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Pregnancy

Third C-Sections

25 replies

georgie262 · 12/12/2017 18:47

I'm 15 weeks pregnant with DC3. Previously had EMCS with DC1 and ELCS with DC2. I'm under consultant care and was told they would expect me to have third C-section. Does anyone have experience of third C-section? I'm a bit nervous about it to be honest but all experiences welcome even if not 'positive' ones. I want to feel prepared. I still feel a bit of a 'pull' along my scar line if if stand up quickly and my DC2 is 2.5 now,

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lovelyjubilly · 13/12/2017 08:41

Morning!
I have my third c-section booked in for Dec 28th so I'll let you know! My other two were both emcs but the last one was 5 years ago so my scar doesn't give me any bother at all any more. I am kind of hoping that a elcs won't be quite as traumatic as the previous two!

georgie262 · 13/12/2017 11:28

Ah thanks for replying - please do report back how you are feeling. I hope it goes really well for you. Lots of people say an elective is 100 times better than emergency. TBH that wasn't my experience. I felt I was more aware of what was going on so felt much more anxious before the event. With my emergency I was so high on gas and air and whatever other drug they'd given me that my attitude was quite relaxed. I am definitely in a minority though most people had a much better experience with an elective.
Good Luck with yours and I hope you and baby are home in time for New Year x

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buckbeak · 13/12/2017 11:39

Hi, i had 2 emergency sections, then had my 3rd last November.

I have to be honest, but don't want to worry you, and this is just my experience.

I'm still not recovered a year later, the recovery has been awful, my doctor did say third and anymore after sections are hard to recover from.

You can get c section support pants from mother care, I never needed them after the first 2, but this time they really helped me, also hot water bottles have been my saviour.

If you've got any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Sorry if I've scared you, please remember it's just my experience x

georgie262 · 13/12/2017 14:08

@buckbeak no I'd prefer honesty, how are you feeling now? Do you massage your scar? I was told this can make a big difference. I don't do it because it makes me squeamish. I'll look into the c section pants thanks for the tip.

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Nimueh · 13/12/2017 14:18

I've had 3 - an emergency, a planned, and a planned emergency (I went into labour before surgery was planned, had the section within minutes of arriving at the hospital). Pain wise it was my easiest section, I literally felt back to normal within 2 weeks. This could be due to the fact 5 years later I still have no feeling a few inches above and below scars. I do also have a severe band of adhesions which is problematic at times.

georgie262 · 13/12/2017 14:45

@Nimueh how would I know if I had adhesions? I'm still quite numb and have read about adhesions but jot really sure how to tell if I had them

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buckbeak · 13/12/2017 14:47

@georgie262 not good to be honest, the sides of my scan keep re opening. It's horrible.

No I never massaged it, can't look at it let alone touch it.

Nimueh · 13/12/2017 14:55

@georgie262 I had a laparoscopy two years ago as I had various gynaecological problems. They gave me the option of removing them but said it would be extensive surgery with no guarantees. So I just live with it.

georgie262 · 14/12/2017 07:31

@buckbeak o that doesn't sound good at all, hope it all gets sorted. M the same in that I find it quite difficult to touch/look at.i remember brushing my teeth once straight out of the shower. When I leaned over the sink to look in the mirror I realised my scar was touching the sink, I was freaking out because it should have felt cold but if course I couldn't feel anything shudder

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georgie262 · 14/12/2017 07:32

@Nimueh I'm going to just gave to keep my fingers crossed I suppose there is not a lot I can do about it. 😩

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doyawannabuildasnowmaaaaaan · 14/12/2017 07:34

Hi I've had three. And no problems at all if answer any questions let me know

OvO · 14/12/2017 07:38

I've had 3 c-sections. Numbers 2 and 3 were less than a year apart!

My 3rd took longer than the other 2. It was probably the easiest recovery for me. I knew what to expect and what I was able to manage, so didn't push myself too fast.

I now have 2 c-section scars as they didn't want to go through the old one for a 3rd time. Didn't have any healing problems though have the usual numbness around the scars, but no pain or pulling etc.

Good luck with yours!

georgie262 · 14/12/2017 07:40

@doyawannabuildasnowmaaaaaan thank you
that's really reassuring. Especially for the previous poster who is due on the 28th. Was your initial recovery longer? I remember thinking the pain on the second recovery was worse. Constantly thinking ' I don't remember it being this bad'

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georgie262 · 14/12/2017 07:41

@OvO may I ask how far apart are your two scars? Thanks x

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lalaloopyhead · 14/12/2017 07:41

I've had 3, 2 emcs and then another em after I went into labour before my elective date.

I have to say the 3rd was the worst but probably because it was the least emergency like out of them and was so much more aware of what was going on! I think they struggled with the scarring and I lost quite a bit of blood but was absolutely fine. Scar is not great and have an overhang bit, which is a shame after it was so neat after second (improved on the first). I don't remember the recovery being any harder afterwards or anything (10 years ago) other than I had a drain for the first 12 hours or so which got in the way.

Mumguiltisabitch · 14/12/2017 07:47

I've had 3 like you OK an emergency and 2 electives within 5 years. My 1st was the worst actually but that could have been because I didn't know what the hell to expect! I also ended up with a wound infection that seemed to go on forever. Recovery from the other 2 were painful, but for the 3rd the main reason was having a 5 year old a toddler and a newborn to look after. Try and take some time out for rest (I know )!

doyawannabuildasnowmaaaaaan · 14/12/2017 07:59

Nope. My first was by far the worst the second was easy the third was totally ok. I promise I'm not just saying it. My bf has had 4 !!! All were the same for her to x

Phillipa12 · 14/12/2017 07:59

Ive had 1 emcs and 3 elcs, same incision site everytime, was warned that they could take longer due to scar tissue, i had minimal scar tissue. As for recovery dc 2 was the longest, dc 3 was the quickest, dc 4 was the most painful but was sterilised at the same time. Mentally my emergency was the best as i was high on drugs, all the others i was anxious in but the midwives were all fantastic as were the surgeons (with dc4 my most anxious delivery i ended up discussing with both surgeons which supermarket had a better delivery service 😂)

doyawannabuildasnowmaaaaaan · 14/12/2017 07:59

That's best friend btw

nowtygaffer · 14/12/2017 07:59

I've had 3, the first 2 were EMCS the last an Elective. The 3rd was the easiest to recover from! I think the stitching up took longer. No long term problems although it is quite numb. Good luck!

doyawannabuildasnowmaaaaaan · 14/12/2017 08:01

Take painkillers every four hours or as prescribed. Don't try and go without. And if they say you can leave hospital the next day and your not ready to then don't. They usually respect that

OvO · 14/12/2017 08:03

Georgie, they're about an inch apart.

Neither are hugely noticeable, they've healed well and on my fair (pale, oh so pale!) skin they've practically blended in now.

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aims331 · 14/12/2017 08:09

Hi I had my 3rd c section 3 weeks ago and so far I have had a quicker recovery than the other two. The op wasn't much longer than the previous time and I left hospital earlier. My 2nd time I had bladder trauma and took a long time to recover but this time has been amazing. Everyone is different

Littlechocola · 14/12/2017 08:15

My 3rd felt easier although I did have complications due to scar tissue and ended up with an infection from trying to do too much to soon with the other two.

Nimueh · 14/12/2017 08:23

And with regard to adhesions @georgie262 there is not much that can be done so is best not to think or worry about it. Like endometriosis adhesions can be strange in that minor ones can cause severe symptoms and severe can cause no symptoms. It's different for everyone. My issues with my adhesions have largely been resolved since having a Mirena IUD fitted.

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