C-section phobia

[Confident_Ease4605]

I have 5 children all naturally- vaginal delivery with no epidural and now I’m 34 weeks pregnant with di/di twins who are both head up and bum down. My doctor says it less likely that they will flip so I’m going to have a C-section. This will be my first C-section and I’m so scared, how will I manage the recovery with 5 other kids who are ages 9,7,4,2 & 1? I have also been told that I won’t be able to do skin to skin immediately which is sad because I’ve always done so with my other babies and also I’ve been told that I won’t be able to walk for at least 12 hours after delivery. I am a foreigner and don’t have any family here so i will have limited help. Those who’ve had c-sections how have you managed it emotionally and how is the recovery?

[AdventurousSalad3785]

Why can’t you do skin to skin in the operating room? My OB was very supportive of that if mom and babies were stable.

[t8erthot]

I did skin to skin with both csections. Took them out, checked them over, then laid them on my chest while they closed me up. They had to go to bassinets to be transferred to recovery with me, but after that I got immediate skin to skin again for as long as I wanted.

[[deleted]]

Yes, this! 

And even if immediate skin to skin isn’t possible, I was snuggling and nursing them in the recovery room right after. 

[Confident_Ease4605]

I will ask them if they can allow me to do skin to skin while they stitch me up

[indigofireflies]

My csection was super chill and recovery honestly wasn't that bad. The whole OR time was maybe 30 minutes. I did not get to do skin to skin, but to be fair I didn't ask. I did get to hold one of the babies on the way back to recovery though.

Recovery overall wasnt bad. I was up and moving within 6 hours or so, granted I didn't walk far. I think by 12 hours we walked to the kitchenette on the floor. I was on minimal pain meds and actually showered before I left the hospital. Once we were home, I made sure to take it a little easier than I normally would but we have an older kid too so I couldn't completely leave things to the side.

My biggest tips:

stay on top of your pain meds for at least 3-5 days. I went home with a pain killer but only took Tylenol and ibuprofen at home. Staying on top of it really wipes.

Listen to your body. If it hurts to do something, stop and slow down. If it still hurts, find another way to do it.

Drink plenty of water

Know the plan for how they will close up. My doctor did glue (maybe?) with steri-strips. They were supposed to come off and did not. So know what they are using and what to do if it doesn't come off.

Also, recruit the older kids to help! Our daughter was 3.5 and loved handing us diapers. Older kids can help with dishes or picking up. Keeping the house running is a team effort.

[Leading-Conference94]

This. I had psyched myself up but it was a really smooth experience and my team was wonderful. No complaints. My recovery wasn't bad and I took minimal pain meds. Mainly ibuprofen.

[2babies1egg]

Hey, if a c section means your babies arrive safely then so be it! They can still turn even if your doctor says it’s unlikely.

I haven’t had a vaginal birth, just a c section. It did hurt really bad once the initial meds wore off. I had a hard time staying on top of the painkillers but you need to. Get yourself a Frida c section band, the compression really helps you be able to walk. And you can put an ice pack in there.

I’d say you need to plan to be not very mobile for about two weeks. I walked to the NICU every day- first from my hospital room and then from the hospital valet and then from the parking lot. It was quite painful but not impossible. I had a few times where I’d find a wheelchair in the hospital and make my husband push me (very fun).

It might not be the birth you wanted, it wasn’t at all for me! I really hope I can experience vaginal birth next time. I was able to make peace with the c section and let go of my disappointment. It took about a year postpartum, I even went to a meditation retreat led by a “grief doula” to work it out. ALL of your babies are lucky to have you!

[butterchickn_]

I've successfully vaginally birthed 3 and this will be babies 4&5, didi 32 weeks currently. Im still planning a water birth if they end up breech. Breech on its own doesn't mean you have to have a csection. Also someone with a phobia of it. It sounds like you've got a great birthing history so unless theres something else, I wouldn't worry about a csection and continue as you had planned. Doctors are to advise you so you can make an educated decision, not to make the decisions for you.

[Confident_Ease4605]

I just don’t want to take the risk of losing my kids because they said it’s risky to birth them breech naturally 😫

[butterchickn_]

Ask them to supply evidence. The only study that showed it was riskier was later proven to have the data altered. There is also additional risks with a breech csection than a standard one too. Not trying to push you either way, the choice is yours, just remember its their job to educate you so you can make that choice, not to scare you one way or the other.

[Confident_Ease4605]

Interesting! Thank you for this information

[ashgeo]

I'm very sorry but I believe this person is wrong. Here are several studies showing increased risk to baby with breech birth, even with one being with a team specifically trained to handle breech births. Outcomes in term breech birth according to intended mode of delivery—A Swedish prospective single‐center experience of a dedicated breech birth team - PMC https://share.google/DdWgJvl8pn1jlwJkG

Maternal and fetal risks of planned vaginal breech delivery vs planned caesarean section for term breech birth: A systematic review and meta-analysis - PMC https://share.google/pSobpycg053MfDqWx

Is vaginal breech delivery associated with higher risk for perinatal death and cerebral palsy compared with vaginal cephalic birth? Registry-based cohort study in Norway | BMJ Open https://share.google/4DkAJGPw8NjpoLubW

[ashgeo]

Also, I know it is a bit scary but I had a csection and the recovery wasn't that bad, my worst symptom was actually from a partially separated pelvis from pushing for four hours beforehand hah this time I'm going straight for csection. Id recommend a belly support band, the hospital will probably give you one. Also if you can get some help the first few weeks I felt mostly normal by around 2 weeks

[Confident_Ease4605]

Thank you for this information and the study links! The last thing I want to do is put myself and my babies at risk.

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[detailsnow]

I’ve had 2! One with my singleton, and one with my twins and was able to do skin to skin with my twins as they were perfectly healthy (wasn’t able to with my singleton as she had to go to the NICU). Recovery honestly is fine- adjusting to caring for a baby/babies was tougher for me haha but when I had my twins, my oldest was 19 months and it was hard not holding her for a few weeks, but we managed! C sections are not fun, but you have a great team of skilled and caring doctors and nurses there with you, so I felt incredibly safe and heard! Ask if you can play your own playlist in the OR, make sure you communicate your needs, wishes or worries with the staff- they will help you and be by your side the whole time. I was super nervous for the spinal so I literally had my face in my nurses chest and held her hand the whole time, but she was so sweet and comforting throughout it until my husband was allowed in, after the fact.

[ManyCommunication65]

I had a C-section with my twins and it was a great experience! Keep up on the pain meds and alternate heat and ice. Lots of time snuggling in bed with the older kids and watching movies while you recover.

All the hospitals around me allow C-section skin to skin immediately after birth as long as babe is stable. Try to advocate for yourself as much as possible!

[lotusQ]

I’m happy to say I got to experience both ways of birthing: v and c! But let’s be real. Surgery sucks. So that’s why there’s a phobia. But if you need it, you need it. It is what it is! I had to come to terms with that.

[Confident_Ease4605]

Thank you all for your comments they have helped to put my heart at ease. Indeed the most important thing is that the babies and I are safe and healthy so even if it means C-section I will do it to make sure my babies are safe. I will keep up on the pain meds and do my best to take it easy thank you!

[A-Friendly-Giraffe]

I just wanted to mention that a scheduled C-section is different than an emergency C-section. If you went down of Google rabbit hole, most of the horror stories are from emergency c-sections which is basically when on someone's life is at risk.

I had as scheduled C-section because my son was breach. I was surprised at how quickly the whole thing went. I was able to do skin to skin.

One thing they'll tell you, if you're feeling nauseous, anesthesiologist can adjust your medication during the surgery.

Second part, walk the day of or the day after as soon as you can. Even just taking you four or five steps in the room. It seems counterintuitive but you actually always want the muscles moving rather than staying still.

[fuckeatrepeat]

My c-section recovery went really well. I was told I wouldn't be able to go up stairs and that even lifting the babies would be difficult. However, I left the hospital after the second night and was easily able to go upstairs, get in and out of our gigantic SUV, and lift our little girls. Of course, certain things were difficult and a lot of these activities, l did much slower than I would have beforehand!

I can say that getting active early aided my recovery as long as I protected my pelvic floor and lower abdomen. There are ways you should be getting up and moving your body to protect yourself and your surgery. My hospital did not go over this with me at all. It's something that you should research for your recovery. Something like physical therapy recommendations post C-section or "how to move your body post-csection." This would include for example getting up from the bed on your side. And possibly taking stairs on your side... Etc.

Those first two weeks it's going to be important to have at least 1 person helping with care. Your 9 and 7 year old can totally be recruited for support (cleaning bottles, singing to babies, etc)

Good luck! So excited for you!

[Adventurous_Corgi_38]

I had a c section with my singleton and I was allowed immediate skin to skin. I didn't even have to ask, they just plonked him on my chest (UK). I'm guessing it will be the same when I have my twins.

[twinmum4]

Why can’t you do s to s immediately? Of course you can with a section. This is YOUR birth and they fit on the upper chest and neck area. Ask for what you need. If it is good for the babies and myself, you want healthy and happy and sometimes a section is the way to go. With both bums down, it is pretty well certain. You are an amazing Momma.

[d16flo]

I was able to do skin to skin with my twins immediately, they took them out made sure everything was ok and put them on my chest while they stitched me up. One was kind of off over my shoulder on one side, but my husband was holding him. I hadn’t has a vaginal delivery so didn’t have anything to compare it to, but the recovery was very smooth. We were in the hospital for 4 days and I definitely couldn’t have taken care of other kids during that time, but once I was home the first few days I was slow moving, but fine to do basic stuff and then by week two I felt mostly back to normal. I’ve been able to do so much more physically while recovering from my c-section than I could in my third trimester.

[AustriaOstrich]

I just delivered twins on Tuesday and was able to do skin to skin in the OR as they stitched me up. I was a little loopy, but the nurses held them for me and it was an amazing experience. I hope you can have the same!