To ask those of you who have had an elective c section...

[Pixiefringe]

Everything about your experience?

I'm 30+4w with my 2nd and during this pregnancy I developed an autoimmune disease that, without going into unpleasant details, has made me be opting towards an elective c section.

I don't want to Google research my choice as I'm sure there'll be a lot online to put me off, as with most things.

WIBU to ask the lovely people of mumsnet your experiences with having an elective c section?

I'm interested in everything. How far along you were when it occurred, how the plan was put into action, what it was like before, during and after, recovery time. I'll have a 15mo when this baby is due - is it feasible to look after 2 babies while recovering or will I be likely to not be able to move about much? We're you awake through the procedure? And literally any other info you think might be helpful.

Thanks so much! I know it's cheeky to not put this in Parenting but I'd like to get as many responses as possible

One caesarean, not elective. The epidural only worked on bits of me so they topped it up with a spinal block. That meant I couldn't move at all for more than 12 hours. I think the midwives didn't realise this as they expected me to sit up on my own etc. Standard procedure was to be in hospital for five days following. My first shower was supervised.

I was on Panadol forte for about 2.5 days and then down to Panadol so I could feel the cut but it wasn't painful. Another woman on the ward was still on a morphine pump four days post-op.

DH brought me home on day five. No one told me I couldn't drive so later that day DM and I headed to the shops to stock up on little pink clothes (I had only bought a few bits of white). And I just kept driving. I managed fine. I only found out later that one ought not to.

We put the car seat in the middle of the car so I sat beside it to deal with it so I didn't have to bend or stretch much. The numbness in the line lasted a few years. I didn't regularly inspect it so can't be specific.

I bled like a stuck pig for nearly 8 weeks, lightly for a couple of days and then stopped. Yes, yes to big knickers.

I didn't really enjoy the experience but I think because I expected to have zero pain after & I thought it was the easier option. Which was stupid obviously but I only had a very quick & intervention free VB to compare it too.

The epidural was fine, sharp scratch but I didn't enjoy not being able to move & the strap thing. I also shivered through it but the anaesthetist was fantastic. I breastfed straight after so that was fine. Was glad to get the catheter out as scared I couldn't wee! One thing I found is there is quite a discrepancy over how long people stay in & what pain relief they had. I was out the next morning & only given paracetamol. I did find the first few days hard & whilst I could walk it wasn't anything resembling my normal walk & getting up from a lying down position was awful.
Was really strict about lifting etc even when I did feel better as wanted the insides to heal but I had help, DH off for a month & family.
Scar very neat & no issues but do have a slight overhang which pisses me off tbh.

Oh & bleeding after was same as VB.

I had 2 c-sections. my first was in switzerland- they don’t allow you to stay in bed afterwards, you are expected to walk around about 8 hours later, and of course are expected to lift and change your baby etc (no visitors overnight etc).
in the uk people are a lot more cautious, and my suspicion is that it doesn’t help recovery. once your are stiff, its harder to recover than to just move from the start. so just move once the numbness is gone, walk, get up, and you’ll be fine.
everybody i know who had a c-section in switzerland was taking walks with the buggy 3-4 days after, whereas in the uk most stayed in bed for at least a week and had a hard time recovering. it might me coincide, but i don’t think so

Better experience for me after my first baby was born in theatre by ventouse after getting stuck as was nearly 10lbs. I had an episiotomy then and didn't recover very smoothly as got an infection and needed antibiotics and felt pretty rotten.
Had an elective section second time at 39 weeks as baby was measuring large again so they offered me a section. Was right decision as baby was nearly 11lbs! .
I was awake for procedure and it went smoothly. I gave birth in the morning and was home the next day in the evening.
I recovered much better after the csection than I did after the first episiotomy.
I had a toddler to look after as well.

It is a major abdominal procedure but for me was definitely the right decision as I wasn't able to naturally birth my first baby and my second was much larger! I have no doubts I would have ended up as an emergency section. A planned one was much more calm and prepared.

Can’t comment of ELCS but my EMCS was absolutely fine, I had my baby late afternoon, up about 6am the next morning, had some pain relief and pottered round the ward quite soon, obviously not overdoing it. I was discharged about 22 hours after she was born as I was absolutely fine, first few days at home I was a little bit sore getting off the sofa, out of bed and don’t let anyone make you laugh! The pain was nothing a bit of paracetamol couldn’t cure, I found if I walked too long the wound started to pull and drag a bit so I was quite careful, I drove after about 3 weeks and felt completely normal.

Thanks @Pixiefringe this has been very helpful. I’m up for an elective in a few weeks. I’m quite looking forward to it now!

I chose to have one last time after two extremely traumatic vaginal deliveries and a traumatic miscarriage experience. Basically, my uterus really loves retaining products be it a dead foetus or a placenta and in turn, I then haemorrhage and almost die so decided a CS was safer.

Had it at 39 weeks. Arrived at hospital at around 10am, wasn’t allowed to eat after 6am so I woke up super early and had a final cup of coffee and slice of toast. We waited for what seemed an eternity inside a cubicle, it really did seem to last a lifetime. Two other women before me you see so my recommendation is to take entertainment with you- magazines, books, charged up phone etc and also snacks and drinks for your birth partner. At around 3pm they asked DH and I to get into our scrubs, DH had to wear crocs so I took a few photos taking the piss out of him.

At about 4pm they came through to take us down to theatre. They gave me some anti nausea meds and hooked me up to a drip then made me sit hunched over on the edge of the bed while they did the spinal. Spinal seemed to take a while, they struggled to find the right spot but got it eventually. I laid down, they put a screen up and got to work. DS was born by 4:35pm and that was the easy bit really. They took him over to get weighed and DH went with him, I was being stitched up.

I should say that the constant feeling of pulling and tugging inside you is probably the worst part, it feels like there’s a washing machine inside of your stomach. I did feel extremely sick and thought I was going to vomit a few times but didn’t. Stared at lovely baby DS while they finished the rest of the stitching then we were wheeled back through to our cubicle where I could finally hold and feed him. I was discharged the next morning at 7am.

My recovery was honestly fine. I was in pain for about a week and struggled to do basic things such as lifting myself onto and off the toilet and getting into and out of bed. DH had to help a lot during that first week but then it got better and easier. I’m 18 months on now and pregnant again so it didn’t deter me!

I had one at 36 weeks as waters went with breech position at 30 weeks and so they didn’t want me to go longer. It was much worse for me than previous delivery, as I did not feel in control, I had to use breathing from yoga to get through it. Afterwards, DD taken into NICU as she could not breath independently, so be prepared for that possibility. It was quite a few hours before they took me down to see her and when I could go myself I was determined to do so. I found it very frustrating waiting for catheter to be taken off. I kept missing drugs rounds and food because I spent all my time in a chair in NICU (not best for post op).

My ELCS was lovely - DD2 was oblique. I remember feeling a bit woozy at one point and the lovely anaesthetist put something in the cannula and it went away very quickly. There will be lots of people in theatre and everyone introduces themselves before they start. (Couple of students had asked to watch as well.)
It was a very experienced consultant on when I had mine - he finished sewing up so quickly, I had to wait in theatre for the anaesthetist to finish putting whatever was in the drip through. I was up and about that evening - midwife helped me have a shower and took out the catheter and cannula so I looked normal for DD1’s visit. Recovery was fine - up and about very quickly.

I had an ELCS at 39 weeks due to a few issues, breech baby being the main one!

I was first in at 9ish and she was out about half an hour later. I actually had a few issues with my blood pressure (I was suffering from pre eclampsia already) and they accidentally caught a vein so I lost a lot of blood but overall, compared to what I've heard about 'natural' births, a very smooth experience.

I could feel a bit, sorry lot of pulling and then she was out, and handed to DH as I was a bit overwhelmed.

I spent the next hour or so on a drip due to the loss of blood and on a BP monitor and can remember feeling my mouth was so dry, it was like it was stuffed with cotton wool balls.

Unfortunately, a fire alarm had been set off by a leaking gas canister somewhere nearby and I spent part of my recovery somewhere outside. To be honest I was a little bit high at this point so a little unsure..

Afterwards though, the pain really was completely manageable, more like a dull ache when I coughed or laughed. I made sure to get up to shower, and toilet same day and I think that really helped my recovery.

They kept me in for 4 days thanks to my blood pressure, but the c section scar was really quite OK. I waited 8 weeks to drive. I was told that if you needed to emergency brake, you could rupture your scar if it hasn't sufficiently healed. Best to be on the side of caution if you can. Your entire stomach is being held together by a few stitches to do try and be gentle with yourself for as long as possible, even after you feel OK. If you can get help with the little one I would take it!

I’ve just had my 6th c section just over a fortnight ago and it was the best of them all, apart from feeling extremely ill when first lying down after the epidural but generally it was a good experience.

Unsure if it has been mentioned as don’t have time to read all replies but I needed to self-inject for 10 days afterwards to avoid blood clots. If this is the same for you then I suggest injecting quickly as it is a little stingy but dies away quickly afterwards.

Can I ask those who have had multiple sections what your stomach looks like? After my EMCS I had a 'pooch' or shelf like stomach for ages. I heard that with more than one CS it doesn't go away?

Thank you everybody!

I'm really hoping that the current CV situation will be improved by then (July) because selfishly I would really love to be able to have family for extra support with current DS while I'm healing.

As for the injection, I'm currently on that now for the rest of my pregnancy but it's my DH who has been injecting me. I tried last night to do it myself but could not bring myself to do it lol.

I had an Elective when 38 weeks.

It was planned from my first consultant appointment as I had had a pretty horrific first birth (won't go into details as who needs that when you are pregnant !)

I was was 35 and slim and healthy and I honestly recovered faster than my first birth.

I never had any problems getting up and about.

Worst part was that I couldn't immediate discharge myself and didn't get any help showering and had to take myself off the catheter.

When I was at home DH was around for a few days but returned to work as he could see I wasn't struggling.

Got my GP to declare me fit for driving after a couple of weeks as more than capable of doing an emergency stop.

A very positive experience here compared to my first natural birth.

Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy 🤰

Just to add about the comment re the injections. I was given 6wks worth of clexane. They’re subcutaneous injections which means you need to inject at an angel. This helps reduce stinging and you don’t need to do them quickly.

@ CoffeeIsMyOnlyJoy for me personally I do have as you have experienced which has gotten a little bigger after each section.

I had an emergency with my first. Lack of foetal movement. Not dramatic at all. Very easy recovery.

With my 2nd I was offered Vbac but tbh I'd had such a good experience with the first I opted for elective c section.

Booked in to deliver at 39 weeks I think?

Very straightforward. Stayed in for one night only then home.

Very pleased with the outcomes.

I was awake for both.

39 weeks asked at around 26 I think, was under the Perintal Mental Health team sp they advocated for it - high anxiety around pregnancy and birth - but not tockaphobia. Friend had a still birth a couple of yrs earlier, bascially because she was left on her own - no monitoring. Haunted me. Thought section would give me more control.

It did, had an app with consultant they happily signed it off gave me a provisional date at 39 wks.

Went in week before to see a obstetric surgeon and anaesthetist. Warned me that section babies sometimes need help to clear lungs after been born.

Op was quick and it was so calm it was an all female team which was amazing!!! We listened to Radio 2! DC was fine no lung help was crying even before they had him fully put 🤣.

I sadly had an obstetric haemorrhage was quite poorly, people do say they’re more likely with a section but the team said it probably would have happened regardless and they’d rather it happened whilst I was already in theatre and they could act instantly.

Pain was ok, obviously not ideal, they let me have Oromorph for the first 24hrs. I had really bad back ache more then anything - I think from the anaesthetic.

Incision healed beautifully, no infection, was fastidious about keeping it clean though. Used a pure tea tee soap as recommended by a friend and then left it alone in between showering. Scar is barely noticeable 2 yrs on, although I’ve been told by various people that whoever do it has done an exceptionally good job.

Also no problems getting up and about went for a walk with the pram within the week. Driving by 6 weeks. Don’t regret decision.

Had an elective after a previous emergency section. Was a breeze. Out in 2 days. Hardly needed any pain relief and recovery was so much easier. I had to remind myself I had had major surgery so I didn’t do too much. People were amazed when I said I’d just had a c section 2 weeks ago.

I was in hospital already for severe pe. They were trying to get me to 37 weeks but the dr looked at my stats the day I had them and said we’re getting them out today. They’d already given me the steroid injections before.

The section was magic. All 3 of us had our own team of medics (twins) and despite being at my most vulnerable I felt in complete control. They were so understanding of my absolute terror of feeling them cutting etc, but the anaesthetist was so lovely and really made me feel safe.

Recovery was great, I was out within two days, out shopping when they were 5 days old and back to driving at 2 weeks. Dh went back to work a week after they were born.

Things I’d definitely recommend:

Keep up with your painkillers, even if you think you don’t need them.
Get something in for your first poo after the section, or make sure you are eating/drinking loads of fibre.
A maternity pad on top of your knickers over the scar acts as a lovely cushion and helps it not hurt so much, it was bliss for me!

Forgot to say I was 36+5 when they were born!

2 elective c-sections - first was harder, quite a bit of pain and as I was breastfeeding had minimal pain relief. Second was easier, I was discharged after a day and recovered a lot quicker.

Don't try and do too much it's major surgery, big pants and baggy clothes, ensure you have support in place to help with older child.