CESAREAN PROCEDURE: What To Expect

Basic overview of the procedure

After having 2 cesareans with my boys, i thought i would explain how the process works for a Planned Cesarean for any mothers that are wondering what to expect.

Advantages

* To get to have your baby earlier (Usually about a week before your due date).
* The procedure is straight forward and should have no complications.
* You feel no general or labour pain during the procedure due to anaesthetics, epidural injection given etc.

Disadvantages:

* The pain you will incur afterwards for several days after.
* Not being able to be that active and mobile with your baby due to the pain.
* The Scar that is left over (although it is below your bikini line, so can be covered)
* It is only recommended you can have a maximum of 3 cesareans due to health risks.

Before the Procedure:

* You will be asked to remove any jewelry (wedding ring can be taped over), braces, false teeth, contact lenses, make up nail varnish. This is for several reasons including interfering with surgery equipment, monitoring your skin tone.

* A drip is inserted into your arm to give you fluids, and helps give you any drugs you may need later.

* A Catheter is inserted into your bladder to assist you with emptying your bladder.

* The area that is to be cut will be shaved and cleaned with antiseptic.

* Blood thinning injections will be given or special white stockings to wear, to reduce the risk of blood clots in your legs.

* A blood pressure monitor is attached to your arm.

* Electrodes are put on your chest area to monitor your heart rate.

* An epidural injection will be given in your back (quite sharp when going in, but only lasts for a couple of seconds if that), as well as a special anaesthetic you drink that will numb your lower body area so you wont feel any pain.

* A screen is put by your chest so you are not able to see the operation in case it freaks you out! However your birthing partner can watch if they are brave enough!

Can my partner/birthing partner by present?

Yes. They will be asked to put on a gown, wear a mask, a hat, and can sit beside you.

Where is the procedure carried out?

This will be in theatre, and there will be probably 6 or more people in the room that all play a part in assisting with the procedure.

During the Procedure:

* To start your surgeon will make a horizontal cut across your bikini line area. Layers of tissue and muscle are then opened up to create an area to get to your uterus, and so your baby to come out in comfortably.

* If there is alot of fluid you might hear this whooshing noise coming through the opening. You will probably sense a tugging and/or pressing sensation too when your surgeon is making the opening and gaining access. This will be painless as your lower body is numbed.

* Your body might start shaking/shivering uncontrollably. This is just nerves or a reaction to the painkillers. It will pass by in about an hour or so.

* Your baby is then lifted out and nurses will cut the cord, make sure your baby is crying, weigh him and make sure all is ok. Then the baby is passed onto yourself or the father.

Once started the procedure is really quick (about 10 mins). It's the preparation and the making do afterwards that takes up the time really.

After the Procedure:

* Whilst you bond with your baby surgeons will remove the placenta fro your uterus , then begin stitching you up. These are usually disolveable or be a removable stitch secured with pins on each end that can be removed in a few days (Rarely stapling is used in these times).

* When you are closed up, you are moved to a rest room for about where you can feed your baby and nurses can check to see if all is well before they move you to a ward.

How Long will it take to recover?

You will stay in hospital for 2-4 days depending on how well you and your baby are progressing. You will need alot of help with your baby at first until the numbness wears off in a few hours, as you wont be able to move and have to be lifted onto your bed.

Alot of pain will be felt in your stomach and bikini area as you recover. The first week especially. You will be given pain relief to help with this. Full recovery usually takes about 6 weeks, but you should be able to do very light duties after the first week.

To sleep at night i would recommend propping up your pillows and take to a sitting up position in bed to go to sleep. I experienced that if i lay down i couldn't get up myself without help because it was too painful.

Why have a planned Cesarean?

This may be if you have had a cesarean previously and are concerned your scar might re-open in normal labour (rare), or there are seen to be health risks for you or the baby that have happened during your pregnancy, or it is felt that complications might occur if normal labour was to happen.

Concluding:

Alot of people may say that you have missed out not having a 'proper labour' but i wouldn't change anything. My first born i had an emergency Cesarean and with my 2nd i choose to have a Cesarean again instead of a normal birth for several reasons.

Ignore myths about not bonding with your baby if you don't have a natural birth. My boys are fine and healthy and we have a great bond.

I wish anyone reading this all the best in your birth. All the hassle and pain is worth it in the end.

GETTING INFORMATION: Where do you find yours?

Sometimes when i am looking for information in particular i will turn to resource sites like Article Alley.

What i like about these type of sites is that they are usually from people who have experienced that situation personally, and not just from a site that has got their information from a copied source.

You can usually get some great ideas and inspiration for your own site. Plus you can share your own information to help other people too if you like.

The Internet is full of information that carry it's own advantages and disadvantages too. I'm sure you have typed in something your looking for and got several results on irrelevant topics?

I know i have done this a few times, and clicked on quite a few links before i got the information i wanted.

But then again you can find anything you want to. What we would do these days without the Internet i don't know!

These days you could do your homework in very little time using the resources available, whereas before we had this luxury it would be a case of asking someone or reading lots of books!

If your looking for something in particular, what information resource do you prefer to use?

I'M UP IN A TREE CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW

Suitable for ages 4-8 years old.

This book is great if you like to do more than just read a story to your child. There is clever rhyming used in the story, so you could easily put a tune to it yourself and tell the story as a song if you preferred.

It's about a little boy who gets stuck up a tree and doesn't know what to do. He needs his dad to help him but he's not around.

In the meantime he gets advice from different animals that live in the tree like a bee, bird and a cat as to how he can get down. But their ways are not right for him.

It's great for teaching children about making the right decisions, and how they rely on their parents in times of need.

Your child can join in the storytelling too when there is repeated reference points in the book when the boy says 'This plan of yours i think it's bad, i'll just sit here and wait for my dad'.

As well as the story the pages have a nice glossy feel and a hardback cover which i think makes it a more enjoyable reading experience.

You can find out more about the book and purchase from there using this link here

To note: This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are 100% mine.

BENEFITS OF CREATING YOUR OWN POSTCARD

When i have travelled away from home in the past i love to send colour postcards back home to family and friends, even if i'm away for just a week.

But if it's for work purposes i can be on the move quite alot, and haven't really got time to be looking for the nearest tourist shop for postcards.

So i considered the idea of creating my own postcards online, and keeping them on me. This way i don't need to go searching around and i could send out as many as i wanted to easily.

Being a picky person i realized that i could just make the postcards to me own taste and not have to stand around browsing which design i liked the best if i bought one from a shop. Plus i think this makes it a little bit more personal.

Yes i know it might be easier to just pick up the phone, but when i'm looking to stay in touch with about ten or more different people it's not always practical.

When i do get some time to myself i like to write out a postcard for ten minutes instead of being on the phone for hours.

How about yourself? Would you ever consider creating your own postcards?

GOLD COIN INVESTMENT ON THE RISE

Gold is becoming more and more popular these days, especially with the euro gaining against the U.S.A dollar.

So because of this the prospect to buy gold coins demand is becoming greater in terms as an investment, and is on the rise.

The good thing about using gold as something to invest in is you have always got that security with it. Plus with the dollar becoming weaker so this can only make gold buying even stronger, and keep investors interested in continuing with their purchases.

You can find out more from a trusted gold authority called The United States Gold Bureau, and start creating a legacy of wealth today.

O ARR I BE A PIRATE !

It was dressing up day at school and Evan wanted to go as a pirate. He looked so cute in his costume and it only cost me the price you would pay for a drive through meal! - bargain!

All pirates had a curly moustache and beard right? We drew one on for him but he didn't like it.

I managed to take a picture of him quickly before we rubbed it off. He was quite emotional as you can see, he wouldn't smile and insistent he didn't want it. That's kids for you - easily upset!

But he ended up having a lovely day with his friends.

FUNNY SLEEPING MOMENT

My kids always make me laugh and even when they are sleeping!

My youngest slept with his hand on his face and when i went to roll him over he had a mark and his forehead and cheek.

It was horrible to look at like he had been burnt.

Have you ever had any funny sleeping marks when you wake up in the morning!?