I've a planned c-section in Jan and need some advice please

[mojomands]

I had a very difficult first birth and cannot even consider a natural birth this time however I am sick of reading about dreadful c-sections. Can somebody please tell me about their experience (Preferably a good one) and offer any advise they feel may be useful to me. I'd really appreciate it as I am just clueless really.

I've had two (emergency) sections and they were both absolutely fine. I was really nervous the first time but everyone in the room was lovely. The anaesthetist stands at your head-end the whole way through and chats to you (and really helped to calm me down the first time); there's lots of tugging, pulling and leaning on you but it doesn't hurt, although it can be a bit uncomfortable. The best bit is that when your baby comes out you will be so elated that the rest of the operation becomes a bit of a blur!

You ask for advice as well: firstly, the anaesthetic is a bit weird if you're not expecting it - basically you won't be able to feel your legs for a while, which is fine as long as you know it's going to happen. Secondly, I don't know how old your first child is but make sure you have as much help available to you from relatives/friends as possible. Thirdly, I found the recovery period quite slow - it wasn't until three weeks had passed that I really felt much more able to stand up for long periods or walk a short distance, so you should expect to take it really easy for a while (or as easy as possible anyway!)

Thanks
It is the recovery part I'm slightly confused about - I had a friend who had twins and managed to pick them both up within a week. She seemed to heal so quickly and showed no signs of pain. I then read about people being in pain for weeks and unable to do very little. My daughter will be 3 when this baby is born just so you know.

I have 4 girls and expecting number 5. My dd4 was an emergency section at 33 weeks and I always vowed I would never be awake and have one. Soooo scared of being unable to move while being awake. I was shaking so much it took a while to get the epidural in my back but the staff were great.
It does feel weird to have the movement of your inside without the feeling but not an awful experience like I expected. Over very quickly, music playing, hubby chatting to yo (well mine was) Looking very silly in a green hat and clogs

My dd4 was taken to special care and I'm not sure if thats why I recovered so quickly butt I was up the next morning (had section the evening before) I walked up to special care and continued to recover really quickly over the next few days.
I needed no pain relief after day 2 and made myself walk upright which helped.
I had twins age 3.5 at home and a 7 year old and managed fine even with backwards and forwards to scbu for 3 weeks.
But I am not sure If I wold have recovered so quickly if I had had dd4 with me in the ward

I had an elective section for placenta praevia with dd1. It was brilliant. I had a spinal anaesthetic. They give you a local before they put it in and that stings a bit, but then you feel nothing. Once anaesthetised they lie you down and check that that anaesthetic has worked. I was numb from the boobs down! I was also shaved at that point. Top tip: if not in hospital beforehand (I was in for 10 weeks, so no chance) get dh or someone to shave you in readiness. I felt vulnerable enough without someone I'd never seen before attacking my ladygarden with a bic razor!

Be prepared for there to be a lot of people in the room. IIRC (it was 6.5 years ago now) there were two anaesthetists, the surgeon, his assistant (?), a theatre nurse, a midwife, a paediatric nurse ... and Uncle Tom Cobbley and all! However, the only people I really noticed were the two anaesthetists. They kept me talking until the baby was out, and then they just left me and dh to hold our baby. (One of them took some photos of the 3 of us there and then while I was being stitched.)

You feel no pain at all, although you do have the sensation of being touched, and just before the baby is born someone leans quite heavily on the top of your bump (to push everything out). There is a hoover thing that suctions out the waters, which is also a bit disconcerting if you're not expecting it.

Afterwards the feeling as sensation comes back is a bit weird. I had a catheter and didn't need to get up till the next day. Was worried about that (just thought it would be a bit gross) but it was fine. I had a morphine injection for pain relief immediately after the operation and another one later that day. Lots of people love morphine, I know, but I hated it. I got very confused and (this is going to sound daft) couldn't remember what we'd called dd and felt very panicky. Would not bother with the morphine in the unlikely event of me having another section. From then on I had paracetomol and codeine (going down to 'ordinary' paracetomol by the end of the day after the op) and voltarol (for about 4 or 5 days?). I was uncomfortable but not in terrible pain. I got up and about the next morning after the op (dd was born at c. 10 a.m.). The more you move about afterwards the better it is. I remember walking to the garage near the hospital (c. 10 minutes' walk) to buy an ice-cream about a week after dd was born and getting back feeling exhausted, but otherwise fine (and quite proud of myself). (I had been immobile in bed from 27 weeks though, so was extremely unfit and out of condition anyway!)

Other advice... yes, definitely line up plenty of help for the first few weeks, as you definitely won't feel like doing much heavy lifting, housework, etc. Get some REALLY big knickers for post-op. Normal knicks sit right on the scar, so lovely comfy biggies are just the ticket (the kind that come right up to your boobs).

Good luck. HTH

If you go to this website and click on caeserean birth plan on the left hand side it gives you help on making a birth plan and making it as special as you can for your birth.

Had a lovely elective c section birth for DD. Was in labour for a few hours prior, and they didn't bother with a local to stick the spinal in (you could check the exact procedure they will use with your hospital) but that wasn't as bad as I had imagined and the staff were great. Her name was up on the board outside the theatre as they wheeled me in(1pm - birth of XXX) which struck me at the time as rather sweet of them. Everyone knew her name and talked to her from the moment they started the procedure. We chose the music for her to be born to (again check that you can do this), and they handed her to me as soon as she was out. I was up at 6 the next morning, and out of hospital the day after that (3 days for a c section is about average in London hospitals). I agree that getting up as soon as you have your legs back is the key to a good recovery. We had no problems with bonding, feeding, or anything else. Was fine to lift and carry her (though not sure about a 3 yo!!) and was doing vaccuming and general stuff as soon as I was home. Also drove about a week afterwards - there is a myth about not being allowed to do this, not sure how it comes about, but if in doubt ring your insurers - mine said I could drive home from hospital if I wanted to, though I'm not sure I was quite up to that! Although all birth experiences are different and you can' predict how you'll react, a c section can be a lovely birth experience, and you shouldn't let people frighten you about it. Hope this helps!

my experience was like janinlondon pre planned as DD was breech arrived 10am had quick check over was told last on the list so had to see 2 other women come back woth their babies. Went to theatre about 3 DG got sent to dress up in theatre togs, spinal block at 3.20 (took a while as I couldnt get into the right posistion think I was just excited and wasnt really listening!!!!) went into theatre at 3.50 had to wait 10 minutes for consultant and knife to skin at 4 DD born at 4.19 once she was checked over (had cord round neck twice) was meant to be handed to DH but he legged it from room (surprised he made it that long!!) so nursery nurse showed me her then DH and DD sat in room next door (nurse later told me that he was holding her saying dont cry I am your daddy and love you lots !!)back on ward feeding her by 5 and came ome 72 hours later. Fet quite good was out and about from when she was a week drove after 11 days and generally recovered really well. Having 2nd planned section on Jan 5th so hoping that this will be as good as no 1. HTH

I had a c section with dd1 2 years ago, after 5 days waiting (inductions etc) in hospital(being almost 2 weeks overdue); everybody came in, gave birth and I was waiting, really fed up with everything. c-section. Absolutely fine, out of bed next day, home after 3 days. Recovery quick but hoovering was painful for a while. Now I have decided to have elective c-section, few days after due date (20 nov). Do not have 'failing' feelings, I imagine that giving birth with tearing also takes a while to heal. For me it was a positive experience, good luck

Don't worry Mojomands, it will be a great experience!

I also had a difficult first birth, and mine ended in an emergency c-section. Beforehand, I had read lots of books on natural childbirth, active birth, etc and thought that a c-section was absolutely the worst thing that could happen to me. I couldn't have been more wrong, as I found natural childbirth excruciatingly awful, and the c-section was pure bliss by comparision: completely painless and for the first time during a long birth I actually felt in good professional hands, as there were 2 surgeons and 4 other medical staff, all of whom did a lot to put me at my ease. Beforehand, I'd been left on my own on a corridor for over 16 hours with occasional visits by a grumpy midwife after they finally accepted I was in labour.

The procedure took about an hour in total, although they got the baby out in just under 4 minutes (it was a real emergency though and they were under pressure). The rest of the time was spent stitching me up, but I was so ecstatic to see my baby that it didn't really feel like an operation, and I felt no pain.

Recovery - my c-section was at 9pm and I had regained the feeling in my legs by breakfast the next morning, and walked across the room at 11am. It took just a couple of days for me to be up and about, and appear normal to the outside world, but it took me several weeks to feel back to normal again. However, I don't know how much of this is just down to having a c-section, how much to having endured a very bad 23 hour labour beforehand, or the fact I had a massive haemorrhage and lost a lot of blood. I have heard that elective c-sections are easier to recover from.

I agree with the other women on this thread, you feel discomfort rather than pain afterwards. My tummy felt sore where the cut was, but not painful, for a few weeks. Sitting up in bed was a bit tricky - you have to master rolling onto your side first, but again only for a few weeks.

I had a so-called emergency section, which was totally un-emergency-like (after a failed induction, for high bp at 39.4 wks).
It was a really positive experience: the staff were lovely, the epidural (which was the bit I was most scared of) didnt' hurt at all, my baby cried as soon as her head was out and was handed straight to dh who held her next to me. When I went back to the ward she came with me, on the trolley, tucked up.
I also got to choose music for the delivery, and there was such a feeling of goodwill in the room that it felt like Christmas...which was, it has to be said, only three days away.
In my case, the midwife shaved me in my room before I went down to theatre - so it felt quite private and ok. The catheter I'd also worried about, and it was a godsend - no having to get up to pee in the night? Bliss! And I never felt it come out, as I was still numb.
No real pain afterwards, just uncomfortable, as long as I didn't overdo big movements.
I did actually tear my stitches a little by sitting crosslegged on the bed and picking dd up at a stretch the next day....was being a bit overconfident, so do take it easy and listen to how the physio tells you to move.
My main tip is, have plenty of gentle laxatives (recommend Lactulose) on hand for after: the painkillers constipate, and my first BM after the section felt how I imagine giving birth might feel
Recovery for me took a bit longer, because I had an infection where my stitches tore, and also because I had major problems with bp post-partum and had to be readmitted to hospital: but that had nothing to do with the section.
Good luck, hope you have a wonderful birth experience this time!

Hi, i was worried too about my elective section but honestly it was fine.

I ended up actually going into labour naturally @ 38 weeks so had my section that day.Ds was bron on 6th Aug.

Having the spinal was fine, just felt a little weird as i could feel like a pressure in my spine but nothing else, started working pretty much straight away and i was led down on the table (they tilt it to the side slightly) i didnt have a clue they had started until the anetheiatist (sp?) said they had.

The only 2 bad points about it was 1) i got the shakes from the spinal, but this was soon sorted out by something put into my drip. 2) My BP dropped to literally nothing and i was very very close to passing out, but again some meds was put into drip and i felt ok then.

The baby was out really quickly but be prepared for your baby to be very muscusy, my ds was quite bad but it is normal after a section.I did feel very frustrated by being bed ridden at 1st, unable to do things for my baby and ended up ripping my DH's head off (i apologised straight away) just remember you will feel frustrated.

Recovery was ok. I had my section at 3pm on the Sunday and i got out the bed on the Monday 4pm. Be warned when you are in the bed you feel dandy but when you first stand up it is pretty bad, just be prepared for that...but no matter what KEEP UPRIGHT do not slouch, walk with your back straight. When i stood up from sitting i had to take a deep breath for a few days, and hold my tummy quite a lot.

Coughing and laughing is very weird as you feel like your tummy is like jelly, it does hurt too, just hold yourself there if you have to cough, or hold a pillow...support your tummy.

I healed really well up until week 4, then got an infection in my cut and inside...so my best piece of advice is....even if you feel brilliant and healed don't take it for granted! keep your cut clean and dry for as long as possible (i got smug after 4 weeks and that is prob why i got infected) and DO take advantage of being unable to do things (like hoovering) i hate being told what i can and can't do, so thought i was clever by running around like a loony far too soon!

Good luck ,and hth.

BTW my dd was 2.6 YO when i had my ds, and she was fine, just get your LO involved, and to help you by passing nappies etc.

I had an elective C section (after an emergency one with DS) and it was lovely experience. I had chat with the anaethetist beforehand and i mentioned that i was ou of it for the emergency one, and ill afterwards, and he made sure that it didn't happen again, and it was lovely experience. I felt her be born as it were (ie felt when they pulled her out) and i was really pleased i did as it reinforced the being born thing. (with DS i always felt a little bit like here's a baby, but didn't feel him being born if that makes sense)

The recovery was also fine, although quicker for DS (emergency) but think this was due to the weight i'd gained in between pregnacies. Only felt pain when standing up, but could change nappies, carry the babies etc without any problems the day after the c section.

Please don't worry about it, it can be a lovely experience and recovery is fine and quite rapid i think.

I can't help about c-section, but if you're having your c-section in January Mojomands, please feel free to pop into the due in Jan 07 thread

It's been 11 days since my elective section and I am happily purring around town, lifting baby, pushing buggy uphill. I just need to take it easy with lifting 3 year old, but plenty of time for that later.

After my first emergency section, this section seems amazingly bloodless. I can't say it was a empowering experience - it is as clinical as having surgery whilst awake, but you do have a baby at the end of it . Like pucca, I got the shakes from the spinal and was very frustrated for 48 hours after the birth. Get your partner/friend to be at your beside for as long as visiting hours allow during the first 48 hours - my hospital was rammed with mothers and the staff did not have time to help me. I got discharged early after 30 hours.

Expect that for the first 24 hours, you will be immobile and will not even be able to lift baby from the cot to feed. I only needed one morphine shot. The second day, you can move around slowly. By day 5, my stitches were out and I did not require painkillers.

Now on day 11, the midwife and health visitor say they cannot believe I have recently given birth. Sections rock!!

HI there, adimttedly emotionally my Emergency C-section was rubish for many reasons, but physically I found the recovery so much easier then I would have thought....admittedly not as easy as my first 2 Natural Births, but it was still fine, I was up the next day, because I had a spinal and it was late evening by the time I had all feeling back and the m/w's were probably understaffed, so,they chose to get me up in the morning and pull out the catheter then!
But I was up fine...and the only morphium I had, was whilest I had the spinal still set, as far as I know...once I was on the ward I only had things that were compatible with breastfeeding, and the strongest I took was co codemaol (sp????)....my ms was 21 month at the time, and as soon as I was home I had often to pick him up as well as my 8Ibs + Baby, and that was fine too...physycally I relaly foudn it easy enough!And the pain wasn't all that bad!

Had emergency C-section after a long labour and a string of complications, but C section itself was all fine. I was knackered obviously, after having had a 24 hour labour so it took some time to recover. God bless take-aways.

A few funny things happen though, when my husband brought me the baby I kept on saying 'he's gorgeous he's so gorgeous' but I wouldn't touch him - and that's when the anasthetist said 'you can move your arms you know'!!! I was so gobsmacked by seeing my boy that I forgot I could actually move my arms!

Another funny thing is that I kept on saying 'why can't I see him,I can't see him' and that's when I realised that someone had taken off my glasses!!!!

Anyway, all things considered there are lots of advantages of having a C section, although everyone I think would obviously prefer a natural birth. You will have time to learn from the midwives and other mums aboout breastfeeding whilst in hospital (if this is your choice), you can eat lots of chocolate and that's OK, you will get some special time lying down in bed with your baby, your bits won't change, you can plan the date, etc...

I am pregnant again and am going for a C section after disastrous first labour, and I'm absolutly fine with it. There is no failure in having a c section, especially after a v difficult 1st birth, and I think that if I am well prepared for it I will enjoy the experience.

Take care
BP

Thanks a million for everyone's input here. About the Arnica can someone advise on that. I know only of the cream you use foe bruising! My hormones must be in full force - cried when I read what ellipippamummy's husband said to baby - so lovely!

Had a fab c-s two weeks ago, so much better than the 48 hr natural labour nightmare first time round...

Re the hoeopathy: you should take the following: Arnica, Bellis Per, Calendula and Hypericum. Take 200c after the op four times a day for 3 days and then 3 times a day for 4 days (you can start the arnica a day before CS to help prevent buising). Most health shops only stock in 30c strength so you may need to order online (you can't just take 6*30 tabs to equal 200 - dosage doesn't work like that for hoemopathic stuff). I got my stuff in a kit by 'Helios' which do a childbirth kit which includes all the above as well as loads of other stuff. I'm 40 and my recovery knocked the socks off all the younger mums on the ward and I am convinced it was 100% due to the homeopathy.

Mojo - my DH never says things like that which is what made it so cute my dad has it on video but you cant hear what he is saying as door shut just see him sitting there looking petrified at this bundle in his arms. Mmmnn thinking about it she is such a daddys girl maybe thats why????

mojomands - re your dd - I am booked for an elective c-section next week, and my ds will be 4 in November. Because I started to develop signs of SPD early on in this pregnancy, we had to explain to him that Mummy couldn't lift him, or anything else heavy, up until after the baby came and my tummy had got strong again. He has been fine and in fact has policed me on the odd occasion when I have forgotten/ couldn't be bothered to ask DH for the 10th time to move something ("Mummy you can't lift that up, it's too heavy").

After previous c-section I did discover that when they say don't lift anything, they mean it - emptying the dishwasher after 3 weeks was a big mistake - so my advice would be to explain to your dd ASAP rather that it might happen rather than it come as a nasty surprise when younger sibling arrives.

I has elective c section last december after 9 months of very horrid pregnancy (spd and 11lb baby!!) I was out of hospital within 48 hours and walking around doing housework etc after 5 days. One piece of advice get someone to lift stuff for you!! and hold you tummy if you need to cough or sneeze. I was pretty much back to normal after two weeks and had no need for any pain killers. It took me alot longer to recover from my natural birth with my first baby than the c section with my second!!

I had emergency section 12 wks ago now... Advice would be, take laxatives asap afterwards, don't laugh, cough, sneeze or it'll hurt.... Try to stand upright immediately rather than walking hunched.... Doesn't exactly hurt, mine was more of a burning, itching sensation... Was up and walking to NICU the next morning though, so it wasn't that bad. Worst bit is the loss of independence, not being allowed to drive for anything up to about 6 wks (I got signed off early by GP as couldn't cope without driving !).
Good Luck...