How do you have a "nice" c-section?

[elliejjtiny]

I've had 2 straightforward short labours (ds1 and ds3), 1 also thankfully short but back to back and horribly painful labour (ds2) and a horrendous C-section (ds4). Completely terrified of needing another C-section.

I keep reading on mumsnet about women saying their experience of C-section were brilliant and some people choosing CS over VB. I'm just wondering why my experience was so horrendous and other people's not. I didn't have any medical complications, although DS4 was taken to NICU when he was about 1/2 hour old and although it was technically an EMCS it was a category 3 so not rushed, I just got done before the mums having ELCS. Spinal going in was ok but I hated the rest of it, not being able to move, the shaking, not being able to see DS properly, being heaved around afterwards like a beached whale and the horrendous pain when the spinal wore off.

Really hoping to avoid a C-section next time but can someone reassure me that I could get one of those nice relaxing C-sections that I've heard about. I'm beginning to think that to have a nice relaxing C-section you have to be comparing it to a horrible VB with a 5 day induction and a 4th degree tear. Maybe my C-section was so awful because I'm comparing it to my VB's which weren't that bad.

I had a CS and loved it. I had no expectation of it, I don't know anyone who has ever had one, but I had placenta previa so I needed one. I trusted my doc and knew it was best for my baby, I just tried to be as relaxed as possible.

Getting the spinal was really, really sore but that took 5 mins.I also took every single painkiller that was offered in the days following the operation and made sure I took painkillers for the first few days when I got home. And yes, I totally agree that getting heaved around and the initial inability to move properly is frustrating, but it's just one of those things you need to accept.

Whether you have a VB or CS there is always a period afterwards in which you need to heal and take care of yourself (and the baby). So try to get yourself organised for when you come home - meals organised for your other children and yourself, help with housework etc.

I have no other advice, I'm hoping for a VBAC this time. I think the best thing you can do is go with the flow and relax (easier said than done I admit).

I've had two very nice c sections both done by the same obstetrician. One was an emcs and the other semi elective as was trying for vbac but when he saw me he said baby was back to back and he would give me 20% chance of a successful one so I opted for cs there and then. Both times the staff we're calm and lovely, I had skin to skin straight away and a happy healthy baby. Just make sure afterwards you have everything you need to hand and don't feel bad about buzzing for the midwives to change babies nappies and help you feed etc. Take painkillers even if you think you don't need them for the first two weeks and don't overdo it.
I'm 3 weeks post section now and feel absolutely fine.

Also if you can research and pick a good consultant. Mine was amazing and I think that helped my recovery as less blood loss, bruising and I trusted him completely. Also he did the job himself and didn't palm me off to a registrar.

I'll let you know in 10 days time! I had a traumatic, although physically fine, VB 2 years ago, afterwards I suffered horrific PND and got flashbacks for months, particularly as DS was 8 weeks prem and was taken straight to NICU. I'm having DS2 (who's breech) by ELCS next Thursday, and as this will be my last baby I've decided it WILL be a positive, calm, lovely experience. I've researched all possible complications/outcomes and discussed with my DH, MW and consultant how they'd be dealt with. I feel in control and confident that all will be well. All I remember from my VB is overwhelming loss of control and pure terror. That will not happen again.

I had a lovely ELCS at St.Mary's Manchester. I had a traumatic labour and EMCS with my first and opted for an ELCS for DC2. It was lovely. Peaceful, calm and baby was much less traumatised than the previous failed labour and EMCS. Had a wonderful 3 day stay at the hospital too.

I had a lovely extremely well-managed crash CS. I was under GA but the surgeon was skilled and the staff so kind, that it didn't seem such a trauma as it might have (I was booked for a home birth). They gave me plenty of pain relief and all the staff were kind to me afterwards which I think helps a lot. DD was in nicu afterwards but again I felt that was extremely well-handled. Midwives were available to take me to nicu whenever I wanted to go even before I was properly mobile again. The HCA brought my meals for the first 36 hours until I felt well enough to go to fetch them myself. The end result was that I didn't feel traumatised by it at all even though it was about as far from I'd been expecting as it's possible to be.

9 weeks ago I had a category 1 c section and it was a wonderful experience for me.

It was a quick decision as DS went into distress. I was scared when entering the room and seeing all the people looking at me in their surgery gear haha! It scared me to death. Getting the spinal in hurt me a lot as he was pressing into the back of my hips hard.

But then once I was laid down and my partner came in it was amazing. We were smiling and laughing
The anaesthetist said I was the dream patient as I was so relaxed and joking and things!

I think it may be down to my nature, I'm kind of easy going and tend to be able to stay happy and joking in situations rather than scaring myself. My brain just goes into autopilot!

I also think it helped I didn't realise the severity of the situation, I was about oblivious to what was going on!

Thanks everyone.

I think DS being in NICU made things more difficult because I was walking between NICU and the postnatal ward several times a day from less than 24 hours post op. Although if DS had been with me I would have had to have done all his feeds and nappy changes as well as the expressing which would have been hard work too I expect. When I went home I was dashing back and forth to NICU, maybe it would have been easier if he'd been healthy.

Everyone was really nice and I can't fault anything that anyone did, it just hurt a lot more than my VB's.

its all relative IMO. I had a "nice" one the second time around but still the beached whale thing, chucking up, shoving me around on the table, trapped wind, thr sweats and the attendant trouble which comes with having a hole in your stomach. IMO it isn't nice compared with not giving birth but you just want it to be the best it can be.

I had 2 ELCS - the first because ds1 was transverse, the second because of the first (and ds2 was oblique and still turning). Hated, hated my first ELCS. I was in hospital for 2 weeks prior and everything was very overwhelming. I forgot painkillers once and it took me an hour to get back onto my bed from standing due to pain.

With ds2 it was much better (same consultant, different surgical team). I knew what to expect, it was my choice - they would have let me try VBAC, but i went with the attitude that a repeat cs was statistically safer for ds2. I think the difference was that I knew what to expect, I wasn't so overwhelmed and I knew to dose myself up on whatever painkillers I was offered. I think my expectations were unrealistic the first time.

I think no matter how you give birth, there will be pain involved, but you just have to be realistic that with a cs you will not be up and about as normal for a few weeks post birth (in general), so make provisions for that and just try to enjoy letting others run around whilst you relax and heal (and take as many painkillers as possible).