C-Section Questions..Again!

[laurabeth]

So we met with our doctor today, who talked to us about c-section. The plan is for us to have a vaginal delivery, and c-section only if necessary. They told us that the studies done in the last 12 years show that there is no difference between vaginal delivery or c-section...(but if we change our minds he is open to doing a c-section as well) .... If it does come down to a c-section it will be because the baby's head is too big or because the baby is in breech position, which he also said is quite possible for a baby with spina bifida. This is the first I have heard about breech being common for babies with sb? And so I also had to ask about the type of c-section.

So my questions for everyone who has had a c-section is... Are mothers usually awake or put under when they get the c-section? and he had also mentioned something about the "classic" c-section if the babys head was bigger than average (a vertical incision) ... which is clearly a bigger incision that most likely doesn't heal too natural looking. Is this "classic" c-section common ? Or do most women still get the bikini cut c-section?

I want whats best for my little boy and will do whatever is best, but im ashamed to admit that I am pretty scared of a c-section, and of what my belly will look like afterwards...

[smoop]

I had a c-section with Analise. I was awake during the procedure and they gave me the bikini line incision. I didn't know they still did the classic.. that's not a pretty scar!

[Kari]

I had a bikini line incision and was awake. They just gave me a spinal block.

[janjanwhit]

I had a bikini line incison. They made the cut bigger than normal to not damage him. I got the option to be awake or asleep and i chose awake. I enjoyed it so much i have since had another c section! I was terrified of having a c section to begin with too! my scar has healed so well that you can hardly see it and i have had two! I just felt a tiny prick in my back and then i was completely numb. I was up walking by night and only had a couple doses of paracetemol for pain. Loved it so much more than my normal birth!

[XoBLoNDiE85]

I too was scared to DEATH! Its not bad really, i had the bikini cut but its a bit longers because of her lesion. Don't be scared everything will be fine =)

[bcain]

It was a rough recovery for me. I couldn't do stairs nor drive for a while. Which made visiting the NICU hard. By the evening visit I'd have to take a wheel chair to the NICU because I couldn't stand up straight. I'd get this pulling sensation if I stood or walked too much.

Now I thought it was only during an emergency that the verticle incision would be used. Mine was bikini line too.

[angieandmike97]

C-sections differ from woman to woman, even from pregnancy to pregnancy.

That being said, 15 months ago (boy time has flown by) I had my daughter by an emergancy c-sect, I was terrified! It wasn't bad at all, I had a spinal block and was totally awake and aware of what was happening. I had a small reaction to the medicine, but the doctor told me that most women do, I shook all over for about 5 minutes and it was over. I was released from the hospital 2 days later, was told not to drive for 2 weeks (I drove the same day I was released) no pain, nothing......incision healed like a dream.

I had my son almost 4 weeks ago (hard to believe its been a month) he was born emergancy c-sect....IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE! I was released in 2 days, was told the incision looked good, I came home did everything the doctor told me, including the not driving for 2 weeks...my incision busted open, is now infected. I have had to go back 2 time since to have it cut and drained.

The one thing that noone warned me about....I had swelling in my legs that I was told was normal......I do not mean the typical pregnancy swelling, I mean hurts to stand on them swelling.

The actual surgery itself is the easy part of it all, so please do not be afraid of having it done if it is needed. Now my son has SB and Hydro, he was in the transverse position (laying cross way) My daughter was breech. Both babies were just fine and no side effects from the medicine or the surgery.

I hope that some of this helps and if you want to PM me feel free, I will answer any questions that you might have to the best of my knowledge.

Take care and RELAX!

Angie

[valerie]

I had an emergency c -section and we werent aware of Cians SB and i was awake during it and the scar is very small, bikini type, really wouldnt notice it at all...

[sbmama]

I had a bikini line c-section while awake. My scar isn't very noticeable, but I did have a difficult recovery. I had pain for months and months.

[LillyPie]

I had a bikini line cut also, a bit longer than the average also, but just to make more room for them to maneuver her out. I had a spinal tap and was awake during the c-section and my husband watched. I was afraid of the spinal tap but it wasnt so bad.

[Jill]

Same with others, spinal, I was awake, bikini line. So low that no one but my OB and husband would ever see, ever!

I *think* babies with SB generally have smaller heads, despite what you might think bc of they hydro and all of that. I was told that when DS measured nearly 5 weeks behind with head size vs body size in utero. Scared the bejeezus out of me, but apparently it's quite common. So, the large head size may not be a concern. DS's small head was one of the reasons we went with a c/s. If his head had been big, it would've cleared the way for his body, if you can visualize that. But he had a smaller head and a big chubby torso. Looked totally normal when he was born though.

The c/s was rough. Recovery was not fun. But, in time it does get better.

[Jill]

Also, breech is more common bc babies will flip and not have the leg strength to flip again. DS flipped over and over in the last 10 weeks. One week breech, one week fine. In the end he was head down.

[janjanwhit]

My babies head was always normal sized and didnt get big until 5 months old. He was head down in good birthing position but he had a muscle problem in his hips where his feet were stuck up by his head and couldnt be brought down - so if i hadnt had the elective c section it would have ended in an emergency c section anyway!

[smoop]

My daughter's head was "unusually small" on u/s also. They never did tell me what that meant so of course, I worried. When she was born it was on the larger side.. 95th percentile until she had her shunt placed at 3 months of age.

[Amnada]

Hi Laurabeth,
I've had 2 c-sections, and I am an obstetrical nurse who has been involved in hundreds of births both vaginal and ceserean - but none with spina bifida until my own.

Each doctor is different and will have different way of doing things. A vertical incision - classical is usually only in an emergency situation - where seconds count. Even an emergency c-section you can usually get a bikini cut if it is not an immediate life or death emergecy.
A bikini cut is much more likely, it lies just above (or even being covered by) your pubic hair, and will be about 10-15cm in length. It should heal well in 6 weeks, but numbness around the site remains for months afterwards - everyone is different.

For a c-section you would expect to have nothing to eat/drink for at least 6-8 hours, you would get an iv, and a catheter, many times you will be able to talk to an aneasthiologist before the operation to ask any questions. You would walk into the OR, everyone wears a mask - except for you. You get what is called a spinal - this freezes you from the waist down, very quickly. This is a needle that goes into your back (similar to an epidural) and delivers medication to numb the nerves, then the needle is taken out. *Always ask for the catheter after you are frozen.
You are awake for the entire time, and your partner can come in (with camera). You have a doctor at the head of the bed with you the entire time. Your body feels as if everything is asleep. Often you can feel touch or something but there should not be any pain. They do not start until you are frozen. They will cover your body with a drape so you can't see anything. When the baby is ready to be born they will tell you that you will feel alot of pressure as they are pressing to help to baby come out. It is uncomfortable but only lasts a short time.
When Nickolas was born they showed him to me and then into another room with the NICU team.
When everything was finished they will either use staples or sutures to close the outside and then put a large dressing over the incision. You would go to a recovery room where a nurse is with you always for at least an hour before moving to your own room.
Typically they give you something with the spinal that should give you pain relief for 24 hours, but still give you oral pain medication - sometimes tylenol 3, sometimes only tylenol and advil, sometimes stronger. If you would need something stronger let the nurses know - don't be a martyr.
Once you are in your room, try to rest because after 6-8 hours you should be starting to move around and get out of bed, even just to walk to a chair. The catheter is typically taken out before 12 hours. The earlier you walk, the better, but within reason and if you push yourself you WILL feel it.

I have no idea how a vaginal birth would be different when the baby has SB.
I am sooo sorry I wrote such a novel, but it is what I do ;) If anyone has any labour and delivery/postpartum questions please don't hesitate to send me a message. If it is too much info - I'm sorry.

[babybsmom]

I also had this same decision to make...ultimately, I chose the C/S. I had previously had a vaginal birth and therefore, was very nervous about having a C/S. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense to have a C/S. Although, there is plenty of data that suggests either way is fine, a C/S allows the doctors to "control" the environment. I am also a Labor and delivery nurse, so I know how quickly things can go from good to bad. Good thing I listened to myself, my son was breech. The strange thing is, I had an ultrasound the day before and he was not breech... I was awake during the procedure and was out of bed in less than 11 hours...and I was even on magnesium sulfate because of my blood pressure. Every woman is different in how they respond to "pain." I didn't feel that I had the choice to be in "pain", my son needed me more. I needed to bond with him as my son, not a diagnosis. They also did a bikini cut on me. They usually will not do a classic cut unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. I hope this helps...please message me if you need anything.

[chandrick]

I also had a c-section bikini cut but it is a little larger they didn't want to damage leah I had a spinal was awake for the whole thing. It was my first surgery ever! I was so scared! I think it depends on the dr. how good they stitch you up my scar is not that bad. I didn't have an option of a vag delivery. But I prob would have gone with the c-section if given the choice. I got really sick during the anesthia though. I vomited 3 times during the procedure, and 2 times after. and let me tell ya it hurt to vomit after the procedure. I was so nauseous, my c-section was scheduled at 9a.m. I was still partially numb in my toes and nauseous intil 6 that night!! The nureses had to keep giving me anti nausea drugs. I was so mad I only got to see leah briefly after she was delivered then transfered to NICU. I wanted to get up and go see her so bad but when I did I tossed my cookies!! Finally at 8 that night the wonderful NICU nurse wheeled leah and all her moniters to my room. Oh I was so happy to see my precious baby girl!

[laurabeth]

Thanks for all the info from everyone!
I've been thinking about it since my last appointment, and I am still unsure of what I should decide. Both the neuro and the perinatologist said that there are new studies that say there is no difference, and that the studies that were done before with c-section and spina bifida are like comparing apples to oranges. I only have a little while longer to decide (unless our little boy decides for me) but i really want whats best for him, so I'm thinking a c-section might be necessary....But we will see....better safe then sorry for him!!

[matoro]

I was scheduled for a vaginal birth. After inducing labor I was there over 24 hrs. and nothing. I only dialated 3 cm. I ended up having a c- section after my little girl had a bowel movement. Because of my own not so comfi experience I would tell anyone that is having their labor induced to just have a c-section you save your self a lot of pain and long recovery (you end up recovering from all the vaginal discomfort you would have had if youd had a vaginal birth and you have the c- section to recover from 2.

When I have another baby if it has to be induced due to a medical situation I will just do a c- section if everything is as it should be then they wont see me until that babies head is about to come out.

[TysaDawn]

I just had my baby boy on June 30th via C-section. I must say I was scared to death at first but I was mostly scared of the spinal block.. I was wide awake & once the spinal block was done & kicked it, it might sound weird but, it was really kinda cool! There are risk but there are risk with all births. I had a bikini cut & it already is healed so well. My sister has had 2 and you can only see a faint scar from them & here last was only 2 years ago. I think it might be better for some, & vaginal is better for others. My son had a sac over his cord, clubbed feet & dislocated hips so it could have been too hard to deliver vaginal without hurting him, & I would much rather have a planned c-section then an emergency. i'm pretty sure with the emergency you are put completely under too. I'd say talk to your doctors.. I just know it wasnt as bad as I though to have a c-section.