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Childbirth

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

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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:

SweepTheHalls · 31/12/2015 13:23

However, she is oh so worth it

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

Haggisfish · 31/12/2015 13:36

Oh congratulations!!! Tell the bounty woman to do one-seriously, just ask her to leave. I was fortunate never to encounter any.

TaliZorah · 31/12/2015 13:55

sweep the bounty woman at mine was so irritating. DS had just come from NICU and had a swollen face because they'd used a forceps to get him and he'd needed a ventilator.

The woman said "oh don't worry I can hide his drip..." and "oh his one eyes shut its just sticky I'll open it" and pulled it open! DS screamed and was very upset.

Re pain what pain relief are you on? The first one (oral morphine) didn't work for me, they switched it to tramadol 100x better

BadgerFace · 31/12/2015 13:59

Aw, gorgeous girl and gorgeous name Sweep! I'm sure the pain will start to recede soon, just keep on top of the pain meds.

Am i right in thinking I'm fine to go to the pre-op on my own? I think it will be easier than DH and toddler coming with me and being distracted by the little one... It's 9.30am on Monday so a bit too tricky a time to try and drop DD with one of my local friends first and get to the hospital on time.

Original poster

angelpuffs · 31/12/2015 14:19

She's beautiful sweep- you must be so thrilled
No one has said anything about pre-op to me- just that I have to get some bloods done 1-3 days before the c section. Is this normal?

OP posts:

hullywully · 31/12/2015 16:47

I have had two ELCS and friends of mine have had them too and we have all had pre-ops. They're normally 1 week, or a few days before your section. You have to sign to say you've been taken through all the spinal info, given the c-section book to read and you've been asked about the pain killer they put up your bum after the surgery. They do also take blood so that might be what that is. They might call it different things in different hospitals.

Congratulations sweep!!! Beautiful baby girl, I'm having another girl: who runs the world? GIRLS! You can never have too many X

hullywully · 31/12/2015 16:48

Oh and badger today there were 6 of us there for pre-ops and I was the only one with DH! They weigh you, so best to leave partner at home

hullywully · 31/12/2015 17:57

Just asked a friend about her CS as she's booked in at another hospital and she won't have a pre-op either. She got the tablets you need to take the night before as a prescription and she was just given a leaflet with a bit of info X

Original poster

angelpuffs · 31/12/2015 18:13

Hully- that's what's happened with me. They gave me the tablet and instructions re what to do the night before and all the blood forms. I've got a midwife appt next week so will check re pre-op then X

OP posts:

BadgerFace · 31/12/2015 18:30

I got my pills at my consultant's appointment 2 weeks ago and then
go in for pre-op the day before the CS.

Thanks for the head's up on the weighing hully! I don't mind being weighed at the hospital because they do it in kilos and I have no idea how that translates into stone which I've always used, ha ha!

TwoDrifters · 31/12/2015 23:45

I am booked in for my ELCS on Monday. Had a midwife appointment yesterday where I was given meds to take the night before and surgical stockings to wear on the day. Was talked generally through the procedure but not in huge detail; then had bloods taken and that was it!

hully What is the pain relief you are given after surgery?! Is it a sedative? I don't want to miss anything!

hullywully · 01/01/2016 07:17

Certainly ask about a pre- op because it does answer all questions you might have.

Pain relief after- I had liquid morphine after the surgery and then it's just basic painkillers. I believe if you push hard enough they give you tramadol. Being honest though I found the pain killers- paracetamol et al perfectly fine as long as you take them every three hours. All pain killers were given to me as I left the hospital. If you need something stronger though do ask because they do have a back up if basic painkillers don't work. Ask for extra if you need them although it's really not as painful as you might think X

Headofthehive55 · 01/01/2016 08:12

It's quite normal for babies to go off to special care for a bit, so don't panic if that happens.
You need big knickers
It took ages to feel OK for me. Walking was a struggle for a long time after. Weeks.
It's major surgery so you'll feel on a par with someone who has had a hysterectomy. Be gentle with yourself.
I didn't get the moment of birth, sort of slowly realised the baby had been extracted.
Needed physio for months after.
No pain at the time.
Whole stomach remained numb for a long time after. Now small section is numb years later.

SweepTheHalls · 01/01/2016 18:31

You will be glad to know that even after a pretty rough c section, I'm feeling much better today and can walk around the ward mostly pain free. Hopefully home tomorrow (day 4).

Original poster

angelpuffs · 01/01/2016 19:23

That's good news sweep. In what way was the c section rough? Are you able to get to the shower and pick up your baby unassisted now?

OP posts:

SweepTheHalls · 01/01/2016 19:40

Apparently I have blood vessels the size of pipes which caused a lot of unexpected bleeding (over a litre). I went to HDU afterwards, where I was well looked after. I still have drains in, and it was very tough getting up and active again and a hoping to be discharged tomorrow.

Original poster

angelpuffs · 01/01/2016 19:44

Sounds tough Hope you've got lots of help lined up for when you get home xx

OP posts:

hullywully · 01/01/2016 21:25

Talking of being discharged what is the normal time to spend in hospital after a section. I had to get straight up and drive to another hospital after my last one because my daughters lungs collapsed and she had to be ventilated at a special baby unit in a hospital in London, so this time I'm not sure what to expect. I'm booked in for 8:10am- nothing can get in the way because emergency CS are done elsewhere. Should I expect to be out the next day?

Original poster

angelpuffs · 01/01/2016 21:29

Hully- funny you should ask this as I'm interested in the answer too- I just asked on another thread! It seems that a lot of people are in for 3 nights...!

OP posts:

SkibadeeDoodle · 01/01/2016 21:30

I was turfed out 48 hours on the nose after a straightforward elective section. I was blissed out and enjoying lying in bed cuddling my baby and being waited on hand and foot, so would have liked another day or two, to be honest.

BadgerFace · 01/01/2016 21:34

At my hospital I think 2 nights is standard although if you're lucky enough to be first of the day a friend was released after one night but she asked and badgered a bit I think to be discharged and was a second time mum. I am hoping to do the same as I hated the post-natal ward last time and was there 4 nights.

hullywully · 01/01/2016 21:56

I will be badgering for sure. I have a 1 year old staying with my Mum, it's hard enough to explain to a one year old that she's about to be a big sister without her mum buggering off for several nights. I'm aiming for 24-48hours max! I'd love to stay in and relax but I need to think about my other baby at home.

BadgerFace · 02/01/2016 07:36

Sounds like you have a good chance hully as you're booked in so early! I don't find out when mine is until the morning of, and even then I've been told to ring labour ward at 7.30am to check we're still supposed to arrive at 8am as some days they push back the arrival time to 10am for all electives if labour ward is super-busy...

I know we are very lucky to have an amazing London teaching hospital on our doorstep for lots of reasons, and it's a specialist paeds hospital so we're in great hands if anything goes wrong, but it does make for slightly stressful uncertainty it seems for electives!

mumchkin · 02/01/2016 09:57

I had an elective caesarean three days ago and can honestly say it was the best day of my life :) Not just because I got to meet DS but because it was no way near as dramatic or painful as I imagined. The spinal going in is a surreal feeling, then after that you just lie down, relax and chat to the anaesthetist. My husband was there to hold my hand and at one point about 3 minutes in, the surgeon told him to look over the curtain and take a picture as the baby came out - the look on his face was priceless. They show you your baby and then he was taken to be checked with DH and they sewed me up which took no time at all - maybe 15 minutes. The three of us went to recovery and we immediately breastfed. They checked my vitals for the next 45 mins and then we were wheeled upstairs - it felt euphoric and incredible - just so positive. After about an hour, the spinal wore off and the wound site felt a bit burny (about a 6 or 7 on my pain scale) so we tried different meds over the next hour until it got sorted out - I think I had tramadol and morphine in the end but I do have the tolerance of a bull elephant. Spent the next 24 hours in a little cocoon of happiness with bub - wasn't hungry so didn't want to eat (and you can't really until the next day). Next day they got me up, which I was dreading but it was absolutely FINE - in fact I was in more pain at the end of my pregnancy with all the round ligament stuff and pressure on my bladder whenever I moved - this was literally fine. They take out the catheter (didn't hurt) and drip and you have a shower and then as long as you stay on top of your pain meds you feel a little better every day. I haven't strayed far from bed for the last three days but will probably do a little walk tomorrow - I thought I'd be hobbling around but I am walking normally and upright with no real effort - tummy muscles just feel a little sore. Fingers crossed I continue with no complications! I was terrified before the op but reading some of the replies on here really helped me calm down and put it in perspective. I hope you have a super positive experience - enjoy it, because as someone else said on here, it's your birth experience.

LeoLemur · 02/01/2016 10:19

Thanks for sharing your story mumchkin that's lovely to hear. And a massive congrats to sweep for your beautiful baby daughter!

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