Ladies How Did You Cope

[Shola]

Hi a Q for the ladies with babies!

I am due to have my first in May and well I still don't know which option to go for natural or C-section? My OBGYN says his patients are up and running (!) before they leave the hospital after a C-Section.

What was your experience? How much pain were you in?

How mobile were you?

Were you able to breastfeed?

How much pain medication did you take and for how long?

How long before your body felt 'normal' again?

Also interested in your natural birth experience, especially if you've had both natural and C-Section what would you recommend?

And of course the age old question, after a natural birth did everything go back to it's original size ! Please feel free to pm me with answers to that one!

Thx

Sho

(perhaps mods can link this to the ladies section also?)

[Boo]

Hi Shola, Nice to see you back on the forum again. Congratulations on the up coming arrival, I now understand the washing machine post in general

I too am due in May, what dates are you?

Has you oby given you any reason why you would need a c section? Do you have some medical reason or are they suggesting it because it is the quickest and/or most expensive option.

I ask as I have noticed a LOT of foreign women are offered elective c sections in thailand & although it is nessecary if there is a medical reason, can't understand the preference, apart from the increased cost and being able to choose the exact date of birth.

I am a type 2 diabetic & will probably have an oversized baby (lucky me) & was trying to angle it have a c-section but my oby is totally against it (unless there is complications in labour) as he thinks it is too intrusive & from now reasearching the expereince of freinds & family who have had one, I now go along with this too.

I know approx 10 women in my circle who have had c sections & with the exception of 1, they all had a tough time for at least a couple of weeks afterwards, like not being able to bend down to pick up baby due to scar pain & finding the restricitons like not being able to drive very annoying. Some got infections in their scars & a few wish they could have expeienced the natural birth as they think they missed out (this is only a few though)

So, yes, you may be up & walking around within a day of it being done but you will be in pain & will have probbaly have a long (6-8weeks) healing process for the scarring.

If going the natural route, well your question about it all going back to normal was one of the first I asked too . I am assured that it does but for several weeks (& sometimes a couple of months) after birth, the body will expell all the left over baby stuff & you will have a month or 2 long period (aren't we girls lucky).

It is during this time that it all contracts back to normal size but pelvic floor exercises are recommended to assist the muscles. (they run courses in the UK, not sure about BKK)

One thing I didn't realise until a freind who had a c section told me, was that this happens even if you don't have a vaginal birth, I just assumed the doctors took it all out when the baby came out in surgery

All of this I have got from my midwife, friends & family & the obstetrician himself & I also find that looking at sites like www.babyexpert.com are helpful as there are other women who have been through or are going through the same things, so can glean info from each other.

Sorry to anyone if this is a bit too graphic

[Shola]

Hi Boo,

Congrats too! My date is May 15th and the computer says May 12th so around there! My OBGYN recommends a natural birth, he is one of the few Doc's in LOS that handles more natural births that C-Sections but he'll do what ever I choose, my hubby's more keen on a C-Section as he says it'll be over in 30 mins for me and no labor but I am thinking more of the aftermath!

I have read tons of stuff on the net, most g'friends I know have had natural births and say they're just the same as before, but I have read contrary on the net as it says things like 'of course after you will always be a little bigger than before'

I know about the pelvic floor stuff, your supposed to do it from the 2nd trimester onwards, but I always forget and I find it such an annoying excerise to do!!

BTW it's a gal! What RU having?

Sho

[Boo]

We are having a boy which is cool, first one in my family in 22 years & hubby was the last in his 37 years ago, so to say both sides are excited is a total understatment.!!!!!!

I am due on 22nd but due to the diabetes & my baby being big I will be induced at 38 weeks which makes me around the 8th. So we may be on the same day

I think your doc is right about the natural birth, lucky for you you got one who feels like that, I really am amazed at the small number of women on here who have had kids in los that such a large percetage were offfered c sections. But each to their own. In the UK you don't really get the option of an elected c section but if you go private you can so I suppose LOS is the same.

The going back to normal size bit, I would listen to your gf's, they aren't going to lie to you IMO & on the net there are too many horror stories. You have to allow things to take time & go back naturally which lets face it, isn't going to be a quick after pushing out a whole person And for me personally, I would rather endure the labour ( it is called that for a reason) with the aid of pethadine or a mobile epidural & then have it over with & forgotten than deal with scars & stitches & being restricted for 2 months afterwards.

Keep me updated on how your getting on though. Will be fun to see who comes out first.

[naomisri]

Hi girls CONGRATULATIONS!

Thought I'd weigh in, I had a C-section in March last year. I had planned to have a natural birth and my doctor was fine with that, but her head didn't come down and I was in labour for 12+ hours before we realised that she wasn't going anywhere! So I guess my problem with my section was really not knowing I was going to have it. PLUS I had to have a general anaesthetic as the chief anaesthetist (or whatever you call them!) wasn't available. That was the hardest part for me, not being able to witness the birth. After I had her I had to wait for quite a while to see her too, but that might have been more to do with her breathing.

So afterwards I had some quite bad muscle spasms in the area of the incision. It was incredibly hard to sit up and I had to kind of roll off and onto the bed. I felt like every time I coughed my stitches would break, but after my doctor prescribing me some anti-spasm meds I felt a lot better and was okay walking around. Breastfeeding was hard work, we used the side-lying position initially as my abdomen hurt to have any pressure on it. It was quite difficult to get comfortable. My husband was GREAT with her. He did all the rocking and swaying to calm her that I just couldn't do and I remember feeling upset that I couldn't do it myself. I also missed her first shower because I just couldn't get up for it, but I've heard that most women can.

I healed pretty quickly and was out on the third day at lunchtime and back at home. There were lots of things I couldn't do, mostly lifting, but it didn't last for long and most of the time you are comfortable with your baby on a pillow on your lap as you never get tired of watching them!

I belonged to a great birth board (PM if you want details). I know that a lot of the women that I spoke to said that they don't feel the same as they did before and some had some pain from tearing or during intercouse for quite a while afterwards. For me that was the only bonus from having the section as the recovery is a lot longer. My doctor thinks that it will be another C for me next time due to my pelvis shape and I guess I'm okay with that. Better the devil you know!

Hi Boo,

Congrats too! My date is May 15th and the computer says May 12th so around there! My OBGYN recommends a natural birth, he is one of the few Doc's in LOS that handles more natural births that C-Sections but he'll do what ever I choose, my hubby's more keen on a C-Section as he says it'll be over in 30 mins for me and no labor but I am thinking more of the aftermath!

I have read tons of stuff on the net, most g'friends I know have had natural births and say they're just the same as before, but I have read contrary on the net as it says things like 'of course after you will always be a little bigger than before'

I know about the pelvic floor stuff, your supposed to do it from the 2nd trimester onwards, but I always forget and I find it such an annoying excerise to do!!

BTW it's a gal! What RU having?

Sho

[chanchao]

I'm not a woman with a baby, but as a dad with a baby and having had a better view of things than mum had, lemme tell you something.

People tend to think of 'natural birth' as a NATURAL, nice, peaceful, human experience. A C-section by consequence is viewed as an UNnatural, medical thing.

Well, think AGAIN! 'Natural' birth, especially in Thailand, is a profoundly medical experience. You're hooked up to several machines that bleep, you're fed drugs through tubes and injections, then the doctor has tools available that wouldn't look out of place at a construction site.

So don't think of a C-section to be by definition more horriffic than a "natural" birth. Also recovery after a "natural" birth can be as involved as a C-section, including cutting you up and then sewing you back up again in more sensitive areas, and then dealing with (internal) scarring, etc.

So there you go. It doesn't matter much, just carrying that baby is enough to totally mess up your physique, I don't think the delivery channel can make it a lot better or worse. Bet you're looking forward to it now.

Oh, but really it's worth it!

(Felt I need to add that. Most importantly, make sure you have a doctor you can talk with and who understands you.

Edited January 29, 2007 by chanchao

[bina]

chanchao

a load of <deleted>:

a c section is surgical invasive procedure in the abdominal area. anyone who does not have a medical reason for one, should not have one. period.(in my own opinion but echoeing most doc ob gyn's i know)

i live in a country westernized but with and incredibily high birth rate average amount of children 4-5 with many many many large families of 10 kids. we are a baby/pregnancy oriented society . it is a major topic of discusion.

my own births: one involved some tearing as i tried to go w/o the cutting first. the third one the birth started off with the fetus in stress (meconium in the waters) but all were 'natural' in that , apart from some intervention (pitocin with one to help my contractions start up again, and some twilite sleep drug with the last one to blurr some of the pain when my energy ran out). i get iv of saline/glucose in all of them. no enema as i refuse. no shaving just trimming (i do that at home). i wait until the last minute (except for the last birth i saw te warning signs and we ran like the wind)... i am up and about after half an hour; hungry, and fighting with the nurses to room in with my babes. i was the scandal of three different israeli hosptials since at that time rooming in was not allowed. no enemas ws thought to be disgusting. etc etc. now everyone here is into super natural (birth with dolphins or whatever).

i would not recommend homebirthing as we did need doc's intervention for baby and me at different times but still natural.

as i have genital herpes i am a candidate for c section depending on blood titre up till the day of birth (according to our ministery of health) and my babies therefore always have followups for blood checks too...

all three births went well if not neccessarily by the book. they were hard, but feeling your baby's head crown is an amazing experience. pushing him/her out is also.

i was prepared and healthy for the most part and was up and about an hour afterwards. no need to worry about stitches, or infections, or pain. the minute the birth stopped, no pain except for when nursing (the natural oxitocin secreted while breast feeding helps cause more contractions to expell all the rest of the yucky yucky stuff, and its only for a month or so, the more births u have, the longer u have this after period).

i have varicose veins, a slightly flabby stomach where the muscle separated over my belly button, my fairly flat breasts sag a bit and i have stretch marks on my thighs and stomach. i dont care. they are a sign that i am a mother not a barbie doll that has to be with perfect body features. i am still 42 kilo although i went up 22 kilo! with each birth and my babies were born very small. the last one was 2.6 kilo and a slightly undersized head. she is now fine, big 13 yr old. i remember the birth parts as if it was yesterday but dont remember the pain part too much. i remember the words of the midwives (in israel a midwife does most of the work the doc does the intervention), the emergency room stuff )for my last baby), the lack of birthing rooms (gov't hospital so no private room with rocking chair stuff for me, i was together after wards with 10 other women in a room/ward)...

it is a very personal matter, but general health recomendations claim that better w/o the c section unless u need it, or an emergency develops. but then again people nowadays do elective surgery for everything (i would never consider redoing a body part unless it was psychologically hindering me in life, or medically neccessary)... i guess i m old fashioned in this day and age.

btw, did try giving birth tomy first in a squatting postion, didnt work so well but the midwife was patient with me.

i ws cut three times epistiotomy. the first time i ripped so needed some stitches the second and third time, on ly a few stitches and easier to care for then the c section opening. i was a bit 'tight' the first few times for intercourse (men must love that huh?!) but that worked out as well.

i ws terrified i would need a c section do to active/inactive herpes but it all worked out.

btw, i highly recommend birthing classses if there are such a thing in thailand, even if u do elective c section, it really prepares u and makes u feel u are more in control and less frightening.

and why are u so worried about your figure etc. women are meant to give birth, and we look like women not girls afterwards. even me with my slim size, my hips are now the hips of a woman, not a boy (like before ) and i am remarried to a man that doesnt care that my left leg gets purple varicose veins every month before my period.

either way, good luck to all u preggies!!!! i had problem preggies but alls well that ends well... and i know many many mny women who have had 11 and met one who had 18!!! my midwife told me that on her 8 th child she refused to give birth and told the meds that she'd had enough ws getting dressed and going home!!!.. she was a british woman in an israeli hospital midwifing. i have a picture of her holding my daughter as she (the now 19 yr old) is slithering out. (mom foto'd the pic).

so much for rambling....

good luck to all may your births be easy and your babies healthy.

bina

[Boo]

Of all the women I know who had vaginal births (a lot, we are a family of women), none of them needed cutting & only a couple tore. Most UK midwifes now slow you down whilst the babys head crowns & tell you to pant rather than push, the slower exit of the head prevents the pernineum stretching too fast & therefore prevents tearing (supposedly). You are also told to massage oil into the area at least a month before birth to soften the tissue for stretching. Some swear by it, some never did it & didn't rip or need cutting.

Anything coming out of you with a head & shoulders though is going to cause some after birth vaginal discomfort/pain but if I had the choice of a drip of pain killer & someone cuting me an inch to let the baby out or having a hip to hip scar, I chose the vagical cut.

Emergancy c sections are another matter altogether & I am speaking from a purley "normal" birth stand point.

[chanchao]

> a load of <deleted>:

Nice.

> a c section is surgical invasive procedure in the abdominal area. anyone who

> does not have a medical reason for one, should not have one. period.

Obviously.

Oh well, guess I'll have to condense my post to a less prozaic summary:

"Natural births may not turn out all that natural, especially not in Thailand. You'd do well to pick a doctor who understands you and who you have a good communication with. "

[leisurely]

It's a very emotive subject. Mine were both born by casaerian and I only have one small scar just above the top of my pubes. I was up and about the next day despite having a general anaesthetic on both occasions. I was far too stroppy (according to the nurses). I refused to have the catheter inserted the night before, I refused an enema, I did my own shave.............The pain was bearable but I do have an abnormally high pain tolerance threshold. IMHO, you do what is right for the health of your baby. Not because it is fashionable or convenient, for the baby's health. Whatever you decide to do in consultation with your doctor is the RIGHT thing for YOU.

Good luck

[Shola]

Really informative Bina, thanks, now I'm wondering if a natural birth and a bit of tearing might not be such a bad thing if the doc can put in an extra stitch!

I defo understand where your coming from chanchao, luckily I specificly chose a doc that was educated in Engers and he's very happy for me to do whatever I want birth wise.

BTW Boo just out of interest what kind of oil?

[Boo]

Perineal Massage

cocoa butter, almond oil, olive oil, vitamin E oil or pure vegetable oil are also options.

[monica2578]

Hi Shola! Congrats to you and to all those due! I had my first in December and was very unsure of what to do - i also had an appendectomy in month 8...and have some other health issues that were really pointing to an c-section being the better option for me. do what is best for you and the baby. everybody has opinions, but the important thing to do whatever is best for you and the baby...research as much as you can. in the end i had a c-section and it was the better choice. it went very well and i recovered quickly - i actually still have pain from the appendectomy. the day after the cesarean birth,the catheter was removed and i was up and walking around, that was painful, but bearable. i stayed in the hospital 5 days. at home i spent some time in bed, but was definately fine by day 8, wasn't even needing tylenol at that point - totally different experience from the appendectomy.

The anesthesiologist was wonderful and listened to my concerns, etc. Oh, i did have the itchy reaction to the morphine from the spridural (she did a combo epidural-spinal) - but the doc. gave medicine to help with that. I was disapointed in the doctor not knowing about referred pain where shoulders can hurt after a surgery in the abdominal area (shared nerve..something like that) - he kept insisting it was the way i was sleeping.... as for breastfeeding, i would be careful about what meds they may give you as far as antibiotic, or anything else - maybe research safer ones for breastfeeding in case you are going to be given anything. Overall though i am pleased with how it went and was not in much pain and couldn't even tell it had happened shortly after i was back home.

When i researched things i found all kinds of stories, and it was good to see that there were some good ones out there - i just wanted to add one as well. good luck PM me if you want to know doc names or anything like that.

[Shola]

Thanks Monica, which hospital did you go to?

[MsFigure]

I had a c-section (which was planned) when I had my daughter 3 years ago, and I'd do it all again if I were to have another child.

I was up and moving around easily a couple of days later without any discomfort or pain, and the small incision healed perfectly. Only problem we had was that my abs were very strong so that it made it tougher to get my little girl out but they also healed and got back to normal soon after.

Breastfeeding was no problem either and I didn't need any pain meds because there was none.

We had an awesome OB and I would never go back to anyone else other than him or the hospital my daughter was born in Bangkok if I had to have another baby. It all comes down to where you go and who you see, and getting the best doctor possible and being happy with your choice.

Good Luck for May, and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy (I missed being pregnant for a short while after my daughter arrived)

Di

[Shola]

I had a c-section (which was planned) when I had my daughter 3 years ago, and I'd do it all again if I were to have another child.

I was up and moving around easily a couple of days later without any discomfort or pain, and the small incision healed perfectly. Only problem we had was that my abs were very strong so that it made it tougher to get my little girl out but they also healed and got back to normal soon after.

Breastfeeding was no problem either and I didn't need any pain meds because there was none.

We had an awesome OB and I would never go back to anyone else other than him or the hospital my daughter was born in Bangkok if I had to have another baby. It all comes down to where you go and who you see, and getting the best doctor possible and being happy with your choice.

Good Luck for May, and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy (I missed being pregnant for a short while after my daughter arrived)

Di

Wow! You must have a really good pain threshold! You say you have strong abs, do/did you workout? Did your belly go back to normal after? Also which hospital did you choose?

Need all the info I can get!

Sho

[MsFigure]

I had a c-section (which was planned) when I had my daughter 3 years ago, and I'd do it all again if I were to have another child.

I was up and moving around easily a couple of days later without any discomfort or pain, and the small incision healed perfectly. Only problem we had was that my abs were very strong so that it made it tougher to get my little girl out but they also healed and got back to normal soon after.

Breastfeeding was no problem either and I didn't need any pain meds because there was none.

We had an awesome OB and I would never go back to anyone else other than him or the hospital my daughter was born in Bangkok if I had to have another baby. It all comes down to where you go and who you see, and getting the best doctor possible and being happy with your choice.

Good Luck for May, and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy (I missed being pregnant for a short while after my daughter arrived)

Di

Wow! You must have a really good pain threshold! You say you have strong abs, do/did you workout? Did your belly go back to normal after? Also which hospital did you choose?

Need all the info I can get!

Sho

Yes the strong abs are from working out and the belly went back to normal. It didn't take long at all due to the fact that I didn't put on much weight (9kgs) during the pregnancy (I even had abs throughout my pregnancy) and I think the fact that I also breastfed which apparantly helps making the weight loss easier after the birth. As for my pain threshold, It really wasn't anything and even I was surprised but how little pain I had afterwards - sure i was a bit sore, but nothing compared to what I was expecting.

I chose the Bumrungrad in BKK (which is like a 5 star hotel) and excellent doctors. It's also the only hospital that we go to for anything major (like my husbands numerous surgeries from his motorbike racing crashes ) and definitely worth the travel time it took from Pattaya every month.

We initially went there because we needed a fertility specialist to try and get pregnant, who I also had as my obstetrician. Totally awesome doctor who spoke perfect english (Dr. Pansak Sugkraroek) and the only one I will go to again.

Here is some more info if you're interested about what it would cost there C-Section Package & Normal Vaginal Birth.

If you have any more questions, just ask

Di

[Shola]

Thats good to know as I'm at Bumrungrad too! Although I'm still unsure about how I will deliver, theres so many pro's and con's for C-Section or Vaginal, I'm not uber fit and don't think I've ever seen my abs! My main worry with a C-section is being unable to be up and about in the begining with the baby, but your story is definatly encouraging.

[MsFigure]

Well since you're at the Bumrungrad, you're off to a good start.

My reasons for having a c-section was only for the simple reason I was terrified of having a natural birth and the pain associated with it. If Angel had decided to arrive early, and I had no option of having her normally I would've dealt with that easily enough, but I wanted to remember her delivery as being effortless and the perfect end to my pregnancy (which was a dream... I was lucky that I had no morning sickness, mood swings or any of the other things that could spoil the joy of being pregnant).

For some weird reason, I also kept on thinking that a natural delivery would've also been a traumatic experience for the baby but if I had her in a relaxed state (without all the pain, screaming, etc) that she would also be a peaceful easygoing and relaxed baby..... And that is exactly what she was and is still is. Everytime we look at her now, we still can't believe how lucky we were to have a baby that rarely cried, slept through the nights, healthy, happy, strong and sometimes too intelligent for her own good.

I know many of the mothers or mothers-to-be might laugh at this and think it ridiculous but I really do believe that the reason for our daughter being such an easy child is because I had an enjoyable & stress-free pregnancy.

Di

[monica2578]

Hi Shola,

i was at Samitivej after researching a lot and i have had weird health issues here so i have seen all kinds of docs here at diff. hospitals. i was debating at the end between BNH (DR. VORACHAI CHUENCHOMPOONUT - was ipressed with him, speaks english very well and answered questions and concerned...i wasn't "patted on the head" like i was being silly) and the doc i saw throughout at samitivej (dr. sankiat). We live much closer to samitivej..and sadly since each place wouldn't do different parts of the birth plan, location is what it came down to). i haven't had great luck at bumrungrad overall - but for other health issues, don't really know too much about the women's center there. again, i wasn't completely happy with certain moments with the doctor, but in the end my daughter and i were fine (but i did research ahead of time about certain drugs and that sort of thing..because there were many times i was surprised at what i was given during my pregnancy, so i would find an alternative to take...). My advice would be to be very cautious, and find out as much as you can (about diff. options, and when it comes to medicine and so on to look online to check the FDA pregnancy drug class rating - that sort of thing). whatever you feel comfortable with is probably best doctor wise.

[Shola]

I totaly agree Msfigure, there have been studies too, if you have a relaxed pregnancy you have a relaxed baby and vice verca. I'm totally not into the pain either, unfortunatly I miscarried at 16 weeks early last year and had to go through labor to deliver, the worst pain I have ever felt, so if I do go natural I'm having an epidural without a doubt!

Monica I too research everything down to the letter! I know that drugs pulled by the FDA still get perscribed here so I check everything.

I really like my doc I chose him becuase he did his degree in England and has a very English approach which I like, and obviously his English is perfect! Thats a good thing about Bumrungrad you can look at the docs mini CV online before you make an appointment

Also my worry about a C-section is that some women report getting a 'stomach flap' like the skin hangs down where the incision was becuase all the muscles were cut through I really don't want that, when i'm my usual weight my stomachs ok but it pooches out a bit, I don't want previous pooch to turn into a flap! !

[MsFigure]

LOL Shola, thank god I'm not the only one who thinks the way I do. I also try to keep everyday life as enjoyable and stress-free now to help keep my daughter in the same frame of mind, and not to take everything so seriously.

(This may be a bit off topic and maybe we need another thread for this?) But I think that it is important to keep a childs life as relaxed as possible as it could have an impact and the rate at which they develop.

While some parents might think it really good for their child to show exceptional intellectual and physical skills at such a young age, some times I do get worried because she already signs of being a perfectionist (bordering on obsessive/compulsive) in everything she does, and will get upset if she can't master a task perfectly. While we encourage her to try a lot of things and not to be frightened of things, we don't expect her to be perfect at all of them. Unfortunately she has different ideas.

She's an impossible clean freak and gets upset if she spills anything or anything is out of space. She also excels at anything sporting she tries (soccer, swimming, cricket, tennis and gymnastics just to name a few). The soccer I always knew she would be good at because she was a real little kicker during the pregnancy and I always said that whether she was a boy or girl, we would have a potential football star on our hands. Since she was old enough to stand (she was in a walker at 4 months and that was only because she was already trying to stand and get around) and walking at 9 months, she could kick a football in a perfect straight line and so hard. Her eye, hand/foot co-ordination still amazes us daily, and the focus and attention she puts in learning both english and thai (that she learns from our maid) is scary. She will watch your mouth and will try until she can say a word correctly and perfectly. When it comes to the thai words (which I know nothing of even though I have lived here years) she will make me repeat it until I say it correctly.

Even when we started her with potty training she excelled. We were showing her what to do for a couple of weeks before we had to go to off to Australia for a quick family holiday, so we weren't all too fussed about seriously getting down to business with her toilet training her until we got back a couple of days before her 2nd birthday.... But on the morning she turned 2, after coming downstairs in the morning she excitingly calls out for us to come and look at her potty and there she had done a pee without even telling us she had to go. Even the potty stage didn't last long, as she quickly mastered climbing up onto and off the "big" toilet without us even realising it. One morning we both in both in my bedroom and she calls me into the bathroom and there she is sitting on the toilet all happy and proud.

Is this all normal behaviour for a 3 years - to act like such a sponge and absorb everything, but also have the need to be a perfectionist about everything as well?

[MsFigure]

I totaly agree Msfigure, there have been studies too, if you have a relaxed pregnancy you have a relaxed baby and vice verca. I'm totally not into the pain either, unfortunatly I miscarried at 16 weeks early last year and had to go through labor to deliver, the worst pain I have ever felt, so if I do go natural I'm having an epidural without a doubt!

Monica I too research everything down to the letter! I know that drugs pulled by the FDA still get perscribed here so I check everything.

I really like my doc I chose him becuase he did his degree in England and has a very English approach which I like, and obviously his English is perfect! Thats a good thing about Bumrungrad you can look at the docs mini CV online before you make an appointment

Also my worry about a C-section is that some women report getting a 'stomach flap' like the skin hangs down where the incision was becuase all the muscles were cut through I really don't want that, when i'm my usual weight my stomachs ok but it pooches out a bit, I don't want previous pooch to turn into a flap! !

If you're worried about the stomach flap, you could always ask your doc to do a mini tummy tuck while they are stitching you back up, which I hear is becoming popular in some countries.

If the pouch is a muscular thing and not an extra/excess skin or fat problem, that can be easily be fixed by doing lower abdominal exercises (obviously a couple months after the birth) to tighten up those muscles.

Di