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Childbirth

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Original poster

C-Section - What do you wish you'd known?

120 replies

freneticfox · 04/02/2015 15:31

Ok, time for some brutal honesty!

I've got an ELCS scheduled next week at 39+4 (due to health reasons) and while I know it's the right decision for me and my baby, I'm still experiencing a certain amount of anxiety. I've read stories, both good and bad. I feel relatively prepared but yet I still feel like I'm careering into the unknown.

No matter how TMI, what are things you wish you knew pre-CS? At the moment my main anxiety is rooted in a phobia I used to have (emetophobia, fear of vomiting). For the most part I'm ok now, but I'm extremely anxious about being sick in theatre, or straight after when I have a very raw scar! Any tips to help avoid this much appreciated...

Thanks :)

OP posts:
nickdrakeslovechild · 04/02/2015 17:23

I have written many times on here about my ELCS as it was so bloody marvelous! I was really lucky, I didn't feel the spinal going in and the numbness during surgery felt like I was in a lovely warm bath. I also didn't have much bleeding or any pain after either. Take your favourite CD in as most will let you play it in theatre.

I do have the skin apron which is ok its my baby purse Grin anyway, its hidden under my pants. What I wasn't prepared for was the side effects that the lack of tummy muscles cause, getting in and out of bed or off the sofa was more of a fish flapping around out of water so we had to put lots of foam under the sofa chair so I could get up!

As I said I know I was lucky, I didn't have the constipation, shaking, gas or any pain after. I was out the next day and walking around with the baby 36 hours after that.

I do agree about having food ready prepared in, but I would advise that for any newborn. Also in hospital take lots of snacks. As I couldn't get out of bed I missed some meals. Good luck.

mayfridaycomequickly · 04/02/2015 17:28

That the iron tablets they make you take turn your poo jet black - I thought I was dying!

That you have to give yourself injections in the tummy for a few days after. I'd had to give myself them for a couple of months during pregnancy anyway so wasn't overly bothered but I remember that my friend was horrified at having to do it!

ignominious · 04/02/2015 17:30

Ask for lactulose, for some reason I wasn't offered any, and was taking a lot of opiates. Came home with a whole bottle of it too which I got through all of. All good.

chemenger · 04/02/2015 17:31

I did not have to give myself injections, or get them from anyone else - what were they for?

Annbag · 04/02/2015 17:41

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at the poster's request.

Original poster
freneticfox · 04/02/2015 18:26

Thank you for all the comments - some very honest ones which I really appreciate!

I've already had people telling me that I'm taking the easy way out. Which considering I'm wheelchair bound with severe SPD (already an arthritis sufferer), I get extremely irate. Also the bonding thing I'm expecting people to gripe about, but I was born by EMCS in the 80s and my Mother assures me that there was absolutely zero problem with her bonding.

Also glad to hear there are some 'not as bad as you think it'll be' comments. After long discussions with physio, rhuemy, midwife, and consultant, we looked at the risks of both and only recently opted for the ELCS very recently. Not a decision we took lightly, I'd also like to add!

OP posts:
GentlyBenevolent · 04/02/2015 18:35

I would have had kittens if someone had told me that I'd probably have a skin apron. Luckily nobody did and it isn't true. I've had 3 ELCSs and I have no skin apron. While I was upduffed with DC2 a woman at he gym told me I'd be bound to get one this time, and I was very concerned but when I asked the MW she told me that was bollocks and not to worry - and she was right.

GentlyBenevolent · 04/02/2015 18:37

The one bit of useful information I wasn't given was that when you do your first poo afterwards it hurts like hell. And it's really useful to have a pillow or cushion to clutch to your tum to...stop it falling out (not literally but that's what it feels like).

ArabellaStrange · 04/02/2015 18:43

I was fine with my first poo, this isn't the norm though but you might get lucky!
I wish I had known that I might spend the time during being sewn up, puking into a bowl. Wasn't a huge deal though.

BingoBonkers · 04/02/2015 18:45

I have a touch of a vomiting phobia too and with both my sections I told the anaesthetist that I was worried about being sick and I felt very sick the first time round and they have me a fast acting anti sick drug which worked and I was so thankful for.

Original poster
freneticfox · 04/02/2015 18:49

To be honest I am completely terrified about throwing up with in theatre. Which is odd, considering I survived hyperemesis.

OP posts:
Original poster
freneticfox · 04/02/2015 18:49

While*, not with!

OP posts:
Kelly1814 · 04/02/2015 18:52

I had an ELCS and didn't need to remove my nail varnish.

I also don't have a skin flap.

I wish I'd known how truly calm and lovely it would be. I was so panicked and nervous, I blubbed all the way through. But it was really the best thing ever and I'm so glad I did it.

Best of luck, OP.

girliefriend · 04/02/2015 18:53

I had an emcs nearly 9yrs ago.

I think I wish I had known that they shave your bikini line (would have done it myself Blush)

I expected the catheter and tbh once you have your spinal they can pretty much do anything they want and you won't care!!

I don't remember feeling sick, I do remember feeling very sore the first night and hated the hca who told me to get out of bed the following morning!! Plus they took my catheter out too soon and I went into retention so had to have another one in, grr!

Not sure I could have done much about that though as I guess everyone is different. Make sure you take all the painkillers they offer you, I even woke up in the night to take some more as would be in agony by the morning if not. They let me do my own painkillers which was good as I didn't have to keep asking all the time.

DopeyDawg · 04/02/2015 18:57

freneticfox - I was ALSO wheelchair bound with SPD!

I am really glad you are getting a C-Sec as I was advised one both for the SPD factor and baby being breech.

PLEASE don't let my comments about being 'chair bound' worry you.
(I think I was an unusual case.)

I have had SPD (wheelchair / crutches) with 2 pg's now.
I would say, after the first C-Sec I 'took it easy' and suffered longer.

After the 2nd I definitely walked as much as I could as quickly as I could (on crutches) and my SPD was less bad for less time after this C-Sec.

Good luck!
They will look after you.

Don't worry about any 'bonding' nonsense.
You will get skin to skin almost immediately.

The mum opposite me was on her 4th and had an emergency C-Sec as she haemorrhaged during a home birth. She had the newborn wedged into her bed with her for 5 days doing skin to skin and clearly was VERY bonded with her wee one.

Original poster
freneticfox · 04/02/2015 18:57

Quite a few people have told me not to be lulled into a false sense of security since I've been so used to the agony of SPD... and to take care not to do too much too soon! I'll just be extremely glad if I don't have to go everywhere in a wheelchair. God, the looks... I think people assume I'm being lazy because I'm heavily pregnant.

Thank you Kelly; I'm nervous but happy with the decision. I don't really wear nail varnish so that's not an issue for me! I don't deal particularly well with people telling me I'm a 'bad mother' for taking my consultant up on the ELCS option, so I'm REALLY hoping that I don't get treated judgementally on the day.

OP posts:
Original poster
freneticfox · 04/02/2015 18:59

Double post - thank you Dopey. Seriously. This SPD has made the pregnancy one of the most painful things I've ever been through. I am honestly beyond desperate to meet my little boy now!

OP posts:
Manyproblemsinthishouse · 04/02/2015 19:00

That for the first couple of days you will be in a lot of pain, but once they take the stitches out you'll feel allot better!
That you can have c sections under GA and the spinal can fail (I had, and had no idea) and your dp will be asked to leave
The constipation, the wind, the not being able to walk/ stand/ poo.

But id do it again 1000x times over!

Onlyconnect · 04/02/2015 19:02

I too have emetophobia and was worried about being sick. But I wasn't at all during or after 2 CSs. Do tell them your fear and straight away if you feel sick. I did feel a bit sick at one point during the surgery, I told them and it was gone within seconds.

FreeButtonBee · 04/02/2015 19:03

If you are elcs then you may et delayed for emergency sections (as it should be). If you are in the hospital and waiting more than 3 hours, then insist on getting an iv drip. You will otherwise get very very dehydrated and t will make the whole experience a lot more difficult (partic if you have been on no solids from the night before)

ThatBloodyWoman · 04/02/2015 19:05

I wish I'd known that you can ask not to have the screen.

ThatBloodyWoman · 04/02/2015 19:08

Oh and the wind is painful.
Its not the time to be coy about farting because its definitely better out than in.

Cockbollocks · 04/02/2015 19:11

No one will judge you.

I would like to add - buy yourself massive pants, i mean huge over the belly granny pants at least 2 sizes too big. They are the most comfy thing after a section.

Stretchy maternity comfies for the hospital as your tummy will stay pretty much the same size as your pregnant tum for a while due to the wind and swelling.

When you stand after a section, concentrate on immediately standing up straight. You will want to stoop - don't because if you are straight your back supports your tummy and it is less painful. Trust me!!

Don't underplay the pain, I did actually find it manageable but I didn't tell the nurses that because I wanted the morphine and painkillers. You need to save all your strength for the baby, not coping when you don't have too.

Sorehead · 04/02/2015 19:20

I had EMCS and it was nowhere near as bad as I expected, either during surgery or recovering, despite having a PPH (consultant thinks due to a long labour before they operated so wouldn't have happened with ELCS)

Echo what others have said about keeping up with painkillers even if you don't think you need them. I was given peppermint oil with boiling water for wind, along with Wind-eze and didn't really suffer.

Skin apron and numbness aren't inevitable; I have neither.

If I were to have another section, I'd stock up on leggings and long tops (or dresses if summer) as my jeans rubbed for 4-6 weeks. Long tops because I was wearing granny pants underneath and had horrific VPL.

Good luck OP!

tethersend · 04/02/2015 19:23

Yy to previous advice- particularly the glycerine suppositories (golden bullets Wink)

Also, tie an old bed sheet to the end of your bed and use it to pull yourself up to a seated position, then swivel your legs off the bed and get up.