To ask about your elective caesarian experience?

[AbbeyBelfast]

Hello folks!

I would very much like to hear your stories and experiences with elective sections.

What was your reason for choosing elective?

How was the procedure itself?

What was your recovery like?

Bonus points if you had an elective after a vaginal birth and can provide some insight into a comparison of the two!

Thank you 😊

I had an ELCS with my second after a very straightforward water birth with my first.

I didn’t necessarily choose an ELCS but my baby was breech (breech at 32 wks but MW thought he was head down subsequently). I found out at a growth scan at 37 weeks he was still breech. I had a ECV at 38 wks but he didn’t turn and I waited to go into labour as we were a good candidate for a vaginal breech birth. But he didn’t budge and induction isn’t recommended for breech babies.

This was at the beginning of the pandemic and so it was a very weird set of circumstances and I was alone for my ELCS.

I found the procedure very calm and the care in theatre wonderful.

I struggled a lot alone on the PNW and struggled with the longer term recovery (in terms of pain and getting back on my feet). I didn’t cope very well with the anaesthesia and was quite sick and groggy. I also struggled to breastfeed this time after feeding my first for over a year (I’m not entirely sure this was due to ELCS but I found it hard to hold him and position him well. However many many mums BF after a CS with no issue at all).

I had a much easier time with my first vaginal birth, both during it and recovering from it (back in my feet within hours as opposed to weeks). But despite the difficulties recovering it was definitely the safest option for us and I would choose it again under the same circumstances.

Natural birth awful so advised to have elective by doctor for second child. Elective was wonderful. Very calm and happy. Taking pain killers was no problem, not bothered by scars. Do it!

Reason for elective: breech baby with some additional health concerns for both of us which meant they wouldn't try turning her but wanted her out (won't induce for breech babies)

Procedure: calm and peaceful, although I have a slightly curved spine which seemed to cause problems for getting the needle in. They also found it hard to get a cannula in - thought my DH might pass out watching them do that!

Recovery: Ended up vomiting for 24 to 48 hours after the c-section, which concerned the midwives, but that was the trickiest part of recovery. Had no issues with mobility/scar afterwards and didn't find it too painful.

Hi!
Mine was elective: 2 weeks overdue and she was most comfortably breech! Not interested in moving...
It was great to know when it was going to happen, took all the fear out of giving birth.
Epidural: awake, only a slight bout of dry retching, and i was aware of the music playing as my daughter was born. It was great to be alert, pain free.
The frustration of having drips in both arms was mitigated by morphine bliss. But, Oh! When it ran out, the first few hours were brutal.
Sadly, some placenta was left behind, which interfered with breast feeding and i nearly bled to death as different home visitors every day said it was normal to bleed so much. For 4 weeks?!
Aside from that (😂): wouldn't hesitate to recommend. Minimal scarring, minimal stress on baby.

@flashbac

OP do you realise you are going to get skewed results as an 'elective' after a vaginal is more than likely because the vaginal went wrong. Therefore you are going to get loads of responses where the c section is described in a positive way. And those that say that c sections are relaxing, that's the diamorphine doing that

For full disclosure, I've had a v birth and c section.

Yes... very aware thank you. But I appreciate you taking the time to comment...

I asked this specific question because of my own circumstances considering an elective after a natural... so if there is a bias or a skew leaning a certain way then that's ok because it's skewing towards my own situation 😂

It was amazing

Birth one was traumatising

Elective section was a walk in the park

I had an elective with DD after a fairly horrendous vaginal birth with DS, third degree tear, lingering issues with incontinence etc.

It didn't actually *technically end up quite as elective as I'd planned as DD turned up 3 weeks before my CS date, but I had a super calm 'EMCS' although there wasn't anything that felt like an emergency to it, it was really calm and I had a lovely time on all the nice opioids. I had her 5pm on Saturday, was up and about by 9pm, no issues at all. Went home 3pm the next day. I was a bit shuffly those first couple of days but the more I moved about the easier it was, and I was given good pain relief to manage at home. Was carrying her and lifting no issue, I had SPD through pregnancy so was used to commando rolling out the bed so that was fine too. We went to a pick your own when she was a week old and were out and about as normal within 10 days minimum, I was pushing the buggy, carrying her in a sling, driving within 2 weeks also.
Comparatively it was dreamy against my VB, which took months for me to stop being in pain, I couldn't sit down properly for weeks and couldn't have sex for around five months. The whole thing, birth and recovery took probably 18 months to get over, physically and mentally.

Three weeks Post CS I was trying convince DH that we should have another baby, it was such a good experience!

It was great. Like going to a salon for an appointment. Was easily carrying baby & walking up & down stairs afterwards. Didn't really need pain killers after second day.

Emergency first and all quiet traumatic especially the recovery.

So I was extremely apprehensive and really wanted a vbac.

But I seem to keep them in longer than most and due to my age chickened out going for longer than was allowed. (First one was 42 weeks and I went into Labour just before induction. But he was in distress so csection)

Elcs was lovely actually. I found it very peaceful before hand and it was lovely feeling more in control. As baby and I were well I went on to an empty quiet ward (unlike the first time!) stayed in 24 hours, only as we were waiting for the hearing test (he failed both due to mucous which usually gets a squeezed out apparently in Labour.)

Recovery was a million times better too.

Walk tall heal tall is the best advice. (But rest rest rest the first 10 days.)

My reason was because I had a traumatic first birth, son got stuck, I had an episiotomy in theatre and then had a post partum haemorrhage because of retained placenta 3hrs after birth and went into theatre to have manual removal under anaesthesia. I spent a week in the hospital. That was a tough recovery and I didn't want to go through that again.

I had a general anaesthesia section with my second baby, it was mentally tough to get my head round because of the first baby. It went well, I had the baby shortly after 2pm, I was with it by 4pm. This was a year ago so I don't remember much of the pain, I got up around 5pm and midnight to walk. I got discharged the next day at around 7pm. I was only numbed where they cut me and only had over the count painkillers for the entire recovery, if I had morphine after the birth they wouldn't have discharged me so quick because they have to know you can cope without. I think I had a catheter, it was taken out shortly after the birth or once I'd given birth.

I had to have a GA because of medication I was on

I did regret leaving hospital so soon, the beds that helped me sit up really helped and it hurt at home to try and sit up from lying down. About 2 weeks later I was ok to take a 15minute walk and do light activities. A year on my scar hurts a little once in a while and gets itchy.

Both were a longer recovery but it was so much better to have a section than a vaginal, but had things gone smoothly I think I would have said it was easier for vaginal birth as it's a shorter recovery time.

I had two and they both messed up in different ways.

On one I had a panic attack whilst they were taking her out and I tried to sit up

The second one the epidural went on a nerve and I was paralysed for two days down one side. My stitches burst and I wasn’t aware as I was numb.

EMCS first time around. Elective for the second because I was so impressed by how easy the first birth was, ie. I had a failed induction and suffered so much for 2 days and then suddenly, the doctors thought a CS would be appropriate and it was over in a moment- I kicked myself for not insisting on a section earlier! It would've saved me so much pain and anxiety. Recovery both times was incredibly quick. The second baby I had on my own while DC1 was at nursery and I knew husband would be at home to continue the routine. It felt liberating planning exactly when I'd like DC to make an appearance.

I was very confident requesting an elective and found the hospital didn't bat an eyelid.

Oh yes- no problems BF (fed DC1 through pregnancy with DC2 and still feeding both two years later) or bonding.

3 vaginal then an emergency c-section. I can honestly say I dreaded the thought of caesarean but it really wasn't as bad as expected. First standing up was horrific, but keep up the pain meds, don't be a hero (trust me on that!) and you'll be fine. I was 42 when I had mine and had to have blood clot prevention injections after and even they were alright once I got over the initial couple. Go for what is the safest option for you and your baby. Good luck!

Oooh I'm here for the bonus points!

1st - vaginal birth. Waters broke a week early so I was induced, had an epidural and it was loads easier than I thought. Not painful or stressful. Actually quite good! It helped that the hospital was very quiet and I asked for, and got, a private post natal room. The midwives were amazing. Very quick recovery. Dream birth!

2nd - late decision to have an elective c-section. I decided on this because I couldn't tolerate the pain of them trying to start off my planned induction. My cervix wasn't 'ripe' so it was incredibily painful, even with gas and air. I had planned an induction due to my age (40). I tried really hard with it but couldn't take any more and became quite distressed. So I had an elective c-section a couple of days later. I think it would have been fine if the hospital was less busy and the midwives had more time to care. But unfortunately the whole experience was really awful. I had severe shoulder pain afterwards due to trapped air (quite common apparently) and that meant everything was tainted by uncontrolled pain. And I was left alone for hours with no help.

So for me, the difference wasn't to do with the method of delivery, it was more to do with bad luck and the care offered.

If I had baby No. 3, I would have an elective c-section and plan for that from the beginning because I couldn't handle the stress and exhausation if things went wrong with a vaginal birth.

Just to add, if I had baby 3 I would definitely go straight to c-section to avoid all the anxiety and misery of birth No. 2. I'd be more prepared!

But like other posters have said, I had no problem with mobility or the scar afterwards. It was just the shoulder pain, which you can sort out with the right medication and peppermint. Just needs a bit of planning!

First DC, vaginal with diamorphine. Had episiotomy, forceps and stitches, awful - felt like I had no control and no one was listening during labour. Left part of the placenta in so I was very ill afterwards. Second DC, elective c section, the most blissed out, amazing experience ever. Im a size 14-16 and recovery was easy. But, everyone is different.

It was just the shoulder pain, which you can sort out with the right medication and peppermint

How does peppermint help with shoulder pain? It’s referred pain from free air on the diaphragm, nothing to do with intestinal gas which is what it’s normally used for?

@bluebluezoo the midwifes now give peppermint tea at the hospital in my city to help with the shoulder pain.
Certainly helped me every time

I’m also interested in the OP’s question, as I had a traumatic vaginal birth with my son. Can I ask, when posters say that it took 5 days for milk to come in, what does that mean for breastfeeding? Does it mean you have to give formula in the interim while waiting for it to come in, or do you still have colostrum? From memory I think my milk came in on day 3 after a vaginal birth.

You still have colostrum, so it just sometimes (not always) takes a bit longer for milk to come in. mine was day 3.

@maras2 - that really does seem like a dream C-sec.
Mine was - wake up straight away - feed baby. Massively busy ward. No staff to bring food so I didn't eat for hours (which didn't help with milk flow). Filthy showers covered in other women's blood. Home next day. And it was still a positive experience because the staff were kind and I had zero pain.

I had an elective (at maternal request). In 2003. I was an elderly primgravida at 43. I told my obstetrician I didn't want to go through a vaginal delivery and he was completely supportive. Unlike the 2 midwives who came out separately to try and change my mind. Telling an expectant mother who is terrified of childbirth about their 17 hour unmedicated labour eventually delivering an 11lb baby with tears is unlikely to change her mind. They also had a go with my husband. He gave them short shrift as well. The actual delivery was fantastic. Pain free. Very relaxed, radio on. Chatting to the anaesthetist.Recovery was a breeze as well. All in all, brilliant and a complete contrast to my sister's agonising vaginal delivery where she had to beg for pain meds and didn't recover physically for nearly two years.

I breast fed easily with both, looking up laid back breastfeeding or biological nursing really helped as the positions help with the healing process.