Kari's Keen Knowledge

Getting ready to have a baby? Read everything there is to know about pregnancy but can't find a thing on what happens to your body after the baby comes?

I had the same trouble finding anything related to what happens after the baby arrives. So here it is, in all it's awesome glory-the gory, painful details that if you're expecting you may-or may not-want to know about beforehand. I can only relate what happened in my experience, but even though every pregnancy is different, there are tons of similarities (baby aside).

Towards the end of my pregnancy my blood pressure was creeping up, swelling in my legs had gone past my knees, and I was beginning to release more and more protein in my urine. For those of you with similar symptoms, be sure to note any spots in your vision, headaches, contractions and anything else your doctor may advise. In any case, prepare yourself to be hospitalized for close observation and bedrest (hah!). I laugh because while you are supposedly "resting," every four hours a nurse will come into your room, take your temperature, blood pressure, ask about contractions, see how much you've been drinking and possibly administer drugs.

Now perhaps you may be able to sleep through all of that (did I mention they do that 24/7?) but if (and this isn't a stretch) you're like me and you're already getting up and waddling to the bathroom to squeeze out a milliliter of urine into a tiny brown jar for analysis-then bed"rest" is exactly what you won't be getting.

For me, my c-section was quite a surprise, when after eating an early breakfast my doctor walks in to tell me I need an emergency c-section due to preeclampsia-but what follows is standard procedure:

• They wheel you into a new prep room-sometimes bringing all your belongings with you in case your room is needed while you're out.
• Stick you with an obscene amount of IVs
• Change your barely-there hospital gown
• Shave your privates-oh yes, they still do this, lovely, no?
• Ram-I'm sorry..Place a foley catheter into your urethra
  
• Take all your vitals once more
• Ask is there is anyone you'd like in the room with you (Try to stay focused, I know your birthing plan is probably the last thing on your mind and you're probably shaking with nerves/meds, but just hang in there!)

So after all of this bonding between you and every nurse in L&D (Labor and Delivery) your doctor should come in and give you a big pat on the back "here we go, any questions" type of speech. If you can think of any question that truly bears weight at this point, you're incredible! I believe I stuttered some and asked about my bladder-though I don't recall why.

At this point you're wheeled into the OR (operating room) and helped onto the table. Depending on whether your c-section is scheduled or not will depend on what type of medication you're given. If you go with the epidural, you'll curl over your baby while they inject your spine with a needle-it does hurt but will fade shortly thereafter.

They lay you down on your back, place a giant blue screen in front of your face and lay a warm blanket across your chest. The rest of your body is then stripped naked-the blanket helps to create the illusionary solace that some of you is covered. Once you're laying down, they will strap your arms down so that if you saw an areal view, you'd look like you were on a cross. Your IVs will be adjusted as needed and your anesthesiologist will be sitting there to monitor them.

After much pushing and pulling you will be able to feel extreme pressure-which should NOT be painful. If it is, speak up!

Soon you'll hear a tiny cry and a nurse will momentarily give you a peek at your little one. Your anesthesiologist will give you a little something (unless you have other arrangements) and you will wake up in the recovery room.

Depending on your bleeding the following may or may not happen to you... Once you've woken in the recovery room, for me I was shaking and cold so I had a warm air blanket on. The nurse there monitored my IVs, for women whose bleeding isn't slowing or hasn't stopped, the nurse will begin to massage the fundus. Sounds relaxing? It's the most painful thing you could imagine. I did my best not to grip the nurses arm too forcefully but the instinct to protect yourself is quite strong. If your bleeding does not subside, you can expect this to happen several more times. For me, it resulted in another trip to the OR, a D&C (which is where the uterus is scraped clean) and a six pint blood transfusion with a four pint platelet transfusion.

If you find your pregnancy ends in preeclampsia you may be given a magnesium drip. It makes you feel exhausted and as if you have the flu. -Just an FYI.

If your pregnancy ends this way, expect a slow recovery. Walking is extremely difficult, as well as urination/bowel movements.

I know that for the woman who foresees a c-section in her future, the scariest thing at the time is having staples put in. Trust me-this is the easiest...in fact, you almost want to keep them in because it starts to feel more secure.

Another thing to prepare yourself for-gas. Massive amounts of trapped gas which can be quite painful. You may even find yourself praying to God for it to just pass right along. Your husband/partner may think it's funny...if you don't, I highly suggest you lay down any penalties for laughing before hand.

Once you're home and moving about better, you'll find you start to pee unheard amounts of urine at a time-a complete 180 from where you were just a week or two ago!

You should also expect to wake up in cold sweats about a week or two after as a result of the sudden drop of estrogen in your body.

I know it sounds like a horror story-keep in mind not every pregnancy is the same. But do prepare yourself and believe me that it is more than worth the pain-in fact after awhile you'll be amazed at how despite what you went through you may even consider doing it again! Listen to your body and your doctor as you recover. If you feel like you shouldn't do something-don't! It isn't worth it. No 'buts,' just let someone else handle it.

As always, please feel free to post your thoughts, experiences, or questions, we'd love to hear from you! Good luck with your pregnancy and I wish you and yours all the best!!