tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post557448925927086652..comments2024-03-17T10:07:53.205-07:00Comments on The Well-Rounded Mama: Anesthesia and Wound Complications in Cesareans in "Morbidly Obese" WomenWell-Rounded Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04129621631406155340noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-56406549409620196142011-04-30T17:40:43.726-07:002011-04-30T17:40:43.726-07:00I am SO grateful that I did not have any complicat...I am SO grateful that I did not have any complications with the cesarean I had for my firstborn. I recalled a mom who was obese and had had a cesarean. She had a vertical (at least on the outside, not sure about inside) cut because the doctor felt that she would have trouble healing due to the stomach overhanging as far as keeping it dry and stuff. Her cesarean was planned due to a breech presentation if I recall correctly. I did read that a lower transverse cut was better for VBAC chances so I did ask to make sure that I was cut in a way that would allow me a chance at a VBAC. It did mean my cut was at the bikini line. I couldn't look at it at all but I did get gauze and I did make sure to take care of it and keep it dry and therefore, fared well as far as healing. I am more prone to yeast infections in that area and it hurt inside for awhile a little but having heard some horror stories, I can't complain (which makes it harder to justify to a doctor why I shouldn't have just had another one; it was the EMOTIONAL healing that took MUCH longer). My scar is light and is barely noticeable and I'm grateful for that. My younger sister who is a good 100 lbs or so less than I am did not fare so well after her cesarean. She ended up with part of it reopening and other issues and her scar doesn't look as healed and her baby is now 2.<br /><br />That said, one of the big reasons I made sure to get out of South Korea was that I did not want to put myself in the hands of someone potentially operating on me who had absolutely NO experience operating on an obese woman, ESPECIALLY since it was VERY possible that I would be put under due to the lack of large enough epidural needles over there. I felt that even if I ended up with a cesarean here in the US, my chances were better than if I had a cesarean over there though I definitely wanted to avoid one altogether. I honest to goodness felt that if I stayed there and ended up with a cesarean, I would not survive. It may have been an irrational fear but it was one I could not get rid of.Janeenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12085755609836623027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-80998153209699629152011-04-27T22:30:43.749-07:002011-04-27T22:30:43.749-07:00This is yet again an example of underwhelming news...This is yet again an example of underwhelming news foisted upon the public. Fat people in general (likemyself @ 305 lbs) have pooer post-operative outcomes in terms of morbidity. This is a proven fact. So why in the world would a cesarean be a nagical surgery with fewer complications?!?!?! <br />To pull a reference from my ob said what, perhaps the OB's advocating these c-sections are coutning on the magical unicorns to protect their obese patients post-op? <br />I just came across this today http://starglobaltribune.com/2011/effect-of-obesity-obese-patients-found-at-a-higher-risk-from-major-surgery-complications-8197<br />Is it just me or is this also underwhekming news if you operate on unhealthy fat people they have more complications. ummmmm isn't that true for any size?<br />If you have surgery of any type and are unhealthy you will have more complications. <br />ps i love your blog!Kendrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445828393056863866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-61428585696517855262011-04-26T19:39:06.020-07:002011-04-26T19:39:06.020-07:00Boy, can I identify with this information. I had ...Boy, can I identify with this information. I had a vertical incision for my second C-section and the wound took almost exactly 6 months to heal. What a nightmare it was. I have so few good memories of my son's newborn stages because all of my focus was on healing this gaping wound in my belly...J. Jansenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15798380745745845576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-30880264282029857392011-04-26T15:07:10.363-07:002011-04-26T15:07:10.363-07:00That is ridiculously frightening. I don't real...That is ridiculously frightening. I don't really care whether or not I have a birth via section or vaginally (and would like one more baby), but I do care about increased risks of complications. Other than avoiding a c-section, anything one can do to minimize risks?E. B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12162227067543973587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-28653643896841559352011-04-26T12:58:06.608-07:002011-04-26T12:58:06.608-07:00Sadly, I expect that the 'official' outcom...Sadly, I expect that the 'official' outcome of studies like these will be to recommend that obese women don't get pregnant *at all* rather than to advocate for vaginal births. <br /><br />New Zealand doesn't have a stellar reputation for dealing with obesity/FA but readng your blog makes me feel very lucky I'm not in America - my birth experiences (as a super sized woman) would probably have been very different.Tanzhttp://womanonhold.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com