Possible Breach/c-section

Congratulations to your friend on her pregnancy! Has she read this? If not, it's an excellent starting point:
http://www.ican-online.org/resources/white_papers/wp_bree...
http://www.ican-online.org/resources/white_papers/wp_bree...
http://www.ican-online.org/resources/white_papers/wp_bree...

I don't know how far along your friend is in her pregnancy, but if she really does want an unmedicated vaginal childbirth, there are many options she can explore to try to have one. Many will try to dissuade her, but she does have options. I encourage her to seek out mothers who have planned to vaginally birth a breech baby and speak to them, pick their brains about their experience.

No OB can force her to have a c-section - this is MAJOR abdominal surgery. Your friend is the customer, and she is hiring the OB - not the other way around. Bottom line, she can refuse to consent to the surgery, wait until she is in labor, and then head to the hospital and refuse a c-section -- BUT, this is NOT ideal, not the safest path (the OB on call might have no experience w/ breech). I personally would hesitate to go that route unless I exhausted all others (more on that below).

It's important to know that for breech birth:

* Breech babies should birth by propulsion NOT traction (No one pulling on the baby!!! Let the mom & her uterus expel/push out the baby, as it is designed to do. Many nightmare birth stories from moms who had huge episiotomies for breech birth years ago are because of OB intervention/management coupled with medicalized birth instead of an unmedicated mother being supported to birth in an optimal position.)
* Best breech birth position for mom is usually UPRIGHT (standing, lunging, squatting) - not on her back!!! While this is true for most births (gravity helps - back lying is generally not helpful), but doubly important for breech.
* It is safest to be attended by a professional who has EXPERIENCE attending breech births. While there are some old-time OBs out there still practicing who know how to attend a woman birthing a breech baby (most are retired, but some still exist - though check that they're not episiotomy and intervention happy), the vast majority of OBs these days do not know much about vaginal breech births, won't have experience, or will be too hands-on (possibly creating a problem where one did not exist). A safer, more ideal choice for breech would be a well-respected certified professional midwife (CPM) or direct entry midwife (DEM) who has experience attending a breech births. Contact me if you'd like help getting dialed in to your local midwifery community.
http://www.breechbabies.com/breech_birth_vs_breech_delive...

While a c-section is a wonderful surgery when there is a true emergency, breech presentation alone is not an emergency. Yes, a lot of moms say "it was no big deal" to be cut open, but truly, who would really want to start off the newborn baby period recovering from major abdominal surgery? I can tell you that caring for a newborn is exhausting enough *without* having to deal with recovering from major surgery. What the OBs *don't* tell you is that there can be many, many lasting negative effects of c-section:
* higher rates of post partum depression (no fun!)
* higher rates of infection (incision)
* due to painful incision/sutures, difficulty holding baby, antibiotics (can result in thrush for mom & baby), and mom's body trying to heal from major abdominal surgery, breastfeeding rates are lower --> so baby & mom miss out on all the great health benefits of breastfeeding like reduction in risk of cancers, baby misses out on wonderful immunological properties of breastfeeding, reduced risk of obesity, fewer illnesses and less severe illnesses, etc.
http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/html/breastfeeding_aft...
* significantly higher miscarriage rates for future pregnancies
* reluctance of current OBs to support women who want VBAC (vaginal birth after c-sec) for future babies

And that's just a short list. :(
http://www.ican-online.org/resources/white_papers/wp_csfa...

After an unmedicated vaginal birth (where the mom has been allowed to birth in the position she chooses), most moms report feeling great. Tired, yes, because it is work to push a baby out! But also energized & alert, ready to hold their baby and start breastfeeding (instead of in recovery from surgery, needing help to hold baby). Moms who birth vaginally do not have to worry about a c-sec incision getting infected or the stitches of the wound popping open. Again, the birth & newborn period in general is hard work, but c-section surgery makes it even harder.

Did you know that breech birth happened vaginally without much issue as recently as 30-40 yrs ago? And that the c-section rate has skyrocketed to about 30% in that time? (Expected, acceptable rates are around 10%.) Certainly the increased c-section rate is not all due to breech, of course, but it *is* due to the increase in common interventions (induction, pitocin augmentation, high rate of epidurals) and repeat c-sections that have been all the rage since birth became so medically managed in hospitals with women immobile on their backs (due to high epidural rate, if a woman chooses an epidural for pain management, her chance of c-section increases significantly).

*Breech presenation is a variation of NORMAL!!!* It is not necessarily an emergency or complication. Some breech positions carry risks (footling breech is higher risk for cord prolapse/compression, for example), but breech should not automatically equal surgery. Did you see one of the other moms who replied here? Her 7th baby was breech, and she had a vaginal birth w/ her OBs. Why didn't they section her? They even tried to turn the baby (external version) but could not do so... Did you see what they found out when the baby was born? Her baby *needed* to be breech because the baby knew what position was best for her to be born (she had her cord wrapped around her neck 2 times)! It's important to trust our babies and trust our bodies to know how to birth (it works superbly more than 90% of the time).

Sorry to go on so long about this, but it's one of those subjects that I feel passionately about because rarely is it discussed in a balanced way - most assume that breech means c-section, but it does NOT. Just look at all of the responses here so far! Most are saying, "Don't sweat it, just accept that you're going to be cut!" Is that balanced?

I encourage your friend to read, read, read the birth stories of women who have had vaginal breech births! Spend some time searching on this topic on Google, on mothering.com/dicussions, on midwifery forums (home birth or birth center midwives), on natural parenting message boards.

Look at the pictures of homebirthed vaginal breech births versus the very medically managed hospital breech births, and see if there's not a big difference. The proof is in the pudding - in many breech situations, it can be done safely for mom and baby. I encourage your friend to contact by email any of the mothers whose birth stories she reads (they'd probably be thrilled to offer support, share information about their experiences w/ breech birth, etc).

Here are some resources for your friend to check out if she wants to explore her options. With more information about vaginal breech births, she can make a more informed decision. She may decide to go ahead with the c-section or she may decide to fight for her rights to have a vaginal breech birth. I want her to have the information so that she CAN choose. I just wouldn't want her to choose c-section out of lack of information or out of fear, just as I wouldn't want her to choose vaginal breech birth without knowing about what it entails and how it differs from vertex presentation/birth, or without her knowing of her option to have a c-section.

Vaginal breech resources:

* Neonatal mortality rates were higher among infants delivered by cesarean section (1.77 per 1,000 live births) than for those delivered vaginally (0.62).
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/05/health/05birt.html?ex=1...

* Optimal Fetal Positioning, great site! Don't miss the section on avoiding cesarean...
http://www.spinningbabies.com/

* Birth Story of a mom whose 2nd baby was breech, she went through the whole "do I have a c-section?" debate, tried everything to get the baby to turn... she went into labor the morning she was scheduled for her c-section, and gave birth vaginally as she arrived at the hospital to a 10 lbs, 5 oz baby. Inspirational, very worth the read!
http://www.wonderbabydesigns.com/family/KieranBirth1.htm

* Pictures & birth story of double footling breech here:
http://www.birthingway.com/footling_breech.htm
Frank breech birth here: http://www.breechbabies.com/new_years_breech.htm

* A VBAC Breech Birth http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=424742

* Many more pictures, stories of vaginal breech births here: http://www.breechbabies.com/pictures.htm

Lastly, if she does decide to go with a c-section, please encourage her to hire a doula, make a Birth Plan/Birth Preferences sheet to print out and take with her to the hospital, and really own her birth (instead of just getting shuffled through the system without a lot of say). There are many things she can do to put in place the extra support she will need during & after a c-section such that she can increase her odds of breastfeeding successfully, for example. It's very worth it to put a lot of effort into research, self-education, self-reflection (excellent book for this is Pam England's 'Birthing From Within'), and planning for all possible options/outcomes (vaginal, c-sec, etc.) during her pregnancy so that she feels at peace with her birth (however it happens.

As for vaginal breech info, it may take a little more digging, a little more effort, but she can likely set up an environment in which to birth her baby vaginally if she wishes. Or, she can put the pieces in place to have a very positive experience with a humanized (instead of medicalized) c-section. I hope she has a wonderful birth, no matter what path the baby takes to come out!

Dear A. and friend,
There is an awful lot of advice ranging from all over to everywhere else. So hopefully your friend will be able to find some comfort and encouragement. I'll just offer my story to join the club and hopefully it'll encourage your friend.
With my first son I was in childbirth classes with a doula when I asked some questions about the sensations I was feeling. She had described the "pressure" as your pregnancy progressed. I was feeling little pokes and kicks "down there". She massaged around and suggested that I check with my OB, who decided to check by ultrasound. It was obvious that I was footling breech (when only the feet are presenting and the bottom and head are way up in the upper abdomen). He suggested different techniques to try at home (I was already 37 weeks). They didn't work and I was scheduled for the day after his due date. I woke up bright and early, arrived, was taken into surgery, and my son was born. He had a few problems and was under oxygen for about 12 hours. My recovery was very easy (make sure to take the stool softeners unril everything moves smoothly, then wean yourself off!)
Two years later I had a VBAC. It was a horrible, terrible, dissappointing, exasperating experience. My recovery was lengthy and painful (and I only had to push three or four times!)
Four years after that, baby number three was a scheduled c-section (FL is pretty strict) and it was really good once they got my nausea under control. I was able to get back to normal quickly. I also found out that my previous scar on my uterus was almost torn from the two pregnancies. I am eternally grateful that I had my c-sections.
As far as advice, something that i think is very important to keep in mind is that the whole point is to end up with a healthy mom and baby, not a "great story" or "medication free birth" or "whatever you want is best" story. The idea that every situation can be what you want is very unrealistic. Flexibility and a willingness to go with advice from the doctors, midwives, nurses, doulas...whomever that you trust is the best way to go!
Good luck for your frined!
A.

Hi A.... when I was pregnant with my son, they kept telling me he was breach, I feared (totally feared ) a c-section. I asked what I could do to fix it.. and this is going to sound dumb, you will probably get a laugh out of this (it's ok, you can laugh).. they told me to kneel on all fours, rock back and forth, and rub my stomach in a circular motion. Ok are you laughing ? Just picture it.. But.. I did it, and it worked. thank god no one ever witnessed me doing it. But, they say.. that the rocking back and forth, and rubbing your stomach, causes the baby to reverse itself.. I swear, my son was born natural.. it worked. But I was so scared of a c-section that I probably would have walked down the street backwards with an orange on my head, if they would have said it would work. I hope it all turns out ok for her. Oh one more thing.. my sister has had all c-sections, and she said she wouldnt want it any other way. She says im crazy for wanting to go through the natural delivery ( she has had all c-sections because she is high risk), so I guess its all in what you want, and feel most comfortable with. Good Luck to her..

Hi A.,

My daughter was breach. My doctor didn't even check until a few days before she was due and by then I think it was too late to turn her. At any rate, tell your friend not to worry. Quite honestly, now that I've had the c-section I sort of think, why go through all of the pain and struggle for a "natural" childbirth? We did all of the classes, etc. preparing for a normal delivery but honestly the section was perfectly safe and my daughter didn't come out looking like she'd been through a war trying to get down the birth canal and out. In fact, I will probably do a c-section for our second baby whether he/she is breach or not. Hope this helps.

Hi! Even a planned c-section increases risks of all kinds for mom and baby. Including risks to future pregnancies. There are options to try to get the baby to turn before labor begins, and I would try them in light of the alternative. If they don't work, at least you tried, and then I would go with a c-section because unfortunately, most doctors aren't trained enough to deliver breech babies safely. Go to http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/breech.html for a whole list of options to try to get the baby to turn before labor. It's just my opinion, but a "nicer shaped head" is nowhere near reason enough to warrant major abdominal surgery! I've seen vaginally born newborns without cone shapes. And the "cone shape" if it occurs, decreases significantly within a few days of birth. Recovery from a c-section takes many weeks.

Hi A.

I've had two c-sections. I was a little scared at first, but everything turned out fine. Both of my girls were very healthy and so was I. My recovery was quick, I'm not going to lie, its painful after the epidural wears off. The nurses will come in and try to make you get out of bed and walk but its not unbearable. The plus side to a c-section is her child will have a "perfect head". Both my girls had perfectly round heads instead of the cone shape you can get from a vaginal birth (my nephew looked like he had 2 heads LOL). Tell your friend to just talk to her doctor and ask alot of questions to ease her mind also there are a few methods that can be used to try and turn the baby tell her to ask her doc about that. Good Luck! K.

Okay there is a lot of opinions out there, a lot to go through but from my expereince the docotr is usually right on the money. My first child was a vaginal birth. I was in labor with her for hours and then had to have a forceps delivery. My second child was scheduled for a c-section for several reasons. First for all my first child was 5 pounds and the second one was measuring close to 8 pounds. Second was that my first child was lucky to be small because my bone structure could not pass a baby any larger than her. Anyways I ended up going into labor with him the day I was schduled to for the c-section, doctor thought this was a good sign to let things go and see what happens. Well his heart rate dropped with every contraction and would not recover. He was facing up and the cord was being pressed. I still ended up with a c-section.
Let me tell you I recovered much faster from the vaginal delivery than I did from the c-section but I was less stressed out with knowing that the c-section was a possiblility. My first child had literaly over 20 doctors and nurses in the room because of the high intensity and higher risk she was in. With the c-section it was the doctor , his assistant, a pediatric nurse, the anthesialogist and my husband. Much more relaxing.
If she is concerned with the recovery is it a longer recovery but in the end it is the safest for the child. I was concerned myself but now having gone through it I would do it again in a heart beat.
A.

A.
I have had 2 c-sectons. And have been at both ends of the rope. With my son i had an emergency section after i failed to progress. Because i was scared and did not ask anyone what to expect I was scared to death. I did not have a good expirence because i was one of the very few who got an infection. But with my daughter she turned breech at 38 weeks so we scheduled a csection. The best advice to anyone having one is get up and walk as soon as you can. It will be sore but it will make the healing so much easier. I honestly started walking 4 hours after delivery. I was back to my normal routine at about aweek post op. I do know that they gave me a med that lasts for 24 hours that helps people that had csections to beable to get up and walk that first 24 hours and it makes the recovery so nice. I had my daughter on a Saturday morning and went home monday morning so no more than a regular stay. If you would like more info please feel free to contact me. I am happy to talk to your friend

My last baby - #7 was breech. They tried to turn her, but to no avail. Luckily, my doctors let me deliver her breech and avoid a c-section. Turned out that she had her cord wrapped around her neck 2 times and that is why they could not turn her.

I also had a c-section; my little girl stayed in a breach position from 28 weeks on. But the section went well and everyone was happy and healthy afterwards. I had to get over the fact that I wouldn't have the experience of natural childbirth, but it was better for the baby to have the section and that was the most important consideration for me. I had a pretty easy recovery. I must have had easy nurses because they didn't make me walk until the next D.. I also live in a one-story house so I didn't have to deal with stairs. Good luck - I hope things go well for your friend.

during my pregnancy, though it was complicated with hypertension and other problems, i had been hell bent on having my baby naturally. enduring the pain and experiencing the miracle of childbirth. i was excited. but having been in the hospital frequently throughout, the doctors monitered me and the baby a lot. one day about 2 weeks before my due date they realized i was dialating so they put me in a labor and delivery room and broke my water. at that point i started to feel disconnected from the natural option that i had so hoped for. they had also jammed a fetal heart moniter into my babys head which i oppose. i agreed with all of this intervention because i am not a doctor and because of the paranoia of losing my baby anyway because of all of my complications. then about 2 hours later the machine detected that my babys heart rate had slowed to a dangerous number. it was suggested that i have a c section NOW! i was really afraid and tho i had planned on having a natural birth i just did what they suggested and less than an hour later i was looking down at a beautiful life that i had created, healthy and wonderful. the fears of my complications were over and i was a mama.
so basically what i am saying is that sure, certain doctors are going to suggest c secions. i feel that in their heads they have probably weighed the pros and cons and have looked at their past experiences and decided that it would be the safest option. not to say that vaginal birth in most circumstances isnt possible. but if there is already a problem and the doctor wants to do a c section i would tell your friend to just go with it. the real glory in having your baby isnt how you delivered it. it is how you care for it. and once the baby is out she will be so focused on her little miracle that it wont matter anyway.

My daughter was breech and was that way the entire time. I really didn't want to have a c-section and was pretty freaked out about it, but it's not that bad. Even though I was numb I still felt some pain and discomfort, but they shot me full of all kinds of drugs via the IV after they pulled her out. But after the epidural/spinal block wears off, it hurts! But after a week I quit taking the pain pills and just took Advil. One good thing about a C-section is that you get to stay in the hospital longer. But because my daughter was breech her head was not round, instead it was the shape of the part of the uterus it had been growing and pressing against for all that time. Plus her feet were mis-shaped because they were under her, she was sitting with her legs crossed under her most of the time. So after she was born she had to go to several specialists for her feet, head and hips to make sure everything was alright and no casting, etc. would be needed. Hip problems are a common concern for breech babies. My daughter's head rounded out and her feet are better, and no hip problems.

After skimming through and hearing what most mothers have to say about c-sections and whatnot, I just want to say, it's not as scary as it sounds whatsoever. You'll get your epidural or spinal (if it's got to be done), soon you won't feel a thing. Then they'll open you up, take him/her out, and they'll staple you up.
You'll be utterly sore for a few weeks and will need the help of a close family member to help you lift the baby or climb out of bed. I was scared to death when they said I had to have an emergency c-section and I didn't think to fight it. However, I had a planned c-section with my second child just 7 weeks ago and I healed double quickly and am very glad I did it that way. Don't be too scared if that's what you need to have done. It's not as scary as everyone makes it out to be.

Hi A.,

Just wanted to let you know that the baby could be breach up until delivery. My sister-in-law was breach with my nephew until the day before she went into labor. Her Dr. was sure she was going to have a c-section but everything went fine. Another friend of mine was fine and at the last minute the baby turned and she had to have c-section. I think it would be safe to say unless she has to be induced the baby could change posotions. When I had my daughter she was not completely turned but she often laid across my tummy. My mid-wife had me get on all fours and then go down on my elbows and sway my hips while on my elbows to help encourage the baby into the correct position. I guess it helped she was in position when I went into labor, however, you do feel very silly. Hope that helped.

Best of Luck,
J.

I work as a doula and Lamaze Childbirth Educator, if your friend would like some tips and tricks for getting baby to turn she may contact me. I would be happy to provide some information via email (of course, no fee!). You can find me through my web site www.4adoula.com.

There are lots of ways to turn a breech on your own and lots of options if you can't. :) I have been to four "Versions" or ECVs. If she wants some tips to make it more successful, email me.

my daughter was breach while i was pregant. there are tricks that she can do herself while at home to turn her baby around. there is one that can be used if she can get to a deep indoor pool. if she can, have her go to the 8 ft or 9 ft section of the pool and dive to the bottom and come back up. she can do this several times and there is something about the gravity of the water. im not sure how it works but my dr recommended it. my daughter was a winter baby as well so i wasnt able to get to a pool. there is also one she can do at home. this is the one i used so i know it works. have her get down on all fours and have her rock back and forth. this motion makes the baby move into postion and lay how he/she is suppose to for a regular birth. hopefully those tips works for her. good luck

My first son was breach, and at about 8.5 months when we realized it, my doctors did an external version and flipped him around. It was not a big deal and I went on to have a natural childbirth a couple weeks later. As far as it being difficult and leaving bruises, etc...this was far from my experience. My doctors are women, they hooked me up to an ultasound, they put gel all over my stomach, and they used two doctors to do the version. They each put a hand at one corner of my stomach, lifted him up, and very gently and slowly moved him around. There was no soreness, and certainly no bruising. There is some pressure as they lift him, and quite honestly, I am ticklish, so I found it a little ticklish, but beyond that, absolutely uneventful. I would ask your doctors their success rate at doing versions......my nurse at the hospital said she sees a lot of male doctors come in and push and pull and try to force the baby and that it rarely works, but my doctors just seem to have a knack by doing it as a pair, and they have an incredibly high success rate at doing so. (the doctor that did mine said she couldnt remember one that didnt turn.....they look at the position of the baby before hand and can determine whether or not they can turn it. If the baby cant be turned for some reason, then they recognize that before trying.)

i had a c section with my first child the reason i had one was because i couldnt finish dilating i was dialated to 9 and they had a hard time detecting my babys heartbeat it wasnt bad and now im going to have a c section with my second child who will be born in april so c sections are not bad they do a bikin cut and u dont fell nothing cause they do an epidurial so it wont hurt i walked the day after my c section and i was able to eat fine i had a great doctor they gave me morphine to ease my pain but i didnt know i was allergic to it so they had to take it out right away i broke out in hives other than that just talk to the doctors but i had a real good experience it took about 45 minutes and after thati got to hold my baby while i was in recovery for an hour so just let her know it aint bad

Hi A.,

I knew at 32 weeks that my son was breach. I worked with my child birth coach to do stretches etc to try to get Anthony to turn but in the end he stayed right where he was. I had a c-section one week before my due date and as it turned out the c-section was a blessing in disguise. He eneded up weighing 10 lbs 7 ounces, which was a shock to everyone (except for me, I was HUGE).
The best thing your friend can do is talk to her doctor, get all the information she can about trying to turn the baby for vaginal birth vs a scheduled c-section and make the best decision for her and her baby.
-C.

CHOICE is an excellent resource. They have experienced midwives that could offer some options/resources to turn the baby that your friend may have not heard of yet. It's worth a try. ###-###-####.

T.

Yes I have experienced a c-section just last december. Have her talk to the hospital staff and ask the OB/GYN questions the day she is scheduled to have it. My c-section was quick and less painful. My diet aftwards was bread and water. The hospital gives tours and answers any questions she or the husband might have. Just be there waiting like a good friend.

A.,
It has been my experience that most doctors are quick to suggest a c-section for a situation like your friends. However, many midwives and doctors that work with midvives would allow her to try external aversion as an option. Personally, I would opt for the external aversion rather than agree to a scheduled c-section. How far along is she? If she is between 20-35 weeks, there is a good chance the baby will turn on his own. My son was breach at around 30 weeks, but my midwife suggested several excersises, which I did every night up until delivery and he turned on his own.

Best wishes
J. F.

I did not have this experience but a close family member did. She was breach until the day she went in to be turned and when they did the ultrasound the baby had turned around on its own. Some babies turn at the "last minute" others don't. You can have a doctor come in and try to turn the baby but to do so, I believe, they literally have the ultrasound on you while they push on your stomach...pushing the head one way and the feet the other. It does not always work and often times leaves bruises. I do know others who have had this done and said next time they are just going to have the c-section if it happens. As I said these are stories I've heard from others. I would suggest talking to your doctor about your options and go from there.

Hi A.:
Please tell your friend that it's really not that bad. My baby was breach and I was disappointed b/c I had always pictured myself having this fabulous natural birth...I went to the birthing classes and yoga and everything...but it wasn't to be. However, I had no idea how easy a c-section would be. My husband and I drove to the hospital the day of the surgery and felt like we were going to "pick up" a baby. :)
I had the spinal (not as bad as I thought!) and before I knew it, I was in recovery holding my newborn while my husband rubbed my numb feet. The surgery was over in 45 minutes. A little bit of pulling and tugging, but no big deal. Meanwhile, the lady next door was in intense labor screaming her head off! The other good thing was that I got 4 days in the hospital (vs. two with vag. birth) and I needed it to learn all about baby care and breastfeeding from the nurses. I felt confident going home. The only negative things I would say about it are:
--The sensation of losing feeling in the lower half of your body is WEIRD. I did get kind of nausous at one point, but I just told the anethesiologist and he gave me something to make it go away.
--I didn't get that whole emotional rush of working so hard to push out the baby, then crying in happiness -- they just pulled the baby out and I heard her crying, but didn't get to see her until 5 minutes later (a lifetime!) after they cleaned her off. And I couldn't hold her until they sewed me back up. It was kind of anti-climatic.
--Recovery isn't fun, of course, but they give you enough pain killers to get you through the worst of it. It helps if you get up to walk as soon as the doc says it's OK.

Uh, I would not recommend having a breach baby vaginally. Sure, you may be able to "refuse" a c-section, but then you will be in for hours and hours of labor because the baby won't come down, and then the baby could get stuck, forcing an emergency c-section. I don't think anyone wants that. I was born breach (frank breach) vaginally, 30 years ago when they still did breach births vaginally. My mom ended up with a long labor, a huge episiotomy, and wasn't even able to get out of a chair while holding me for a couple weeks or so. There is a chance that the baby will still turn, but even if it doesn't, c-sections are done every day. A scheduled c-section is the safest option for a mom with a baby that is presenting breach. As far as resources- try csectionrecovery.com or just do a google search for "c-section" and it will come up with a ton of results. I can't vouch for any of the sites, but hopefully that will lead her in the right direction.

I was induced with my son and after 24 hours of labor and trying to get him to come down far enough to turn him( he was breech), they had decided on a c-section. I was nothing but relieved! By that time, my epidural had worn off and they gave me 2 shots of it at one time and I could still lift my legs off the bed. That was my only concern.
My friend had a c-section with her twins and felt them cutting her and they had to knock her out. Not to freak anyone out, but it happens. Everyone has a different tolerance level for pain and for medicine. I made it clear that they were not cutting me unless they did something else -either to numb me or to put me to sleep. They put morphine in the epidural and it worked wonders. I felt a few "tugs" as they put it but no pain. I was able to move onto the bed in which they wheeled me to the recovery room without help. I was also able to hold my son on the way to the recovery room and able to nurse him as soon as they bathed him.
It was a very pleasant experience for me, overall - and would prefer a c-section next time. I didn't want to take any pain meds - but they pretty much pushed them on me for the car ride home. I slept on the couch so I had something to pull myself up on, and my son slept in the bassinet beside me. I took the meds at night in case I began to hurt - you always feel worse at night with any illness or injury. Hope this is helpful!