RE: To Terri & all who have had C-sections due to fibroids & myo scarring

[Guest guest]

All of mine were planned except for the first. remember that one was 23 years

ago and unfortunately they were a lot of problems with the baby and she didn't

make it. My next pregnancy was in 81 with my son and i had a spinal but also a

little more that made me fade in and out of sleep. Then our daughter was born in

83 also with a spinal. I was awake the whole time. The best one was in 96....i

had an epidural...didn't hurt hardly at all. It was so much better than the

spinal. I remember everything and the anethesologist was right there and would

keep asking me if i was unconfortable and would give me a little extra squirt of

medicine if i said yes but the discomfort was very small. After the surgery i

has a little box that i pressed a little button on when i needed pain meds. I

was up walking that night.

I never went into labor . The Dr. always scheduled them a couple weeks earlier

than my due date because my incision was a vertical one....from my bellybutton

to my pelvic bone so he was afraid of my uterus rupturing if i went thru labor.

I don't remember what pain meds i was on but i had him on a Fri. and came home

Monday and only took tylenol for the pain. If you have more questions please

feel free to ask and you can e-mail me personally if you wish. I wish you all

the best and hope everything works out for you. I hope i helped you a little

Terri

[Guest guest]

Hi Sonya-

I've had two C-sections (albiet 20+ years ago- some details are

fuzzy!) but will try to answer your questions:

1. Were you in and out of consciousness during your epidural for your

> C-section, or did you feel wide awake and able to remember your

baby's

> birth?

I was conscious for the second one but don't honestly remeber much.

>

> 2. Did the epidural numb you enough so that you did not feel

discomfort or

> pain?

Yes.

>

> 3. How long after the birth were you put on IV pain killers or pain

pills?

> Were they narcotic? Which ones were they if you can remember?

Don't remember.

>

> 4. Were all of your C-sections planned? Did you ever go into labor

before

> the date of your C-section?

Both of mine were unplanned. First was " emergency " , second was after

attempting a VBAC delivery.

>

> 5. Some women who have to have emergency C-sections say that once

their

> labor contractions start the epidural does not really help their

pain. Is

> this the case with a planned C-section?

Don't know

>

> 6. If you are a very squeemish person when it comes to needles, is a

> C-section difficult to go through? (It's amazing how many

surgeries and gyn

> exams I have been through, not too modest or squeemish about that

anymore,

> but still have an issue with needles. I have always requested

having a

> general anesthetic because I don't want to be awake when they are

cutting on

> me. I am quite nervous about the surgical part of the C-section

even though

> the end result will be my beautiful baby.)

I also hate needles, but truly, it's just as everyone says, it's all

worth it when you're holding your baby! Otherwise no one would ever

have more than one child! And I think these days even more than my

day (when you were just expected to " go natural " ) there is good pain-

control.

I hope things work out for you!

-Mindy

[Guest guest]

Hi Sonya,

I had C-section 18 yrs ago. Here's my experience:

1. Were you in and out of consciousness during your epidural for your

C-section, or did you feel wide awake and able to remember your baby's

birth?

I was awake the whole time. I remember hearing my child cried and was

not happy with the doctor that he did not tell me right there whether it

was girl or boy. Well, they did not tell me then because the rest of

her body was out yet.

2. Did the epidural numb you enough so that you did not feel discomfort

or pain?

No pain at all. I don't remember about the discomforting part, but I

don't think I did.

3. How long after the birth were you put on IV pain killers or pain

pills?

Were they narcotic? Which ones were they if you can remember?

I have no memory on this one.

4. Were all of your C-sections planned? Did you ever go into labor

before the date of your C-section?

I did not plan and should have. I had one of the best obstetric in the

city but on my delivery day, he was sick. So I was stuck with an

on-call doctor. If you plan ahead, this would not happen to you.

6. If you are a very squeemish person when it comes to needles, is a

C-section difficult to go through?

I cannot look at needles and hate blood tests. I never looked at my arm

where they stick the needle for the IV when I had my myo. But the

C-section was not difficult for me to go through. May be it's the

medicine, but I did not think about needle or being cut.

Jackie

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I had an emergency c-section 19mos ago. My daughter was born

premature due to my fibroid. However, I can tell you my experience

with the c-section. I received a spinal. It was one quick pinch to

the back and then I felt nothing. I was laying on the table

completely awake and could hear everything the doctors were saying.

My doctor actually during the c-section when the baby was out and

rushed to the NICU got a polaroid camera to take a picture of my

fibroid. I just kept thinking how beautiful that must be. LOL The

spinal kicked in immediately. I kept telling the doctor I could

wiggle my toes.. yeah right I couldn't feel a thing. He would say ok.

LOL My only problem that I had was near the very end I actually felt

him put the last two staples in. I think I felt the pressure of it.

After I was stapled I went to recovery where I was fine. My biggest

problem there was I couldn't get warm. I was shaking like crazy from

being cold. They say thats common after a surgery. Once I was

completely stable they moved me to my room and I got to see my

family. Then off to sleep I went. I slept for a few hours and about

10 hours after surgery the nurse came took me off my pain medication

by IV, took out the catherter and made me get on my feet. It was a

little diffcult to get out of bed the first time, but not too bad.

My nurses always made sure I had pain killers in me before any major

moving took place. After that point I was up walking around

constantly because it's the best healing and I went home two days

later.

I personally was so nervous about my daughter living or dying that I

did not think about myself one time. You will be so excited about

the birth of your child that you won't be caring about yourself

either. It's one of those mom characteristics that kicks in the day

you find out you are pregnant. Once I found out I was pregnant it

was all about my baby never me.

Pam

[Guest guest]

See my responses is all caps below:

--- Sonja & Gunn greenvu@...>

wrote:

> Hello Terri and al who have had C-sections,

>

> I have been reading the posts about C-sections

> vs. natural births. And

> since you have had so many C-section births you

> must be an expert on the

> subject! So I thought I might ask you some

> questions about the whole

> C-section experience. I am posting this note on

> both the uterine fibroid and

> the ttcmyomectomy groups.

>

> I am currently TTC* after several myos (both

> abdominal and vaginal) and have

> been told a C-section will be the birth of

> choice for me. I have not been

> given an option because my doctor says natural

> birth is too risky in my

> case. I am okay with this option. But I have a

> few questions about it.

> * TTC= trying to have children

>

> I had an epidural 4 years ago during an

> emergency procedure one week after

> my myo. I hemorrhaged severely during my first

> period after the surgery and

> had to be admitted into the ER and then the

> hospital. My doctor had to give

> me an epidural to insert a balloon into my

> uterus to try and stop my

> bleeding. Fortunately, it worked so I was able

> to keep my uterus. But what

> I remember was very little. The epidural made

> me quite groggy (along with

> the trauma of the whole experience) so I was

> very sleepy during the

> procedure.

>

> Since that epidural experience is my only one,

> I am nervous about the whole

> epidural idea with a C-section. This leads me

> to my questions.

>

> 1. Were you in and out of consciousness during

> your epidural for your

> C-section, or did you feel wide awake and able

> to remember your baby's

> birth? I WAS FULLY AWAKE & ALERT.

>

> 2. Did the epidural numb you enough so that you

> did not feel discomfort or

> pain? YES. COMPLETELY.

>

> 3. How long after the birth were you put on IV

> pain killers or pain pills? THE EPIDURAL WAS

LEFT IN UNTIL I REQUESTED TO BE SWITCHED TO PILLS

AFTER 2-3 DAYS. THE EPI DEFINITELY WAS BETTER AT

CONTROLLING THE PAIN.

> Were they narcotic? Which ones were they if

> you can remember? I DON'T RECALL WHAT WAS IN

THE EPI, BUT I THINK THE ORAL WAS EITHER TORADOL

OR DEMEROL. BUT I DID MAKE SURE THEY WERE SAFE

FOR BREASTFEEDING - I SUCCESSFULLY NURSED AS SOON

AS I GOT STITCHED UP.

>

> 4. Were all of your C-sections planned? YES.

Did

> you ever go into labor before

> the date of your C-section? NO.

>

> 5. Some women who have to have emergency

> C-sections say that once their

> labor contractions start the epidural does not

> really help their pain. Is

> this the case with a planned C-section? NO.

IT WILL LIKELY BE SCHEDULED A WEEK BEFORE YOUR

DUE DATE SO YOU'LL BE UNLIKELY TO HAVE

CONTRACTIONS AT ALL.

>

> 6. If you are a very squeemish person when it

> comes to needles, is a

> C-section difficult to go through? (It's

> amazing how many surgeries and gyn

> exams I have been through, not too modest or

> squeemish about that anymore,

> but still have an issue with needles. I have

> always requested having a

> general anesthetic because I don't want to be

> awake when they are cutting on

> me. I am quite nervous about the surgical part

> of the C-section even though

> the end result will be my beautiful baby.)

THAT'S TOTALLY A NATURAL FEELING. IN MY CASE, IT

STILL WENT GREAT. IT'S BEST IF YOU HAVE YOUR

PARTNER OR SOMEONE THERE TO HOLD YOUR HAND, JUST

FOR REASSURANCE. MY DOC TOLD ME WHAT SHE WAS

DOING EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, BUT THEY'LL SKIP

THAT IF YOU REQUEST IT. I WAS ABLE TO FEEL THAT

THINGS WERE GOING ON ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE

CURTAIN. BUT NO PAIN AT ALL. IT WAS EASIER FOR

ME THAN THE MYO, FOR WHICH I HAD GENERAL

ANESTHESIA.

GOOD LUCK!

>

> If you have a moment to answer these questions,

> I would certainly appreciate

> it. No, I'm not pregnant yet, but working on

> it and hoping for a pg soon!

>

> Thanks so much to you.

> Blessings,

> :)Sonja

[Guest guest]

See my responses is all caps below:

--- Sonja & Gunn greenvu@...>

wrote:

> Hello Terri and al who have had C-sections,

>

> I have been reading the posts about C-sections

> vs. natural births. And

> since you have had so many C-section births you

> must be an expert on the

> subject! So I thought I might ask you some

> questions about the whole

> C-section experience. I am posting this note on

> both the uterine fibroid and

> the ttcmyomectomy groups.

>

> I am currently TTC* after several myos (both

> abdominal and vaginal) and have

> been told a C-section will be the birth of

> choice for me. I have not been

> given an option because my doctor says natural

> birth is too risky in my

> case. I am okay with this option. But I have a

> few questions about it.

> * TTC= trying to have children

>

> I had an epidural 4 years ago during an

> emergency procedure one week after

> my myo. I hemorrhaged severely during my first

> period after the surgery and

> had to be admitted into the ER and then the

> hospital. My doctor had to give

> me an epidural to insert a balloon into my

> uterus to try and stop my

> bleeding. Fortunately, it worked so I was able

> to keep my uterus. But what

> I remember was very little. The epidural made

> me quite groggy (along with

> the trauma of the whole experience) so I was

> very sleepy during the

> procedure.

>

> Since that epidural experience is my only one,

> I am nervous about the whole

> epidural idea with a C-section. This leads me

> to my questions.

>

> 1. Were you in and out of consciousness during

> your epidural for your

> C-section, or did you feel wide awake and able

> to remember your baby's

> birth? I WAS FULLY AWAKE & ALERT.

>

> 2. Did the epidural numb you enough so that you

> did not feel discomfort or

> pain? YES. COMPLETELY.

>

> 3. How long after the birth were you put on IV

> pain killers or pain pills? THE EPIDURAL WAS

LEFT IN UNTIL I REQUESTED TO BE SWITCHED TO PILLS

AFTER 2-3 DAYS. THE EPI DEFINITELY WAS BETTER AT

CONTROLLING THE PAIN.

> Were they narcotic? Which ones were they if

> you can remember? I DON'T RECALL WHAT WAS IN

THE EPI, BUT I THINK THE ORAL WAS EITHER TORADOL

OR DEMEROL. BUT I DID MAKE SURE THEY WERE SAFE

FOR BREASTFEEDING - I SUCCESSFULLY NURSED AS SOON

AS I GOT STITCHED UP.

>

> 4. Were all of your C-sections planned? YES.

Did

> you ever go into labor before

> the date of your C-section? NO.

>

> 5. Some women who have to have emergency

> C-sections say that once their

> labor contractions start the epidural does not

> really help their pain. Is

> this the case with a planned C-section? NO.

IT WILL LIKELY BE SCHEDULED A WEEK BEFORE YOUR

DUE DATE SO YOU'LL BE UNLIKELY TO HAVE

CONTRACTIONS AT ALL.

>

> 6. If you are a very squeemish person when it

> comes to needles, is a

> C-section difficult to go through? (It's

> amazing how many surgeries and gyn

> exams I have been through, not too modest or

> squeemish about that anymore,

> but still have an issue with needles. I have

> always requested having a

> general anesthetic because I don't want to be

> awake when they are cutting on

> me. I am quite nervous about the surgical part

> of the C-section even though

> the end result will be my beautiful baby.)

THAT'S TOTALLY A NATURAL FEELING. IN MY CASE, IT

STILL WENT GREAT. IT'S BEST IF YOU HAVE YOUR

PARTNER OR SOMEONE THERE TO HOLD YOUR HAND, JUST

FOR REASSURANCE. MY DOC TOLD ME WHAT SHE WAS

DOING EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, BUT THEY'LL SKIP

THAT IF YOU REQUEST IT. I WAS ABLE TO FEEL THAT

THINGS WERE GOING ON ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE

CURTAIN. BUT NO PAIN AT ALL. IT WAS EASIER FOR

ME THAN THE MYO, FOR WHICH I HAD GENERAL

ANESTHESIA.

GOOD LUCK!

>

> If you have a moment to answer these questions,

> I would certainly appreciate

> it. No, I'm not pregnant yet, but working on

> it and hoping for a pg soon!

>

> Thanks so much to you.

> Blessings,

> :)Sonja

[Guest guest]

See my responses is all caps below:

--- Sonja & Gunn greenvu@...>

wrote:

> Hello Terri and al who have had C-sections,

>

> I have been reading the posts about C-sections

> vs. natural births. And

> since you have had so many C-section births you

> must be an expert on the

> subject! So I thought I might ask you some

> questions about the whole

> C-section experience. I am posting this note on

> both the uterine fibroid and

> the ttcmyomectomy groups.

>

> I am currently TTC* after several myos (both

> abdominal and vaginal) and have

> been told a C-section will be the birth of

> choice for me. I have not been

> given an option because my doctor says natural

> birth is too risky in my

> case. I am okay with this option. But I have a

> few questions about it.

> * TTC= trying to have children

>

> I had an epidural 4 years ago during an

> emergency procedure one week after

> my myo. I hemorrhaged severely during my first

> period after the surgery and

> had to be admitted into the ER and then the

> hospital. My doctor had to give

> me an epidural to insert a balloon into my

> uterus to try and stop my

> bleeding. Fortunately, it worked so I was able

> to keep my uterus. But what

> I remember was very little. The epidural made

> me quite groggy (along with

> the trauma of the whole experience) so I was

> very sleepy during the

> procedure.

>

> Since that epidural experience is my only one,

> I am nervous about the whole

> epidural idea with a C-section. This leads me

> to my questions.

>

> 1. Were you in and out of consciousness during

> your epidural for your

> C-section, or did you feel wide awake and able

> to remember your baby's

> birth? I WAS FULLY AWAKE & ALERT.

>

> 2. Did the epidural numb you enough so that you

> did not feel discomfort or

> pain? YES. COMPLETELY.

>

> 3. How long after the birth were you put on IV

> pain killers or pain pills? THE EPIDURAL WAS

LEFT IN UNTIL I REQUESTED TO BE SWITCHED TO PILLS

AFTER 2-3 DAYS. THE EPI DEFINITELY WAS BETTER AT

CONTROLLING THE PAIN.

> Were they narcotic? Which ones were they if

> you can remember? I DON'T RECALL WHAT WAS IN

THE EPI, BUT I THINK THE ORAL WAS EITHER TORADOL

OR DEMEROL. BUT I DID MAKE SURE THEY WERE SAFE

FOR BREASTFEEDING - I SUCCESSFULLY NURSED AS SOON

AS I GOT STITCHED UP.

>

> 4. Were all of your C-sections planned? YES.

Did

> you ever go into labor before

> the date of your C-section? NO.

>

> 5. Some women who have to have emergency

> C-sections say that once their

> labor contractions start the epidural does not

> really help their pain. Is

> this the case with a planned C-section? NO.

IT WILL LIKELY BE SCHEDULED A WEEK BEFORE YOUR

DUE DATE SO YOU'LL BE UNLIKELY TO HAVE

CONTRACTIONS AT ALL.

>

> 6. If you are a very squeemish person when it

> comes to needles, is a

> C-section difficult to go through? (It's

> amazing how many surgeries and gyn

> exams I have been through, not too modest or

> squeemish about that anymore,

> but still have an issue with needles. I have

> always requested having a

> general anesthetic because I don't want to be

> awake when they are cutting on

> me. I am quite nervous about the surgical part

> of the C-section even though

> the end result will be my beautiful baby.)

THAT'S TOTALLY A NATURAL FEELING. IN MY CASE, IT

STILL WENT GREAT. IT'S BEST IF YOU HAVE YOUR

PARTNER OR SOMEONE THERE TO HOLD YOUR HAND, JUST

FOR REASSURANCE. MY DOC TOLD ME WHAT SHE WAS

DOING EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, BUT THEY'LL SKIP

THAT IF YOU REQUEST IT. I WAS ABLE TO FEEL THAT

THINGS WERE GOING ON ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE

CURTAIN. BUT NO PAIN AT ALL. IT WAS EASIER FOR

ME THAN THE MYO, FOR WHICH I HAD GENERAL

ANESTHESIA.

GOOD LUCK!

>

> If you have a moment to answer these questions,

> I would certainly appreciate

> it. No, I'm not pregnant yet, but working on

> it and hoping for a pg soon!

>

> Thanks so much to you.

> Blessings,

> :)Sonja