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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 · 27/12/2015 18:20

My biggest tip is set an alarm for your meds time. Diclofenac is amazing at keeping the pain at bay but I forgot to take mine the first night home after a stressful 4 nights in the post natal ward (due to feeding issues rather than the CS) and boy did I then know I'd had major surgery! But with the meds on timetable it wasn't sore at all.

Also when trying to sit up from lying down in bed roll onto your side and use your arms to push yourself up rather than try to sit up normally using stomach muscles!

zippyswife · 27/12/2015 18:46

This thread is great. I'm due to have my second elcs in Feb and had forgotten lots about it.

My experience was very straightforward and breezy and calm. I didn't much like the feeling of the spinal but I think that was more me getting last minute nerves. I took arnica and peppermint tablets for healing/prevent trapped wind which you can get from c section. I healed as quickly/easily as I did front v birth. I had to stay in for 2 or 3 nights (can't remember now!!) but that was as I had very low blood pressure and didn't react well to local anaesthetic. But I gather that's unusual and I'm just unlucky. Even with that it was a positive experience. Good luck x

Original poster
angelpuffs · 27/12/2015 18:56

Yes, it's such a useful thread isn't it!? I already have to roll onto my side and push myself up with my arms from a lying position so am used to that Smile
The peppermint tablets are a great tip- do!they really work? Am quite worried about that side of things Confused

OP posts:
TaliZorah · 27/12/2015 18:59

Angel I said this on another ELCS thread but don't think I have here

Take glycerin suppositories in with you, they make the post cesarean poo easier and hospitals are funny with giving them out (for some bizarre reason you need a doctor despite them being OTC things you can get from boots).

InspectorNorse · 27/12/2015 19:00

I loved mine :) really positive experience. I found the first walk the worst bit. After a 3pm op, they tried to get me walking at 11:30pm!! I was exhausted and it hurt!

I had one long stich under the skin, (left the neatest scar I've ever seen), and the midwife removed it on day five (I think). Didn't feel a thing.

It really was one of the nicest experiences. Very surreal, but I don't feel at all like I didn't give birth. It was the safest option for my baby, and I found the team (huge number of them!) to all be really lovely, even though they must see loads of births :)

Oh, also,I went into labour about 7 hours before the section was due to happen! They gave me the choice of trying a natural breech delivery or going straight for the section. I tried for 24 hrs but things showed down so I asked for a section the next day.

I hope you have a really positive experience too :) all the best!

InspectorNorse · 27/12/2015 19:05

Oh yes! I was told to drink peppermint tea, but I actually never did and had no painful trapped wind - so don't overly worry, as it's not a certainty!

But that first poo... In fact, every poo for a while... Yikes! Definitely be prepared, just in case! I found I couldn't push at all. Drink a lot of water, pack some prunes in your bag, and if you can get some of those movicol or fybogel sachets to drink, those were my lifesaver.

Original poster
angelpuffs · 27/12/2015 19:07

Thanks inspector- sounds great. I was worried about going into labour before the date but sounds like they offer you the choice of a section anyway.
Talizorah- where do you get glycerin suppositories from? And how soon after the op should you use them?

OP posts:
TaliZorah · 27/12/2015 19:11

angel you can get them from boots. Use them when you feel you need a poo, i used them on day 2 - about day 5.

Original poster
angelpuffs · 27/12/2015 19:12

Thanks!

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zippyswife · 27/12/2015 20:01

I can't say whether the peppermint capsules worked but I didn't have any problems with trapped wind so maybe they did. I have a complete peppermint tea craving (6-8 cups a day) so assuming that continues for the next month or so I should be fine (I still have peppermint capsules from last time too so I'll take them-can't hurt!).

Original poster
angelpuffs · 27/12/2015 20:24

Thanks Zippy- will definitely stock up on those.

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SweepTheHalls · 28/12/2015 12:29

Same problem here Badger! ELCS on Wednesday, DS1's birthday is on Friday and I really want to be home for it, but with all the bank holidays around this time of year there was no flexibility 😑. Just hoping to be well enough to come home in time.

hullywully · 28/12/2015 17:50

Wow there are a lot of us booked in again for ELCS in January. Mine is booked or the 7th- pre-op this week. What were you all told about going in to labour early? They'd still do a section right? I had a section with my first at 33 weeks, suffered PND so have asked for another, they have said that's fine and my consultant booked me in, but I'm wondering what would happen if I went in to labour now. I've never been this pregnant and going round IKEA today was not fun! Cannot wait to meet my other DD!

BadgerFace · 28/12/2015 20:33

I was told that if you go into labour before your ELCS date to go to the maternity unit and you then get slotted in for a CS after any emergencies but before other electives due to happen that day...

Original poster
angelpuffs · 28/12/2015 21:00

That's interesting badger. My doctor told me that you'd still be offered the option of a c section if you went into labour, though it would depend on how far along you were when you turned up....

OP posts:
hullywully · 28/12/2015 21:00

Great thanks Badger. I thought that might be the case.

hullywully · 28/12/2015 21:01

Angel- surly they can preform a section at any stage?

Original poster
angelpuffs · 28/12/2015 21:11

Yes- she said if you were 10cm dilated then they might think otherwise.....

OP posts:
SweepTheHalls · 29/12/2015 06:16

25houra to go and I may be freaking out somewhat. Much tears last night at the idea of hospital and leaving my 2 beautiful boys for 2 days. I just need this all over!
Random question of the day, how to you go to the toilet after your partner has gone home at night? I can't imagine leaving my baby, but neither do I think carrying her to the toilets is a good plan either?

BadgerFace · 29/12/2015 07:02

angel My consultant also asked if I was open to a VBAC if it turned out I was 10cm dilated, in which very unlikely scenario I said that would be fine!! But I am intending to go to hospital as soon as I'm sure labour has started. Which will probably be today as the pregnancy insomnia has resurfaced and I've been awake since 4.30am so Sod's law it will happen when I'm already exhausted...

Hope you're okay now Sweep - any chance you can push to be released after one night? Do you have an early appointment? Some of my friends have managed to get home with only one night in hospital so I am crossing my fingers for an early appointment. I still can't believe my ELCS is on DD's birthday!!

With respect to your toilet question, the first night I think they tend to leave your catheter in so it's not an issue (although it's possible that was because mine was an emergency rather than planned, will be interested to hear what the others on the thread experienced). I think I then left DD the second night which stressed me out a. It at the time but was also a bit too shell-shocked at events to think properly. With a bit of hindsight, this time I will ring the buzzer and ask one of the breastfeeding assistants or midwives to sit with her for five minutes. They are really nice and helpful. I definitely wouldn't carry her to the toilet - nowhere to put them once you're in there plus hard tiled floor! And you'll need your arms to help you stand up off the seat... I am jealous you are going in tomorrow, you will be through it soon!! Do you have your pre-op appointment today? Let us know what that involves...

hullywully · 29/12/2015 07:04

Sweep you can take the baby with you or call the midwife and they will watch the baby for you. You don't actually have the catheter taken out for a while though, mine stayed in until the following morning. I'm going to miss my DD when I go in too but we have to do this, think of it as a means to an end. Let us know how it all goes.

SweepTheHalls · 29/12/2015 07:32

Pre op was before Christmas, blood tests today (and a need to wrap DS1's birthday present and buy a cake as his birthday is NYD! Also viewing a house at some point today and DS 2 has a birthday party to go to!)
Boys off to my parents overnight as we have to be at the hospital for 7.15 tomorrow morning. I think that there are 3 of us in each day for ELCS, and they decide the order when you all get there at 7.15.
Very apprehensive, even though I am completely confident that this is the right choice for me and the little one.

SweepTheHalls · 29/12/2015 07:34

Good luck today Badger, hope you do go today. I thought I would yesterday as I felt do rough. Been up since 3am here!

fruitpastille · 29/12/2015 07:42

Good luck everyone! On my ward everyone left the baby asleep to go to the toilet. Security is high. My dh was there most of the time or another visitor so it was only at night time I had to do this. Carrying the baby is v hard after a section, you could wheel the little cot somewhere if you needed to. The first night you can buzz a midwife to help you lift baby it to feed etc.

TwoDrifters · 29/12/2015 07:48

Thanks so much for this thread! I have read with interest as due to my little one being breech, I am also booked in for an ELCS. However, also due to all the bank holidays, I cannot be booked in until next Monday (Jan 4th) which happens to be my actual due date! So I'm paranoid that I will go into labour before then!

Not much I can do about that, I know! I have a midwife appt tomorrow afternoon to check the baby's position - not sure whether to hope he's turned (unlikely I think at this late stage & I've not noticed any major movement) or not - and then I guess we'll go from there.

This is our first baby so I have no frame of reference to compare this to and am just hoping to have as smooth an experience as some of you lovely PPs.

Thanks for all the info/advice!