Fibroid Types
Planned c-section?
What are your experiences with a planned c-section? I have to have one due to a fibroid outside of my uterus. What was the procedure like? How long does it take? what type of pain medication? I should also mention that my dr wants to remove the fibroid the same time due to the pain it is causing in this pregnancy. I am 16 weeks 3 days and still have quite a way to go but reading as much as I can hoping it will ease my nervousness
I had to have a planned c-section because of a breech baby. I was terrified, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
My surgery was scheduled for 7 am, we had to be there by about 5:45. When I got there I changed into a gown, they took my blood pressure and my sugars (I had gestational diabetes). I had an IV placed (with a hep lock). They had to put a certain amount of fluids in before the surgery started.
They came in with a shaver, but took one look and said that I didn’t need to be shaved. Because my incision was so low they were going to shave my bikini line, but I shaved it the night before so that they wouldn’t have to.
The anesthesiologist came in to talk to me about the spinal and sign a consent form. I signed the form and then just waited, I think that was the hardest part. I had to just sit there in bed and wait for about half an hour.
When it was about 7 they wheeled me from labor and delivery to the operating room. My boyfriend put on this white suit thing that they made him wear and I was introduced to my nurses (I had two because I have a disability). They allowed my boyfriend in the room the whole time, but this was because of my disability. They had me sit on the edge of the operating table and I leaned my head against one of my nurse’s shoulders. He held his hands on my shoulders and they did the spinal (if you have a planned c-section they will usually do a spinal rather then an epidural). I was so scared of the spinal, but it wasn’t bad at all. First they numb the area with a local anesthetic then they give you the spinal. Even the numbing stuff (the most painful part) feels less painful then a bee sting. I was amazed, I actually asked “that’s it?” after they did it.
Then they hooked me up to the blood pressure monitor and a pulse monitor thing for my finger. In most cases they will strap down your arms, but for me they just put a blanket over one of my arms and left the other free (I asked my doctor before the surgery and she permitted it). The spinal made me really sick so they gave me medication through my IV. It didn’t really help, in all honesty that was the worst part. I had to get sick, but I couldn’t move. All I could do was lay there and get sick.
My nurses were really good about it though, they said it happens all the time.
They put my catheter in after I was numb. If you ask them to most doctors will wait.
Then they started the surgery. My doctor told me everything they were doing, I felt some pressure, then she was born. They held her up then took her away to get cleaned up. I got to give her a kiss then they took her to the nursery while I got closed up. I was in surgery for about another hour, but I don’t remember much of it. I went into an almost sleeping state, which is very common after the birth.
After I was ready to go they moved me from the operating table to my bed and wheeled me back to my room. I was only there for about a minute before they brought my baby back to me. I was back to my room at about 9 am so the whole thing only took about 2 hours.
It was about another hour before I could move my legs and about an hour later two nurses came in to help me change my gown and clean up. That was very embarrassing because I was all covered with blood from about the waist down, but they were very sweet about it.
They helped me change and changed my bed and filled my water bottle.
Here are a few tips that I learned the hard way:
- Start walking the halls as soon as you can, it helps with your recovery and it will also help you have a bowel movement (which is difficult after surgery)
- If they offer you a Colace (stool softener) TAKE IT! Believe me, you may not think you need it, but you will.
- Drink tons of water, but no NOT use the cup with the straw that they give you. Don’t use a straw, you will swallow air and it will make you gassy, which is very painful
- If you need to pass gas then do it, it will help ease the pressure in your belly.
- If you think you might want pain medicine then ask for it. Don’t wait until you need it, you will end up in horrible pain.
- Take advantage of being in the hospital. I stayed for almost a week. It was great to have the nurses there to help with the baby and it was wonderful to have someone cook the meals for me.
Sorry for such an long answer, but I know that when I was told I needed a c-section I wanted to hear every detail about other people’s experiences.
Types of Uterine Fibroids