How to Prepare for a C Section: What to Ask Before Surgery
via rawpixel
If you’ve never had a c-section before, don’t be afraid to ask questions at your pre-op visit and/or while you’re being prepped for surgery.
Here are some questions you should ask:
How long do you expect the surgery to take? Mine was 2 hours because I also had to remove fibroids.
What kind of anesthesia will you have and are there any side effects? There’s general anesthesia which means you’re off to sleep and epidural which is the spinal tap (needle through your back).
How long will you be in the hospital?
Does the hospital allow skin-to-skin contact in the OR? Not every hospital is following the guidelines so you’ll want your doc to know that you know the benefits. If you plan on breastfeeding, let them know ahead of time.
What happens if you go into labor before your scheduled c-section?
I just learned that some hospitals offer belly bands. Ask what the hospital offers new moms.
What you should know about the surgery and recovery room:
The OR is cold! They may offer you a warm blanket or warm air, say yes!
The OR will be jam packed. Meaning there will be your doctor, and maybe another who’s assisting, the anesthesiologist and a few labor and delivery nurses. Don’t be alarmed this is all normal – remember you’re having major surgery.
You'll have a Catheter – a flexible tube inserted in your bladder, your pee it all goes there.
You may feel nauseous from the anesthesia. Your anesthesiologist will be right by your side….literally. Let him know how you feel.
You will feel pressure and pulling. Even though you won’t feel any pain or be able to move the lower half of your body, you will feel the pulling and pressure as they try to get your baby out.
You may get the shakes during surgery and in recovery. Ask for warm blankets.
If you are given general anesthesia you will probably not remember waking up and the next hour or so.
If you have a spinal or epidural you will be in the recovery room until you are able to move your toes.
Stay on top of your pain medication. Don’t wait for your pain meds to wear off to ask for more.
Keep Pillows Around. Pillows make excellent splints when you need to cough, laugh, or sneeze. Just hold it tightly over your belly.
Get up and walk as soon as you can. Find out from your nurse if they haven’t told you when you can start walking. You will not feel like it but you’ve got to get moving.
If you get stool softeners, take them! Why do you need them? Well to make pooping more comfortable. No matter what type of birth you’ve had you’ll want them. Some moms get hemorrhoids during pregnancy or from pushing during delivery — others have tears or incisions (down there) that are sensitive — and a stool softener can make for less straining and less discomfort when you go. For C Section moms the drugs make you constipated, a stool softener helps.
Sleep as much as you can. You’ve just had major surgery and you need to rest. More and more hospitals are cutting out nurseries. You may have baby from day one, and sleeping will be on and off. Either way, make the most of it.
Expect to be swollen. They give you a lot of IV fluids before, during and after surgery. Try to keep your feet elevated to reduce the swelling in your feet and ankles.
You won’t be able to eat solid food until you pass gas. Don’t be shy. You probably haven’t eaten in at least 12 hours and you will be hungry. And you won’t until you pass gas. Once you do, your first meal will be clear liquids and foods such as chicken soup, tea, ginger ale, apple juice, and jello.