What to Expect & How to Prepare for Cesareans (C-Sections)?

Good Morning, Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take up to five minutes to read from start to finish. 

If you didn't know already, I had three cesareans (c-sections) within 38 months. I don't highly recommend any woman to experience that many cesareans within the same time frame that I did. All cesareans are different. 

What can I share with you from my experiences of having cesareans and how to prepare for cesareans?

Most doctors would strongly recommend for cesareans to be scheduled at 39 weeks to deliver for any  uncomplicated pregnancy/pregnancies. However if any complications (such as preeclampsia) during pregnancy/pregnancies or have history of past early births, most doctors would then strongly recommend for cesareans to be scheduled at 37 weeks to deliver. 

You can't predict one cesarean would be the same experience for the another cesarean. 

Some doctors would share a list of restrictions for what can't do after giving birth until time has reached to six weeks postpartum or until doctor has cleared and says "the incision looks great." 

Some hospitals require eight hours of fasting (no foods intake) before delivery. 

Some hospitals require fasting (no foods intake) from midnight.  

Hospitals requires two hours prior to the scheduled time for the cesarean to check in. 

All hospitals will have patients to read and fill out all the paperwork. If patients aren't able to physically fill it out, someone is always there to help and fill it out on behalf. The paperwork can take up to thirty minutes or longer. During that time; patients will be hooked up to IV (IV provides fluid, medicines and antibiotics), having blood pressure cuff around one upper arm to check blood pressure levels every fifteen minutes, oxygen on finger for monitoring blood oxygen levels, ensuring you are receiving enough oxygen, have compression placed on both legs to prevent blood clots and manage post delivery leg swelling that goes off every fifteen minutes. 

Some patients will have catheter inserted Everything that has been hooked up will be taken off by the twenty-four hours after giving birth. There's two choices of anesthesia (spinal block or epidural). 

OB doctor will be doing what they need to do for preparing everything to have ready for the C-section while waiting for the patient in the Operating Room during the preparations before getting wheeled to the Operating Room. 

After being all hooked up and ready to go, the patient gets wheeled into the Operating Room. The support person would not be with the patient until sometime after Anesthesiologist has inserted the chosen anesthesia into the patient's back and C-section has commenced. 

After some cesareans; patients do experience some pain from sneezing and coughing afterwards. 

After some cesareans; patients do experience postpartum shaking due to hormone shifts.

After some cesareans; patients do experience some pain from giving birth.

After some cesareans; patients do experience trapped gas on shoulders. 

After some cesareans; patients do experience itchiness due to allergy reaction to the pain medication that was inserted through the anesthesia. After some cesareans; patients do experience postpartum shaking due to fluid loss. 

Depending on how many weeks when patients have delivered and condition of their baby/babies; baby/babies will go to the NICU for variety of reasons. Baby/babies can be born with low blood sugar levels when a Mum didn't have gestational diabetes during her pregnancy. Baby/babies can be born with breathing problems and needs CPAP machine to help them to breathe. 

C-SECTION

It is the only major surgery, where 7 layers are opened, and you 

are expected to be on your feet 6 hours later. Taking responsibility

for one more person; with ongoing contractions of the uterus, 

initiate breastfeeding and deal with visitors.

If you are a mother via cesarean, you are more powerful

than you think. Feel proud. 

How to prepare for cesareans? 

There isn't much to say of how to prepare for cesareans to be honest.

As time got closer to me reach third trimester of each pregnancy; I've decided to pack the hospital bags. I'll go into details for what I pack in the hospital bag for another post for a different day. 

I also have nappies/diapers (newborn sizes and size one) that's ready to be used in the bedroom including baby wipes, and also have newborn size clothes has been washed and folded in the drawers that's ready to be worn. 

About thirty-five weeks of my second pregnancy and third pregnancy; I've cooked huge portions of dinner meals and freeze them. It was such a lifesaver to consume those meals (after warming them up) after I've given birth to L and R. 

I also say a prayer that everything will go smoothly, and have a safe delivery. 

Jacob and I've made arrangements (ahead of time) with whom to watch over our children during my second cesarean and third cesarean. I've always began my fasting about eight hours prior to the scheduled time of my cesareans. 

I've always had a shower a day prior to the scheduled day of my cesareans. 

I've always had Jacob by my side as my support person for all cesareans.  

Work out a support system that would help out during recovery. 

Set boundaries for relatives, friends, and other visitors ahead of time and remind those people about the boundaries that has been set when the date comes closer (a day or several days prior to the day of the  cesareans). 

Set up birth plans with OB doctor. Not every birth plan will go according to plan. 

Don't have many high expectations, just focus on staying positive and staying calm leading up to the day of cesarean. Organize time off from work if employed. 

Stay Tuned.