Pingu - ds2 was an induction for post-dates, but he malpresented and had what's called a deep transverse arrest so an emergency c-section. It's called emergency because it wasn't planned as a c-section, but it wasn't an emergency IYSWIM - he was perfectly comfortable where he was but was completely lodged. So the atmosphere was very calm and we all knew what was going on (in compete contrast to ds1 whose birth story I won't go into because it'll just scare everyone sh!tless).
I already had the epidural in in labour ward. That didn't hurt in the slightest (I was in full labour when it went in and, frankly, you could've slapped me in the face with a frozen kipper and I wouldn't have noticed...). It's a very odd sensation - I remember at one point prodding some odd lump in the bed and trying to work out what the hell it was, only to realise it was my own leg .
All the theatre staff were friendly, everyone present introduced themselves and told me what they would be doing. It's routine to have paeds there for a c/s, plus anaesthetist, mw, obsx2 (though there were 3 for mine), plus theatre staff, so it's not exactly intimate!!
It took ages to get a good block for me - I could still feel on my right hand side (they tried forceps first and I could feel them grating on my pelvic bones, yuk). The epidural won't take all the sensations away - they tell you it's like having a washing machine going in your belly - but you shouldn't be at all sore. It then takes half an hour or more to close you up. The paeds check the baby over first (or they do for an 'emergency' c/s) then you get to say hello, but the first cuddle you get is when you're back in recovery, which feels like a long time.
The first 12hrs are fine, because the epidural means you feel no pain. Day 1 is also not as bad as you'd expect, but take my advice (if you go for the sunroof option) - TAKE IT EASY or you'll pay the next day. I speak from bitter experience!!! It's really hard to sit up after a c/s because you'r tummy muscles don't work any more, you have to roll onto your side first. And that's the case for a bit afterwards too (can't remember how long). I got home on day 3 or 4 I think, and though I was taking regular painkillers for a bit after, I felt less sore than I had after ds1's forceps delivery. In fact, recovery was better second time round - partly because ds1 mashed me up good and proper, partly because by ds2 I had 2 kids to look after so you have to get moving!
I drove at 5 weeks, and up to about 4 weeks had someone else around most of the time; ds1 was only 21m old and still needed lifting (eg in and out of cot) and I couldn't do it for a month (though he is particularly large for his age!).
The scar was horrible for a few months, purple and numb and itchy and blurch. And until I lost the baby weight, it made my tummy look like I had a right overhang. These days I barely ntoice it (well these days I can barely SEE it of course!).
What a flipping essay, sorry!!!
For me, the c/s was probably easier than ds1's birth, but that's because his birth was so rubbish. I felt disappointment both times that I wasn't "good enough" to give birth naturally, and because both were long and protracted affairs, met both my boys feeling exhausted, numb and drug-filled. The advantage of an elective section is you know when it's happening, can plan relatives to be around to help out, meet your baby feeling fresh, and avoid 2 days of hell. But it's an operation so not without risks, plus there's the risk that you'll feel like you should have tried... No easy answer. I still haven't decided what I'm going to do this time, but suspect it'll be a slice and dice job. I'll have a late scan for position, and if it's not LOA will probably not be given a choice. And even if I have the choice, it may be irrelevant anyway because I've never gone into spontaneous labour yet, and they won't induce someone who's had a c/s. And there are distinct advantages to not going through those awful 2 weeks after term wondering every day when/whether it's going to happen, putting up with everyone asking if you've had it yet, wasting mat leave, and watching your AN mumsnet thread turn into a desert!!!
Congrats if you've read this far