Fluffy Moms who have had c-sections (please read)

[Stacy48060]

For those fluffy mommies that had c-sections....Does your weight affect the healing time or bring a lot of complications after delivery? I have always had a "hanging" belly and i am afraid it's going to pull on everything. Please give me all the advice and information you can. I go in Thursday for an U/s and he said if she is close to 9lbs they will schedule me for a c-section Fri am. If she isn't, than they are still going to induce me for regular labor. But there is no way he will let me go past my due date since she is measuring big and me being a regular diabetic. I am almost certain i am in for a c-section because at 35 weeks she was already over 6.5lbs and i am now 39weeks1day

[britta75]

i weighed 211 before my pg started, and had a c-section at 40 wks due to large baby - 9lbs 12 oz. i am not sure if it was my weight but i had a long recovery time after. it took me months to return to a place where i felt somewhat normal again. not sure if this had anything to do with my weight or not.

gl with whatever way they deliver your precious lo to you, and congrats

[mrshoughton]

Where do they plan on doing the incision? Mine is at the panty line, which for me is covered partially by my stomach. I didn't have any problems, it got a little sweaty/itchy at times but it never led to any infections, you just have to keep it clean. I remember before my son was born I was totally against a c-section, but after 16 1/2 hours of labor and my son never dropping low enough, I gave in and had one. My main reason for being against the c-section is because I thought it was going to be super painful. I'd had gallbladder surgery a couple years ago and that was a really painful recovery so I was thinking a c-section would be worse, but suprisingly it wasn't bad at all. The worst of if was in delivery to be honest, my little guy was a little stuck in the birth canal since I had been pushing awhile before they did the c-section so all the pressure from them pulling him out hurt quite a bit, but other than that it wasn't too bad. They sent me home with prescriptions for percocet and motrin and by a week out I was down to just the motrin and I don't have the highest pain threshold by any means. I do feel like I missed out a bit by not having a natural birth, but my little guy got here safely and that's all that matters. Good luck with your delivery, hopefully you will get the outcome you want.

[kcal]

When I had my 1st c/s I was probably 280 (I am 5'9) and had no problems. With my 2nd c/s I was 250 lbs and still had no problems. Congrats

Kim

[Bee]

The only issue I had was the spinal, it took them 8 tries before they got it in. I think because of the fluffy back.

I did develop an infection, but it was due to being allergic to the stitches and latex. My body just pushed those dang stitches out!

I was able to do a lot 4 weeks post partum, but if I had to do it over, I would have taken it a little easier. Whenever I did too much, my muscles would burn, like on fire, burn.

I had an emergency c-section so my incision is vertical (bellybutton down).

Bee

[hedyvrie]

I weighed 205 at the time of my section and didn't have any issues.

[EarthAngel1975]

I had a c section when i was around 285 pounds. My incision is at the public line which is where my fat rolls are and it was the middle of a hot summer. Keeping it clean and moist free were the biggest challenges and it did start to go pink (sign of infection) so they gave me antibiotics just to be on the safe side (no infection was yet detected in my blood). I was quite out of it the first day but it wasn't too bad. Getting the epidural in was hard (took about 15-30mins) due to the fluffiness of my back.

My biggest problem with my cesaer was that my dd was taken to the nursery as as I had had a c section i was taken to recovery. My dh was told id be taken up to the nursery after recovery but that didnt happen and i didn't get to hold my dd until 4 hours after she was born and was left alone in a ward room by myself!! The whole suprise of having to have a c section (when i really didnt want one and was fearful do to being fluffy) and having my dd taken from me made that whole event very traumatic for me - I'm still not over it almost 2 years later.

[advising_lady]

No complications here. I had a breeze of a recovery physically.

Some suggestions:
Since you have the hanging belly, go buy some gauze pads (Johnson & Johnson makes them, and I think the chain pharmacies have their own brand too). They're like 4x4. You fold them in half and lay it over your incision-your belly should hold it in place. It will absorb and fluid that drains as well as sweat to help prevent infection. I had DH change it about every 4-6 hours, if not more frequently until the dr said there was no leakage anymore.

Get up and walk ASAP after your surgery. DS was born at 6:32 on a Sunday night. I was up and walking, going to the bathroom, etc by 4 a.m. Would've been sooner, but they had to wait for dr's orders to remove the catheter. I had a friend whose dr wouldn't let her out of bed after her c-section until check out...she had a HORRIBLE recovery.

The worst part for me was the staples. I felt like I was being poked constantly and had some pain. I told my dr at check out and they made an appt for me to have them removed 5 days post partum. Talk about 100% relief. I was a new person once those things were out.

Not all drs use staples, but if they do, when you wash, try to find the smoothest washcloth possible that you have to wash that area. Nothing like having a terry cloth wash cloth get snagged on a staple that's already bugging the heck out of you.

I also used just antibacterial soap down there. I think I used a bar of DH's DIAL that's unscented. I didn't think the perfumes of other soaps/body washes would be good for a big wound like that.

But I truly hope you get to have a vaginal birth. My MIL had 3 boys, all over 10 lbs and is still here to talk about it (and boy does she!)

[mrshoughton]

I agree with the putting something under the stomach, my nurse folded pads outwards and stuck them against the incision to keep the moisture from building, if you can afford I also suggest getting a hand held showerhead, they had one at my hospital and that was the first thing I sent DH out to get once we got home. I felt much more confident that I was getting the area completely clean with mine, and it only cost about $15. I also agree one the walking thing,they had me out of bed the night after my c-section and I think getting around really helped, just don't overdue it.
I also was seperated from my son after my c-section, they showed him to me for a second and then they whisked him and DH away to the nursery. I don't like that they leave you "alone" like that but, I'm sure they have their reasons. I was only in recovery for about an hour, I think they have a checklist of things they need to get done and want you to be able to do before they'll send you back to your room. The downside to that was that everyone else had already gotten to hold my son before I did, but once I did it was well worth the wait.

Good luck, and just remember do what you think is best, unless the baby is just huge have let you try to go vaginally first. I'm glad I got to at least try before they had me do a c-section. The doctor later said that my pelvic area was too small and he wouldn't have fit vaginally but I've now heard doctor rush to that diagnosis, so who knows.

[Leigha789]

Just remember they can't force you into a c-section (unless you want a section and then that's your decision.) Ultrasounds can be way off late in pregnancy and even if your baby is on the larger size many women give birth to 9+ pounds babies. Good luck!

[Stacy48060]

Awesome stories and advice ladies! Thank you so much! I am seriously going to use this advice. I am just so scared. I don't want no one but my husband holding my Daughter before me! I'll make sure the nurses know. Does that make me mean? lol

[Leigha789]

Awesome stories and advice ladies! Thank you so much! I am seriously going to use this advice. I am just so scared. I don't want no one but my husband holding my Daughter before me! I'll make sure the nurses know. Does that make me mean? lol

Nope, it makes you a mommy!

[Melvin'sWifey]

I had a c-section last week and I really didn't like it at all. I had an 18 hour labor and got to 9.5cm but it was stalled there for over 4 hours and his heart rate kept dropping so we decided a section would be best.

My incision is below my stomach, right on my panty line, so although my stomach isn't too big (I'm somewhere around 190 right now) it does hang over a little, so my incision is in the crease. I was up walking slowly at about 24 hours after the surgery. I used a regular maxi pad to put over the incision ( just left the strip on so nothing sticky) for a couple days and now when I shower I just let the soapy water run over it. My staples were removed the day I was discharged from the hospital, and they never hurt at all.

I hope you get the vaginal birth you want (and I wanted one so bad!) but if you do end up with a section, I wish someone would have warned me about getting the shakes. I got them so bad and it was so scary to both me and my DH and you can't just stop shaking, you can't control it which makes it scarier. But you will be okay! Good luck and congrats!

[xois]

i was 233 at birth, and my incision was fine and healed well. I coudln't get up and around for 24 hours becuase I was on mag sulfate which can mess with your reflexes and make you fall, choke etc. But I actually took the commuter rail home from the hospital, then walked a bunch to get to my car, then drove home(4 days following) and had/have no issues. my incision is at the panty line too.

[Daisychain]

I was 240 lbs at the time my DD#1 was born...I do have that hanging belly...they gave me a vertical incision, from belly button down to just underneath my belly. It did heal ok, although it did gape a bit at the bottom.

I had a repeat c/s with DD#2, they cut in the same place, although not as big.

I bought those Johnson & Johnson gauze pads and taped them to the incision to protect it from my panties. And I did pack the gauze pads underneath my belly where the incision ended, just to keep it dry...and I changed all the pads often...showered every day and patted those spots very dry...aired them when I could.

I felt like one big padding...I had my sanitary napkin (the Always overnights with wings), my gauze pad on my belly and breast pads cuz I was leaking all over the place...lmao.