Please come and tell me your positive Elec CS stories...

[MarkStretch]

Mine is taking place next week and I am starting to get really nervous.

Also have my pre-op assessment today and would appreciate any tips on what to ask/expect?

[HeadFairy]

What would you like to know?

I didn't really ask anything, I seem to remember they told me everything I needed to know.

A few top tips....

Shave/Immac yourself, even though you're having a cs, they do shave you if your hair comes up quite high. The cs scar is much lower than you think it'll be.

Get yourself some tea tree oil and have twice daily baths after the cs, really good for healing the wound quickly.

Get giant pants that go up to your belly button with no front seams.

One thing I really regretted was having the screen up during the cs. I didn't see ds coming out. With a big bump in the way you're really not going to see your innards, which was my biggest fear, but it was such a shame to not see ds in his newborn state. The first time I saw him he was clean and dressed.

[MarkStretch]

I want to be reassured that nothing terrible will happen!

[wimp]

DH is really keen to see him coming out, I'm not so sure.

Prior to my previous CS I had been in labour for 24 hrs and then had an emerCS so felt terrified the whole way through. Am hoping this one will not be the same.

[HeadFairy]

I'll keep thinking of things....

What are you most concerned about? The spinal? The recovery?

The spinal itself was much better than I thought it would be. That was the bit that terrified me most, but apart from some pressure in my spine as they put the needle in, there really was no pain at all. Plus its super crazy when you get this rush of warmth over your bum, which creeps up your body. Then they lay you back on the bed and you're totally numb. Quite freaky but not unpleasant really. I was very sceptical it had worked, I was convinced I could still feel my legs until I looked up and both feet were in the air and they were putting the catheter in!!! To prove a point the anaesthetist sprayed something cold up my body and told me to say when i could feel it. It wasn't until he got to mid chest that I could actually feel anything!

The recovery afterwards really wasn't bad at all. I took the painkillers they gave me on the ward, but to be honest I could have done without them, I let them lapse a couple of times to see what would happen and there really wasn't any pain, more like acheyness. Like I'd just done a hard tums workout.

I was on my feet the next morning, about 18 hours after the cs, but I could probably have done it earlier, but I had the catheter still in. Four days after the cs, when I was back at home I was able to walk, albeit slowly, for about 45 mins to an hour without any pain at all.

[HeadFairy]

someone else may well correct me on this, but I think the risk factors are pretty low on el cs... much lower than they are for emergency cs's. Obviously the preferred choice of delivery is vaginal as that's what our bodies are supposed to do, but the next safest way of delivery is el cs under spinal block.

[MarkStretch]

Thanks, sounds like you had a good recovery, I felt like shit for ages after mine but I gather ElecCS are different.

The waiting is getting to me....

They have offered me diazepam, am wondering if I should take it so I stay nice and calm and enjoy it?

[cikecaka]

I have had 3 elect cs, i had no problems with them,the recovery was far quicker than an emergency one. On the last one I went in at 6.30 and DD3 was born at 9.18 on the tues morning and I was home on the fri. It was such a difference from my emerg cs with ds had pnd and took a long to recover

[HeadFairy]

From what I hear emergency cs's are pretty grim, my el cs was far from a terrible experience. It's up to you to decide about the diazapam, but I'd be reluctant to take anything that might dull my senses, I was buzzing so much at meeting ds. I did have to wait quite a while for my cs.... I went in at 8 in the morning, I was due to be second on the table at 9am, but due to emergency sections going ahead of me, I didn't get in to theatre until about 10.45, ds born at 11.30am. The wait was quite nerve wracking. DH and I got a bit giggly nervous, perhaps you can have a word and say that if you're likely to have a bit of a wait too, then perhaps you can have a mild dose of something to take the edge off while you're waiting. To be honest, last time I was nervous because I had absolutely no idea what was going to happen, next time I'd be much more chilled.

[Bubbaluv]

I had an EmCS after 7 hours of labour and it was lovely! Was up and walking 7 hours later, so if my ElecCS in April is easier, I'll be astonished!

[MarkStretch]

Anyone else?

[madwomanintheattic]

i'll try to be positive lol!

i did throw up after dd1 was 'out' apparently this is fairly normal...

the fundal pressure thing (ok - pushing down on your bump quite hard to ... er... pop the baby out) is a bit weird, but not unpleasant.

the worst bit is peering at your legs in the surgical stockings and wondering who they belong to...

and getting sprayed with the irritating cold water to see 'can you feel it yet'

but ultimately, a lot beteer than the two vbacs which followed lol, so if i ever have to have any more, i've got a 'get out of jail free' elective cs letter from the consultant.

hope it goes well

... you did ask!

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Lovely, a very positive expereince both times, I did throw up after 2nd one but that is not uncommon. All the theatre staff were fabulous and my MW was just lovely.

[Lotster]

I have no previous exp, but am like you about to have one end Feb, and wanted to say good luck!

My consultant assured me it would be a calm and cathartic experience after my very traumatic first birth and aftermath that followed, leaving me with this birth method as the only option. He also said (as others have above) that the cut is the other side of the hill, so when they lower the screen for the birth I won't see anything yukky.

He told me to wax, so there was no hairs re-growing through the area for a while and this reduces chances of infection (which are much lower than with emergency C/S anyway), and to take the hair down at least an inch below the top of your pubic bone. They don't cut in the crease as I expected, but a bit below as it heals better.

I know you've had your pre-op assesment already by now, but you can always ask other things on the day - I have asked for a bit of quiet when baby is born, just in case they felt the need to whoop and cheer for us! Just because you are in their theatre it is still your birth so anything like this you should ask, and also take in any music on CD you'd like them to play to calm you.

I wouldn't take the Diazepam personally, what's in your system is in baby's isn't it? But also becaue I was prescribed it a while back for whiplash and it wasn't that effective (for me) anyway. How about some rescue remedy drops your husband can pop on your tongue?

Oh, last thing, I'm taking arnica for brusing/healing, peppermint oil capsules for the C/S wind(!) and Acidophilus probiotic powder from 5 days before until 3 weeks after to counteract the antibiotics given in theatre. Had terrible breast thrush thanks to AB's last time so I'm taking no chances of infection in boobs (or wound for that matter!)

Let us know how you get on please

[MarkStretch]

The pre-op was fine. The Nice Drug Man was very kind about me whittering on and asking a million stupid questions.

He kept repeating 'What you have to remember is that it is a very controlled environment, we do these ALL the time'

There were some other couples there (none of whom looked as terrified as me) and all the guys seemed more concerned about feeling ill/not looking.

But I'm still kind of scared/kind of looking forward to it.

They said the diazepam wouldn't be a good idea as it would obviously cross over into the baby's system, but that I might like to bring a relaxing CD instead. I'm not sure how well it will work but I'll give it a go...

[Salleroo]

What brilliant advice everyone. I'm going to have and ec after a very traumatic birth. I didnt remember I was pregnant when dh told me we had a dd!

Anyway, thanks for this, going to print it off. Keep the screen down, have a wax and load up on the natural remedies.

[ohmeohmy]

I had to have one as ds very ill at term. Operation fine, morphine meant I was pretty happy with everything even though he had to go off for scans and stuff. Recovery harder. Went for VBAC second time round. Look into gentle c-sections: guy called Fisk and another called Oliver. Started at Queen Charlotte's - all about minimising neg effects on baby and mum and increasing opportunities for bonding etc. It is major surgery and if you have worries ask your consultant. Good luck and happy birthing day

[ohmeohmy]

meant to add relaxation cd very very good idea. Also visualise blood vessels closing off quickly once baby born

[Breizhette]

I had 2 under GA, so slightly different, but recovery was no pb. No pain whatsoever.

[Sycamoretree]

Hello. Please don't worry, it is remarkably calm. My DD was emergency c-section, which is not pleasant, but DS was elective and the whole thing was very civilised.

It is a bit surreal arriving for an appointment to have your baby. I was nervous - a bit like on the morning of my wedding .

Get very high pants a size or two bigger than you think. Have generous jogging bottoms that do up round you WAIST (ha ha, remember that?) not you HIPS. You won't want anything touching the general vicinity of your scar for a while.

I had about 3 packs of extra large paper pants. These were great - you can ahem, freshen up more often. Even though you aren't having your baby vaginally, you will still bleed in the same way. I think those maternity pads are a load of old crap. Buy yourself Always night times, they have a sticky strip to keep them in place - the maternity ones don't.

This is possibly TMI, but have some moist toilet tissue or a big packet of baby wipes. You can't get out of bed for a while and it's not nice simply having your pad changed by the midwives - having these means you can again, ahem, freshen up with some independence. I took nappy sacks to put all the stuff in and DH would chuck them in the hospital bin for me.

Take your own pillow, with your softest most homely case on it.

Take a feeding pillow of some kind if you are intending to breastfeed.

If you are intending to BF, tell your midwife that you want your baby on your breast within half and hour of birth. To try not to let it go beyond the "golden hour". Keep putting your baby to your breast whenever you can. It can be hard, as my first BF with DS was whilst I had a BP cuff inflating and deflating every five seconds and DH kept having to take the weight of DS, but I was determined. I learned a lot from the disaster of DD's birth (I did not manage to BF her).

If you are in NHS hospital, get DH to bring in flask of nice pea and ham soup or something. You NEED fibre and roughage. They don't tend to want you to go home before you've done a number two. Very hard on a diet of rice, pasta and chips with some naan bread .

Have some nice spritz or something for your face, and some nice moisturizer. If you normally wear make-up, pack some. You'll feel better and more human leaving the hospital.

If your feet have swollen, don't assume they go down immediately after the birth. Pack shoes you are wearing at the moment.

Take a CD and pick a song to have your DC to. They are generally very accommodating.

I assume you know you will be having a catheter - don't worry, it doesn't hurt, it's just slightly odd sensation going in.

When they take it out, you will do a wee in an odd shaped bottle. The volume of this wee will fill you with shock and awe.

Be sure to have them position your baby in the cot very close to the top of your bed. Make them check that you can reach your baby before they go away. You have very little movement to start with - the last thing you need is so be in pain, reaching for your little one when they first cry out for a feed.

Make sure the cord for calling the midwife/button is in a place you can reach it. I kept knocking mine to the floor...

You can't eat for a while before hand, or after, so make sure you have something you will really and enjoy and deserve, on hand for when that moment arrives!

Good luck - it is an amazing experience. I'll give you DH a medal if he manages to watch your DC "come out". My DH was asked to stand up to see DD and tell me the sex...his legs gave way, he threw a complete whitey and burst into tears sobbing "it uh, uh, gggggirlllll".

Have I written enough now? I could write me a book.....

[cookinmama]

I had a brilliant experience of elec cs, was really nervous because I hate needles but the theatre staff all chatted away and told me what was going to happen. We then chose some music to have playing in the background (I was even singing along at one point - might have been the morphine).

After DD arrived they held her up over the screen so that I could see her, then wrapped her up and brought her closer before taking her away for checks.

DH held her while I was being stitched up and as soon as I was (approx 30mins) we went through to recovery where we had skin to skin and her first bf.

I wanted to get up as soon as I got back to the ward but the midwives insisted that I wait till morning (DD arrived at 5:27pm). Got up next morning and went for a shower and just tried to keep moving as much as possible. Got out of the hospital 3 days after she arrived and was driving (with docs permission) within 2 weeks.

Would even consider doing it again and while I was sitting in the theatre waiting to start I swore blind that this was the last and DH was to remind me of surgery if I ever said anything else!

[Breizhette]

Nuttytaff, I had 2 elective with GAs as I have vaso-vagal syndrome.
I had both my Dcs in France, so the procedure might be different.
After the birth they took my DCs to DH who had them for about 30 minutes for skin to skin, and then they took him and the LO to me in the recovery room (about 1 hour after the birth) where I could start BF immediately. I stayed 1 week each time but that's the French procedure, I would think it won't be so long in the UK!
All in all I am sad that I haven't seen my children come to the world, but it went very smooth. No pain during or afterwards.

[Breizhette]

Forgot abou the bit wher you can't eat until your transit starts again (until you pass wind basically). For DD it took 48 hours! I was ravenous by then. I second Sycamoretree about BF-ing. I tried and have the baby at my breast as much as possible. It's a bit akward at first but you do find positions where it works.
Do bring a water spray thingie as you do get hot and sticky lying down all day and night.

[Meglet]

markstretch if you have had an em cs then the planned cs will probably seem like a walk in the park. I had an em cs 2 years ago and a planned cs in Sept. I was very very nervous in the operating theatre before the planned cs, I was shaking when they put the drip in. But as soon as DD was pulled out yelling I was fine .

While the first 36 hours were uncomfortable it was no where near as bad as the em cs. I was only on paracetamol by day 5, and even then I didn't need that many and was off them by day 10.