I had every intention of pushing my baby out but when she was breach and wouldn’t turn for nothing, we were faced with the reality that a planned c-section is what was necessary. I had taken the classes on how to push and prepared my mind and body for just that. But, when we scheduled our c-section date, I was in a panic. I only had a week to prepare my mind for what was about to happen. I felt like I knew nothing about c-sections. Sure they went over it in the classes we took about birth, but I wasn’t really paying attention, because it wasn’t something I thought would be a possibility. I am the type of person that likes to know what to expect so I can prepare myself emotionally for what could come. I am sharing my experience with my planned c-section to help empower other families who also might find themselves in the same position we were.
Enjoy picking the date of your baby’s birthday. My husband and I were excited about this. Our daughter’s due date was on Christmas Eve. So for us picking the time before or after Christmas was a great option. It also took off that anxious feeling that “the baby could come any minute”. Knowing her birthday helped me keep the eyes on the prize near the end, especially on those days where I tired and emotional.
Buy the antiseptic soap. This soap is something your doctor will probably tell you about before your procedure. You can buy the soap at your local grocery store or any CVS or Walgreen’s. You must soap off 12 hours before your c-section. They might have you do it again once you check-in at the hospital too. This was a task I gave to my husband to help me with. When you are 40 weeks pregnant soaping yourself is quite hard!
Don’t shave. You might think that you need to shave down there, but it is better to have the nurses do it because they will shave what is required. Shaving before could lead to an infection, so its best to leave it to professionals. Also, again you are 40 weeks pregnant, shaving isn’t a thing at this stage in your pregnancy.
Prepare not to drink or eat 12 hours prior to delivery. You have to fast before surgery. Which can be hard to deal with being 40 weeks pregnant, I know the hunger and thirst can be real. You will most likely be given a liquid meal after surgery. But, trust me after you see your sweet little babe, food will the be last thing on your mind.
There will be a moment where you will be alone. The surgery team let me know beforehand, so I was prepared for this moment. But you will be alone with just before the delivery with just your surgery team. It seemed weird to say goodbye to my husband as I walked into the surgery room alone. They only allow one person there during a c-section, and they will be allowed to come into the room just as they start cutting.
You will be butt naked for a little bit. It might seem a bit weird, but you will be completely naked on the surgery table while the team preps the room and your body. They will eventually cover you up and only expose where they make the incisions to delivery your baby. It is just your naked self and a few people in the room!
You will get a spinal-tap I was worried that this would be painful, but the anesthesiologist told me it would feel like a bee sting, and that is exactly what it felt like. Once you get it, you won’t be able to feel anything from the waist down. During the delivery, you don’t feel anything that is happening. It is completely pain-free. You won’t feel the bottom off of your body for a few hours after. I remember how weird it was when the nurse asked me to move my leg and I couldn’t. It will all wear off and then some pain might set in.
You will get a catheter. After the anesthesia kicks in, they will then put in the catheter. It doesn’t hurt at all, and you will have this little bag with you for at least another 12 hours. It is a bit humbling seeing a nurse empty your catheter bag, but eventually, it will be taken out.
The whole procedure will take around 30 minutes. However, the delivery of the baby will only take a few minutes. The doctor started the c-section at 12:00pm and Harper was delivered into the world at 12:04pm. So have your birth partner have the camera ready! The rest of the time is getting everything back together. We didn’t realize that it would only take a few minutes to meet her, but it made the rest of procedure go by fast because we weren’t even paying attention and awestruck by our little girl.
Your body will feel rocked. The nurses will have you get up walking around within the first 12 hours after delivery. Okay sis, I am going to be 100% honest, this part sucked A LOT. The first time you walk is brutal. Just give yourself grace and know it won’t always be this painful. Luckily, they offer you lots of pain medication to help and even send you home with prescriptions too.
You will feel a bit out of it. During the delivery and first few hours after birth, you will be a little loopy. Eventually, the anesthesia will wear off. But don’t get scared or nervous about how you might react to the anesthesia, try to stay calm and focus your attention on your baby. I didn’t let the fact that I felt out of it deter my emotions from the biggest moment of my life.
Going number 2 won’t be fun. Yup, I said. It took me a whole week to have my first bowel movement since my daughter’s delivery. Your doctor will tell you to take a stole softener, DO IT. I also recommend taking in a pillow with you to the bathroom and bracing/laying on it while doing your business. Just know it is going to not be fun for a while in this department.
You will feel helpless. Emotionally this part sucks a lot too. You won’t be able to easily move for a bit. We had my husband on diaper duty for the first month or so because getting out of bed and bending over in that diaper changing position was painful. It can be hard to process that you aren’t able to do 100% everything to care for your baby, but that is okay!!!
I want to remind you that just because your baby was delivered by c-section doesn’t take away how special it is that your baby was born. I will forever remember the birth of my daughter. I was lucky and the team of doctors and nurses were amazing and made me feel very comfortable. Everything else slips away once you hear your baby cry and you get to hold them for the first time. All that I went through, even after delivery was all worth it, and I have a scar to prove it!
Please remember that I am no doctor, this is just some information about what I experienced during our planned c-section delivery. If you have any questions about c-sections, I encourage you to ask your doctor too.
