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Childbirth

ELCS with second pregnancy: is recovery THAT bad?

42 replies

lifesobeautiful · 16/04/2013 21:50

I just cannot decide between a VBAC (apparently I'm a good candidate because I got to 10cm dilated last time after an hour and a half) and choosing an ELCS.

I always thought I wanted an ELCS, as I'm a total wimp re: the pain of child birth, am nervous that my narrow, straight hips will mean intervention and tearing, and that I believe (although correct me if you think I'm wrong) the risk to the baby is slightly lower re: oxygen deprivation.

But I'm now considering a VBAC because I'm very anxious about the longer recovery time making things hard on my DS - we play lots of very physical games and jump around all the time. And I also don't like the idea of being stuck at home unable to drive for six weeks.

What I want to ask is, for those of you who've opted for an ELCS - is the recovery as bad as the midwives/consultants (who are pushing me to have a vbac) are saying? Or did you find it better than expected? Or worse? Any advice/stories would be much appreciated.

OP posts:

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noblegiraffe · 20/04/2013 08:21

I had dissolvable stitches which didn't need removing, a fact I am very glad about!

OP if you do have an ELCS, look into getting a co-sleeping cot from birth (NCT hire them out for 6 months for £100), it will really make night feeds easier if you don't have to get out of bed. There's a knack to getting out of bed after a c-section without straining your scar - make sure you get shown it!

NotSpartacus · 20/04/2013 08:29

I had a vbac which ended in emcs. Recovery was not great - it was a crash cs so they had to get the baby out very fast and I was terribly bruised. The hospital did not help by only giving me paracetamol (bearing in mind because it was a crash cs I had not had an epidural this was not good) With both my sections I was up and walking the day of the op and picking up the baby etc, but I was in much more pain after the second one.

My friend had an elcs for hers and was at home the next day a bit sore but ok. I think because she had not laboured for a day first and because they had time to get her pain meds right and do a careful section, she ended up in better condition than me!

bonzo77 · 20/04/2013 21:08

life I did contact my insurance company who said I could drive when I felt able, and they didn't want anything in writing. I would check with yours too.

It was the midwife who said stand up straight!

Get as much rest as you can. It really helps. DS2 was in NICU for a week, so I had 4 nights on the antenatal ward (escaped the horror of the post natal one) and was really well looked after. I also had another 3 nights at home with proper sleep.

Notmyidea · 21/04/2013 10:51

I'm currently 6 days into recovery after an emergency section, and have had two vaginal births previously. Recovery isn't that bad, although I am sore and "need" dh to keep the household running on paternity leave and am nervous about being ready to cope after another week.

Meglet · 21/04/2013 10:57

My ELCS was fine as I refused to do anything for 2 weeks. I'd already had the heads up from a midwife that NHS advice to get moving was more so they could clear the beds than for the good of the mother.

We lived on ready meals and I was much better for it. Just keep visitors at bay and stay in pj's for as long as possible and you'll be fine. It won't hurt for your older child to watch loads of cbeebies that first month.

FWIW I don't do sitting down. I'm a total gym addict and won't even watch a film as I can't stay still, but when it comes to major surgery recovery I rest properly!

MyDarlingClementine · 21/04/2013 21:46

Thats interesting Meglet, I was told to get moving and I did wiggle toes, rotate ankles, lift myself up gently, but a MW came along and said " try and get your side, you should be moving now, some mums are up and about hours after" ( this was 8 hours after) I turned on my side and did some damage. If it wasn't for that I would have been nearly pain free.

addictedtolatte · 21/04/2013 21:55

I had csec on a Monday left hospital on Wednesday went for a family day out on Friday. It was unbelievable. Also didn't suffer pnd like 1st pregnancy. Good luck op

Exhaustipated · 21/04/2013 21:58

Honestly? I found the recovery really hard. It was a calm, peaceful ELCS, went very well, I am young and fairly healthy. Maybe my expectations were wrong, but I was shocked by how hard the recovery was. I was in a lot of pain for a good few weeks, and even now (8 months on!) I am aware of the scar.

DD was breech and couldn't be turned but if I had the choice (having done VB and ELCS) I would go for the VB every time. That is despite my VB being a pretty dreadful experience! But of course everyone is different as all the comments above demonstrate.

I did possibly overdo it after the section and also had an infection so I would second the advice to take it v v v easy.

Meglet · 22/04/2013 11:34

clementine yes, midwife who did my birth debrief following the EMCS was even angrier than I was about the post-natal 'care'. So I'd had the green light to rest properly second time around. I had to have a hysterectomy a couple of years later and the nurses did not approve of post-cs care one bit, they said the maternity ward was pushing its luck getting women moving so fast after major surgery. I didn't have to get out of bed for 48hrs after my hysterectomy, it was lovely and much less painful than the cs's .

noblegiraffe · 22/04/2013 12:24

I had a ELCS at 4pm one day, the next morning they came around while I still had the catheter in and hadn't even got out of bed yet and asked if I was hoping to go home that day.

I said no! I'm a bit appalled that they would have let me go home that day if I'd insisted (one of my friends did). I did get up and potter around the ward and have a shower and stuff, but blimey I was still feeling pretty fragile. And I was feeling a billion times better than my EMCS and had a great recovery.

Don't let them push you out of hospital too soon.

Mumonahill · 22/04/2013 17:46

I'm absolutely amazed by all these stories of fast recovery after CS. Personally I found recovery after my EMCS very, very difficult, I was in a great deal of pain for the first 3 days and in a lot of discomfort for a further 4 weeks. I tried to go for a short walk in week 3 and lasted about 5 minutes before I had to turn back! It took a further 3 months for the scar to feel normal though I still (3 years after) have an area above the scar with no feeling. I'm pregnant with no2 at the moment and the thought of another CS fills me with dread! Unfortunately due to medical reasons the doctors strongly recommend an ELCS. I'm trying to feel positive about it but the expectation of another tough recovery, this time round with a boisterous toddler in the picture, is making me quite upset and I envy my friends who can, have and will give birth vaginally. I'm young, fit and healthy and have had a few fairly major operations over the years (for broken bones etc) but the recovery from my CS was the most difficult by far.

Mumonahill · 22/04/2013 17:49

Sorry OP, I didn't mean to sound overly negative or scare you, I'm just amazed that everyone has found CS recovery so easy. Hope everything goes well for you, whichever method of delivery you end up choosing. Good luck!

noblegiraffe · 22/04/2013 17:56

Recovery after an ELCS is usually much better than after an EMCS. I was in lots of pain after my EMCS, struggled to walk far, couldn't hold my baby for long. Took proper painkillers for 2 weeks and paracetamol after that.

My ELCS was a doddle in comparison, I stopped painkillers after 3 days and really didn't need them at all after that. Got my doctor to sign me off to drive after 2 weeks where I couldn't face it till 6 weeks first time.

RubyrooUK · 22/04/2013 20:00

Don't worry Mumonahill, you are not the only one. I was the person earlier on this thread bemoaning my horrible recovery from my ECLS. Maybe we are just unlucky.

I am a very fit size 8, active person and I recovered extremely quickly from my previous birth which thanks to rubbish circumstances ended in a 4th degree tear. But I was fine after a couple of weeks, although I waited to start proper exercise for 12 weeks. But by then my stomach was flat and I just needed to tone up.

This time, although I actually gained less weight, I still have a pronounced belly at 6 weeks plus my scar is still very tender and sticks out and trousers all rub me. I look nothing like myself at all.

Actually, I think I overdid it this weekend and it has caused the scar to swell up again. Has anyone else done this? Should I go back to the doctor or is this just what happens when you pick up a weeping toddler too early in the healing process?

(Sorry for slight thread hijack .)

lifesobeautiful · 22/04/2013 20:08

Thanks so much everyone - sorry, have been a bit quiet as so busy in the past few days. And please don't anyone worry about sounding negative (eg Mumonahill) I want to know the full story - it allows me to make a better decision. And I"m so sorry for any horrid experiences.

Sorry to hear your scar has swelled up again Rubyroo. Although I recovered incredibly fast from my EMCS - my scar still (2.5 years on) can feel numb and kind of like it's pulling occasionally. According to my dad (a doctor) that's quite normal. But if yours has actually become swollen again - I'd be tempted to just doublecheck with the doctor.

And Noblegiraffe - thanks for the tip about not letting them push me out of hospital to soon. Sounds very wise. Thanks to everyone for their advice.

OP posts:

TwoTearsInABucket · 26/04/2013 09:38

I think I was very lucky with the doctor who sewed up the cut after my EMCS - he did an excellent job. I made sure to follow instructions to the letter (and I am not saying those who didn't have a good recovery didn't follow instructions), and I protected the scar for a long time with a maternity pad covering it. In fact that's the only time I needed maternity pads for that birth.
I also didn't have another child to look after so I could sit around a lot.

Rubyroo, I would go to the doctor if the scar has changed. I hope that it heals properly soon.

Chocoflump · 26/04/2013 09:47

I had an Elective C section with my second and it was fab! The whole thing was calm and stress free. I had my daughter on the Friday at 11am, by that evening I was able to sit up and move about the bed, but still had catheter in until the next morning. On sat morning I was able to get catheter out, and walk to the bathroom and have a shower. I was a bit stiff but I wouldn't say I was in alot of pain! I got home on the Sunday, and was able to take my new baby in the pram and toddler a short walk. Was doing housework from the Monday!

Recovery from an elective section is nowhere near as bad as an emergency section. I had an emergency section with my first, and I couldn't actually leave the bed for a week, ended up needing 2 blood transfusions and both me and the baby were very ill. I chose to have the elective section the second time, as I was scared to try a VBAC incase I ended up needing an emergency section again.

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