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

[BinarySearchTree]

Posting here for traffic!

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?

Planned section with DC2. It was quite honestly a doddle for me.

The sensation was pretty uncomfortable, almost painful, but afterwards i kept topped up with pain relief and walked the next day. I did get a bit enthusiastic and have a shower- then passed out. But i was on a total high. I had a hideous first birth so didn't get that giddy high then. Recovery was steady. And quicker than with my VB.

I tried to BF, but my milk didn't come in until day 6 or 7. I'd had a bad experience first time round with BF so I was quite happy to swap to FF after a week.

My experience first time, birth and feeding, has obviously coloured my opinion. I went from being eager to give VB another go 'to do it right' () to being terrified of VB as the time came close. I'm so glad i had a section.

It's truly different for everyone though.

I didn't have any injections after I left though .

Hi

I have had a normal delivery (ventouse & episiotomy, no pain relief needed) and a planned c section (waters went early, breech). I found the experience of the c section terrifying and would certainly not choose to do it. It was awful lying there feeling out of control and wondering what was going on. My baby was rushed to special care with breathing difficulties and I couldn't be with her for quite a few hours (they gave me a Polaroid to look at), I found it really difficult managing getting up and down to special care from the postnatal ward after the section and kept missing meals and pain relief rounds. I think that the postnatal pain wasn't too bad compared to the stitches for the episiotomy though. It was restrictive not being able to drive and having to lug the pram on to the train/walk miles. I found the natural birth suited me much more, I was in control and didn't need any pain relief.

My caesarian section was emergency but despite that I had a good experience. Baby was put straight on my chest for skin to skin as long as I wanted, breastfed on our way to recovery ward. Was up and walking as soon as spinal wore off. Felt completely normal after a couple of weeks. If I have another baby I'll be asking for an elective section.

Don't do it. There is a hole in your body designed to deliver babies (when possible), don't get a hole cut in you.

Think about future children and births I was advised not to have any more after my second as the scar tissue had attached my bowel to my womb to my muscle wall. I was a mess internally and still have pains several years on.

I also had post-partum haemorrhages, infections, my bowel quit working due to the shock. I was in intensive care for yunks.

I would never get a c-section if I could do it all again, unless of course, the baby required it.

Also, c-sections do not allow the fluid to be squeezed from the babies lungs as it comes through the birth canal. There is ongoing research as to the developmental effects of c- section births i.e. ADHD, sensitivity issues.

Saying that I know people with lovely healthy kids who paid for a section and they breezed through it. Talk to the midwives, they'll help you through with their vast experience.

Oh! Congratulations I hope it's all good no matter what you decide.

I had an emcs with dd1 (12 days overdue) and an elcs with dd2 at 39w.

I think I take a bit longer to cook babies, dd2 was asleep the first week and we ended up readmitted for feeding issues. If she'd been my first it would have destroyed my confidence completely.

I think sections are generally an awesome way to have a baby but I wouldn't choose one at 39w again. In a perfect world I would stroll into hospital and demand a CS when I went into labour. Obvs not very practical!

I've had 2 c sections - one emergency and one planned. Both were easy to recover from (in fact less traumatic than an instrumental delivery) and whilst initially quite painful, they give you painkillers and I didn't find it anywhere as awful as I'd imagined.
But, and this is a big but, I've had horrendous complications since from all the scarring. It leaves you with an overhang, no nerve sensation around your pubic bone (so never use Veet, trust me) and I've had the worst imaginable periods since. The scar tissue has also attached to other organs including my bowels and it's been a bloody nightmare. Coughing still hurts many years later, and in absolute honesty, I wouldn't have chosen the 2nd section had I known what I know now.
Don't chose it for the reason of thinking that a vaginal delivery may be more painful. Under no other circumstances would you be given major abdominal surgery and sent home to recover with a newborn baby with zero chance of sleep and rest!

There is a hole in your body designed to deliver babies

That's why so many women tear isn't it?

And stats show planned cesarean is as safe as natural birth.

I had an emergency section so can't comment on that.

Post op, I was fine. I was driving after 5 weeks (I could have driven a lot sooner but had heard I was supposed to wait 6 weeks)

I got up as soon as my spinal wore off and walked around. My son was in special care when he was born so I did have to walk to go to see him which I think helped.

I can't think of a time I was in pain after his delivery.

I had a planned caesarean. It was amazing and I would do it again! It took about 40 minutes, I was awake but felt no pain. There was calm music playing in the background (we chose the tracks), dh got to take some brilliant pictures and the paed even stepped in to take some of us 3. It was over so quick, I was back in my room with baby and dh.

The recovery- well I walked the first day, you are encouraged to do so. Just take the pain meds and you will be fine. You do feel sensitive for about a week, but the pain meds really help. The scar is also very small.

If you have help at home it makes it much easier. Dh and my mum were around so that was great. Not sure if this is what you were looking for op but feel free to ask any questions.

Certainly with an easy vaginal you would recover quicker than a csection.
I was doing a dance show with DD1 two days later!
You never know what you are going to get though with birth. A csection is easier if you can't stand uncertainty.

Emcs for DS2 - traumatic and terrifying. I literally thought I was dying on the operating table and still get flashbacks.

Recovery was incredibly painful. I was sobbing I'm agony and couldn't stop despite the fact that my sobs felt like my stitches were going to burst open.

Everything about having a newborn made a hundred times more difficult by being in agony for 2 weeks.

DH had to inject me for 10 days or so.

Paracetamol didn't touch the sides and had a script written for tramadol.

Still have to hold onto my abdomen to relieve the pain when I cough and sneeze, 2 years on.

Very lucky I didn't get the overhang over scar - must have had a very skilled surgeon on hand as he even lined-up my stomach tattoo that got sliced through!

DD1 was an instrumental delivery and I'd take that any day, although in my mind I know I'll probably have to have another elective to avoid the trauma of an EMCS. Hopefully that experience will be different... because in the end, it's worth it so long as they are safely delivered.

But a section is major abdominal surgery and you are not cared for afterwards as if you've had major abdominal surgery!

I had two planned c-sections they were fine
It's a weird feeling choosing the date - you're choosing your child's birthday
In the theatre getting the anaesthetic they were very good at making sure I was ok not feeling sick or anything and then quickly got on with the birth
I had no pain
Afterwards was really sore but I had good pain relief
For me it was a good experience

I had DD 15 years ago by planned CS (DD was breech).
It was all fine - very relaxed and certainly didn't have any injections. Didn't like the surgical stockings though!
Stayed in hospital for 3 nights (was meant to be 5 but I wanted to go home).
Breast feeding was fine though at first I had her lying on a pillow on my lap to bring her up to the right level.
Was able to carry DD in a papoose by 3 weeks and driving by 4 weeks.
I did have a numb patch on my left leg for many months after the epidural that would ache in cold weather, but apart from that, no problems at all.

Planned c section. Brilliant. No problems afterwards although it wasn't for the want of people telling me it would be terrible.

I had to have an elective c section as DD was breech. In terms of the actual/operation/delivery/recovery it was much more straightforward than I had imagined it would be.

The only real fly in the ointment for me was that I developed thrush in my breast ducts and the skin on my breasts and passed this on to DD via breastfeeding. I am convinced that the thrush was caused by the post operative antibiotics and breastfeeding became a nightmare and I had to stop. It was also excruciatingly painful.

I was so stressed and upset about not being able to breastfeed particularly as DD and I had no problems at all with feeding until then.

That said, I don't believe it made any difference to our relationship or her health (she's now 6) but it was v stressful at the time.

Good luck and do what you feel is best for you not what anyone else wants.

One emergency section, a bit traumatic, after a natural delivery went wrong and a ventous didn't work. I'm not particularly fond of general anaesthetic. Up and out of bed in 6 hours, home in 5 days (as it was back then) and driving almost immediately.

Two elective sections - far better experience even though they were both 6 weeks early . I far preferred being in control. Again up and out of bed within a couple of hours and mobile. Both babies stayed in hospital for 12 days and I refused to leave without them, so I just occupied my bed until they were ready to leave the SCBU.

My only criticism is the relentless pressure to breast feed. I don't like being bullied.

What injections are you all talking about? I don't have any injections after. Or surgical stockings.

The advantage I suppose is you aren't having to postpone your sex life as everything is where it should be and still working.

I don't have a 'baby pouch' or over hang either. But I do have a weak bladder and need to go to the loo a lot. However that could be age.

Without reading the full thread, I've had two vaginal births and one c-section. I would never choose the latter if I didn't have to (though it saved mine and DC's life so truly thankful for it - and the wonderful doctors and nurses who helped us). The recovery from c-section was brutal in comparison. Post vaginal births, was up and about almost immediately after. C-section took so much longer. Everything was harder. It's a major operation that you have to recover from while looking after a newborn baby and getting no sleep!

With birth, there's no guarantee of anything, i'd always go into it with an open mind. But - in terms of recovery - would try for a vaginal birth first.

(And I have a small "pouch" over it, and am pretty slim. Don't love that! Scar is very visible too! But I am not anti c-section at all... just wouldn't personally choose it if it weren't medically necessary. But that's just me and the way my body responded and healed!)

I've had both an emcs and planned. First was after 20+ hours of labour and wasn't that bad an experience - recovered quickly up and about as soon as I could feel my legs and didn't take home any painkillers after 36 hours.
Second was planned and was horrific in comparison- baby got stuck, needed a bit of help to get going, due to the time taken to get them out (and possibly poor placement) spinal wore off. They were having to check over everything internally and I couldn't hack the pain so ended up under GA. baby turned out to be sick and I was running around packing for a stay at a different hospital within 48 hours. Didn't feel any pain but think that was just the adrenaline.
I'm not having anymore kids but if I did get pregnant I really don't think I could have another section.

I had planned sections because I didn't want interventions during delivery, or an emergency section. Natural birth can be just as traumatic as abdominal surgery so your body is designed to do this stuff doesn't really wash. Some bodies aren't able to deliver babies through the vagina. Doesn't make you any less of a mum.

Very positive experience.
I could hold baby right away- no reason why you can't if all is well.
Not difficult at all to care for baby after.
Back to normal after 2 weeks and no lasting difficulties.
Scar is barely visible.
If you are fit and healthy already it makes a huge difference to recovery from surgery.
Wouldn't change a thing.

The final deciding factor for me when requesting a planned c-section in 2012 was reading the RCOG own publication recommending that c-sections become offered as routine.

They were saying that although for the mother c-section vs vaginal birth is 6 of one and half a dozen of the other in terms of danger, a c-section is 200% safer for the baby.

When I repeated this to my consultant obstetrician he didn't disagree and the section was planned without further discussion.

NB the RCOG seem to have changed their tone slightly on this and say they would rather there where medical reasons behind an elective c-section.

The difficulty when looking at csection v vaginal in the majority of views only look a this one pregnancy.
If you were to go on and have another having a csection now puts you in a high risk category for pregnancy, never mind birth.
Your next baby could die because if the choice you took this time. As mine very nearly did.
still certainly didn't need to postpone sex life. In my case everything was still working as it should be a couple of days later!

Head vaginal births can have future consequences too particularly if you have a PPH or tears.

I'm not sure it's sensible to be telling women having cesareans their babies could die when the risk is minute