Getting my head round possible c section

[Hormoneoverload]

Baby really not keen to go into pelvis, either way up at 39 weeks. Still hopeful, but have been admitted for unstable lie and good chance it'll be section. Baby no 3 and two really uneventful births so feeling it'll be a big shift to make in my head. I know it'll be fine, just would really like to know what kind of contact I might have with baby, how soon and trying to think the best. Have too much contact with people who are seeing it as a bit of a disaster and I want to make sure I don't spoil my last child's first days feeling anything approaching that. My head says thank goodness that we have such ready access to sections, want my heart to catch up!

[twinsister]

I've just had an elective caesarean and had many of the same thoughts but you know what, it was fine. I had skin to skin almost immediately after they pulled her out and all bonding, milk, latching etc were just the same as for DD1. And to be honest, I've found the recovery after the section to be much easier than for my natural birth. It's quite extraordinary how quickly you do heal up. Wishing you all the best whichever way it goes.

[diyqueen]

I haven't got a 'natural' birth to compare it to, as dd is my first, but I had an ELCS 12 weeks ago and didn't feel that I missed out on much with my baby (and that's having been terrified of the CS and having wanted water birth etc. etc....!). She was taken to a table in the same room to be checked over for a few minutes (I could just see her and could hear her crying) - they were a very long few minutes I admit - but then once she was handed over that was it, I wasn't separated from her again. My partner held her up next to me whilst they stitched me up, and then I got to hold her and breastfeed her in recovery. It was quite surreal walking into theatre and then suddenly having a baby, without going into labour, but any strangeness was quickly forgotten once she was here. It certainly wasn't a disaster for us - I was just thankful that my baby was safe and well and that it was all over (I was much less sensible than you about it beforehand and got myself in a terrible state!). The theatre staff were brilliant, really respectful and made it the best experience it could be. All the best.

[AlsoAvailableSober]

I have had two - placenta praevia and then an elective. The first was a bit fraught as they were worried about blood loss due to the praevia and her being premature (36 weeks) but i still had skin to skin, the atmosphere in theatre was very positive (staff all calling out guessing the weight).

With DD2, it was (understandably) more relaxed, again a great team with jovial banter. The staff lowered the curtain as she was delivered so i could see her and the anaesthaetist took a photo as she came out. Just fab. Immediate skin to skin whilst they sorted me out.

Both recoveries were very good (take all pain relief offered!) and i was driving after 2 weeks with both.

The worst bits for me was the siting of the spinal and the sickness afterwards (was given anti sickness pills and all sorted out fine)

Good luck and i hope your experience (if it comes to it) is as positive as mine were

Oh and happy to answer any other CS questions

[Hormoneoverload]

Thank you! Getting to grips with it gradually. I think it is the most likely thing really. Did you have to ask specially for skin to skin? Midwife I spoke to today said it was a bit difficult to do because of space available on chest but it's one thing I feel really keen on, apart from being able to breast feed asap. Gosh-just had first moment when I pictured myself with baby! Didn't feel wrong either. Perhaps this will be okay! And I'll get rest beforehand. The other thing I was concerned about was dh having to take baby out of room while they finish getting me in recovery and onto bed. Does that always happen and if so did it feel significant? Didn't let go of ds for several hours after he was born-literally. First nappy going on very delayed! This is fine, just different and want to make sure i'm well informed.

[AlsoAvailableSober]

Yes i did, and there isn't much space but i have uploaded a pic to my profile including the anaesthaetists photo (sorry if you are squeamish ) and immediately after. I know it doesn't look like much skin to skin but my gown was pulled right down so under her we are skin to skin.

IIRC i had DD on the trolley with me and the trolley is actually the bed you go into recovery on. Now my memory may be hazy but i think that's the way it worked!

[AlsoAvailableSober]

Not sure if my profile is showing?

[Imnotaslimjim]

I've had both a natural and ELCS, and I have to agree with twinsister, it is amazing how quickly you heal up. The first few days are a bit sore, but you are upright pretty quickly. I was visiting IL's within a week of being out of hospital! I was feeding DD in recovery, and apart from twinging a bit when trying to pick her up (do call for a mw or ask another mum, it isn't clever trying to get out of bed for the baby when numb from the waist down) it really isn't that bad. There is a lot of tricks to learn too - make sure you have a pillow/cushion handy for when you need to cough, sneeze or laugh as for the first few days it feels like everything could come unravelled (it won't though!!)

[Hormoneoverload]

Can't get it but very happy to take your word for it! Starting to feel well informed and armed with the right questions. Really appreciate your help, thanks. In fact I'm starting to think maybe the balance might swing in favour of decision for section rather than wait too long. After all, I could wait a long time for this baby never to go anywhere near head or bottom down, disrupt my two dc, or have a positive cs experience and meet our baby soon. It's definitely back to transverse right now, becoming an expert in which bits are which.

[MissTinaTeaspoon]

Please don't worry! I had an emergency section for dd which is obviously different (she had her head tilted backwards and refused to be moved!) but it was fine. She was taken over to the resuscitaire after they got her out but once they had established that she was fine she was given to dh (my blood pressure was in my boots so I was in no fit state to take her myself) and then I held her as soon as I could, and I kept her in my arms whilst I was transferred to recovery on the same bed, and I breastfed her as soon as I was ready. Just explain to the staff that you want contact ASAP and I'm sure that they will do their best. My recovery was fine, i was up and about the next morning and home the day after that. Good luck.

[AlsoAvailableSober]

SlimJim - I got the nurses to swaddle the DD's and then plucked them out of the cot like a stork

[Imnotaslimjim]

oh and for skin to skin, make sure the gown is fastened with the slit at the front, its much easier to move it so baby can lie on you

[Imnotaslimjim]

Clever trich Sober, would never have thought of that. Did get bollocked a few times for not waiting for them and getting her myself (found I could pull the cot close enough if I looped it with my blanket lol) but they were so short staffed it would take them 15-20 mins to get to me when she'd woke screaming for a feed. I was in a room on my own so had no other mums to ask :(

[AlsoAvailableSober]

I was lucky in that both of mine were small 5.5 and 6.11 so they were very secure in the blankets and plenty spare to grab hold of!

LOL @ blanket antics but crap that you (and DD) had to wait for help

[jaggythistle]

hello.

i only have one too and had an em cs.

it's good you have time to think about it as I'd never even considered having one so was a bit stunned!

if i ever manage to get pg again (impatiently ttc!) and need a cs, the only thing I'd ask about is getting the screen lowered to see baby coming out.

DH held DS while some stitching was done, but i was holding him under my gown by the time we left theatre and bf in recovery. i had in my notes that i wanted skin to skin and to bf asap so i guess they read it.

good luck. :)

oh, and take a lot of cheap big pants.

[Panzee]

I didn't ask for skin to skin and I didn't think I had skin to skin but my husband said that the midwife brought him round to me and touched him to my cheek, before she did the weighing etc. I was a bit of a space cadet so didn't notice. :o

This CD really helped me come to terms with my ElCS. :)

[Chynah]

I have had 2 ELCS and both times baby was placed straight on my chest and stayed there whilst they stitched me back up. I was never separated from either. DH was with me from start to finish too.

[Hormoneoverload]

Thinking about it, although they never left the room, ds and dd were weighed and measured so must have left me at some point! Think I might be in danger if over thinking this! Really good to hear such positive stuff, thank you

[QTPie]

Have only had one birth - ELCS for breech - but it was fab (honestly an amazing experience!)!

No pain during or after (discomfort getting in and out of bed - roll over onto side and press pillow across tummy). Had "skin to skin" on operating table after they delivered the placenta (check your hospital/surgeon's policy), breastfed in recovery, milk proper came in within 48 hours (breastfed for 11 months).

Very good recovery, only difficulty was lifting (infant in infant carrier pretty tough at 4 weeks). Drove at 4 weeks. Gym, swimming and post-natal yoga at 7 weeks. Great healing, scar "barely there" at 17 months,

Wouldn't swap birth experience for the world and hope to do it all again (assuming am allowed dc2). Best tip is to do NOTHING for as long as possible after the birth (just feed baby, eat, sleep, spend quiet time with other children): get as much help as possible.

Best Wishes

[QTPie]

(when I say "do nothing", I do actually mean to "keep mobile" walking is great..... Just keep away from chores/lifting and I found bending difficult because of the compromised ab muscles...)

[Chynah]

Second what QT said. Both mine were fab, I had great recoveries, no pain and was driving at 2 weeks and back out runnning at 5 weeks. second time I could lift my 15 month old (very carefully with straight back!) within a week!

[Hormoneoverload]

Is the running bit compulsory

[Chynah]

with 2 kids yes! time to myself! :)

[QTPie]

Ha ha.... Very true.... A break is as good as a rest.... Out of the house and run/swim/gym.... Retail therapy is another, much more expensive, option....

[Chynah]

QT have distant dreams of retail therapy! Unfortunately when I do manage to shop I just end up buying stuff for the little monkeys!

[QTPie]

I know what you mean.... Although we are off on holiday on Friday and - since I was breastfeeding last Summer and pregnant the Summer before - have had to do some retail therapy to expand my Summer wardrobe. Still, have spent more on shoes for DS, this past few weeks, than for me!