Your Elective C-section stories

[HanDynasty]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently 39 weeks and 1 day pregnant with my second child. I'm in hospital because of unstable lie and the consultant recommended a C-section to me.

I might have the C-section this evening, if the manage to find a slot for me.

So I'm just wondering, what's your experience of elective C-section?

Anything important to keep in mind for the recovery?

I'm kind of nervous 😬 my first was a horrible forceps delivery with major blood loss, but I'm still so scared of major surgery xx

I've had two ELCS after a horrible shoulder dystocia birth with my first. Both ELCS were wonderful in comparison. It's seen as a pretty routine operation.

Recovery was fine both times. My main tip would be to make sure you don't lift anything heavier that the baby for 6 weeks afterwards. My scar would swell up a little if I'd overdone things, so take all the help you can get with your older child and housework. I was driving after about three weeks, after checking with GP and insurance.

Good luck!

I’ve had two ELCS. Both were beautiful, calm, pain free experiences. Babies came out quickly, and I cuddled and attempted feeding while they sewed me up. Recovery was faster than those in my NCT group.

Mine was amazing- calm and relaxed, despite being done sooner than planned due to reduced movements. I had a catheter in overnight but as soon as that was out I was up and about, bit sore at first, but nothing that couldn’t be managed with paracetamol.
Needed a bit of help getting upstairs when I was eventually discharged (was in for a week as DS needed some treatment, entirely unrelated to the C-Section), but after 2 weeks I was almost back to normal.
Good luck

One EMCS and one ELCS here. Recovery was fine for both, but I did listen to my body (and my Mum!) and didn't overdo it. I had friends who were desperate to get back to normal but just accept that you can't lift heavy stuff, you can't drive for a bit and watch the way you twist, get out of bed etc. My stitches got slightly infected the second time but the nurse came to clean it up every couple of days until it was better so if you feel that something isn't right, do tell your midwife of HV, and if you have a bit of an overhang, try to "air" your scar every so often. Bib, big pants so they go over your tummy and are nowhere near your stitches. When my DH went back to work, he would bring the baby, moses basket, spare clothes, changing stuff etc downstairs in the morning before he left so that I didn't need to be traipsing up and down the stairs all day. He also made me a packed lunch while he was making his, that helped a lot, especially the second time round!
All the best - remember that although this is huge to you, the medics do this day in day out. Hoping you're cuddling that wee one soon!

Big, big pants - not bib, big pants. You don't need a bib!!

Big pants and soft trousers after so they don't irritate your scar. Don't pick up anything heavy.

I asked to have my DS2 to cuddle /feed straight after in the recovery room as didn't get that with DS1 and feeding was much quicker to establish.

My youngest was an elective c section and it was a lovely experience, calm, relaxed. Quick recovery time.

Far better than my emergency c section on my dd2, I wasn’t very well after that.

I've had two because of horrendous hyperemesis Rodger until the day they removed the baby with my first , and until 8 months with my second . It had not an ounce of energy left to give birth ( I'm sure I could but didn't want to and was sick to death of being pregnant ) I loved my caesareans , no pain , the epidural was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting and the whole day with both caesareans was brilliant . It's the only nice memories of both pregnancies. Yes there is some pain , but even that wasn't as bad as I expected. I would advise you have something to give you a good poo clearout tho before the operation , as straining to poo with torn abdominal muscles really hurts ! Also stay on top of when you've pooed post op too and take more laxative if needed . Shitty advice ( literally haha )

Elective second time here!

The worst part about a c section is the catheter afterwards for me. So once that bits over I'm always over the moon. Taking ibuprofen and paracetamol every 4 hours. Except I would take ibuprofen then take paracetamol 2 hours later, then ibuprofen 2 hours later...etc. Good luck you will be fine!

Amazing, much better than an emergency. Recovery much quicker.

My planned c section was fine. Lots of bruising but weirdly it didn’t hurt. Big pants are a must. Midwife comes to check scar etc at home afterwards. X

My elective c section was great , I started to be induced even though my whole adult life I’ve been totally overwhelmed with fear of natural birth , my midwife talked me out of it.

Anyway induction started , hated it, felt like she shoved a bag of broken glass in me it was only a pessary , but I was so tense , I went into shock , then on the evening mentally broke down spoke to an amazing doctor who was like yours and your baby well being is both important and had a c section , best choice I made when I finally spoke up .

Only things I would advise are big pants ! Cough medicine (as I got a cough after c section and it does hurt to cough ) and lots of comfy loose trousers.

Good luck 😘

I couldn't have asked for a nicer delivery in all honesty. It was very well organised, controlled, well explained and I felt relaxed about the whole thing despite my son coming 6 weeks early

I would absolutely recommend proper c section disposable pants, I'm sure I got mine in boots and they were very comfortable

Mine was lovely - had an absolutely horrendous pregnancy and was on bed rest from 28 weeks, so I was pretty happy to get DS safely out at 36 weeks.

Changing position was hard afterwards (going from lying to sitting, or twisting at the waist - I basically had to roll onto my front then onto my hands and knees to sit up in bed). But once I was up I was fine and wandering around as soon as the spinal wore off (11am section, was up the next morning). I could probably have gone home the following day from my perspective, but we ended up staying in longer due to DS’s low birthweight.

I had an awful pain in my shoulder blade which was due to trapped air or blood under the diaphragm, apparently quite common. Only needed paracetamol and ibuprofen though, and I was off those within 5 days.

I will be honest with you. I hated the actual op, didn't like the feeling of not being able to move, getting strapped to the board etc. I did bf in the recovery room straight after with no problems. I was discharged the next day.
Now I had expected mild discomfort, the first few days were much more painful than I imagined & I hated my body not having full movement. After two wks I felt more normal but I was strict about lifting despite feeling I could manage. I can only compare it to a VB which I had previously & recovery for that was a breeze. However the CS for dc2 was the best option certainly, also unstable lie.
Very vain but I also dislike the scar, it's very neat but the skin isn't exactly as it was obviously.