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Original poster

2 days until my C section. Feeling so nervous

31 replies

csectionsoon · 06/11/2024 18:02

My planned section is on Friday and I feel so nervous about it, so just coming on here as a sounding board.

I am blessed to have a fab support network- DH, parents nearby, my sister who had a planned section herself less than two years ago. DH is allowed to stay in the hospital overnight with me after (though I might try and send him home to get rest as he will only get a recliner chair)

I guess it’s just fear of the unknown and fear of major surgery. The options are ELCS or induction and induction statistics at my hospital and anecdotes from those around me mean I would never choose to be induced.

Would love advice or moral support from anyone who’s had a section before. It all feels so daunting. I hope I can hold my baby straight away, and feel really hopeful for a 24 hour stay (community midwife says this we will go home the next day unless there’s any unforeseen problems). I’m so very excited to meet baby, she is long awaited for but the butterflies I have right now are next level!

OP posts:

adriftinadenofvipers · 06/11/2024 22:11

Yazoop · 06/11/2024 18:46

ELC for me (due to breech positioning) was a lovely experience in the end and definitely felt quite calm and structured. all went really smoothly and was a precious day. Recovery wise, I obviously had to take things like lifting easy for quite a while and it is a little annoying to have to delay things like exercising a bit longer - but overall it hasn’t been too bad and my scar is nice and neat and healing well (four months on).

What was more difficult for me was a subsequent delay in my milk supply coming through after - quite common with c-sections as body not ready - might be worth being aware of what to do in that scenario and talking with the midwife beforehand (if you’re planning on breastfeeding and haven’t done so already). I was unprepared for it, was unsuccessful with colostrum harvesting beforehand, and it was all quite stressful. I was out of hospital within 24hours of the birth, but in hindsight I should have asked to stay until feeding issues had been addressed - as we ended up back in hospital a few days later for a night due to baby losing too much weight. All was fine in the end - we had to top up with formula and have ended up combi feeding longer term - but would have been better if more prepared for that issue.

best of luck - I’m sure it will be wonderful!

I honestly think mums are sent home way too soon now in terms of establishing breastfeeding! I'm not sure I'd have succeeded if I hadn't had the support of the midwives for several days!

adriftinadenofvipers · 06/11/2024 22:19

thepinkcow · 06/11/2024 20:04

I've had a natural birth and an elective section, the section was a lovely experience! We were the first slot in the morning so went in for 7am, got booked in and put into our room to get settled in. It was such a calm experience compared to my first birth, everyone was so lovely and talked me through everything that was happening. Walked down to theatre with DH and my midwife and what literally seemed like no time at all later we were back in our room cuddling baby, by lunchtime my mum was up visiting.
The worst part of it all was actually getting the cannula in my hand and the numbing injection in my back before the spinal, you don't feel anything after that so it was totally fine. I almost blacked out during my section due to low blood pressure but they managed to get it under control and they kept me very reassured and calm throughout it.
I will say during recovery keep up with the meds and don't think you can do more too soon, I stopped taking morphine on day 5 because I was feeling great and it was making me quite drowsy but massively went downhill later that day and got told off by my midwife. Take them for longer than you think you need them.
Keep a rolled up towel with you incase you need to cough, sneeze, and when you go to the bathroom, to hold against your wound, helped me masively.
Stock up on chewing gum and peppermint tea for when you get home.
Enjoy your new bundle and be patient with yourself during your recovery 😊

You just reminded me - I didn't like the morphine pump I had with DC1 so for my other two c/sections, they injected diamorphine via the epidural, and I tolerated that much better!

adriftinadenofvipers · 06/11/2024 22:34

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 06/11/2024 21:32

It's over so quickly. It feels so strange like they are tugging and rummaging if your tummy (which they are) but when baby comes out it's the most magical moment in the world!!

It felt like someone was washing the dishes in your tummy lol!

I'm having a lovely reminisce - my last c/s was almost exactly 21 years ago and I have no idea where that time went!

I'm not sure if mums are better prepped now but.... when I had DD1, they BiC shaved me, oh jesus, the agony of it growing back was worse than the wound!! So with DD2 and DS, I had a little bit of a wax down there. It wasn't done far enough but it spared me the agony I suffered with DD1! Just an unholy memory lol!!

Very best wishes - come back and tell us how it went! x

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orchid34 · 07/11/2024 01:05

I had an emergency C section in May with my first baby. I was so nervous and scared from the operation! So I totally get where you are coming from. My heart was pounding the whole day until I met my beautiful baby. I had a spinal and you do hear everything. When I saw my baby I forgot about everything else, I had my baby on my chest straight away then held him once I was on the wheelchair escorted to my bed in the labour ward. It was clean and very quick. I felt well rested.
You definitely will need the help, I wouldn't ask your DH to go home to rest. I struggled to pick my baby up so my DH helped me hand him over for breast feeding etc. and holding him. I really did need him to be around! We did plenty of skin to skin with baby. I was able to move around after 8 -10 hours post op.
My advice is try and move around as much as you physically can, walking helps.
I was discharged after 2 nights until I was able to get my baby to latch. It's hard work!
At home I had to prop my self up with pillows for a good few weeks until the pain got better during sleeping. I couldn't lie flat or side sleep as It was too painful for me. The nurses and midwives at the hospital were amazing I was well taken care of. If you are planning to BF ask for a pump to help your milk come through. Nipple cream will help too as it does get sore from constantly trying to get baby to latch and feed. I wasn't prepared with collecting colostrum either but I did get some through. You might need to give some formula until your milk comes, mine came on the 5th day exactly but my breasts were engorged by that time. Warm showers with massages and iced cabbage leaves got me through! I wore a night dress for a whole week to help heal my scar and it healed wonderfully, don't cover it up with tight clothes etc. You will get through it and good luck! It's a wonderful experience and so exciting to meet your baby! Get all the help you need, perhaps meal prep for a few days so you don't have to worry about cooking. Eat well and drink plenty of water. I was crazy itchy soon after the operation after the meds wore off. Take your meds on time of course. I was given injections to take home for 10 days to stop blood clotting. Keep your compression socks on as long as you can. Your scar will feel numb and sore at the same time, but it does get better. The labour ward is also very hot for me so I packed for a good thin cotton night dress where I can get my boobs out easily. Get some Maternity pants as the hospital ones aren't good and maternity pads (lilets are amazing) I just got the standard Boots maternity pants (sized up). I lived off of them until my bleeding stopped. You will get bleeding as your uterus shrinks over time just like a vaginal birth. Maternity towels also helped in case I leaked to the bed.
I would advise bringing your own bottle for formula if you do end up giving it. I had to the second night as baby was starting to get very hungry. I packed the ready made bottles( aptamil) although I heard kendamil is really good too. The hospital will also have a couple of options for formula. Pack some baby clothes too of course.
Good luck to you!

PlantDoctor · 07/11/2024 01:13

I had a planned section. It was great! Very chill, straightforward recovery. I only had pain on the second day as I missed my painkiller dose. When I got home (around 1.5 days after surgery), I only took paracetamol as DD was a sleepy baby and I didn't want the codeine making her even more drowsy (she was struggling to eat enough). I found that even paracetamol alone was fine for pain management. It did sting a little if I laughed or sneezed but so much better than friends who had vaginal tears.

My advice is...Make sure you take it easy, of course. No vacuuming or anything strenuous. Listen to your body. Take good care of the wound site. And don't sent your partner home the first night. You might not be able to get out of bed to tend to the baby very easily. I'm sure the nurses would help but it's nice to do it as a team.

Good luck and congratulations in advance!

yipyipyop · 07/11/2024 11:38

I'm 4 weeks post c section. I've had 2. Recovery has been a breeze this time. I was walking within a few hours and catheter out the next morning. Home on day 2 and overall pain free. Only needed paracetamol and ibuprofen after. Everyone's recovery is different and I was very nervous before both times but everything went well.

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