C sections (in general and at Chelsea & Westminster)

[YummyMummyBella]

I am expecting my fist DS at the beginning of September and am fairly set on have a CS. However I have a few doubts and worries which I don't want to ask my MW about as they are fairly 'cosmetic' questions. Of course the most important thing is having a healthy baby but I'm still a women and want to look nice! So..

1)Realistically how bad is the scar? And is it noticeable while wearing bikini etc.

2)Did it help to tackle any flabby skin/stretch marks?

3)How soon after were you able to do normal things and get into the gym?

Finally, how bad is the pain after surgery??!

And if anyone has had a CS at Chelsea & Westminster any advice on surgeons or anything else?

Thanks ladies x

Are you for real?!

Beanlet, what is wrong with these questions?

My scar is at the bikini line and really not that noticeable at all, it'll fade over time.

Some people get overhangs, others don't. But I don't think it has owt to do with the mode of delivery. My sister in law gave birth vaginally twice and the amount of extra skin and stretchmarks went never back down completely so she always still has a kind of empty skin bump.

I had a CS and lost weight dramatically after birth (about 5 Stones in 10 months) due to breastfeeding and exercise (started with swimming 1 hour once or twice a week once lochia was gone, then took up running - couch to 5 k about 12 weeks after the section, and also was walking a lot with the child instead of taking the car to fill my day - walking to baby group e.g. was 4 miles each way once a week, and I averaged a good 5 miles of walking every day anyway)

I don't think the CS had anythin to do with me getting my shape back (and improving it!) after pregnancy.

I didn't find my CS painful, was out of the hospital within 40 hours and fairly active from the beginning - have been told that actually helps healing.

Thanks widow, did you use Bio oil or any scar cream? Have heard they work for some but not others.

I've had an EMCS before (Kings College) but I am booked into C&W for a medically required ELCS in 12 days time, so I'll let you know!!

1. The scar really depends on a lot of factors - the mother, the skill of the surgeon etc. Mine was pretty good after my EMCS. Well down in the hairline and I was lucky to escape the "overhang" first time out at least that people talk about. I was also lucky to get a great surgeon at Kings too. One thing that can help are silicone strips (think Boots do one by Lilypadz) that you wear 12 hours a day for at least 12 weeks. This reduces the itchiness and also makes the scar heal better. Apparently!

2. Makes no difference over natural birth, in fact I'd guess you'd be more prone to flabby skin with a c-section because of the overhang risk.

3. I was wandering around fine and shopping by day 5 (apparently I should have been resting though ) but usually they recommend at least six weeks for proper gym activities, and even then taking it easy.

4. Totally depends again. Some people are fine, others are in agony. Sometimes things don't heal right and there are big ongoing issues (especially if you overdo it early on) and others feel nothing more than discomfort. Ideally you'd probably be off the hardcore painkillers within a week but that doesn't always happen. It's not a nice thing to recover from. I was in no pain whatsoever after my natural birth with DC1 and felt back to normal within a day or two - can't say that about my c-section sadly even though everything went perfectly. Getting up for the first time is usually absolutely horrific and many routine activities seriously hurt. Plus as you have your bowels mucked around with, it causes them to stop working temporarily and that can cause big, painful issues too. That's the bit I'm dreading the most!

Nick Wales and Keith Duncan are both very good at C&W.

Thanks Sparklies! Yes please do let me know how your time at C&W goes, and of course wishing you the best of luck.

Updating as promised!

So I had my ELCS last Thursday at Chelsea and Westminster, and it was absolutely fine. The consultant overseeing was Shane Duffy who was really nice (would very much recommend him) although one of his registrars did the actual surgery which was pretty much textbook. The surgeon was very reasonable in accommodating my requests (e.g. screen lowered, taking photographs, skin to skin) and everyone was very cheerful and acted like this was the special event for us that it was.. even though they deliver probably half a dozen babies every day.

Afterwards, the doctors and midwives were all lovely - at worst some of the night staff were neutral but nobody was unpleasant and the vast majority went out of their way to be kind and helpful and genuinely compassionate. The bathrooms were clean, with touch-free flush, taps etc which I thought was a neat idea. There was also "posh" soap, hand cream and shower gel too. The food wasn't the best in the world, probably at airline food level, but to be honest you don't really care.

The midwives were great at giving one to one care for mothers who needed help with breastfeeding etc in the middle of the night. I didn't need their help as this was DC3, but I could overhear them quietly taking care of others.

The only downside was six to a bay, but at the risk of sounding snobbish, the patients, possibly due to the area demographic, tended not to be quite as rude as regards noise/excessive visitors compared to some other hospitals I have been to. It was a far more relaxed experience as we were all sensitive to each other which matters a LOT to me and was one of my biggest fears.

It was an NHS postnatal ward in London with all that entails, but honestly I don't think there is much they could do to improve the experience considering. They even had spare pillows

I have delivered in the past at QEH in Woolwich and Kings College, and C&W was by far the best experience both in terms of the delivery and the postnatal care. Would recommend!

1. not bad, and no.

1. not sure how you tackle stretch marks. I have just lost a lot of weight and my scar looked more or less the same afterwards. Marginally less overhang though. Incidentally there are pictures of section scars at caesarean.org which might give you an idea.

1. What's a gym? (Also I walked about 2 miles - slowly - 10 days after the surgery, was tired/achey from lots of bending 6 weeks after the surgery and felt pretty much 100% from 8 weeks or so).

1. First time, not too bad. The day after the surgery was the worst and would have been much better if the midwives had actually brought me the pain relief I asked for. Second time, very sore but they kept only offering paracetomol. If you're planning elective, then you have a chance to discuss pain relief. In this day and age there is no excuse for people to be left in huge pain after surgery.

Sparkles many congratulations! Really pleased all went well. Hope your recovery is going well and that baby is getting stronger by the day.

Thanks sh77! Couldn't fault it really - one of my biggest fears was being stuck away from a window, but I made it clear to anyone who would listen that I needed daylight and as soon as a bed was available they swapped me over. I felt bad for making a fuss but it did make a huge difference I think and they understood!

Recovering very well - I keep forgetting I've had surgery and it's only day 6! Baby is doing just great too, although we've failed to name him so far..!

Hope things are going well with you!!

Sparklies I'm curious did you manage to get skin to skin straight after birth I'm having an ELCS after failed ECV and been told I can't till I'm in recovery.

sparklies I am going in tomorrow for c-section after finding out this arvo that baby is breech (I am 40+9 FFS!).Think I've got Shane Duffy, so I am feeling encouraged! Thanks for taking time to post your experience.

I'll update afterwards...

scaryfairy - as it happens as I hadn't done my gown up properly I couldn't have full skin to skin in the theatre (but had it straight afterwards in recovery) but I could have done. Instead baby was cheek to cheek with me - I was mostly holding him but DH was helping. So it was kind of skin to skin! It honestly didn't feel like that long and the important thing was that I was right next to my baby and he knew I was there and we were both calm.

LittleMilla - he was very nice - definitely listens to all your questions/concerns etc. I found out afterwards (google ) that he seems to show up as a speaker at various events connected with natural c-sections so perhaps that's why he was so amenable to having the screen lowered and so on. Quite ironic given I've often posted asking about them on here and there's hardly any doctors that have heard of them!

PS - hope all goes well tomorrow!! I am sure it will :)

I had my elcs at the c&w 8 weeks ago. I had mark Johnson who was brilliant. Not a single negative word to say about him. He deals mInly with high risk women and so I am not sure how easy it would be to get him. However, all the consultants at c&w have v good reputations.

My scar healed beautifully and I had no overhang. It is barely visible. MJ gave me plenty of steer strips to keep on scar for 3 weeks and told me to pinch the skin before changing the strips every 5 days. The scar line is very thin. I had no sharp pain at all. The painkillers did their job whilst I was I hospital but I did not need them afterwards (not being a martyr!). I did rest a lot to give my body time to recover. Lots of mothers suggested taking arnica, which I did. Can,t say for certain whether it helped my healing but it was worth trying.

I did not leave my house for 4 weeks- this was more related to not feeling confident about going out with a newborn. I think I could have gone out earlier though - the cs scar was not a hinderance.

Re stretch marks - no amount of oil will prevent them as it I the collagen in the deeper layer that determines them.

I did lots of walking during my preg and found my weight and tummy went back to pre preg state within two weeks. Having a newborn is v physically demanding!

Can not fault post natal care at the c&w. Not luxurious but fulfilled it's purpose very well. Midwives were so caring, lots of bf support, new bathroom facilities. I lked that at each shift change the mw on duty went to each mum and introduced herself. Night time support was excellent. Pain relief brought on time. I second everything sparkles said.