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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Positive Elective Section Stories, Please!

56 replies

dy14 · 02/01/2015 19:22

I am pregnant with my 3rd child, have my 20week scan on friday. My DS born 2010 was a hard birth. My second DS born 2013 was slightly easier than first but had a bad internal and external tear therefore I have chose to have an ELS. I am extremely anxious about this as nevwr had one before and worried incase somthing bad happens! :( I cant stop thinking about it!

Please any help/advice/positive stories would be great!

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GingerbreadPudding · 02/01/2015 20:04

I've not had one but faced with one I've done lots of speaking with friends etc. all of my friends who have had a section, elective, very highly rate the experience and wouldn't have it any other way.

KittyCatKittyCat · 02/01/2015 20:06

Watching this thread with interest, as after a 3rd degree tear and a 2 day labour am very much considering an ELCS.

Slavetominidictator · 02/01/2015 20:18

I had one with my first baby and so have nothing to compare it to. However, I found it a very calm and positive experience. In terms of recovery, I went home after 48 hours and driving again after two weeks, with GP's approval and insurer's.

I felt ropey about 24 hours after the section but that was mostly because a daft junior doctor cancelled my volterol so I was left on paracetamol only - the SHO came and apologised the next morning and reinstated it and I felt immediately better. Do insist on sufficient pain killers for the first few days at least.

I was given lots of support to feed the baby while in recovery, but equally they were quite prepared to dress and help me with anything.

Please ask if there's anything else. I'm currently 28 wks pregnant and heading for another c section, which I can honestly say I'm really looking forward to.

Best of luck xx

wokeupwithasmile · 02/01/2015 21:01

I'd like to keep an eye on this thread, too. I had an EMCS and a few days before the two-year mark I will have a ELCS. I am still of two minds, though I have booked the ELCS already. I'd like to hear about positive experiences. Not that the EMCS went badly. On the contrary, it was quick, not as painful as expected (establishing breastfeeding was MUCH more painful for me), was home after three days, was up and walking very quickly. However, this time I will have a toddler to look after and I am a bit anxious...

Original poster
dy14 · 02/01/2015 22:30

Sounds all very positive to me, I really appreciate all you ladies taking the time to reply. I am extremely nervous and have an appt on 27th with obstetrician to discuss birth.

I think whats making me more nervous is the fact they use the form 'major operation' and I kinda gulp!!Shock at that.
of course it is but when professionals keep using that term I start panicking. Also the fact of getting a spinal/epidural without being in pain is slightly scaring me! - when your in alot of pain and your getting one of those u don't really think about it.

I am also worried how I will be able to look after my other kids and bfeed at same time!

Thanks everyone

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Haggisfish · 02/01/2015 22:34

I had an emcs with dd and then an elcs with ds. Elcs was great-I spoke to my midwife about anxieties Nd they arranged for me to meet anaesthetist who got me first on the operating list and had some Valium or suchlike ready too! Recovery was fine-three days in hospital was great for establishing bf (although I was still feeding dd so it was easier because of that) and I managed ok when I got home. Pain was fine for both.

Haggisfish · 02/01/2015 22:36

Epidural was the worst bit but it wasn't sore-they put local anaesthetic on first. I got through the elcs by thinking it would all be over in an hour and it was.

Original poster
dy14 · 03/01/2015 00:03

Thanks thats really reassuring and good to know!

Grin Grin Grin

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Original poster
dy14 · 03/01/2015 00:31

Also is there a higher risk of loosing more blood with section than natural? and is there greater risk of retained placenta?

ThanksSmile Smile Smile Smile Smile

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Finlaggan · 03/01/2015 00:43

I've had two ELCS, both DC were delivered early (37 & 38 weeks) on the basis that scans showed they had stopped growing. Both at different hospitals and both very positive experiences.

Second time was a little more nerve racking as I knew what to expect. Staff were amazing both times. Anaesthetist has a lot of contact with you pre and during op both times they had a nurse accompany them, both times nurses were brilliant at keeping everything 'normal' and keeping DH informed. First time my scar was amazing you could hardly see it, second time I have an overhang and it is still a bit sensitive 2.5 years later Hmm

It's a very calm operation, feels a bit weird, like someone doing the washing up inside you, lots of pulling & pushing but they do talk you through it.

Recovery is obviously hard but I hear natural birth isn't a breeze either Smile

Top tip - take a shower gel with a hook then you won't burst into tears in the shower when you drop the bottle and can't bend down for it.

Good luck, hope you have a positive experience.

Finlaggan · 03/01/2015 00:45

Oh & I had skin to skin straight away something I thought wouldn't happen (don't know why)...

Original poster
dy14 · 03/01/2015 00:51

Thanks great to no. Thanks so much for advice. Really appreciate it will take it all on board. Love the top tip sounds like a great idea!

ThanksGrin Grin Grin Grin Grin

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Original poster
dy14 · 03/01/2015 00:52

p.s I hope your little ones were ok?! Shock

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Finlaggan · 03/01/2015 01:12

Yes they were both fine thanks. First lost a bit of weight & we had to stay in 5 days, she's now 5 & third tallest in her class (she tells me this often). Second was home in 2 days, I've no idea how DC2 fares in size because he's a second child and I never weigh or measure him Smile

Haggisfish · 03/01/2015 02:10

There's a much lower chance of retained placenta because they remove it all in the table-they're looking into the uterus so are very unlikely to leave any behind. Bigger risk of infection, obviously, but I didn't bleed very much at all after the first week or so with both sections.

Haggisfish · 03/01/2015 02:11

Yes I had skin to skin ASAP with both and had no trouble bf.

StoryOfMyLife · 03/01/2015 08:50

Very positive experience here. Had DD2 by elcs 3 years ago and currently pregnant again.

I was quite nervous but it all went very smoothly. The spinal took a while to do (probably too much extra padding to get through!) but I don't remember any pain. Once that was done it was very straightforward and she was placed on me almost immediately.

Recovery was very straightforward, make sure to keep taking the painkillers regularly.

It was a very calm, positive experience. Good luck.

noitsachicken · 03/01/2015 08:56

I am 5 days post ELCS, it was a great experience.
Weird, very weird. But overall positive.
Skin to skin asap, breastfeeding within about half an hour. One night in hospital.
Home with paracetamol and ibuprofen. I am still sore, and it is painful for the first few days. I need to be careful with lifting etc, this is hard with a toddler.
But if I were to have another (I'm not!) I would have no concerns about doing this again.
Just make sure you have plenty of help for th first few days.

AuditAngel · 03/01/2015 09:18

I was induced with DS at 39.5 weeks and had retained placenta removed in theatre.

DD1 I had placenta praevia so required ELCS, it was calm and I had a textbook recovery. I second the comments above regarding pain relief. My placenta praevia was unstable so I had spent 4 weeks in hospital so I was desperate to get home. I only had paracetamol and anti-inflammatories.

DD2 I had placenta praevia again, this time an EMCS, my placenta was huge and had to be cut through. My blood loss was much lower than they expected, they had the blood recycling machine at the ready.

I was out on day 2 for both sections.

After DD2 I was driving within 3 weeks, but only because I felt ready.

wokeupwithasmile · 03/01/2015 09:30

I was told that you lose more blood with the c-section than with a 'natural' birth. However, the difference is normally 200 ml if I remember correctly, so hardly such a big difference! Also, I was concerned that, having had an EMCS the first time around but after hours and hours of labour, an ELCS would cause problems with breastfeeding, as my body was not ready for that. I am told that breastfeeding (if this is what you want to do) is established because of the baby's 'request', not (only) because of your body going into labour, so that should not be a problem either.
I also was doing skin to skin and breastfeeding as soon as I left the operating theatre.

Slavetominidictator · 03/01/2015 12:37

Your milk production is triggered by the placenta being removed so a caesarean shouldn't delay it. Obviously level of supply is influenced by demand and regularity of feeding.

turdfairynomore · 03/01/2015 12:41

I had EMCS with full GA with dd and then ELCS with spinal DS. Elective was a breeze! Recovery was quick. Take the pain killers-don't try to be brave, it's not worth it!! And as a pp suggested take one bottle only into the shower with you!! Once you drop something onto the shower tray-it's gone forever!!

TuttiFrutti · 03/01/2015 22:58

My elcs was a fantastic experience, really calm and peaceful and totally pain-free. I had an emergency cs before, after a long labour - I found natural labour really painful and the emcs hard to recover from, but the elcs was a walk in the park by comparison. Having a filling at the dentists would be much worse.

Observer78 · 04/01/2015 04:18

Best. Thing. Ever.
It's a major op, yes. Giving birth is a major thing also.
For me it was the fact that we knew baby doesn't want to come out, so we were booked for ELCS last minute.
Best. Thing. Ever.
It's the safest mode of arrival for the baby, but in my case I think both of us were beneficiaries. I'm still having problems with walking / lifting as bub pushed my back out; daren't think how I'd be after a long, hard, no doubt complicated labour.

The process is lovely. The recovery room is great (you get skin to skin, help with bf if needed). No pain at all.
My drawback was the fact that I had to heavily rely on staff to come and give me bub for feeds / changes as had various tubes in me for the first 24hrs. But that's it. Went home 2 days later (day and a half, if I'm being pedantic).
Recovery was quick, and good. No problems with bonding etc.
In a way I think CS has made our bond stronger? A very special delivery indeed.

Btw the recovery time is longer, allegedly, but I didn't feel inconvenienced at all. If you are an exercise freak, like I was pre preg, the recommendation still is that you wait for 6 weeks before starting anything, whichever way you delivered your baby.

The very best of luck!

2blessed · 04/01/2015 04:29

I had a emcs with dc1 and an elcs with dc2. Best decision I made. It was great for me knowing the date as it made childcare easier to arrange. It was a very calm experience. We arrived at the hospital at 8.30am and I was walking into theatre at 11am. I got to meet the team and I was holding my baby a little after 1pm. They lowered the screen at the point of delivery so I was able to see the sex.
Stayed in hospital for 3 nights. Post natal was a nightmare but I think that's just down to staffing levels.
good luck!