C-Section Recovery with Twins

[SassyPants150]

Tell me about your C-section experiences. Right now baby A is breech so I'm trying to prepare myself. I had a vaginal birth with DD and recovery was a breeze. What should I expect? Especially caring for 3 LOs. Anything you wish you had known or would have done differently?

[FCtwinmom]

C-section recovery wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. My twins were also in the NICU so I had to walk to see the so I thnk that helped a lot. Even if it slow movement I would recommend getting up and moving as soon as possible. I was to scared to take the heavy duty pain killers (poop fears after being on antibiotics for an extended time because of my water breaking). But I was religious about the Ibproufen and I think that also helped a lot.

[anotherdreamer]

My scheduled c-section experience was a lot better than my emergency c-section with my son. I got an infection both times (cellulitis the first time, I think the same the second time) so did get a fever a week after delivery and had to take antibiotics, but those cleared it right up thankfully. With my son I had labored a long time without pain meds before we had to go with the c-section, with my twins everything was more controled and relaxed. I would find out the hospitals policies on seeing the babies and all that, since that varies by hospital.

I checked in on time, but mine got pushed back- emergencies always take precedence and it as apparently a very busy day in our hospital. I got prepped while waiting, they started my antibiotics (for strep-B), and fluids. They prepped things down there. I believe I had to drink something too. When we went down I was given the spinal and swung around really fast before it took affect, and they started prepping me with a cath and everything after I was numb. Couldn't feel a thing, but could still slightly wiggle my feet/toes, which concerned me but I really couldn't feel a thing. I had two OBs in there and a lot of nurses, and they got underway shortly. It was all relatively quick once we got in there, the babies were born 2 minutes apart. Now, hospital policies vary (I delivered DS and the girls at different hospitals) but I was able to see the babies as soon as they were checked out, DH got to hold a baby near my head and then they brought the other one over, and I was able to watch him holding them as they stitched me up. The babies got pushed back in their carts, by DH, to the room with me for immediate recovery and I was able to nurse. Then they were pushed to my room for long term recovery.

While in the hospital DH or the nurses helped me with the babies for nursing. I paged the nurses a lot, and they were fine with that- I could have gotten one, but to tandem I needed the help. I did send them to the nursery at night, I didn't want to, but I really needed/wanted my sleep to recover from surgery. I had a 2.5y old at home, and he sure wasn't going to let us rest even if the babies every did. I felt a little bad, but I think the rest helped. I had them bring the babies back to nurse during the night though.

Recovery-wise...
take it easy, but get up and walking soon. It will help healing.
Stay on top of pain meds, it's major abdominal surgery, don't try to be a hero.
Stool softeners, the pains meds will make things more difficult than they already would be.
Rather than using a towel to dry the incision, use a hair dryer. You won't accidentally introduce germs, it will help lower the risk of infection.
Don't push yourself too hard. Ask for help. Help is good. Really.


Honestly, my first c-section was awful. The second one, with the twins, was so much easier. It wasn't a walk in the park, but it wasn't too bad.

My DH stayed home for 3 weeks and used all his vacation time, and that was the biggest lifesaver for me. He helped change the girls, helped me set up to tandem nurse them, and made sure my DS didn't feel neglected.

[ashb62]

My hospital does family centered c-sections. Ask your dr about your hospitals policy and what to expect. I was able to hold one of my boys while they stitched me up and we were nursing as soon as we got to recovery, probably 40 minutes after delivery. Our hospital doesn't have a nursery. My boys only left me for their hearing tests.

The c/s itself was a breeze. I did get a little nauseated during the procedure, but they gave me something in my IV and it went away quickly. The anesthia made me a bit itchy after the surgery, especially my face, but that was gone by the next day. Mostly, I was just really, really sore and swollen from the IV fluids. My best advice... Get up and walk as soon as possible. I think staying in bed too long really contributed to my soreness and made my recovery worse. And stay on top of your pain meds. Take it easy as much as you can.

My DD was older and pretty independent (and in school) when my twins came, so I don't really have any advice on caring for a toddler plus newborn twins. I did really love my rock n plays in those early days. Since they're couch height, I could pick up babies without too much bending and stretching. I also made sure I had everything we needed for the day and a changing area downstairs. I only did the stairs to come down in the morning and go up at night.

Take any help that's offered and don't be afraid to ask for what you need. Mostly just give yourself a lot of grace. The beginning is pure survival. We ate way too much take out, DD watched way too much TV, and my house was (still is) never as clean as I'd like. And that's okay.

ETA: I had some trapped air that ended up in my shoulder that was almost more painful than my incision. Mylicon and a heating pad really helped with that. As did getting up and moving. 

[mrsp419]

I had a C-section for the twins after two med-free vaginal deliveries for my singletons. It was not nearly as scary as I thought it would be. To me, the hardest part was getting the spinal, and once that was over, it was a surreal and neat experience.
PPs said pretty much everything I could. To emphasize: take your pain meds. That is what they are there for. You will not take them forever. And page a nurse whenever you feel you need the extra help. I needed help with every feeding because two floppy babies + recovering from surgery is hard. That is what they are there for, too.
The one thing that was weird for me was that the most painful part of the recovery process was not the surgical site, but the terrible gas pains I got. I think they told me it was from my insides moving back into place and air pockets being created. It was manageable, but super unexpected, so look out for that so you can get proper meds for them. Also, the IV pain meds made me itch like crazy, so I had to take stuff to stop itching. None of this was unbearable, but it was totally not what I expected my main complaints to be.
At home, have a really good solid pillow for your middle. My "My Breast Friend" pillow worked. Drink a ton of water, stay on top of your meds, and accept lots of help!

[Deleted]

Thanks for posting this SassyPants150, Baby A has been breech since the beginning for me and she's smaller, so I'm starting to accept the fact that I will likely have a c-section as well.

I'm struggling a little with anxiety about having major surgery-- I've never had any kind before and I'm really freaked out about it. I have an irrational fear that the spinal won't work and I will feel it or have to be knocked out. I'm trying to be rational about it but I think hormones + being an anxious person is just making it hard. Reading these stories definitely helps.

[SassyPants150]

I'm a super active person so I feel like it is going to be very difficult for me to be down. Thanks for the input ladies!

[ashb62]

Oh, also, have a pillow handy to hold against your stomach when you cough, sneeze, or laugh.

[quinncat]

Get up and walk asap. You will recover much faster. I really didn't spend much time in bed after the first day with either c section.
With my twins, the spinal dropped my blood pressure and it made me start dry heaving on the OR table. The dr gave me medication right away that brought my bp up and the nausea went away.
I couldn't sleep flat for a few days due to pain. It wasn't horrible, just a little uncomfortable. I didn't have that pain with my singleton.
Take a stool softener or laxative daily. I also ate prunes. With both sections I had one horrible day of constipation.

After my twin c section I was horrified at how my belly looked. It was so swollen and my stretch marks were sticking out. The edema does go away. My doctor had me on a diuretic for the 3 days on the hospital because of all my swelling.

[babys2015]

My section was a breeze! Baby B was breech, but they still induced me and we're going to see what happened when A came out. Well, my labor would not progress despite my obs best efforts and so I decided just to go for the c section, I was able to hold babies and nurse right away and was up walking within 24 hours. I heard that's super important. I took my pain meds for about one week, but never took the full dose, even while in recovery room, and I left the hospital on day 4.

I'm 6 weeks pp, and feel amazing! Good luck!!

[carrotcake]

I'll just say to cut yourself some slack of recovery isn't as easy breezy as you would have hoped. The Twins' birth was traumatic and my recovery was really rough. But you get through it. I still started running again at 6w PP even though I couldn't walk down to the nicu for 3 days and needed heavy duty painkillers for over a week. You do it bc you have to. And it's a small slice of time in the scheme of things.