Yay, it’s October, and now we have Halloween’s fake scariness to distract us from the world’s real scariness! Yay. The kids have both decided on their Halloween costumes, both of which require some degree of craftiness on my part. Annie’s has one element that is going to be particularly tricky (she’s going to be a zombie and there’s a very specific kind of…wound…she wants to have), so I’ll be spending the next two weeks trying to figure out how to pull it off. James’ costume mostly just requires me to find the different elements to construct it. Lucky for him, I’m an excellent Amazon.com shopper.
Around The ‘Net
~Teen sidelined for being homeless takes field again
~Texas Boy Speaks Clearly for First Time After Dentist Discovered He Was Tongue-Tied
~The Amazing 30-Year Odyssey of a Counterfeit Saudi Prince
~Girl, 8, pulls a 1,500-year-old sword from a lake in Sweden
~More than 250 people around the world have died taking selfies since 2011
~Surfer sets world record riding massive wave
~Brad Paisley, Kimberly Williams-Paisley to open free grocery store for those in need
~Is fasting the fountain of youth?
~The Teens Who Rack Up Thousands of Followers by Posting the Same Photo Every Day
A Cut Above
I know someone who is having a c-section soon, and she’s super-nervous (it’s medically necessary, not elective). I’ve given her all of my best tips but if you have a c-section tip, please leave a comment! And also tell her that c-sections aren’t scary and she’ll be just fiiiiiiiiine. Hurray for healthy moms and babies!
Fun Stuff
~I got a sample of this 15-in-1 leave-in hair treatment and OMG you guys – it’s amazing. My hair was so shiny and had so much body the first time I used it that I immediately ordered a full-size bottle. I highly recommend it!
~There’s soon going to be an Amazon Alexa for your car.
~I have the weirdest kids ever, because they are beggggging for this creepy swinging Halloween decoration…probably because they know no kids will walk past it, thereby giving us lots of leftover Halloween candy.
Happy Sunday, everyone!
Susan says:
I’ve had 2 c-sections and my biggest tip is to stand up as straight as you can when they first get you up and walking. It hurts but it will get your abdominal muscles used to the change and you will have minimal pain later as you heal.
Lisa says:
I chose to have a c-section for 2 reasons. #1 I couldn’t even think of pushing a baby out of a rather tiny space…. # 2 I was convinced that the cord was around my daughters neck even though I didn’t know for sure and that I’d harm her by pushing. My #2 reason ended up being 200% correct as the cord was wrapped around her neck Twice!!! Best part of a c-section is you literally have a baby in about 30 minutes. And although I had pain when going from a sitting position to standing, the pain was not as bad as you would think. The epidural they give you in your back is not too painful either. I had stairs in my house then and I thought it would kill me to go up and down, but it did not hurt at all. Make sure they keep the leg compression things on your legs and check them for you regularly. And get out of bed and walk around right away (first day), even if it hurts badly to prevent blood clots. I’ve never regretted my decision and much luck to cousin Leah! She will do great!!! ?
Casey says:
I have had 3 c-sections and I highly suggest a Velcro elastic binder for your abdomen for the first few days (or weeks) after. The compression makes it easier to sit up or stand. I did not have one for my first two and it made a huge difference for my 3rd!
RD says:
Hi – I’ve been wondering if you’ve stopped blogging for good, or just temporarily.
Heather says:
Just temporarily. There’s a lot going on in our lives right now!
SB says:
Don’t try to be a warrior. Take the pain meds they give you. Especially the Percocet. You will be able to walk and therefore heal faster if you aren’t dying of pain.
Tell your nurse anesthesist if you are feeling any kind of discomfort during the procedure including temperature dizziness or nausea. They told me ‘once they cut the cord I can give you pretty much anything to make you comfortable so don’t be shy!’ And it was very helpful.
Ask the nursing staff to help take a family photo in the OR. We have hundreds because ours kept clicking away which was wonderful for us to recall!
I second the Velcro binder recommendation.
If they use surgical glue to close the incision, wait about a week and then liberally apply petroleum jelly to it. It dissolves the glue without much scrubbing involved.
If your incision feels numb afterward don’t freak out. The feeling will come back gradually over a few months.
If you have pain on one side of your incision more
Than the other (or it feels like one side is ‘catching’) that is also normal and will go away.
C sections are really the bomb especially when they are planned. You don’t get all exhausted from pushing first and your makeup can be on point for family photos!
Erin says:
Definitely get the abdominal binder!! Made such a huge difference.
Shes says:
My C-section advice-take care of yourself and don’t push it. Listen to the rules about how much you can lift/for how long. Take the offers of help from everybody!!
Alison says:
Ask for Benadryl! My face was extremely itchy after my c-section. Instead of resting after my surgery I was trying so hard not to scratch my face off. Apparently one of the meds they use in the spinal/epidural can cause this reaction.
Eli says:
Every birth is different and being brave enough to follow medical advice for your baby is such an amazing statement of what a wonderful mom she’ll be!
There’s no promise that a non-surgical birth is easier, or involves less pain/faster recovery. I didn’t have a surgical birth with my first, 10.6lb child (no one knew how big she was, I measured totally normal), and it caused huge problems that would not be helpful to detail, but it took me 7 months to recover. C-sections are such a gift for keeping mamas and babies safe.
So worry not! Medical necessity is no joke, and being brave enough to choose the surgery to keep you and your babe safe is the strongest, most mother-y thing you can do. PROPS TO YOU, MAMA!
Toni says:
No advice as I never had a c-section. But, I LOVE the creepy decoration!!!!!
Linn says:
Had a c-section with my first because she was breech. My biggest complaint was that it was a pretty clinical experience — no birthing room, just an OR. But I found it very non-scary, quick, as somebody said, and definitely painless. I found the recovery really easy, actually. For the second I just opted for a c-section rather than trying vbac, because it was easy and why beat myself up in a whole new way? I think the anti-c movement is one of those things where we’ve really made too big of a deal out of something that doesn’t tend to matter that much in the long run (like breast feeding, yeah I said it). You’re getting out a healthy beautiful baby! Be in the moment and treasure it.
Ann S. says:
My son was born by emergency C-Section. Best advice-listen to your body, it and you know your limits better than anyone. Not saying to ignore the Doctors, don’t go out and immediately start hang gliding or such lol. But mostly, enjoy this early time with your sweet baby, they grow way too fast.
Melissa says:
C-Sections aren’t scary and you will be just fine! I’ve had two. My biggest tip is to continue wearing your maternity pants with the panel. The waistband on regular pants can push right on the incision spot. After my 2nd baby both my husband and I picked up a horrible head cold and brought it home from the hospital. I was coughing so much and I found holding a pillow while coughing/sneezing helped a ton. I really think it sounds scarier than it actually is, I felt sore but good!
Becca says:
Ohh – I haven’t had a c-section but I want to echo SB’s comment about asking a nurse to take your OR photo. When my daughter was born we had a nurse who just grabbed my wife’s phone and took about 15 photos. I NEVER would have thought to do that but the photos she took are some of my most prized possessions. Yes it’s nice to have the posed first family photo, but nothing beats the in the moment faces that she captured. I wish I knew her name.. I’m beyond grateful for the gift she gave us that day.
Michelle Pixie says:
She should talk with her OB about doing a microbe wipe on baby immediately after he/she enters the world! It’s important for the baby’s microbiome. I wish I’d known about this when my babies were born via C-sections many moons ago.
Here’s a link discussing it:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/02/01/464905786/researchers-test-microbe-wipe-to-promote-babies-health-after-c-sections
The Sonnenburg’s have a great book where they talk about it too:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=The+Good+Gut%3A+Taking+Control+of+Your+Weight%2C+Your+Mood%2C+and+Your+Long-term+Health+
Nellie says:
I had to have a c-section for medical reasons. I can say this, after the shot, when you are shivering, do not have your husband request blankets to place over you. The shivering is from the medication. I was sweating my ass off before they even cut me open thanks to my very loving and overly concerned husband.
Wishing you a joyous c-section journey as it will result in a most precious, ever-loving gift…a sweet, beautiful baby!!!
Katie says:
Make SURE you poop before being discharged home! The surgery and pain meds (which you should absolutely take), will slow you down and back you up. Take colace for the week before c-section and I requested miralax/colace after surgery as well. If you aren’t going on your own, get an enema. You will be so happy you did!
Amber says:
I had 4 natural births…. 2 epidurals, 2 horrifying painful births.
Just tell your friend that I have the utmost respect for her…. I would be scared too!
Anyway we get a baby into the world should be respected in its own way.
I have had people pretty much tell me that epidurals ate the chickens way out…. Well, “Bach, Bach, Bach” to them! ?
Love you Heather!
Alexandra Parvaz says:
Heather, you’re a wonderful person and I really hope that you’re doing okay and that you have people to support you who are doing all the right things if you’re not, and that Annie and James are happy and Schuyler is happy and Mike is happy.