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Original poster

I had an elective c-section AMA

58 replies

ellecf21 · 23/02/2023 21:06

Had an elective section last June - AMA.

OP posts:
Original poster
ellecf21 · 28/02/2023 17:47

@Greentomatoes21 @Youraccountisnolongervalid ahhh interesting, so I didn't have any morphine! Wonder if that causes the shivers?

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Original poster
ellecf21 · 28/02/2023 17:48

Greentomatoes21 · 23/02/2023 22:36

Don't feel silly! While not massively uncommon, generally electives aren't encouraged here in UK and some women may find this v interesting and helpful!

Did you find it difficult to get the doctors to agree to it?

Hello! It wasn't difficult and it didn't feel like I was trying to get anyone to agree to anything. It was a very open conversation with my consultant on what would be the best option for me. It was Homerton hospital and they were fantastic.

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Original poster
ellecf21 · 28/02/2023 17:50

Shauna27 · 23/02/2023 22:59

How do you feel about the scar afterwards? Did you get an overhang from incision? I'm debating on whether I should go down the elective CS route - I have to go with either an induction or elective CS for medical reasons and I'm soo nervous about either option.

Hello 😊 I don't have an overhang, but I know some people do. I don't know what makes it more likely you will or will not get one, but I just hoped for the best and accepted whatever would be! My scar is great, very neat and barely visible now. I'm quite surprised to be honest and look at the baby in awe as to how she came out of it 😂

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Original poster
ellecf21 · 28/02/2023 17:52

Sunnysunbun · 23/02/2023 22:33

I had an emergency c section and was so stressed after a long Labour and no sleep that I hated it. I would imagine an elective C-section is more civilised.
Did you have to wait ages to be taken to theatre?

Hello! It was a very calm experience. I was at the hospital for 7am and I walked down to theatre at 10.40am. To be honest it was bizarre how normal it felt! My only issue was that I was absolutely ravenous. I found it difficult watching my husband tuck into his breakfast whilst I was on nil by mouth!!

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M08my · 07/03/2023 15:45

Hi I just want to say thank you for this AMA, it's been good for me to read for one!

I'm not pg yet but I want to be and I'd go for ELCS next time I think after a really traumatic first birth ending in emcs, I'm not going thru that again!

I really hope you are still here to answer questions even tho this thread is a little old!

My emcs was under GA so I know nothing about it cos it happened while I was out cold.

  • how awake were you? Like wide awake or did they give you something to make you drowsy?
  • when they gave you the epidural (or whatever it is), is that painful sticking it in? Did it make you nauseous?
  • my friend told me they tilted the table and strapped her down - is that right? Is that a bit scary?
  • I know you can't see because there's a screen but can you hear snipping and other tool noises?

I'm very squeamish of any of that stuff (made much worse by my traumatic birth, like even the thought of needles gives me the heebie geebies now) so I'd be tempted to ask for GA again next time. I think the risks of GA are rare and drop even lower if they know you've had a GA safely before. This is all academic because I'm not even PG but part of me wants to at least have a plan before I conceive again

PregnantQuestions · 07/03/2023 17:49

ellecf21 · 28/02/2023 17:36

Hey 👋🏼

So in terms of my section on the day I was at the hospital by 7am and I went in for surgery at 10.40! So it wasn't too bad I was lucky I think.

I did not get an overhang although was wondering if I would based on other people's experiences. The scar is amazing now, I don't really notice it. It's faded a lot and they did a great job - I was closed up with surgical glue. I don't know if that made a difference but it gave me a neat scar in the end.

I'd say it took me 12 weeks to really feel back to normal again. That doesn't mean I was in pain for that long but as someone who frequently exercises it took till 12 weeks for me to feel brave enough to run again! And I was fine and have since got back to my usual fitness. I'd say I was in a fair bit of pain for about 3 weeks but each day it got better. I have to note I only managed it with paracetamol and ibuprofen, even in the hospital so I'm sure if I was on something stronger it would have been a bit better. I was fine on those though and it meant i didn't push myself physically early on.

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Thank you! That’s really helpful (and reassuring). I’m also quite active so resting will be strange! I didn’t know the surgeon sometimes uses surgical glue. I’m disappointed that the only painkillers I’ll get will be paracetamol and ibuprofen. These don’t even touch the pain when I’m on my period as I have really and menorrhagia. Makes sense though because I’ll be breast feeding and certain drugs can’t be taken.

Babyboomtastic · 07/03/2023 22:33

PregnantQuestions · 07/03/2023 17:49

Thank you! That’s really helpful (and reassuring). I’m also quite active so resting will be strange! I didn’t know the surgeon sometimes uses surgical glue. I’m disappointed that the only painkillers I’ll get will be paracetamol and ibuprofen. These don’t even touch the pain when I’m on my period as I have really and menorrhagia. Makes sense though because I’ll be breast feeding and certain drugs can’t be taken.

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Personally, section recovery for me was far less painful than a period. I was surprised!

And I rested very very little.

MummyJ36 · 07/03/2023 22:43

AzureOrchid · 23/02/2023 23:16

I don’t agree with elective sections - sorry

You know it can still be classed as elective even when medically advised? My baby was measuring big and there were concerns of shoulder dystocia so I was advised on a c-section by doctors as I approached 38 weeks. I could have said no but I said yes. Baby was born just after 39 weeks. This still went down as elective / maternal request section.

A c-section is major surgery. Nobody (or very few people) would enter into this lightly. Most of us aren’t super rich and able to have infinite amounts of help afterwards so we can rest and recuperate. Most of us are trying to get by with day to day life, looking after a newborn and also recover for layers upon layers of our abdomen being cut through. Why would you possibly do it in a whim?

Also some women request a c-section because of past trauma. It does not need to be related to the baby for it to be valid.

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