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Childbirth

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

Original poster

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

389 replies

angelpuffs · 22/12/2015 21:01

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!

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turkeysandwishes · 21/01/2016 15:18

Good luck! You will soon have your lovely baby in your arms!!

Original poster
angelpuffs · 21/01/2016 15:48
Shock
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Original poster
angelpuffs · 21/01/2016 16:24

A bit of a weird question for those of you who've already had your CS- do you have to take off underwear for the operation?

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zippyswife · 21/01/2016 16:27

Good question! I can't remember but I think so. Will wait for someone who can remember!

Similarly. Are you bringing in nightdress rather than pjs? I think I did last time- a seriously unglamorous number buttoned down for easy breastfeeding.

IslaMann · 21/01/2016 16:38

angel you'll have a catheter so yes, you will.

Original poster
angelpuffs · 21/01/2016 16:52

Ok thanks Isla.
Zippy- I've packed 2 dark coloured button down nighties (borrowed from my mum!) and 2 pairs of pj bottoms and several baggy t shirts. Nighties for breastfeeding and pj bottoms to cover the surgical stockings (and the rest....!)

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zippyswife · 21/01/2016 17:26

Good plan Angel. Sounds like you're sorted!

BadgerFace · 21/01/2016 17:48

Good luck tomorrow both!!

You'll be naked apart from the hospital gown, and that gets pulled up to your boobs but after the spinal so you can't really tell!

Original poster
angelpuffs · 21/01/2016 18:05

Can you wear a bra....?

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CloudOfStarlings · 21/01/2016 19:20

angel they told me to strip off completely under the gown..but maybe they'd let you wear a bra if you wanted to, can always ask!
I just wore baggy T-shirts/nighties on the post natal ward..I had pj bottoms with me but it was SO. HOT. on the ward I couldn't have worn them!! Just put on my dressing gown whenever I walked around, and sheet over me when in bed (plus stockings of course!!)

Piles of luck to you angel and isla for tomorrow, thinking of you both!

Original poster
angelpuffs · 21/01/2016 19:26

Yuck- walking around naked under a hospital gown seems v undignified (although I'm sure that will be the least of my worries!)
Thanks cloud- will post when it's done and baby is here Smile

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CloudOfStarlings · 21/01/2016 19:35

Haha, I know but the only walking I did was a few steps down the corridor to theatre and you just hold the gown closed over your bum Grin..you're just on your bed in recovery ward before you go in and after.

turkeysandwishes · 22/01/2016 08:36

Totally naked under the gown for mine, I was given 2 gowns though so I could wear one like a dressing gown for walking down to theatre in and afterwards I had nighties xx

SweepTheHalls · 22/01/2016 09:15

Took in a light dressing gown to wear over the hospital gown for walking down to theatre Grin. Take nighties for once you get mobile, just in case you end up with drains left in like I did. The dressing gown was then great for more coverage walking to the loos (very slowly) whilst maintaining some dignity with all the visitors around.

Original poster
angelpuffs · 22/01/2016 12:14

Little Zara was born this morning at 9.30 weighing 8lb 7oz... She's had a really good first feed and is sleeping on my chest right now so I'll update more when I have both hands free Smile

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5madthings · 22/01/2016 12:29

Congratulations angel welcome to the world baby Zara :)

I had been following this thread due to having placenta previa, the good news is my placenta has moved, so I won't need a section but baby is currently breech and already quite big (at 30 wks) so hoping it flips, I think they like them to flip by 34 wks and apparently this baby being number six means it may stay breach esp combined with it being big... So I may end up choosing between trial of labour or c section...

It is very reassuring reading this thread and loving hearing about all the new babies :)

CloudOfStarlings · 22/01/2016 14:05

Yay! Congrats angel!! Welcome little Zara! So pleased for you! Hope it all went smoothly & you can rest up now! Well done!
5madthings poor you with all those complications, you'd think by baby 6 it should be a breeze!! Grin hope baby turns for you!

5madthings · 22/01/2016 14:15

Tbf cloud this is a really easy pregnancy like my others wrre, I am still riding my bike everyday and feel fine, no real aches or issues. The placenta thing can happen to anyone and thankfully it moved. I didn't bank on baby being awkward, all my others have been head down from early on so not sure what this one is playing at! I am spending lots of time on all fours to encourage it to turn. I am a good candidate for a vaginal breech birth as I have had five straightforward normal births but I do have big babies which is more of a worry with a breech apparently. Basically I will be asking lots of questions, first one being how many midwives do they have who have experience and are happy to attend breech deliveries if I wanted to try that. I honestly don't know yet what I think but it's reassuring having this thread so if I need a section I know what to expect.

zippyswife · 22/01/2016 15:10

angel that's fantastic. Congrats! Really lovely name! Glad all went well. Enjoy it all x

IslaMann · 22/01/2016 19:27

Deliriously happy to announce the safe arrival of Órla this morning at 09:36 weighing a bruising 8lb 3oz. Wasnt so straightforward for me as had a large bleed and have been in HDU all afternoon. Much recovered now tho and about to be moved to the ward. Congrats to angel, aren't we the luckiest ladies in the world right now? X

zippyswife · 22/01/2016 19:31

Congrats isla. Love the name! Sorry to hear wasn't straight forward with the bleed but glad you're back on the ward and recovering! Enjoy your new baby girl! X

Original poster
angelpuffs · 22/01/2016 20:10

Thanks everyone- and congrats Isla- our babies were born only 5 mins apart!! Sorry to hear about the bleed- how much did you lose? Glad you're feeling better- gorgeous name. I'm totally in love with Zara- she's amazing Smile Walked to bathroom about 30 mins ago and it was actually really painful- I was surprised by how bad- but I've not had any of the morphine etc- just paracetamol and dihydrocodeine. Catheter has been taken out so will see how that goes. The worst thing is the trapped wind though- any suggestions for how to deal with that....anyone?!

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zippyswife · 22/01/2016 20:11

Peppermint capsules/tea for wind. Sorry I thought I'd said that up thread. I took them Last time and had no Problem with it. Get on the peppermint and it should ease up.

zippyswife · 22/01/2016 20:12

Glad you're up and about Angel! Maybe hit the morphine if it's painful. I'm sure I was on that for a good while after the op.

CloudOfStarlings · 22/01/2016 20:21

Ask the midwives angel I'm sure I heard somebody on my ward being given something peppermint..
Oh it does hurt the first couple of days getting up out of bed, poor you..take it easy. Ask for extra painkillers if you need them, they gave me tramadol on top of the paracetamol/ibuprofen.

Congrats to isla another girl! And another beautiful name. Sorry to hear you had to go to hdu but glad you're improving now. Did you have a transfusion then?

5madthings that's great the pregnancy is going so well. A good friend of mine had an undiagnosed breech and gave birth to her vaginally- this was at the same time as I had my ds1 (forceps) and my friend came off a lot better than I did from that birth!! 😁 so it can be done!