So my pregnancy has been very easy and normal up until now. With less then three weeks to go (my due date is the 28th) I got news that surprised me. I had always planned on vaginal birth. It’s my first and with everything going according to plan I never imagined anything else. On [name_f]Wednesday[/name_f] I had my ultrasound, and they found a problem. My baby and I are fine, however despite having been head down for weeks he is in the rare face presentation position. This means he is resting with his face down and head tilted back. It is rare for babies to be in this position before labor has started, but it does happen. It is not a position that ecv will help and risk of spinal cord injury is very high with Vaginal delivery. What it equates to is that my doctor went ahead and scheduled a c-section for the 23rd. If he changes positions vaginal delivery may be possible but doc says that’s unlikely. I’m pretty scared and not sure what to expect. It has been two days and I don’t think I have fully wrapped my head around the whole c-section thing.
I’ve never had a c-section, two of my friends have delivered all of their children that way.
Sending you hugs! Hoping some c-section mama’s can respond and ease fears and concerns.
I might try looking at spinningbabies.com and also considering acupuncture. These offer non-invasive alternatives (whereas EVC puts pressure on your body and could therefore cause injury in this case, it sounds like). If it were me, I would just try doing some simple exercises and see if by chance anything changes. If not, then at least you’ll know you did what you could on your own and I would find more peace with that going into the procedure I hadn’t planned on. As long as you feel empowered, your birth will be your own, even if it’s not what you had planned. The danger comes when you feel defeated or inadequate in your own experience, so you want to avoid those feelings by taking this new challenge and new experience and making it your own in whatever ways you can.
If this were me, and spinningbabies.com didn’t help, I would just create a c-section birth plan that included things I felt were important (having the drape down and remaining conscious, delayed cord clamping, preserving the golden hour either by allowing skin-to-skin with me, or if that’s not possible as they finish up, allowing my husband to sit shirtless with baby while operation continues, etc…). those are things I would consider important but they could be totally different for you. Like maybe you do want to go under anesthesia, but maybe you play soft calming music beforehand to make you feel more calm, for instance. I would talk to my care providers now about what wishes can be realistically honored knowing specific hospital policies, etc. [name_m]Just[/name_m] make your birth your own no matter what kind of birth you’ll be having, and it will all be worthwhile and transformative in the good ways.
I’ve had two c-sections. Both were unscheduled but neither were emergencies. To address a few things that other posters have said, the only time you’d need to be unconscious during a c-section is if it were an emergency. Otherwise, you’re conscious and they give you either a spinal or an epidural to numb you. Also, I’m not sure if you’d be allowed to do it without a drape because it is surgery and besides the risk of infection, there’s also the fact that blood and such can splatter about. That being said, I know some hospitals have the option of clear drapes or drapes with a window.
Onto the actual c-section. First thing they do is obviously numb you. With my first, I had to take this nasty medicine before the procedure. I’m not sure exactly what it was for but it had something to do with the anesthetic, I think. Then they took me into surgery where they numbed me. The first time around, I had a spinal, so first they gave me a shot in my back to numb it, then once that takes effect, they give you the spinal block (another shot, just one that goes much deeper), which numbs you from the neck down. Once I was all numb, they laid me back and I promptly threw up (because of the nasty medicine earlier). This is a pretty common thing though because the anesthesiologist was waiting right there with a barf bag. Then they lifted the drape and honestly, I didn’t even realize that they’d started the surgery until a splatter of blood hit the drape. Also, my husband was brought it right before they started the surgery, all scrubbed up and he sat by my head the entire time. Anyway, the c-section itself only took about five minutes. They took my daughter out, cleaned and bundled her up (my husband left my side to go do all that with the nurses, so that was good), then my husband brought her back over to me so that I could see her. Then my husband took her and left with a nurse to do some other baby wellness stuff. The doctors then stitched me back up (which took longer than the actual c-section) and they took me to my hospital room to rest. I slept for I think an hour or two (this was four years ago so my memories aren’t crystal clear) and when I woke up I vomited immediately but a nurse rushed in to take care of it. The spinal wore off little by little so by the time I woke up I could move my arms so I could feed my daughter but I couldn’t move my legs until like, twelve hours later or something. They put a catheter in you so you don’t have to worry about the bathroom (which I know sounds unpleasant but honestly, you don’t even notice it).
Anyway, my recovery from my first c-section was pretty easy. I couldn’t drive or lift anything over ten pounds for six weeks and it was a little hard to get up and down at first but other than that, things were fine.
With c-section number two, I had an epidural (also a shot). The difference is that with an epidural, you’re can’t feel pain but you can still move. When they took my son out, I couldn’t feel pain but I could feel pressure so I could feel the doctor moving around in there and my son being taken out (to be honest, I preferred the spinal). Anyway, since I could move my arms this time around, once my son was out they brought him to me and I was able to do the skin-to-skin thing. Then my husband and son left to do the baby wellness stuff again and I finished getting stitched up. Later that night, I threw up every few hours (again, the anesthetic) but by morning I was fine. The recovery was a little harder the second time around (I had to stay an extra day in the hospital) but it still wasn’t bad. The hardest part was not being able to pick up my oldest for six weeks, since she was two and didn’t understand why I couldn’t lift her.
So yeah, those were my experiences. Like you, I didn’t know a lot about having a c-section the first time around so when it was decided that that was the best course of action (after three days of inactive labor), I was nervous but the whole thing was so quick and simple that it wasn’t stressful or traumatic once it got underway.
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] that helps!
[name_m]Just[/name_m] to clarify, lowering the drape is usually an option (depending on hospital policy) for the moment of the actual birth, which is what I was talking about.
[name_f]Glad[/name_f] somebody who has actually had c-sections was able to weigh in.
I had a similar experience with my little girl in [name_f]October[/name_f]. They told me she was head down for months but at our 41 week ultrasound found she was breech and said I had to be scheduled for a c section. Honestly, I cried all they way home and for hours after the appointment. I had prepared for a vaginal birth and maybe even an induction but I didn’t think I’d need a c section unless there was an emergency during labor.
It’s hard to wrap your head around a completely different birth than you planned. I felt like I was missing out on a big part of becoming a mom. Other than that, I had a great experience. My husband was with me before and during the c section and he was a great support. My doctors were awesome and made me feel more at ease too. I didn’t even realize when the surgery had started!
I heard my baby before I saw her and cried because I knew I loved her already. They held her up briefly and I cried some more. The whole thing was just as emotional as I imagine it would have been if I had a vaginal delivery.
The healing process wasn’t nearly as bad as I imagined either. Yes I have a scar and still some numbness around it, but in the end I’m glad I had my c section. Once you have that baby in your arms you won’t even be thinking about how they came into this world. I hope this helps to ease your worry! You will do great, mama!
I had a vaginal birth, but I talked to my midwife about a c-section since it was something I was nervous about. I would look into what they call a “gentle cesarean.” My midwife said they still have to use a drape, but they can use a see through one so you can see everything if you desire. Your husband/partner is allowed with you and they don’t put you under unless it’s an emergency. They can still do delayed cord clamping and your partner can still cut the cord. Basically they make the experience as similar to a vaginal delivery as they can.
My husband was born face first, vaginally, in the 80s, he’s fine. so, i don’t know if they’re going to let you try it like that but, it is possible.
I had a c-section with my 4th baby, because she was breech. It wasn’t the delivery or recovery o had planned for but ultimately the safest way to get the baby out, and that is what’s most important!
You will still be able to hold your baby after delivery, and while your recovery will take a bit longer, it just gives you more opportunity to take it easy and get more snuggles in with your baby.
I was also able to have a vaginal birth with my next baby just 1 1/2 years later, so there are options if you decide to have another baby.