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!

Considering elective c-section - a few random questions (26 Posts)
Add message | Report | Message poster whatwasIthinkingof Mon 26-Aug-13 20:47:56
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)

I GOT THEM IN HOSPITAL NEVER AFTER I WAS THERE FOR 4 DAYS

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

NOPE, YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THE FIRST FEW DAYS WHEN YOU MOVE, HAVE SOMEONE STAY WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO IN TO THE SHOWER ETC..I WAS 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)

I HAD A SPINAL, I DIDNT GET UP TILL AT LEAST 24 HOURS AFTER...I WAS SLEEPING WAS GREAT RESTING ... THE FEELING STARTS COMING BACK SLOWLY AFTER THE C SECTION

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

NOPE

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.

MY NATURAL BIRTH I HAD PAIN FOR 3 MONTHS AFTER THEN STILL NEEDED PHYSIO ON THE KNEES AND PELVIS ETC...AFTER C SECTION THE FIRST 2 DAYS ARE PAINFUL THEN I FELT GREAT... WAS ON A FLIGHT AT 6 WEEKS AS MY DAD WAS SERIOUSLY ILL

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

WEEKS BUT NOT BADLY ...YOU HAVE PAINKILLERS...JUST BE CAREFUL ...NO HEAVY LIFTING OR BENDING AND HAVE SOME HELP WITH THE BABY

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

IT WAS QUICK, NO LABOURPAINS MY RECOVERY AFTER WAS SO MUCH QUICKER...MY JOINTS DIDNT HURT AFTER...I COULD PLAN IT...MY HUSBANDS LEAVE CHILD CARE EVERYTHING! A LOT LESS PAIN AFTER THAN THE EPISIOTOMY

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

WATER RETENTION, HARDLY LOST ANY WEIGHT WHEN BABY CAME OUT..TOOK WEEKS AND WEEKS OF SWEATING IT OUT ON MY PILLOW...

10. Do you regret having an ELCS? NOPE HAVEING ONE AGAIN IN A MONTH OR SO

That?s it!

Re the injections, I am have been on them for past 6 weeks and will be for another 6. Hurt at first, but you get a nac for it. Heparin is fat soluble so suitable in either tummy or thigh (I choose thigh), I do it myself pinch hard then I generally don't feel the needle just the pinch. They don't hurt at all now. I personally wouldn't want the nurse to come round everyday for 6 weeks, they are busy enough and the injections are so easy to administer once you get the hang of it

Re your decision it's a hard one, was also offered ELCS due to traimatic vag delivery but decided to try without. A) ill have an early epidural b) it's easier second time around c) I wouldn't manage not being able to pick up my 2yr DD or not drive for 6 weeks.

Good luck

My scar is still numb 19 years after my last CS and 25 years after my first.

I had my wound inflitrated w/ local after closing so it was a good 10 hours before I felt any pain.

Urinary Bladder catheter painless upon removal. I ended up w/ a rare complication-a ruptured uterus and bladder during a 'trial of labour' so had my catheter in for several days.

No Anti clot meds in those days. Just TEDS.

I was up and about when my epidural wore off fully some 12 hours later but had to be careful due to the major surgical repairs I needed internally. Was probably mobilising too much. However I experienced very little discomfort post CS after the third day. I was Dx after 7 days and walked my daughter to school the eighth day-a mile. I was fully mobile within 14 days with no pain. No fainting despite needing several bags of plasma and several units of blood.

I'm not sure how typical my experience is to be honest. Most people seem to have more discomfort.

One thing that I will advise anybody post CS to do is to make yourself stand up straight. So many women walk about 'guarding' their bellies from pain by hunching over. Although making yourself stand up straight will initially cause discomfort, it will actually reduce it once you are straight backed because you place less pressure on the wound. No tummy slumped onto it.

My complication was very very rare and down to their mismanagement and refusal to listen to my concerns that I was rupturing (Am nurse) so please don't worry that it might happen to you. Very unlikely.

PS - no problems w/ BF or picking up baby either. Get help, learn how to roll out of bed to sit then stand. No hoovering- it pulls the wound.