CS - What are your views

[SavannahRose]

Curious...

Am 29 weeks, getting anxious about the birth. Was in labour for 4 days with 1st and considering a CS? Is it too late to ask? What is the experience like having a CS? How many weeks do they perform a CS?

Thanks

Bringinghomethebacon I hope you complained to the hospital. That is possibly the most abusive behaviour I have ever heard of. xxx

I had an emcs and it was fab. Would definitely go for another one. Very little pain afterwards, I was up and about the next day. Scar is invisible although I do have overhang but am fat anyway.

I had emergency CS after a long labour for DC1, elective for DC2 and 'we've got you down for a CS' for DC3.

Of the three DC2 was the best. An EMCS after a long labour is no joke mainlt because the muscles have been so worked from the labour. The internal muscle scar was like a pie crust.

DC2's birth was beautifully calm. We read the paper beforehand waiting for our slot, said 'are we really going to call him that?' (we did) then we went down to surgery. The recovery was quick and other than trying to drown myself with hot chocolate there were no problems.

The only problem with DC3 was that I had a chest infection which meant that I coughed through the whole thing (pain free, it was wonderful). At one stage the surgeon pulled down the green screen and asked me to stop coughing for a while as the next bit was delicate!

IMO unless a vaginal birth is guaranteed to be easy then I would go for an ELCS every time.

Elective C/S
Spinal anaesthesia
Had a haemorrhage post section but by then on a high so not too scary
Up the next morning painting my nails(once catheter removed!)
Hurt when I laughed or had to get out of bed
Stayed in hospital for 3 days -my choice could have stayed longer (Nhs hospital)
Breastfed for 6 months C/s had no impact on this
Tiny scar 9cms long and no over hang.
Experienced more pain when I had renal colic years ago.
For me the absolute correct decision (a long and complicated background to decision)
Would choose the same again
Absolutely no regrets

I had a elcs a week ago at 39 weeks due to my baby being breech. It was a really positive experience (first baby so can't compare it to a vaginal birth). Walked to theatre with my dh, had the spinal which was the worst bit, and then my ds was born within about 10 minutes. As they were finishing stitching me up I had my baby skin to skin on my chest, and was chatting to dh.

I was up and walking about the next morning and in the shower, and home after 48 hours. Just took Paracetamol and Diclofenac for a couple of days for pain. The wound is small with dissolvable stitches and under the hair line. In the last week have been out walking dog although am making sure I don't lift anything too heavy or overdo it.

For various reasons, I had EMCS with DS1 and Elective with DD2. Both postive experiences. More so with the second elective. Very calm, very easy and civilised. Good surgeons, scar healed perfectly and up and about in a week.

i had an emergency c section, next time i would elect. was induced on the thurds , ahd ds on the sat,had failed epidural so had that twice and then they managed to put forceps thro me as well! came out with an infection. Friends who had an elective said it was a breeze were all happy. worst thing was puking when they presented my ds to me in theatre!

I had a natural birth with dd, then an elcs with ds.
elcs far, far better, had it because lots of problems with dd's birth,
3rd degree tear, retained placenta, 2 further operations involving re-stitching each time - never again.

elcs hurt a lot more after, but was great birth experience.
They let you have one at any stage with a strong reason but not sure if a long labour is a qualifying reason, depends on your MW but if you really wanted one Im sure they would. Need to tell them ASAP as it all gets booked in

wow - so many horrible CS stories! I was aware of the risks, though I admit I brushed them all under my mental carpet to begin with because I knew it was better for DS (extended breech). Just as I was taken to the waiting area beforehand, it hit me that I could be seriously ill or die. I was a bit wobbly to say the least!
But thankfully I had a textbook CS. Hardly any blood loss (thank goodness, as I can still be a blood donor) and only one bit of pain when the initial pain relief wore off in the middle of the first night and I felt like I had the worst AF pain ever, but being unable to get to a hot water bottle or more pills. I called for a midwife and they zonked me out with something. Still not sure what it was!

I do not feel in any way upset that I didn't go through with a VB. I wanted DS to arrive safely with no dislocated limbs or cords wrapped round neck and so he did. The worst part was being denied holding him for the first 30 minutes because I was being zipped up and the gurney was too narrow. So Daddy got him first!

Like Fimbo, I got to laugh at a small baby peeing all over a midwife!

I had the bead suture. The HV took it out after 5 days and that was pretty much the last time anyone checked the scar. Got a great overhang though, which would be a lot better if I lost about 3 stone... :)

I had a crash CS with DS, due to a placental abruption and foetal bradycardia. It was awful, we both nearly died and DS has cerebral pasly, (although mild and limited to just physical ability)
All I remember of it was being stripped naked infront of DH and Dmum, and people shouting 'set up for a crash' as I was beind wheeled to theatre.
I suffered PTSd afterwards and needed a lot of therapy for flash backs.
Physically afterwards my whole abdomen hurt like hell, but I had a GA instead of a spinal and the pain relief I recieved was paracetamol and diclofenac!
I was cut from hip to hip and althought I have healed quite well my scar is on the large side.
I'm not planning another child until DS is more or less school age, should I have another I would demand ask for a ELCS I work with anaethetists who have sais I have a good case!

I have had four. 1st an emergency c section. I had back pain for a few days (obviously stitches etc. hurt), but was fine after about 6/7 days. Totally normal about 2 weeks. Dd1 quite mucusousy (sp). Apparently really common in section babies.

2nd again no probs. In pain for first 48 hours or so after but pain killers certainly make it bearable. Again fine after 6/7 days. Totally normal about 2 weeks.

3rd same as 1st and 2nd. Care from the staff after my 3rd was fantastic. I was in North England and it was like nght and day between there and having my other two in Glasgow.

4th operation I found painful. Could feel scalpels etc. But had the most awful pain during the operation in my shoulder. I was in agony. Anaethestist kept having to top up pain relief. Then had the worse nausea I have ever experienced that evening/night, during visiting time. I had ds1 after 4th c section and he was taken to special care not long after being born, because of 'grunting' during feeding, for 24 hours. 4th time I was back in Glasgow again and the care from staff was not fantastic.

The operations themselves were fine. The fourth I found much, much harder but then again it was 8 years after my 1st. Also some have told me that each section gets harder.

Oh I forgot to mention the sickness I had after my epidural for CS . It lasted 7 hours. Try throwing up when you have just been cut in half and can't sit up. It was the most un-dignified time of my life. Then I was stuck in recovery on my own with no midwives popping in as they were all busy with births. In the end I just told them to leave me a pile of bowls. I had forgotten about that......

i took the full 6 weeks to recover from an elcs. after a scary experience deliverying dd, i was nervous but going to attempt a vaginal birth, but it turned out emergency forceps delivery had basically destroyed my pelvic floor. led to a scary conversation with the consultant about what a second forceps delivery might do to me, and it was elcs all the way.

check with your insurer before driving, direct line were complete bastards to me. not insured "until formally discharged by gp" had to make appointment with gp to get it.

I haven't read the thread thoroughly but anyway, I had 2 electives. 1st at 39 weeks and 2nd at 38+2. Anytime after 38 weeks fine although some hospitals have a not before 39 weeks policy. With both I was out in just under 24 hours. (not hospital policy but I got up and walking within hours which I think speeds things up and went home only with some codine and Ibuprofen
Recovery brilliant.
I did take Arnica and then "Surgery blend" (from a Homeopathic store) with both as well and have no idea if it made any difference or not and I am not a fan of homeopathic things to say the least but i did have a fast recovery with both.

Ask for the CS if you feel you want one. You cannot be refused a CS at the end of the day if you persisit
.
Good luck and all the best with the new bub

Oh and also, elective cs compared to Emcs can be a completely different experience (usually) so keep that in mind too and good luck

Had an ELCS with DS1, which was scary due to fear of the unknown. REcovery was very quick though. Out and about within a week.

DS2 had an EMCS after 19 hours of labour, no progress and foetal distress. It was fabulous. Wish I'd chosen the elective instead of trying for a VBAC. But it has helped lay the ghost of my first "failure". (as I saw it, now I know it was just what was needed to make sure my baby was born healthy and well.) If there was to be a next time I'd definitely have an elective.

had emcs and successful vbac. for me, the vb was soooo much better than the emcs. fwiw, I never believed my body would be able to 'do it' as it hadn't managed it with DC1, but DC2's labour was completely straightforward and only lasted 2hrs in total (DC1 was 36hrs). had 2nd degree tear but was completely recovered within 3 weeks. after emcs, I only started feeling better (not totally recovered) after 16 weeks. 3 years later I was still experiencing tenderness in the area of the scar. that was what did it for me - I couldn't go through another recovery period like that with another DC to look after.

First c-section. Rapid labour. Fully dilated and pushing. Ended in GA as they couldn't get a trace. Baby needed help. I found out far more when I requested the ob talked me through before hoping for a VBAC.

2nd - Emergency c-section. No labour fetal distress.

3rd - Not really given much choice.

Recovery:

1. Very sore and doppy struggled to tend to my baby on night 1. Upset me heaps.

2. Piece of cake. Enjoyable

3. Horrible. Tore everything again at 8 weeks. Hard to get the proper recovery with 2 other children to deal with. Ended up on pain relief for way longer and screwed with my stomach. It also felt like a rough and tough procedure (didn't with 2nd) and not very gentle on the body (I thought it would be just like number 2!).

Sorry I'm just writing my experience to add balance to the thread. xxx

Still got a manky scar that 'weeps' occasionally - DD is 5 now! It was my second ceasar.

maxpower we spoke on another thread ages ago (FF?), you had mentioned that you had said the same thing as me to your DH after the birth (that you had been handed a baby...) - glad to hear that you had a successful VBAC :)

have had 2, first one diabiolical in the UK, 2nd abroad and better, but I knew what i wanted, so experience helped. that's not helpful is it? sorry, but if it goes ok its fine, you bf straight away, your partner can be there. mine were 40 weeks dead on. you can decide with the surgeon. i wanted later as wanted baby stong as possible to bf and there was no medical reason in my case not to-everyone is different. my ds was cut in the Uk with some reckless knife work with the surgeon, and it wasn't an emergency either. however, you might be ok with this one naturally. maybe get a doula for this birth? good luck..

Think this 2nd baby (due 3 months) likely to be elective CS, but due to 4th degree tear that DS gave me with his birth that had up until then gone really smoothly (Well I thought so, and was very proud of myself, as you are.)

My Consultant this time said that they'd support me with what ever I opted for due to the long recover from nasty tear 1st time round (Akin to a severe stab wound the Bum Dr later told me. Thanks son!) he then added that normally he tries to talk women out of CS but that in my case he wouldn't. I'm worried about both options though. Post CS isn't exactly a walk in the park I don't imagine. Also with a CS I'd have to be under a General Anesthetic as I can't have spinal one due to back issues, so I'd miss the whole thing. Was bad enough having GA after son born just to be stitched up, at least I met him soon as he was born, even if I couldn't then feed him for hours.

Struggled with walking for days after 1st time, and 5 days in hosp waiting to pooh. Stairs were a nightmare which I hadn't realised till I got home, and our bed room was a floor above bathroom........not great when you have only 2 seconds to get to loo after big tear, for months!!
OK, so now ELCS suddenly seeming like better option again......

I had an emcs with DS and fully intend to ask for a CS this time. I had an awful labour, long and beyond painful despite having all possible pain relief. I was in complete agony and spent two hours arguing with the bitch of a MW that I couldn't push as the epidural wasn't working and I was in PAIN BEYOND BELIEF!!!!!!! When she finally got the registrar in, they sorted out the pain relief (so MW was talking bollocks that nothing could be done), then discovered that DS was back to back and neither ventouse or forceps got him out so off to theatre I went. Although it was scary the relief of knowing I was going to be numbed and finally get DS out was amazing.

DS was born at 13.30 and I was able to walk to the loo by midnight. I was stuck in hospital for three days which I hated, and the aftercare on the ward was pretty bad. I had a drain and the MW tried to remove it with no pain relief, almost as bad as the labour pains I'd experienced - I did it myself in the end much to DH's horror, but I've got friends who where given morphine first and say it was fine.

I recovered pretty well once I was home, and my scar is fine. I;ve still got an odd numb bit on my belly though!

I've got friends who spent weeks recovering from a VB and I'd choose my CS wound / scar over an epesiotomy anytime.

I'm going to ask for one on the grounds of my VB being very badly managed and the thought of experiencing is beyond me. I'm hoping in my case that because I've had one CS it'll be easier to get a second. I'm already feeling a little sad that I won;t experience those early contractions, but know I couldn;t cope with the later stages so CS is a much better option.

Good luck OP, I hope you get what you want.

Think carefully about it. i have three DC - the first two natural. The first like for you took ages and was very difficult. The second - well I knew what to expect and surprised myself by getting on with it and she flew out!! The 3rd was a planned C section due to a complication. First thing to note is you do not get the rush of hormones that you get in labour. 2nd thing is you walk into an operating room, they are all there scrubbed up, the lights are very bright and suddenly everyone is all business and you are almost irrelevant to the process. I felt the scalpel which was very frightening. So they knocked me out completely. That does not do a lot of good for the baby. I also noticed that my milk took longer to come in. And it is MAJOR surgery. They are putting hands in places that should never feel hands and if your surgeon is not that delicate/refined you can get a lot of bruising on your intestines, stomach etc. Also, the first few bowel movements are VERY painful - at least mine were.I am four weeks post now, have been up and about, have stopped with the pain killers and I can still feel it. And when I feed her she is putting pressure on the wound. For me, recovery after vb was way way faster and more exhilarating.

Whatever you do good luck.

Ok, here goes

My experience of my Emergency Section with my only child (thus far) DS .
I had an ES because of severe pre-eclampsia, so no choice however, pain, hardly any, little bit of a burning sensation here and there over the weeks to recovery, but nothing major, no overhang. I had a bead put in so that was good, and was taken out a week later.
Was given dihydrochloride and diclofenac for pain relief, and stayed in hospital from Wed when i had him until Sun (should have got out on sat, but DS's temp was low)
It is MAJOR surgery, but saved my life so i can't complain, however i wouldn't choose one electively if i was to have another DC,but if the same situation happened to me again i'd be more than happy to have another section as it wasnt so bad.

Yes lifting and tending to baby the first couple of days is hard, but by the 3rd day i could pretty much get up and down, just a little uncomfortable.

I would suggest lactalose asap to help bowel movements afterwards.

My only other problem would be that as others have noted, you don't get those rushes of hormones, and its all very medical.