Are C sections scary, painful afterwards and dangerous?

[dinny]

probably yes, just wondered

[DorrisMcWhirter]

Scary - more so if it is unplanned, my elcs was scary but at least I knew what was going on this time (as opposed to emcs 1st time round)
Painful - a little bit when all the medications wears off, to be honest the biggest sensation I had was tugging on the stitches.
Dangerous - well, I've come out of 2 ok!

[Dropdeadfred]

mine was scary (but only as much as any surgery)
painful as hell afterwards..far worse than I could have imagined at first but much quicker to heal than imagined too
didn't consider the danger at the time (naive 21 yr old)

[chipkid]

I had an elective with dd. It was not scary as I was prepared. Yes it was painful afterwards-but again I was prepared for it and had help in place. After 4 weeks I was pretty muchback to normal. Yes there are risks attached as it is major abdominal surgery. My natural birth was scary-baby had tachacardia, forcepts applied and a third degree tear. Surgical repair. It was very painful afterwards-and unlike with the section I was just expected to get on with it.

[WinkyWinkola]

It hurts afters but you get pain relief. It's hard to stand up straight after the surgery. It's not nice having a catheter in either but that gets taken out pretty quickly.

And it's a royal pain not being able to do much for six weeks afters. I'd say it took me a year to get back to full physical strength after my emergency C. I'd avoid having a section at all costs myself. But everyone is different with different needs.

The most important thing is that you take your time to recover. Don't set yourself up for misery by doing too much too soon.

[dinny]

scary - when you are being sliced? what if you freak out?

painful - can you describe it?

danger - is it more dangerous than VB?

[dinny]

so after two vaginal deliveries where I could run to the phone afterwards, it'd be a real shock (the aftermath?)

not defo having one or anything, am just so scared of labour, not sure which is worse

[WinkyWinkola]

Yes, more dangerous than a VB.

A VB, if all is straightforward, is not considered dangerous. Where do people get the idea that giving birth is dangerous?

A section is surgery and with surgery comes risks. But then surgery is usually carried out as a necessity.

I had a lot of dull aching and sharp pains after my section. And a lot of wind! I was told that was because my bowels were shifted about a lot during the surgery. Nice!

[MrsMattie]

I had an elective after a failed induction.

Yes, it was scary for me. I was shitting myself.

Painful - no, I never really suffered any pain with my c-section. I was painkiller-ed up to the eyeballs afterwards. The scar felt tender for a long while, though, but not painful.

There are more risks attached to any form of surgery - including a c-section - than there are to vaginal birth (with the majority of people -obvisouly, there are some exceptions)

Still, I wouldn't willingly go through it again.

[dinny]

sorry, WW, I mean dangerous for the baby when I talk about giving birth (had a shoulder dystocia with my last baby)

[WinkyWinkola]

Oh no, Dinny. Labour can be really scary but it can create a fear-pain cycle if you're so frightened.

Have you thought about hypnobirthing? I've only heard good things about it.

I hope you are ok.

[jellybeans]

I hated my sections; one was straightforward and one was very complicated, both were painful. I almost bled to death in the recovery room with 2nd one. Had to go back to be re opened and an artery sewn up. I then had massive grapefruit sized blood clot under the skin which hurt and was in pain for weeks. I am now facing another one and am scared to death!

[WinkyWinkola]

Shoulder dystocia is well scary. That's not straightforward. Oh my word, dinny. NO wonder you're apprehensive!

Have you been given advice about the likely recurrence of dystocia or is it a chance thing?

[squeaver]

Scary - not for me, had an elective (breech) so was ready for it and excited about dd coming out.

painful - no, not at the time. You can feel a bit of rummaging going on but not painful.

Afterwards, yes bt take paracetemol and arnica and you'll be fine (again ime). HOnestly I was fine after a couple of weeks.

Danger - not in my opinion, but I know others disagree.

[chipkid]

Dinny I was worried about the knowledge that I was being sliced open-but they only told me that the incision had been made when they almsot had the baby out. There were so many people fussing around that I thought they were still preparing for the op when it was well underway!

[southeastastra]

mine wasn't particularly scary, painful for a bit but they give you drugs (and i had a drain )

[cali]

Dd1 emcs, actual cs not scary as was kept informed throughout, reasons for cs were far scarier than op.

Dd2 elcs, not scary at all, wasn't painful when they delivered her, despite the amount of tugging involved to get her out.

If you have a good vb with no complications, then that is ultimately the safest way to deliver a baby.

Left hospital 48hrs after elcs, went shopping the day after. Yes I was slow, but compared to a friend who could do nothing after a VB for 5 weeks, I was lucky.

[phdlife]

scary - I was scared about the epidural (my mum's went horribly, horribly wrong) but after that I barely noticed what was happening, had a lovely anaesthetist who held my hand and told me what was going on. Scary for dh though, poor lamb.

painful - everyone will hate me but I felt no pain whatsoever. Even refused the first dose of tablets . I was weak and sometimes felt like I'd pulled an abdominal muscle, but no real pain.

dangerous - it's all relative, isn't it!

[swampster]

After two emergency Cs (which were probably scarier for DH than for me) I'm quite looking forward to an elective this time round.

I was on my feet very soon after and the only painful bit was when I tried to be macho about cutting back on the painkillers more quickly than I should have.

The actual operations were pain-free - the sounds and sensations on being rummaged in were gross. And I fell in love with my anaesthetists both times - they are the most sympatico people on the planet.

An elective CS is, of course, rather less dangerous than an emergency.

[dinny]

WW, that's what I worry about - I am scared deep in my heart about giving birth. Have had two natural deliveries, not even gas and air, no cuts/tears, nice length labours, ds's SD was resolved with McRoberts' BUT I am scared and I know I'll be scared in labour

I also had a doula with ds and could have her again (she was great) but I can't shake the fear

btw, I have recently had hypnotherapy for a fear of flying and while it was quite good, it didn't remove my fear, so not sure it's the right thing for me re this)

am seeing consultant in jan to discuss things, just not sure what to do for the best

[mabanana]

Are you having one?
FOr me? Ok, scary, well, obviously a bit nervous, but very calmed by forcing the staff to tell me jokes 'what do you mean,you don't know any? YOu used to be a med student!' But much, much less scary than labour (thought that I and my baby might die)
Painful? Not all all when happening, hardly at all afterwards
Dangerous? No! Very very safe op for mum and baby.
For me, a great experience.

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

Scary = yes, I was terrified before I had my planned one. But I was also terrified at having my breech position baby naturally as I had pre-eclampsia
Painful = I didn't feel much pain to be honest whilst I was at the hospital, in fact I often forgot to take the round of meds and got told off when I said it didn't matter as I felt fine. But you do have to take it easy, walking used to hurt me a lot in the beginning. I found it a lot easier when they took the big stitch out which had the clips as that was painful.
Dangerous = yes, so I'm told, but I thought my baby would have been at risk should I have gone down the breechie route, esp as it could have led to an emergency section. I felt I made the right choice at the time.

[dinny]

mabanana - not sure, I think if I pressed for an elective I could prob have one (see below)

yes, I have same fears re VB

[LackaDAISYcal]

elCS not scary (although getting the epidural was uncomfortable)....emCS scary depending on the circumstances.

definately painful afterwards but if you keep up with the drugs it;s manageable.

dangerous....like all surgery there are risks associated with it, and also risks regarding any future pregnancies which they don't really tell you about in any great depth

Are you thinking of elCS dinny?
How many weeks are you now? I hope all is well

[ScottishMummy]

the circumstance of a crash section - scary yes
planned c i imagine you'd be more in control
recovery varies from person to person- not all botched and doom n gloom

i was up 12 hours after.fortunately full recovery no side effects

[dinny]

have you had your baby???

I'm 20 weeks now....just terrrified of labour, keep waking in the small hours worrying