of them spent a week or more in neonates and all were breastfed successfully. I am not an earth mother type or super mum just your average mum who works part time and loves her babies.

I was planning a natural birth for my DD (first baby) and only skim read info about C-sections because I was so adamant that I was going to pull it off. I was in labour for about 6 hours before we went to the hospital, where after manually breaking my water my gyne said there was meconium in the fluid and gave me the 'option' to do a C-section because the baby 'could' go into distress. It all went downhill from there. I was in too much pain to really focus and all I heard was 'baby in distress' so I automatically said 'do it'. I had to wait 2 hours for my 'emergency'(I say with very heavy sarcasm) C-section and it was such a pain when they tried to put in the epidural because the guy would try every single time I'd get a contraction. It took three goes before he finally got it right, and another five to ten minutes before they had baby out. I didn't get to hold DD for 3 hours. Nobody told me what to expect, and nobody told me that my baby had to receive phototherapy and therefore was not brought to me, and they didn't leave her with me in the room either.

With DS (baby two) I had a midwife with me, and I feel really bad for not remembering her name because she was so awesome. We decided to try VBAC, so on a decided day I went in to hospital and 'laboured' from 10 am to around 6pm by being induced. But I'd read up on C-sections this time around and we were prepared that it could end up in another emergency one. I think I passed out during labour twice, and the third time I really did blank out because when I opened my eyes my room was swarmed with people that weren't there a second ago. Baby's heart rate dropped on every contraction, so they rushed me in for an emergency C-section. And I do mean, an emergency C-section. They had me in the operating theatre before I realised they'd moved me from my room, and get this: I was waiting to feel them cut, like the first time. One of the guys told me 'if you feel anything just squeeze my hand ok?' I managed a nod - I was shaking like crazy, shock I think - and two seconds later I hear this weird sound, and then my partner was holding a baby next to me and I was O_O Whut? That's it? He's out ALREADY? LOL. I didn't even know they'd cut me yet. So it was all really quick, and as frightening as that ordeal was, as soon as they rolled me out of theatre and put baby in my arms, the shaking stopped. It was pure magic.
Ruined by him pooping all over both of us two seconds later, but that's life for you.

I bonded much better with DS because he was with me from the moment I left the theatre, and I think your mindset and emotional state during the pregnancy plays a very large factor on how you bond with your baby too.

But what I've personally gained from these experiences, which I don't know if it's been mentioned or not, is that if you get a really bad headache after a C-section, you should mention it to the nurses because it's likely to be caused by some of the fluid from the epidural collecting in your spine, or something like that. I have a weird back, apparently, because this is the second anaethesist that had to try more than once to administer it to me right. But he was a really nice guy, and he felt genuinely bad about it, but again I believe I have something wrong with my back.

For bubs number three due next year August/September, I'll have to have a select C-section. It should be a piece of cake since I now officially know what to expect.

Edited by K8TB

The reason you cant drive is not an insurance issue its wether you can physically slam your foot on the brake in an emergency situation.

When you have a c-sect they have to cut through all your muscles which means you are unable to stamp your foot onto the brake fast enough and so if you have a crash you are helpless to do anything.

You should only drive when you are able to stand upright and slam your foot hard down onto the floor very quickly without doubling over or feeling any pain. Most people take 4-6 weeks before they can do this.

Before then you should not drive as you are a hazard to other road users- remember it might not be you doing the crashing, someone could come at you.

I wasn't allowed to drive until 4 weeks with my son(emergency cs), but was driving at 2 weeks with my daughter(elective) and that's only because I felt like I had more control over my muscles that time round. With my son I was sick for ages afterwards and couldn't stand straight or walk much for 3 weeks.

The definitely cut through mine but I know they dont cut the uterus they actually tear it open with their fingers as it heals better than being cut.

Something I wish I knew was that chest infections from fluid on the lungs is a common prob with cs, I had an emergency and lost alot of blood they didn't give me a transfusion till day three and then day four I had fluid on the lungs which gave me an infection and had IV antibiotics...I didn't have my first walk or shower till day 5 as it was so painful and I was so sick, hoping for a vbac as I had such a horrid cs experience. I definitly didn't drive til 6weeks.

Edited to add I hope that link to endo is crap as I already had it, and adeno which is endo tissue in the uterine muscle so I don't want more, I was told having a baby may help with endo/pain but that wasn't talking about ending in cs

Edited by BAMN08

Ooooookay, back that truck right on up from there. Driving home from hospital after your CS? I hate to say this but that's really irresponsible. Your body is NOT ready for you to do that 24-48 hours after MAJOR abdominal surgery. My goodness. What if you have an accident and you slam on the breaks and rupture? What if you cant put down the pressure required and kill all of you? Come on now. Thing logically about it. I was driving 3 weeks after both of my CS's. If you dont like the way your DP drives, get someone else to drive you. I've never heard anything so rediculous in my whole life.

After baby 1 i wasnt even able to wipe my own backside nearly without assistance for a week, baby 2 I felt like I was drugged up on god knows what for days. I dont know what makes you think you're going to drive yourself home - unless you're planning on staying in the hospital for over a week.
And GirlsRock, I'm sorry if this offends you, its just the way I feel about it.

A lot of hospitals want you out within 48hrs after CS, a couple of hours for VB, it depends on the hospital and how understaffed they are or overbooked they are, a joke really isn't it. Sure you can put your foot down but then the story goes that the 'service' becomes non existant and who needs that after having bubz.

I'm planning on CS in Waikato, which is a std 2 days then I can transfer to birthing unit for 2 days which sounds like bliss. Thats the plan anyway. Only needed 4 days with DD and was ready to go home, hopefully similar birth

Ugh I feel your pain - DH picked me up in his van after my CS (bubs was still in NICU so didn't need to worry bout him) Man I felt every bump and pothole in the road for the 30 minute car (van) ride    Not to mention having to get into and out of the bloody thing!