how was your second c section different from your first?

[ooooofffffffff]

had a ELCS because DC1 was breech. Pregnant with DC2 and being given an option to have another ELCS or to have a VBAC. We are out of UK, so private. OBGYN is recommending to go for another ELCS but wondered if you can answer some questions?

• My stomach muscles were not totally ruined post CS with DC1. I built them back up, got a little abdominal separation, but am stronger than before. Did you stomach muscles go back to the same after second CS? And did your abdominal separation get worse?
  

• Was second CS harder to recover from?
  

• Were you warned about thinning of uterine lining?
  

• Is there any way to test thickness of uterine lining?

[Diggum]

No experience but bumping as I'm considering ELCS for DC2 also.

[SushiAndTheBanshees]

I think OB lives in the same country I live in. Had EMCS with first, ELCS with second.

1. Too soon to say but I don't feel things are going to be any different on this front. Everything went pretty much back to normal first time round and I think the same is going to happen this time too.
   

1. So much easier. I think this inks because the ELCS required far fewer drugs. Took about 4 weeks to get back into my shoes first time round (water retention, head messed up with narcotic pain killers, first time with a newborn etc). This time it's been a few days and I'm already out and about.
   

1. No
   

1. Doesn't the sonographer check this during your scans? I believe I was complemented on both the quantity of amniotic fluid I had and the thickness of my uterine walls!

[Chrysanthemum5]

I had an emergency section with dc1(11) and was advised to have another section with dc2(8). The second one was so much better, and allowed the surgeon to remove all the scar tissue which had been caused by the first section. He also cut out the old scar which hadn't healed well, and the new scar is almost invisible.
So answers
1- my stomach muscles were pretty strong but there was some separation. I think it's all fine now
2- recovery was fine. It's a major operation so it was painful after and I had to be careful, I'm sure you know that though
3- no no one mentioned it
4- I don't know

Best wishes

[hugoagogo]

Mine was much harder to recover from, but both were emergencies and I laboured for 18 hours before.

I know nothing about thinning of the uterine lining- I take it that can be an issue?

I wasn't aware of any abdominal separation; my stomach has continued to be wobbly.

I can never quite decide if vbac was the right thing for me, seeing as dd was born by cs in the end anyway. Mostly though I am glad I tried and that it was my decision.

In the end it really only matters that you and your baby are ok.

Good luck

[kikidee]

My DS was breach and I had a CS and was then given the option when having my DD. I opted for a second CS as I felt I knew what I was getting and have never regretted it. The only question I can really answer is the recovery question and I'd say I found it easier the second time. I was much better at doing less and being careful and I really had no problems. I felt more in control with a CS and that was important to me.

[Diggum]

I know I've hijacked the thread a bit but these replies are reassuring. I was slow to recover from my EMCS but I was exhausted after induction and I think I was quite nervous about the scar too. Hopefully second time round I'll be careful but a bit more confident.

[Booboostwo]

I had two ELCS.

I have diastasis recti but it had nothing to do with the CS as the pregnancy caused it. My lower abdominal muscles have healed really well both times but I ride which will have helped.

My second was easier to recover from as I knew exactly what to do and what to avoid.

No.

No one mentioned a problem either time.

[Buddhabuddha]

Sorry this isn't positive but it took me much longer to recover from my 2nd ELCS, I had some complications with scar tissue stuck on various organs so the procedure took much longer than my first CS, maybe that's why I struggled in my recovery... But I did recover, all the best.

[QueenMolotov]

I'm interested in this as I had a really good ELCS (good pain control/excellent healing/lovely neat scar/no issues) in 2012 for dd2. It's early days but I am pg now with dc3 and would like another ELCS. Ive asked to return to the same hospital, under the same consultant, in the hope that the same can be repeated.

[ooooofffffffff]

Thank you for all your replies, these are so helpful

Buddhabuddha little bit worried about the sticky scar tissue! Did they catch it on scans before you had the ELCS, or did they just see that the scar was stuck to your organs when they opened you up?

[JellyBabiesSaveLives]

ELCS for breech with first. Second - I had placenta praevia, so an emergency cs at 34 weeks. But the surgeon told me she could see ds1's hair through my womb, it was that thin, and she didnt use a knife to open my womb - just put her finger into the hole in the old scar! Kinda glad I didnt go to 40 weeks and try to labour. I don't think its something they can see on a scan.