[**Jenn**]

My cousin is due July 6th and was planning a NCB using hypnobabies. However, her little man Rocky is being stubborn and staying breech despite all natural tactics as well as seeing a Webster's trained chiro. She had her 38 week appt. yesterday and not only is his head wedged in her rib cage but his butt is already engaged in her pelvis. So this being her first baby, butt engaged, and taking into account her fluid levels she does not want to risk the external version which I think is a very smart decision on her part. She's really bummed about needing the section but knows she did all she could. She won't schedule til at least her EDD to give him some more time to turn if he wants--though very doubtful it will happen now. Anyway, the point of this is to ask those of you who have had c-sections what can you do recovery wise to make things as easy as possible? I already told her I'm available to help in any way--cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc-- when her dh is at work but is there anything she herself can do to make for as easy a recovery as possible?

This is like deja vu for me because her my (my Aunt) went through the same exact thing with her and I stayed with my Aunt when my Uncle was at work (he was National Guard and away every weekend) and helped her and got her anything she needed so she could just stay in bed and take care of her baby (I was only 6 at the time as crazy as that sounds!). My Aunt passed away 2 1/2 years ago and I know this is a time she really wishes her Mom was around. We all do.

[~*Bethy*~]

Tell her to have help!! She will want to stay down and drink TONS of water! Yes they tell you to get up and keep moving but her ankles will swell, no joke, about 4x the normal size! tell her to prepare food now and freeze it. Whatever she can do to keep off her feet will be the best thing she can do for herself!

Also if she lives in a 2 story house, tell her to camp out in the room shell be in the most. For us, we moved our bed downstairs to the living room, and I only went up the stairs to shower. it was a GODSEND to be able to lay down on my bed, but still be able to be with everyone.

Any friends that want to come over need to pitch in and help with chores and cooking, no ones allowed over if they just sit on their bums!!

Is it illegal to deliver breech? Here in Oregon it isnt, thats why Im asking

[**Jenn**]

I don't think it's illegal to deliver breech but there aren't any doctors who are trained for it. When Lila kept flipping breech on me I entertained the notion of delivering her vaginally if she was still breech but I'm in no way comfortable attempting that with doctors who aren't trained in it. Her OB said she's an excellent candidate for a VBAC when she has her next baby so she's happy about that.

I know my Mom said she's going to make a bunch of meals for her to freeze so she'll have that covered. And like I said, I told her I'd help her too for as long as she needs. She's got a MIL and SIL close by but I don't know that they'd help in the way she would need help--like doing dishes, the laundry, cleaning the bathroom, that kind of thing. I think they'd be more like wanting to hold the baby, that kind of thing which is nice if she wants a shower or a nap or something but I don't want to see her doing any of the day to day household stuff for a while. Plus they've got 2 dogs to take care of too.

I've had major abdominal surgery, when I was 8, and I remember that recovery like it was yesterday. I can't imagine taking care of a newborn on top of it. Those of you who do it are Super Moms in my eyes!

[~*Bethy*~]

Well pain meds really make it easy LOL without meds Id be a world of hurt for the first 2 weeks! percoset kinda altered my mind to think that I wasnt in pain so that REALLY helped out as well

[SandKmommy]

Her case sounds very similar to how Kieran was positioned and we tried home remedies and such w/ no success either. I had too much fluid and one of my ob's advised against a version because he couldn't feel her externally very well(one of the issues with having GD is too much fluid), its kinda like deja vu reading that nix the "natural" birth part.

Anyway, yes get as much help as she can. I slept in our recliner for the first few days so I didn't have to get down into our bed(we have no frame cause I'm too scared our weight would break one), lots of water, do not take stairs the first 2 weeks. Our only bathroom is upstairs and the day we got home, the minute we walked in I had to use the bathroom(thank you enema!) and it cause a problem w/ my incision having to go up stairs every time I had to potty.
Also take it easy but try to walk often, my ob said to walk for 15-30min then 30min-1hr resting to get the muscles working again and make sure gas is flowing again.

[~*sierra*~]

awe i hope her little guy flips! but if not i wish her a speedy recovery, sounds like she has a lot of people surrounding her with love & help!

[Resi]

For me it was having my mom here to help out the first 4 days home. I stayed upstairs in our family room & bedroom. Damon and my mom made meals and brought me anything I needed. I just took care of baby and myself. I even needed some help in the shower the first few days. The few days in the hospital I buzzed the nurse for everything because I had a hard time with moving around. I took full advantage of having them help me change diapers, help him latch on, or just hand him to me when I was alone without Damon or my mom. I would say after about a week I started feeling better and could do everything on my own w/o having to take pain meds.

[CandaceDianne]

My husband was home with me right afterwards, so we really didnt need help. I would suggest that she stay on top of her cleaning the week before her scheduled c-section so when she gets back there isn't anything to do. She needs to take her meds....oh my goodness, when I didn't take my percocet (sp?) and ibuprofen, I would huuuurt!! Get some help at home when she needs it. After about a week, I was feeling better as long as I was staying on top of my meds. I probably could stop taking them about a week and a half pp. C-sections are not nearly as bad as I thought they would be, definitly an experience though.

[**Jenn**]

Thanks everyone!

[Mars]

My DH was home for the 2 weeks after my section and he took care of pretty much everything while I tended the baby and did a few minor things. Our home is usually really clean so there were only minor things to be done along with the laundry and DH handled the breakfast, lunches, etc.

In all, I had a pretty speedy recovery. I was actually up and about from the day after though my entire body was swollen from the IV/fluids. After my second day in the hospital I had asked if it was absolutely necessary to take the pain meds and they said no so I opted not to take them. I just did everything in moderation and I got loads of rest. It also helped that Amara was an easy baby. She literally slept, woke up to feed and have a diaper change and then went right back to sleep.

[.Brandi.]

I was home alone after both my c-sections....like as soon as they both came home! No one called to see if I needed help or if I was okay. So since she has the help, I think she'll be fine. But lots of rest and snuggle time with the baby will help her recover. It's best that she get up and walk around but if she feels tired, to sit down. I have a really bad habit of not sitting down when I need to and I tent to push things too far. So, if you're around, make sure she sits and relaxes!!

[Angelaosaurus-rex]

I was up and moving the day after mine. It hurt but I knew from past surgeries it really is the best thing to do to recover. I was fine within 3 days doing things on my own. I think any help you would give any new mommy cooking, cleaning would be helpful!! Your a sweet cousin!!!

[**Jenn**]

Thanks ladies! She's more like a sister than a cousin to me. We grew up around the corner from each other and even though there is 6 years between us and I used to babysit her (and her brother) I've always felt closer than the average cousin relationship to her. She and her husband are Lila's godparents! I know her Mom would have been all over her pregnancy and first grandbaby and its really hard that she's not here anymore. Especially because her Mom went through the same exact thing with her, she could have really used the advice/support from her.

[Mjp121212]

I never had a c-section, but I had surgery with the same incision and the dr's "delivered" a cantaloupe sz'd tumor and my ovary was the size of a soft ball-----basically the size of a baby when you put them together....and I found that a pillow pressed against the incision when I walked was very nice.