To ask you to tell me about your c-sections?

[Boeux]

No need to of course as I know it's a very personal thing but I'd really appreciate some anecdotal stories atm. I'm booked in for the op tomorrow morning, I'm quite nervous and would love a morale boost and basically to be told I'll be fine

Thanks in advance!

I had three, two emergency then the third, a plain old elective.

There is some recovery but first one i was fine after a week really. Hold a pillow to your stomach when you laugh/ cough. It really helps

I had one with my second (he was breech and I'd had a fourth degree tear with my first). The theatre team were amazing and really put me at ease, procedure was over very quickly and recovery was actually much much better than after the first birth! My recommendations would be to still use some breathing techniques (I was terrified and these really helped) and once you can get out of bed try to stand up as straight as possible. Sending lots of positive thoughts.

Mine was the most straightforward calmest thing ever!
I was as nervous as anything the morning of but I needn't have been. The nurses and midwives were fantastic and kept me calm. Once I'd had the spinal which admittedly isn't the best but over so quickly, then I literally was just lying there waiting for my baby to be pulled out!.
Once he was out they showed him to us and cleaned him up and handed him to my husband who was right next to me, then after 10 mins they both went into the recovery room while I was stitched up. I didn't feel a single thing not even any tugging or pulling. They then wheeled me into the room where my baby was and I fed him.
I'm due another c section soon and nervous myself but I know I don't really need to be and hopefully it'll be the same experience as last time.
We will be fine! Wish you and your baby luck and a fast recovery.

Mine was wonderful, very calm & my consultant simply asked how he could make it special. I wish I had asked for music to be played, and I wish one of the midwives had filmed it, as I felt I missed out a bit being laid on my back! It was very quick, the only less pleasant bit was when they were trying to get the spinal sorted - but not painful.

I guess the actual c section is weird sensation - but was less extreme than I imagined.

The recovery was good too - it felt very predictable & the pain was more like discomfort than anything.

I hope yours goes well and is as positive an experience as mine was

You’ll be fine!!
I had an emergency one the first time - much drama beforehand, then all completely fine in theatre.
Had an elective with my second, and it was calm and gentle, and all went well. Weird sensation of the rummaging about in your belly, but no pain. Make sure you can have skin to skin with your baby as soon as possible - you’ll need your partner to help. Take it easy with your recovery, make sure you have all the pain relief offered, and be gentle with yourself. Rest, bond with your baby and don’t expect to be racing around for a while, but you’ll be up and about and perfectly fine, very soon. Good luck!

LOVED IT.
Had skin to skin and delayed cord clamping. Was one of the best days of my life; the natural birth of my first child was not one of the best days of my life, it hurt and I was exhausted! (Though my natural birth wasn’t by any means traumatic for anyone reading)

Good luck! You'll be fine with an elective.

I had an emergency c-section. My daughter was transverse and I'd been in labour for nearly two days.
I had a major haemorrhage during my section and lost 2.5L of blood. I had a blood transfusion and it was a very scary time for my husband - I'd passed out from the blood loss so I didn't see or hold my daughter for hours.

I was unable to breastfeed either as my milk never came in but this was due to my level of blood loss.

During the surgery, you can really feel them rummaging around; the pulling and tugging can be quite firm. When they were stitching me up that was quite painful at times.

Take a dressing gown tie with you as you can use this to tie to the end of the bed to help pull yourself up as you won't be able to do this properly for a few weeks.

A section is hard - elective or emergency. Don't overdo things after because you feel fine at the time. You shouldn't be holding anything heavier than your baby or a cup of tea for at least two weeks.

I had a planned section due to baby being breech, and it was so calm and relaxed. The theatre team were all brilliant, kept my husband and I informed and calm. The anaesthetic took a while to kick in, as soon as it was ready they said "we'll start now" then seconds later we heard our baby cry - it was such a serene experience!

Recovery took a while but easier than I thought it would be, DH had to do a lot of picking baby up and passing him to me but that's what paternity leave is for haha. Take a pillow for the car journey home, I put it between my stomach and the seatbelt and was so relieved I had it!

I've had 2 an emergency one and then a planned one. Planned one was so much more straight forward.

Yes its a longer recovery and can be painful. My advice is to rest, let people help as much as possible. For the first week make sure you always take painkillers every 4 hours. Even if you think you're ok. Keep on top of the pain killers!

Good luck, you'll be fine!

Mine was an emergency but I found the recovery very straightforward. They wanted to get you up and on your feet after around six hours, and I found that keeping mobile was the key to recovery. I felt my sorest when I'd been lying or sitting down for long periods of time, whereas doing little and often was much easier. The most difficult part I found was the first pee after the catheter had been removed (I barely felt it coming out so don't worry about that - it just felt like an intense urge to pee for a second as it was pulled out).

Stay on top of your painkillers. I just had diclofenac and paracetamol and thought they probably weren't doing much until I skipped a dose and realised they were! I was never in a great deal of pain, but it was worth keeping on top of medication.

You'll probably have to inject blood thinners into your thighs or somewhere for 10 days or so after. I got my DH to do this as he seemed to take a perverse joy in it and I found it was less painful when he did it somehow.

It took me a little while to be able to get up and down off the floor, but I've been left with 0 repercussions from it other than the scar now, which was very neat anyway.

I've had two electives (last one 10 days ago) and honestly they were both wonderful experiences. This last one in particular was just perfect, and I'm running around now forgetting I've even had surgery AND I had caught the absolute killer cold going round just prior with a chest infection 3 days after the surgery. I was dreading the coughing but tbh as long as I pulled my legs up it was fine. It is a little bizarre laying chatting to the anaesthetists and suddenly being shown your baby (I just cry!) but I can honestly say that the time in recovery with a spinal, catheter and newborn is just the most gorgeous, comfortable cocoon and it is something I would happily do tomorrow!

I’ve had two, one emergency, one elective. I was absolutely terrified both times.

The elective was brilliantly handled by the staff - tell them how anxious you are and they will do whatever it takes to help.

Can you take in music? That really helped me. If you can, pick your own music in advance and take your or your DH/DP/birth partner’s phone into theatre for music and photos.

Do you have birth preferences? Like aiming for skin to skin in theatre and so on? If so, tell them and they’ll adjust your gown accordingly before they start.

If you feel ropey at any point, tell them - they will be able to adjust the drugs through your cannula (like if your blood pressure drops).

If you’re really nervous, like me, ask if your partner can be present for the spinal and cannula and everything. Mine was pre-Covid but partner was with me throughout. If you’re going to be alone before, take your phone, charger and maybe something like an iPad or book or puzzles just to distract yourself.

Honestly, you will be fine and it’s so quick from when they start until you meet baby! Then you get baby next to you or on you, and it all flies by! Good luck

Mine was an emergency but the actual procedure wasn’t bad at all. Room was full of people, all lovely, all willing to answer any questions I had and chat to me to keep me calm. Didn’t feel the spinal block at all, or anything else for that matter. DS needed a bit of help clearing his airways of mucus but I knew that was normal as I’ve watched every single episode of OBEM. And I secretly enjoyed being waited on afterwards!
Blood thinners didn’t bother me at all… until we left hospital and DH had to administer them for the next week 😂 ouch!

Best day of my life! (Honestly). It was a planned c-section as my DS was breech.

I've had 5 electives after a horrible 1st birth, 1, 2nd, and 3rd were all calm and relaxing, no problems during or after, easy recoveries, 5th was all of the above except they had a lot of extra people on standby in case of problems, and blood waiting in case of need for transfusion, the mood was a bit more serious then previous ones, but baby fine, and my recovery was easy, walking around the next day no bother, 5th section was again like 5th with extra people, stuff on standby, it wasn't as easy a surgery, due to scarring, but baby fine, I did feel a bit battered after , ( ok, like I got hit by a train) but for context I was still doing the school run on foot 8 days later and driving 3 weeks later...Will be having a 6th section probably in March 🙄 ( don't ask) can't say I'm looking forward to it but 🤷‍♀️
Get your partner/birth partner to take lots of photos, I have some amazing shots of one of mine actually being lifted out, I was allowed music on for a couple of the earlier ones so maybe ask if thats something that might relax you, baby will be passed straight to you if all is well, if this is your 1st section baby will be out very fast and you'll be sewn up all withing about 45 mins...only other practical things I can think of is take flip flops or sliders, shoes you can get on without help, make sure your knickers/ trousers and very loose and come up high, after showering you can use a hairdryer on cool to dry your scar completely which can help with healing...take your pain meds on schedule those 1st few days, even if you're feeling OK, I made the mistake of not with one of them and I did regret that!
Good luck!!

1 VB, 1 c section. The section was the easiest and fastest recovery of the two by miles!

I’ve had two electives after three traumatic VB’s. Walk in the park compared to the VB’s which were just bloody awful. Will say my wound opened a little and became infected after my second CS so I was readmitted to the ward for 3 days and put on an antibiotic drip. It’s painful and difficult to get up and move around for the first couple of weeks, just take it easy. Overall much preferred it to my VB’s.

Thank you all so much, this is really helping ease the nerves.

It's not my first baby but will be my only section (no more DC for us after this one)

I hemmoraged quite badly after delivering my youngest (natural birth but induced, nasty tear, retained placenta, infection, sepsis)

I also hemmoraged after a tonsilectomy some years ago, so they have blood on standby just incase as I am quite a bleeder. Hopefully it won't be needed but I'm sure I'll be in a much better place for it to be dealt with in surgery, than I was on the ward after my last.

I had my pre op today and the midwife said they are happy to play music so to make our requests known. Apparently they use YouTube

I'd like them to play Celine Dion - 'A New Day Has Come' to begin with, as he comes out.

Anything relaxing or happy afterwards I'll let DH or the surgical team choose.

I take beta blockers for occasional panic attacks and have had clearance from my consultant to take one if needed before surgery tomorrow so I have a bit of a cushion if I get too anxious, so to speak.

Noted about the dressing gown cord and pillow, I'll definitely be taking them in with me.

I'm not able to take ibuprofen at all as I was taking it long term for a chronic pain condition I have and it has destroyed my poor gut, but midwife suggested I ask for dihydracodiene(sp?) Instead which she thinks shouldn't be a problem.

I have DH off work now for 4 weeks which will be such a help as we have 2 others at home.

The end of a flat stomach

@Guacamole001

The end of a flat stomach

I needn't worry about that, mine hasn't been flat since my first

@Boeux - I had a CS and the chaps were talking about their motorbikes ( by which I mean the surgeons ) I felt a slight tugging sensation & then DC was out. I had hardly finished telling them I felt OK before DC was out. I would not worry a jot. I honestly think having the stitches out was worse than the operation. ( & that wasn't bad ) Mine was an emergency one but local anaesthetic.

Good luck to you - I bet you will be back saying it wasn't that bad.

Hope everything goes well.

Set alarms for your pain relief so you don't forget any. When you're having to work out how log between a tablet/meal and how many times a day etc it's just easier!

The bad first, it is major abdominal surgery. There is no getting around that. Surgery is not fun, but it’s not the worst experience in life.

The good and it really is good. I spent a lot of time in maternity during the 9 months of my complicated pregnancy and it was awful. I felt like a cog in a machine. The moment I arrived for my c-section, I had personalized care from beginning to end. The nurses did everything they could to make the experience as pleasant as and calm as possible. They knew every bit of my complicated medical history, they were prepared for the accommodations I needed, and they even refused to let me put up with some discomforts I was prepared to put up with (like tape I was mildly allergic to because at least it wasn’t the tape I was severely allergic to).

Without a doubt, best experience of my life. I had a really traumatic first birth, to the point where i needed therapy for several years and which resulted in physical damages i still suffer from. I put off having another for 6 years as i couldn't face doing it again. I was offered an elective. It was beautiful. Serene, calm, in control. Bany latched on beautifully. Yes of corse it was sore afterwards, but nothing compared to the trauma of my first birth.

I had one emcs and one elective - recovery was fine with both as far as I remember. It hurt for a while of course and I have some numbness round the scars, other that than all was fine.