C-Section: What to expect?

[MamaC]

I am leaving a message for the first time! V. nervous.

I am 28 weeks pregnant with my 3rd child. My first two (both healthy boys) were delivered vaginally but both were traumatic and assisted deliveries. After my second was born I was left in such a mess - I couldn't walk or sit properly for 8 days and, therefore, came about as close to getting post-natal depression as I could without actually getting it! (I knew I wasn't feeling good physically & mentally). Myself and my GP decided that it would be best for me to have C-section with my third - I am very happy about this - i know it won't be a walk in the park (being laid up for a long time, unable to drive etc) but I feel quite strongly against a vaginal delivery for me personally.

What I don't know though is what really to expect? How bad is the op pain? How long does it last? How bad is the wound? What knickers to wear after? PJ's or nightdresses? How easy to breastfeed? Basically if anyone can give me a bit of info I would really appreciate it.

Thanks.

Hi. I had an emergency C section with my DD. Not the best circumstance but... the op pain was bad, but they give you pain killers to help you get over that, and gentle exercises. The worst thing for me was them telling me I had to get out of bed and walk around - but in the end I think that it really helped me get back on my feet more quickly. Can't really remember how long it lasts, you'll be way too occupied with the little one to think of pain!

As for clothes, I wore normal knickers that did not rub on the scar and PJs. How easy to breastfeed... there's a question, I guess as easy as it ever is!

The recovery time obviously varies from woman to woman, but after 4 weeks I felt back to my normal (albeit now new mother tired) self!

I've waffled, sorry! Hope it all goes OK.

i had traumatic first labour ending in emergency section.
so 2nd time opted for planned section with epidural.
what to expect?
op pain? - NONE, slight awareness of someone 'working on you'. less so than at the dentist.
post op pains/discomfort - i was given self-controlled morphine drip - had to press a button when i needed it...doesn't allow you to OD but makes you feel that you have some control.
Knickers? - i started with paper ones but found them a waste of time as couldn't unstick the ST. si went to BIG knickers that went right over the wound.
PJ's or nightie - defo nightie. i couldn't have managed to bend over to put PJ bottoms on. plus your tummy doesn't go down as much cos of op swelling plus you get chronic wind which makes anything around your tummy v. uncomfortable.
there were 4 of us - all CS's on my ward -0 we only had 1 pen between us. 2 had filled in their food orders, and 2 hadn't when someone dropped the pen. "F--k...I've dropped the pen but nevermind DH will be here in 4 hours, he'll pick it up." this resulted in us wanting to giggle - but couldn't giggle either without having to hold wound and wincing.
Breastfeeding - easily both times. cushion on knee or underarm.

hope that this prepares you, it wasn't half as bad with the planned section, perhaps cos menatlly prepared.

Hi MamaC

I had an Emergency C section last December with my first (one and only) ds.

I remember the actual Op scar not being too painful and being encouraged to do gentle exercises almost straight away to help the healing process.

Keep the area clean and dry.....make sure you let air get to it as much as you can.

True, you can't drive a car for a few weeks and you DEFINATELY CAN'T DO ANY HOUSEWORK for six weeks (wahoo!) but, so long as you're careful you'll be fine.

The most painful bit for me was the referral pain which occured a day after the op in my right shoulder. That was EXCRUCIATING (sp?). I'm not trying to put you off but I wasn't expecting this and thought I was going to pass out with the pain.

This lasted for about 3-4 days...painkillers helped but you need to keep on top of them. They also can give you something I think they called "hot mix" which is a minty solution which really does help take away the pain.

What else....Hmmmmm..... I couldn't pick DS up for a day or two and needed help from the midwives on that score (as I coudn't get out of bed).

Breastfeeding was no problem.

The other thing I wasn't expecting was the fact that I am still numb around my tummy and have now been told that it takes months for the feeling to come back if you get it back at all.

Knickers! I would suggest 100% cotton and big enough to go over the scar (i.e. not cutting into the scar).

That's basically it. If I remember any more I'll drop in another note.

Good Luck if we don't hear from you before the big day.

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I knew it...as soon as I posted my message I thought of something else!!!!

At the actual OP you feel them pushing and pulling you around (I had an Epidural) which is most alien. I also felt sick with the Epidural which isn't pleasant.

That was it really....

hi mamac,
ive had two sections now. during the operation you will just feel a lot of pulling and tugging but no pain, its a bit strange but its over very quickly. After the op you will probably be quite sore when the anesthetic wears off but ask for pain relief and ALWAYS accept it when they bring the trolley round. I fell into the trap of thinking i was ok whilst in hospital and said i didnt need any pain relief and boy did i suffer when i got home! wear BIG BIG pants if you can as normal ones will rub on your scar and can irritate it quite a bit and dont forget that you will still bleed as with a vaginal birth. (i was never told that the first time and took no towels into hospital)(sorry to be yukky) rest as much as you can when you get home...even if you feel fine because i found that i was a lot more fragile than i felt, did too much and ended up hurting myself again. It will be sore but its not BAD pain, certainly no-where near as bad as contractions! i felt ok within about a month (and finally ditched the nightie, which was all i wore every day until then) but was still a bit careful about what i did. As for stitches, i had disolvable the first time and found they were a lot more comfortable than the running stitch with the bead, but i think that depends on your surgeon? best of luck anyway, i hope it all goes fine

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I had a c-section less than 2 weeks ago for my 2nd child. I had my first child by vaginal delivery. I found the c-section fantastic - the birth for me was much more magical (could this have been the morphine???) than with vaginal delivery and I felt much less tired and emotional straight afterwards. Breastfed within 20 minutes of DS being born and the afterpain was far less than with DD (first child). Lots of painkillers until about day 5 when I no longer needed them. Back at home on day 4 and went for a 2 mile walk that day and felt fine. Am back to doing hoovering etc etc and don't feel at all like I've had an operation. The scar (only 4 inches long) isn't particularly visible - all bruising gone, but a bit puffy by the end of the day. Also my stomach has gone down much quicker than it did last time. I'm wearing those 'high leg' ones from M&S and they completely avoid the scar. Wanted to post this as I was terrified before the operation, but wanted to let you know that sometimes c-sections do go well!

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I've had 3 sections, and can honestly say that they were all a lot better than i expected them to be.
I was awake for all of them, which i would really reccomend if poss. The atmosphere in the theatre is usually very relaxed and staff are ususally chatty. Had the radio on during dd1's section i think. The best way i can think of describing the sensation is that is like someone washing up in your stomach.

Afterwards depending on what time you had the section you will probably remain in bed for the rest of the day. I did get up in the evening with dd1 but only cos i was desperate to get home as soon as poss.
You will have a drip in, which may stay in until next day, depending on how much you are drinking. You will also have a catheter in which usually stays in for 24 hours.
Next day they will probably take your catheter out and get you out of bed and in to the shower.
I was told to peel my dressing off in the shower BUT BEWARE this can make you feel a bit faint so if you prefer ask them to do it for you.
You will need to wear knickers that go above your scar, i found the bigger the knickers the more comfy i was. PJ's or nighties are both fine, which ever you prefer really.
As far as pain releif goes you are usually given morphine (i think) afterwards and then given strong painkillers whenever you need them.
When i had Ds i was allowed to self medicate, which was brilliant as i had my locker full of drugs and when ever i felt any pain i just had a vile of morphine or popped a pill, with no waiting around for midwife to come and see me.
It will feel very strange at first and yes you will think that you will fall apart if you sneeze or cough but that won't happen (honest).
The wound itself usually looks very clean and simple, although you may have some bruising.
Oh also meant to say, that you will be given injections to thin your blood (they do hurt a bit) and will leave bruises on your arms.
Most hospitals will let you home after 4 days (some after 3, but i wouldn't reccomend it), but you must feel free to stay longer if you feel it's nessercary.
Once home it helps to have things at waist height, like changing mat, baby bath e.t.c.
If you have a toddler that sometimes needs help getting on sofa, up to table e.t.c then get them a step up thingy, so that you don't have to lift them.
Thats about it i think.
Feel free to ask any questions though.
By the end of two weeks you will start to feel normal again.

Glad to hear that so many people have had relatively good experiences with their C-sections. I feel reluctant to post my own experience because I don't want to scare anybody off who has had a terrible time getting the baby out the normal way.Reading peoples birth stories I realise that there is no sure way of having an easy birth. I am due to have my second baby in early May and I have decided that if I can get the baby out any other way than having my stomach muscles cut off I will. I had an emergency C-section first time around and it left my body in a bad state. The wound heald quickly, but the pain (nothing like the initial pain, but still uncomfortable to walk, bend and stretch) stayed for most of a year.The scar is still thick red and uncomfortable to touch and the area around the scar is still numb. My feet are also numb (two years later) from the epidural. I lost a lot of blood during the operation, so it took me a very long time (six weeks) before I could walk upstairs without feeling faint. I was also unlucky to get a urinary tract infection (from having to keep the catheter in for 48 hours since I could not empty my bladder). Beeing weak from the operation I also got a chest infection...sneezing after the operation is VERY painful. All these things do not have to happen, thank God, and I hope for you MamaC that having a planned C-section will mean that you are not exhausted by the time you have the operation! That should mean that you are less likely to suffer infections and other complications. Don't let my story scare you since you have obviously had a terrible time giving birth the natural way. For myself I am opting to do it the other way around hoping to have a better experience this time. I wish there were some way of knowing how things will be so you can make an informed decision!

I was fine after both of mine, so much so that I had decided that ds (my second) would be born by section. As it was he was a large footling breach so he would have been a section anyway.

Post op pain is OK, make sure they give you enough pain relief. I was walking better than some of the women that had normal deliveries. $ weeks saw me back to normal.

I breast fed both in the recovery room.

babblan! why on earth is your scar still like that? wouldnt they do anything about it?

sorry, didnt mean to hyjack the thread

I had planned sections with both my kids and wont repeat what all the posts have said.

Just one thing to mention though - do be prepared to hang around in case emergency sections are given priority.

I was told to arrive at the hospital at 8am with a view to going into theatre (after a nice shave - do try to do this yourself for fear of irritation after) at 10am.

An emergency section took priority so didn't go to theatre until 12.30pm.

All the best xx

I've had 1 emergency and 1 elective c-section. For obvious reasons, the elective one was better (and not at 1am!)

I actually passed out as I was being prepared for theatre, not due to pain or anything, just that I'm a big baby! I walked to the operating theatre and was quickly given the spinal block and drip. Within 10 minutes DS was born. We had the radio on in the background which took my mind off the pulling and pushing feeling in my tummy, I couldn't feel any pain at all just movement.

Was back on ward about an hour after all stitched up and back on feet the next morning. DS was born on Wednesday and I was home on Friday. The post op pain is pretty bad but the painkillers they give you really help. I din't breastfeed so can't offer any advice there. Night dress better IMO and any knickers that don't rub on the scar as this could cause a infection and weeping of the scar.

If I have any more babies then I will definatley be asking for a c-section.

I hope you one goes well for you.

I'm almost 3 weeks post emergency section and like Ellaroo have found the recovery a lot less painful than the contractions I was having. I had my catheter and saline drip removed about 11 hours after surgery and was walking around the ward within the next 2 hours. I was in hospital for 4 days but didn't need any painkillers by day 3. I have since been told that this also helps the wind and they can also cause constipation so didn't have any problems with that. I also did a 2 mile walk day 5 and have been doing at least that or more every day since.
I have felt completely myself since about 1 week and am dying to get back to the gym to do spinning again.
I had heard so many horror stories about how it can knock you for months - as you can see from most of these stories it doesn't have to.

I had an emergency section with DS and would definitely consider an elective next time around. I agree about the big pants and trying to rest afterwards but it was a breeze for me. Very little pain afterwards. I was given painkillers but saved them up for when I had to breastfeed, absolute agony!

Had DS late Wed night and was home Saturday morning, even climbed the stairs to our flat no problem. Most painful part for me was when my bikini line started to grow back around the scar. Very itchy and got a few ingrown hairs, but not bad if that's all I have to complain about.

Thanks everyone for responding to my plea! You have certainly all reassured me with your stories. Good to hear both sides (good and bad) so, hopefully, I won't be too naive, although I'm not too sure about hoovering in week 2 - do I have to do this !!!!!!

I will definately let you all know how it goes and share my experience.

Thanks girls, love to you all.

Just a couple of things to add
Definately try to get dh to shave you (to about half way down rather than at the hospital (dry shaving with a BIC is not the most comfortable way)
You may shake uncontrollably and scarily just after the spinal/epidural. This is complately normal and is just how some women react (something to do with fluctuating blood pressure). The anathetist will give you drugs/saline through the IV that will fix it in about 30 seconds.
You may also vomit in reaction to the spinal. Again it's normal (though difficult to actually retch when you can't feel your stomach) and will pass very quickly.

Mine was a great experience, even though it was an emergency, and I was back to normal in a couple of weeks. I'm hoping the next (in only 10 days!) is as good.

What about if I get waxed before I go to hospital - I shaved myself once before and I found the re-growth really painful (what a strange thing to worry about when going in for C-sec!).

Had a full-on epidural/spinal block with DS1 as was going to be emergency C-sec although they got him out with a ventouse in the end, so have experienced those shakes/shudders - not v. pleasant.

Good luck with your next one - hope all goes well.

I had an emergency c section after being induced. To be honest, after the agony of those contractions, I was so glad to just have the baby! The staff were great...really chatty, and put me at my ease. I was so scared of feeling the pain; they topped up my epidural, but the first one had failed initially.All I felt was a bit of rocking from side to side; not even uncomfortable. Afterwards, you just get on with it... I got up the next day. In retrospect, I was very immoblie, but you don't notice at the time. The worst thing was trying to get comfy; chairs and beds were all as bad as each other. And because of where the catheter had been, I couldn't tell that I needed a wee till the last minute, so I had a week of my husband having to haul me out of bed urgently without waking the baby!! It took about 3 weeks for the scar to heal, but now it's like it never happened. I 'm finding it hard to get back into shape, as you cant do any running etc for 12 weeks. But after reading things about how vaginal delivery can stretch you permanently, I console myself with the fact that sex is just the same as before. As for clothes, pyjamas are certainly too hard to step into alone. I wore paper knickers afterwards, and then weaned myself off them by wearing my husband's boxer shorts! So scared of rubbing the wound. It was a big day when I got my g string back on! After a week I was walking around with the buggy, a month later I'd forgotten all about it. Except I'll never forget the wind!! It went round in circles and just wouldn't come out for about 2 weeks! If we ever have another baby, I'll definitely have another section... the discomfort afterwards is well worth it, as it's not as bad as having to go through a painful labour. But get as much help as you can when you get home, as everything does take more effort when you have no abdominal strength.

Waxing is fine so long as it is low enough.

Nothing much to add other than for an elective be prepared to wait! We were in for 7:30 am and ds2 was born at 7:15pm - 9 surgical proceedures before us incl emergency c/s's, surgical forceps, and variuos 3rd/4th degree tears. The elective sections were discharged before a lot of the "natural" births.

i had an elective section last october... i would have another with next baby... cant really offer more advice than already given here.... only to say that having section isnt nice but it aint awful either. i was really concerned about breastfeeding too..... had no probs.... make sure you get loads of skin to skin contact asap. buy BIG pants.... mine were huge and were great.... my wound really hurt, like a burn... mainly for first week or so, then not too bad.... scar is very neat, only about 6 inches and as i was glued back together its really neat. i did shake from the spinal but that wears off quickly....erm what else.... you will feel lots of tugging and shoving as baby taken out, but no pain.... thing that surprised me was that is was sooooooooo fast... and so amazing! hope yours goes well for you... think positive and try to look forward to the birth. I know its an op but its okay!

only other advice is that since you'll be in for a few days, take snacks, their food is bound to be naff and be prepared to clean the bathroom before you use it.... i had to as no-one else seemed to.... which was why i went home after 48 hours! and really, do not hoover, bend or lift until you are healed... it REALLY hurts if you pull on the wound.

I did'nt feel much like eating, so my dh ate all my dinners!! He was starving from running round after me all the time, keeping everyone informed, and shopping for decent food to bring in for me! He even had my lunch half an hour before I was due for discharge!