C-Section: What to expect?

Aloha, I didn't have any problem with wind either. Or constipation...

Also, I couldn't feel them doing anything during the op, and I nearly fell asleep while they were stitching me up. (had a spinal)

You could ask if you can take your own cd to play during the op.

Pain wasn't at all bad afterwards, but it was hard to get from lying to sitting for about a week.

Breastfeeding was fine from my point of view but dd wasn't ready to be born and just wanted to sleep so that caused problems. If I ever have an elective cs again I'm not letting them do it till 40 weeks!

I was exhausted for a couple of months (more than other mums who delivered vaginally so I don't think it was just the lack of sleep).

The area a few inches above and below my scar was numb for 20 months but feeling is coming back now; it's still slightly pink but maybe will eventually fade?

Be prepare for them to not let you eat after the birth.
Here in NZ they wouldn't let me eat until I had 'broken wind' ... In the end I lied and told the m/w that I had done a big fart just before she came in ... so I then got something to eat!
Aloha ... I didn't have problem with wind either
I found that rule so strange because there was nothing like that when I had DS ...

Whatever you do ... don't let anyone funny come and see you the day you have the baby.
We have a friend who is one of the funniest people on the planet ... and he just couldn't help making jokes when he came to visit ...
I thought I would pop my stitches and had to send him home

Aloha...yep, you were the only (lucky) one to avoid wind!
I'd forgotten about the crap posture; spent a few days walking on tiptoes with a hunched back, for no explicable reason!
If the driving insurance thing is an urban myth, then the NHS have fallen for it too, as it was actually stated in my discharge info.

MamaC, jsut like to add had 2 sections. Yes you do get pain afterwards, but you can have pain relief take this option it works great and will help you to cope with your baby a bit better.
Usually they take the baby the first night to the nursing station so that you can get some rest as your movement is restricted although if your breastfeeding it may be difficult to do that. Don't worry too much.
My sister has had both vaginal delivery and section. She said section is far better, that's because she did have a difficult time though. Just a word of advice the sooner you get up to walk afterwards the quicker you seem to recover( day after of course). Keep your back straight really helps with walking. If you are like me I didn't realise how bad my posture was until then. Also just to add you do get some wind afterwards. Good luck Larsxx

Am I the only person to have a c-section and not be troubled by wind?
BTW There was nothing in my insurance documents that said ANYTHING about c-sections or six week waits. I honestly think this is an urban myth. I'd say, do what you want and what you feel able to do comfortably.

Had natural with my first and c-sec with my second (low placenta). The c-sec was much better - a bit wierd lying awake as your stomach is cut open but no pain and it was all over in 10 mins! Recovery was a little longer but I was driving within 3 weeks - I still get a slight pain where the epidural needle was inserted. Ds seems a happier baby - maybe because he did not have a traumatic birth. Big knickers a must!

Am I the only person to have a c-section and not be troubled by wind?
BTW There was nothing in my insurance documents that said ANYTHING about c-sections or six week waits. I honestly think this is an urban myth. I'd say, do what you want and what you feel able to do comfortably.

I prefered c section to natural, it was far less taumatic, the only downer is you have to wear big knickers for a while.

You do get a lot of wind afterwards and I recommend peppermint tea. They gave it to met at the hospital and it really helped.

I think you can drive whenever you're ready. It basically depends on when you have the abdominal strength to do an emergency stop. Make sure your insurance company will cover you if you want to drive before the normal six week wait. You can send them a note from your doctor saying you're able, if necessary.

Big cotton knickers - M&S size 20 or something. No op pain - I had no sensations whatsoever. All fine. And I drove after the first ten days (during which I was either in hospital or too disorganised to get out of the house ) and felt normal after a couple of weeks.
Good luck.

I did'nt feel much like eating, so my dh ate all my dinners!! He was starving from running round after me all the time, keeping everyone informed, and shopping for decent food to bring in for me! He even had my lunch half an hour before I was due for discharge!

only other advice is that since you'll be in for a few days, take snacks, their food is bound to be naff and be prepared to clean the bathroom before you use it.... i had to as no-one else seemed to.... which was why i went home after 48 hours! and really, do not hoover, bend or lift until you are healed... it REALLY hurts if you pull on the wound.

i had an elective section last october... i would have another with next baby... cant really offer more advice than already given here.... only to say that having section isnt nice but it aint awful either. i was really concerned about breastfeeding too..... had no probs.... make sure you get loads of skin to skin contact asap. buy BIG pants.... mine were huge and were great.... my wound really hurt, like a burn... mainly for first week or so, then not too bad.... scar is very neat, only about 6 inches and as i was glued back together its really neat. i did shake from the spinal but that wears off quickly....erm what else.... you will feel lots of tugging and shoving as baby taken out, but no pain.... thing that surprised me was that is was sooooooooo fast... and so amazing! hope yours goes well for you... think positive and try to look forward to the birth. I know its an op but its okay!

Waxing is fine so long as it is low enough.

Nothing much to add other than for an elective be prepared to wait! We were in for 7:30 am and ds2 was born at 7:15pm - 9 surgical proceedures before us incl emergency c/s's, surgical forceps, and variuos 3rd/4th degree tears. The elective sections were discharged before a lot of the "natural" births.

I had an emergency c section after being induced. To be honest, after the agony of those contractions, I was so glad to just have the baby! The staff were great...really chatty, and put me at my ease. I was so scared of feeling the pain; they topped up my epidural, but the first one had failed initially.All I felt was a bit of rocking from side to side; not even uncomfortable. Afterwards, you just get on with it... I got up the next day. In retrospect, I was very immoblie, but you don't notice at the time. The worst thing was trying to get comfy; chairs and beds were all as bad as each other. And because of where the catheter had been, I couldn't tell that I needed a wee till the last minute, so I had a week of my husband having to haul me out of bed urgently without waking the baby!! It took about 3 weeks for the scar to heal, but now it's like it never happened. I 'm finding it hard to get back into shape, as you cant do any running etc for 12 weeks. But after reading things about how vaginal delivery can stretch you permanently, I console myself with the fact that sex is just the same as before. As for clothes, pyjamas are certainly too hard to step into alone. I wore paper knickers afterwards, and then weaned myself off them by wearing my husband's boxer shorts! So scared of rubbing the wound. It was a big day when I got my g string back on! After a week I was walking around with the buggy, a month later I'd forgotten all about it. Except I'll never forget the wind!! It went round in circles and just wouldn't come out for about 2 weeks! If we ever have another baby, I'll definitely have another section... the discomfort afterwards is well worth it, as it's not as bad as having to go through a painful labour. But get as much help as you can when you get home, as everything does take more effort when you have no abdominal strength.

Just a couple of things to add
Definately try to get dh to shave you (to about half way down rather than at the hospital (dry shaving with a BIC is not the most comfortable way)
You may shake uncontrollably and scarily just after the spinal/epidural. This is complately normal and is just how some women react (something to do with fluctuating blood pressure). The anathetist will give you drugs/saline through the IV that will fix it in about 30 seconds.
You may also vomit in reaction to the spinal. Again it's normal (though difficult to actually retch when you can't feel your stomach) and will pass very quickly.

Mine was a great experience, even though it was an emergency, and I was back to normal in a couple of weeks. I'm hoping the next (in only 10 days!) is as good.

I had an emergency section with DS and would definitely consider an elective next time around. I agree about the big pants and trying to rest afterwards but it was a breeze for me. Very little pain afterwards. I was given painkillers but saved them up for when I had to breastfeed, absolute agony!

Had DS late Wed night and was home Saturday morning, even climbed the stairs to our flat no problem. Most painful part for me was when my bikini line started to grow back around the scar. Very itchy and got a few ingrown hairs, but not bad if that's all I have to complain about.

I'm almost 3 weeks post emergency section and like Ellaroo have found the recovery a lot less painful than the contractions I was having. I had my catheter and saline drip removed about 11 hours after surgery and was walking around the ward within the next 2 hours. I was in hospital for 4 days but didn't need any painkillers by day 3. I have since been told that this also helps the wind and they can also cause constipation so didn't have any problems with that. I also did a 2 mile walk day 5 and have been doing at least that or more every day since.
I have felt completely myself since about 1 week and am dying to get back to the gym to do spinning again.
I had heard so many horror stories about how it can knock you for months - as you can see from most of these stories it doesn't have to.

I've had 1 emergency and 1 elective c-section. For obvious reasons, the elective one was better (and not at 1am!)

I actually passed out as I was being prepared for theatre, not due to pain or anything, just that I'm a big baby! I walked to the operating theatre and was quickly given the spinal block and drip. Within 10 minutes DS was born. We had the radio on in the background which took my mind off the pulling and pushing feeling in my tummy, I couldn't feel any pain at all just movement.

Was back on ward about an hour after all stitched up and back on feet the next morning. DS was born on Wednesday and I was home on Friday. The post op pain is pretty bad but the painkillers they give you really help. I din't breastfeed so can't offer any advice there. Night dress better IMO and any knickers that don't rub on the scar as this could cause a infection and weeping of the scar.

If I have any more babies then I will definatley be asking for a c-section.

I hope you one goes well for you.

I had planned sections with both my kids and wont repeat what all the posts have said.

Just one thing to mention though - do be prepared to hang around in case emergency sections are given priority.

I was told to arrive at the hospital at 8am with a view to going into theatre (after a nice shave - do try to do this yourself for fear of irritation after) at 10am.

An emergency section took priority so didn't go to theatre until 12.30pm.

All the best xx

babblan! why on earth is your scar still like that? wouldnt they do anything about it?

sorry, didnt mean to hyjack the thread

I was fine after both of mine, so much so that I had decided that ds (my second) would be born by section. As it was he was a large footling breach so he would have been a section anyway.

Post op pain is OK, make sure they give you enough pain relief. I was walking better than some of the women that had normal deliveries. $ weeks saw me back to normal.

I breast fed both in the recovery room.