What happens when you have a CS?

[louloutheshamed]

I am 33 weeks pg with a low lying placenta. I have been told I need to have scans every 2 weeks and if still low at 36 weeks they may admit
Me and then deliver by cs at 38/9 weeks.

I had a normal vaginal delivery with dc1 and do not feel prepared for a section at all, still getting My head round it. Just wanted some advice on some practical/physical aspects, eg.....

What happens to the waters? I remember a huge gush in labour with ds, so what do they do in a cs?

What is the bleeding like afterwards- more
Or less than with a vaginal delivery?

How long does it take?

How is getting bf established different after a cs?

When people talk about the recovery, what do they actually mean? What is the heaviest thing I will be able to lift? (I assume not as heavy as my ds aged 2.5!)

I have heard people talking about wind afterwards...!?!

Thanks in advance, sorry for the silly questions!

I've only ever had one EMCS. Here are my answers:

1. No clue, as I had had an epidural by then. I think that if you have a scheduled CS they artificially induce labour first, so your waters would break 'on demand'.

1. Hardly anything. Speaking with friends who have had vaginal births, CS bleeding is like a normal period whereas vaginal births tend to leave you with huge amounts of blood loss.

1. From start to finish (ie reaching theatre to being wheeled back out), 40 minutes. Note that you are more or less awake throughout, you get to cuddle the baby as soon as it comes out, you're aware of what's going on in the room etc. You just don't have any sensation south of (approx) your boobs for a couple of hours.

1. Difficult to answer, as it depends entirely on your body and the drugs you've had pumped into it. My milk only came in on day 8, but I was totally out of it for the first 24-36 hours of DD's life, so far from breastfeeding I have no clue what was happening to any of my body.

1. Again, depends on how you react to the drugs, and what drugs you've had. I know people who have been totally fine (ie back to normal) within a fortnight, and that life wasn't so difficult right after leaving the hospital and got increasingly better thereafter. I wasn't back to normal for 4 weeks. I was able to lift pretty much anything I needed to lift right from the moment I got home (included car seat with baby inside).

1. Don't know about wind, but the constipation...oh my god!

Note that my CS followed a 19 hour labour and 16 hours of epidural being topped up. I'd had a tonne of drugs by then, and also (I suspect) a tonne of overly-powerful drugs. I think that you would avoid this completely with a scheduled CS, which I understand to be a much easier, simpler procedure with far fewer side effects. My experience largely reflected my drug intake, so yours should be a whole lot better.

I had two cs 13 months apart. The first was an emergency and my waters had already broken and labour started 2 days previously! Can't compare the bleeding as I only had cs and no vb.

I guess I was actually in theatre for an hour or so, but he was stuck solid down the delivery canal and had to be forceably pulled back out.

Bf was difficult but then he was my first and remained a difficult feeder so that may have just been him. Recovery was ok - i'd lost a litre and a half of blood and was borderline for a transfusion so I was understandably tired, but tbh I 'd had more pain from sacroiliac hip dysfunction prior to the delivery than I had after the op. I walked 3 quarters of a mile into town pushing the pram about a week after the birth (and home again) which is more than I could do before. He was 9lb 13 and I could lift him fine :o

2nd was an elective section, I wasn't aware of the waters going but presumably they ruptured them during the birth. again I would reckon about an hour in the theatre. No significant loss of blood and faster recovery and he breastfed immediately and took to it like a dream.

I checked out of hospital after 2 days after both births - the first against medical opinion and the 2nd with their blessing.

Again, I was able to walk well and a fair distance after the birth and could carefully lift my huge 13 month old as long as I kept him very close to me. He was walking and we taught him to come down the stairs backwards on his tummy so I didn't have to lift him and I could get him in his cot if he climbed on the chair next to it and i just had to help him in - he moved into a toddler bed shortly after that anyway.

good luck with it. The elective section I had was such a great experience compared to the 2 day labour and emergency section I had with the first. I checked into the hospital at 7.30am and was back on the ward with my newborn by 9.30 and had my big baby back visiting by lunchtime. :)

Cant particularly remember any wind or constipation tbh but could have had it and now just can't remember.

and just to add, don't worry, they carry out loads of cs every day and an elective is usually really straight forward. You may go in the night before just to have your pre op checks and then told to come back in first thing in the morning. With any luck you will be early on the list and you'll get your epidural/spinal and taken to theatre - I got asked if I had any particular choice of music and they'll set up a wee screen so you can't see what is happening, you'll feel a bit of movement and tugging, but no pain and they'll lift the baby up over the screen to let you see them after they've been born. They will do the usual checks and you'll be moved to a recovery area for a wee while with the baby before going back to the ward.

I had a lovely elective caesarean at 39 wks (short cervix - wierdly shaped backwards uterus - and breech)

-Waters - not entirely sure but didn't see any signs - think they sucked them out

• I had virtually nil bleeding afterwards. Friends who had had css had warned me that I would need largest sanitary towels on the planet so it may vary from person to person/surgeon to surgeon - but I hardly bled at all

-Whole op took approx one hour. Very quick "going in" and delivering baby. Most amount of time spent sewing you up.

• Didn't manage to establishing bf despite pumping for England/Belgium

-Recovery - off my head on drugs for first two days - felt normal by fourth day. Be prepared for wierd disconcerting sensation of not being able to feel legs for first 12/18 hrs after op. (Bit like when you have fat lip post visit to dentist.) Thighs felt like bread dough!! I was slightly freaked out by the fact that I couldn't walk but I have tendency to be a bit panicky/anxious - would have reacted better if I had been prepared in advance - huge relief when sensation starts to return! Left hospital day 6 (but abroad so no pressure for beds) Took it very gently for first week but didn't drive or carry anything heavier than baby for about 3 weeks. They said not to drive for six but felt better before that!

• Yes, had lots of trapped wind but no problem with constipation. In fact, was not allowed to leave hospital until had peed certain amount of urine (which had to be measured) and had had first poo (verified by nurse!!) Sorry if tmi. But in Belgium so practices poss different where you are.

All in all, it was a really lovely experience! Had lovely calming music in operating room. Procedure itself was very calmly done. Surgeons were smiling and happy. Dd emerged very relaxed! Can thoroughly recommend ....

What drugs did you get Steamed? I got a paracetamol or two.....when they remembered!!

I had CS for DS1. I has booked in for 40 weeks but went into labour at 39 so had it then (breech).

Recovery much worse than natural (ds2 was natural ). I could not tie my shoelaces 2 weeks after birth. I did bleed loads as well. I had trouble getting breastfeeding established but did with ds2 as well and saw a counsellor.
Wind - peppermint tea and dried fruit are great. Also recommend some simple moisturiser eg E45 as the anesthetic makes your skin itch.

Also emcs.

Again my waters had gone already but I believe they break them once the incision is made.

I bled heavily for several days and then had blood every day for several weeks I think.

My bf experience won't be relevant I'm sure as DS was is NICU after birth.

My recovery was shite as like others I'd done a full labour and 3 hours of pushing so was worn out, I also needed a blood transfusion and was in for 7 days. However I could easily lift my baby if I was careful. My recovery once out wasnt the quickest.

I had killer wind! Really wracked with pain throughout my abdomen on my hospital bed - it may have been worse as I was in hospital rather than moving about more at home. This time I'm taking peppermint tea!

I'm having an elcs in a few weeks and hope it's better than an emcs!!

Waters are broken just before delivering the baby, via the same cut in your abdomen - then suctioned away.

Bleeding after tends to be lighter as the uterus is cleaned out thoroughly during the op.

Takes about half an hour to 45 mins, but that's just the actual op. Add 15-20 mins before for getting you into theatre, hooked up to monitors, and the spinal anaesthetic put in.

Recovery- variable but generally much quicker than an emergency CS. You should feel fairly "normal" by 6 weeks.

Really interesting to see people saying that their bleeding was much less after a c-section - I've had vaginal and c-section deliveries and the bleeding was the same with both for me. Dammit! I missed out there!!!

In terms of what you can lift, they advised me not to lift anything heavier than my baby.

Can't help with the other questions as I had an emcs under GA, but I am intrigued to know the answer to what happens to your waters - this question has never occurred to me before.

I had an elcs with dc2 after a traumatic delivery with dc1. I found the CS a much nicer experience!

I had to go to the hospital the day before for blood tests (to double-check your blood type etc). I was told where to come the next day (ante-natal ward). We had to be there for 7.30am. You are nil by mouth from midnight the night before in case you end up needing a general. When we arrived I was given a surgical gown to change into and very fetching anti-dvt stockings, which you have to wear the whole time you're in hospital. They also give you (revolting) antacid medicine to take to ensure you don't vomit in surgery.

They took me down to theatre about 9am and put the epidural in (this hurts a bit, not for long though). Once it had taken effect they put a catheter in (the mw offered to do this in private on the ward, but I opted to have it done once my bladder was numb!) They then put screens up so I couldn't see anything and at that point DH could come in.

It's then about ten mins until the baby is out (they suction out your waters). She was dried, weighed etc and given to DH. I could have held her but the drugs had given me the shakes so I didn't want to. It's then another 40 mins or so whilst they stitch you up, but it goes really fast as you're just looking at the baby! Then they wheeled us into recovery (private room) where we stayed until my legs were in action again - about 5 hours. It was lovely bonding time with dd and I got bf started with no problems (milk production is triggered by the removal of the placenta so shouldn't be much different after a CS - wasn't for me, anyway).

Then my catheter was taken out and I was taken up to the postnatal ward. It wasn't too painful - they give you lots of painkillers. The trapped wind is the worst bit - peppermint tea helps! I recovered really quickly and felt back to normal after a fortnight, but they tell you not to lift anything heavier than the baby for 6 weeks.

Bleeding - lasted 6 weeks for me, but lighter than after a vb ( they suction a lot of it out).

The worst bit is you have to give yourself anti-dvt injections for ten days after! I got DH to do mine!

The other answer to "where do the waters go" is "all over the surgeon's assistant's feet"

Think of it like a balloon - it just gets popped in a different place when you have a CS.

soontobeslender not sure about the drugs I was administered during op ... but they were effective ...as I was a bit panicky and I felt relatively calm!!

I was offered paracetemol every day thereafter but didn't need them. Wasn't really in any pain at all - except when I succumbed to slight cough!

I think I didn't get any anti- emetics as I puked during the surgery!

No injections for me.
But was put in charge of my own painkillers which was a BAD idea as I didn't take them enough.

I don't think I had the anti-vom or the anti dvt drugs - did get the stockings and catheter though - had forgotten about them!

I definitely had stockings and anti dvt drugs (but because I was in hospital for 7 days they did them all for me); my catheter was in for several days too.

Poor you puking PseudoBadger that's definitely avoidable I think

If I didn't get the anti vom drugs I presumed it was because it was an emcs. But if other emcs people have had them then I guess I was just 'lucky'! It certainly didn't improve the experience :o

I had the catheter and didn't have any injections, can't remember if I had anti emetics.

I also had the open tube for the epidural left in my spine for a day or so as they forgot to remove it......that was one of the reasons I checked out so early the first time, that and the never appearing drug trolly, the no assistance with bf, the broken bed, the lack of any cleaning (i'd been in the hospital since Monday in labour, and in surgery on Wednesday and was looking after a new born and I hadn't had so much as my hands washed never mind a bed bath. My OH came in and that allowed me to go get a shower when I could actually walk. The final straw was when I asked for directions to somewhere i could get some water to give my baby a wash - he'd been sick quite a lot and needed a refresh. The nurse on the ward refused saying i wasn't to give the baby a bath - I told he I wasn't wanting to bath him, just wash him with a top and tail and she told me to use babywipes.........so I packed up and left.

2nd time was much better, same hospital which was falling apart (bed worked but I had no curtains and the lamp didn't work) but the staff were lovely.

What happens to the waters? I remember a huge gush in labour with ds, so what do they do in a cs? I had a EMCS where my waters had broken but given you don't have any sensation (for me below my neck but I've heard that's unusual) I don't know if you'd know anyway especially as they put a screen up so you can't see anything.

What is the bleeding like afterwards- more or less than with a vaginal delivery? Not had a VB but actually I had loads of bleeding and for days. Ended up needing iron tablets. Don't know if the 2 are connected.

How long does it take? With three tries of the ventouse I think it was over in about an hour.

How is getting bf established different after a cs? Don't know about different but it took at least 6 hours for my DD to get a feed from me

When people talk about the recovery, what do they actually mean? What is the heaviest thing I will be able to lift? (I assume not as heavy as my ds aged 2.5!) Crikey no definitely not your son! I couldn't pick up a full laundry basket. My DD was 9lbs and I could pick her up out of her Moses basket to feed but not out of her bouncer on the floor or off the floor at all. It kind of depends on the size and importance rather than weight. A laundry basket is a wide big thing whereas a baby's weight is smaller and more compact. I couldn't pick up my DD in her car seat for about 3 or 4 weeks. I didn't have any desire to iron but I wouldn't have felt strong enough for maybe 2/3 weeks. Hoovering again no desire to but probably 3/4 weeks. You'll tire more easily and whilst pottering around the house is OK you'll tire of walking and pushing the buggy. I would say no more than a few hundreds yards for the first few weeks.

I have heard people talking about wind afterwards...!?! No wind for me but definitely constipation! Maybe the iron tablets? Also breastfeeding with a wound is difficult so a feeding pillow is incredibly helpful.

Have had 2 emcs, and tbh they were both quite different.

First one was more emergency, if that makes sense, as it was after a long labour, whereas the 2nd was only an emcs as it wasn't planned in advance, but was the result of a failed induction.

Anyway, after first one, bleeding was horrific - I mean a trail of blood all along the hospital floor every time I needed to get to the loo, and a midwife making me a makeshift nappy out of a sheet as even two or three maternity pads in my knickers couldn't contain it. . Second time, I kept waiting for the massive bleeding and it never came, to the point where I wasn't allowed to leave hospital because they were afraid of some massive bleed occurring. But it never came at all, it was just like a period.

The pain afterwards, in both cases, was intense I'm afraid, although I know others who have said they found it not too bad. I found it very difficult to stand up straight, or to get up from a lying position to sitting, or from sitting to standing. But, I was allergic to the painkillers on offer and wasn't offered an alternative so that probably accounts for that.

Also, yes to the constipation. The memories of that will never leave me

I've had 2 sections. One emergency and one planned

What happens to the waters? I remember a huge gush in labour with ds, so what do they do in a cs? - Its suctioned out

What is the bleeding like afterwards- more
Or less than with a vaginal delivery? - I believe its is the same either way, I bled for a couple of weeks

How long does it take? - about an hour

How is getting bf established different after a cs? I had no problems establishing bf with both children

When people talk about the recovery, what do they actually mean? What is the heaviest thing I will be able to lift? (I assume not as heavy as my ds aged 2.5!)

Sorry the next bit might seem a bit scary. Most people have better recoveries than this and hopefully you will too. But you need to know it doesnt always go perfectly. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.

After my first, I was in hospital for 5 days, pretty immobile for 2 weeks, after that started to feel a bit better, but couldnt do anything like ironing. I drove at 6 weeks and was on pain killers for 10 weeks and felt normal at about 12 weeks.

After my second, I was bed bound for 5 days, in hospital for 10 days, pretty immobile for another couple of weeks, then I got an infection which had to be dressed by the district nurse who visited my house every day for 3 weeks. I drove at about 10 weeks. I was on pain killers for 14 weeks and I felt normal at about 5 months.

I couldnt lift my 4 year old for several weeks.

I have heard people talking about wind afterwards...!?! Dont drink anything fizzy until you have had a poo.

Best advice:

1. get arnica surgical strength tablets from Boots. They help speed up recovery from bruising inside and out. They dont interfere with breast feeding or pain killers
2. lots of people feel great after sections, but if you dont, demand pain killers, dont try to be brave
3. buy big cotton granny pants that wont irritate your wound.

Good luck

Thanks so much for all of this info it is really helping me come to terms with it.

Thought of another one? What happens to show/ mucus plug?? The was huge when I lost it in normal delivery!