Positive c section stories please :)

[Tibby2]

I am due with my 2nd baby in august and am having a c section due to a hemmorage i had from forceps birth first time around. Just looking for some positive stories to help me feel more relaxed this time around. Thank you

I had 2 c-sections and I can honestly tell you that if you take all the pain meds afterwards they give you, anti-inflammatories included, it's really not bad.

It's a little freaky in the theatre, as you're awake, but it doesn't hurt. The best description I can give is that it's a little like having a non-painful filling. You can feel them working but it just feel odd, not painful. If you feel bad during the operation, just tell them. I did, and it turns out I had a huge BP drop but they were already aware of it and were already dealing with it as they were monitoring me the whole time.
Just hearing they were already dealing with it made me feel so much better.

Afterwards you need to be careful and do what the docs tell you need to and lay off picking things up, including existing LOs. Other than that, you'll be fine. Really. Good luck!

I had a natural birth with my first that resulted in a forceps delivery, episiotomy and I lost a lot of blood and needed a transfusion.
So second time I opted for a ELCS and it was so much better.
The recovery time was better and I wasn't half as sore as first time round.
I'm due third in 5 weeks and have already booked another ELCS as I didn't want to try for a vbac after my traumatic first delivery.

Had 2 CS, one elective, one emergency and wouldn't have had it any other way!
Ask for pain killers if you need them and you will be fine!
There is so much scare mongering out there and it annoys me. Nothing could have gone any better and my scar is barely visible now.

Thanks everyone these are all very reassuring and positive stories! Im almost looking forward to it now ;)

My elcs was very calm and civilised was a really positive experience ....good luck

I found labour to be a very frightening experience...nothing went wrong in my labour, I was actually, perversely from what I am saying, relaxed in that I knew once it was happening I could do nothing, for better or worse nature was in charge, so in that sense I was fateful and calm.

I was very aware of all the things that could go wrong though at every turn.

After, I delivered in 6 hours, ( established) labour, with one small tear, my lower back hurt and ached for years...lower parts took a long time to go back to normal, hormones out of control and so on.

My ELC was an incredibly calm experience. Even though I was extremely nervous when I actually walked into the theatre and saw the table...I was calmed down and reassured by the wonderful staff, and literally everything happened so swiftly. It was a wonderful way to bring a child into this world!

That is, on a good nights sleep, feeling relaxed and calm, in no pain, well looked after, I was able, to establish BF straight away and I feel a much stronger bond to this baby.

I found it to be a very healing experience compared to my first labour, which made me shudder every time I thought about it for 5 years! It was such a trauma for me, now I do not even think about the theatre or the operation...it was so minor and inconsequential and just a good experience.

I think your lucky in having one...I think you should find it a breeze compared to your first labour.

Make sure you look into co sleeping cots, that was essential kit in my recovery. ( arms reach are what I got and still use it at 1 + year)

Good luck! Enjoy!!!

I found labour to be a very frightening experience...nothing went wrong in my labour, I was actually, perversely from what I am saying, relaxed in that I knew once it was happening I could do nothing, for better or worse nature was in charge, so in that sense I was fateful and calm.

I was very aware of all the things that could go wrong though at every turn.

After, I delivered in 6 hours, ( established) labour, with one small tear, my lower back hurt and ached for years...lower parts took a long time to go back to normal, hormones out of control and so on.

My ELC was an incredibly calm experience. Even though I was extremely nervous when I actually walked into the theatre and saw the table...I was calmed down and reassured by the wonderful staff, and literally everything happened so swiftly. It was a wonderful way to bring a child into this world!

That is, on a good nights sleep, feeling relaxed and calm, in no pain, well looked after, I was able, to establish BF straight away and I feel a much stronger bond to this baby.

I found it to be a very healing experience compared to my first labour, which made me shudder every time I thought about it for 5 years! It was such a trauma for me, now I do not even think about the theatre or the operation...it was so minor and inconsequential and just a good experience.

I think your lucky in having one...I think you should find it a breeze compared to your first labour.

Make sure you look into co sleeping cots, that was essential kit in my recovery. ( arms reach are what I got and still use it at 1 + year)

Good luck! Enjoy!!!

I've had 2. First was emergency and terrifying but second was planned and brilliant. Arrived at hospital at 8, got settled into my ward and was taken to theatre at 9.45. DS2 was born at 10.15. It was calm, relatively stress free, in fact the worst part was the shock of the cold iodine on my back before they did the spinal block.

Also, I look fab on my post baby photos as hair and makeup were not disturbed in the operation ??

My experience is that a planned c-section can be a very positive experience.

Of course, recovery is slower so make sure you are prepared at home i e.plenty of prepared meals, as much help as you can get, 'v' pillow if you plan to b/f and changing stuff upstairs and down as stairs are a nightmare.

Had a calm, positive, fantastic EMCS with second child after 12 hours of crazy labour that was going nowhere. Having also had a fairly tumultuous first labour I can tell you that the section was categorically the best part of either labour. The staff were amazing, the atmosphere in theatre celebratory and buzzing (though this could have been the drugs, though DH said it was amazing too!) DH got cut the cord, skin to skin as soon as DS was born and I got to BF really soon afterwards. Was brill.

Good pint about the shoulder pain waltzing, it was actually the most painful bit for me...peppermint tea was good for the trapped wind too! ;)

Had two c sec, first one was after a long labour (I developed an infection had high temp, and baby's heart beat was not recovering well after contractions) so had an EM cs. It was a difficult recovery mostly because of the 24 hour labour before the em cs, not because if the surgery itself. But I was fine, after a few days and help from family, and had my beautiful baby boy who was healthy and happy. I tried again for a natural delivery with second baby, but same thing happened again - high temperature, iv antibiotics, and had to have another c sec. But recovery, BF and everything was so much easier - probably because I only had a ten hour labour before the decision was taken to go for an other c sec. I felt absolutely fine emotionally, a lot of people have a negative view of c secs, and that can put a lot of pressure on some people from an emotional point of view, but quite frankly I don't give a toss. I bonded with both my kids no problem, never felt that I didn't have a good birth 'experience' or that I 'failed' in any way. The recovery can be difficult, but it can also be very hard with a vaginal delivery. I have wonderful memories of both c secs, very positive despite the health problems. Good luck!

I've done both and the CS was much calmer and more pleasant overall, despite the additional recovery time. You'll be fine. :)

I had an EMCS first baby and am 2.5 weeks pp from forceps episiotomy vbac...
I wish I'd had a csection. So so much easier than this. I was up and in the shower on day 2 and driving by 4 weeks. Don't get me wrong it's sore and full recovery takes a while but vaginal birth for me is no quicker. I have a episiotomy that won't heal and my back hurts so much more etc.. Even after 18hrs of labour and csection I felt better than this. Go for it! I'd Definately have a ELCS next time... If I ever have sex again

I had my first baby an EMCS 12 weeks ago and spent the when of y pregnancy desperate to avoid having a CS. I wish someone had told me that I was completely wasting my energy. CS was fine, bit sore (I have a very low pain threshold) for a few days and sensitive after that. It is not he traumatic ordeal it is portrayed to be, good luck

I had a vaginal birth with ds1. I had 2nd deg tear and labial year after long back to back labour.

With ds2 I had to have cs as I had placenta praevia. I was gutted about it, as I wanted another vb, but I was fine. The op itself was weird but fine, and the moment of birth was just as amazing and magical as ds1's.

Afterwards I can't ever remember being in pain really, it was just a bit uncomfortable, but I did take all the pain relief that was offered. The only really uncomfortable Bits were lying on my side as i got a strange draggy feeling in my stitches and day 10 when I pushed the buggy round town and went to register the birth- I must have overdone it as I felt rough the next day, but it really was fine.

3 sections here, every one of them fine. First one EMCS due to distressed breech baby, second one ELCS due to 21 month age gap, and 3rd ELCS due to having 2 previous sections. The 3rd one I was home with 36 hours. Had I been given the choice (or the courage of my convictions) would've tried VBAC with 2 & 3, but it all worked out fine .

I had an emergency c-section after a looong labour, so was exhausted and really just wanted my baby out. Afterwards I was sore, but not unbearably so, just kept chucking the painkillers down. I was fortunate in that I was able to return to my local maternity ward in the small local hospital where I had a room to myself and was able to do nothing but move from bed to chair to cot for 5 days afterwards. I really think that made a big difference because it gave me a chance to heal a bit before going home and having to do stairs etc. I didn't have any trouble moving around once I was home or any difficulty picking up my baby.

I had a csection with dd2 as she was discovered to be breech during early labour. It went well until they were trying to deliver her head. She got stuck but the doctors said nothing, I didn't even know there was an issue, It was handled calmly and swiftly.

With ds, I Had an elcs, I didn't want to try a vbac as it was only 54 weeks since my last section (yes, 54 weeks between them!!) The experience of an elective versus an emergency was so different. I went to the hospital, I was the last in so at 11.10 I went down to theatre, ds was born at 1150. No problems at all, surgeon even let my birth partner watch them perform it!!

Had a planned CS and was brilliant. Had lots of friends (6) pg at the same time and I can honestly say I am the only one who had a positive birth experience. Was on the NHS, all staff lovely. Birth felt magical and special. Was lovely in recovery, just me and DP and DD snuggled into me. Was home within 24 hours (at my request) and with just paracetemol and ibuprofen. Didn't need anything else. My advice is to rest (and by rest I mean do NOTHING but feed and cuddle baby) for 3 days, and take meds when due, don't wait for pain. Also do a birth plan and take it with you. I laminated 3 x copies of mine and handed it to midwife etc on arrival! I was v nervous but needn't have been. I was shopping in the city after 6 days (although rested fully afterwards, and again rest means bed or sofa, not pottering around the house), and really back to everything apart from mucking out horse and hovering/mowing lawn within 2 weeks. I could ride my quiet horse within 2 weeks and was completely back to my old self within 6. I am not saying this to show off, but to reassure you. I know there are millions of very positive natural birth stories and some scary CS ones. I also add that mine was a healthy pregnancy with no issues and a planned CS. No labour for 3 days and then a rushed emergency with General. I imagine the recovery for this would be much harder. I just wanted to say that having a CS was the best decision I made and will deffo have another one if I am lucky enough to ever have another DC. Good luck.

Oh yes, and scar barely visible. Really I have to look for it.
Also had skin to skin with baby and she was given to me in theatre all new and messy, then checked over and handed back. Never separated. Was all so calm. I remember chatting to the surgeon about the nightmare commute on a certain road, while he was stitching me up!

I had a traumatic 1st birth, induction, forceps, episiotomy ect...... Put me off having more children for life. After 2 years of therapy for PTSD I had my 2nd child. Case cation was planned and it was the most pleasant experience I've ever had. It was so calm and my recovery was excellent. I would do it again in a heartbeat :-)