C-Section: What to expect?

Glad to hear that so many people have had relatively good experiences with their C-sections. I feel reluctant to post my own experience because I don't want to scare anybody off who has had a terrible time getting the baby out the normal way.Reading peoples birth stories I realise that there is no sure way of having an easy birth. I am due to have my second baby in early May and I have decided that if I can get the baby out any other way than having my stomach muscles cut off I will. I had an emergency C-section first time around and it left my body in a bad state. The wound heald quickly, but the pain (nothing like the initial pain, but still uncomfortable to walk, bend and stretch) stayed for most of a year.The scar is still thick red and uncomfortable to touch and the area around the scar is still numb. My feet are also numb (two years later) from the epidural. I lost a lot of blood during the operation, so it took me a very long time (six weeks) before I could walk upstairs without feeling faint. I was also unlucky to get a urinary tract infection (from having to keep the catheter in for 48 hours since I could not empty my bladder). Beeing weak from the operation I also got a chest infection...sneezing after the operation is VERY painful. All these things do not have to happen, thank God, and I hope for you MamaC that having a planned C-section will mean that you are not exhausted by the time you have the operation! That should mean that you are less likely to suffer infections and other complications. Don't let my story scare you since you have obviously had a terrible time giving birth the natural way. For myself I am opting to do it the other way around hoping to have a better experience this time. I wish there were some way of knowing how things will be so you can make an informed decision!

I've had 3 sections, and can honestly say that they were all a lot better than i expected them to be.
I was awake for all of them, which i would really reccomend if poss. The atmosphere in the theatre is usually very relaxed and staff are ususally chatty. Had the radio on during dd1's section i think. The best way i can think of describing the sensation is that is like someone washing up in your stomach.

Afterwards depending on what time you had the section you will probably remain in bed for the rest of the day. I did get up in the evening with dd1 but only cos i was desperate to get home as soon as poss.
You will have a drip in, which may stay in until next day, depending on how much you are drinking. You will also have a catheter in which usually stays in for 24 hours.
Next day they will probably take your catheter out and get you out of bed and in to the shower.
I was told to peel my dressing off in the shower BUT BEWARE this can make you feel a bit faint so if you prefer ask them to do it for you.
You will need to wear knickers that go above your scar, i found the bigger the knickers the more comfy i was. PJ's or nighties are both fine, which ever you prefer really.
As far as pain releif goes you are usually given morphine (i think) afterwards and then given strong painkillers whenever you need them.
When i had Ds i was allowed to self medicate, which was brilliant as i had my locker full of drugs and when ever i felt any pain i just had a vile of morphine or popped a pill, with no waiting around for midwife to come and see me.
It will feel very strange at first and yes you will think that you will fall apart if you sneeze or cough but that won't happen (honest).
The wound itself usually looks very clean and simple, although you may have some bruising.
Oh also meant to say, that you will be given injections to thin your blood (they do hurt a bit) and will leave bruises on your arms.
Most hospitals will let you home after 4 days (some after 3, but i wouldn't reccomend it), but you must feel free to stay longer if you feel it's nessercary.
Once home it helps to have things at waist height, like changing mat, baby bath e.t.c.
If you have a toddler that sometimes needs help getting on sofa, up to table e.t.c then get them a step up thingy, so that you don't have to lift them.
Thats about it i think.
Feel free to ask any questions though.
By the end of two weeks you will start to feel normal again.

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I had a c-section less than 2 weeks ago for my 2nd child. I had my first child by vaginal delivery. I found the c-section fantastic - the birth for me was much more magical (could this have been the morphine???) than with vaginal delivery and I felt much less tired and emotional straight afterwards. Breastfed within 20 minutes of DS being born and the afterpain was far less than with DD (first child). Lots of painkillers until about day 5 when I no longer needed them. Back at home on day 4 and went for a 2 mile walk that day and felt fine. Am back to doing hoovering etc etc and don't feel at all like I've had an operation. The scar (only 4 inches long) isn't particularly visible - all bruising gone, but a bit puffy by the end of the day. Also my stomach has gone down much quicker than it did last time. I'm wearing those 'high leg' ones from M&S and they completely avoid the scar. Wanted to post this as I was terrified before the operation, but wanted to let you know that sometimes c-sections do go well!

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hi mamac,
ive had two sections now. during the operation you will just feel a lot of pulling and tugging but no pain, its a bit strange but its over very quickly. After the op you will probably be quite sore when the anesthetic wears off but ask for pain relief and ALWAYS accept it when they bring the trolley round. I fell into the trap of thinking i was ok whilst in hospital and said i didnt need any pain relief and boy did i suffer when i got home! wear BIG BIG pants if you can as normal ones will rub on your scar and can irritate it quite a bit and dont forget that you will still bleed as with a vaginal birth. (i was never told that the first time and took no towels into hospital)(sorry to be yukky) rest as much as you can when you get home...even if you feel fine because i found that i was a lot more fragile than i felt, did too much and ended up hurting myself again. It will be sore but its not BAD pain, certainly no-where near as bad as contractions! i felt ok within about a month (and finally ditched the nightie, which was all i wore every day until then) but was still a bit careful about what i did. As for stitches, i had disolvable the first time and found they were a lot more comfortable than the running stitch with the bead, but i think that depends on your surgeon? best of luck anyway, i hope it all goes fine

I knew it...as soon as I posted my message I thought of something else!!!!

At the actual OP you feel them pushing and pulling you around (I had an Epidural) which is most alien. I also felt sick with the Epidural which isn't pleasant.

That was it really....

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Hi MamaC

I had an Emergency C section last December with my first (one and only) ds.

I remember the actual Op scar not being too painful and being encouraged to do gentle exercises almost straight away to help the healing process.

Keep the area clean and dry.....make sure you let air get to it as much as you can.

True, you can't drive a car for a few weeks and you DEFINATELY CAN'T DO ANY HOUSEWORK for six weeks (wahoo!) but, so long as you're careful you'll be fine.

The most painful bit for me was the referral pain which occured a day after the op in my right shoulder. That was EXCRUCIATING (sp?). I'm not trying to put you off but I wasn't expecting this and thought I was going to pass out with the pain.

This lasted for about 3-4 days...painkillers helped but you need to keep on top of them. They also can give you something I think they called "hot mix" which is a minty solution which really does help take away the pain.

What else....Hmmmmm..... I couldn't pick DS up for a day or two and needed help from the midwives on that score (as I coudn't get out of bed).

Breastfeeding was no problem.

The other thing I wasn't expecting was the fact that I am still numb around my tummy and have now been told that it takes months for the feeling to come back if you get it back at all.

Knickers! I would suggest 100% cotton and big enough to go over the scar (i.e. not cutting into the scar).

That's basically it. If I remember any more I'll drop in another note.

Good Luck if we don't hear from you before the big day.

i had traumatic first labour ending in emergency section.
so 2nd time opted for planned section with epidural.
what to expect?
op pain? - NONE, slight awareness of someone 'working on you'. less so than at the dentist.
post op pains/discomfort - i was given self-controlled morphine drip - had to press a button when i needed it...doesn't allow you to OD but makes you feel that you have some control.
Knickers? - i started with paper ones but found them a waste of time as couldn't unstick the ST. si went to BIG knickers that went right over the wound.
PJ's or nightie - defo nightie. i couldn't have managed to bend over to put PJ bottoms on. plus your tummy doesn't go down as much cos of op swelling plus you get chronic wind which makes anything around your tummy v. uncomfortable.
there were 4 of us - all CS's on my ward -0 we only had 1 pen between us. 2 had filled in their food orders, and 2 hadn't when someone dropped the pen. "F--k...I've dropped the pen but nevermind DH will be here in 4 hours, he'll pick it up." this resulted in us wanting to giggle - but couldn't giggle either without having to hold wound and wincing.
Breastfeeding - easily both times. cushion on knee or underarm.

hope that this prepares you, it wasn't half as bad with the planned section, perhaps cos menatlly prepared.

Hi. I had an emergency C section with my DD. Not the best circumstance but... the op pain was bad, but they give you pain killers to help you get over that, and gentle exercises. The worst thing for me was them telling me I had to get out of bed and walk around - but in the end I think that it really helped me get back on my feet more quickly. Can't really remember how long it lasts, you'll be way too occupied with the little one to think of pain!

As for clothes, I wore normal knickers that did not rub on the scar and PJs. How easy to breastfeed... there's a question, I guess as easy as it ever is!

The recovery time obviously varies from woman to woman, but after 4 weeks I felt back to my normal (albeit now new mother tired) self!

I've waffled, sorry! Hope it all goes OK.