To ask all of you questions about elective c section?

[thesukimonster]

Hello everyone! Not getting into the details of why I am having an elective, not something I'm comfortable sharing as it is concerning mental health! But this is my first baby and would like to ask a few questions as my date is a mere 6 days away and I'm terrified!

1. When is the cathader inserted? Before or after spinal and by who?

1. In theatre, will I be in a gown and completely panty/bra-less?

1. Em I know I will still bleed even with a section so does the bleeding start straight away? How will I be able to wear maternity pads to control the bleeding if I'm completely numb from spinal and with a cathader?

1. A lot of people have been telling me to get up and walk straight after section, as this apparently speeds recovery, then take it easy at home...is there any truth to this?

1. How did everyone (especially people with little to no pain tolerance! ) handle section recovery?

Sorry if I'm a complete noob!

I won't answer your original questions as everyone already has and I have nothing more to add. I just wanted to say an elective section is an amazing way to have a baby and I loved mine. You won't even think about it at the time as the staff are so lovely and professional. They are very discrete about things like changing your pad, don't worry at all.

Also, don't ever feel like you have to justify your choices to others. This is your baby, your body, your right to choose. That's it. Sending you lots of positive thoughts and happy vibes for next week.

One EmCS & two ElCS here. Agree that the ELCSs were very calm. The only down side with the second ELCS was that I had an unrelated chest infection so coughing was painful.

Top tip - dont look up into the theatre lights as these are mirrored so give you a grandstand view which otherwise you dont get!

When I had my CS there was a screen put up from about chest level so I really couldnt see anything at all and because of the spinal I was not really aware except for some tugging once I was being stitched up after the delivery.

My catheter was put in by a midwife after the spinal.

I was naked under the gown. I had various monitor pads over my chest so a bra wouldn't have been possible.

Pads were wedged between my legs in theatre. I didn't particularly like them being changed, particularly with my husband in the room, but the midwife was very pleasant and just got on with it. The catheter came out after about 8 hours so I could wear a pad in my knickers (take big belly warmers) after that. I bled for 6 weeks.

They will get you up quickly. I had my section at 9-10pm and was in the shower at 6am the next day. My baby was in NICU for 6 weeks, so I had no choice but to be active both in hospital and after I was discharged to go to see her. I hated being stuck in bed anyway, and was chomping at the bit to get up, so that was fine.

I deal with pain ok and managed on paracetemol and ibuprofen after theatre. I didn't want other drugs because something I was given in theatre made me throw up afterwards and the pain of upchunking with abdominal stitches was worse than the pain of the section itself. I took painkillers for a week to ten days and then felt I didn't need them. I am almost 12 weeks post section now and the area still feels bruised but nothing I can't deal with. I expect it will wear off with time.

1. When is the catheter inserted? Before or after spinal and by who?

After the spinal is inserted by anaesthetist, they leave the room (I had two people) and then the midwife came in, explained she was just going to wash between my legs and then insert the catheter. You shouldn't feel anything by this stage.

1. In theatre, will I be in a gown and completely panty/bra-less?

I wore my bra for emergency c section but was naked for elective, had a gown on and some fetching navy surgical stockings. They attach ECG pads to monitor your heart so they will put their hand inside the top of your gown.

1. Em I know I will still bleed even with a section so does the bleeding start straight away? How will I be able to wear maternity pads to control the bleeding if I'm completely numb from spinal and with a cathader? blush

I bled immediately both times, they just wedged a sanitary pad between my legs in theatre, I am very comfortable with Dh so he cleaned me up and wedged another pad between my legs later. I didn't put any knickers on because of the catheter to begin with.

1. A lot of people have been telling me to get up and walk straight after section, as this apparently speeds recovery, then take it easy at home...is there any truth to this?

I was up the day after, not the same day but maybe this is to do with the time you gave birth. Potter around slowly, see how you feel. You may struggle to lift the simplest of things like a kettle when home so honestly take it easy, let everyone help you.

1. How did everyone (especially people with little to no pain tolerance! grin) handle section recovery?

First one, recovered beautifully, had lots of pain killers, had alarm set on my phone to keep me completely topped up. Had no help in the day though, my lovely Mum helped me for 5 days then had to go back to work and DH had 2 weeks off so by week 3 it was all down to me.

Just take it slow, listen to your body and don't underestimate having major abdominal surgery. 2nd section I had a small bit of the scar infected, but went to the docs and it was sorted. I did take longer to heal but I had a 3 year old to chase after so it wasn't as simple as when the baby sleeps, you sleep but with your first it is. Good luck.

The blood thinners for all cs patients is a relatively new thing wannabe but not all hospitals have adopted it. They used to only give them to patients who were at risk (medical history, obesity etc) but now they know that they should be used as a preventative measure for any woman having a CS. I had ds only a couple of years ago and they'd just introduced it in our area. The midwife said it should be rolled out nationwide eventually but it would take years for it to cotton on and other trusts were still working under old guidelines. I've had two friends have CS in the last 12 months in different areas across the country and both had to self-inject. It's just worth being aware that it might be happening in the op's hospital.

Thanks showy - my friend had an ELCS about 7 months before I had mine and she had to self inject for a week. Prior to me being discharged I was concerned that it hadn't been mentioned so asked my midwife who told me it is no longer standard practice. I asked about wearing the DVT socks as my friend had also been told to wear them for a week as well but was told this was no longer necessary either. This was 6 months ago.

My friend had had her ELCS at another Trust though about 10 miles down the road.

Thanks showy - my friend had an ELCS about 7 months before I had mine and she had to self inject for a week. Prior to me being discharged I was concerned that it hadn't been mentioned so asked my midwife who told me it is no longer standard practice. I asked about wearing the DVT socks as my friend had also been told to wear them for a week as well but was told this was no longer necessary either. This was 6 months ago.

My friend had had her ELCS at another Trust though about 10 miles down the road.

Just to add, I actively enjoyed having a catheter because I'd spent late pregnancy with my baby headbutting my bladder and peeing every ten minutes. It was nice to lie in bed with my newborn knowing I wasn't going to have to do that. They asked my permission before they inserted it, after my son had emerged, and it didn't hurt on removal.

Neither was the changing of pads embarrassing. The midwife or assistant just pushed it gently between my legs - I still wasn't wearing underwear. I had my CS about ten thirty in the morning, and walked late that night down the hall to a private room, took a shower first thing in the morning, and after that was back into yoga pants and huge cotton knickers and pads I changed myself. The bleeding was at its heaviest after I got back on my feet but started lessening within a day or two, down to a minimal 'last day of your period' level.

I have zero pain threshold, but recovery was fine. I took the painkillers and blood thinners they gave me, and the only thing that hurt was getting up from a low seat or stepping over something high (we had a shower over a bath, and I couldn't use it for a couple of weeks.) My scar developed a mild infection, but was fine within a couple of days with some Canesten cream - you can avoid this by letting the air get to the scar as much as possible. It's now (2.5 years later) more or less invisible.

If you're planning to bf, investigate what bf support is available in hospital, as you'll be there longer than if you had a vb, which was the only downside for me. (Though not very long - had ELCS Tues morning, discharged Thursday morning.)

I've never given birth vaginally, so nothing to compare it with, but my ELCS was a calm and positive experience. Best wishes, OP.

I would recommend tracking down some peppermint cordial as I had terrible wind after my emergency caesarian and taking this really helped. Good Luck

I loved my elc

good luck op

just forget about all the details about pads and underwear

the drs are used to it its normal to thm

just focus on that lovely baby

tmi here, but when I stood up first time after the surgery the water/liquid/blood gushed out and a pad wasn't enough to stop the flow, so I ended up with a puddle around my feet. At second c section, I held an old towel (from home, in hospital bag) between my legs and stayed on the spot for a minute waiting for the flood to stop! A lot less humiliating...

In terms of recovery, it was much easier for my planned c section (the second one) compared with first (emergency) c section, as for the emergency c sec I went through a long labour and I was completely knackered. With the planned c sec I was fine within days.

1. After the spinal. No idea who, I couldn't see or feel a damn thing. Not me, DH or the anaesthetist, of that I can be sure. I found it strangely fascinating to watch the bag slowly filling by the side of my bed tbh with no feeling down there at all.

2. Yes in a gown only.

3. You know more than I did before my first! I wasn't wearing disposable pants, I just had one tucked between my legs when I first became aware of it ie when the midwife removed it. Was strangely unembarrassed since as above we'd all been sat around watching my wee collect in a plastic bag by that point. Also do remember the midwife has SEEN IT ALL BEFORE.

4. Walk around as soon as you can but don't push it, you may be a bit wobbly when you first get up. A trip to the bathroom is fine, you don't need to prove yourself.

5. Fine. The magic hospital bed with controls was my friend in hospital as I couldn't really sit up without it (strangely, once I got home I was fine). My top tip would be to clutch hold of the bed controls unit since the second time round the midwife pointed behind my head and said the call button was there and the bed control unit was clipped there. Then she left and I discovered that I couldn't reach the bed control unit to sit up, but neither could I (in my single room) reach the call button to ask someone to pass me the bed control unit without sitting up, which I couldnt do without the bed control unit when I got a visitor I got them to pass it to me and thereafter I slept with it. The baby? Bah, in the cot.

More seriously I did get the most awful shoulder pain for the first day or so, much worse than any pain coming from the incision and didn't seem to be touched by the painkillers. I have read since that it's trapped wind and that peppermint tea helps. Might be worth getting a few teabags in in case it happens to you.

1. They put it on just before they will operate, once you've had your epidural. You do not feel a thing. No idea who does it though, as there was a screen up so I couldn't see a thing.

1. You get to keep your gown, but no underwear. They hook you up to monitors. Also, A bra would get in the way if there was to be an emergency. Also, no nail polish anywhere and no jewelry!

1. No idea about when it starts, I just know that when my catheter was pulled out in the middle of the night, by a ** on a midwife who didn't even bother to wake me up to do it, there's already loads of blood there. The numbness really doesn't last that long and you don't get underwear until after you've managed to put it on after a shower. Middle of the night in my case, straight after having my catheter removed.

1. The midwives at my hospital made me walk as soon as the catheter was out. It was agony. I could barely shuffle along the floor. Getting in and out of bed was the hardest- use that remote control to your full advantage! So, no idea whether it's better to do it straight away or not, never got a choice.

1. Painkillers. And just grin and bear it once those ran out. I was mostly pain free after 6 days.

Am on my lunch in the park, apologies for typos! I've an EMCS, planned CS and hysterectomy. I'm an old hand at abdominal surgery.

. When is the cathader inserted? Before or after spinal and by who? After, for all my ops. Not sure who did it. I was busy chatting away.

1. In theatre, will I be in a gown and completely panty/bra-less? Gown, pant + braless.

1. Em I know I will still bleed even with a section so does the bleeding start straight away? How will I be able to wear maternity pads to control the bleeding if I'm completely numb from spinal and with a cathader? They'll squish a maternity pad netween your legs and you'll be on an inco pad to let the blood drain out. You'll probably get a bed bath a few hours after the op and they'll change it all again. They'll also monitor the blood loss every so often.

1. A lot of people have been telling me to get up and walk straight after section, as this apparently speeds recovery, then take it easy at home...is there any truth to this? IME there's no truth in it. My EMCS recovery was the worst because I was shuffling around from day 2, painkillers for weeks. Planned CS, did sod all for 2 weeks, much better. 2 midwives and a gynea nurse said they want mums to get moving to clear the beds (they didn't approve of the 'get moving' message), don't move until you feel up to it. And make sure you rest lots.

1. How did everyone (especially. people with little to no pain tolerance! ) handle section recovery? I think I only felt crap after my EMCS because I got moving too soon. I have a good tolerance to pain (labour, tattoos, bikini waxing all ok). The most important thing is to rest, your body will be healing interally for at least 6 weeks so give it chance to mend.

(Sorry, finished this after work in the end). ELCS are fine IME. Buzz the midwives for help changing the baby in the first 24hrs so you can heal up and once you're home hunker down in bed / sofa with baby, remote control, notes on when to take painkillers and biscuits .

Just adding my tuppence...have had two sections and they were both fine ...so good luck OP, you'll be fine :-)

1. I was more scared of the catheter than the actual op, but they inserted it after the spinal had taken effect, so I didnt feel a thing. I didnt even know they had done it! It didnt hurt coming out, either (took a couple of seconds)

1. In theatre yes - I was naked underneath my gown.

1. The bleeding was straight away and lasted a couple of weeks. I had surgical knickers with a pad on straight out of surgery, which they must have put on me in theatre (didn't feel it!).

Em I know I will still bleed even with a section so does the bleeding start straight away? How will I be able to wear maternity pads to control the bleeding if I'm completely numb from spinal and with a cathader?

1. My first section was at 1pm. They encouraged me to start walking the next morning. Second section in a different hospital was also at 1pm, and I was up that evening for a short walk to get tea etc. it feels weird at first - your legs are a bit weak and you're scared you're going to hurt yourself, but it honestly gets easier over the next few days. I didn't feel any pain, and its important to get loving after any major surgery to avoid blood clots.

1. I honestly had no pain at all after either section. I took the painkillers they gave me home and dutifully took them every 4 hours even when I felt fine, and I think that helped. The worst pain I felt was the day after my second section, when I got a terrible shoulder pain that I thought was a stroke. Turns out it was trapped wind (didnt feel like it at all), and very common after surgery. Peppermint tea soothed it.

Thank you so much ladies! I feel so much better knowing there's been so many positives concerning sections and now that I've so much more information going in! xx

Good luck and keep us posted. Enjoy it!

As others have said you honestly won't be too worried about midwives helping you, I also found the fact I couldn't actually feel what was going on when pads were being changed helped with the lack of feeling embarrassed.

I was also told horror stories from friend who's sister had 2 ELCS and said she wished she had been knocked out and went in to describe things in detail, so I was quite anxious and anticipating the same, could not have been further from that. I had a lovely experience, very relaxed, everything explained and braced myself for horrendous pain which I was told would come, it never did.

Good luck!

I had an elective.

Catheter went in after spinal, didn't feel a thing. I was v lucky, was up and about that evening (Section was at 1pm). And because I could walk to the loo, they whipped it out straight away (didn't feel more than a slight wiggle when they did it, no pain).

Pads - bought cheap 'big' knickers, and was sorting my own that evening too - midwife or one of the staff at the birth side of matters put a sort of padded sheet under me til I got back to the ward, then midwife put pad and knickers on me when we got there.

Pain relief - was ace! Felt no pain til next day, and even then it went when on the paracetamol/ibuprofen combo.

I was in the shower the morning after!

I agree with whoever posted about standing up straight! It feels weird at first, but once you know nothing happens, it helps!

Good luck x

I had an emergency section so slightly different (and why I am skipping the first two questions as it may different with a planned one) but wanted to reassure you.

3. Mine started straight away and the midwives took care of it until I was able to do it myself. Echo the advice about big high waisted granny pants and get the thickest pads you can - wilkos were actually good and usually I am an always devotee!

4. I had my section at 11pm and walked at about 9am the next morning. I did go carefully but the midwives were amazed/cross with me that I was wandering around my room jigging my 12 hour old baby to sleep holding my catheter bag in the other hand. Everyone is different so listen to your body and expect to do nothing!

5. I was fine. I took the meds as instructed for the first five days and then played it by ear. If I felt ok then I waited an extra hour etc... It wasn't bad at all and again, listen to your body. If you don't feel up to it then don't even think about doing it! I used to stick a sanitary pad to the inside of my knickers by the waistband so it cushioned my scar, it really helped me feel more secure and comfortable. Also make sure you give your scar lots of air and, hilariously, blow dry it after a shower!

I had my section in late August 2012 and had to wear the dvt stockings (very attractive!) and do the injections into my tummy but to be honest they weren't so bad.

ps. so nice to read that an elective is a positive experience for most, I will likely have one next time!

Hi I had an elective two weeks ago today. It was a bit daunting and walking into the theatre I was a bit worried, but actually it was a great experience. You have a midwife with you at all times, to help reassure you and your birth partner. Honestly the team do it all the time, and that thought reassured me (ie for the surgical/medical team it was literally another day at the office).

I think you have had the answers you are looking for but in terms of recovery, I recommend getting up the next day - honestly a trip to the loo was as much as I could do but it felt like climbing a mountain. The first few days at home were a bit sore, and getting in and out of bed not great but I am really good now, and actually went into London for my husband's graduation ceremony yesterday with baby and Bf in public and had a teeny glass of wine too!

The most painful thing for me was trying to cough in the first few days and trapped wind/ moving my bowels. Eat fibre by the bucket, I had dried apricots, bran flakes and lots of fruit to get things going. The day I went crazy eating cheese and not eating fruit was not fun! Hopefully these messages have reassured you - I thought it was a great experience, for a nervous first time mother like me it was definitely the right thing to do!

Good Luck!

I was TERRIFIED of having a CS, particularly the loss of dignity/privacy and can honestly say it was not a problem at all. They do everything with so little fuss that I don't even know when they inserted the catheter and can't remember anyone changing any pads (I'm sure they must have). Please try not to worry, it's just so exciting seeing your baby!

I've had 4 sections, 2 emergency and two planned (and one vb). I concur with all the others and a big yy to taking peppermint tea with you for wind pain.

Also invest in some surgical knickers. They are big pants made of the same 'fabric' as fishnet stockings. Means your wound will be exposed to fresh air and you can still wear pads for weeks afterwards. I found all my recoveries v easy except for the final section, I developed a reaction to all the meds and had an infected wound. Due ore to number if sections than the section itself. Good luck.