for crapbag and anyone who has had elcs please calm me down!

[yummytummy]

well thats it really, only just under 2 weeks till my elcs and am really starting to panic.

had decided on elcs before even ttc as had a horrible 1st birth with forceps and third degree tear etc. after discussing with consultant and various others def decided to go down elcs route.

so i am ok with this decision but i guess am still panicking as its still major surgery. mainly just things like will it hurt during the op and does the scar hurt after and how big is the scar etc etc. unfortunately dont know anyone in rl who has had a section to ask or even show me!

i cant imagine anything being as painful as last time but you never know.

am really panicking please help!

My elective was the best day of my life. Painless, quick, serene, lovely. I still get a warm glow thinking about it, and I'd do it again in a flash.

You will be fine .

If it helps at all, the same breathing / hypnobirthing techniques that (can) help with vaginal births can be really helpful for staying calm before and during a section.

Good luck! Exciting times

Mine was fantastic. It doesn't hurt during the op. My scar is about 5 inches long I think, although I can hardly see it, 16 months later.

Needed painkillers for a short while afterwards but it all healed very quickly really. I also had a horrendous first birth with forceps and recovering from the ELCS was a complete breeze compared to that let me tell you.

wow thats really helpful thanks. once you have healed do you just forget about the scar? it must be really nice to not be in pain for months afterwards as thats all i really remember.

Oh yes, completely forget about it, absolutely. I can barely see mine and certainly don't feel anything at all. It healed very quickly - I was driving in a fortnight and picking up my 2yo.

I had what was classed as an emergency section last time but it was sort of planned, I had a couple of days forewarning. Honestly? It was wonderful. Calm, not particularly painful, plenty of chatting and a radio playing in the background, it was all over rather quickly and I was out and wandering around town on the third day. I'm actually looking forward to the next one in 2 weeks time. I've requested radio 4 and we are very excited about meeting our baby. Hopefully I'll be a bit better rested this time too.

I had ELCS - very calm, very painfree, very enjoyable!

You have a small local anaesthetic (for me, less scary than anything I've had at the dentist) before they give you a spinal or an epidural - which takes effect very quickly, a bit like your leg going to sleep, but over a wider area - I got an odd tingly feeling in my back for a moment when the spinal 1st went in, which was strange, but not painful.

They take a LOT of trouble to be sure the anaesthetic has done the job, running ice cubes over you until they are sure you can't feel anything (remember with an ELCS, they aren't rushing to get a baby out, so it's all very calm) -

I had no pain at all during the op - I could feel some tugging and pulling, a bit as if someone was leaning on my belly or legs, but it wasn't painful at all.

My scar never hurt, although by day 5, which is when they took the stitches out, they had started to pull at either end of the scar as it healed, and that was irritating.

Once I had the stitches out, it really felt okay.

The scar is about 13 cm long ( I just measured it) - it's a thin purple line which you can barely see underneath my pubes. I had the op 8 months ago. I don't really have an overhang, which I think some people get - I think that's luck of the draw, I never got any stretch marks when I was pregnant either, I don't know why.

The only pain I had was when an unpleasant midwife (who was very sniffy and eyerolling about my C section) didn't give me the right painkillers the day afterwards, so I missed a dose of the stronger ones, and had to have a tramadol to get on top of things again.

Thereafter I was on paracetamol and voltarol, which totally did the job.

I'd recommend that you (a) stay on top of the painkillers - ask beforehand what you will get and when you need to take them, as they keep inflammation down as well as get rid of pain (b)shave or immac your top bit of pubic hair yourself, so it's neat and they don't have to do it for you, and (c), unless you are happy with it, ask them if you can be catheterised after they've put your spinal or epidural in, and after they've got the screen up across your body. Then you can't feel it and aren't aware of it. (catheter came out painlessly about 14 hours after my op - I thought I would hate having it in, as it turned out I barely noticed. And after weeks of night time toilet trips in late pregnancy, I quite liked not having to get up!)

It is major surgery, but it's very routine, too. ELCS's are very different to EMCS's. You won't be exhausted, for a start.

RedFlagHag has a really good point - I did some meditation and yoga breathing as I was being prepped, and as I was given the spinal -

Visualisation and breathing aren't just for VBs, they are very handy for lots of situations!

I have had 2 ELCs and would agree with everything Gloyw says except that I didn't have stitches that needed to come out but just disolvables which were no problem at all.

I had emergency section (although it felt like elective as had very few contractions) and although I was a bit scared it turned out to be absolutely fine. The anesthesiologist was present the whole time, I was listening to music and talking to my DH all throughout the procedure. I think it was all done in about 15-20 minutes. I was able to walk a bit the next day. The cut area may look scary at first as it will be bruised and the staples look horrible, but once they are off the scar is very small and thin and barely visible (below bikini line) 13 months later. I was on painkillers for about a week, but felt fine and was able to tend to my DD. Good luck!

Sorry, only just found this thread after googling my MN name.

DD is nearly 5 weeks now and the ELCS was sooooo much better than DS's forceps and 3rd degree tear birth. The recovery was far better, I wasn't exhausted after the birth and I had my GPs bring DS to visit us 3 hours after the surgery. I was fine. I took all the pain meds they offered and I was advised to ask for some before the pain got too bad as it would be better to take it when you start to feel it. I was taking paracetamol, diclofenac and oramorph in the hospital. Sent home with paracetamol and volterol, but when I started to feel sick, my MW advised me to switch the volterol to ibuprofen which didn't have quite the same kick but it was managable.

I was up and about after the first week. I took the first week really easy as I didn't want to push myself. I let DH do everything and I just saw too DD where I could. DH took 4 weeks off work so by the time he returned this week, I was pretty much back to normal. I must admit I have probably been overdoing it this week as I have been out nearly every day with DD and my 3 year old DS, lifting the pram in and out the boot etc and my stomach is slightly sore but nothing that means I need painkillers or anything.

I was terrified of having a CS and really didn't want it. It was an amazing experience and if I ever did have any more, I would certainly have one again. I just couldn't get over the difference in lack of total exhaustion because of not going through labour. I was just laying in bed until I could get up then slowly got up and about when I could and I went home after 2 days. It was just so relaxed and the theatre staff were amazing and calm and you get to chat to them first and its all pretty cheerful in there.

Good luck.

thanks so much for all your messages it really helps. just over a week to go now and am still very anxious but also want it all to be over and out the other side!

if anyone can think of anything else would be really grateful

thanks!

Couple of things for you to be ready - another poster mentioned shaving/cream at home, much more dignified! You need about an inch off the top.

Also take off any nail varnish as they need to see your toenails in particular (or as you're very pregnant, get someone to do it for you!!)

Big pants that come up to your waist are comfy and you will bleed 'as normal' after the birth so you will need pads.

Had two...without any problems, side effects or complications. With DC2 I was terrified of labour so for me DD being breech was (secretly) a bit of a relief

Oh, and don't be afraid to ask for painkillers, especially after DC is born. It takes about 30-45 mins to close (while you're cuddling baby) and it can feel a bit odd...not painful at all but you can feel stuff.

Hello, I have had 3 c sections as well as 2 full term natural births. 1 section was emergency and 1 crash. The last one was elective and was by far the best of the 3. It was every bit as 'magical' as my normal births, the first cry etc etc, amazing. I was scared but that is as I have a history of late losses and massive hemorrhages (relating to the emergency births). However, my elective went very smoothly, no extra blood loss etc. I don't know anyone who had a bad time at elective section, only emergency ones.

will it hurt during the op

No, not at all. Bit of pulling and tugging sensation but nothing painful or even uncomfortable really, just feels abit weird if you are not expecting it. I got abit shaky with the spinal but they sorted that out quickly.

and does the scar hurt after and how big is the scar etc etc.

My scar itched for a good few months, bio oil was fantastic, really helped soothe the itching. My scar is 6-8 inches and I don't mind it at all. It healed really well and it very neat. The whole area was sore for about 2-3 weeks but was fine if I was taking it easy and painkillers. On par with the discomfort from a bad 2nd degree tear (so if you had a 3rd degree last time it probably won't be anywhere near that). I do have a few numb areas but they don't bother me.

My tips on reflection of my sections are..

granny knickers..huge waist high ones..are essential for afterwards as normal pants catch the scar, as do those paper ones, granny's will be your new best friend!

take it easy, on 2 of mine I walked to town at 10 days afterwards, it was too much.

try and get help for the first 3 weeks so you can rest and not lift anything

Don't have too many visitors

Use cushions if breastfeeding

Limit going up and down stairs etc the first few days

Take a camera to theatre and give to staff so you can takes pics of the birth or soon after

Good luck :)

Also remember that even if you feel 'better' after 3-4 weeks, it was still major surgery and you should still be taking it easy.

Mine was 5 weeks ago today and I noticed since DH went back to work a week ago, I am getting slight pains again whereas I couldn't feel it before. Obviously I can't stop doing things with a toddler and a baby but I am doing more than I should given that the pain is returning.

Know your limits and stick to them for quite a while, even if you think you are better.

thankyou everyone, had to go in for pre-op clerking today and so am all booked in for a week today, aaargh. its really reassuring to hear everyones positive experiences though. just keep telling myself no amount of pulling and tugging in the tummy could ever be as bad as 3 days of labour with a failed epidural!

would love to hear more positive tales if any. very very helpful.

My ELCS was lovely. I was really scared, like you are.

The staff were all so calm and confident and gave me a very gentle ribbing for being nervous.

The anaesthetist was so lovely, really funny and the whole experience was pleasant and enjoyable despite my nervousness.

By lunchtime I was on the ward, DD2 feeding away, delighted with myself and her. It was great :)

Recovery from ELCS much faster than EMCS.

I loved my ELCS. So calm, so chilled and being able to plan childcare for DS made things easier too.

If we were having anymore, I'd definitely go for another.

My ELCS was lovely. It wasn't painful - just felt a tugging sensation. Remember your big knickers. A midwife told me that if smaller knickers rub the scar, it won't heal as smoothly.

I'd say the most difficult bit is the shower they make you take the following day - you have to take your bandage off and they put another one on. It's not that bad though, and once you've done that, everything seems to get easier in leaps and bounds.

I agree with the others about pain relief afterwards. It is worth keeping on top of it, as it helps you to keep moving which apparently aids and speeds recovery. I was going for quite long walks 3/4 days afterwards to help my bloodflow and therefore recovery. This may be too much for some though, so just do what you feel up to.

Best of luck - I'm sure it will be wonderful.