mama's of multiple csections! just chatting :)

[cvd]

Hi!
I just wanted to chat with those that had more then one csection or are scheduled for a second.
My second csection is in 82 days (not that I'm counting ), I'm really looking forward to it because I don't enjoy pregnancy at all. The first one - I had a fabulous experience so I am hoping things go the same way, although of course expecting it not to!!

I hear all the time from other mom's that the second csection is much easier to go through. Any tips or thoughts? No horror stories though please lol!

[Pearl327]

Hi Cvd. I have heard the 2nd one is much easier to recover from too. Although I am planning a VBAC there is still a 40% chance I will have another section. After I had my first my sisters BF who had had her 3rd section a week before me gave me some good advice.
1. Take all the drugs they offer you
2. Take arnica or bells per to help with the bruising
3. Clean your wound every time you change baby's nappy. Just with cotton wool & water as well as showering morning and evening
4. Move around as soon as possible as much as possible. Try not to mind yourself too much

I also used a bamboo belly band to support my stomach after too which I found helped me in the moving around and had me fitting into my per pregnancy jeans a week after the birth even though they were too hard to wear on the scar.

It is so exciting that you know when little Hudson will arrive

[lime]

Hi again CVD! My second C was a lot easier than my first C.

You are just more prepared and you know what to expect. This might sound gross, but your OB goes through the same incision line as she/he did the first time, so your recovery should be more quickly as most of your nerves in that area are already a bit damaged.
Also, you don't go through labour with the second. It's planned and therefore, a much more controlled environment.

If all goes smoothly, the hospital has to keep you for 48 hours following a C in Ontario, but will give you the option to stay an extra day to recover if you want. If you or the baby are not doing well, then you would obviously stay longer.

1. Don't eat McDonalds or anything heavy 24 hours before your C to eliminate gas pains! I drank soup and ate very lightly the day before my C because I had horrible gas pains for days with my first son and nothing helped to take it away. None with my second son.

2. Get up after 12 hours or as quickly as you are allowed after your C. Getting out of bed and walking a little helps speed up recovery. The nurse made me get up 12 hours after my C after she removed the catheter. It was really painful the first time. I went to the bathroom, cleaned myself out with the help of the nurse. I felt so much better. Then kept making myself get out of bed every few hours for very short walks in the hall. It took me 2 weeks to feel good enough to not need meds.

3. Take your drugs (advil and tylenol every 4 hours) the first week even if you feel that you're ok. I stopped taking meds after 2 weeks with my second. I had to take meds for 2 months with my first because I was still in so much pain.

Wish you the best of luck.

[cvd]

Hi Cvd. I have heard the 2nd one is much easier to recover from too. Although I am planning a VBAC there is still a 40% chance I will have another section. After I had my first my sisters BF who had had her 3rd section a week before me gave me some good advice.
1. Take all the drugs they offer you
2. Take arnica or bells per to help with the bruising
3. Clean your wound every time you change baby's nappy. Just with cotton wool & water as well as showering morning and evening
4. Move around as soon as possible as much as possible. Try not to mind yourself too much

I also used a bamboo belly band to support my stomach after too which I found helped me in the moving around and had me fitting into my per pregnancy jeans a week after the birth even though they were too hard to wear on the scar.

It is so exciting that you know when little Hudson will arrive

Ah I really hope you get to have successful VBAC then! I admire you, I had the option but vaginal labour just terrifies me.
I think things are a bit different in Canada, I didn't get any bruising. And we are actually told not touch our incision and only to clean it in the shower (I'm not sure if the procedure is different where you are, but here they actually close the incision by folding the skin over and using dissolvable stitches underneath so there actually isn't any "open wound")
I also used a belly wrap and moved around as much as I could so I am definitely going to do that again. thank you for the tips!!!
I am excited to know when he's coming too I hated the waiting game lol
Hope you're feeling well!!

[cvd]

Hi again CVD! My second C was a lot easier than my first C.

You are just more prepared and you know what to expect. This might sound gross, but your OB goes through the same incision line as she/he did the first time, so your recovery should be more quickly as most of your nerves in that area are already a bit damaged.
Also, you don't go through labour with the second. It's planned and therefore, a much more controlled environment.

If all goes smoothly, the hospital has to keep you for 48 hours following a C in Ontario, but will give you the option to stay an extra day to recover if you want. If you or the baby are not doing well, then you would obviously stay longer.

1. Don't eat McDonalds or anything heavy 24 hours before your C to eliminate gas pains! I drank soup and ate very lightly the day before my C because I had horrible gas pains for days with my first son and nothing helped to take it away. None with my second son.

2. Get up after 12 hours or as quickly as you are allowed after your C. Getting out of bed and walking a little helps speed up recovery. The nurse made me get up 12 hours after my C after she removed the catheter. It was really painful the first time. I went to the bathroom, cleaned myself out with the help of the nurse. I felt so much better. Then kept making myself get out of bed every few hours for very short walks in the hall. It took me 2 weeks to feel good enough to not need meds.

3. Take your drugs (advil and tylenol every 4 hours) the first week even if you feel that you're ok. I stopped taking meds after 2 weeks with my second. I had to take meds for 2 months with my first because I was still in so much pain.

Wish you the best of luck.

LIME - first of all, you got a BFP????? OMG congrats!!! So happy for you. You must be so happy. Hope the morning sickness doesn't hit hard and it's a sticky pinky in there
Thanks for the tips - I was more then relieved to read about the 48 hours, with my first I got discharged early, so I was definitely hoping I wouldn't have to stay 3 days (unless of course it's for the best). I'd rather lay in my bed at home. Will definitely hold off on the Mcds/heavy foods hehe, that's something I wouldn't have though about. And although gross, I was actually wondering what they do with the incision, I was going to ask at my next appointment, I figured they go through the same spot.
Really excited for you, congrats again!! I will definitely keep an eye on your journey

[lime]

Thanks!!!!! Yes, I was very excited when I got the BFP. Mostly so I wouldn't have to be on the LE diet anymore! I was also losing way too much weight! I don't have any ms yet. If all goes well with this pregnancy, then I will find out the gender around the time that you are scheduled for a C. I hope that you make a speedy recovery. Good luck and keep in touch.

[The Anchor]

I highly recommend one of those belly bands...there is the "abdomend" in Canada. It was recommended to me, and I did purchase one, but I ended up having a VBAC. I handed it on to my g/f who was having her second c/s - that was 2 years ago and she still thanks me for it!

[WantingPink]

My second C-section was much better than my first. My first was done in a hurry and everything was a bit of a blur. The second one seemed to take longer but that was because I had some scaring they had to cut away so don't get freaked out (like I did) when it takes a little longer with the second. I kept thinking something must be wrong cause this is suppose to be really quick... well it took about 30 minutes which seems like forever when you think it should take 5. Thankfully my DH was letting me know what was going on and that it didn't have anything to do with the baby.

The healing with the second seemed 10 times better. Probably because I was well rested and knew what to expect. My OB did go over the exact same place as my first. I think this helped with the burning weird feeling you get when the scar heals. I remember with my first the scar hurting and tingling for months... that didn't happen with the second.

The only thing I would say was worse was getting the epidural. Not that they did a bad job or anything but when you are wide awake and in no pain and you know they are going to give you an epidural it is much more scary then when you are in so much pain that you would let them stick a needle in your eye if it made the pain go away

GL and I am sure your second will be MUCH better than your first.

[cvd]

I highly recommend one of those belly bands...there is the "abdomend" in Canada. It was recommended to me, and I did purchase one, but I ended up having a VBAC. I handed it on to my g/f who was having her second c/s - that was 2 years ago and she still thanks me for it!

Ou good to know! I forget what kind I used last time but I ended up throwing it out after so I am definitely going to check that one out!! Thanks

[cvd]

My second C-section was much better than my first. My first was done in a hurry and everything was a bit of a blur. The second one seemed to take longer but that was because I had some scaring they had to cut away so don't get freaked out (like I did) when it takes a little longer with the second. I kept thinking something must be wrong cause this is suppose to be really quick... well it took about 30 minutes which seems like forever when you think it should take 5. Thankfully my DH was letting me know what was going on and that it didn't have anything to do with the baby.

The healing with the second seemed 10 times better. Probably because I was well rested and knew what to expect. My OB did go over the exact same place as my first. I think this helped with the burning weird feeling you get when the scar heals. I remember with my first the scar hurting and tingling for months... that didn't happen with the second.

The only thing I would say was worse was getting the epidural. Not that they did a bad job or anything but when you are wide awake and in no pain and you know they are going to give you an epidural it is much more scary then when you are in so much pain that you would let them stick a needle in your eye if it made the pain go away

GL and I am sure your second will be MUCH better than your first.

That's really good to know about the length of time, I'd never thought of that. Love hearing that the healing goes better. I am nervous for the epidural this time, with my first I actually could barely feel my contractions but I took the epidural at 8cm anyway and I didn't even feel a poke, so I'm hoping I have the same experience but very nervous it won't go as smoothly lol!