If I recovered well after my emcs ...

[poppy283]

... Will I recover well after my elcs too?

I had an emcs with Dd 2 years ago, now 31wks with ds and scaring myself with anecdotes on mumsnet!

I found the emcs fine, breastfeeding an hour later, out for short walks on day 5,.

So will I emerge from an elcs in much the same way?

Dd was born at Eastbourne and ds will be born at Chichester st Richard's.

TIA

I think you'll find people on both sides. I was almost exactly the same as you, EMCS, breastfed straight away, was at the shops trying on feeding bras on day five, out for lunch at the pub on day 7. I think I recovered better than a lot of my friends who'd had a vaginal birth!

Am 35 weeks with no 2 now, and have been wavering back and forth on ELCS vs VBAC for ages. Am on the VBAC side now, mainly because I want to avoid the 6 week driving ban if at all possible. I have 2 friends who've recently tried for VBACs and ended up with EMCSs again. 1 says her scar tissue from first one made the 2nd one harder. I know I tend to form a lot of scar tissue, so that's another reason why I think I'd rather try the VBAC. Other friend is just miserable being stuck at home with newborn and 18mo.

I just think there are no guarantees. If I get it done the VBAC way, great. If not, another EMCS wouldn't be the worst thing in the world as I'm prepared for it.

Thanks Yank, I know there are no guarantees, i'm just looking for some reassurance I suppose.

Good luck with your birth, whatever you choose!

If it helps any, I know someone else who just had an elective and is recovering wonderfully!

It's so hard to decide, isn't it.

I think you just can't tell but hopefully you will have a good recovery although perhaps not as quick as the first.

I had an elcs first time round, recovered amazingly well, off the painkillers within 24 hours. Second time round (EMCS), I took painkillers for a week, and didn't feel well enough to walk more than a couple of miles for the first couple of weeks. Within 3 weeks I felt fully recovered.

Bonnie do you think that was because your second was an emergency, or because it was your second cs?

Hi Poppy,
I had a EMCS for DS1 and found that I could go for a short walk after 4 days (much to my midwife's dismay who thought I should be resting!) and off painkillers after 10 days. I found I was very tired easily.
With DS2, I had a ELCS which was great since I had minimal blood loss so no horrible iron tablets! I was walking around the next day and back home on the 3rd day. Was cooking etc and playing with DS1 by the end of the week. Was driving by 3rd week after confirmation by doctor. Very minimal pain and did not need all my painkillers.

I think it was because it was my second, I don't feel the fact that it was an EMCS had any impact on my recovery. The second pregnancy was straight forward but really took its toll on me, there were days when I could barely walk. Conversely my first pregnancy was complicated and I was in and out of hospital yet I felt as fit as a fiddle!

Thanks Bonnie and Shortie, differing experiences but still positive. You've set my mind to rest :)