How bad is a c-section?

[rosepetalsoup]

Hello,
I am about to have a second child - first was born vaginally (but not easily!) but it looks like this one is breech. I think the midwives and Drs will offer me a c-section and I am feeling very frightened about the possibility. Can anyone tell me how bad it is? My first labour was about as bad as it gets, the whole cascade of interventions except c-section, so I'm no naive spring chicken, but also worried about the unknown.

Thanks.

I've had two sections.

The first was emergency (although wasnt a crash) after failure to progress. The fear was the worst part. I was absolutely bricking it going into theatre and got the shakes when I was waiting for the spinal to kick in. The actual procedure was fine, though - no pain at all, hardly felt the epidural, the op felt like it was over in a flash. I recovered well, although I did struggle to breastfeed - but that was more down to poor postnatal care at that hospital, I think.

Second was elective and was a dream. Honestly! The most serene, calm, lovely experience. I recovered brilliantly and breastfeeding was fine.

Thanks everyone - so helpful.
Also very interesting to hear the person above who said they were a natural birth advocate - thank you too. I really would love a 'natural birth' but my first vaginal birth was anything but natural. Failed (though excruciatingly painful, like being on the rack) induction, 2 day non-progressing labour, made to push on birthing stool for 3 hours, forceps, spinal, episiotomy, baby in special care (though fine now). Hm.

That's interesting about delivering the breech babies normally pp -- I would consider it. At least I know that a head can technically fit through my pelvis from DC 1.

My standards are pretty low. All I want is
a) not to die
b) baby not to be ill
c) me to be able to see my toddler asap afterwards

I had an ELC because my DD was breech and I'd lost some water and I found the whole thing really peaceful and calm. I'm petrified of Needles so that was the worst for me but the staff were great and really tried to take my mind off things and talked me through everything. My actually section was really calm the only thing I didn't like was that I wanted to see DD straight away but they took her away cleaned and wrapped her up which I didn't like but other then that it couldn't have gone better.

I struggled with the pain after but I am a pathetic wuss but it was only a few days and I was signed for to drive after 18 days so I have nothing but positive thoughts about my ELC

Good luck

I had an emergency section with my first and elective with second, first was awful and scary but the second was really nice, the only thing bothered me was the waiting was booked for 9am but didn't go down until 2 because of emergencies and I'd not eaten for what felt like 3 weeks. Obviously that can't be helped and 4 years previous I was one of those emergencies. I sat and are a big Mac meal in the recovery room thing
Plus because it was planned I knew what was happening so wasn't panicking. Also, I was allowed home quicker. I didn't feel like a failure at all, I'm more than happy with my choice because I have beautiful happy healthy babies. Good luck

I had a traumatic first delivery (high forceps in theatre, episiotomy, 3rd degree tear, wound infection and breakdown) and a section next time. Breast feeding was fine- actually bit easier if anything 2nd time round. Very painful wound on 1st day but only when I tried to move and stand and I only took paracetamol and ibuprofen and could have had stronger. I was feeling great and driving after 2 weeks and home to toddler on day 2. Recovery so much better than after my first delivery. Difficult decision to opt for section but v glad I did.
Good luck!

Thanks little red dinosaur - sounds a lot like what I went through. I'm glad you're all ok now and congratulations on your family/happy mothers day for Sun!

Loved my elective section, everyone was sooo friendly. They asked what sort of music I wanted, bit stingy for the local then painless spinal. Lovely DD was laid on my chest v soon afterwards and I breastfed fine.
They sent me for a shower a couple of hours later and I felt wobbly but I second pp who said try to stand tall and not hunch. Recovery, for me, was better than 3 VB.

2 C sections here.
Both fine.
2nd was the best as it was elective.
Calm, organised, radio on in the corner, smily theatre staff.

I organized childcare for ds 1, knew the date so cleaned, cooked and got ready.

I was walking to school pushing my squishy New born in his pram 10 days after section.
I was in for 48 hours that's all. Good painkillers, support from dh before he had to go back to work.

Not bad AT ALL.

OH & I breastfeed immediately, still doing so now & ds 2 is 2 years old now.

This is all so reassuring, thank you all so much. Mumsnet at its best.

Emcs due to breech with Ds1 and then EMCS with DS2 due to lack of progress. Both were at my choice and both were overwhelmingly positive experiences. If you go into an ELCS with a positive mindset (ie you are doing this because it's the right thing for you and your baby), then I think you might be surprisend by how good an experience it is. I have had no problems with b/feeding or bonding either.

Definitely try and prepare your toddler as I did struggle to lift etc for a few weeks. Take any help that you can with them as well or if they are in nursery, keep them in for a few weeks to give you more time to recover as well.

Pack lots of high waisted knickers and trousers for afterwards. Try them on to check for any seams that might rub on a scar (likely to be just below the waistband of normal type knickers). Ask for peppermint oil whilst you are in hospital as this will help with any wind.

I had a c section 13 days ago. was planning a home water birth, hypnobirthing, drug free etc, ended up with my waters breaking early and getting an infection so had to go to hospital, choose a section over the drip and the cascade of intervention (I had been up the previous five nights with stop start contractions and was not feeling well at this point) obviously its different because of the infection and I didn't want her in there another minute potentially getting sick, but I loved my c section, it was very calm, the staff were really kind, and it was really lovely actually. my partner cut the cord, and the surgeon did delayed cord cutting without me asking (was in my birth plan).

healing wise, the first few days were very painful, the car journey home was horrible because I was almost due my pain meds, so try and time it more wisely if you can! it is frustrating not being able to bend and lift things but you really do need to rest, I tried doing too much took soon and really paid for it, I'm taking it easier now!

One thing I wasn't aware of was apparently sex can be more painful after a section than a vaginal birth, because of all the pulling and rearranging they do in theatre, but can't comment on that yet

Ah - I thought the one pro would be that the old sex bits were left unscathed. Also, if you don't mind me asking, how long is the scar? Is it the full width of your tummy?

Also congratulations on your baby!!

Oh and breastfeeding is going really well, she had put on 6oz from her birth weight by day ten! I did quite a lot of expressing antenatally though just in case I needed a section and had trouble feeding, I didn't need it but I'm sure it helped

I loved my ELCS!! Calm, relaxed, no pain. Painful after but nothing you can't handle.

Never heard anything about sex being painful afterwards...I had sex 5 weeks after and it was totally pain free. Love the fact that my nethers are totally intact.

Oh, and my scar is tiny, 5 inches max.

My first was born by em CS, my second VBAC. I vastly preferred the natural birth, but then it all happened very quickly compared to hours of pain and intervention 1st time round. I did tear and have stitches though, and although the recovery was so much easier 2nd time, it was still uncomfortable.

My sister had a breech baby naturally, but she did need an epidural which I don't think she had with her others.

It is possible to have a natural breech birth, but I'd want to be absolutely sure that the staff were experienced - so many breeches are CS now, that breech delivery skills are being lost. I also think that if you're uptight or worried about the birth, and you had a bad experience before, you might be happier going for a planned section (which most people say is better than an emergency).

Re breastfeeding - I found it quite hard to establish post-section, but I had lost quite a lot of blood, my baby was very sleepy, and I was really uncomfortable. We weren't really getting initial feeding sorted enough for my milk to come in - with hindsight I (and my husband) should have been much more insistent on getting support. I did eventually get advice from the BF counsellor, but had endured days of 'well some people don't manage' with very little practical help. And I had felt bad about asking for help when I was really uncomfortable - take your meds, and if you need someone to help you get your baby up and latched on ask.

Thank you! She's brilliant, so calm

The scar is not too bad at all actually, it's right down low, they called it a 'bikini cut', haha! So it's under the pube line and about as long add the top of the triangle, if that makes sense? Nowhere near as bad as I was expecting

I've had two section, one EMCS second Elective, elective was a very positive experience, staff constantly talking to you and explaining what's going on, breastfed both DCs with no problems. My scar is the length of the top of my bikini line and pretty much unnoticeable.

Ah right, quite a low scar then. That is reassuring esp since I am none too fastidious about waxing so would have good coverage

Elective C section is probably the least stressful form of birth I would say! I had an emergency one and went through hours of pain and stress beforehand and the next time I had a 'straight forward' (extremely painful with no time for drugs) natural birth. If I did it again I would go for an elective cs!!!

I think an elective cs is pretty safe as no one is hurrying to get the baby out and everything is planned. You will also be prepared and hopefully have had a good nights sleep beforehand.

I've had two emcs. The first was after a 31hr labour with 8hrs of pushing, episiotomy, attempted ventouse, attempted manual rotation. Second was after a 38hr labour.

The caesareans were a breeze. Bit weird but nothing scary. The labour was MUCH worse. I needed no painkillers afterwards and was discharged after 12hrs and 36hrs respectively. I bf both babies exclusively. Was back running 8wks after dc2.

My scar is hidden completely. It is below the hairline, probably 4 inches long and a very faint silver if you remove the hair, invisible if you don't. You wouldn't notice it if you didn't know it was there. It sits well below the line of your underwear and is fairly small tbh.

Would you really KitZac? Even over a quick-ish natural birth? I hear you on the good night's sleep and in my case being able to organise care for older child. But I am still quite in love with the idea of the trad. contractions start>everyone in a rush>go to hospital>baby born normally scenario. But ultimately it doesn't matter as long as the baby is safe.