To ask what a c section is like?

[thefutureisfemale]

Hi x

I am a FTM and booked in to have an elective c section at 39 weeks. I am really scared. Can anyone tell me what it's like?

Planned c section was great! Dd fed immediately she was delivered, DH was there, theatre nurses were lovely, we had skin to skin for as long as I wanted. Recovery was smooth and quick. Loved it!

I know this is a weird question.. and not the reason why I'm having my CS but.. will my bits be ok? Like my lady bits??? Will they be affected at all?

I'm sure they'll be just fine . Nothing touches them except the catheter, and that's a routine procedure.

In terms of 'bits' absolutely fine and my post bleeding was no worse than a heavy period and lasted about 5 days.
I was driving within 7 days. (Insurance company said fine if doctor/ midwife said fine). I had a post section infection in wound which knocked my recovery a bit- I got
Super strong antibiotics and bounced back within about 5 days.

Mine was elective and nowhere near as awful as I thought it would be. Very relaxed and the anaesthetist explained every step as it was happening, which was reassuring. Was a bit sore for a few days afterwards but it was bearable. Good luck and enjoy meeting baby when he/she arrives.

I've had an emergency and an elective section. Both were very calm and basically the same process, but I did recover much faster from the elective one. That's possibly because I'd done it before so knew what to expect, but it was less painful afterwards anyway.

Both times I got to hold my DC as soon as they were born and could breastfeed them as soon as I was wheeled into recovery half an hour or so later. I probably could have BF them in theatre if I'd asked actually, I'm sure they would have facilitated it. I won't lie, the day after was pretty painful (tbh the first 4-5 days were pretty bad after the emergency one, but I was very ill anyway hence needing a section). With my elective section I was honestly not in much pain at all after a day or two.

In terms of the actual surgery, the bit where the spinal anaesthetic is put in is the only bit I was scared about. I needn't have been, it was just a very odd sensation! Like when your face is numb at the dentist, but from the chest down. I could feel a lot of pulling and tugging going on but I couldn't 'feel' it in any painful way, just the pressure of being pulled around I suppose. A bit like someone doing the washing up in your tummy, as my midwife put it.

It didn't affect my milk coming in at all, my eldest son was in scbu after but that wasn't related to how he was born, and I was driving after 4 and 3 weeks. My scar (scars? The second was done in the same spot so only one scar apart from an inch where it deviates) healed well and was a thin silver line within 12m. That's impressive given how red and angry it looked at first. I worried as I had a big numb bit around the incision, but that returned to normal over a few months. I have friends who found it harder than I did but also friends who now have huge, lifelong issues due to having vaginal births. I'm now glad I had sections tbh.

And no, your bits won't be affected in any way at all as they're not doing anything to your bits! This is supposed to be one of the benefits of having a section but I've not done it the usual way so can't comment. You'll have a catheter put in when you're already numb, so it doesn't hurt at all. That's just until you can get up and get to the loo, which will be anything from a few hours later to next morning depending when you have the surgery.

Can't think if anything else but if you think of any more questions am happy to answer.

I felt a bit sore after the catheter came out but not for very long. A bit like cystitis but not as bad and maybe a day or so. The catheter is in there to somehow keep your bladder out of the way of the incision which avoids future problems in that area.

Re the risks of a c section v a vaginal birth - I looked at the stats online because I was given the stats for the c section in advance and the vaginal birth risks looked worse.

One of the risks was obviously an emergency c section and a lovely midwife told me that the c section risks were only so high because of the emergency ones that are less calm and the mother is tired and stressed. So whatever the stat is you can reduce it a little if it's planned.

Some babies pop out really easily which is brilliant and amazing but the pressure is really on to have a vaginal birth when it might not be the best way. I don't mean just pressure from health professionals either.

One of the best things about a c section: your bits and more importantly your pelvic floor will be just like before (unless the latter has taken a battering during pregnancy).

My first section was an emcs. Brutal, I was given too many drugs, it happened after 11 hours of back to back labour. Took 4 weeks to recover. Everything back to normal after that.

Second was was elective. Very civilized, calm, peaceful. Took me 2 weeks to recover, last thing to go was fluid retention.

Make you you finish your course of antibiotics.

Good luck!

I had EMCS two weeks ago. Getting in and out of bed is definitely the most challenging bit for a week or so! Just remember to use your arm and leg muscles not your stomach muscles when getting up and down.
I was feeding my baby within an hour of surgery.
Lady bits are fine as far as I know though as I laboured mine were a little sore from the many internal exams! You may also feel a bit sore from having a catheter.

I've asked for the CS due to childhood sexual abuse and the need to be in control of my 'bits' if that makes sense.

Although my mum knows about the abuse, I've told a lie and said the consultant recommended it for another issue. I feel terrible lying but my mum is dead set against CS's and would view it as 'too posh to push.'

Peaceful - I had an 'elective' section with my first as she was breach & i found out at 37 weeks. It wasn't how I wanted it to be, I wanted to have the experience of a natural birth & wondered after I had her whether I'd missed out on something. When pregnant with ds, I made the decision to have a properly elective section, as the whole experience was so stress free. For both, I was chatting to the staff throughout and singing along to the radio! Aftermath wasn't bad for me either, I was up and about within 24 hours with both of them and I found myself complaining to the doctor at 3 weeks postpartum with ds because it was still sore! I expected to feel nothing at that stage because I hadn't with dd.

Horrible cross post - I'm so sorry! They may shave your pubic region where they make the incision but there will be no touching of your vulva.

So sorry for what you've been through

Had 2 c-sections. First emergency under general and second emergency with a spinal.
The hardest part was bending enough for the spinal as my bump was in the way!
Recovery was fine. Did have referred pain in my shoulder after the first which was strange.
Preferred the stitches I had with the second to the staples I had with the first as a couple of the staples popped and the wound leaked.
It just feels sore afterwards but not dreadful.
I felt like I had missed out on something for a while but the sections were necessary and I'm glad now as no problems down below!
Congrats and good luck with it all.

Another FTM here. Were your planned c-sections recommended (due to position of baby etc.) or something you decided you wanted? I'm on the fence, people keep telling me positive vaginal birth stories (not knowing I'm thinking about c-section, more in a 'you can do it' kind of way) but really concerned about tearing and problems with incontinence, and also PND (already managing depression and anxiety), particularly if traumatic birth. Main issue putting me off c-section is worrying about being judged for choosing one, if I can, and any comments from other people adding to long list of things that make me feel shit about myself.

Your bits will be fine. They're absolutely tip top - I can even go on a trampoline and sneeze

Just read your update. So sorry. It is your choice not your mum's and such a valid reason.
Hope it all goes well.

I had an EMCS and it was fine. I'd just suggest you have a cushion so when you laugh/caugh/sneeze you hold it to you. It doesn't make a lot of difference but makes you feel better

@prettygirlincrimsonrose my CS is planned and I am at risk of postnatal depression too. I am almost sure a traumatic birth would start it off. Remember you don't have to tell anyone that you have elected for one, you can say doctor has said it's a better choice.
It's no ones business.

Thank you everyone. I feel much more calm and reassured. Please continue to comment with your stories. I am so grateful. ❤

It really does depend. I've had 2 sections after 2 vaginal births. The first was an emergency and it was hell, I won't go into details but I was very poorly afterwards and for weeks after too.

However I had a planned section for the youngest and I can quite honestly say it was a lovely experience from start to finish,

Bugger pressed too soon. Meant to say the team were lovely, felt nice and relaxed and I had none of the problems with my previous section and I was home after 3 days.

Take a pillow with you and hold it over your stomach when you laugh, sneeze, cough or move.
I managed without pain relief for both sections - emergency section was nice but planned section ended in a GA as spinal wore off due to baby being stuck.

I have had 4 (1 emergency, 3 planned).

The spinal bit hurts, then you feel nothing.

Afterwards, it really hurts to laugh and cough but I was up and about pretty quickly afterwards. I think taking it slowly, letting others help you is the way forward for the first few days!

And I am a big fan of painkiller drugs...

Good luck.

Hey future

You've been given basically all the info you'll need; I had a EMCS due to a failed induction.

From your update I'm glad you've opted for an elective CS and here's my additional thoughts:

1. I had to self inject with fragmin due to risk of blood clots post surgery. If you have to then stick the needle in your love handles
2. The first time you stand up after surgery blood will come out of your vagina like when you get a period. I didn't know this, got a bit of a fright, then just carried on with things
3. Nurses will celebrate your first post surgery poop like it was another child
4. FGS listen to the advice of the professionals and don't try and be a hero at home re housework etc. I was fine and dandy after 2 weeks and felt 100% after 4 weeks due to taking it verryyyyyy easy
5. You may get constipated after. Please eat plenty prunes and/or get some lactulose for home. Do not strain for poops!
6. I got fanny and bum farts after my CS for days and days. Some folk get a big pain in their shoulder like it's injured. That's due to trapped wind inside the abdominal cavity. It's ok. Just fart. And fart freely.

Take a dressing gown to wear over your hospital gown to walk to theatre. I had to remove my knickers on the ward so I would have been walking(lumbering) along with my bare arse on show if I hadn't taken one with me 😃