what happens with elcs

[QuoththeRaven]

im booked in for elcs (my choice) after emcs with ds 2 1/2 years ago. The m/w's let me down so much and dh and i decided it would be a better option than what happened last time.

Spoke to consultant and he was happy for me to go ahead, but he had quite a strong accent and couldn't make out a lot of what he said. The m/w that was with him kept telling me i could always change my mind/ have a vbac, she didnt actually contribute anything useful to the conversation.

Anyway. What happens with an elcs? i have to be in for a certain time, and i understand i could be waiting a while in case of emergencies going in before me. My waters broke last time, what happens to them this time? are they dealt with while im under the knife or broken for me before hand?

Everything was such a blur last time, as i was labouring heavily and panicing. I just want to be prepared for whats going to happen as much as possible.

all hospitals haveslighty different procedures but roughly when you arrive at hospital they will do a load of checks/bloods (if you haven't already had this done at seperate appt) then you wait in your room for your turn. I walked to theatre in my gown and sat on the edge of the operating table holding DHs hand while they did the spinal and then they lay me down put up the screen, fitted the cathetar and checked I was numb by spraying me with cold water. Once they started there was a bit of tugging but no pan and babywas lifted out after about 5 mins and handed to me with a towel over them (chilly in OR) then me and DH cuddled baby til they finished putting me back together (abut 45 mins) and took me to recovery room where I BF and they checked and weighed baby. After a couple of hours we went up toward where I stayed catheterised til the following morning when they got me up for shower and removed it (didn't hurt). Just remember to take all the painkillers they give you afterwards and use the bed controls to help you get up and down. Good luck - my two were wonderful calm experiences.

Hi.

Very similar experience to Chynah. Took a bit longer to recover (48hrs in bed after) but everyone is different. Definitely no pain.

Lovely ODA put some music on in theatre & then switched it to 'Can't help falling in love with you' at key moment. aaawww
This was the NHS!

I've never had a C-section myself but have attended lots in a medical capacity.

It's not like breaking waters is for a vaginal birth. During a section your waters are broken by the surgeon right before your baby is born. This is when they've opened you up and it's just a little prick in the last layer of the bag and all your waters gush out and get sucked up by a suction machine (that looks and sounds like a sucker used at the dentist) before they slosh everywhere. I can't tell you what this feels like but mummies rarely notice if they're not told, but you can ask for them to tell you, otherwise listen out for a gushing slopping sound and a sudden increase in activity in theatre (they're getting ready for baby).

And don't worry if they break naturally before the op, although this will likely bring it forward, it makes little difference IME during the actual procedure. And bring lots of reading materials etc as you could be keep hanging around waiting for absoloutly ages depending on emergencies, recovery/ward beds etc.

When you sign the consent make sure you check and double check everything that's said if there's any doubt or difficulty understanding at all, this is for your well-being and peace of mind and I promise no-one will mind.

Hopefully someone with personal experience will be alone soon too.

Ooh and good luck.

I had a lovely lovely ELCS 8 months ago (to the point where Im oddly evangelical about it now, because I still cant believe how it compared to my first absolutely hideous first birth and post birth trauma).

Everyone's experience is clearly very different and it sounds as if the first time was pretty full on for you.

I went in thinking absolutely nothing could be worse than last time, but I expected it just to be a medical process to 'get through', a means to an end in terms of meeting my new baby, but I didnt expect to enjoy it at all. People still seem to think its strange when I say that I really enjoyed it and it was a hugely positive and lovely experience. Being lucky enough to have a positive experience this time around also took away a lot of the trauma of the first time. I dont feel I cheated nature - Im just clearly not designed for popping them out the way she intended!

With an ELCS, its more relaxed, because whilst there's clearly still a risk etc, there isnt the panic of an emergency delivery and so hopefully the theatre staff should make you feel at ease. Would say its definitely not an intimate affair - loooooads of people in there, all with a critical job to do, but definitely busy. Prepare yourself for that - I was glad someone had mentioned it to me. The anaesthetist at mine was truly lovely and talked me all the way through the process as it happened and made me feel like she was completely in control - they stand behind your head and so can see everything that's going on.

Again - healing experience different for all, but I was up and in the bath after 6 hours, (turfed) out of hosp after 24 hours and felt better every day. In comparison to the pain, aftermath and trauma of the first time, bit hurty, yes, but no comparison at all. I made myself behave and hold off on the driving, although I felt really well, and Im glad I did.

Get big pants (or really really tiny ones) - was surprised how much not the scar (dont know whay - seems obvious now!), but the bit above it was tender and needed support.

Ooooh - and I would go for a severe bikini wax before hand (again, advice given to me by ELCS pro!). I had a huge and v sticky plaster on afterwards - you definitely dont need to be taking any extra fuzz off when that's removed. Its sore enough!

I didnt get any trapped wind, but apparently its common and can be quite painful - maybe take some wind eze or similar? Someone else also mentioned constipation from painkillers - didnt affect me, but worth buying a box of senakot just in case!

Oh - again, hospitals are all different, but I found as a second time mum I was pretty much ignored on the post labour ward. They put the bed at a height I could get out, but not one I could then reach to get DD in and out of her goldfish bowl. Not great, but forewarned is forearmed.

Best wishes, I really hope you have a positive experience xx

My elcs's were all in the afternoon. The drip was taken out later that evening, and I got up (with help) the next morning.

Spoke to mw yesterday (as I'm having another next week) and she told me more about painkillers - I'll be given diamorphine which should last approx 24 hrs. I'll also have a volterol (?) suppository while I'm still under the spinal block.

I did get trapped wind with my others, if it gets really bad, I think you can have something to ease it. Mine got better when I started moving around more.
I also got constipated, and managed to get hold of lactulose. This time, I'm planning loads of drinks, fruit, veg and dried apricots to
Try to keep it at bay!

In hospital, particularly the first night, it was never a problem asking for help, but maybe when you go in and see your mw, you could ask her about help over the first night?

Sorry, that's all a bit disjointed and repeating what everyone else has said - getting a bit nervous about my own elcs next week!

Good luck when you have yours :)

Mine were pretty much as everyone describes... lots of waiting around for #2 though, I was first in at 8.30am and didn't get to theatre until 5pm. Really boring waiting around, but oddly surreal walking in to theatre very close to where women were labouring (I could hear one woman who must have been delivering at that moment judging by the screams).

I haven't had to have a spinal when in labour, but I imagine it's pretty bloody horrible. It's not exactly nice when you're able to sit still. The anaesthetist nicked my spinal nerve a couple of times - it's not serious but it does make you jump a bit - I can't imagine having to sit still like that during a contraction.

Recovery from my 2nd section wasn't great, but I think I got up too quickly and didn't rest enough. I was on my feet after 12 hours and home 2 days after. I was (stupidly) carrying ds (aged 2.3 at the time) to bed only a few days after I'd got home which was bonkers. Definitely rest makes all the differnce with recovery time.