wife is having a C Section

[LZclone]

good news a new Cyclone fan is coming Thursday morning.

bad news, well not terrible news, but we have to have a C Section, any words of wisdom fellow Cyclones, to calm this nervous dad down.

Probably already mentioned... but a C section is simple with few complications. They have also figured a way to go in without tearing stomach muscle.

On the high note, SHE KEEPS HER VAGINAL TONE!

[MaccloNe]

I have three kids, the first one vaginal and the other two c-section. My wife, if given the option, said that she would choose c-section. Both have fairly difficult recoveries, but she said the c-section ones were easier. As far as the fear, I understand. My middle was an "emergency" c-section because his heart rate was dropping during contractions. Everything went fine and we chose to have a scheduled c-section for the third. Good luck with everything.

I thought you were a dude. My bad.

[mj4cy]

After going thru lamaze class....C-section almost sounded easier. Whatever happens, its an awesome time!

[Wesley]

I have three kids, the first one vaginal and the other two c-section. My wife, if given the option, said that she would choose c-section. Both have fairly difficult recoveries, but she said the c-section ones were easier. As far as the fear, I understand. My middle was an "emergency" c-section because his heart rate was dropping during contractions. Everything went fine and we chose to have a scheduled c-section for the third. Good luck with everything.

The first natural can take the longest. Then they might just pop out for the following ones.

[flycy]

I think my wife wins here. She has had 4 C-sections, first one emergency. The recovery time did get longer by the fourth one and each time the delivery had to be earlier due to complications in the pregnancy. The tugging they do does make you cringe a bit, but it is really interesting to see. You will be the witness and recorder of the babies first moments while mom is sewn back together so be sure to record as much as you can so she can share in the experience later.

[MileHiCyclone]

I have 2 boys, 6 and 10 mo, both were CY sections and both went great. We had a choice with the second and my wife didn't even consider natural birth. I did watch both and don't think it was bad at all. The strangest thing was seeing the Dr. off her feet with all her weight on my wife to help force the second out.

I wasn't offered the opportunity to cut the cord for either birth.

[Angie]

First off, congratulations.

Our daughter was born via C-section. It went fine. Really fast, too. We checked into the hospital at 7AM, gave my wife her anesthesia at about 7:20, started cutting around 7:30, and my daughter was born at 7:47.

For recovery, you'd have to ask my wife, but she wasn't ever hampered from holding the baby or anything like that. She was able to hold the baby right away, was up and walking within a couple days, and recovered in 2-3 weeks.

Ours was medically necessary, and any future children will need to be done that way as well, but on the whole I was very pleased. I will say it's pretty odd to watch the procedure, though. I sat right behind my wife's head and was able to watch them do pretty much everything. It's not for the faint of heart. Don't eat a big breakfast, or just maintain eye contact with your wife the whole time.

This is all correct, although the estimates on how long it took for everything are probably even a little conservative. I've had one natural, unmedicated birth, and one C-section (medically necessary). The C-section was by far easier for me.

Yes, a C-section is major surgery, and vaginal delivery is best for the baby. HOWEVER - there are benefits to a C-section, too. Cord issues are minimalized, and there's less chance of surgery related to the actual delivery (obviously repeat C-sections are common, but vaginal delivery has more follow-up surgery related to issues from the delivery than C-sections do).

I have a few pointers. I had no trouble doing stairs or walking, or getting out of bed, but many women do. Make sure that there is something by the bed that she can use for support. If your house has stairs, it's worth it to get two copies of the things you'll use most often, and keep one upstairs and one down (rather than lugging things back and forth when you're not supposed to carry much). If nursing, keep one Boppy upstairs and one down, as well as any other supplies she may need (lanolin, nursing shields, whatever her situation may require). Keep diapers, wipes, and ointment in each location, etc.

The AAP recommends having your baby room-in with you for the first six months - this is even more helpful right after a C-section, when it is harder to get out of bed and down a hallway to get to a nursery to feed the baby.

Make sure she has some yoga pants, or pants with loose-fitting tops, as jeans and the like will rub right on the incision.

Unless it's interfering with the baby's ability to nurse, tell her not to be a hero about the pain meds. They give them to you for a reason. If you get way behind on them and are in a lot of pain, it's harder to catch up than if you just take them as you're supposed to. And, since pain meds can have other side effects, make sure to take the anti-gas and fiber pills they give you.

Anyway. Just some advice, let me know if you have any questions.

[Angie]

Um, also. If they don't tell you, have her shave... everything ahead of time. You don't want a nurse with a dry Bic doing it.

[IcSyU]

Make sure she has some yoga pants, or pants with loose-fitting tops, as jeans and the like will rub right on the incision.

Come on, Angie! You're going to make Clones21's head explode!

[Angie]

Come on, Angie! You're going to make Clones21's head explode!

That would be a shame, I can't do that!

[Revolution]

Try not to worry to much. Both of my sons were born via c section and both times my wife was up and walking around by the next day. She was sore for a week or two but I would imagine the other way probably comes with some soreness too.

[MoreCowbell]

While c/s are performed quite frequently and are generally safe, they are still major surgeries and therefore come with inherent risks. Just keep that in mind. All three of my kids were born the "regular" way (with an epidural, though, I'm not that tough) so I can't personally comment on recovery after a c/s. Every delivery is different, and what was true for one person may not be true for your wife. Recovery time is usually longer with a c/s and she'll probably require a lot of help doing simple things. Best of luck.

[00clone]

. And as special as it is, if you do make that choice to video tape the delivery(head-scratching), don't be that guy that has to show the first 20 people that show up to see the baby.

I'll never forget one of Jeff Foxworthy's lines:

"People ask me: 'did you videotape the delivery?' No, I did not...got some nice footage of the conception, though!"

Explanation for the youngsters: "videotape" was something they did before DVD's.

My wife had a preset rule that the camera stayed in the bag until our son was born, and that only pics of him were allowed. One exception of her holding him about 2 mins after birth.

Back on topic, traditional delivery for us, so not much help on that, but there are complications for traditional as well, so if you're worrying, it's giving up some risk for other. Our son's heart rate dropped in the birth canal, so they used 'suction'. It's a suction cup they put on his head to pull him out. Some damage to mom from that.

[AngryPanda]

so C Section was scheduled for 830 this morning, and.......... her water broke at 2am, so we are at the hospital. very tired, but happy I stayed up to watch the Cyclones win

[Cyclonepride]

so C Section was scheduled for 830 this morning, and.......... her water broke at 2am, so we are at the hospital. very tired, but happy I stayed up to watch the Cyclones win

My little guy picked the middle of the night to start his journey into the world too. Best wishes on today!