One month ago I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl via emergency c-section after a failed induction and 50+ hours of labor. It was not in our plan at all to have a c-section, so I didn’t do any research about them or plan for one at all. Here is everything I wish I knew before my emergency c-section.
When they realize an emergency c-section is needed, everyone comes running
Here is a rundown of why I needed a c-section:
I was induced at 37 weeks for medical reasons. When the induction process started on Monday my cervix was fully closed. By Wednesday afternoon my contractions were consistent and strong and I was about 5 centimeters dilated after I had been given many rounds of cervix softener and medication, including Pitocin.
Once my contractions were close together and strong, I received an epidural, and afterwards I had my cervix checked. At my last cervix exam that morning, the midwife said she felt what she thought was the baby’s head with her hand on top of it. Turns out it was the baby’s foot, and at some point between my ultrasound the week before and then our girl had flipped and become breech.
As soon as my nurse felt the baby’s foot she immediately asked my mom, who was in the room, to push the emergency button and more than 10 medical staff ran into the room. The response time was super fast, which was both assuring and overwhelming.
Everything happens so fast it’s a blur
When the nurse realized the baby was breech and the emergency alarm was sounded, everything after that happened so quickly.
Once it was determined that I needed a c-section I was out of my room and in the operating room in under 10 minutes. Despite the fast pace, the staff was incredibly calm and reassuring.
Luckily my OB just happened to be nearby after just finishing another c-section, so she made sure I got to the operating room as quickly as possible.
The staff is focused on mom and baby only
When the nurses and doctors were explaining why I needed a c-section and what was going to happen, they didn’t acknowledge my mom or husband at all. Their sole focus was communicating with each other while making sure I understood everything. My husband said he didn’t even know what the whole situation was when they took me away. There is no time for tons of questions.
If you have an epidural already in, you don’t have to go under general anesthesia
I was lucky enough to have gotten my epidural minutes before they realized I needed a c-section, so I was able to just have a spinal block. If you don’t have the epidural port in before a c-section is indicated, you most likely will have to go under general anesthesia. The anesthesiologist was able to get me the spinal block and totally numb in under 12 minutes.
Your birthing partner isn’t allowed in the room until right before delivery
The entire time you are being prepped, you’re alone except for the doctors and nurses. This is when it became really scary for me. But the nurses held my hand while they did the spinal block, and the anesthesiologist talked to me and distracted me. They didn’t let my husband in until they were ready to take the baby out.
The actual c-section was the least scary part
Maybe it was because I had had such a long and difficult labor, but the actual taking-the-baby-out part was way less scary than the prep. I felt a little tugging and then I heard her cry and the doctor showed her to me over the plastic that was blocking everything. I honestly would have rather just come in for a c-section than an induction.
You can still have skin to skin and get photos taken
Our nurse did an amazing job of photographing our daughter’s birth for us without even being asked, she just told my husband to give her his phone and took photos of everything! I was also able to have a few minutes of skin to skin after baby was checked and I was so glad I still got to have that connection.
You still bleed after a c-section
Many people think that because you had a c-section you don’t bleed, but that’s not the case at all. So make sure you still stock up on pads and period underwear!
Recovery from a c-section in my opinion is harder than from a vaginal birth
After having both a vaginal birth and a c-section I would 100% rather have a vaginal birth. After my first pregnancy I felt almost normal after a week with the exception of bleeding, which was just like a really bad period.
With the c-section my mobility was much more limited, and I felt very loose and bloated in my abdomen. Taking care of the incision has also been challenging, but after 4 weeks I am feeling a lot better.
So for those who think having a c-section is taking the “easy way out of having a baby,” you’ve clearly never had one because the recovery is no joke.
My most used c-section recovery items:
• Gauze pads to put over the incision to keep it dry
• A + D ointment for the incision
• A belly binder (the hospital usually gives you a free one but they were out of my size. I ended up ordering a couple off Amazon)
• Maternity underwear to act as a barrier between the incision and the belly binder
• The Boppy pillow, not just for breastfeeding but to use to brace against my stomach when I had to sneeze or cough
You can shop for these items plus more of my maternity must haves on my Amazon storefront!
thehappyfloridian.com 