Elective c section booked- tell me your stories....

[angelpuffs]

I've got a date for my elective c- section when I'll be 38+6. Did anyone go into labour before their c section date? Any advice/dos and donts? I had a ventouse delivery with DD1 so would like to hear people's experiences of the op itself, post natal care and recovery- and anything else you can think of. Thanks in advance!

Don't worry about the blood loss ladies! As has been said, over 1000ml is when they would worry & it's rare. I was lightheaded/a bit sick from 700ml loss as I have v low blood pressure anyway so think it affected me a bit but others might not notice it. And it's not as scary as it sounds, the anaesthetist said they estimate your loss from weighing the swabs etc so it's not like blood is gushing out of you!
Ooh good luck for Friday angel, so exciting! And zippy hope you do get 4th Feb!

Day 6 post section for me today & definitely improving.. First thing in the morning is hard as the painkillers have worn off but later on in the day I feel so much better - I've been managing to do more & more in the house (light tasks like washing up! Can't bear dh doing everything!!) so I'm feeling v hopeful that week 2 of dh paternity leave might be a bit more about doing some fun things like coffee dates!

Hi Cloud- that's reassuring. I was worried that I still wouldn't be able to do anything by the time DH went back to work! Have you been able to go out yet?
How are things going with your baby? Is feeding going well?

Can I join? I've got my elective booked for next Tuesday 26th.. I'll be just over 39 weeks (ELCS is because I had difficult previous birth and then revision surgery after 6 months).. Feeling very hormonal and the old scar tissue is still sore..

I've been stalking this thread for a while and learning lots!

Day 4 here and recovery has been a lot easier than expected!! Went to my DPs work and a small shop at tesco today, was nice to get lots of compliments on DS and how well I looked!!

The first poo wasn't bad at all but I have stopped the iron tablets as they gave me nasty stomach cramps. Milk came in on day 2 so I would t worry about that either!!

Good luck ladies

Hi yes we made it home yesterday!
I'm sorry if I worried anyone with my talk of blood loss, I lost 1200ml but the staff were so professional that I didn't even know until my blood pressure plummeted and that was sorted out instantly by the anethetist .
I wouldn't hesitate to have another elcs if I was pregnant, the day of the op was o e of the best most exciting days of my life!
You will all be totally fine, rest plenty, take your meds and enjoy your lovely babies!

Well, DH went back to work yesterday, DS1 and I came down with stomach bugs and DH gas been back off work today as he's come down with it! Not the smoothest of starts to coping at home with 3 children!
Approaching week 3 of not driving is starting to drive me crackers! Surprisingly I still have 2 stitches very clearly there really hoping that they are just slow to dissolve and aren't the non dissolving type.

Turkey- yours sounds like a great experience- what a good start to being a mum.
Ickle- did you use any glycerol suppositories etc? I'm kind of dreading that aspect of it!
Sweep- that's rough getting a stomach bug. Was it a short lived 24 hour one at least? Hope you're on the mend now.
Vicky- hello! There are quite a few of us booked in the next week or 2 so stay tuned!

Just been given my date. 2/2 I wasn't expecting it so early and am a bit shocked.

Have also been told I need to see a cardiologist/have heart scan as I've been having palpitations and I need Iv iron as I'm low. My heads all over the place and I cried in front of the consultant!!

So pleased to hear you're all doing so well. And excited that you have your newborns!!

angel no supposition ties just lactulose and Senna every evening from day 2. I'd made sure I had eaten loads of fibre in the days before though!

Yes angel take dried apricots in as a snack, and buy fybogel (an orange flavour fibre powder you mix into water - not unpleasant at all!) It's a really gentle laxative, doesn't make you urgently need to go just keeps stool soft and regular!!
Everything going well with baby thanks, feeding very good! She had her best night yet last night, woke twice to feed but I still got almost 7 hours sleep so feel amazing today! Have done hair & makeup for first time since she was born and pain definitely reducing now. Last night I 'saved' one of my paracetamol doses to take in the night & that helped massively with getting up for the feeds/waking this morning so will be doing that again tonight!

Zippy- that's great that your date is 2/2- it reduces the chance of you going into labour naturally (which is what I'm scared of!) Are you happy with that date? Regarding the iron, they'll just want to keep you topped up in case of blood loss- if you lose a medium amount of blood you'll feel better if your iron levels are higher than you'd feel if you had low iron levels. It's an emotional time- I sympathise- the slightest thing sets me off crying!
Cloud- 7 hours sleep- that's fantastic! How many weeks and days old is your baby now? It sounds like your recovery is going really well. Thanks for the advice re the fybogel

angel thanks for the reassurance. Not long at all for you now.

cloud sounds like all is going amazingly well. That's great about the sleeping! Just what I wanted to
Hear!!

Also hi to Vicky did you have an emcs previously then or do you mean surgery on your perineum? Poor thing either way, can understand you feeling anxious but it really is a very calm experience compared to a difficult VB! Good luck xxx

Sorry missed the other posts!! Baby is 6 days old today.. I'm not expecting the good sleep to last but will enjoy it while it does!!
angel is this your first baby? Sorry if I've missed that info.

Cloud, that sounds great- we'd all like a baby like that!
I had surgery on perineum about 7months post previous birth.. (Nasty episiotomy didn't heal well after a 3 day induction/labour too).. So it's all quite a scarred mess!

I am hoping it will be calmer. Post my 'natural' birth I couldn't walk or sit for about two weeks, so reading that they want you walking within 24 hours is amazing!

vick I had an elcs after a natural birth with a 3rd degree missed tear. My experience with elcs and subsequent recovery was that it was so much quicker. Like yourself I couldn't sit down for weeks after natural birth my elcs recovery was breezy in comparison.

I'm a worrier unfortunately so I'm a bit anxious about this elcs even though I know how calm and positive my Whole experience was last time.

Vick I sympathise too! Had massive haematoma in my episiotomy after ds1, was absolutely awful & couldn't walk for a couple of weeks, or sit properly for a good few months after, it's absolutely brutal isn't it! I then had 3rd degree tear with ds2 so mine is a mess too hence choosing the elcs this time.. !! I'm sure you'll be happy you made this decision!
zippy I'm a real worrier too and I deliberated for the whole pregnancy about which way to go, trying to weigh up the risks of both sides.. At the end of the day for us this was the safest way to get baby here and sounds like it is for you too. I know lots of people who've had 2 or more cs and lots of them say second time is easier, you know what to expect..I'm sure you'll be just fine, focus on the fact you'll be snuggling that newborn before long!!

Cloud- this will be my second baby. With DD1 I also had an episiotomy and ventouse delivery as she was 9lb ( I'm only 5'4" and a size 8 so her size was unexpected!). The episiotomy took ages to heal and it was really uncomfortable hence the ELCS this time....
Just can't wait to meet DD2 now!

I've just woken up to realise that today is my last full day of being pregnant, and my last day of being totally alone in the day for a very long time. C-Day tomorrow, eeekkkk

Me too Isla- though I'm not alone... Have already negotiated one tantrum with my 2 yr old this morning! Is your CS in the morning or afternoon tomorrow?

angel sounds like you've had a rough ride last time round, I'm sure this will be much better!! Ooh enjoy your last day of being pregnant both of you! I can't believe this time last week I was holding my little bundle in theatre, makes me all emotional!!

angel it's in the morning I believe. I have GD so they tell me that I'll likely be done first or second so I am not starved for too long. How about you? And how are you feeling about tomorrow?

Cloud- yes it was a bit rough though not as bad as the stories I've heard on here from other poor mums.... I can't wait for the moment they pass her to me! Just hope it all goes smoothly.
Isla-mines in the morning too- have to be at the hospital at 7am but there are only 2 of us booked for tomorrow. Just off to hospital shortly for pre op bloods- it's all getting very real now! Can't imagine I'm going to get much sleep tonight....

Good luck to you both for tomorrow!! Hope you get in early and quickly. Last time there was 2 of us and I went second. I was holding ds2 just after 9am!! So you shouldn't be waiting long!

Thanks zippy- very exciting!