Terrified off section

[Highlystrungmum]

After having a 4th degree tear & a long recovery with my first son i am now 37 weeks with baby no2. I saw consultant yesterday who has advised I have a c section this time as she is scared of what happened last time happening again & me being very ill afterwards again as I'm having another large baby.
How bad is an elective section really? I'm just terrified of the whole thing.

[isitme1]

Im watching this.
My 1st was like yours 4th degree, emergency repairs in theatre, blood transfusions, large baby.
I decided next time will try again as surely it cant happen twice.
2nd dc was even worse. Ended up in hdu, uterus wasnt contracting so I wouldn't stop bleeding. Lost 2.5litres of blood, lost huge clots, got infections but not 1 tear despite baby being bigger than 1st. Absolutely shitting myself. This is 3rd pregnancy. This pregnancy was unplanned.

[isitme1]

Ps im sorry I didn't mean to scare anyone x

[soontobeslendergirl]

I've had an emergency section and an elective.

Elective was fab honestly.

Ok, I can't compare it with a normal birth, but I did have a 3 day labour and emercency with No1 son and the elective with No2 was great.

Went in the night before for pre op checks, went back early morning and was delivered and in the ward by 9.30am :) . Went home two days later with new born and 13 month old. Wasn't tired in the same way as I was the first time (also had a big blood loss then tho as well as 3 day labour).

It will be fine and the benefit when already having another child is that you know when the baby is coming and can plan ahead for childcare etc.

If you have any particular questions, just shout!

[Highlystrungmum]

Thanks ladies. I've been adamant I wanted to deliver all the way through as like isitme I was thinking surely not again but also i had said I'd go with the professionals recommendations so that's what I'm going to do. It's just going to take me a few days or so to get my head around it.
Terrified of the scar too, are they all hip to hip size?

[soontobeslendergirl]

My scar is the same as Mrs Wolowitz - and that's after 2 sections - they had to cut out the first scar with the 2nd section.

[HenriettaPie]

My elective section was absolutely wonderful! I was awake throughout and didn't feel a thing- I was comfortable and calm and it all went brilliantly. I have a small scar, very smooth and neat, and very low down. Recovery time- I was up and walking about the next day and was fully back to no pain within 2 weeks.

My first was an emergency section and it was horrific- I won't scare you with the details but if there's any chance a natural birth will result in that I would go for elective every time!!

[eastendfareast]

I had an EMCS after a very long labour and recovery was fine. I was out of hospital after less than 48 hours, stopped all painkillers within a week and driving within 2 weeks. My scar is probably 8 inches long and very, very low down so not visible over underwear/swimwear. As mine was an emergency, things did feel rushed, but they still took great care to make sure I was reassured during the procedure. Post natal care was pretty poor, hence leaving less than 48 hours after delivery (against medical advice), but once home, it was all fine. I had a VBAC second time around with a 3rd degree tear and forceps which was far, far worse in terms of the experience and recovery. I'm never having another, but if I did, it would be a planned section every time. You'll be fine! Best of luck.

[soontobeslendergirl]

btw, I had the second section as the same scenario was already playing out - larger baby, lying back to back and likely to get stuck and not allow the cervix to fully dilate. So, lightning can stike twice. They reckoned that no2 son was lying in a groove carved out by his brother :) I had the added complication that with a section only a year previously, they didn't think the scar would survive a labour and they confirmed during the section that it definitely wouldn't have - scary stuff!

[Mnippy]

I had a planned section. It was much better than I expected. The painful bits were:

• the local injections
  
• getting the catheter removed
  
• breastfeeding with a bad latch
  

Frankly the experience was perhaps a bit sore, a bit uncomfortable, a bit scary - but nothing unmanageable. And I'm a total wuss when it comes to pain. It was very calm, which was the best bit.

My scar and 'overhang' is fine - not monstrous at all. It's below the pubic line.

[curiousgeorgie]

I've had 2 ELCS and they were both fab.

They gave me some tablets to take (ranitidine I think?) the night before and in the morning when I woke up...
I then had to phone to unit at 7 to make sure they hadn't had a night of emergencies etc and got the all clear to go in. I arrived at 8, and had some checks etc in a private room, midwife was lovely, chatting to DH and I about names and her children and what would happen. The surgeon & anaesthetist both came in and said hi and talked through things and told me I was first on the list. At 9.05 they came to get me and I walked to theatre ( which was a room on the labour ward) and got my spinal which was absolutely fine, a small scratch / pinch for local while leaning over a pillow to get my back in the right position, no pain but quite a lot of pressure for the actual spinal, they talked to me the whole time and everyone was happy and chatty. They tested my spinal had worked and I lay down and they put sheets up and blood pressure monitors on etc and brought my DH in and he sat by my head and held my hand.

I could feel movement, but absolutely no pain, I've heard people describe it as someone washing up in your stomach and this is quite accurate.
The anaesthetist and midwife were talking us through things and told us excitedly that they were pulling the baby out and seconds later I heard her cry and it was amazing, they put her straight over the sheet and we looked at her and burst into tears!

They took her for a second and wrapped her in a towel and checked her over and then gave her back and she lay on my chest with DH right next to us for the rest of the section.

I was wheeled to recovery holding her and carried on holding her for hours. We FF, so DH took her and held her next to me and gave her a bottle.

My recovery was very quick, I was walking around the next day and the day after discharged myself and went to Starbucks

The 2nd was as brilliant but it was later in the day and a slightly longer recovery, maybe 4 weeks to feeling normal rather than 2.

Sorry, that was really long!! Any questions feel free to ask

[Mnippy]

I should say - I have never regretted having a section and can honestly say it was one of the most emotional intense and happiest days of my life.

[curiousgeorgie]

Oh, and my scar (used the same for both) is very small and covered by the smallest of underwear

[ByTheWishingWell]

I was determined that I'd deliver naturally (had planned a drug-free homebirth- very idealistic!), but ended up having an emergency section. The labour was quite traumatic, and the section at the end of it was honestly a relief.

There wasn't any pain with the actual procedure, and I was amazed how quick the recovery was. DD isn't 6 months old yet and the scar is already fading. It's below the pubic line and about 6 inches long.

Recovery was easier with DD being my first though- make sure you'll have plenty of support and help with your son in the first couple of weeks.

Congratulations, and good luck!

[CCBirthskills]

Have you considered using the Natal Hypnotherapy Caesarean birth CD to help you feel calm and relaxed about your baby's birth?

[CheckpointCharlie]

Oh my goodness, CS is fine. I had an elective after really traumatic first birth and PND after leading to ante natal depression second time round, and six years later....

Please don't worry, it is not that scary at all. It feels weird in that you are about to have a baby but for me the fear was gone completely. The recovery is hard, it it was v hard for me first time round as well.

I am now wondering if the pain of an episiotomy and a v long labour is actually worse than a CS recovery?! I wouldn't hesitate to have a CS again ( not that it will ever happen) it enabled me to recover from a lengthy bout of depression and actually experience the joy of having a baby, which I completely missed first time round.

[GlaikitFizzog]

I had an emcs on paper at least, I think it's probably more like an ELCS because we knew the day before I'd have a cs as I had failed induction and was 42 weeks so they were getting very twitchy!

I can honestly hand on heart say it was a lovely experience.

My scar is only 6" and barely noticeable now. Obviously there are risks, as there are with any kind of medical procedure, but it was all very calm and relaxed. Ds was feeding within 20 minutes of being born.

[verdiletta]

I had a bad first birth, very long labour, forceps, bad tearing (though not as bad as yours, you poor thing). I was terrified of going through it again and asked for, and got, a section. It was an absolutely brilliant experience.
My advice would be to get as much info as you can - how many people are likely to be in the room with you, for example? And if possible, go and see the room beforehand.
When you have your spinal you will probably feel like you're going to fall off the table. I'm very glad another mum told me this beforehand or I would have been worried. (You won't.)
It was completely pain-free, got brill drugs afterwards (relieved the pain with quite a bit left over ), and although you do have to take it easy afterwards I found it was a piece of cake compared to having a shredded fanny (sorry).
Good luck :)

[boydonewrongagain]

I had a 4th degree tear with my ds too needed lots of blood and emergency surgery was adviced elective c section this time.

Caesarian itself was OK but I do have to say I found the recovery the most frustrating time ever
My ds is 2 so I couldn't lift or play with him properly for about 4 weeks and I had to go at a much slower pace but I'm now 12 weeks on and doing everything I was doing before I was a bit sore up until about 6 weeks afterwards but not do bad that I couldn't do stuff.

I do think you definately need someone with you for a few weeks just to help out especially if you already have children but you will be fine I'm sure

[IdRatherPlayHereWithAllTheMadM]

How bad is an elective section really? I'm just terrified of the whole thing

Its so much better than labour it really is.

They are not bad at all.

I do not want to be little it, its major surgery yes....your awake! odd...but its calm, calm its controlled, its painless, you are not in fear, in immense pain, with more pain to come, with pain to even get worse with no idea how long you will be in pain for...

Its quick and painless.

You will really enjoy this birth.

My scar wasnt that long no, it was very low down and I cant even see it now.

I really took it easy for several weeks though, no heavy lifting and so on, but it was brilliant.

[Ragwort]

I had an EMCS and it was wonderful .

I was knocked out, felt nothing, recovery was fine, have no scar, was up and about within 3 days, everyone fussed over me because 'I'd had major surgery' , it is an urban myth that you can't drive (but check with your insurer). I would never, ever have wanted to go through a VB. I was delighted with my EMCS and would imagine that an ELCS would have been even better.

If you have experienced a 4th degree tear and a long recovery with your first pregnancy, what exactly is it that you are terrified of?

[IdRatherPlayHereWithAllTheMadM]

I had real issues going to loo after my first labour and all I had was a small graze. I found it really stressful, it was a small issue in a bigger picture but one that got me down, crying with pain in the shower, dreading going to the loo, not wanting to drink liquids all for a good week.

I preferred having the scar and wound where it was and where I could see it and monitor it, it didn't affect me down below, that was a huge side bonus of my section. I knew I couldn't cope with a graze I just dont know how I would have coped with anything more serious down there. I just loved being able to go to the loo normally!

[SmileAndNod]

I've had (in this order) vb, elcs, emcs. The elective was by far the easiest birth to recover from. Was adamant I didn't ever want a section but the elective was very calm and dd arrived safely and we both got through it. Was also terrified of the scarring, but I reckon my scar is about 5-6 inches long, and faded completely between dc2 and 3. Would take the elcs over your 4th tear any day. Sorry you've had such difficult times, this time it could be so different.

[Doodle1983]

Although I've found recovery from my EMCS going well and the procedure was relatively calm (amber EMCS) it was awful in that I could feel it. Not painful but really unpleasant. I wanted an ELCS so wasn't overly scared about the EMCS but I honestly don't know if is want another. Then again the thought of a bad tear and recovery worries me !