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

Oh and I was awake during both, and 37 weeks and 39 weeks. Recovery was 4 weeks with 1st and 3 weeks for 2nd. Although can take longer to feel completely back to normal.

I've had 3 elective sections, all under general anaesthetic as spinal/epidurals are contraindicated in my case. I went off to sleep, woke up when it was all over.

I agree with the 'walk tall' advice, I was up and about quite quickly and home the next day. I would say draw your knees up and hold a pillow over your tummy if you need to cough/sneeze/laugh and for the first few days. Keep taking the painkillers as prescribed, even if you feel you can cope as its easier to keep pain at bay if you take them regularly rather than try to get on top of it If you miss a dose.

I had an elective C section at my request. Discussed with my consultant - he readily agreed. This was 17 years ago in Sheffield. I, at 43, was an elderly primagravida.
2 separate midwives came out to see me at home to try & get me to change my mind. I didn't change my mind.
I was admitted on to the ward on Sunday .
My daughter was born on Tuesday.
It was a very positive experience. Very calm, I walked down to theatre.
I chatted to the anaesthetist.
The radio was on, My daughter came out to Young Hearts, Run Free, Candi Staton, one of my favourite songs.
There was a little bit of tugging but no pain.
We went back to the ward.
I had a shower & washed my hair.
My husband came, then my family.
All very jolly.
I stayed in hospital until Friday, then came home at my insistence, as the mattress on my bed was like a paving stone.
My recovery was uneventful.
Saturday morning I was up early, I put a wash on, loaded the dishwasher, then set out with our 2 dogs and baby in pram. Only to be ordered home by a visiting midwife who was scared the dogs would run away dragging the pram with them. I think I was driving after about a week. All in all, really, really great compared with my sister's vaginal birth.

I had an elective section for my second after a dreadful experience with my first ( vaginal delivery) . I had it under spinal , was up and about as soon as allowed , home in 2 days ( 20 yrs ago) , was driving and doing the school run for our older child within 2 weeks . If I could go back and do it all again I would have 2 sections , it was a breeze compared with the vaginal delivery in my case .

Well first birth was an emergency CS under GA, which was no fun, but recovery a piece of cake.

Second birth elective at 40+5. Very straightforward. I remember the bed was uncomfortable, but that was it. Up and walking the next day, home the following, out for lunch the day after that. I appreciate that other people have much more difficult recoveries, but mine couldn’t have been easier.

I was able to establish BFing both times no problem at all.

Fabulous informative replies thanks again everyone.

For those of you whose elective c section took place after 40 weeks, was this because you decided after 40 weeks to have one or did they just schedule you in for after 40 weeks? (Probably dumb question but I assumed all ECS's would have to be scheduled for before the due date in case baby arrived?)

I had a c section due to placenta previa and I bloody loved it. Calm, controlled - the worst bit was that it took a while to get the spinal in but it was more mild discomfort having to bend forward for so long with a pregnant belly! Then when I lay down I went very faint (blood pressure maybe) but told them and they quickly squirted something in my canula to perk me up. The only other bit that bothered me is it made my legs feel very disjointed and weird and I’ve had knee dislocation issues in the past so I found that quite unpleasant and kept asking them if my legs were okay - but for anyone else it would be fine. It wasnt painful.

I found recovery pretty fine too - way better than I’d prepared for. Twisting to get out of bed to pick baby up was the hardest part. I could’ve driven after 3 weeks easily but didn’t.

In my case, while I wanted a c section from the get go, there was pressure from the medical team to go for a V Bac. I didn’t fight very hard against it as I felt intuitively it wouldn’t happen.

At 39 weeks, it was clear nothing was kicking off by itself, so they scheduled a c section.

Had 2 vaginal births, 3rd was a section and 4th normal.

The section was fine and due to fetal malposition and semi-elective (I was in very very early labour). My normal deliveries were also straight forward, although second OP which hurt like fuck. No pain during the operation, obviously.

I’m going to go against the grain of the thread and say I was a bit taken aback by how long I was sore for after my LSCS. I’d had stitches with 2 of my vaginal deliveries so I was used to being a bit tender Locally for a bit but after the section I was needing proper pain relief overnight and then I was sore at the end of the day for a good few weeks. I was up and about and fine but I wasn’t used to or properly prepared mentally for a longer recovery time. Which I accept was naive. The main reason I wanted a VBAC for number 4 was because of the recovery time and the ability to get up afterwards and shower - after the section I hated being stuck to the bed afterwards with a catheter.

It certainly wasn’t an awful experience but it’s a very different experience to a vaginal birth.

I quite enjoyed mine! Having previously had an emergency section this was really calm, everyone was chatty and explained everything. We were able to see the babies straight away, dh with me the whole time.
One thing nobody prepared me for was walking into the theatre and sitting on the operating table. I didn't realise this would happen, a nurse just put me in a gown and said "right then, through this door" and I was in theatre! It was extremely bright and there was equipment and medics everywhere (nb I had twins so there was double of everything including medics!). I had a bit a of a wobble as it was just very overwhelming. Once that passed though it was fine.
Make yourself get up and about as soon as you are told it's ok. You will recover quicker. I was managing the stairs and shower at home on my own within 72 hours. I struggled with getting up out of bed and lifting the babies out of their Moses baskets and putting them back again so dh had to help a lot with that.
After 6 days I felt up to a walk but I only made it to the end of the road and then had to go back home as I was just too weak and wobbly. I soon built up to longer walks though.
Yes to big pants and comfy leggings afterwards. You won't want to wear jeans for a while.

I had elective with dd and likely ask for one again this time
Couple of reasons one I won't go into but other on health grounds as I had so many seizures I was worried I would suffer from them during labour when tired, worn out, anxious, in pain etc.
After seizures I have very little memory or understanding sometimes and the thought of an assisted birth when I didn't understand worried me greatly

I was awake, it was still special
I was surprised by how many were in the room and that the curtain held up was actually my gown so felt pretty exposed.
I was v sick after it but pleasantly surprised how well I felt considering and was up walking after a few hours and had 7 weeks bleeding but not too badly like periods had been

Peppermint for trapped wind which can often trap in your shoulder and try not to over do it even if you feel well after as it can come back to bite you.

I think the worst thing was the injections after which were for 10 days.. So sore

I was 38 weeks and told I had to have a CS due to pre-eclampsia. They also said they didn't want to induce me as mny blood pressure was too high for that.

It went really well, I was down there for 9:30, baby born at 10, but I didn't have anything to eat until tea time, just didn't want it.

I recovered well. I first drove the car at 2 weeks, to the garage 200m away for an overdue MOT (should have been a few days prior). They drove the car back and parked it for me. I didn't bother driving again for a few weeks, it was lovely weather and I took advantage by walking to town and back.

I had an emergency c section first and elective 18 months later (because I was traumatised after my very difficult first birth).

I’d agreed a date with the doctor of 39 weeks because my advice was that later was better. I went into labour in the morning (at work!) at 36.5 weeks and by lunchtime I was in labour and feeling panicked about how fast things were progressing. Went to the hospital, obstetrician met me there and went into theatre at about 4pm. I had two spinal blocks as the first didn’t work well, so I was awake. Very easy delivery to a big and healthy baby, 45 minutes to stitch up and into recovery and baby went to the ward with DH after a short cuddle with me.

Recovery was a bit tough but manageable. 5 days in hospital (peaceful because the was toddler at home!). Couldn’t drive for 3 weeks. Couldn’t pick up toddler. Milder discomfort for another 3 weeks. DH was straight back to work so my mum visited for about 4 hours a day for the first 5 days I was home, which was so helpful because she would hang the washing or carry groceries which I couldn’t do.

I wouldn’t change a thing. Obviously I was thrown that my planned birth still happened in a rush due to going into labour but it was good to know the baby was ready to come out.

Highly recommend, but I haven’t had a vaginal birth to compare to. Better than an emergency section!

Good luck. x

I have had two elective C sections and two "natural" births - after lengthy inductions.

I would go c section every time! The healing was quicker honestly, I was up and out of bed quicker. I didn't have to pee with jugs of water. It was calmer, I felt in control, I felt well looked after, I had choices.

I would go with a c section.

I had an ELCS due to breech baby. Honestly I'd chose vaginal birth any day of the week. They damaged my womb so I'll never have a full term pregnancy again, if again. Everyone said how well I'd recovered in terms of the scar etc. But I honestly found it tough having to be careful with older DC and lifting the pram. They say you shouldn't for 6 weeks. Everyone paints it as a really easy option so my only advice would be to prepare for the worst in terms of pain and your capabilities and then you'll be pleasantly surprised if it's better.