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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:
hullywully · 04/01/2016 19:55

I can't believe they sent you home. This happened to me. I went crazy. Literally crazy. I was dressed ready for theatre and everything, I had my tablets, my pre-op, everything and then my baby had turned. I said they couldn't expect me to have a natural birth after I'd mentally prepared myself for a section. To my surprise they actually agreed with me. They said it would be unreasonable to expect me to have a natural birth after everything I had done to get ready for a section. I said it would cause more anxiety and stress if they refused. They actually said that the theatre was already set up for me anyway so I coUld still have a section. They were really lovely. They only do 3 each morning at my hospital so they ha got ready for 3 anyway. Just make a fuss and say you haven't spent the time preparing for natural when you were told you would have a section. Stress on a heavily pregnant mother is never a good idea :-)

hullywully · 04/01/2016 19:55

Badger huge congratulations. Poppy is a beautiful name and as I come from a military background I particularly love it! Well done you.

hullywully · 04/01/2016 19:57

Two- my heart goes out to you but if you're ok with it either way then good on you!! I hope he/she gives you an easy time when the time does eventually come. After all you have been through you deserve it x

TwoDrifters · 05/01/2016 00:01

Hi turkey BakedPotato and hully I did semi-jokingly say "Can I not just have the section now I'm here and prepped?!" as I'd not eaten since the night before and taken all the pre meds, packed for the hospital, etc. But the anaesthetist looked quite horrified and said "Why would you want to still go ahead with it?" He made me feel it was a ridiculous thing to consider. Maybe I should have pushed for it (no pun intended) as the thought of "natural" labour is now really freaking me out, but at the same time the thought of surgery was scaring me too so I truly didn't know what was best to do.

I had gotten my head around the idea of the section and when we left home this morning we kept saying "the next time we walk back in these rooms, we'll have our baby!" etc. so it's weird now to have come home without him Sad but my husband said he'd back whatever I wanted to do and in the end I said well let's leave it up to the baby to come when he's ready.

I cancelled my 40-week midwife appointment this afternoon as I was so shattered and didn't want a sweep/to discuss induction. Not just yet, today was too much emotionally. We came home and slept for a few hours as we'd both been awake with nerves most of last night.

I guess I'll wait another week at least until my 41-week appointment and see what happens… We did have a second more detailed scan after the first one this morning, to check measurements and blood flow are all ok, which they seem to be. So I'm confident everything is fine.

As we were leaving, the lady who went down for her ELCS just before me was coming back with her baby and I did feel very jealous that for her, it was all done and dusted! Envy

IslaMann · 05/01/2016 12:57

I'm finding this thread very comforting. I'm due to have a ELCS in 2-3 weeks (they will let me know a week before apparently) due to various issues. I'm 44, and my last child is now a 6' 19.5year old, who was delivered by EMCS due to undiagnosed extended breach positioning. This one is the same, so am now (thanks to this thread) looking forward to a nice calm experience of a CS. Thank you all.

BadgerFace · 05/01/2016 16:03

We are being discharged today, hurray! Just one night in which is fabulous as I've not had more than a 30 minute cat nap in a row for nearly 36 hours now... I'll also be able to get home for cake for DD1's birthday today before bed, yeah!

Pain has been manageable and I've only had ibuprofen and paracetamol post-op although they will offer other stronger drugs if you need them.

Two I hope your baby homes soon. I'd have been very tempted to push for the elective in your situation, how difficult to get that close to it and then have to go home.

Good luck whoever is next on our list!

SweepTheHalls · 05/01/2016 17:13

Badger, you are clearly made of nails, I am on way more painkillers than that 6 days on , and still rather miss the morphine from hospital!

hullywully · 05/01/2016 17:33

Badger- that's exactly what I'm hoping for! Congratulations again. Super woman :-)

Islan- you will have a wonderful experience if you get your elective. I've had one before and it was wonderful. I'm excited for my next one on Thursday :-)

Two- have you been contacted by your local midwife? You can go to the GP and get something stronger if you need it. Try tramadol if nothing else works. You can normally get a telephone appointment with your GP if you REALLY need it! Do it if you need it. You have just had surgery X

hullywully · 05/01/2016 18:12

Isla not islan!

hullywully · 05/01/2016 18:18

Two- anything happening your end ATM? Keep us updated even though you're not s part of the 'section' group now I hope you let us know how it goes. X

TwoDrifters · 05/01/2016 21:56

Hi hully no news as yet. I had a strong curry last night and took a long walk over the marshes today but it doesn't seem to have achieved much! I'll keep you all updated Smile

BadgerFace · 06/01/2016 04:36

I had one dose of a stronger painkiller yesterday (the one below the morphine they offer) which in an ideal world I would have liked to have brought home just in case but the doctor didn't include it on my discharge prescription and to get it added would have delayed things by a good few hours so I decided to try without. I might be regretting that later and desperate to see the GP for a prescription!!

Icklepickle101 · 06/01/2016 10:47

This thread has helped with my anxiety but I'm still really scared, mine is 2 weeks tomorrow.

Was the feeling of them rummaging around really horrible? I had a nasty implant removal where the muscle was attached and the feeling of tugging and pulling made me feel really sick and I really didn't like it although it wasn't painful.

I'm getting in such a state about what I will 'feel' Sad

SweepTheHalls · 06/01/2016 11:51

I was concerned about the rummaging, but it was fine actually. The anaesthetic was great, and they were really careful to check I could feel no pain. The rummaging was odd, but no more and the theatre staff were really good that

SweepTheHalls · 06/01/2016 11:57

Ah!
That when I asked what a particular sensation was they explained, but other than that they didn't offer the information so as not to freak me out!
They also listened really carefully to how I told them how I was feeling, and they responded quickly and effectively (eg when I felt sick).
They offered me skin to skin we I think minutes as well which was great. I didn't take it as I felt too unwell, so she went straight to my husband who had lovely cuddles until I went into recovery and felt well enough.

Immediately after the c section I did doubt my decision a bit as it was harder than I anticipated, but with a whole 7 days of hindsight it was definitely the right choice for me and whilst harder than I had expected..... I can reassure you that it will be ok.

Original poster
angelpuffs · 06/01/2016 12:48

Sweep- at what point did you feel sick? Do you know what caused it- was it the medication? And what did they give you to make you feel better?

OP posts:
SweepTheHalls · 06/01/2016 13:14

My blood pressure dropped, as soon as I mentioned it the anaesthetist gave me medication so it passed in a minute or so. I was hugely impressed with all the staff.

BadgerFace · 06/01/2016 13:29

Ickle it's normal to be scared. I was a bit apprehensive and I'd had a relatively good experience last time with an EMCS. It was way better than I anticipated! Very calm and everyone was chatty. Expect there to be quite a few people in theatre. The surgeons are generally talking to each other. There's a nurse or two and a midwife. The anasthesiologist will come and introduce him/herself before the operation and can explain anything during the op. We just had a nice chat with him. The baby was out quicker than I expected, I hadn't really realised they'd started... Skin to skin whilst they stitched me up was lovely although I nearly passed her over to DH as my arm was getting a bit sore! Stitching also only took 25 mins and I had been expecting up to 45 mins.

angel the spinal block can make some people feel sick. I had anti- sickness tablets before the op but they also said to let them know if I felt sick at any point as they can give you further anti-nausea meds through your IV.

Original poster
angelpuffs · 06/01/2016 13:53

Thanks sweep and badger Smile

OP posts:
Icklepickle101 · 06/01/2016 14:07

Thanks all, hopefully the excitement of meeting ds/dd will keep me occupied enough to ignore what's going on at the business end!!

Original poster
angelpuffs · 06/01/2016 14:38

Ickle- yours must be the day before mine! I'm booked on 22 Jan....

OP posts:
Icklepickle101 · 06/01/2016 15:30

Yes I am the 21st!! Told everyone in RL it's the 22nd though so get some 'us time' before being inundated with texts/calls/visitors!

Cinnamon2013 · 06/01/2016 15:46

Marking place as I'm v happy to have found this thread. Booked for Feb, emcs with first.

5madthings · 06/01/2016 16:00

I am.just following this thread as I may need a section due to placenta previa. After five vaginally deliveries, all straightforward and easy I am anxious about the idea of a section. But obviously if it's what's needed so be it.

This thread is fab and is helping me prepare a list of questions etc.

Can I ask those who have had sections did any of you still delay cord clamping, apparently you xan still do this for a min or two with a section. Also so good to hear you can get skin to skin straight away as I will want tgat.

Iots of useful info and tips ie stuff about blood pressure, I have low blood pressure anyway so will speak to hospital about that for spinal/epidural etc. I am one of those annoying patients thst likes to know everything and go over options so this thread is so helpful.

Congrats to those who have their babies and good luck to those waiting. I am only 27 wks so a while to go. All my others wrre delivered at 42wks so with a section am assuming latest they will let me go is 40? Wks so that will also be different.

CloudOfStarlings · 06/01/2016 17:20

Just marking a place here as its been an encouraging thread to read, thanks ladies! My elcs booked for next thurs 14th, my actual due date.. Part of me secretly hoping I'll go into labour before then cos I'm so scared if the surgery recovery! (Have 2 DS already, both traumatic births, big babies who got stuck with various complications..so have already had awful recovery from vaginal birth esp with ds1, so hoping cs recovery can't be much worse!!)

Good luck to all going in this week! X