To ask for your planned caesarean & post-caesarean experiences?

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I'm considering a planned caesarean for my first child, despite feeling quite a bit of pressure to give birth naturally from friends and, well, most people actually . . . (except for my DH who is fantastic and would support me whichever route I choose).

But I have not made a cast-iron decision yet, because although I've read the official information on the advantages and disadvantages of a CS I don't know anybody in RL who did it this way - and I would really love to hear first-hand from those who have.

Please could you tell me your stories about your planned caesarean and how you found life after, if you don't mind sharing? I'm hoping you can counterbalance some of the horror stories I've been told!

Was it a positive experience (if planned - I understand that emergency sections will obviously be very different)?
Was it traumatic to not be able to hold your baby straight away?
Was it overwhelmingly difficult to look after the baby afterwards?
Do you think it caused any long-term difficulties for you (physically) in your day-to-day life - even years after the birth?

Afterwards it's bloody awful. 15 weeks later I still have a hole in me. I got an infection which made recovery worse but I honestly wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Looking after a new bird is hard enough without a 6 inch cut through your abdomen.

If you can avoid it I would.

I had a planned section with my first as he was breach, I had a spinal and was such a relaxed experience, recovery takes a little while but found it relatively easy with a newborn. My second I was induced and hoped for a natural birthday, unfortunately this ended in a emergency section which was a totally different experience. Go with whatever you feel comfortable with the planned section was no where near as bad as I was expecting good luck

I had a planned section for my first baby. It was brilliant. Very calm and chilled. DH was there throughout and took amazing photos of the entire operation from first cut to baby being in my arms. I requested the screen to be down during the delivery so I could see DS being born. I didn't get to hold him straight away as he was 5 weeks early so had to go and be checked over by paeds (but this was in the same room, DH stayed with him and he was back within a couple of minutes). I could have held him at that point but chose to let DH hold him until I was back in recovery and sat up. Skin to skin and breastfed in recovery. We had to stay in for 3 nights due to DS having low blood sugar (side effect of being a bit early) but was up and about the same day, had a shower that evening and went to the pub for lunch the day after we got home. Was able to do pretty much everything by the time DH went back to work 2 weeks later, including drive. All in all an extremely positive experience. I won't be having any more children but if I fed I'd definitely choose a section again.

I had to have a planned caesarean and it was great. I developed a vulva hemotoma afterwards but it went down quite quickly (about a week). I was discharged the day after the caesarean. We met the physio, consultant and anaesthetist the day before to go through everything. It was calm, relaxed. Bled for 6 weeks afterwards. Three days after I was discharged we were out and about. Learn how to do the log roll out of bed (YouTube videos on this). You are able to hold baby somewhat (I couldn't as the spinal was from the chest down due to spinal fusion scarring). Your DP can ask to cut the cord. The doctors cut it initially and when the midwife took DD to be checked DP was able to cut it further.

You'll need injections every day for 10 days with either yourself or your DP doing them.

I had a failed induction and semi-elective cs. I recovered very quickly, was up and about 11 hours after. Movement could be painful but on the whole I was very lucky. I know people who had natural births and took a lot longer to recover than I did.

That being said, my immediate family have a track record of recovering well from surgeries. I don't know if it's relevant really but we tend to bounce back from things well. That's just anecdotal though.

I was offered the chance to hold my DD but I was shaking quite violently (temp dropped, reaction to spinal, nil by mouth for 24 hours by the time of op) and said no. DH held her first (after they'd cleaned her/weighed her) and that was special for him. I've never regretted it. Some do though, it all depends on the person.

Good luck with whatever you do.

I loved my planned CS. I loved walking calmly into the hospital knowing I was finally going to meet my baby that day.

Being in theatre was very calm and relaxing and having the spinal was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. It wasn't painful at all.

I lay on the bed with my DH next to me, excitedly chatting about our imminent arrival and then he appeared. From first walking into the theatre and then baby arriving I think took about 30 minutes.

I spent about 45 minutes in recovery where they put baby to the breast and gave me something to eat and drink.

The only downside for me is that they didn't get me out of bed for almost 24 hours but that was due to various innocent factors, nothing to do with poor care or anything. When I did get out of bed it was far less uncomfortable than I thought it would be and after my first little walk about and shower I was able to get around ok, albeit slowly.

I had a difficult start with breast feeding though over the first few days and I was told it could have been because I had a planned section so my body was hormonalky prepared for his arrival so it took longer for the colostrum/milk to be readily available but I don't know how research based that is. By Day 3 he was breast feeding fine though.

I had my section at 1pm on a Friday and went home about 7pm on the Sunday. They did offer me to stay in one more night to work on the breast feeding some more but I felt ready to go home. I was discharged home with paracetamol and diclofenac which controlled the discomfort very well.

Recovery was pretty normal, no complications and I was practically back to myself within 3-4 weeks in terms of mobility. I did find though that for about 6 months I would get an ache across my abdomen if I was on my feet for too long or if I was performing a rocking motion when trying to settle DS off to sleep.

I'm currently 25 weeks pregnant and having a planned CS with this one too and I'm not worried about the prospect. I will just ask to get out of bed quicker this time round

Dermot was that from a planned ELC?

Op I have done it both ways and I found the c section scar far less painful and easier to manage than the soreness down below after a normal straight forward birth, no stitches but had a cut. It was hell to go to loo and wash myself.

I aired the wound every day for a long time eg lay on bed with it exposed whilst watching tv, resting, feeding. I found it to be a wondeful experience.

Hmm, difficult one. I had no choice in my sections. Although the actual birth was calm, planned and everything was relaxed (despite me throwing up every 2 minutes) I would have much preferred to have a natural birth.

So, recovery was fairly standard for me. Yes the post op pain was bad but managed with pain meds and I was back on my feet in 24 hours and out of hospital on day 5. I was out walking within 2 weeks and by week 6 would say I had fully recovered.

However, I have suffered long term health problems which resulted in a hysterectomy in my early 30's, and the scar tissue caused significant complications. If I had the option of natural birth opposed to a significant operation the I would have chosen natural every single time (I would also most likely still be able to have children).

breech twins so mine was planned from quite early stage, although it actually happened 5 weeks earlier than expected.

I held both mine within minutes of them coming out. They were whisked away for weighing and checks shortly afterwards (possibly because they were prem and tiny though).
Overwhelmingly difficult - yes! (Not because of the c section though, babies are hard work)
Long term difficulties - nope, healed quite quickly and I felt really well when I was discharged after 5 days. The scar is noticeable, I do have the overhang which I don't like much, but no one ever sees it but me.

You'll need injections every day for 10 days with either yourself or your DP doing them.

I don't think this is true in all Trusts so just ask. Me and my friend both had planned C-sections within months of each other but at different hospitals. She had to have the 10 day course of Clexane whereas I only had one dose post procedure. I was told that some Trusts only prescribe the course of Clexane for emergency sections and not planned sections. I'm not sure what the research/reasoning is behind this though.

I've had 1 emergency and 2 planned c/s. Recovery from the first 2 was great. My first I was exhausted as I'd been in labour for 20 hours by the time he arrived, but otherwise all went well and I was walking round straight the next day. Home on day 4. Recovery after #2 good, was nice to get a good night's sleep, go into hospital, first on the list that morning, catheter out and standing/ walking later the same day, discharged after 2 days. #3 was a nightmare. Hospital was swamped, I was the only planned section done that day, all the others were sent home. Didn't go to theatre til 5pm - I was starving having had nothing since midnight the night before as instructed. Strong painkillers needed for weeks afterwards. Awful afterpains and complications (ruptured uterus) but still sent home the day afterwards as they needed the bed

I had a planned c-section for medical reasons.

It wasn't in the least bit traumatic re my DS afterwards - he was held by my head while I was being stitched up, and I got to hold him very shortly afterwards. He's now a teenager and there has never ever been any bonding problems!

I did have physical problems afterwards, but that I think was chiefly down to the awful maternity ward I was on, which basically left you to it, even if you could not get out of bed. In a better-run ward it wouldn't have been a problem. I also had a student anaethetist, (I don't know how to spell that!), which wasn't much fun as they weren't very good at it and their supervisor had to take over. I also turned out to be horribly allergic to one of the post-op painkillers, but that's presumably a problem specific to me!

It wasn't much fun, but then all the complications that a vaginal delivery can result in aren't much fun, either. What's important is I got a live baby out of it. I don't regret it for a second.

I don't remember having injections afterwards either (unless they did them on the ward). I was certainly not injecting myself.

I had a section planned but went into labour before that date so it was an emergency section.
I had lots of problems after and spent a month in hospital.

I had a planned cesarean because natural birth terrifies me.

It was fine. Recovery was okay, I was walking by day two, normalish by day 3 and at the end of the week I was back to normal. I didn't find it very painful.

Happy to answer any questions you have.

I had one emergency and one planned.

With the first turning in bed was a bit tricky but I was certainly not bed resting and fine after a week, although I didn't drive for 4. BF in the recovery room and keep baby in he hospital bed with me so I didn't have to move too much and could keep bfing.

With the 2nd I got an horrendous infection and had to crawl upstairs and get in to bed and stay upright for two days. But was fine after that.

I did inject myself but don't remember it being 10 days - more like 3 I think. It's anti-thrombosis stuff I think. It's a tiny needle and you just stab and push - it's really not a big deal!!!

I think c-sections are really quite civilised.

It was 7 days for me with the injections. I got my mum to do it for me because I hate needles and she's a nurse lol. One thing I remember is I had a horrible rash from the cleaxane but it went down really quickly.

Mine was an emergency CS, following a labour of about 18 hours. No idea if that affects how I felt afterwards, probably does. I found it horrific, tbh. Felt like someone had taken an axe to me. I couldn't hold the baby for several hours, I just had no strength in my arms at all. But I think that the 18 hour labour before the CS, was probably the reason for that. I lost so much blood that I needed a blood transfusion afterwards. I couldn't walk properly for a few weeks afterwards. Obviously you can't do normal stuff for 6 weeks after, like driving/hoovering. Bear in mind, that although the scar will fade, most women are left with a lip, where the skin sits on top of the scar. Not explained that very well! No injections for me, but my CS was 20 years ago, so maybe that's something new? Fwiw, I was young fit and healthy, I dread to think how I would have been, had I been an older mum.

I've also had a normal birth. Found that equally hard, tbh. More stitches than they could count.

I've no idea what I'd opt for given the choice. One bit of advice though, whatever you choose, GET PAIN RELIEF EARLY. Yes, I'm shouting, but honestly this is so important. The midwives seem to be happy to leave pain relief until you are screaming in agony. It takes at least 20 mins to kick in. If I was ever to have another baby (I won't be), at the first sign of a twinge, I would get some drugs down me.

I had an emergency C-section. Recovery was harder than I expected (I really value stomach muscles now). Not being able to quickly pick up DS when he was crying was not good. Not being able to carry anything easily was a pain. I remember being worried about my stitches a lot. Pain wasn't too bad but I have a high pain tolerance. I'd recovered by week 4 but in the UK you can't drive until 6 weeks after cesarean (unless cleared by DR) without invalidating your insurance. I had to stay longer in the ward as they check to make sure you can pass gas/poo. I was shuffling around 12 hours after surgery (the more you walk, the better). No injections but paracetamol and ibuprofen for a week after. Its major surgery and I was asked if I wanted to plan one for my second and I chose not to.

Induction that led to an emergency c-section for first baby. Was absolutely fine - baby had to be resuscitated as the cord had been round his neck but he was tucked onto my chest inside my hospital gown as soon as he'd been stabilised. Absolutely no problem bonding with him either.

My scar healed well apart from a minor infection in it which anti biotics got rid of. Don't remember being in that much pain actually but I was sent home with a good selection of pain killers and the anti blood clot injections. Sadly I did have a c-section apron afterwards though and even now almost 4 years later there is a bit of numbness above the scar.

I'm now having a planned c-section for my 2nd baby in a few weeks. Am hoping this one will go as well as the first.

I suggest you ignore your friends and anyone else putting pressure on you to have a vaginal birth. You decide what YOU want to do and remember, it's not a competition!

I had a planned c section. Was brilliant. Really straightforward, calm experience. I had the option of holding the baby straight away but the drugs made me feel a bit shaky so my husband held him really close to my face so I could see him. As soon as I was in the recovery room I had skin to skin and started bf'ing no problems. My recovery was straightforward. I was up and about the same day, discharged with only ibuprofen & paracetamol 24 hours later. I was able to hold, carry and BF no problem. Able to have a short walk outside at 3 days. I kept on top of my pain killers and had minimal discomfort. I have no ridge or 'apron' where I was cut although I was slim and the surgeons told me that helps. So basically I had a really good experience with it all. Good luck with whatever you chose. A positive birth experience is hugely important for mum and baby.

Oh yes I'd forgotten about the clexane, I had that for 10 days. I do think an elective section is often easier to recover from than an emergency one. The driving thing is not true, there is no '6 week rule'. As with all abdominal surgery, it's when you feel comfortable that you are in full control of your vehicle and that you can do an emergency stop. For most women that will be far sooner than 6 weeks but everyone is different and recovers at different rates. You can always run it past your insurance company if you are concerned.

I had two emergency C sections so they 'forced' me to have an elective for my third child - I was so desperate for a 'normal' birth that I lied about my dates and she was actually 1 week overdue when I had to go in. I was distraught - crying all the time, the epidural was being put in by a student who couldn't make it work and I felt the needle moving around in my spine, nurses were cross with me cos I hadn't been able to get in til 9am due to childcare issues and I got told off for not being able to bend double for the epidural - I was sitting down and at that point measured 48" around my circumference. Then all the lights went out and they asked me to go back next day to try again. All went very smoothly next day and my 10lb 7oz girl was delivered easily - she would never have been born normally anyway as had a very short cord so one or both of us may have bled to death.

I didn't recover any more quickly after the elective, I wasn't any less depressed at not being able to be a proper mum (it took about 10 years to square this in my head and finally get over needing sections) , and if I could have my time over and choose I would go for a natural delivery choice.

I second the "there is no 6 week rule". I was driving within 10 days.

I had a planned cs. It was bloody brilliant.