Ok, ELCS (after natural birth last time) booked for Monday. What do I do?

[CrapBag]

Had a natural birth with DS, having an ELCS this time.

Is there anything different I need to take in with me? Do I need a lot of extra baby stuff or stuff for me?

Is it worth making a birth plan and if so what sort of things do you put? I know the consultant said DH and baby leave whilst I am being stitched, but, all being well, can I request that they stay?

Also, hormonally and wrt bleeding and that, is it that same as after a natural labour and birth? I was all over the place last time but I don't know if it is the same after not going through labour. Do you bleed just as much after?

I had a third degree tear last time and I have heard people say that the recovery and pain from that is worse than a c section. Is this right?

Any advice or tips that you can give me will be very helpful and well receieved.

Slightly nervous!

Have not had a vaginal delivery to compare. However, I don't think there is much difference in terms of post partum bleeding. I bled for 6 weeks each time, much lighter after 2 weeks. Did find I would bleed more if I had overdone it.

Practically, think pants & pj bottoms. You'll need ones that don't sit immediately on your scar. Also may need to accommodate a catheter tube initially. Big pants and nighty my be the way to go though I managed with pj's both times.

You may be in hospital for a little longer than a straight forward vaginal delivery. I stayed in 5 nights with dd1 (delivered during night 1 emcs) and 2 nights with (elcs).

Not had a vb eiter but had no pain with either of my 2 ELCS (just remember to keep taking the meds).

Take some dried fruit to help get things moving afterwards. And remember to take your camra in to theatre the theatre staff are usually very obliging re taking pictures. If there are overhead lights in theatre avoid looking at them as you may see the reflection of something you wish you hadn't :) Both mine were lovely calm experinces with good, quick painless recoveries. Good luck.

Good advice chynah re lights. Haven't read that one before.

Good luck crapbag ! (always loved your name, by the way). No advice from me as I am in similar situation (CS 5 weeks away). Oh but I have read that arnica tablets before and after are good for healing.

I haven't had CS but had 3rd degree tear with DS and am newly preg again and have done a bit of research; if you google 'caesarean section after 3rd degree tear' you should find some useful info about recovery experiences. The general consensus from what I've read is that those who've gone down this route have not regretted it.

Don't want to hijack the thread with my concerns but did you find it easy to make the decision to have a CS this time? Did you have any examinations etc to check the tear? I've had no real probs with mine but don't fancy risking the damage again!

Sorry I meant to say many congratulations and good luck!

I had an EMCS. It was nowhere near as traumatic as I expected. I stayed in hospital for 3 nights which I thought was great because it gave me time to recover a bit.
I felt pretty mobile a few days later and was able to cook, clean etc... as usual. Although it might not be such a good thing .
Massive knickers riding up to your under your breasts 3 sizes bigger than your normal size are also a must.
I was not able to wear "normal" clothes for a few weeks afterwards so lived in baggy tracksuit bottoms.
I would not bother about a birth plan because when you get a CS,what is there to plan anyway?

Arnica tablets are a very good tip indeed.

With my elective I went in on the Monday and got home on the Wednesday afternoon.

My DH and baby did not leave though whilst I was being stitched up, they were beside me the whole time, and when they took me to recovery DH wheeled DD through in a wee wheely cot beside me. The only time DH was not at my side was when I was having the spinal at the begining.

Good luck for Monday.

xx

Thanks.

eastegg I'm not having a section because of the tear. I had chosen to have a natural birth because I had healed really well and they said the risks were no different from any woman who hadn't torn and I had no lasting effects. However baby is breech so decision was taken away from me. I have to say I was pretty gutted and I still would prefer a natural birth but I have accepted it now so I am planning.

I have a few pairs of tracksuit bottoms but they sit on the hips. Are these going to be ok or will they sit too low?

Good tip about the light! Would never have thought of that, and I must remember the camera as my first photos of DS were about 2 hours after the birth as it didn't occur to DH to take any photos which I was quite disappointed about.

I had an EMCS, as everyone has said, make sure you take the painkillers etc when they're due and you'll have hardly any pain, i had really none to think of, just a weird feeling of being slighlty detached from my legs lol, but otherwise it healed well.
My first couple of days bleeding was a messy affair, but after that i bled lightly for 5-6 weeks, but if you do too much you bleed more!
Lots of large pants, baggy bottoms, as long as they dont sit directly on the scar you should be fine. I wore my maternity trousers til it healed!

crapbag sorry I misunderstood, it occurred to me it might be for a completely different reason but just after I'd posted! Thanks for letting me know the score with your tear though - that's interesting. Brilliant that you healed so well. Shame about the breach then after all that, but as you say you can now plan your baby's birthday. Good luck!

No problems. How have you healed? I did umm and ahh about the decision but my MW said to listen to my instincts and they did tell me natural birth would be ok (at the time).

I had a consultant appointment in this pregnancy and they just told me it was totally up to me if I wanted to take the risk but as I have healed well there was no reason not to. They did say if I had any lasting symptoms or hadn't healed well then they would have recommended a section. HTH.

all being well you should be able to
see your lo as she comes out
cuddle her skin to skin while you are being stiched up
breastfed in recovery

the midwife should come and see you before you go on so you can explain which of these you want.

my dp and i both cry (in a happy way) when we think of that hour or so between me putting on my surgical stockings and when dd first latched on. tis truly magical.

eastegg The colorectal surgeon I saw when DS was 8 months did say that if I did tear again, then the damage would be much worse, this was after he said how well I healed. They just left it up to me whether I was willing to take the risk (and that was their words).

If you don't feel that you want to, I think you would be entitled to request an ELCS. Will you be referred to a consultant in this pregnancy? I saw them at 20 weeks which was a bit of a pointless appointment then I had to give them my decision at 34 weeks. 35 weeks baby had bloody turned anyway after being head down!

Thanks crapbag that's all really interesting. I don't know for certain how well I've healed because I've never been examined but I haven't had any problems. I had a follow-up appointment 8 weeks after the birth which I thought would be with a consultant but it was a midwife and as I reported no probs she didn't have a look. I'm guessing I'd know about it if I hadn't healed well but I do have more 'urgency' than before and sometimes have to go 2 or 3 times a day as if the muscle isn't quite containing things as well if you know what I mean. Sorry for TMI. I don't know whether that would count as lasting symptoms. I guess I'll have to see what they say. I'm only 6 weeks preg so nowhere near seeing anybody about it yet but will raise it as soon as I can.

You must have put a lot of thought into it. Awkward baby!

You'll need high waisted knickers and stretch trousers, nothing low slung.

Your DH and LO should be able to stay with you IME unless something is wrong with either of you.

Take the painkillers - paracetamol, ibuprofen and codeine at least. And get help on moving around. A strap attached to the front of the bed can really help (my ward had webbing "bed ladders"). Getting mobile really does help recovery.

You can do a birth plan to let the team know your wishes, though with an elcs you should be "with it" enough to ask. We had my natal hypnotherapy music playing.

eastegg how long ago was it for you?

I had wind problems for a little while, maybe about a year or so. Sometimes I couldn't hold it in. I did have a sense of urgency with poo (sorry for the details) but this has improved over time. DS is 3 now. These do count as lasting symptoms.

Hello, I have had 3 electives all straight forward, up having shower on my own the next day allbeit a little more slowly than I would normally!

Was driving without any pain or problem after all of them, indeed it was after 10 days with number 3.

Took diclafenic (not sure of spelling) for 2 days and a couple of paracetamols but no heavy duty painkillers needed.

I would recommend standing straight backed and not curving over to protect your stitches, but obviously gently and stop if there is pain (hope that makes sense!)

Help with the ironing is vital as I have heard c-section ladies shouldn't iron, my excuse and I am sticking to it

I don't need any excuse for the housework. No way am I going to get on and do it. I also have M.E. so I will be getting a break from housework although my house will end up a manky messy state I imagine as cleaning and being tidy are not DH's strong points at all!