C-section in 2 days...

[johull]

Having a section in 2 days and am very nervous!! Any positive stories are VERY welcome. I've had such great support thus far and just need a little more to push me through to the very end!

I had an elcs. It was fine! I was moving about that night and walked to breakfast the next morning. Was on paracetamol only by about day 4 and driving with GP approval by 3 weeks.

Does that help?

Yes for sure!!! I love reading about other peoples experiences. I suffer from anxiety and like to know possible outcomes and especially love a positive story. Thanks haunted

It was an absolute breeze.

Up and walking (whilst carrying my bag of wee) within 8 hours. Catheter removal was a doddle (I was petrified about this). Was on just paracetamol by day 4 and as above driving by week 3.

Just make sure you have knickers and trousers/skirts that sit by your belly button and not around your hips and pubic bone as that is where you'll incision will be.

Also the other advice I'd give to prevent infection is to lie down on a bed with the scar exposed to the air (pants and trousers might need wiggling down) and let it breath. Do this as often as possible.

Don't eat anything that will "bung you up" from now on. You'll want your bowel movements to be "easy".

Oh and congratulations

Had 2 and both were fine. Best advice midwives/nurses gave was to take the painkillers when handed them. Don't wait until you need them. Take them on schedule and keep on top of pain instead of fighting it once it hits

I've had two (one emcs and one elcs) and they were ok. Keep on top of pain relief - don't be a hero - and take it easy! I found the first two weeks quite hard both times, but much easier from then on. You'll be fine!

I was driving at about five weeks both times.

yep, I had a great cesarean. There was a real difference on the recovery ward between those who had an EMCS and those who had an ELCS. The ELCS patients were in such better shape, and tended to recover far quicker.

I am the same as most posters here. I took paracetamol and volterol for around 4 days, then was fine on paracetamol only. I had mine at around 1pm and was up and walking the following morning, and driving within 3 weeks.

DS is 3.5 now, and I can't even see the scar. I second the recommendation for big pants though I still wear mine now.

You may also wish to investigate breast feeding cushions. I had a precarious construction of many pillows to lift DS up to the right height as lifting things was a bit of a strain. If you've got the money and time now, you could probably help yourself with that problem.

Good luck and congratulations!

I too suffer from anxiety and honestly the anticipation is far far worse than the section. In fact my sections were v poditive, I felt in control, the staff were lovely and calm and I felt really well straight after. Some period type pain but just keep on top of the meds to keep that at bay and you'll be fine x

It's great to hear that you cooed with the whole thing and that some even found it easy. There is no worries about me not taking painkillers , I'm a big baby and will accept any tablets to help prevent pain. I like the idea to taking in music but if rather listen to a podcast like an XFM Ricky Gervais or a Soap Box as I've heard all these 1000 times so it's comforting. Do you think that's a good idea or just take music?

Had an ELCS 4 days ago and it was such a positive experience. I had one booked for end of this week due to an on-going medical condition but ended up with pre-eclampsia so the date was brought forward a week and I was so anxious about the spinal, being awake etc that I got in a real state about it. I needn't't have worried; talk to your anaesthetist, consultant etc and tell them how you feel. I was very open about my concerns and fears in the pre-op appts and the whole team went above and beyond to reassure me,relax me etc on the day - they should talk you through each step and this will both inform and distract you during the procedure. I was most anxious about the spinal hurting but it really wasn't bad and was in very fast. The whole op took 40 minutes. Dd was born ten minutes in. The hardest part of the ELCS experience for me was the first night on the post natal ward and not being able get out of bed to see to dd when she was crying, but I had a buzzer and the midwives and nurses were great and would lift her in and out of crib etc. they even took her for a cuddle in the night to give me a breather when I was struggling. It was quite painful to get up from sitting initially, and walking about it is sore but it is easing by the day. I was home on day 3 and am amazed it all happened only on Friday! I hope it is a positive experience for you too.

I have had 3 CS. The first two were fantastic, no pain relief needed by the time I left hospital. The third was complicated by a uterine rupture so I had a much slower recovery, but the section itself went very well. Hospital staff were brilliant every time, really helpful when I was still immobile and lovely throughout. I had a 4 night stay after first section but only 2 nights the 2nd and 3rd times.

Hi OP

I had a CS on Friday last week and came home on Saturday. Was a really positive experience. Lots of skin on skin whilst they stitched me up and bf in recovery.
Very bizarre experience I'd say and I wasn't keen as the feeling returned to my legs!
I was also swinging my cath bag about in one hand and baby in the other about 6 hours later.
Good luck xx

That's great to read. I'm now only hours away from it and I'm starting to get very excited about meeting my DD.

Today's the today (but you probably already knew that)

Deep breaths and just look forward to meeting you new arrival (unmnetty hugs be flung your way).

Ah that's very sweet, I am currently in the bay, have my very sexy socks on going in at 10.30. Getting more nervous x

Those stocking are horrid, don't worry, the epidural means you won notice them too much!

The epidural/spinal block is not painful at all, they give you a local (I shat myself at the local part, but I didn't even feel that). The nurses will chat to you about whatever you want to and you won't notice a thing.

Once you're cooked and ready for theatre within 5 mins of the ob starting your baby will have arrived.

Hey presto!!!

The rest of it will be a blur whilst the OB does a bit of stitching up and then it's all over.

Easy peezy lemon squeezy

You're not going to believe this... They're scanning me to see if baby is still breech! This has thrown up a whole world of anxiety!!! What if she's not. Can they really change their mind at this point? Help.

Oh dear, how to put you on tenterhooks!

Just be safe in the knowledge that they are double checking everything to keep you and baby safe x

Itching to know?!?!

Just came to say I've has 2 sections and they were great, but I think I've missed the boat a bit hope you're having baby snuggles now and some

Born at 10.19 via c-section and arrived at 4.9lbs!

They ended up scanning me, found she was NOT breech anymore and have me the option. They obviously wanted me to try and have natural birth but I had prepared for this section so went ahead with it...

Sadly I have only seen her for 10 minutes total. They whisked her away as soon as she was born to the neonatal unit, I saw her on the way out, got to stroke her foot and take a picture. I then managed to get up at 7;40, get in a wheel chair and go and see her basalt u felt so faint I couldn't stay long and had to return feeling hot and sick.

Tomorrow is a new day and I hope to have cuddles then. XxxX

Congratulations!!!!

Get a good nights sleep tonight and don't be brave. Take the painkillers when they are due not before you start to feel sore (think someone up the thread mentioned this and quite right too)

Congratulations! Today is a fab day to be born on, I had my dd by section on this day 4 years ago. Try to rest as much as you can now so you're ready for cuddling tomorrow.

Best of luck

Congratulations, do not worry about feeling faint, its very normal, I did actually faint...

www.mumsnet.com/reviews/nursery/cots-cribs-cotbeds/9963-arms-reach-universal-co-sleeper-bedside-cot

I hope you have a co sleeper at home..it will make life so much easier for you with your stiches...I am still using mine months on..and they hold their re sale vale on ebay.

Take it really really easy even if you feel like doing more, gentle walking but not too much bending over...I hope you have a v pillow to rest her on too, again a barrier for stiches, she will fall asleep on it on you, you can wedge her in at night with it, and even change her on it...

take it easy!

Sadly not all went to plan. She has a collapsed lung and has now been rushed to a near by hospital which specialises in this kind of thing. They say she'll be ok but as a very distressed mother I don't know. I shall try to keep updated x