Finally, after that last, lengthy, whiny post, I have some decent news! :)
My doctor has taken me off work until I have been in physical therapy for a week. I start tomorrow, so I definitely won't be going back until at least Sept. 4th. Yea! Now, I am just a little bored literally sitting around the house all day since moving hurts. But, it's so much better than excruciating pain!
The nurse did mention when I was talking to her yesterday, that the doctor is going to want to talk with us about a c-section. I'm also hoping that she talks with us about induction as well. Generally, I don't want a c-section, but I want the back pain to go away and I'm not excited about birthing a 12 pound baby (with a head in the 98th percentile), so I'm torn. I'm also extremely worried that all this back pain I have been having is indicating that I will have back labor, which I have heard is horrible! At the same time, I really want the whole birthing experience (or at least I say that now) and I know Alicia does.
So, I guess (before having even talked to the doctor) what I would like from you, my loyal readers, is some input on the c-section thing. If you have had one - what was it like? Was the recovery horrible? Did you feel slightly gypped in the whole birthing department? Just general thoughts and opinions would be great as well.
9 comments:
I did have a c-section, it ended up occuring after 24 hours of induced labor. C-section was not awful, all I felt was a bit of pressure and the doctors movements rolled me around a bit. The worst was when I woke 4 hours post-op, alone, Eric and baby in a nursery down the hall, and the phone, ringing, just out of my reach. That won't happen to you. I was dumb and reached, that was unwise. From then on, the drugs kept my muscles more happy. I will say, if it's a remote possibility that you'll be requiring a c-section, just go with it, bypass induction. Induction is more trouble than it's worth. Amy P. is the only person I know that was induced without Extreme Misery. My recovery was crazy because Chris was in the NICU, and the first few days were really rough once I was discharged, but you won't be recovering in the Ronald McDonald House. Once we got home I was good. I had some gut pain, stretching hurt, but they gave me drugs which I needed moreso for my shoulders than the c-section. Having staples removed didn't hurt a bit because my nerves were cut, and they grow back eventually. I was pretty much recovered in 3 weeks. 2 perks: going to the bathroom did NOT cause me super misery, there was no "tearing". And in 50 years my uterus and bladder are not going to fall out.
P.S. No, I don't think that back labor will be worse than the pain you've been in, you've already been in the upper half of pain scale. I don't think you're being woosy at all. Pain is pain, and it hurts no matter if it's caused by "back labor" or by Parker playing your spine like a xylophone.
I'm glad you have some time off work! I have no advice regarding giving birth. :)
I had the "birthing experience" and the C-section. My induction was even pretty successful - I dilated pretty quickly. But, alas, Miles was transverse so after 2 hours of pushing, I had a C-section. I'm guessing after all of this pain you've been having, the C-section recovery will seem like a cinch. I wouldn't say the recovery is easy - I still get sore sometimes after 11 weeks, but it's not absolutely horrendous, especially if you have the right drugs and the right people helping you afterwards (which you do). The biggest thing that sucked for me during the C-section was the averse reaction to the drugs. I had a major case of the shakes and was really drowsy, so I was really fighting to stay awake during the actual surgery.
As you know, I have not given birth yet, much to my dismay. Here's my somewhat frustrating fact for the day. Everything, for the most part, that I have read or heard about inductions is not good. My own doctor herself told me that my chances of having a c-section after a really long labor - due to induction - were much greater. This really only seems to make sense since being induced throws your body into labor which is not a natural way of going into labor and your body may just not be ready yet. And, I know there have been many media reports about a recent increase in c-sections. It would seem to me that doctors seem to be in such a hurry to rush women into giving birth - through inducing - and then when that doesn't work they have to resort to the c-section. I don't quite understand what the rush to get the baby out is. I will MOST DEFINITELY admit that I am not comfortable and would very much like to go into labor, but I fear that rushing things is not going to really end up being good for me or Sadie. So, while in the end I am at the mercy of both Sadie and my doctor, I would prefer to avoid the c-section and the induction.
All of this said, I know several people - Amy, Andrea, and some women here locally - that were either induced or had c-sections and were succcessful with whichever method they ended up having. One of my friends here in town actually had twins through c-section and continues to rave about how it was the absolute best thing that could have happened despite the fact that a month before giving birth she was adamantly opposed to having a c-section. So, I think that in the end, as long as the baby comes out safely, you and I both will be happy with the end result. :)
I have not had a c-section but I want to say that you need to really really want a vaginal birth if you are going to be induced. I took the induction after being told that my chances of ending up in a c-section were no greater than if I went into labor on my own. I was pretty far along at that point - 4.5cm, 70% effaced - progress had just stalled for over a week at that point and didn't seem like it was starting back up on it's own, despite the fact that I was still having plenty of contractions. My induction went great but I know that doesn't happen for everyone and if you take the induction in the state you are currently in, there is a good chance you will end up in a c-section. However, your doctor will probably allow you to try it if you request it. I truly don't know what I would do if I was in your situation - a vaginal birth certainly is easier as far as healing and pain goes but going through 24 hours of labor just to end in a c-section would make me want to just take it to begin with. You and Alicia just need to talk about the pros and the cons, make the best decision you can based on what you know, and don't look back! Good luck!
I was in labor (natural, not induced) for 21 hours. At hour 19, I was dilated 8-9 cm, but when I got checked two hours later, I had not dilated any further, and my cervix had started to swell (it was 1 AM by this point). Clearly I was not progressing, so the doctor said I should have a c-section. I was very tired and extremely uncomfortable at that point, so I didn't argue! :)
Seriously though, before I went into labor, I wanted to go as far as I could without getting an epidural - I lasted 8 hours before I asked for one (it was great, although it does give you the shakes - not bad, just weird). I also would have preferred a vaginal birth, but after 21 hours of labor, I was just ready to get the baby out! The epidural relieves the pain, but after awhlie, the pressure is just as bad (no one told me about that!).
I guess I would have liked to try pushing, but I never really felt like I missed out on any of the birthing process. There were two bad things about recovery for me. The worst was the gas that I had for several days post-op. You see, they open you up and stitch you back together, and air gets trapped inside you. I hurt all the way up to my shoulders, and I had to try to sleep sitting up. It was awful. The second thing was that I had to continue to sleep sitting up because any other position put pressure on my incision.
All that being said, the pain and misery are a distant memory - really. It sounds hokey, but it's true. You'll get through whatever happens because you'll look at that beautiful baby girl and forget about everything but her. :)
Hey, I hope you don't mind me chiming in here! I have no experience with c-section stuff, but I can offer a couple good vaginal birth stories for you.
My daughter was a bigger baby--almost 9 lbs. She was my first. I needed an episiotomy to get her out, after pushing for over 2 hours. My recovery was just fine. No permanent damage. Going to the bathroom and all that was no big deal at all (not that it made that first postpartum poop any less scary--but it was just fine...really!)
I was induced with my son. Granted, he was my second child so that could make a difference--I don't know. But I was induced with less-than-favorable conditions. Just over 1 cm dilated and not in labor at all. The doctor inserted cytotec (which you'll read scary stuff about, just to forewarn you. Another option is cervidil). A few hours later I was 4 cm and moving to L&D. Water broke on its own, and they started pitocin. I got my epidural at that point (not big on the whole pain thing). The little man was born 11 hours after they first used cytotec. Super-easy, wouldn't change it for anything! The full story's on my blog if you ever want to read it--in Dec. '07.
Anyhow, just wanted to give you my experiences! Good luck with your decision! And congrats on the baby!
Lauren (Stephen O's wife)
I had 2 Cs. The first with Lydia after I was induced, labored for 13 hours (Andrea, lucky girl, had already had Hannah and a meal!) and got all the way to 8 cms without her really descending. My OB decided the C was the best option and I recovered pretty quick. I was up and walking down the hall the next morning (after the IV and catheter were out) no pain meds to speak of after the cesearan itself. With Miriam it was scheduled so I went in, they did the monitoring and they took her out. Super easy, but my recovery was a littler slower (I did take demerol this time around) but she was also close to 2 lbs heavier than Lydia had been.
Ultimately you and Alicia and your Dr need to decide what is in the best interest for you and your baby.
Congrats by the way!
Jenn (Bennett) Oster
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