Episode Transcript
Speaker 1 00:00:09 Hello, and welcome to the wonder Baba podcast. My name is Sheena Mitchell. I'm a pharmacist in mom of three. I'm here to chat all about child and family health. I combine healthcare and practical advice to help you on your parenting journey. I really hope you enjoy the show. In this episode, we'll be chatting all about why or when you might have a C-section, we'll be discussing how to prepare and more importantly, to recover from a C-section. I'll be given some tips on what's useful to pack in your host little bag and also talking about recovery at home. We'll also be chatting today about breastfeeding and exercise post C-section. I really can't wait to get started, but first I'm excited to introduce you to my sponsor. This podcast is proudly sponsored by Medicare fem Ireland's newest and most innovative ovulation tracking solution. The Medicare fem sense smart temperature patch is comfortable and discreet and is worn under your arm during your fertile window to measure and confirm ovulation women have reported a 93% success rate in detecting ovulation with over 10,000 pregnancies already recorded coming soon in a pharmacy near you visit Fleming medical.ie/sense for more details.
Speaker 1 00:01:34 We all know that a C-section requires major abdominal surgery. Obviously the goal makes this surgery worthwhile. All we really want at the end of any sort of delivery is a happy healthy baby and the same for mum, but sometimes finding out that you have to have a C-section either at the time, um, of labor, where it would be considered an emergency C-section or in the weeks advancing, uh, the labor, in which case it's called an elective. C-section. Now I have to say, I take argument myself with the word elective, because there's a lot of moms out there who've had elective C-sections who certainly did not want them. It wouldn't have been their primary choice for delivery. So they would've preferred to try a natural delivery. And I certainly fall into that category. So I suppose understanding why sections are needed is really important. So I'll start off by just explaining that an emergency seat section generally happens when the doctors have concern over mum's safety or the baby safety.
Speaker 1 00:02:46 This kind of happens during labor, usually for reasons like the labor failing to develop or any other such dangerous condition. Um, it can also happen from complications before laborers such as severe bleeding or preeclampsia that, you know, a delay just can't be waited first. So the C-section needs to proceed straight away in the case of an elective. C-section generally, that is a very different process with an emergency section. There's a lot of stress involved. You know, the family involved, haven't had time to kind of process their thoughts and consider what's involved and it can be extremely stressful. It can happen, I suppose, at any time of day, it can happen after a full day of labor where, you know, you thought things were going okay. And then for whatever reason, you're advised that you're gonna need a C-section that certainly brings a bigger element of trauma to the situation.
Speaker 1 00:03:47 And I do feel huge empathy for any mom who've been in that situation because, you know, obviously at that stage, you're tired, you're exhausted and you're upset. Obviously it's important for are parents out there or mums out there who are pregnant now to think about that, you know, that can happen regardless of intention and it's no one's choice, it's just nature. And, you know, at the end of the day, we're lucky to be able to respond medical to a medical emergency. So I think keeping an open mind about your birthing plan is really, really, really helpful, even if all seems well. And it looks like you're gonna have a natural delivery that you wanted. I just think you should have the priorities in your mind that no matter how the bay arrives so long as they arrive, healthly, that's the ultimate goal. And yes, of course, you're entitled to be disappointed afterwards that you didn't get to have a natural delivery.
Speaker 1 00:04:52 And that is definitely upsetting in either emergency or elective situations, but for emergency situations. I think if you haven't thought about it pre labor, then you know, you can be under prepared and it can come as more of a shock and more of an upset. So certainly just keeping an open mind and having your goal for pregnancy to result in a healthy baby is really, you know, all, all that focus needs to be on elective sections. So <laugh>, as I said, I really hate that word because I had three elective sections. If you could see me now, I'm doing that really annoying aver com thing, but elective sections happen, uh, due to issues really with the, and see these can vary. So it can be because a mom has an infection or medical conditions such as heart disease, which would mean that the labor would be dangerous for it can also be due to breach babies.
Speaker 1 00:05:55 So my first baby, I actually, I just laugh thinking back now because I found out at 37 weeks that my eldest daughter had just flipped into a breach position. And I mean, up until that point C-section was absolutely not on my radar at all. And I was really shocked even though, you know, I had two weeks to prepare for my section. So I had time to process it, but there was every chance that the baby might turn and my natural delivery would still be possible. And anyone who knows me knows that I'm a fairly stubborn person. So I went on to a side calls, spinning babies.com, which I'm sure works for lots of parents and lots of moms, but it basically didn't work for me, unfortunately, but ended up my husband coming home from work one day, finding me lying pretty much upside down on an ironing board that was leaning off the couch in the hope that that was gonna help me turn my baby anyway, no matter what my plans were, I suddenly realized that parenthood was never going to go to plan and that all standards or preconceived ideas were best chucked out the window.
Speaker 1 00:07:14 Uh, so that was probably the first real experience motherhood I had. And probably I should have taken that as warning for what was to come. Other reasons that an elected C-section can be necessary, include the position of the placenta. So if the placenta is basically covering the cervix, it's not gonna be possible to have, um, a natural delivery. And, you know, it's really important that moms realize that all of these factors are something that you have absolutely no control over, over, and having an elective section does not equate failure in any way, shape or form. Another reason in that you may need an elective C-section is if you have had previous C-sections. So there's a term which may be familiar to some of you called feedback. And it is basically when you attempt a vaginal birth after a cesarean section. So V B a C, it is, is something that can be discussed with your consultant or midwife led team, but it is something that has risks attached to it.
Speaker 1 00:08:33 Again, it doesn't always work out, but of course it's worth trying. I tried it with my second daughter and unfortunately she went 12 days overdue, which isn't a surprise to me now that I know the child <laugh>, she's late for everything. So ultimately because of the risks associated with carrying a pregnancy on beyond 12 days overdue, I had to go in for another elective C-section on my third child because I had two previous C-sections. I was advised that it was best not to attempt natural delivery. And that's based on the best, my ethical advice that there is out there, you will come across debate online about this, whether or not you can have a natural delivery after two sections, but it's something that your consultant would need to agree with. And I'm not sure that many of them are enthusiastic in Ireland due to the risks is so, um, with it, for the mum.
Speaker 1 00:09:39 So in any case, having a C-section being told, you're going to have a C-section whether emergency or elective can be a big shock. Personally, I was a bit devastated, but when you are explained, I suppose, the health statistics, so the positive outcome likelihood for your baby, it pretty quickly changes your mind. And the main thing is just to remember that ultimately, no one really asked you how your baby got here. No one cares you might care, but you won't care as soon as you're holding your gorgeous baby in your arms. So it's worth always remembering that and keeping that in the back of your mind when you're considering a birthing plan. Okay? So now we know why you're having a C-section. So it's time to considered then a few thoughts for the time before you're having a C-section, if it's elective. And one thing that Springs to mind, people are always tempted to tidy up their bikini area before a C-section it's important to make sure that you don't shave in the kind of 24 hours previous to a C-section.
Speaker 1 00:11:04 Some medics will even recommend up to a week that's because it, you can increase the risk of infection. So just something silly and something small, but something very practical that you should mentioned to your, um, midwife or consultant before taking any drastic action. Another useful thing to think about if you're going in for a C-section is those awful giant green maternity pads, you can get them in pharmacies. They look horrendous, but they are, are fabulous. Not only for dealing with the vaginal bleeding that you have, which is like a very heavy period after you have a baby. So C-section moms, um, don't escape that bleeding I'm afraid. So obviously they're useful for the first couple of days after a C-section instead of a normal sanitary towel, but they can also be useful to help protect your wound. So it sounds a bit random, but using one of those pads and tucking them down inside your underwear can stop your leggings or pajamas or whatever it is, rubbing off your wound and can give a little bit of a cushion.
Speaker 1 00:12:19 And this can actually be very useful even after you've gone home. If you have other children at home that are jumping and lipping all over you, you know, you get a bit kind of protective of your wound, but obviously you don't want to deter your or other children from coming for hugs. So sometimes it's just a nice peace of mind to have one of those pads there just as an extra layer of protection. Speaking of clothing, another good thing to put in the hospital bag are loose leggings or maternity yoga pants are fantastic as they go right up over the bump, which means they're going right up over the sky are, yeah, that's really important. And that's one difference between a vaginal birth and a C-section birth. It's just important to think about your wound post delivery and the practical aspects of dressing it comfortably.
Speaker 1 00:13:09 The other thing which is quite useful is a simple share or gel. Quite literally, you can use the simple brand sensitive shower gel, um, for your showers after your C-section. So it's good because it doesn't have any fragrance or anything that might irritate your wound. So you're not gonna use shower gel directly on your wound, but if it does happen to of go that direction, then it's completely, okay. Breastfeeding pillows are also extremely useful because you can lay your baby on them. And that way they're not leaning on your scar. So it's just another handy way to reduce some discomfort. You can obviously use normal pillows, but sometimes the breastfeeding one are just a really nice smoke fit and more comforty to use. The last thing about preparation for C-section to think about really is that first of all, as I mentioned, the Laia, so you, you will have regular vaginal bleeding after having your baby.
Speaker 1 00:14:14 So just to bear that in mind, I also think it's good to know that you're gonna have a catheter in for the first several hours post section. So after you, you know, finish in the theater, you'll be brought to a recovery room. A lot of hospitals now allow your baby to be with you in the recovery room, which is great for skin to skin. And, you know, it's never too early to start breastfeeding in my own experience for my first baby. I wasn't allowed to bring my baby into the recovery room. And for my second and third, I actually didn't want to, because post section, obviously you're waiting on movement in your limbs and you know, your toes, et cetera, coming back. So you're completely I mobile. And I actually think it's a nice little 40 minutes hour, maybe hour and a half, where your husband can do skin to skin with your baby and have some bonding time you're kind of, you know, wiped from the drugs.
Speaker 1 00:15:15 So it's nice to have that little layer of just, you know, recovery before you go back up and have endless amounts of time with your baby. I do appreciate that some women won't want to be separated at all, but for me, I thought it was a nice opportunity for my husband. And also for me <laugh> if I'm quite honest, because I felt quite groggy after the medication, the catheter is basically inserted during the section. My husband always laughs cuz after my first baby, I was still a little bit, well, I'm gonna say off my head on drugs. And I said, wow, isn't it amazing. I had a baby in the like, no one had to see my vagina, like oh, of all my dignity is intact. And he was like, how do you think they got the catheter in? And I was like, oh yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 00:16:11 So no dignity is always left at the door of maternity hospital. But anyway, I'm an idiot. We've established that <laugh> but yeah, the catheter you think sounds horrible is actually just amazing because you don't need to get up to go to the toilet at all. You don't feel the urge to go to the toilet. And to be quite honest, I was always a bit dated when they took it out the next, that night or the next morning speaking about the next day. Um, you'll find that the nurses are quite eager to get you outta bed and this can be just, you know, if you've had a morning section, it can be later in that day. Or if you had a late section, it could be the next morning and you can feel completely unprepared to stand up. You've lost your confidence. You are nervous of your wound, all of these feelings and you might be looking at the nurse like she's lost her mind.
Speaker 1 00:17:05 How could she possibly want you to stand up and go for a shower? But actually it's really, really important to do that because mobile and getting up and about actually really aids your recovery and you feel so much better. Obviously there, you know, there are things you can do to help yourself stand up initially. And the midwives and nurses will help you with that. But basically by lying on your side and using your hands to push yourself off, rather than using your abdominal muscles can get you into a sitting position so that you can, you can stand kind of gently and slowly from that point, I'd use that same tip for the following kind of week or two post section. Um, just rely on your arms a bit more, always just rolling onto your side and pushing yourself up with your arms to get outta bed, rather than trying to just strain your abdominal muscles because they can be quite tender.
Speaker 1 00:18:04 And it just makes the whole thing a lot easier. As I said earlier, the medications used during the C-section can make you feel a little bit unwell. A lot of people don't suffer any side effects. And actually I found on my three sec C-sections I reacted differently to each one, but some of the side effects can include kind of drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, itchiness, and a bit of confusion. And these are all normal. So don't be alarmed if, if you're suffering from any of those side effects, it's all regular and it's just the medications and they do wear off pretty quickly, but obviously ask the midwife for, for help if you're concerned about any of those symptoms. The other thing to talk about, which is related to the medications that are used during your, uh, spinal anesthetic are the medications that you'll be prescribed for the few days after your C-section.
Speaker 1 00:19:02 So when you're in the hospital, you'll get slightly stronger medication. And when you're discharged, you'll be given Percy to my, or paracetamol with codeine and some ibuprofen, depending on your preexisting conditions and your suitability to those medications. And I would recommend taking them regularly for the first few days. There's no point in being a martyr, a mother who's not in pain is probably a happier mother and one who is more fish to mind their baby. And you kind of have to find that balance and don't feel bad for needing the pain relief and for, you know, asking for it in the hospital because sometimes, you know, it might be offered because everyone has different pain thresholds. So if you are very sore, it's important to highlight that and make sure that, you know, your, your pain is being resolved in relation to breastfeeding post C-section.
Speaker 1 00:20:04 I know a lot of people think that it might be more of a struggle or that it's impossible and that could not be further from the true, so breastfeeding can absolutely be done just because your baby was born by C-section does not mean that your body hasn't prepared by going through the labor process. As soon as your baby is welcomed into this world, your body starts preparing to feed it in the initial few days, you will produce use what's known as colostrum, um, also known as liquid gold. So before your full milk comes in, the colostrum is absolutely enough to feed your baby. It's, it's absolutely full of nutrients. So it does take that few days for your milk to come in, but just keep offering the baby, you know, a feed anytime that they are looking for it. Um, there's no such thing as too much breastfeeding in those early days, your baby is looking for it and that's gonna stimulate your supply and can really help to regulate supply as, as the weeks go on.
Speaker 1 00:21:10 So obviously feeding to demand is really important in those early days. There's a conversation to be had about the use of soother, um, and their impact on breastfeeding. But that's one for another day. If you feel any way, you know, a lack of confidence in breastfeeding post section, or if you feel like your milk isn't coming in, or if you feel like you're really struggling reach out while you're in the hospital, because they have lactation consultants in there who can hopefully give you a visit. Lactation consultants are absolutely amazing. They are absolutely of savers and thank God for them. They can resolve, you know, what feels like a huge breastfeeding issue by making a simple adjustment to either holding position or the baby's latch or anything like that. And it's really good when you have a C-section because you're in there for a few days and you you've got a bigger opportunity to meet with the hospital lactation consultant.
Speaker 1 00:22:12 So it's something I'd be asking for from day one, if you can. Um, because obviously it gets more tricky to see one when you leave the hospital in terms of feeding positions, obviously I've mentioned pillows, I'm quite emphatic about pillows after a C-section, but a breastfeeding pillow is fantastic just to get your baby into a nice cradle hold is comfortable after a C-section, but there's certainly loads of positions that you can try and find that are comfortable for you and the baby. But as I said, the babies are so, so light when they're born. Oh my goodness. My children are so big now, but anyway, babies are so, so tiny, um, and light that they're not gonna hurt your wound by, you know, laying on you feeding. So it C-section certainly is not a reason not to feed and reaching out and getting the support that you need to make that happen is really, really important.
Speaker 1 00:23:08 Okay. So I'm gonna gonna move on to a few tips for when you get home after your C-section. So I'd recommend bringing a small, very small cushion in the car. If someone's coming to collect you so that you, cause obviously you can't drive after a C-section. So you need to have a little cushion or just something, even a little blankets under the seatbelt, just, you know, over your wound so that the seatbelt doesn't hurt on the way home. Very important to, to reiterate that you can't drive after a C-section. And if you feel well enough to after, you know, a couple of weeks by all means ring your insurance company and see if they're okay with it. But it is something to, to bear in mind. Also, it's important not to do any heavy lifting, you can lift your baby and not really anything heavier than that.
Speaker 1 00:24:02 And that's kind of a good rule of thumb. So it's a good opportunity to get people, you know, doing some of the heavy lifting around you and doing some hard work. I feel like a soft pin might be just heavier than a baby, but you know, <laugh> who might to decide, I'll let you have that debate at home, depending on what, what help is available, but everything is manageable. Even if you have toddlers at home who are struggling to understand that you have a sore tummy and that you can't pick them up, I would say, I can completely empathize with them before you went in, you know, you were able to lift them and hug them. And while you had a bump, you certainly weren't saying our every time they were approaching you. So the best way to do it, it to stay really positive, not to let them know too much, but just to say, if a sore tummy it'll get better really soon, but if you wouldn't mind for a few weeks, I can give you a hug this way.
Speaker 1 00:24:57 So I would recommend sitting down in an arm chair, it's really useful to have a comfy arm chair at home, if you can, for after your section, because the <affirmative> arm rest can help getting out of the chair and make just that few days a little bit easier. So I'd recommend doing that and popping one leg down into a straight position and encouraging your toddler to slide up your leg. So you can pull them a little bit, but you're kind of able to lift them up with your leg rather than, you know, bed over and picking them up. So you scooch them up your leg and then they can sit on you and you can obviously position cushions so that your wound is protected. I find that really, really, really helpful during, you know, that time when I brought my baby's home first, the second thing is even in terms of a chair, obviously having a good chair that helps with breastfeeding is good.
Speaker 1 00:25:46 I also recommend if you have older children to stick loads of sticker books and snacks and all kinds of things down the sides of the chair, so that when you're stuck in the chair feeding, you still have ways to distract your toddler. Who's not gonna be impressed that you're stuck to the chair for 45 minutes. So, you know, being prepared is definitely the answer in terms of moving about, do try and go for small walks. As soon as you feel up to it, small walks often really help. And while at the start, you can be extremely nervous about it. It's important to keep moving and that's really gonna help your wound to heal in terms of wound care and seeing your wound thing you ruined for the first time can be an emotional moment because you know, you've, you've got a scar and it's tender and it's sore and your body looks extremely different to what it was previous to pregnancy.
Speaker 1 00:26:43 So I'd recommend taking your time for that moment. So I would recommend standing in front of a long mirror, cuz not joking. Like you can't see your wound when you're looking down, when you've just had a C-section, it can be very hard. The area's still a little swollen. So standing in front of a mirror and just try and, you know, look at it in a positive way. C-section wounds look much bigger, straight after a C-section than they actually end up. They kind of shrink and you know, kind of disappear. They change in color from a very dark purplely color to see through almost gone and just a very, a very faint line and they've become quite neat and because the position of them, you know, they're kind of lower than your bikini would be sitting. So really, you know, it's not something that you're gonna have to wear like a war wound.
Speaker 1 00:27:37 So try and think positive thoughts about it. For me, I was always, you know, if I, if I caught glance, but in the mirror, I would think, well, wow, that's actually how my baby was delivered healthily. And I'm grateful for my wound because if I didn't have that wound, I don't know how, you know, my initial breach baby would've survived delivery delivery. So it's really a lot of it is to do with how you explain it to yourself and how you look at your wound, but really, and truly the wound is not something that remains an issue for very long afterwards in terms of wound care. Obviously your midwives will advise you on that when you're leaving the hospital, generally, you know, there's dissolvable stitches put, so they don't need to be removed the odd time, you know, a staple might be used and that might need to be removed after about seven days, but usually it's just dissolvable stitches.
Speaker 1 00:28:34 So it's just keeping an eye on them and they kind of just fade away into nothing. So you're just keeping an eye on the area, just rinsing it gently with water. When in the shower, just let the water run. And over your wound, looking around for little areas that might be weeping or red or very hot or swelling a little bit, those are things to flag to your GP. If, if you have any concerns about them, but really, and truly the surgeons are pretty good at what they do. And a lot of the times there's zero complication. Okay. So talking about exercising after a C-section, as I mentioned earlier, you really have to avoid doing any heavy lifting, especially for the first six weeks. So nothing heavier than the baby, and it's really worth minding yourself during that period of time, because has the last thing you want is to open your wound by doing too much?
Speaker 1 00:29:32 Whoa, sounds horrible. So just remember for the first six weeks you're doing very little, just kind of focus on things like your posture, which will help your tummy muscles to, to support your wound in terms of exercise, really, before you do anything high impact, even jogging it's best to wait about 12 weeks, sometimes even a little bit more it's worth getting your doctor to give you the thumbs up before doing it. And anything that you, you know, any kind of weightlifting or strenuous exercise or even jogging, just make sure to start slowly and small and build up from it. It takes you time to get used to it again. And it's no harm to have an instructor. If you're in a gym to check your techniques and just take it handy, it's definitely worth minding yourself, but even, you know, kind of looking up pelvic floor exercises and doing gentle walking is really good for your mental health after having a baby.
Speaker 1 00:30:33 And certainly getting out with the buggy. I used to find after a C-section was almost a comfort because I like the buggy to hold onto in the early days. It just gave me that little bit of extra physical security that I felt I needed until I got used to moving fully again. Okay. I'd just like to take the chance to answer a couple of questions that were asked through Instagram. So a few people have asked if the recovery is faster on a second or subsequent C-section and if it's easier and in general, I can say it is much easier, obviously it depends on your particular circumstances, but you have to remember that the second section, you know, how to move, you know, how to lift, you don't need to figure out kind of all of the simple things like how to get outta bed. And what's the most comfortable clothing to wear all these simple little things that, you know, take mental drain the first time, just come naturally the second time and you're much more forgiving of your body and you know what to expect.
Speaker 1 00:31:47 So I certainly found it a lot easier on second and third sections, understanding the process of going in for a section. If it's an elective, one is a comfort when you know, the night before, when you're thinking about it, obviously if it's an emergency section again, it's, it's back to that different type of trauma. Uh, so I suppose it depends on your personal situation. Another couple of people were asking about lumps around their scars, little bumps and things like that a few months on. So what I'd say is that in the very early weeks, you can expect a few lumps and bumps. As I said earlier, you just don't want them to be kind of weeping or very red or inflamed. I know I personally had a dissolvable stitch that didn't dissolve on one of my sections and it just need to be trimmed back by the GP.
Speaker 1 00:32:46 There's there's little things like that can happen, but they're quite rare. Sometimes if there's a little bump a few months on, it might just be worth getting your GP to check it out. You know, if it's, if it sore. So a little bit of tenderness continues to, to last for a few months afterwards. And this is cuz your nerves are all kind of knitting back together and you know, it's major surgery you've had. So it can take time. That brings me on to another question I have about pain persisting. So some people have said that they have a tender scar a few years on just at times and there can be scar tissue left after a C-section internally. And this can sometimes cause a bit of pain. So it's worth getting it checked out if it's severe and very persistent. But certainly I found every now and again for a year or two afterwards, I'd get a tiny Niel and it could be very intermittent.
Speaker 1 00:33:48 It could be a month or two apart and as time has passed by that fades to nothing. But obviously if you've any concerns at all, it's always best to speak to the GP. They can have a look and reassure you and they may even recommend, you know, seeing a physiotherapist who can help with your recovery as well. Thank you so much for joining me for the first episode of the first series of the Wonderbar podcast and a huge thank you to the Medicare fems sense ovulation tracker for supporting my efforts. I really look forward to sharing even more about the product. When we speak about fertility. In another episode in series one, you can follow wonder Baba on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date on podcasting episodes. They'll also be available on our website, www dot wonder Baba dot I E. The wonder Baba podcast will be released every two weeks. Thank you so much for listening. I look forward to chatting again soon.
