Considering elective c-section - a few random questions

[whatwasIthinkingof]

I am considering an elective c-section due to a past traumatic vaginal birth 18 months ago but am very apprehensive about it so I?d like to ask MNers who have had c-sections a few questions, some really random ones here but gathering info helps me cope with the anxiety! Here goes:

1. Re the anti-DVT injections post-op, - where on the body do you have them injected? (I cope better with injections if I know where it will be)

1. If you didn?t want to do these injections yourself (or have DP do them, god forbid) did you have the option of a nurse/midwife coming to your home to do them?

1. Did you faint at any point after the c-section? I read on another thread that someone fainted in the shower post c-section

1. How quickly did sensation come back to your lower body and what did that feel like? Did you try and move and weren?t able to? Did you try and get up and couldn?t support your weight? (I didn?t have an epidural for VB so no idea what loss of sensation feels like)

1. When they took the catheter out was it painful?

1. How did you feel physically overall afterwards? After my previous VB I felt incredibly fragile and could not walk properly for about a week and couldn?t sit down fully for 4 weeks. It was pretty grim.

1. Does a c-section scar hurt for ages ie weeks?

1. What was the best thing about a c-section?

1. What was the worst thing about a c-section?

10. Do you regret having an ELCS?

That?s it!

what a great post.. I am having an elective c section due to major anxiety issues in relation to childbirth packaged along with medical issues ( ovarian tumour, tumour removed and gastric bypass )on top...will be watching this post eagerly as im booked in for 7 weeks time.

I am sorry to hear you had such a bad experience whatwasIthinkingof. I hope I can help you a little bit. I had a c-section 19 weeks ago due to placenta preavia - my first DC.
1. Anti-DVT injections go into your stomach. One day to the left side the next to the right for a week. They are quick to do, not pleasant but you get into the 'habit'. I could have done them with closed eyes by the end.
2. I don't know as I was happy to inject myself as I was more worried of clots and just wanted to get them done. They are easy to administer, almost pre automated little needles.
3. I didn't faint but I was very careful. My blood pressure went down for a while after the operation and they kept checking it until it got to the normal level again (within an hour).
4. The sensation came back pretty quickly, approx. 2-3 hours after I think. I've asked for a little top-up while in the recovery to extend it - they keep the epidural in for a while after the op. I gave birth at 10am and was walking slowly with my catheter bag in the evening around the ward (my DH helped me getting out). Not a pretty sight but worth to try. Bear in mind you'll have maternity pad on a sheet in your bed so hold them before you get out of the bed otherwise like me you'll end up with a pool of blood on the floor.
5. The catheter came out easily, without really feeling it. The nurse asked me to cough but she got angry that I couldn't cough (stupid request after a section!) so she just pulled it out. I guess the painkillers did the job.
6. I felt pretty crap not being mobile (I am an active person) and surprisingly my lower back was killing me, not the incision. I could not sit or stand for more than 5 minutes for a week, the epidural point was painful, I was bruised there. Getting in and out of bed was difficult, getting baby out of the basket wasn't easy but it eased day by day and I felt good after 3-4 weeks (but not back to 100%!)
7. It doesn't hurt but feels uncomfortable and numb. I don't like to touch my lower tummy area as it feels weird. I am massaging it with dermatix silicone scar cream - I highly recommend it.
8. The best thing was the calm, no pain experience of the birth, but I have no comparison so I'm not a good example. My mum gave birth very easily and sometimes I wish I could have tried it.
9. The long recovery. But you had it with your natural delivery so it won't put you off:) I am back to the gym now but I still feel I need more time to recover and be 100% again.
10. I don't regret it at all as for us this was the safest option and my DH really enjoyed it. In some other countries woman still die in this condition.

I hope I didn't sound too negative (just re read my post). It's not so bad just a little bit long for me:)

Good luck to you!!

I've had 2 c-sections, and will try to answer your questions but am using my phone so can't see your original OP. Ok, here goes:

Injections were in my thighs, they weren't sore (plenty of flesh there!) & were only given in hospital so no need for anyone to give at home.

I think I was pretty numb/frozen for 6-8 hours after. I was given plenty of painkillers too. It was hospital policy to mobilise 24 hours post-op & 1st time getting up a midwife/student helped. I found it pretty grim getting up, both times. Was 2-3 weeks before I could easily get out of bed.

Best thing: having a baby in a calm environment, all the staff were great. I have no issues at all with my pelvic floor etc.

Worst thing: I found the 1st 2-3 days really hard, moving around was uncomfortable.

Scar: I had the wire taken out at home by the community midwife 10 days post-op. I've been putting bio-oil on it to help healing (after 1st month or so).

Catheter: can't really remember- definitely not to painful or uncomfortable or I'd remember!

Ok, I'll do my best!

1. In the arm - some nurses were going to do tummy but happy to do arm when I asked (tummy just seemed wrong!). Be warned, as well as the dvt jabs I had a blood test every day while in hospital, I don't know if that's standard procedure or just me.

1. Only had the jabs while in hospital (4 days). Didn't have to continue at home - was mobile by then.

1. No - though I came close, was told to take my dressing off in the shower and that made me feel a bit funny.

1. I think the feeling came back to my legs a few hours after getting back to the ward. I had the op at about midday and was in the shower at 8pm. It was frustrating, but the feeling/movement comes back gradually, which I found reassuring, and I was just glad the anaesthetic was so effective for the cs.

1. Yes a bit but it's over quickly.

1. I felt great for the first day (thanks to the drugs), then awful for the next few days. It was painful getting out of bed, bending, coughing, laughing etc for a few weeks, but things gradually improved. What I found hardest was the loss of core strength - simple tasks like mowing the lawn were difficult for weeks for me.

1. I think it varies. Mine did hurt for a while but the dissolvable stitches they used didn't dissolve and got infected, took 2 lots of antibiotics and 8 weeks. Others heal a lot more quickly though.

1. Knowing dd was safe and that I hadn't put her in danger (she was breech and the hospital weren't confident she could be delivered safely vaginally). And it being over - was terrified beforehand. The operation itself was surprisingly ok, I really didn't feel anything after the spinal was put in.

1. Not getting to see or touch dd until she was dried and wrapped, and feeling pretty detached from the whole process. It was very clinical. If I need another elcs I will definitely ask to have the screen lowered and see he baby being born. I would have loved skin to skin in theatre in theory but in practice would have worried about dropping dd.

10. Sometimes I wish I'd fought the hospital more for trying a vaginal birth, but then reason takes over and I remember that they had no expertise in breech birth and I might have put dd in danger due to that. I'm aiming for a vbac this time if the baby's the right way up - who knows if I'll regret that!

Good luck whatever you choose.

I had an elc 4 months ago as dd was an unstable lie... To answer your questions:

1. Can't remember - my thigh I think
2. Wasn't an issue, but I'm sure the midwife would have done it
3. I fainted post shower, but only because I got up and did everything at normal(ish) speed and the midwives gently suggested I could have perhaps taken things a lot slower. I also hav low blood pressure, plus it was low post section
4. It came back quickly. I couldn't have my top up epidural as soon as I needed it as my blood pressure dropped as I lost some blood, but they gave my pethadine to tide me over
5. No
6. Getting out of bed was the wort thing. I was very glad we had a bedside cot. I went for a walk 7 days post section and it was fine
7. It didn't hurt but is still a bit numb/pins and needly. I am putting bio oil on it (and it s v low)

8 best thing was being able to plan things eg DH time off work etc 9 worst was the discomfort immediately afterwards 10 no and would have one again!

Good luck!

I have only had an EMCS but if it helps:

1. inject into stomach
2. no NHS funding for daily visits for anyone after birth. So you will either inject yourself, get some normal person to do it or not inject. But you may not need injections at home; I did as had them due to serious health issues.
3. did not faint in shower as I held dh's hand whilst the hca pulled the catheter out in shower. Blood pressure means long hot showers post c section not realistic. They have seats in showers.
4. sensation fairly quickly, before I realised.
5. Catheter- could feel it out in, but hca just told me to stand in shower and pulled it out. No pain. Taken out the day soon after op as they want you mobile.
6. Pain was awful for weeks. Waddled slowly until week 5. Could not get out of bed when home without help and could not lift baby in and out of basket/cot for several weeks. Could not drive for 7 weeks and bending or lifting was agony for me.
7. scar- stitches dissolve and no one looked at it after midwife discharged me at 10 days post birth. Still some numbness there 20 months later.
8. best thing was the healthy baby afterwards. For me the c section was how the baby was born and needs must!
9. pain and lack of mobility post section were the worst thing. The medicalisation of it was not my ideal option. Worst thing now is the tummy overhang that is just there, sigh!!
10. no regrets but I would not choose an el section this time if I have a choice. No regrets as baby has to get out somehow and I will do what the consultant says is best or baby.

Ok! I'll have a go too!

1. Re the anti-DVT injections post-op, - where on the body do you have them injected? (I cope better with injections if I know where it will be) Upper thigh, though tummy was an option. Or bum

1. If you didn?t want to do these injections yourself (or have DP do them, god forbid) did you have the option of a nurse/midwife coming to your home to do them?

No, not where I lived. It was go to the doctors or back to the hospital. Luckily dh comes from a medical background so he did them. Happily. Freak.

1. Did you faint at any point after the c-section? I read on another thread that someone fainted in the shower post c-section. Not once. Felt fine.

1. How quickly did sensation come back to your lower body and what did that feel like? Did you try and move and weren?t able to? Did you try and get up and couldn?t support your weight? (I didn?t have an epidural for VB so no idea what loss of sensation feels like)

Had ds at 4pm. Midwife got me up walking and in the shower at 6am the next morning. Felt a bit wobbly but ok after the shower and a little toddle about. At my hospital they only let you try walking with a nurse helping you.

1. When they took the catheter out was it painful? No as its all still a bit numb there. Felt like I was doing a hot wee if that makes sense!

1. How did you feel physically overall afterwards? After my previous VB I felt incredibly fragile and could not walk properly for about a week and couldn?t sit down fully for 4 weeks. It was pretty grim. Delicate. You need help do to most things, but after a week much more able. It's a slow recovery though as the stitches are internal as well as those you can see. It's easy to forget that, especially as the scar might still be numb

1. Does a c-section scar hurt for ages ie weeks?

Not at all. Mine is still slightly numb 2 years on. I was warned this might happen though

1. What was the best thing about a c-section? Not giving birth

1. What was the worst thing about a c-section?

Not giving birth. It's very weird walking into theatre then being handed a baby. I don't think my body or mind prepared itself

10. Do you regret having an ELCS? Not at all. Because if I hadn't ds and I might not be here!

That?s it!

hello,

I have had one EMCS and one ELSC (currently 2.5 weeks after)

1. Re the anti-DVT injections post-op, - where on the body do you have them injected? (I cope better with injections if I know where it will be)

- in the tummy, small sting not very painful (more like a finger prick than a blood test)

1. If you didn?t want to do these injections yourself (or have DP do them, god forbid) did you have the option of a nurse/midwife coming to your home to do them?

- I was in hospital so midwife

1. Did you faint at any point after the c-section? I read on another thread that someone fainted in the shower post c-section

- no, had the EMCS 1.30 am, shower the next morning, ELCS was wearing anti clotting stocking so now sower till the day after but they made me get up the evening after the morning section to change my pads and have a wash. they are attentive and the bathroom door wasn´t locked! it is good to get up early if possible

1. How quickly did sensation come back to your lower body and what did that feel like? Did you try and move and weren?t able to? Did you try and get up and couldn?t support your weight? (I didn?t have an epidural for VB so no idea what loss of sensation feels like)

- a couple of hours whilst in the recovery room, it bit like a block of ice thawing, slowly moving more - being able to twitch toes, when I could lift my hips was allowed to leave the recovery room

1. When they took the catheter out was it painful?

- yes a bit stingy, but very quick

1. How did you feel physically overall afterwards? After my previous VB I felt incredibly fragile and could not walk properly for about a week and couldn?t sit down fully for 4 weeks. It was pretty grim.

-much more fragile with ELCS when I already had DC1 (2 years old) trying to protect tummy and not instinctively pick her up which is not really allowed until 4/5 or even 6 weeks. It was a very rapid progression in the first weeks from very strong painkillers to over the counter paracetamol, I had shooting pains over my hips (nerves getting into the right place?), walking for an hour or so with pram now at 2.5 weeks every other day. also had the lower back pain, though the first time it was due to labour but was here this time too, may be gas? drink peppermint tea just in case!

1. Does a c-section scar hurt for ages ie weeks?

- around the scar feels a bit pins and needly if I touch it

1. What was the best thing about a c-section?

-my babies! was going nowhere with labour, very controlled and calm

1. What was the worst thing about a c-section?

- the midwife said you get the pain in labour with a vaginal birth and afterwards with a section, but some people get both with a vaginal birth!, guilt that if the baby had had problems it would have been because of my active choice but i think in terms of safety it goes - vaginal no intervention - elcs - emcs - vaginal intervention, so if you think you will have intervention statisically it will be safer

10. Do you regret having an ELSC

-no or yes if I could have guaranteed a perfect vaginal birth . . . .

good luck with your choice

1. Anti-DVT injections - I didn't have any that I'm aware of, unless they put something in the IV?

1. No injections

1. I didn't faint at any point,

1. Sensation came back to legs in about half an hour. Yes, I moved my feet and legs lots (had to, or they wouldn't have let me out of the recovery room). Dr took out the catheter after the operation because he wanted me to get up and go to the toilet soon, which I had to do that afternoon. It was very hard and painful but I felt immediately better afterwards (which is what dr said would happen and why he wanted me to take that little walk the first day)

1. Oh yes, sharp pain as catheter was being taken out.

1. I felt much better after the el-CS than previous vaginal birth. First day was tough but well-managed with pain medication. 2nd day was ok. And I was fine on the 3rd day - didnt even take a single paracetamol.

1. CS scar doesn't hurt at all because it is all numb. You have internal pain if you try to move too fast or get up without proper support etc but that doesn't last weeks. I was driving on the 10th day and felt absolutely fine.

1. Best ing about a c-section is that you get to enjoy your newborn baby because your delicate parts have not exploded and you are not in agony. And the birth is over in 5 minutes with baby easily out rather than stuck and born with overlapping skull plates from the pressure, as happened with DD

1. Can't think of a bad thing about my el-CS, especially in comparison to DD's vaginal birth.

10. I don't at all regret the CS. It was one of the best choices I have made in my life. I regret being conned into going for a vaginal birth with DD although she was clearly going to be over 4 kgs.

Hi

I have had two CS. First was Emcs after 52 hour labour, stuck baby. Awful and traumatic and I won't bore you with details.

Second a lovely calm elcs.

I was not aware that I was given an anti dvt injection either time. Far too busy with baby. Honestly I wouldn't worry. I guess they do it before your spinal and epidural wears off. Otherwise I am sure I would have noticed.

Feeling back in legs within 4 hours. Up and walking after 6 hours.

Back home within 2 days both times.
Second time recovery was much faster as I hadn't had long labour before cs. I didn't use pain killers for more than 4 days both times. I honestly wasn't in any pain at all

No fainting but my iron levels were very high both times and I didn't need iron tablets. So keep up your food and iron intake and you shouldn't faint.

I had full feeling in skin even on the actual scar after 6 months. No numb spots at all.

Scar is tiny white line. They cut same place both times. My stretch marks are miles bigger and more noticeable.

I was doing every day stuff the second time quickly but I had a toddler to look after.

Only thing which I recall as a problem was lifting toddler DD in and out the bath for the first few weeks. DH never home at bath time so I just had to manage.

Sorry posted too soon. DC jumping on me.

Scar didn't really hurt much. The sore bit which is the first 24 hours is fine because you are on hospital strength meds (morphine) and you don't feel it.

Once at home, you only feel the odd twinge. Ie when you over do it.

The best thing about CS (the second time) was not having to go through a horrific labour and a crash section. It was calm and beautiful. The anaesthetist held my head up once the incision was made and I saw DS being lifted out and born.

Don't worry about thinking its yuk with a gaping hole on your tummy. You can't see it and because your lower body is totally numb, it doesn't feel like you are looking at your body in a strange way. Also you don't see any blood. And obviously you can choose not to watch. But I recommend looking. It's reassuring.

The worst thing. Not sure really. Nothing bad the second time. First time there were things but it was a huge emergence and after the long labour and complications once DD was stuck, we would both have died which over rides any issues really.

If there is one thing I guess it's the small bulge/pouch above the scar. Mine is very small and you can feel its literally just the scar tissue on the muscle which was cut underneath. But you will probably have one. Unless you are very slim and fit (I put on 6 stone during pregnancy so not surprising).

I am very Squamish about medical surgical things. But I would rather have a calm cs any day than a long labour and an emergency during labour.

Feel free
To ask any questions you have

Oh and I had skin to skin in theatre both times while
They were sewing me up. And I BF immediately
After in the recovery area.

1. Re the anti-DVT injections post-op, - where on the body do you have them injected? (I cope better with injections if I know where it will be)

in the flubber-rolls of my post baby belly. Stung a bit but not too bad

1. If you didn?t want to do these injections yourself (or have DP do them, god forbid) did you have the option of a nurse/midwife coming to your home to do them?

I stayed in for two days after my CS (Wed morning CS, went home Fri night) so only took one home with me. I didn't take it, just made sure I walked around a lot. Midwife asked if I had done it an offered to do it when she came on Saturday afternoon, but I told her I'd already done it. I am not medical thought, so don't take this as advice!

1. Did you faint at any point after the c-section? I read on another thread that someone fainted in the shower post c-section

i didn't feel faint at any time

1. How quickly did sensation come back to your lower body and what did that feel like? Did you try and move and weren?t able to? Did you try and get up and couldn?t support your weight? (I didn?t have an epidural for VB so no idea what loss of sensation feels like)

I didn't really notice it coming back. I was in bed, not moving much, and had a catheter until the morning after so had no reason to get up. Really didn't notice it feeling strange, just moved using my arms to push up on the bed, roll to side a bit etc. had full control and feeling back my following morning

1. When they took the catheter out was it painful?

No! I was so worried about this I kept sending the midwife away, and insisted she waited until after a set of pain meds! It actually felt warm and 'rushy', like doing an enormous wee when you're really desperate, but even more so! Really was a non-issue

1. How did you feel physically overall afterwards? After my previous VB I felt incredibly fragile and could not walk properly for about a week and couldn?t sit down fully for 4 weeks. It was pretty grim.

Honestly? I felt like I'd been hit by a truck the following morning. Then the midwife said I should go an have a shower! I thought she was nuts. But I managed a shower, and felt so much more capable on the way back from the shower than I had going. And things just got slowly better each day from there. I went home two days post CS, and was able to get to and from loo/kitchen and up and down stairs carefully, but I wouldn't be dashing back upstairs for something I'd forgotten. You will need help. Someone to make meals, wash up, fetch things for you. Your DH (or someone else) will need to spend his paternity leave taking care of you and doing all domestic responsibilities as well as occupying your older child.

1. Does a c-section scar hurt for ages ie weeks?

It didn't really hurt, more tingled and itched. I was careful with it in the bath for a week or two, and then made sure waistbands were not on it for a few months. Mine would itch and tingle if I wore tight waistband and/or walked too far in a day for a few months.

1. What was the best thing about a c-section?

not delivering breech twins vaginally

1. What was the worst thing about a c-section?

the spinal anesthetic. It is scary, but only takes a minute and kicks in quickly.

10. Do you regret having an ELCS? no. I have two beautiful healthy babies and I am healthily too. There is nothing to regret because I don't know what the outcome of a vaginal birth would have been.

Good luck with your decision and birth :)

.on phone will reply later

like mrsflorick I had baby on me in the operating room and breast feeding in recovery

I forgot to mention earlier about the "c-section shakes" which meant I didn't feel confident holding my baby immediately after the op. It took about an hour for them to stop.

I did almost faint the next day trying to shower (due to low BP/big blood loss in theatre) after 2nd section. But not after 1st.

Wasn't sick on operating table which I understand some people are (had ranitidine which probably helped).

Got bad constipation 1st time (due to codeine-based painkillers) but not 2nd.

1. Anti DVT injections - I got these in my tummy. They didn't hurt at all apart from one which stung a bit (could have been particular part it was jabbed into on that day).

1. I was in hospital 5 days so the midwives gave them. If you have to give them yourself, they're in a sort of pen thing that you just press.

1. I didn't faint but I thought I was going to, after walking down to the nursery the morning after the op (pushed it a little too hard). Was fine after a sit down and a glass of water.

1. How quickly did sensation come back to your lower body - I had my section at 11am and by approx 6pm I was getting the feeling back into my legs. It was a strange feeling but is nice to not have pain during that time. It is a bit surreal when they are moving your legs and you can see them move but can't feel a thing. After the feeling came back, I was helped to the bathroom by the nurse to freshen up a bit and change into my own nightclothes. After the section, they just had pads between my legs but when they were helping me up, they were able to detach the catheter so I could put on pants and they could thread it back through.

1. When they took the catheter out was it painful - Not at all. I could hardly feel a thing. I was probably most worried about that and it turned out to be a non event. Getting it put in hurt a little as the spinal hadn't fully taken effect by then.

1. How did you feel physically overall afterwards? First day was grand probably due to excitement and hard drugs. The second/third day was really sore then everything started getting better. Moving around as much as you can does help. I found going to the bathroom hurted during those days as was constipated and it seemed to upset the whole area. Also wind hurt like a bugger, drink the peppermint tea stuff they give you

1. Does a c-section scar hurt for ages ie weeks - The scar itself hurts from time to time but nothing too bad. My whole abdomen felt bruised for a couple of weeks. Try and move around as much as you can as it really helps. When I got out of hospital, I went for a really short walk before it started hurting, by the end of that week I was able to do so much more

1. What was the best thing about a c-section - Being able to have some element of predictability around everything

1. What was the worst thing about a c-section - the wind pain/constipation, seriously was the worst thing

10. Do you regret having an ELCS? - not at all, was a lovely experience

1. Re the anti-DVT injections post-op, - where on the body do you have them injected? (I cope better with injections if I know where it will be)

Mine were in my arm, they stung but bearable.

1. If you didn?t want to do these injections yourself (or have DP do them, god forbid) did you have the option of a nurse/midwife coming to your home to do them?

I only had them while I was in hospital

1. Did you faint at any point after the c-section? I read on another thread that someone fainted in the shower post c-section

No. Didn't feel faint either, except during the op when I felt dizzy but I was already lying down

1. How quickly did sensation come back to your lower body and what did that feel like? Did you try and move and weren?t able to? Did you try and get up and couldn?t support your weight? (I didn?t have an epidural for VB so no idea what loss of sensation feels like)

Back from theatre about 5am both times and got up the next morning both times so about 24h

1. When they took the catheter out was it painful?

No, it feels weird but doesn't hurt

1. How did you feel physically overall afterwards? After my previous VB I felt incredibly fragile and could not walk properly for about a week and couldn?t sit down fully for 4 weeks. It was pretty grim.

Feel tired and vaguely sore across tummy but not terrible. The baby high helped.

1. Does a c-section scar hurt for ages ie weeks?

Sort of. feels kind of bruised for about 3-4 weeks and hurt if you twinged it.

1. What was the best thing about a c-section?

Not having a nasty VB - I was terrified of forceps/ventouse/massive undercarriage damage

1. What was the worst thing about a c-section?

Feeling like I had failed at giving birth (I no longer feel that, but did at the time, I had 2 x EMCS) and not being able to drive. I couldn't drive for a while partly due to mobility and partly due to painkillers, loved getting out on my own in the car again and not sending DH to do the shopping badly

10. Do you regret having an ELCS?

I had 2 x EMCS. No more babies planned but I would have an ELCS very happily if I had another.

First was awful/scary proper emergency Category 1 crash section under GA, v traumatic. 2nd was a failed VBAC /failure to progress so had a nice spinal and was awake - not ideal but absolutely lovely compared to the first one. I had asked for ELCS for the 2nd but was refused it by the Cons

Catheter - it was quite nice not to have to get up for a wee all the time actually

I have had two, but I have also had two spinals for surgery on my cervix and also had a c-section-style incision with GA for another surgery on my cervix. So kind of used to it by now!

My answers are similar to everyone else's, and overall a good experience. If you feel nauseated, which is common, they're very quick at adding anti-nausea medication to your drip. I have never fainted.

I do have to add though, and this is the part I hate the most - with the spinal I find myself trying to move my legs, and when they don't move, I panic and get really "arggh" in my head. It's daft really, as normally very little bothers me (I could care less about being pumped with drugs and quite enjoy it!) but I found it really hard to cope mentally with not being able to move my legs. I find it very important to get distracted so I'm not thinking about it, because as soon as I think about it, I want to try to move them.. and it becomes a vicious circle! I love it when I start to get some feeling back (toes first!)

Getting up for the first time is ridiculously hard but it gets easier very quickly.

Not being able to drive is a big one for me too.. I am a crap passenger and DH does his best but does not drive how I'd like. Neither of us enjoy my enforced non-driving!

1. Re the anti-DVT injections post-op, - where on the body do you have them injected?

They recommended injecting in the tummy (pinch the flabbiest part). I don't like needles but that area was still feeling numb for a while so it didn't really hurt much.

1. If you didn?t want to do these injections yourself (or have DP do them, god forbid) did you have the option of a nurse/midwife coming to your home to do them?

There wasn't the option of having a midwife come to my house but suggest talk to them about it.

1. Did you faint at any point after the c-section? I read on another thread that someone fainted in the shower post c-section

Nope and didn't feel faint at any point.

1. How quickly did sensation come back to your lower body and what did that feel like? Did you try and move and weren?t able to? Did you try and get up and couldn?t support your weight? (I didn?t have an epidural for VB so no idea what loss of sensation feels like)

On the day of the cs my lower half felt numb but I didn?t need to get out of bed that day as still had the catheter in (and the midwives were great, they handed me dd whenever I asked for her or she cried etc, they also changed her nappy for me if it was outside visiting hours). The next day I could get up and went to have a shower. I honestly felt fine, no dizziness, minimal pain.

1. When they took the catheter out was it painful?

Not at all. I was expecting it to be but the nurse was v reassuring.

1. How did you feel physically overall afterwards? After my previous VB I felt incredibly fragile and could not walk properly for about a week and couldn?t sit down fully for 4 weeks. It was pretty grim.

I was honestly v surprised by how fine I felt. The day after the cs I was up and about at hospital and picking dd up (though the midwives said I should buzz them and they?d hand her to me). Two days after the cs I was home, walking up and down the stairs fine, not bedridden or anything. Less than a week after that I was taking a walk in the nearby park. I don?t have a high pain threshold, it just wasn?t very painful.

1. Does a c-section scar hurt for ages ie weeks?

It did hurt for a few weeks but only if pressed hard (dd sometimes kicked it while I changed her nappy).

1. What was the best thing about a c-section?

I felt safe, well cared for and reassured and had no worries about dd being born safely. I also had lots of help with establishing breastfeeding whilst in hospital.

1. What was the worst thing about a c-section?

Honestly? The stories I?d been told that I wouldn?t have skin to skin contact immediately (I did, in theatre and it was lovely) and that I would have problems breastfeeding (I didn?t). That and the tutting from other mums...

10. Do you regret having an ELCS?

Nope.

I agree with all that's written above. Anti DVT injections are relatively new - I didn't have them with my twins who are now 9, but I did with my daughter 2.5. They are given for 5 days routinely. My DH did mine at home. I think they are stingy but necessary (much better than a DVT). I asked midwife and she said if someone had a high BMI or other complication then they may be given for more than 5 days.

I nearly fainted getting up the first time, rise VERY slowly!!!! Make sure someone is with you!

I am scheduled another c section in a weeks time. I am very nervous even though I have done it twice.

I am 7 days post-ELCS with DD. I had a forceps delivery for DS.

1. Thigh

1. I didn't have to take them after I left hospital.

1. No

1. I could feel my legs in recovery and could slightly lift them I was in recovery until 4 hours after DD's birth. I was mobilising in bed a couple of hours after that. I didn't try to stand up until the following morning.

1. No

1. I got up and showered the day after. The following day I walked from the ward to the car. Today is day 7 and I've not left the house/garden yet, but I'm beginning to feel like I could walk round the block tomorrow. My scar has healed up incredibly well. Since two days after my section I've been more flexible and comfortable than I was in late pregnancy.

1. Mine doesn't hurt much now, except when I sneeze. I'm still taking paracetamol though.

1. Me not being at risk of serious health complications.

1. The countdown before hand. Knowing the date meant I was going over in my head "this is the last time I'll do such and such for ages".

10. No. I'm alive. Baby is well. Best possible outcomes which were less assured with a VB. But this is specific to me, some people have less medical reason for an ELCS.