My 3 Cesareans (C-Sections) Brief Experiences

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take about five minutes to read from start to finish. All cesareans (C-sections) are so different. I had three cesareans (c-sections) within 38 months. From my experience of each cesarean (c-section) was so different. 

Birth to E: I'll show more into details on a different post for another day. 

I wasn't expecting to have emergency cesarean (c-section) as my first delivery to give birth. I’ve given birth to my oldest child (E) via Emergency cesarean (c-section). From my experience with my first delivery was via emergency cesarean (c-section), I’ve learned everything happens so fast and in a rush to save my life and E’s life. I don’t remember the conversations that the doctors and my OB has said on that day. 

All I remember was my body was shaking, I’ve chosen to have the spinal block, Jacob has held my hand, Jacob has comforted me with the words that he has said - I don’t remember what he has said, the anesthesiologist wasn’t able to insert the spinal block in the correct spot due to me shaking, and it took about three times or more for finally the spinal block was inserted in the right spot. I also felt super scared and I was afraid of losing E. 

I wasn’t 100% prepared to give birth to E super early. 

After I’ve given birth to E; every time that I’ve sneezed and cough, the incision hurts so badly and thankfully that phrase was temporary. I felt so much pain and thankfully that pain was temporary. 

Thankfully my other two cesareans wasn’t emergency cesarean (c-section) but I did learn different things from those cesareans (c-sections) despite of me still feeling scared as time approached close to the date when I’ve been scheduled to delivery my other two children. 

L was born at 37 Weeks and 2 Days gestational age but my OB thinks that she was actually born at 36 Weeks and 2 Days gestational age because she was constantly been measured one week behind at each ultrasound appointment during my pregnancy with her. On the day that I’ve given birth to L, my OB didn’t arrive to the hospital in time for when I was scheduled for the cesarean (c-section) which made me think that he has forgotten about me. When he finally have arrived at the hospital, he thought I wasn’t suppose to deliver L until another several weeks from that day.

Anesthesiologist took several attempts to insert the spinal block. I was scared and felt nervous again. The experience of my delivery with L, the cesarean (c-section) went super quickly and felt like another emergency cesarean (c-section). I remember my OB was telling me this "Baby will be out in ten minutes" in Operating Room and L was born approximately two minutes after he has said that. 

After I’ve given birth to L; I felt so much pain but I was able to experience skin to skin contact, I was able to experience having L to latch onto me for attempting of breastfeeding and little other moments that I was able to do that I've missed out on the opportunity of doing with E after I've given birth to E. However L had low blood sugar levels when she was born and I didn't have gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with her. The nurses in the hospital did treat L if she was born prematurely, pushing me to formula feed L because according to them say that she was losing too much weight (which that information wasn't true) and they wanted to do car seat ride for L. 

I felt super itchy everywhere on my body. It felt like mosquitoes bites all over my body. It must be allergic reaction to the pain medicine through my spinal block. I didn't approve of any pain medicine through my spinal block. I felt uncomfortable. That itchiness has lasted for the first twenty-four hours after I've given birth to L and finally went away after I had my first shower from giving birth to L. 

R was born at 37 Weeks and 1 Day gestational age. On the day that I've given birth to R, everything seem to go very smoothly until ... My OB has arrived at the hospital a little early. 

The anesthesiologist has made one attempt to insert the spinal block. I remember my OB was telling me "Oh he's mad, he's peeing on you, he's definitely mad." I try not to laugh how funny that statement was as soon as R was born. I was able to do skin to skin contact. I didn't experience any pain (the same described pain that I've experienced after I've given birth to E and L) until I was about to hop into the car after I was discharged from the hospital.

However I did experience shoulder pains for the first six hours postpartum. I was shaking, my shoulders had trapped gas and it was very uncomfortable. I wasn't able to urinate (I know too much information) for the first six hours. I was feeling cold constantly which has lasted for about either six hours or overnight. 

Stay Tuned.

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. 

Trial of Your Faith - Part Two

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

This post focuses on highlights from a General Conference talk found in October 2012 and it’s called “Trial of Your Faith” by Elder Neil L. Andersen. This post is part two. 

Elder Anderson mentions;

"Some of the information about the Church, no matter how convincing, is just not true. 

... True principles are taught frequently and by many. Our doctrine is not difficult to find. The leaders of the Church are honest but imperfect men. Remember the words of Moroni: “Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father … ; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been.”

Joseph Smith said, “I never told you I was perfect; but there is no error in the revelations.” The miracle of God’s hand in the history and destiny of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is understood only through the lens of spiritual inquiry. President Ezra Taft Benson said, “Every [person] eventually is backed up to the wall of faith, and there … must make his stand.” Don’t be surprised when it happens to you!

By definition, trials will be trying. There may be anguish, confusion, sleepless nights, and pillows wet with tears. But our trials need not be spiritually fatal. They need not take us from our covenants or from the household of God.

"No trial is so LARGE we can't overcome
it together." - Elder Neil L. Anderson.

“Remember, … it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”

Like the intense fire that transforms iron into steel, as we remain faithful during the fiery trial of our faith, we are spiritually refined and strengthened.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson explained what he learned from a personal trial: “Though I suffered then, as I look back now, I am grateful that there was not a quick solution to my problem. The fact that I was forced to turn to God for help almost daily over an extended period of years taught me truly how to pray and get answers to prayer and taught me in a very practical way to have faith in God. 

I came to know my Savior and my Heavenly Father in a way and to a degree that might not have happened otherwise or that might have taken me much longer to achieve. … I learned to trust in the Lord with all my heart. I learned to walk with Him day by day.”

Peter described these experiences as “much more precious than … gold.” Moroni added that a witness follows “the trial of your faith.” ... With faith come trials of faith, bringing increased faith. The Lord’s comforting assurance to the Prophet Joseph Smith is the very same promise He makes to you in your trial of faith: “Hold on … , fear not … , for God shall be with you forever and ever.” 

Here's the link to the General Conference talk. 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2012/10/trial-of-your-faith

Stay Tuned.