To ask about you elective csections and recovery?

[DigOlBick]

I’m having one next week and I am absolutely terrified! Had an induced vaginal birth last time so this is a complete unknown for me.

I’m so scared of the actual surgery and also the recovery after. I’m a massive wimp.

I had a cat 2 section and my baby was 11lb 7 - you will be able to lift your baby but let people pass her to you etc and don’t try and do too much too soon - I got an infection around week 5 PP but recovered quickly after putting my feet up for a week. I’m still not back in my old clothes and probably won’t to be honest as I was absolutely tiny pre baby and as mentioned I was absolutely massive due to huge baby!

Those of you who were driving after two weeks . I thought your insurance would not cover you for a few weeks after surgery ?

It’s fine Op. you’ll be fine.
My advice is don’t underestimate the need to avoid heavy lifting. And start with serious pelvic floor and ab muscle physio as soon as it is safe to do so. I was not told of the risks of back problems or adhesions ( 2 c-sections 25 years ago). That now causes me a lot of problems and my spine is twisted. Having sad that I’d rather have back issues than prolapse or other horrendous issues that come with very bad vaginal births.
You can lift your baby . Get a sling and use that to carry baby around in the house and out. and don’t try to use a pram that needs lifting for first 6-8 weeks. Try to avoid lifting toddler sized children. Sit down first the. Ask them to climb onto your lap. Don’t push heavy vacuum around or life wet washing onto lines. Etc etc. I know most people will be fine but you could be one of unlucky ones if you don’t bend the knees and keep to light (baby weight) stuff.
If you are going to try breast feeding make sure you get help form everyone and anyone. There is an extra difficulty establishing after c- section. You also need to be shown positions that are comfortable including the rugby hold and pillow support. Just get help and don’t think it will be instinctive- it’s not and it’s bloody hard work to learn how to do it for you and baby,
Work hard, when you’re given the ok, to ensure your ab muscles come/heal back together and can fully support your back going forwards for the next 50 plus years!
Finally make sure you set expectations that under different circumstances a abdominal wound that size would require 6-8 weeks off work and rest. Some people just treat it like giving birth (and that’s not easy and quick to recover from) and not that you also have a major wound - you need to set the tone up front that you will be in considerable pain without painkillers, so have plenty around. That bending will be difficult, that for the first 24-48 hours you will be dopey and dazed due to sedatives leaving your system and strong pain killers . You need partner or carer to pretty much enable you to rest and care for you ( cook for you, bring you drinks regularly, do the chores that are absolutely necessary etc) and bring baby only when needs feeding or you are less tired . Sleep in first 24 hours is critical- you actually need to place your needs at same level as babies and not as an afterthought. Make sure your partner or support person knows that.

I loved mine. Really chilled, got to hold the baby straight away, DH came in and took loads of photos. A bit of pain the next morning but they gave me oramorph which sorted it out. Walked around within 3 hours. Was back running at 7 weeks after.
I have lots of friends who had ELCS and nobody really with any horror stories to tell.

I had an elective C as our son was in breech position.

It’s really fine, honestly. BUT I was in decent fitness beforehand, underestimated the impact on my body as i “felt fine” and definitely did too much, too soon (lifting the pram about 3 weeks in with my son in it). As a result, my back is now pretty weak and damaged. Daily indoor cycling has really helped me get some condition and fitness back though and it’s so much better these days.

My top tip - peppermint tablets for the trapped wind! My digestion was a mess for a while and passing stools was agony (sharp sharp pain) for 2 weeks afterwards. That was probs the worst short term bit!

Oh and YouTube how to get up from bed to stop the pain. You roll, swing and push your legs but it’s hard to describe

Mine was an emergency one, but I found it much better than I'd dreaded - the worst part was giving myself the anti-clotting injections in the stomach afterwards (but I am a wuss with needles).

There wasn't nearly as much pain while it healed as I'd expected. Had the baby on the Monday, went home Wednesday, and could move freely, etc, by then. By Saturday I think I'd stopped needing painkillers at all (and I never needed anything stronger than paracetamol).

I had an emergency and an elective. The elective was an absolute dream. I was up and about 24 hours later, discharged the next day, in town the day after. No issues at all really.

I really can't believe some of these responses. Honestly, if someone said to me their section was like a spa day I'd feel... probably not polite to say. I feel quite tearful right now. In real life I've found everyone to be really supportive and sympathetic to the fact I've just had my 3rd major surgery to deliver a baby but I'm wondering now if I'm being super over-dramatic and pathetic about it

OP it's hard to say how your bowels will react, mine have been awful. Dreadful, dreadful pain. They will probably give you Lactulose in the hospital to take home with you but if not, start on that asap after surgery. I'd start the peppermint then too. I also needed Fybogel and immodium.

The wound area itself has healed fairly quickly and well for me, it's been bladder and bowels that have been agonising and ongoing.

I had a traumatic first birth so opted for elective second time round. It was a walk in the park compared to my first experience.
The team were lovely, they knew I was anxious so talked me through it all. You don't feel a thing (the only thing I felt was the feeling of someone jumping up and down on my stomach,obviously they weren't really doing that, just how if felt to me.) No pain at all. Pain wasn't as bad as I feared during recovery and was easily managed with painkillers, and paracetamol the following day when we went home. I recovered much quicker then with my first birth (although my first wasn't a straight forward birth at all) each day the pain gets more manageable. I'd opt for an elective again, but we're happy with two. smile]

@DigOlBick

I’m worried I won’t be able to lift my own baby as he’s such a giant!

I was told not to lift anything heavier than the baby. Actual surgery fine. They let be bring music. Recovery after a bit tricky so I'd advise put everything you need at waist height at home.

I had one in June, it was tough.

Couldn't do anything for around 4 weeks apart from hold baby. DH had to physically wash and dry me as it was such a struggle.

I'd say from 6 weeks I started to feel better. DD is now 4 momths and I'm fine 😊.

Everyone's different however please take it easy. I managed to open my wound trying to do laundry like and idiot!

Mine was fine. Pain manageable on paracetamol and ibuprofen. Went to the pub for lunch 2 days after. Perfectly able to lift and carry baby but I did avoid carrying the car seat.

@TestingTestingWonTooFree

Mine was fine. Pain manageable on paracetamol and ibuprofen. Went to the pub for lunch 2 days after. Perfectly able to lift and carry baby but I did avoid carrying the car seat.

Oh yes get as much of the painkillers in as you can before you go in. Wish I'd thought of that!

I've had two. One emergency and one planned. They went okay! It's impossible to get up right away, you can't feel your legs for hours and will have a catheter but it's good to get up as a soon as possible. I was home next day after both of mine... first baby I had him 4am on the Friday and came home the Saturday evening. With my second planned section I had Dd... I had her at 1pm on the Friday and discharged at 12 noon the next day so 23 hours!!

They make sure you can urinate okay before being discharged so drink plenty. With my second I bought bottles of water and froze them and took them out the freezer before I left. Cold water was lovely compared to the tepid tap water they provide at the hospital! 😅

Before you go in stock up on easy meals - either batch cook meals or if anything like me just buy pizza, ready meals etc to eat for a couple weeks!

Take all the help you can get! You should take it as easy as possible afterwards but also remember to move too. I was a single mhm when I had my first by emergency section. I couldn't take it easy and was up and down the stairs, lifting things, taking him to appointments etc and was walking long distances after 3-4 weeks. I felt I recovered well but the result? When I had my second section, I had an abnormal amount of scar tissue which give some complications to my daughters birth. I reckon it's because I didn't rest enough with my first even though I felt fine. With my second I did have Dp home for 2 weeks so didn't go too mad doing things - but it's impossible to do nothing when you have an older child already!

With my first I had no appetite at all after but with my second I got Dp to get me McDonald's which was nearby!

To add, plenty of comfies - huge pants, high rise leggings and joggers etc! Extra large pads etc. I need heavily for weeks after my first but considerably less with my second so it depends.

Ahh mine was a lovely experience!
Radio on in the corner, everyone in the theatre seemed to be as excited as we were to meet our very very long awaited baby.
It was calm, happy, organised, really well managed and I felt safe & really well looked after.
Home within 48 hours, pushing the pram through the snow taking other child to school 10 days later.(with well timed painkillers of course!)

Yep, a really positive experience here.

@sandgrown

Those of you who were driving after two weeks . I thought your insurance would not cover you for a few weeks after surgery ?

There is no set rules and you need to speak to your insurance company. With Ds I was driving within 2 weeks. I had no choice. I didn't go far but down into town to get him weighed m, doctors app etc. I was a single mum at the time with little help. It was either drive or push pram up a very steep hill. I felt driving was after for the scar... i wasn't doing long journeys. Literally down the road to the clinic.

With dd I did wait longer because I had Dp home for 2 weeks. Even after he went back to work I didn't drive for a couple weeks mainly because it summer and so busy. I was also living in a village so had to drive a lot further to get anywhere. I actually enjoyed not driving for a few weeks!

I had a ELCS with DS2 (after a very bad tear with DS1). It was very calm.

I think I found recovery easier than the tear. I was up after 24hrs in the shower and home after 36 hours. You do have to be careful to not use your stomach muscles at first (roll over onto your side to get up). I then had a booklet from the physio about how to regain stomach muscle strength.

I had the added complication that I'm allergic to aspiration so the only painkillers I had were paracetamol. It did mean I had a lot more pain than others I know who took all the drugs . I was definitely moving more gingerly than friends who had CS after a few days. But I did heal quickly and was signed off to drive after three weeks.

Peppermint tea helps with the wind and plenty of fruit to make going to the loo easier. A sanitary pad over the scar and hold it if you need to cough, sneeze or laugh. Hold baby carefully when feeding so they don't kick the scar.

I have a really neat scar now and no overhanging belly over it.

Hi, I had an unexpected c section with my second after a straightforward vaginal birth. Unexpected as induction not going to plan.

As for the actual op - as I only had 10 min warning I was going to have it I did get actually very scared and couldn't stop shaking but this is normal and the nurses etc were so calming. They really wanted us to pick music but I couldn't think straight so decide now if there is music that you would like to have?

Also due to the shaking I couldn't hold my baby straight away. Too many wires in my hands and chest and shaking but as soon as we were in recovery and wires off etc he latched immediately for a feed.

Lastly to get out quick here is my advice - first if you are well enough ....

Get up when they come to help. I was terrified and on my own (pandemic) but they need to check you can wee.

The day after when they did the morning rounds I asked about going home that day and what was needed. This is a second baby for you so I think that does help. Once the doctor discharged me on his round we went home.

And with recovery - I had stitches last time but believed I should be active so would try and walk and it was agony!

Post section - I consciously did less (and I had a toddler) to ensure my wound healed. So even if you are feeling good - a 10 min walk might be all you can to do slowly and get the rest!

I think it's important to get your bowels moving as soon as possible so plenty of fibre before and after. Lots of water. I was given stool softener which really helped a lot. Given my experience with trapped wind last time, next time I'd probably start taking windeze preemptively seeing as it doesn't do any harm. But that's just me. I'd take a pack of peppermints to hospital if I was you. And have some peppermit tea bags in the house for when you get home. I didn't suffer at all the first time. But second time was bad. Two days after the birth I took the baby down to the pharmacy to ask them what I could do for it! I was fit and well from the birth but desperate from the trapped wind!!!!!!

@Jubaju

Oh and YouTube how to get up from bed to stop the pain. You roll, swing and push your legs but it’s hard to describe

This is a top tip. If you learn how to get out of bed properly, you'll safe a lot of unnecessary pain.

My stomach went back almost to normal after my first. But it's taking a lot longer this time round. My scar is neat and doesn't bother me. But I'm still a bit of a weird shape. It is getting there though. I might have more to do with the fact that my bump was absolutely enormous this time round. I was a house and the stretch marks were dreadful. Luckily they've mostly faded and I think they'll totally fade over time. I seem to be lucky in that department. Best of luck OP.