Can you tell me your experience of an elective c-section please?

[ppandj]

I had a third degree tear with DS in 2015, it was quite poorly managed and I did have some effects for a good 6 months afterwards which are now, thankfully, mostly resolved. I am 30 weeks pregnant now with DS2, and have about a month before I see the consultant again to discuss my options. At my appointment earlier in pregnancy they said I could request a c-section and the midwife has been quite positive about this. My gut instinct is to request the section but I don't know anyone who has had an elective one and I'd really like to hear of different experiences, good and bad. So, if you would, please share as much info as you can to let me know what to expect?

[SpookyPotato]

I had an elective for my first and am having one for my second as I was so happy with it! For me the op was pain and stress free, a very calm experience. The only time someone had to touch me down there was inserting the catheter but I was numb. As soon as the anesthetic wore off I was in a lot of pain and felt like I would never be able to walk again! But from the next morning after my catheter came out I got out of bed and slowly kept moving more and more, I was walking like an old hunched woman and every step hurt.. for the first week I didn't sleep much as I could only sit up in bed, second week got much easier/was sleeping again and then at the end of two weeks I suddenly felt so much better! I was so relieved to not have to deal with any birth trauma.

[Stilllivinginazoo]

No 3hsd emergency sect.no4 elective.calm and "easy" as I knew what was coming.only consider this if you have help after
Its amazing how much more tired you will be and less able than vaginal birth for at least couple weeks.
My experience was positive overall

[jimijack]

Only positive here for me.
It was Well organized, calm, radio on in the theatre, I felt that the staff were as excited as we were to meet our baby, they were brilliant! It also meant I could sort out childcare for older ds as I knew the time & day.
Afterwards, catheter came out later that evening, breastfed straight away, following morning I was up in the shower, took painkillers regularly for about a week, home within 48 hours, pushing the pram through the snow taking ds 1 to school by day 10.
It was fine. All in all, great experience.

[Wishforsnow]

It was a calm pain free experience. They asked me if I had a CD I wanted to play but didn't think to bring one so the surgeon got some of hers so I could pick one. They asked if I wanted skin to skin straight away or if I wanted her cleaned and wrapped in a towel. It was a fab birth and they put me at ease

[SomedayMyPrinceWillCome]

It was very calm & well organised, everyone was friendly in theatre - the anaesthetist took,photos for us after DS was born. I was out of bed and into a chair 6 hrs after the op & pottering around the ward reasonably easily the next morning. It was a bit painful after the epidural wore off but I was given oral morphine which worked quickly. I was lucky that I had DH & my mum to help at home so I had nothing to do other than sit & feed DS

[WAFFLEO]

Had an EMCS with DS1 and an ELCS with DS2. It was brilliant - everyone really happy and calm in the theatre. Was catheterised and the hospital give a voltarol suppository but you can't feel anything. spinal was fine and works really quickly. DS2 was out by 9.20am and I was up an walking by 5pm and had a shower the next day. Just had to remember to keep on top of painkillers and had a little step stool to get in an out of bed once home. I went in Friday morning and was out by Sunday afternoon with no problems.

[Wishforsnow]

Someday you just reminded me they took photos for me too as my husband was in there with me so they did family shots.

[Ellapaella]

I've had two elective c sections following a very difficult first vaginal delivery which ended in high degree tears, episiotomy, failed ventouse and eventual forceps delivery. Fortunately by baby was ok but very nearly not. There was no way I wanted to go through that again so opted for C section with my others. Both experiences were great, very calm, very stress free. The recovery was fine, in fact better than recovering from tears and episiotomy. I was back doing normal stuff very quickly and actually was back driving after 2 weeks.

[ThatsWotSheSaid]

Positive here too. Both of mine were elective sections and I was walking about the next day both times. The only issue is now if we want a third child I will have had three sections and I've had abdominal surgery in the passed too.
Also you will have a scar and even if your slim you will have a little fold.

[mimiholls]

Very positive here too. Totally calm and controlled. Recovered quickly and was doing everything I previously did after 2 weeks. Had skin to skin straight away. I don't have an overhang so it's not a given. The scar is practically invisible and because it's so low down no one except your partner would ever know.

[TheTantrumCometh]

Mine was a positive experience, too and I actually found the recovery was better than my previous vaginal birth (though I did have a PPH).

Speaking to friends who have had both emergency sections and elective, they've said the elected was not only much easier and less stressful (obviously) but the recovery was more straightforward too. It wasn't without its difficulties- I had to sleep on the sofa with DS next to me in his bassinet for the first week or so as I just couldn't push myself up to sitting in the bed- but as I said, generally a positive experience.

[Blahblahblahyadayadayada]

Great to hear these stories. Also had a horrible tear with my first and am opting for ELCS this time.

How long do they leave the catheter in place?

[Womble75]

Thanks for this thread. I'm having to consider an ELCS for dc2 as he's extended breech and also rather large and have been a bit worried about it all. Had horrific induction with dc1 and was hoping for a more Natural birth this time around so mentally trying to prepare myself for possibility of ELCS - this is making things a bit less scary so thank you. (If anyone has any tips on trying to turn him I would be most grateful!!)

[kittybiscuits]

Can't help with the turning, but had long labour/emerge section with first baby and elective with second. Elective was smooth and recovery was very straightforward. Good luck!

[mimiholls]

Blahblahblahyadayadayada they'll take it out as soon as you feel able to get up to go to the loo yourself. Could just be a few hours.

[mrsnoon]

Catheter out about 12 hours later (was very annoyed as DP had just gone home, baby was asleep and I was trying to watch some TV in peace) but couldn't wee properly until the day after. Which was weird.
Other than that I've had 2 really positive experiences.

[Metalhead]

I had an ELCS with DD2 after a traumatic birth with DD1 and I'm so glad I pushed for it! I had none of the psychological trauma and bonded with DD2 straight away, started to bf in recovery and my milk came in on day 2. I stayed in hospital for 3 nights so I could have oramorph for the pain, and then took paracetamol & ibuprofen regularly for about 2 weeks. Getting into a sitting position from lying down in bed hurt for a while, but I'd say I felt more or less back to normal after 5 weeks. I also don't have overhang despite being quite flabby around the middle...

blah I think my catheter was left in for the whole first day and night. After needing to pee every five minutes whilst pregnant I was actually really happy to not have to worry about that for a while!

[Hedgehog80]

I've had 4 cs 1 emergency and 3 elective. My second and third elective ones were v calm and actually lovely births my fourth was difficult due to complications but all was fine.
From experience I'd say elcs is much much better than emcs!

[ppandj]

Wow thank you so much for the responses! I have only just had chance to look at MN again and reading these stories has made me feel really confident in my decision. My main worry is about being able to cuddle DS1 as I don't want him to feel pushed out, but if I rally the troops and get family round to help I'm sure I can orchestrate some gentler cuddles sat down with DS.

[GrowingAPea]

Thanks for the thread op Has anyone had a section for placenta previa? Do the make the incision higher up or vertically instead?

[Pringle2628]

I had ELCS with my first and was lovely experience, very fast recovery with no pains after at all.

I was pressured into natural labour with my second, he's turns 5 in April and I am still very traumatised by the whole experience. I tore in one direction and was cut in the other, stitches fell out and I healed apart.NHS only ever offered me cognitive behaviour therapy for how I feel from it, despite the fact (gross information) when I'm on my period blood pours round the tampon and straight onto my pad and I find being intimate a very anxious time due to worry of how I look/feel down there.

I'm now 8+6 days pregnant with my 3rd and I have full intention of having an elective cesarean as I can't go through the trauma again.

[Hedgehog80]

I had placenta accreta with dcs 2&4 and with the first accreta cs they did modify slightly where they cut as the placenta was growing through the scar from first cs so it was still a horizontal incision but not straight across and a little higher than the first one

[JustSpeakSense]

I had two elective caesareans (not in the UK) they were both positive experiences. The most unpleasant was having the spinal but after initial discomfort of needle I was instantly numb. There is a weird tugging sensation, but you are honestly so distracted by the excitement of meeting your baby it is barely noticeable. They brought the baby over to me immediately for a while and then across the room for apgar test etc. DH was with baby then.

Within minutes baby was back with me and in my arms. With my first child DH and nurse took baby down to nursery while they sewed me up and then they brought him to me in my room for a feed.

With my second, she stayed in my arms while they sewed me up and wheeled us together back to my room for first feed.

When the spinal wore off I was very sore, but the pain relief they gave after was amazing and worked instantly. I really battled with wind which was so painful (apparently happens with all abdominal surgery)

I was up in 24 hours (getting up for the first time hurts, and I was very wobbly on my feet but is a turning point in recovery and is the moment you start to feel you are getting stronger)

I stayed 3 nights, going home was fine (stay ahead of pain with the medication they give you)

The only thing I couldn't do for a while was lift my toddler, and I really battled bathing baby (as the angle and height of my scar was tricky) my DH bathed both babies for the first few weeks, which I missed out on and felt a bit cheated, but in hindsight it was very empowering for him and he really bonded with them.

I would choose elective caesarean again in a heart beat, it's no walk in the park, but was a very calm, organised and special experience for me, I remember every little detail because I wasn't overcome with pain. My kids love hearing the stories of their births (they are teens now!)

Good luck with your decision.

[JustSpeakSense]

Just to add...it was very hard being away from my toddler when I had my second baby. I was very hormonal and missed him terribly, but we had prepared him well, as we had the date pre-booked, we had family around to fuss over him and he knew exactly what to expect, but that was probably the only negative. Once home though, our routine fell
Back into place almost immediately.

[Chchchchangeabout]

I lost over 3 pints of blood when it all went a bit wrong. HOWEVER, it would have been much worse if it had ended up in an EMCS, as the issues were due to existing (but unknown) problems caused by my first botched EMCS middle of the night rush job.