I had one and it honestly went the best it could have gone - I’d definitely have another. My waters broke at 4am the morning of my planned section so my day got off to a bumpy start as I actually turned up to hospital in early labour. I went down to theatre as one of the first in the queue - otherwise I understand that you can be maybe be waiting around for a bit depending on when your surgery time is, so take something to keep you occupied!
I had a pre-op for mine 48 hours before, and I had to fast from the night before and they gave me some medication to take at home before going in.
While I was waiting to go into surgery, my recovery midwife and surgery midwife, anaesthetist, consultant etc all came to meet me and do any pre-op checks. I was taken down to surgery with DH. He was allowed with me the whole time. Before we started every member of staff in theatre introduced themself and explained what their role was, I was asked what music/radio station I wanted playing, and then DH held me as they put the cannula in my hand and did the spinal. Spinal honestly wasn’t that bad. Once spinal was in they laid me down and did the catheter - everyone turned their backs and no one looked apart from the 2 nurses who did it, so I was given privacy. I was numb so didn’t feel it - spinal worked quickly! I did feel quite sick and shaky with the spinal and luckily was fasted or I would have been sick. I did feel pretty rotten for a little while but they gave me something to sort it. That’s normal.
DS was born not long after, like less than 10 mins in I think. He had some difficulty when born but all got sorted and I did skin to skin for the rest of the surgery. I think the whole thing probably took about an hour?
I had to go to labour ward after unexpectedly and got put on a drip to make me contract (thankfully still numb!) as I was bleeding a bit more than they wanted. Our bags and all of DS things, including nappies and formula, were sat at our bed on the recovery ward - so my advice is to at least take the bits for baby with you if you can! We had nothing with us and had to borrow a nappy off the lady who went in for her section after me until DH could go and get our things. Went to postnatal ward later that day, had a private room so DH stayed over with us. I was up and walking (shuffling around more like, with help!) later that evening, had a wash, did my skincare and put my own PJs on and honestly it was heaven. Baby Cloud 9.
I woke up the next morning to consultant discharging me at 9am, less than 24 hours after my section. I was struggling with the pain a bit so I asked what they’d send me home with and I got told nothing, just paracetamol and ibuprofen. So I opted to stay in a second night and that really helped, they helped me get on top of the pain, I showered, felt more human etc.
Once I got home I genuinely managed fine - as well as could be expected. DH helped me with showering and the loo for few days as I found twisting painful. Getting up and down was the hardest bit and I used DH for support a lot. But I was making a cuppa, making bottles, changing DS and going up and downstairs and pottering around the house ok. I liked knowing I had someone there to help me if needed though. I remember I always had someone do the stairs with me. Within 4 days of DS being born I was pushing him round our street in the pram having short and slow walks with DH, getting moving is so important and it really helps! But don’t overdo it and rest as much as you need and listen to your body. On Day 6 pp had our first afternoon out to the pub for a meal with DH, DS and my parents as it was my birthday and I woke up and felt so ready to get out the house and celebrate. I got dressed up and put make up on and felt much more like myself. I was moving round better by then, just a little slower, and pain was manageable and not all the time.
I had to wear compression stockings for 6 weeks (I only wore them in the house) and had blood thinning injections for 10 days - I genuinely found them worse than the c-section recovery itself! I hated them and poor DH got it in the neck every day when he had to do it for me! 😬. Oh and the night sweats are a thing! I had them for about 2-3 weeks, but they were worse at the beginning. I was showering twice a day most days I was so hot!
For my actual scar, I had dissolvable stitches and was told to get in the shower in hospital to wash the adhesive dressing off. I was told to gently wash the wound in plain water when showering and gently pat dry and air it off for a while before getting dressed or covering it again. I didn’t have any dressing on it from 48hrs post-surgery. Midwife checked it once at a home visit.
Overall I definitely found it far better than expected and I would do it again in a heartbeat, recovery was far quicker than expected and I was so surprised at myself. Listen to the advice you’re given - don’t lift anything heavier than baby for 6 weeks. At 4 weeks pp I felt fully recovered (and had done for a while) and lifted something heavy (the pram in and out the boot) without thinking, later that day my scar was so sore and stomach muscles in agony. It felt like I’d done the biggest ab workout at the gym! I knew I’d overdone it. And keep on top of those painkillers!