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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!

OP posts:
BadgerFace · 22/01/2016 20:52

Congrats both!! Two lovely girls with gorgeous names! Definitely ask for some top up painkillers if you're feeling it. I hope you both get home as quickly as you want to.

IslaMann · 22/01/2016 23:09

I lost around 2 litres. They actually transfused me with some of my own blood loss. Can't remember now what it's called but the filtered the blood that was caught by the suction unit and then gave me it back so I had about 650mls replaced. My blood pressure dropped to a dangerous level but as soon as the bleeding point was repaired it started to come back up and my HB is getting better each time they check it. There was a chance I may need a 2 unit transfusion but luckily not so far. Funnily enough I'm now feeling better than I have for the past 9 months, and am in very little pain. Thanks for all your kind wishes X

turkeysandwishes · 23/01/2016 10:38

Congratulations ladies! Two little ladies with beautiful names.
I had oramorph for pain relief as well as the paracetamol and ibuprofen, I was allowed it every 2 hours, if you Buzz the midwife she should be able to help you.
isla my boy was 8lb 3oz aswell.
Congratulations again Flowers

CloudOfStarlings · 23/01/2016 12:20

My DD was 8lb 3oz too! Grin how funny.

isla glad to hear you're not in pain, hope today is positive for you & angel !

Original poster
angelpuffs · 23/01/2016 12:28

Thanks everyone. I pretty sore today but the trapped wind is the worst thing- agony!!peppermint water helps a it but only allowed 3 doses a day- am trying to walk around but that's not easy. Did the oramorph help Cloud? I'm not really finding that paracetamol etc do much for the pain....
How are you feeling Isla? X

OP posts:
Original poster
angelpuffs · 23/01/2016 12:29

Sorry- meant to direct the oramorph question to turkey, not Cloud!

OP posts:
turkeysandwishes · 23/01/2016 19:24

angel the oramorph did help but I found the first few doses made me sick so I had to have a couple of anti sickness injections at the same time.
How are you getting the on?

Original poster
angelpuffs · 23/01/2016 19:33

Hi Turkey
I don't want anything else to make me feel sick so think I'll stick with the prescribed painkillers- soreness is improving. What day did you find you'd turned a corner in terms of the pain? Doctor came round this eve and told me to use glycerol suppositories (which is actually brought in with me) so will give them a go for the horrendous trapped wind...!

OP posts:
zippyswife · 23/01/2016 20:02

Hope the trapped wind eases off Angel Flowers

Original poster
angelpuffs · 23/01/2016 20:18

Thanks zippy- hoping to go home tomorrow as DD1 is missing is us Sad
How are you feeling?

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CloudOfStarlings · 23/01/2016 21:53

angel just make sure you're definitely ready to go home.. In hindsight I really wish I'd asked to stay an extra day as I found the first day & night at home really hard getting in & out of bed etc. I would say about day 5 I started to feel I could handle the pain & the night feeds etc much better so hopefully won't be long for you!
The trapped wind really is the pits though! Hope that eases off for you.

turkeysandwishes · 24/01/2016 10:36

I took longer than most to feel better I think but I had an infection and was on iv antibiotics etc but my son is now 12 days old and I feel almost normal again, it itches and burns a bit but if I keep up with the painkillers it's hardly noticeable.
I spent 6 days in hospital altogether and the total rest was a godsend, make sure you do nothing when you leave!

Original poster
angelpuffs · 24/01/2016 19:11

Hi Turkey and Cloud
You were right about not doing too much- just checked and my c section wound was bleeding Sad. I was discharged today and felt better in terms of the pain but I think it's hard not to be on the go when there a 2 yr old in the house....
I called the post natal ward and they told me to keep an eye on it and go to triage if it bleeds heavily. I've covered it with a gauze pad like they told me to- any advice?

OP posts:
CloudOfStarlings · 24/01/2016 22:56

Oh no angel that's not good Sad but I think a bit of bleeding is OK, mine was a bit the first couple of days but they just kept an eye on it. I don't have any useful advice sorry!! But good you've already been in touch with the hospital, if the bleeding carries on don't hesitate to go in for reassurance (and possible antibiotics?)
I know what you mean about wanting to do things though! So hard not to.. I'm 10 days in now & only feeling v mild pain/pulling in my scar, but dh keeps telling me off for tidying/loading the dishwasher etc ..he's right I shouldn't bend etc too much but it's so hard to just let things go esp when you're starting to feel better!

Please do take it easy the next few days, is your dh on paternity leave? Really hope there isn't any more bleeding for you x

SweepTheHalls · 25/01/2016 08:28

Stay on the sofa, find a craft project to complete while your partner is on paternity leave and they can do everything. This is what I did after a pretty rough section and by the end if the 2 weeks I was really well healed.
Be gentle on yourself Angel lf Flowers

vickyors · 25/01/2016 20:19

I'm off to the hospital tomorrow morning and terrified, but also terrified they'll cancel if they're really busy.

Signing all the forms was pretty daunting.. All the things that can go wrong!!

Hope everyone's ok.. I've taken on board all the feedback about staying in until you're sure.. Will keep you posted about how it goes..

Angel I hope the bleeding is ok..

zippyswife · 25/01/2016 20:30

Vick I found the form signing daunting too. I burst into tears while I was doing it. I was just overwhelmed. Bloody hormones.

It's normal to nervous about tomorrow. But it will all be fine. I'm a couple of days you'll be on here telling me not to Worry about mine
Next week good luck.

CloudOfStarlings · 25/01/2016 21:43

Good luck Vick! You'll be just fine! It's a lovely experience and now with a but of hindsight the first few difficult days don't seem like much at all! I agree the forms are really scary Confused but all those things are so unlikely to happen, esp in an elective (not emergency) section. Will look forward to your baby news!! Smile

vickyors · 26/01/2016 21:29

Hey all, Hannah arrived at 12.30 and it was calm and lovely. She's 6lb 14..

The anaesthetist was really careful about finding a good spot, so that took a few minutes, but then once that was done it was so efficient.. We heard Hannah as she was coming out, and we both had a cry, then they showed her to us both.. She did skin to skin with husb.. In recovery they helped with the feeding and have been amazing since..

The pain is manageable.. I've got morphine every hour as I need, although it makes me feel a bit sicky..

So far this was such a positive experience! KnAckered now though..

Original poster
angelpuffs · 26/01/2016 21:49

Congratulations Vicky! Glad your experience was so positive! By day 3 my pain was much more bearable- but try and get up a bit tomorrow (to minimise trapped wind if nothing elseSmile)
Enjoy cuddles with your lovely baby xxx

OP posts:
Original poster
angelpuffs · 26/01/2016 21:51

Just wanted to update everyone- I'm feeling loads better today- no more bleeding from the incision and have been letting DH do a lot more. Have kept on top of pain meds and went out for a walk twice today- day 5.
Hope everyone is doing well xx

OP posts:
zippyswife · 26/01/2016 22:24

Congrats Vick! That's fab news. Beautiful name. Glad all has gone so well. Was thinking of you today!

Glad all going well Angel. Well done on the walks- sounds like you're doing great. Glad no more bleeding.

vickyors · 27/01/2016 04:08

Angel, I'm so impressed.. I cannot wait to be up and about again.. And glad incision is better..

2ndbabymama · 27/01/2016 09:07

Hi ladies, I'm in tomorrow for my ELCS after an emergency first one. I've been fine really up until last night when I sort of lost it. Poor DH wasn't quite prepared for it and had been trying to talk through some practical things. I just got so anxious thinking of my first experience and the stay in hospital on top of all the usual worries about baby being healthy. Not sure what will make this any better but he should be here tomorrow and we can hopefully start getting used to being a family of four! Had a terrible sleep last night thinking about it. Just one more to go though - just trying to stay positive and think of meeting our second little man. Grin

zippyswife · 27/01/2016 13:06

2nd- I think it's completely normal to
Have a wobble just before. I did before my last and I can feel I am this time too!
My understanding is emcs is very different to elcs. The word everyone seems to use is calm. I had an amazing positive experience with my last Elcs. It was so calm
Quick and straightforward.
Completely normal to be nervous too though (I think everyone on here was nervous just beforehand then they come back on here to say how well it went- you'll be giving me reassurance in a couple of days time!!).