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Jen, Im glad that you too had a good C story.

My C was easy...Tylenol type pain nothing drastic and I was up and walking around shortly after the surgery. If I can't go Vbac (which I just checked with insurance and it isn't looking promising) then I will be fine having another C....As long as they cut me the same way<wink> who wants an upside down "T"? lol

Hi! I had a c-section on May 9th, 2005. If you have the option, get a spinal block, that is what I had and it was not painful at all! I didnt feel a thing, and actually fell asleep while they were stitching me up. I was given pitocin earlier that day, and it was HORRIBLE!!! I was never taken to a recovery room, just back to my room where all of my friends and family were, the baby was also taken to the room with me where they did her first bath, her foot/hand prints, her first shot, etc. I was sitting up about 30 mins after my surgery, well not actually sitting up on my own, but I was sitting up on the hospital bed (ya know it how it sits up but you are actually still in bed). I was very very tired, only because the medicine they gave me made my face itch really really bad, so they gave me benadryl to counter act that. I was up walking the halls the next day. The thing that will help you recover fast, is #1. Make yourself go to the bathroom (bowel movements) hold a pillow over your incision and make yourself do it, the first one is always the most painful, but once its over you will feel much better. #2. Cough, again hold a pillow over your belly and cough, it might hurt a little but I had a slight case of bronchitis when I went to the hospital, so I was coughing anyway, but they said this actually help the muscles in my belly (by the way, I dont believe they cut through muscle) #3. Breastfeed, or atleast be the one who bottle feeds your baby the first few days, holding my baby made my muscles in my belly sore but it also helped too, Pillows will be your best friend for a couple of days. If you have any other questions just ask away, I was fully recovered in like 2 weeks, but up and about in like 2 days. It has been 4 weeks monday and I am going back to work Tuesday. Good luck, and just remember, Its all worth it in the end!

I agree that c-sections can be life-saving and many people don't have complications. However, I am on of the people who had LOTS of complications. Right before my son turned one month old, I ended up back in the hospital for three days. My temperature had skyrocketed to 105.7° F and I was throwing up, had a horrible headache, and couldn't turn my head. I had gotten an asymptomatic bladder infection, which had spread to my kidneys, then into my bloodstream, causing my potassium to deplete. I also had a staph infection. I never had any symptoms until my fever went up. My doctor told me if I had waited a few more hours, my kidneys would have shut down. He also said that my potassium levels alone were enough to put me in the hospital. Low potassium can make your heart stop, give you headaches, and make it difficult to move. So, I was on the verge of my kidneys shutting down and having a heart attack at only 19 years old. I know my c-section saved my son's life, but I almost lost my life when he was only one month old. The doctors and nurses that performed my c-section did not check me for a bladder infection before I left and while I was in surgery, they nicked my colon. I do not plan on a repeat section. As long as my baby is okay, I will do everything in my power to make sure I have a VBAC. I just think that EVERY SINGLE pregnant woman needs to read about c-sections, and make sure that she knows the risks involved. No one told me about all the risks before I had mine, and I am terrified of being cut again, because of my past experience.

I don't mean to sound like my son wasn't worth the pain. He very much is. I just think that every woman needs to know all of the risks before she gets cut. And be sure that the staff is notified before your section if you have allergies. I'm allergic to Iodine, it was in my chart and I had an allergy bracelet on, but they still put it all over me. Then my husband realized what they were doing and started yelling. So they had to clean me up and start all over again. Like I said, every woman needs to know the risks. Look at the International Cesarean Awareness Network webpage. www.ican-online.org for more information.

Jill, I am sorry you had such a horrible c-section experience, I hope that everything goes ok with your VBAC. I just got back from the doctors and she said that I probably wouldn't want to attempt it because of last time-which is fine with me!!!!