To ask what a c section is like?

[thefutureisfemale]

Hi x

I am a FTM and booked in to have an elective c section at 39 weeks. I am really scared. Can anyone tell me what it's like?

[sonlypuppyfat]

Different for different people, I had an emergency section and I felt like I'd been crippled for weeks afterwards, I swore no one would do that to me again!! And I was lucky enough to have two normal delivery afterwards

[Sunshinegirl82]

I thought it was fine to be honest! Mine was an emergency section and I was in labour but it was still pretty relaxed. I was up the same day and visiting Ds in scbu. Didn't need any painkillers stronger than paracetamol and felt OK-ish after about 3 days, pretty good after a week. Was driving after 4 weeks. I'd imagine an elective will be more straightforward as you won't be knackered from hours of labour!

[JohnLapsleyParlabane]

Mine was under general so I don't know what the operation was like, but my recovery was pretty easy and I felt fine within about 6 weeks.

[M0stlyBowlingHedgehog]

Mine was lovely! Having the spinal/epidural put in was a bit scary, but after that, it was a very calm, peaceful experience, seeing DS for the first time was brilliant, and I healed really well. It took much longer to establish BF than after a VB (5 days of a lot of pumping and giving my baby colostrum a drop at a time before my milk came in - midwives said that in their experience this was about normal post CS, whereas for a VB they'd expect 3 days). I was able to walk around as soon as the catheter came out (after about 12 hours or so) and had no problem carrying DS around. I took things gently and didn't try to go on any epic walks, but was able to go to the corner shop/potter round the block within a couple of weeks.

[LittleWingSoul]

Lots of section advice and stories over on pregnancy chat atm, OP.

Good luck!

[Bosabosa]

Mine was great ! Esp after an induced labour of 12 hours . My recovery was good too. Just do as the docs say- no heavy lifting, take it easy (as easy as you can do!)
The c section was by far Best Bit.

[BeyondDrinksAndKnowsThings]

A friend of mine described it as feeling "like someone was doing the washing up in your belly"

[skyzumarubble]

I had an EMCS at 31 weeks and it was actually fine. Recovered really quickly and considering the situation we were in it wasn't scary.

[allegretto]

Mine was planned so quite relaxed. Not that painful afterwards and scar healed well. Much easier than my previous vaginal birth!

[belleface]

Mine was planned and absolutely fine! There's a lovely story on here: thebristolparent.com/2016/11/our-second-babys-birth-story-elective-c-section/ (and one of the comments is from me raving about my experience)

[Writerwannabe83]

My C/S was planned and was lovely and relaxed. Having the spinal was nowhere near as bad as thought it would be and that was my biggest worry.

The only thing that surprised me was how tired I felt during the procedure....I felt like I could quite easily have gone to sleep! The anaesthetist had reassured me that it's normal to feel like that though because the brain goes into a sort of shut down state due to two thirds of your body being numbed and when he told me that I felt relieved because I genuinely couldn't understand why I could barely keep my eyes open, I just wish I had been forewarned about it so I wouldn't have felt worried or anxious when it did happen.

I'm currently pregnant and I'm having another CS in 4 weeks and don't feel nervous about it because things went so well last time.

[ticandtoc]

I had both mine by C-section - the first an emergency, the second elective. I can honestly say that in both cases I felt very looked after and cared for and there were no issues at all. Both my babies were healthy and happy. You have a team of people around you to look after you and make sure you and baby are absolutely fine.

You will be taken into the theatre and given an epidural - you will be sitting up at this point - you will then be asked to lie down and they will put a little curtain up so that you can't see anything below neck level. If you are going to have someone in with you they will be asked to sit next to you so you can see them.

You will be sprayed with a cold spray and asked if you can feel it - to make sure you are completely numb before they start to deliver your baby.

You won't feel anything at all - just a bit of pushing on your skin when they deliver your beautiful baby. When baby has arrived they will bring him/her to you to see and they will look after the baby or your birth partner will look after the baby while they take care of you before you go back to the ward.

You will spend two to three days in hospital and it is a very lovely way of being just you and the baby and being looked after for a bit.

I hope that helps - talk to the doctors/nurses on the day to ask any questions and help put your mind at rest.

x

[LaurieMarlow]

Mine was fine. It was a crash under general, so the lead up was traumatic, but my recovery was great. A bit woozy for the first 12 hours, but I was walking about very soon afterwards and only stayed one night in hospital following it.

Felt very close to normal in a few days.

[GnomeDePlume]

Had 3 CS though a long time ago now (1 emergency, 2 elective)

The elective CS for DC2 was wonderfully relaxed (I had a chest infection when DC3 was born). We sat and waited for the time to go down reading the newspaper. During the CS the anaesthetist took loads of photographs. When I had mine the staff put up a kind of screen so you (and your birth partner) dont have to watch the process.

The birth is very quick then afterwards you get sewn back together which feels odd (lots of tugging) but not painful.

Recovery was fine, I was back at work after each DC at 6 weeks, 3 months and 4 weeks respectively.

I am sure lots of posters will be along with their tips. The only one I will offer is: during the CS dont look up into the lights as they are big mirrors and you may get more of a grandstand view than you want!

[Groupie123]

Depends really on you. One of my sil had all manners of life threatening complications but followed doctor's advice and was up and walking/doing light housework etc after 2 weeks. The other sil had a text book c-section but got really lazy, wouldn't move, got blood clots, and two years on still suffers from back pain etc.

[LaurieMarlow]

Oh and my milk came in like gang busters bang on time so establishing bf is not necessarily a problem.

[mummypeepee]

They give you a muscle relaxant during the procedure that's why you feel drowsy. Honestly a planned section is a breeze and recovery is nothing to worry about.

[aaaaargghhhhelpme]

I had an emergency one which was scary and took ages to recover from (but I think that's because it was an emergency!)

Then had a planned one at 40 weeks. And it was lovely. We were introduced to everyone before hand. It was all very relaxed. I was bfing straight away and left hospital after two days.

It is a major operation (as my midwife was keen to remind me) and everyone's different. but I healed much faster with the planned one. You will probably have a catheter in for a while - snd google how to sit up after a c section - your tummy muscles will be weak!

But if you have any concerns just chat to someone there. I found my consultants really helpful and always had time to chat through any concerns

[FrizzyNoodles]

Mine was planned and was fine and not painful I just felt tight and awkward and had to be helped up if I had been lying down for too long. The scar was just a red line after the dressing was removed and it felt odd but that was all.
Enjoy meeting your new baby x

[HeyRoly]

I've had a waterbirth and an elective section.

I would have ten c sections rather than push one baby out of my vagina ever again (it's moot, because I'm not having any more children ).

[Alexkate2468]

Mine was planned and I loved it. The spinal didn't hurt, the atmosphere was relaxing and I had immediate skin to skin while they stitched me up. I felt very in control of the whole thing and didn't feel any pain. I was feeling a little sick afterwards but they have me meds for that. I was sore for a couple of days but healed really well and my scar is neat and tidy. I didn't struggle to breastfeed (which surprised me as I didn't manage to with my firsts and she was a vaginal birth) and on the whole bonded with my baby well. I hope yours goes as well as mine did.

[Badbadtromance]

Mine was elective and fine. Back driving after 11 days and was an older mum

[OhtoblazeswithElvira]

Elective section here due to injuries sustained during previous vaginal birth.

It is surgery but it was very relaxed with a large team of people who were genuinely thrilled and happy for us when DS came out. My recovery was much better, quicker and less painful than with the vaginal birth.

You are booked in and briefed about the operation, you put your overalls on, they give you anesthetic on your spine, you lie down and don't feel anything. They perform a cut on your lower abdomen, move your organs out of the way and get the baby out. You get baby straightaway or as soon as he's been checked. Then they rearrange your organs again and stitch the injury. Then you go into recovery with your baby on top of you, and a catheter. Then you go in the ward with baby and a nurse checks that you are OK and have enough pain relief. Then you get to eat. Then they get you to get up and walk around. It will seem impossible but actually it's fine after the first few seconds. Soon you are going to the toilet and showering. You are discharged with pain relief after 1 or 2 nights. I was walking and moving pretty much normally after 3 days, the only thing that took some thinking was getting up from bed. Up and down the stairs and carrying baby and doing stuff around the house in the first week. The only thing that took me around a month to do properly was push the pram up high kerbs. Miles better than my vaginal delivery where it took me weeks to be able to lift baby or walk for more than 2 minutes.

Hope this helps, congratulations on your impending baby

[Writerwannabe83]

You will be sprayed with a cold spray and asked if you can feel it - to make sure you are completely numb before they start to deliver your baby.

I'm jealous - I got stabbed by cocktail sticks to test my sensation

[Rufustherenegadereindeer1]

Would echo the others

I had two planned c sections and they were very relaxed

Was out in 48 hours with number one and 26 hours with number two

Weirdest thing was a little popping feeling as the baby came out, not unpleasant...just unexpected

Enjoy your baby