**cross post to AIPregnancy**
Firstly I should probably apologise for not updating you before now -
it's been chaos around here! Secondly, this is probably going to be
quite long LOL As you know, this was a planned c-section since my
twins were born 9 years ago by emergency c-section it was felt it
would be best.
I got to the hospital at 6:30am and made my way to the delivery suite.
At the point when they had to put the canular in my arm, my hubby
disappeard - he doesn't do needles LOL. He got back shortly after
though! They started the drip to give me fluids to help prevent my
blood pressure going too low (I have low blood pressure to start with)
and then told me they were giving me the catheter. I refused it and
told them that it had been agreed that I would get this after my
spinal. She wasn't happy, but went along with it. We waited while it
went into me and they then started another litre. By this time I
really needed a wee and told them that it may be an idea to allow me
to go to the toilet before we headed down for the spinal. They refused
to allow it...
So, once the second litre was infused, I was wheeled to get my spinal.
I was by now desperate for a wee and again begged to be allowed to
go... Again they refused. My DH came to theatre with me, but was told
to stay outside for the spinal - i was like WTF!!!!! This was the part
I was terrified of and they were asking me to do it without
sup****t???? Anyway, there was very little I could do and to be fair,
they were very kind about it. Explaining that Dh's usually dont fair
too well watching it and it often causes more stress for the mother. I
was holding in my emotions but by the end of the spinal going in, tbh,
I was in tears. I'm not totally convinced for their reasoning about
not allowing DH's in at this point, but none the less, I survived and
had calmed down sufficiently by the time DH got into theatre kitted
out in his cute green gear! I did also manage to get my own back on
the woman who was to do my catheter.... *giggle* She was between my
legs to do it when the spinal kicked in... I had told her I needed
that wee... *evil grin*
So anyway. We were in the theatre and DH and I were just talking. I
got the shakes which I knew I would (that happened last time too) and
DH was stroking my hair. They took a lot of time prepping, so by the
time they started, I was beginning to wonder if she would be born that
day at all! LOL I felt some tugging and pulling (a bit like a wa****ng
machine - actually if I wanted to compare it to something others can
relate to... sit on your foot until it goes numb and then poke it...
you can feel some movement, but no pain at all) and the next thing I
knew I heard a cry and they were holding our little scrap up for us to
see - it was 8:57am. I got all tiery at this point as did my DH. They
took her away to do apgars (6, 9, 9) and to also give her a little
oxygen and invited DH to go and take some pics of her. He came back
shortly after and kept repeating "Thank you so much" he was in total
awe of it all. A little while later they brought her back and placed
her in my arms while they continued to sew me up.
I was wheeled back to recovery where they weighed and measured her etc
and then allowed me to breastfeed. They tipped me on to both my sides
to allow me to do this easily. It didn't take long for the spinal to
start wearing off and I asked for some pain relief. I was given a
paracetamol (advil or is it tylanol? hmm it's the one allowed during
pregnancy!) infusion. I was then wheeled to the ward. By now it was
about 11:30am.
At 1:30pm, I had full feeling back in my legs and begged to be allowed
to get up and walk. Previous experience with both an apendectomy and c-
section have taught me that for a fast recovery, movement is
essential. They refused and told me that I should wait a while longer.
The gas in my stomach was getting worse and I knew that the only way
I'd get relief was to get up and moving. They however offered me
tablets to help. As I took them, I was told I should have chewed
them... LOL oh well! Every 30 mins I was calling a nurse asking if I
could get up yet! By 3pm i think they finally gave up on me and
agreed. I got up and walked from my bed to the window (about 10 paces)
and back again. Later on, since I had shown I was able to walk, they
removed the catheter and I walked to the bathroom to pee. My pain was
managed with Paracetamol every 6 hours and that was all - but I
survived!
We had a family room which allowed my DH to stay in the hospital with
me. He was AMAZING! Maya was feeding every hour the first night and he
was up, sorting her nappy (diaper) and pacing the room with her every
time and only handing her to me when we were both sure she needed a
feed. He is a total natural and I have fallen even deeper in love with
him
I felt like I'd been hit by a truck initially, however by day two, I
felt great. Day three felt like a backwards step, but day 4 I was
ready to go home and felt almost back to normal. Getting up from
seated was always a little sore, but once up, I was walking around
like a pro! They let me out on day 4 since I could prove I was totally
mobile and had no issues at all :) Here in Germany that's unheard of -
they won't release you before day 5. I consider that a massive
achievement!
As for baby, we had a few early issues with her. She didn't pass her
first poo for nearly 48 hours. The doctors were talking about giving
her an enema. Funnily though, they finally agreed that they needed to
do this, so they took her temp, and as they removed the thermometer
she started to go all on her own LOL. On day 3, her blood sugars
dropped to 26 where they should be over 40. They wanted to suppliment
her with formula but I put my foot down and refused. I agreed to allow
them to give her some glucose via a cup or syringe, and I said if they
wanted to see what she was getting food wise, I would happily express
some off and do it that way. However at NO POINT would I accept a
formula supliment. They agreed and thankfully, it recovered. She was
also a little jaundiced, but not enough to worry about.
I didn't think it would be possible to fall in love this quickly,
however I am so completely and totally in love it's unreal:D I've
posted some pics here
http://picasaweb.google.com/TigerBear1973/MayaElizabethVictoriaLarholm
So there you have it. What I would consider a second amazing c-section
experience My advice to anyone having one is first, tell them what
you want/need. Don't be afraid. And my number one bit of advice is get
up as soon as you can. As impossible as it may feel like it will be,
standing up straight and not being afraid is the key to a fast
recovery. By day 5 I felt GREAT!
Maya is now just over 3 weeks old and an amazing baby. She only cries
when she's hungry and I'm delighted to say I'm still sucessfully
breastfeeding her :D I'm loving every second of this... She is so
content and I'm feeling so much better about everything. This whole
experience has been very healing for me. I've been able to put right
all the regrets from my first pregnancy/babies. My twins adore her
too and can't get enough of her either!
Life is great!
Aly
Founder of Alt.Infertility.Parenting
Mother to IVF/ICSI twins Ryan Scott & Taryn Heather, Born 27 June 1999
& Maya Elizabeth Victoria, Born 2 June 2008
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