How bad is a c-section?

[rosepetalsoup]

Hello,
I am about to have a second child - first was born vaginally (but not easily!) but it looks like this one is breech. I think the midwives and Drs will offer me a c-section and I am feeling very frightened about the possibility. Can anyone tell me how bad it is? My first labour was about as bad as it gets, the whole cascade of interventions except c-section, so I'm no naive spring chicken, but also worried about the unknown.
Thanks.

[bonzo77]

IME elective CS= piece of piss. No pain during. Tender after but take your meds, get mobile and sit / stand tall instead of hunching. Don't lift / carry anything heavier than the baby for at least a week. I was back to normal after about 8 days. Teach your toddler to climb onto your lap and into her car seat / high chair / push chair now so that she doesn't feel hard done by once the baby is here.

[HootyMcTooty]

I had a EMCS with DC2, it was absolutely fine and the recovery went well. I actually found recovery from the csection better than my first delivery (also had intervention and healing did not go well). It hurts like a bitch for a couple of days, but as long as you take painkillers regularly it's absolutely manageable and you'll be back to normal before you know it.

If I had another DC I would absolutely opt for an ELCS if I'm totally honest, but then I still carry the trauma of both my deliveries and have no wish to go through that drama again.

Try not to worry, it's really not the end of the world.

[rosepetalsoup]

Ok, that's reassuring. I have been feeling like a failure because baby hasn't turned but maybe it's her way of avoiding me the stress of first time. I have healed now but did have an awful episiotomy etc.

Did either of you breastfeed? I want to bf my 2nd like I did my first. Do you think ELCS will make this harder?

[CountingThePennies]

I had a c section with dd my first and only child.

She was back to back but no one noticed until i had had a horrendous 22 hour labour.

It took midwives ages to persuade me to have a c section as i was crying so much as was in so much pain and terrified of being cut open whilst i was awake.
It was absolutely fine!! You can feel abit of tugging when getting baby out but absolutley no pain.

Afterwards when you stand up you feel as though your stomach is stretching because of the stitching etc.

You will hobble around for afew days afterwards.

I was driving again 3 weeks after the section.

Was fine 6 weeks after.

I have been left with a overhang on my stomach which shows in clothes.

[BiscuitsofYum]

I had an emcs, and in honesty I was more gutted that it was on Xmas day and I wasn't having my dinner!
Its a little off putting as there are so many Drs, but one sits with you, giving you pain meds and tells you what's happening. You can feel lots of pushing and pulling but there wasn't any pain.
The whole thing took an hour, but The baby comes out quickly within the first 20 and once they give the baby a quick check you hold it as they stitch you up. The worst bit is the babies seen to behind you, so you can develop a bit of an achey neck trying to see, (ds was fine, but didn't cry so I worked myself up a little) But I had a lovely midwife who told me what she was doing.
I Spent 4 hours on the theatre ward afterwards to have a cup of tea and a sarnie (although it was no turkey dinner) but I actually craved a can of coke.. I would have traded my left arm for it!
When I got taken to the ward, they give you regular checks, it was 2am by the time I got to this ward so I kept my catheter in until morning. When they removed this I had a shower too.
I got the odd pain and tingle but the nurses were pretty good at topping up with pain killers.
I'm now 11 weeks on, I get the odd tingle on my scar but it wasn't terrible. I just lives in granny pants and pjs until I healed up.

Hope that answers some questions x

[Snozberry]

I have only had a c section so without even comparing it to a traumatic vaginal birth, it was fine. The op itself is fairly quick, painless, feels very weird like someone doing washing up in your stomach, but no pain.

I breastfed with trouble, but due to DDs lip tie and problems latching. My milk came in fine and she wanted to feed. You can ask that the baby is put onto your chest.

[TheTravellingLemon]

I had an EMCS and it's honestly fine. The worst bit by far was the preceding 30 odd hours where they ummed and ahhhhed about what to do! The actual surgery was a walk in the park! Good luck!

[tak1ngchances]

It is fine. Worst part for me was the wind & constipation afterwards!
Take all the lactulose you are offered and you'll be grand

[Elllimam]

I had an EMCS after about 12 hours of labour. It was fine, much easier than my first birth (forceps) and recovery was easier too. My son latched on in recovery and is still ebf at 8 months (plus food obviously :) ). The only thing no one warned me about was that I was very shaky afterwards, apparently something to do with the anaesthetic. Also I had a lot of gas pain, take wind eez tablets.

[Tokelau]

I had an awful delivery with my first DC. It was long, I had forceps and an episiotomy. The baby was back to back, pain was dreadful etc. After the birth I felt awful for months, physically and emotionally, I felt like a different person, it was so bad.

When I had my second DC, I had an elective Caesarian. The worst parts were walking into theatre, I was very scared and wanted to walk out again, and having the epidural. The epidural wasn't too painful though, just a few seconds of discomfort. After that it was ok. No pain at all really, and just a bit sore and tender for about two weeks. I had a much easier recovery than with my first DC. I was able to drive after about three weeks, and went skiing after four months. If I had another baby, I would choose a Caesarian.

[Gennz]

I had a ELCS for DS nearly 4 months ago, milk came in day 3, am still BFing. Was totally fine. Really glad I chose to go for it. Was walking down to the shops for a coffee in week 2, driving by week 3, swimmig for exercise (up to 1km) week 4. Felt fully recovered (no niggles) by week 6.

[OohMrDarcy]

I have had two sections - both technically emergencies, though one more urgent than the other. Both after long labours.

I need to point out now that epidurals don't work great on my - so don't take my experience as a given!!

The first - induction, drip, epidural etc - I needed a stronger dose of epidural as though numb on outside, could still feel contractions internally (wasn't believed until I was yelling through gas and air, with epidural in place for a while!)

c-section called due to failure to progress, all stopped around 8cm. They topped up my stronger dose of epidural just before starting, then double checked there had been no magic change (there hadn't) ... they put up a screen so you can't see the gory bits, but having removed my glasses it really wasn't necessary! Opened me up - and DC1 was out within 5 mins - this time varies, then wrapped her in a towel and gave her to SBXH (then DH) to hold on my chest so I could see her. Whilst I was cooing they stitched me back up - didn't do any of the weighing etc until I was in recovery so I could watch. I don't remember huge amounts of the op as had been awake for 3 days at that point! In recovery they weighed her then put her on me skin to skin so she could have her first feed. Then they dressed her in outfit I pointed out and snuggled her up with me,

Second time around - sponaneous labour... won't bore you with the details but the crux is it all stopped again at 8cm so off we went to theatre, the difference being DC2 had started to become distressed (an even longer labour than first one... not surprised he was fed up!) so they whizzed me in and did epidural. Anaesthetist was amazing, talked to me the whole time - they opened me up and had DS out before they had switched on the music! As he was being shown to me I started to feel sick, they moved him away (just in case) and shot me with some antisickness stuff in my IV.
A second epiudural close up normally takes longer as there is already scar tissue, they try to tidy it up as they go - but anyway I was starting to feel tugging - told the anaesthetist, who gave a significant look to surgeon. They continued and I need to point out here I was perfectly calm, felt completely looked after. The tugging got sharper so I told them I could definitely feel cutting now (just an ouch type point not agony) ... so the anaesthetist asked them to stop whilst he sorted the pain relief ... they couldn't as I was haemorrhaging so he had to knock me out - mask / gas stylee... apparently it was only a light knock out - he told me what he was going to do, I was calm and relaxed (strange I know!) he flipped a switch, suddenly it was harder to breath so I was forced to take a deep breath and off I went. woke up in recovery all sorted. DS was weghed in theatre this time so I had already seen it. He was dressed and snuggled up to me and all was good with the world.

I didn't write that to scare you , more to reassure that if something doesn't go to plan - it can still be perfectly positive experience. Technically the epidural wore off (wasn't the stronger dose) , technically I could have died - I didn't. My experience with DC2 was more positive actually than my first, because I put my trust in the staff - who were amazing!

[mrsnoon]

ELCS x2 here and also think it was great. Really civilised experience, was mobile that evening and home at tea time the following day. I didn't BF but can't imagine it would be that difficult, probably a good idea to have a pillow on your lap to rest the baby on and protect your scar.
Recovery was fairly easy, keep on top of your painkillers and you'll be fine. I was out shopping after 3 days and back to driving after 2 weeks. DS2 is now almost 5 weeks and I feel pretty much back to normal except for the occasional pulling feeling if I'm doing too much (carrying washing around etc) but I have stopped lifting DS1 (Age 4) as it's definitely too much strain on your stomach muscles.
The worst bit for me both times has been the burning nerve pain in the few weeks after as everything mends, it comes and goes but was a lot more painful that any part of the immediate aftermath of the op.

[BarbieBrightSide]

I've had 2 cs and no vaginal deliveries. The first was an emcs and the second planned at 34 weeks (IUGR twins). The elective was less stressful than the emergency, but it was a bit odd walking to the theatre and climbing on the table completely with it (rather than being after a 12 hour labour and already full of various drugs!).

Recovery from both was fine. A friend who has had both pointed out that with a natural delivery the pain builds then goes pretty much immediately whereas with a cs you have no pain at all during the delivery, but it builds later as the painkillers start to wear off. But I found it totally manageable. When I found out I was pregnant the 2nd time I asked the midwife if I could have another cs at my booking in because I'd had a bad labour experience and she said she thought I should go for a VBAC. The discovery that I was having twins and therefore likely to have a cs was very welcome!

I breastfed all three of my children without difficulty but of course I don't know what it would have been like after a normal delivery to compare to.

[Sausages123]

I bloody loved my elective (compared to my emergency) just make sure you have huge pants, peppermint tea, get mobile ASAP and take the drugs

[kaymondo]

I've had 2 sections, 1st was EMCS due to failed induction. 2nd was ELCS. The first is a bit blurry after having laboured for a couple of days but second was such a nice relaxing experience. Please don't worry about it. My only advice would be to really rest up afterwards to avoid an infection but take your mess and it'll be grand.

I breast fed both of mine without any issues too.

Good luck!

[kaymondo]

Meds not mess!

[Jackieharris]

I'm a home birther/natural birth advocate. But if there was some reason why a vb might be difficult I'd choose an elcs over a potential 'cascade of interventions' forceps/bad tears type vb.

[iHAVEtogetoutofhere]

I've had two ELCS - medically advised due to breech and transverse babies.

First time I was scared silly - I walked into theatre and there were SO MANY people - no one had told me. Felt quite wobbly.
It went well except the dose was too high and I couldn't breathe so they had to help me and then adjust it.
Also something stopped working during the Op and a siren went and it all got a bit hectic. Sorry cant remember details but H does.
You DO feel a lot of 'rummaging' but its weird not painful.

However, I got a healthy baby delivered and I was fine too and I am eternally grateful.
After, I couldn't mobilise and was in for a week.
Take Lactulose, and be prepared for a LOT of wind.

Second time was grand. Diff anaesthetic, no probs. Apart from H fainting and everyone stopping to help him. Pah!

You will be fine. And see your lovely baby really soon! Good luck and hope you have a speedy and peaceful delivery.

[flojo73]

I had a normal delivery with my 1st, but tore badly and recovery afterwards was very difficult.
I opted for an elective section with my 2nd- not an easy decision, but i found it a much better experience. I had skin to skin with ds pretty much straight away, which was lovely. After ds1 delivery, I was taken straight to theatre so missed out on the 1st couple of hours with him.
I found recovery from the section straightforward, obviously it does hurt but with regular pain relief it can be managed.
Hope all goes well with the birth of your baby. If you had a difficult delivery with your first, I think you'll be surprised by the calmness of an elective section.
Perhaps your baby will turn head down and make the decision for you!

[butterfly86]

I had a c section because dd was breech it was fine, really calm and relaxed in theatre. You do feel a bit of tugging as they get the baby out but that's it and you might shake as a side effect of the meds they give you. It's a bit sore once the spinal wears off but as long as you keep on top of your painkillers it's managable, sleeping is difficult for about the first week I had to prop myself up with pillows as trying to get up from lying down can be painful, my sil said when she came to visit that day 3 is the worst pain wise and she was right but honestly it's not horrendous and nothing to worry about. Just take it as easy as you can for a few weeks while you heal, good luck

[HootyMcTooty]

I breastfed both my children. I found bfing easier second time around and the csection didn't cause any problems with milk coming in or anything like that. However, after a csection sometimes you get given a strong dose of antibiotics, which can get into baby through breast milk and increases the likelihood of oral thrush. We experienced this and it was a bit of a bugger to clear up, but it didn't cause any feeding problems.

[VeryPunny]

EMCS with DD who was breech - a very positive experience with skin to skin and feeding in theatre. Lovely staff. Take all the pain relief offered.

[insertinterestingusernamehere]

Hi Rosepetal, I've had two c sections, both were very calm experiences and I've recovered well, breastfeeding was fine, DD fed until she was 17 months and DS is currently 13 weeks and feeding fine. Good luck!

[CSLewis]

Just to say - it's not compulsory to have a c-section because your baby is breech. Women can and do give birth to breech babies vaginally; I personally know two, one of whom delivered at home (undiagnosed breech), and both were very straight-forward births (one of my friends said it was easier than some of her 'normal' deliveries)