To ask about your c section experience?

[myfavouritetractor]

Sorry, posting for traffic.. I'm starting to panic because I've got to make a decision soon and either book elective c section or go completely naturally.

Dc1 birth resulted in bad 3rd degree tear, haemorrhage and surgery was required afterwards. I do find myself having less control over bowel movements, I have to rush to the loo ASAP. So I'm worried about long term damage. Friends keep suggesting section but have never had one themselves.

What was your experience? I'm terrified of the recovery and having to stay in hospital away from dc1.

[Velvetbee]

4 babies; 1 homebirth with episiotomy, 1 elective section, 1 home water birth, 1 who passed meconium and arrived within minutes of arriving at hospital.
The section was my second favourite, very calm with lovely cheery staff and a trouble-free recovery. The only nerve wracking bit was taking off the dressing in the shower that evening.

[LizzieLongToes]

I have had one and due my 2nd in a few months.
I was nervous to say the least, my fear is the spinal block. That's it really. Felt a bit groggy after, plus very painful on day 2 but was more wind trapped I think than anything else.

[Bodicea]

With my first I had episiostomy and third degree year. I really struggled with my recovery. I have scar tissue and had to have Ultrasound treatment and I also struggled urgency with with my number 2s, although this has improved now.
I opted for an elective section with my second . It’s was sooooo much easier. I recovered a lot faster. I found the experience lovely and calm and stress free, if a bit clinical. I didn’t get that euphoric feeling when my baby was handed to me. Yes I have bad scarring from my
Section as well but this is more
Cosmetic than functional as my
Third degree tear was. I am just prone to keloid scar tissue.
I am having an elective section with my third.

[myfavouritetractor]

Wow, so many helpful replies, thank you so much everyone. I've felt so overwhelmed having to make this decision on my own but I feel more confident in that an elective section is the best choice for me. I know it comes with its risks, like anything does but I do feel very damaged still down there after dc1 and worry that I'm heading for long term incontinence.

@DeadButDelicious I'm so sorry to hear of your loss  I'm pleased your section was a wonderful experience for you.

@chickhonhoneybabe thank you for the info, it's definitely helped me in making my decision!

Random question, do the painkillers affect breastfeeding at all? I've seen a few things online about your milk coming in later with a section, not sure how accurate that info is?

[DiddimusStench]

1. no, they give you painkillers that are suitable for breastfeeding. Ibuprofen, paracetamol and dihydrocodeine in my case and that was more than enough.
   
2. it’s a myth that your milk comes in later. If you’re doing all you can do bring your milk in - skin to skin, sleeping close to the baby, latching them on often etc - there’s no reason to say your milk won’t arrive within a ‘norma’ time. My personal experience is that my milk came in much quicker with my c section baby than with my vaginal birth baby because I was more relaxed, didn’t feel so horrendous afterwards and had no blood loss

[Nearlyhaveahouse]

Agreed, my milk came in day 3. Word of warning about the painkillers. I stuck to paracetamol as I found the ones they prescribed gave me terrible nightmares and side effects. Obviously different for everyone.
Young asked about getting up with baby, I would say it depends on hospital. With my first (twins) midwives were a bit mean and made me get out of bed every time they needed feeding which was painful. Second time round, different hospital and midwife would come and put baby on me for a feed which was much nicer! Also, no one told me how to get out of bed first time round. In case they don't with you, roll to your side and push up from fore arm. Sounds obvious but I didn't know how to move without tummy muscles!

[Haisuli]

I had two emergency sections. I was booked in for an elective one with the second but she decided to come early and they persuaded me to labour but she got stuck again and it was another emergency situation. My experience of both was positive...think I was home after 3 days, and.rwcovery was fine. I did what I was told and didn't do too much but when you have a toddler it isn't always easy, but I was fine. If I ever had another I would book in without hestitation

[peachgreen]

I had an elective section due to a giant lazy baby. It went as badly as a section can go without anyone dying - massive blood loss, emergency unexpected ovarian cyst removal, spinal started wearing off while I was still in surgery, I threw up everywhere and slipped in and out of consciousness - and I would STILL recommend it to anyone. Despite all of that it was a very calm, almost entirely painless experience and I recovered really quickly - up and about the next day, home on day 3, discomfort-free by day 6, wound healed by day 10 and now, three months on, I wouldn't even know I'd had it done. And that's even considering that it was considered to be such a botched section that I had an official (unprompted) apology from the hospital.

[nolongersurprised]

I have 4 DC, my 3rd was a section. It was ok, no complications, no breastfeeding issues. I didn’t like the need for medications afterwards and needing help in the night to lift and carry my baby to me to feed but it wasn’t a bad experience. I opted for aVBAC for number 4 which was pretty straight forward mainly because the recovery time for LSCS was longer than for my straight forward vaginal deliveries.

[nolongersurprised]

My understanding of when milk comes in is that it’s more likely to come in later if the birth has been long and if there are complications. Emergency sections are more likely to happen after long, obstructed labours with exhausted women which is also not great conditions for establishing lactation.

[boomboom12]

Does your milk just come in quicker with subsequent babies? I found bf easy after CS (co sleeping & lying down to feed) but I assume it was easier because I had done it before.

[BarbaraOcumbungles]

Had an emcs due to an abruption. It was fine, I was on my feet by the end of the day and walking about entirely normally by day three and driving by the end of the first week. No overhang, no residual pain, no ongoing issues whatsoever. The only thing I’ve got as a reminder is a patch of pubes that don’t grow and a tiny almost invisible scar.

[Lauren83]

Mine was amazing, I had failed induction after 3 days of trying they converted to a C Section, I was pottering about to the tea room 7 hours after, discharged after 20 hours and managed to do a food shop (admittedly with DP) 2 days after. I was so put off a section as I was worried about recovery but it was fine, I could drive after 2 weeks with insurance companies blessing and went back to work after 8 weeks for some odd days. I do however know my experience isn't like everyone's

[WhatHo]

I've seen a few things online about your milk coming in later with a section, not sure how accurate that info is?

Nobody told my boobs, that's for sure.

[AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered]

I had an EMCS under general anaesthetic, it was terrifying at the time but recovery was a piece of cake (I do have a high pain threshold though). I was hobbling around 3h after waking up, driving by 3 weeks and running again by 5 weeks. I was in very good shape though physically throughout pregnancy (apart from the frequent vomiting).

Next time I think I'll try for a VBAC but won't be upset if I need another CS.

Word of warning - they give you oramorph, which some people love but made me hallucinate horribly.

[user7469322]

I've had 5 sections. All were simple and straight forward and was out (all bar baby 1 due to jaundice) after 48hrs.

[Rachiie]

I had an elective section 4 weeks ago.
Obviously all experiences are different, but mine was great.
Left theatre at 11am after being stitched up. Back on my feet and walking around at 9pm (very slowly and a bit stiff at first). Fine the next day, discharged at 6pm (would've been earlier but was a weekend so had to wait for an on call doctor to be available).
I was in hardly any pain, took paracetamol and ibuprofen maybe twice in the hours I was in hospital. Felt a bit tender on the way home, more so over bumps and potholes.
4 weeks later, my scar is completely healed, I'm driving again and i feel great. I was a bit tender for a week or so, but i wouldn't call it pain, just slight discomfort. My scar healed within about a week too. Also, because they wipe everything out when they do the section there is Berri minimal vaginal bleeding too.
Honestly, for me it was a really good experience. However, I was advised by Drs to have the section due to placental location, and I haven't had a natural birth so nothing to compare with.

[LeSquigh]

I have had one vaginal birth and one c section. The section was scheduled "elective" as I had placenta praevia. Ended up being a bit more of an emergency (classed as an emergency but it wasn't high grade, they did it within two hours of admission) and it made me wish I had had one the first time. Vaginal birth = horrendous PTSD for years afterwards due to massive blood loss but with the section I had it just after 7pm and was home by 3pm the next day (although I did insist on it due to the previous experience and the post birth ward being like a butchery) - I drove after 14 days and could have done after 7 but didn't need to.

[itsstillhotinperth]

I had a very long (4 day) labour and traumatic first delivery similar to yours with lots of damage, unable to breastfeed and extremely long painful recovery with undiagnosed PTSD. Insisted on an elective c-section second time around and it was absolutely magnificent. Surgery at 2pm, out of bed following morning, minimal pain relief and the relationship that I had expected first time around with the baby but just was too traumatised, happened second time around. Wouldn't have done it any other way. Including to protect the remnants of my pelvic floor and to reduce any further damage to my already significant prolapse damage. Recovery was so much faster than after a traumatic vaginal birth. Best of luck x

[boomboom12]

I don’t think CS necessarily protects you from pelvic damage or prolapse (all though clearly it does compared to forceps). Lots of damage is simply caused by pregnancy & the number of them you have or so my surgeon friend told me. So still do your exercises.

[Thursdaydreaming]

I had a very positive experience with my elcs. My baby was breech but I had wanted a cs anyway, due to fear of a terrible endless labour ending in a bad tear or emcs.

Anyway I was scared going in to theatre, but it was over quickly - baby was here in about 15 minutes. Even the "rummaging around in your abdomen" feeling wasn't that bad. It just felt like someone was touching me on my skin really.

I got up that evening and that was quite painful. But I was able to get up, shower and dress without help. From then on I wasn't in much pain and could get up ok. I took the painkillers that were offered (endone).

I was discharged on day 4. I was able to look after baby fine. I started taking short walks with baby in pram and by the end of the week could walk for 1hr+. I went shopping and also drove again after 7 days. I took paracetamol for around 10 days.

I'm currently three weeks post and feel back to normal. Actually I feel way better than I've felt for nine months. The scar is a slight bummer but hey, I was hardly a model before anyway. And what's a cosmetic issue compared to being faecally incontinent?

So that was my experience.

[boomboom12]

Why do some people have to stay in longer? I assumed it was the norm to go after 1 night, which was a bit of a surprise as after my appendix was removed I was kept in for 4 days & on morphine (15 yrs ago)

[boomboom12]

Also there seems a big discrepancy in what pain relief you get.

[NewYearNewMe18]

Natural labour resulting an emergency CS, followed by two elective CS.

I wouldn't recommend a GA to anyone if they don't need it, I felt disorientated for a while, but with the electives, amazing, up out and walking about same day. % days in hospital recovery BUT two were in the SCBU for a fortnight and I refused to leave until they did. So really I had 12 days in hospital.

[BuntyII]

If I could live one day of my life over again it would probably be the day of my section. Getting the spinal was a bit of a pain because it took a few goes to site it and I'm scared of needles but it wasn't sore and I didn't see anything. Other than that I was in heaven.

Baby was with me in minutes, recovery was quick and easy. Take the painkillers they give you and you'll be fine.

Frankly I would advise anyone to have a section if they can get one. I have none of the terrible after birth problems people talk about - no piles, no fear of sex, no incontinence, no changes to my vagina. I didn't spend the birth dreading being told they were breaking out the forceps. No fear of baby getting stuck, getting cord wrapped round their neck, having their shoulder dislocated or contracting strep B.

Someone will be along now to say they're disgusted that I'm trivialising major surgery. But I refuse to be ashamed of how I gave birth, or pretend that it isn't infinitely quicker and less painful than a vaginal birth