I am now 8 days out from my repeat c-section. Don't worry, I'm not going to bombard everyone with weekly updates postpartum for the next year or so. This will likely be one of my few updates. Maybe one around 6 months if I have anything to report, but I figured I would update everyone on how I am doing. (Again, we have a lot of friends and family that are curious but we don't talk to a lot so that's why I do these posts... If it doesn't interest you, that's fine. No need to read. =))
My section itself went pretty well last Tuesday. Will was delivered safely, but due to his nuchal cord wrapping issue my section wasn't exactly routine. Being that this was already a repeat c-section for me, the initial incisions had to be larger than what would occur for a normal c-section because of already existing scar tissue. The plus is that they were all made on top of previous incisions so I do not have additional incision sites, just a larger incision over what I already had. I believe that goes for my outward incision as well as the one on my actual uterus. Because of Will's cord, I had to have some sort of muscle cutting something or other. There is an actual term for it according to my doc, but I can't remember what it is. Essentially, what happened is that usually the doctors just stretch some of your muscles to one side or the other as they remove the baby but because Will could not be removed normally because he could not move his head the direction necessary to take him out that way due to the cord, they had to cut the muscle they would usually just stretch. For me, that means a bit more pain (more than likely) as well as the fact that it will likely take me longer to get back to a normal looking belly once everything is said and done.
That's one thing I think people do not always realize about c-sections... you are unable to do any sort of toning exercises for quite some time after the surgery and your muscles were actually cut so you are often left with quite a pooch of a belly despite losing actual weight. I remember with Kenzie, I had this for months after the surgery before it started to go back to looking like a normal stomach. It was never 100% the same as it was prior to my first c-section, but it wasn't as obvious of a "muffin top" type look at some point.
As far as pain management goes, I have been off my prescription meds for a couple of days now. I initially was off of them on Monday (6 days post surgery), but I managed to be dumb and scare myself when I opened our front door. We have a little tree frog that likes to hang out on the back of the outside door handle and when I opened the door I touched him slightly which made him jump in to the house. I shrieked and twisted in a really weird manner which pulled at my incision. I ended up needing to take some meds because I was in such pain. That was my last dosage though of anything prescription. I have since taken 1 regular, over the counter ibuprofen on Tuesday morning and haven't had anything since. I don't rule out needing that stuff, but I am not a meds type of person so the sooner I can be off of any of it, and feel good enough to do so, I move forward with that plan.
As far as weight loss post birth, I am now down to only 6 pounds above my pre-pregnancy weight. When I was admitted to the hospital last Tuesday I had actually dropped another pound so I was only up 21 pounds total. When I got home on Friday I was only down about 7 pounds. While that doesn't seem right, especially considering Will weighed more than that, it was actually because during the c-section they pump you so full of fluids that I had not yet lost all of that. I actually had to be given fluids a few times post surgery in order to have antibiotics because I had spiked a slight fever and they liked to combine the fluids with the antibiotics when they administer it through the IV. (Yet, ironically I did not come home with any additional, noted swelling. My doc was actually surprised after the first full day that I didn't have any swelling.) I have steadily dropped some additional weight since being home and as of this morning, I am down 15 of those 21 pounds, which definitely seems more accurate. I know these last 6 may not be fun to lose though. I am exclusively breastfeeding which can help some people lose weight. With Kenzie, I actually didn't lose weight quickly as some people say happens while breastfeeding but once I stopped at 14 months, I dropped a few pounds pretty easily. That being said, this pregnancy has been night and day from Kenzie so we will see what this postpartum period brings.
Speaking of breastfeeding, that has been amazing. Will is gaining weight like a champ and is already more than a half pound above his birth weight. This is so different than my experience with Kenzie. Part of it is my comfort level with the entire thing and knowing what is "normal" versus what is not. Part of it is just that Will is a piglet and loves to eat. I feed on demand (which is something I NEVER did with Kenzie because then she would have just not eaten.) and he eats every 2 hours or so all day long. Every now and then he graces me with a 2 1/2 to 3 hour stretch. He actually did a 3 hour stretch last night after his final feeding before I went to bed. I will take it. I'm feeling really good about breastfeeding this time around.
I think the hardest part of this recovery period for me is the no lifting rule I have been given. Essentially I shouldn't lift anything heavier than Will. Easier said than done when you have a toddler (especially one that still sleeps in a crib). We have lucked out that we have an amazing support system in our parents that has been around since Will was born and is helping us out immensely. We need them now more than ever because Steven also injured his back and has been told to not lift Kenzie for at least a week. He goes back to the doc later this week so we will see if that gets extended. I'm not sure how I am going to manage the next 5 weeks though without lifting her. It is going to make going to stores or out to some places pretty difficult. The goal now is to figure out how to handle the whole crib thing since I can lift her in for her nap in the middle of the day when I am alone with her. We do NOT want to transition her to a toddler bed. One, because she is not ready in our opinion and two, because we do not feel that making such a drastic change on the heels of Will being home is a good idea. So, we have to figure something else out. We have a few more days with my mom here to work on that.
Overall, everything has been going really well after Will's birth. I am pleased with my pain level and how I am able to handle it and super excited about our breastfeeding advernture this time around. To top it all off, although there are some issues at times with Kenzie and dealing with no longer being an only child, she very obviously loves her little brother. She is so sweet with him and I cannot wait to watch their relationship grow over the years (even when they get older and fight.)
My section itself went pretty well last Tuesday. Will was delivered safely, but due to his nuchal cord wrapping issue my section wasn't exactly routine. Being that this was already a repeat c-section for me, the initial incisions had to be larger than what would occur for a normal c-section because of already existing scar tissue. The plus is that they were all made on top of previous incisions so I do not have additional incision sites, just a larger incision over what I already had. I believe that goes for my outward incision as well as the one on my actual uterus. Because of Will's cord, I had to have some sort of muscle cutting something or other. There is an actual term for it according to my doc, but I can't remember what it is. Essentially, what happened is that usually the doctors just stretch some of your muscles to one side or the other as they remove the baby but because Will could not be removed normally because he could not move his head the direction necessary to take him out that way due to the cord, they had to cut the muscle they would usually just stretch. For me, that means a bit more pain (more than likely) as well as the fact that it will likely take me longer to get back to a normal looking belly once everything is said and done.
That's one thing I think people do not always realize about c-sections... you are unable to do any sort of toning exercises for quite some time after the surgery and your muscles were actually cut so you are often left with quite a pooch of a belly despite losing actual weight. I remember with Kenzie, I had this for months after the surgery before it started to go back to looking like a normal stomach. It was never 100% the same as it was prior to my first c-section, but it wasn't as obvious of a "muffin top" type look at some point.
As far as pain management goes, I have been off my prescription meds for a couple of days now. I initially was off of them on Monday (6 days post surgery), but I managed to be dumb and scare myself when I opened our front door. We have a little tree frog that likes to hang out on the back of the outside door handle and when I opened the door I touched him slightly which made him jump in to the house. I shrieked and twisted in a really weird manner which pulled at my incision. I ended up needing to take some meds because I was in such pain. That was my last dosage though of anything prescription. I have since taken 1 regular, over the counter ibuprofen on Tuesday morning and haven't had anything since. I don't rule out needing that stuff, but I am not a meds type of person so the sooner I can be off of any of it, and feel good enough to do so, I move forward with that plan.
As far as weight loss post birth, I am now down to only 6 pounds above my pre-pregnancy weight. When I was admitted to the hospital last Tuesday I had actually dropped another pound so I was only up 21 pounds total. When I got home on Friday I was only down about 7 pounds. While that doesn't seem right, especially considering Will weighed more than that, it was actually because during the c-section they pump you so full of fluids that I had not yet lost all of that. I actually had to be given fluids a few times post surgery in order to have antibiotics because I had spiked a slight fever and they liked to combine the fluids with the antibiotics when they administer it through the IV. (Yet, ironically I did not come home with any additional, noted swelling. My doc was actually surprised after the first full day that I didn't have any swelling.) I have steadily dropped some additional weight since being home and as of this morning, I am down 15 of those 21 pounds, which definitely seems more accurate. I know these last 6 may not be fun to lose though. I am exclusively breastfeeding which can help some people lose weight. With Kenzie, I actually didn't lose weight quickly as some people say happens while breastfeeding but once I stopped at 14 months, I dropped a few pounds pretty easily. That being said, this pregnancy has been night and day from Kenzie so we will see what this postpartum period brings.
Speaking of breastfeeding, that has been amazing. Will is gaining weight like a champ and is already more than a half pound above his birth weight. This is so different than my experience with Kenzie. Part of it is my comfort level with the entire thing and knowing what is "normal" versus what is not. Part of it is just that Will is a piglet and loves to eat. I feed on demand (which is something I NEVER did with Kenzie because then she would have just not eaten.) and he eats every 2 hours or so all day long. Every now and then he graces me with a 2 1/2 to 3 hour stretch. He actually did a 3 hour stretch last night after his final feeding before I went to bed. I will take it. I'm feeling really good about breastfeeding this time around.
I think the hardest part of this recovery period for me is the no lifting rule I have been given. Essentially I shouldn't lift anything heavier than Will. Easier said than done when you have a toddler (especially one that still sleeps in a crib). We have lucked out that we have an amazing support system in our parents that has been around since Will was born and is helping us out immensely. We need them now more than ever because Steven also injured his back and has been told to not lift Kenzie for at least a week. He goes back to the doc later this week so we will see if that gets extended. I'm not sure how I am going to manage the next 5 weeks though without lifting her. It is going to make going to stores or out to some places pretty difficult. The goal now is to figure out how to handle the whole crib thing since I can lift her in for her nap in the middle of the day when I am alone with her. We do NOT want to transition her to a toddler bed. One, because she is not ready in our opinion and two, because we do not feel that making such a drastic change on the heels of Will being home is a good idea. So, we have to figure something else out. We have a few more days with my mom here to work on that.
Overall, everything has been going really well after Will's birth. I am pleased with my pain level and how I am able to handle it and super excited about our breastfeeding advernture this time around. To top it all off, although there are some issues at times with Kenzie and dealing with no longer being an only child, she very obviously loves her little brother. She is so sweet with him and I cannot wait to watch their relationship grow over the years (even when they get older and fight.)
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