Are elective c sections painful during the operation?

[ScreamIfYouWantToGoFaster]

I've just been watching OBEM and the woman who had the elcs looked as though she was in pain when the doctor had his hand inside her and was pulling out the baby. I know the recovery from an elcs will be painful but I'd always thought that the surgery itself wouldn't hurt, given the epidural/spinal. Can anyone who's had an elcs please tell me if they felt pain during the operation?

I had an EMCS too (very emergency in fact!). The anaesthetist was spraying me with cold water and when she got to just under my ribs, I said that I could feel it. Then she loudly announced "that's good enough, go"!

I also felt the rummaging sensation and had been told to expect that so wasn't too shocked then I felt a piercing, pulling pain under my rib area that made me shoot up and almost scream (I couldn't speak though) and then my son was out so that was what I felt I guess? I then started shaking uncontrollably and my low pressure plummeted. I think I've been in shock about it since to be honest but don't regret a single second as I know it saved my son, and I would do it 10 times over.

Sorry OP for the hijack. I just started reading the thread and it bought it all back for me. Am sitting here with tears in my eyes, I don't think I ever dealt with everything that happened during the pregnancy and birth and my feelings have been unresolved.

But the bottom line is whatever happens, you would do it all again for your little bundle!

I've had one of each - a EMCS with a topped up epidural and an ELCS with a spinal.

Both were totally pain free. I was tested with the cold spray beforehand to make sure I couldn't feel anything and both anaesthetists were very thorough. The ELCS certainly more so but then he had more time to make sure things were right I guess. He assured me many time that I wasn't going anywhere until he was sure I was totally numb.

The EMCS was certainly rougher, lots of being shaken around as they made their way in and the recovery was longer - about 36 hours until I felt ready to move about but I think that had something to do with having 28 hours of labour as well as the surgery.

The ELCS was a breeze. No shaking, just a feeling of being squashed a bit as they put pressure on my ribcage to help get DD out. I was up and walking about within 12 hours.

The drugs made me sick both times but not until I was in recovery and it was easily stopped with a quick injection.

If we were ever having another baby, I'd chose an ELCS in an instant.

2 ELCS and no pain at all. I was sprayed with cold water in various places to see if I could feel it before.

Exactly what blatherskite said. My experience totally right down to elcs for any further pregnancies.

Spinals sometimes don't work?

I found my elcs (for stubbornly breech Ds1) really painful, but the anaesthetist struggled to get the spinal in and had to send for reinforcements so I think that might be why it was so bad, especially under my ribs. I was just relieved not to need a GA by that point. They gave me gas&air which helped a bit. Now pregnant with DC2 and can't decide what to go for!