Positive stories of C-Sections to calm my nerves please?

[DinosaursArentMakeBelieve]

I'm trying to prepare myself for the need to have a c-section due to having a rather curvy baby!

It's something that has always been a fear for me as my mother had an emergency section with me and suffered really bad post-natal depression for years after.
Our relationship is nothing like that of hers with my siblings and it really worries me.

Does anyone have any positive stories of c-sections to share?

I had a C-section. It was lovely! Played gorgeous music. The doctors sang to DS as he came out. Pain-free throughout. No pain during or after, ever. No soreness. And you get to keep your pelvic floor.

Just wish I'd been told that your milk doesn't come down as easily post C-section. Take fennel and fenugreek to increase it.

Ah OK. Dinosaurs - bump measurements can be pretty inaccurate. The scan may show baby is normal sized (although scans can also be a bit hit and miss!). Have you been measuring big throughout, or at risk of a big baby (eg gestational diabetes)?

Good luck for the ultrasound.

Two C sections two healthy girls and good recoveries with mil help with babies at home after !

I have had three and they were all lovely. I recovered well, it was all calm and peaceful, no pain at all. I breastfed and bonded. My vagina is in mint condition.

I had a planned section (breech baby) and was quite relieved. It was a wonderful experience. It wasn't without its slightly worrying moments (her bum got a bit stuck and then she was whisked to the side as she didn't breathe straight off) but a natural labour would have 'moments' too. If I have another I think I'd like another c-section.

I had one hideous natural birth (months and months to recover mentally and physically) and one wonderul, calm, happy, peaceful and easy to recover from C Section. How I wish I'd known from the start!

I've had two c-sections, EMCS first, ELCS second. Both very calm, easy recovery, no healing or breastfeeding issues. I did have PND with DD2, but considering it started a couple of months before she was born I can safely say method of delivery has nothing to do with it...

If you have a section make sure you've got some giant pants (two sizes bigger than usual) and you'll be fine.

I've had four sections. First was an emergency, I was pretty unwell & then had a big PPH which made for a hard recovery. I did have PND afterwards but that was much more to do with my experience in labour than the section - the section was the good bit!

Then I had three electives (in five years) which were all absolutely fine :) Quick recoveries, no other PPHs, no ongoing issues, no PND. I breastfed fine after all of them & continued to do so for many years

errr I've never been told I couldn't drive afterwards either - my insurer just said when you feel well enough, I can't even remember when it was but certainly well before 6 weeks.

The difference between an EMCS and ELCS is vast. I had an EMCS last summer and it wasn't the section itself that was traumatic, it was everything that went wrong prior to it. The section itself was absolutely fine. From what friends tell me, an ELCS is even better because the run up is so much calmer.

Having a section, even an emergency one, has not affected my bond with DD at all. She is my whole world. Please don't worry about that.

The getting the baby out bit is quite quick, it's the stitching you back up that takes a while, by which time you can usually be cuddling the baby. I still had skin to skin and breastfed in recovery so don't feel that I missed out on any bonding opportunities.

Only thing I would say is that mobility may well be an issue and I had absolutely zero core strength for a long time so I relied heavily on DH and DM to help me with picking the baby up and general jobs. Also couldn't drive for a few weeks. Not a biggie, but something you may need to prepare for.

Try not to worry and look forward to meeting your new baby! Congratulations

Hey OP,

I was in the same situation - my bump measured 51cm at 36 weeks which would of put my baby at mammoth size, I went for a growth scan and it showed my DS to be at around 9lbs. I continued to grow, and at 39 weeks the consultant made the call to give me an ELCS, to be honest I was glad as he was so large his head was no longer engaged.

I have to say I found the whole experience positive, there was no getting round my baby was big (11lbs) so there was a lot of bleeding but I recovered quickly and had no PND.

I spoke to my consultant afterwards and she said that had I had a natural birth with such a large baby it would almost certainly have taken me longer to heal.

If I could give any advice it would be pack a pillow for the car ride home, makes you feel more comfy over the scan and when you get out of the shower use a hairdryer lightly to make sure you get the wound dry.

Good luck

I loved my section OP, it was the best rather than worse case scenario for me. So calm. I wish groups weren't negative about them and they were put forward as an equally valid choice along with VB.

I had an ELCS quite few years ago now, after a stillbirth, I had a GA so DH was first to see and hold baby (who was large, nearly 10 lb, and long) but I bonded instantly the moment I saw him after I came round. It was magical.

Also the pain relief meds after the op were shit hot. Reeaally good stuff. ( I was in some pain but they were brilliant at sorting it)
I was up and about the next day to go to the bog and was walking quite well (albeit a little stooped) and gradually straightened up over a couple more days.
I think I was driving after a few days after DH went pack to work (3 weeks or so) .
Try not to worry too much -- a counsel of perfection , I know, but just look at all the great stories on here.

I had a emcs after a 3 day induction. The c section experience itself was really positive, the theatre team was amazing and put me at ease, and the operation was over in minutes. I think having a planned c section is better than an emergency one though as I have struggled a bit emotionally with the recovery as it was not how I envisioned the first days after birth, but physically the recovery has been fine. If I have another baby I would opt for a planned c section without hesitation. Good luck!

I have had 3 natural deliveries, followed by a c-section due to a breech baby. I REALLY didn't want a c-section, but the doctors advised it would be much safer for the baby that way so I did it. The main thing I have learnt from the experience is that a mother's attitude towards the method of delivery is very important. My c-section was textbook, no issues, quick recovery etc, but I still felt cheated at the time because it wasn't what I wanted and I felt like a failure somehow. In fact, afterwards I kept dreaming about delivering naturally and felt broody despite having a tiny baby.
Suffice to say I have gotten over this now and there are some real advantages to c-sections too. My lady parts feel great, for example, and now that my c-section scar has healed well, the long term recovery actually feels better. If possible, if you end up with a c-section try and embrace that and make yourself feel better about it. All that matters at the end of the day is that you have a safe baby and are safe yourself. We all incorporate narratives from our families' life, your mum's experience of a bad c-section rationally has no impact on the outcome of your c-section - try and detach emotionally from that (I know it is easier said than done). Two of my friends who live abroad and are doctors chose to have c-sections and loved them! This is what they wanted, so they were happy with it. Yes, the few days after a c-section are tougher than after a straight forward vaginal delivery. But I was just talking to a friend v recently whose baby's shoulders got stuck and she had an awful and for her traumatic forceps delivery and she wished she had a c-section. Don't feel terrified of the c-section. You can choose your own music in theatre, the doctors and nurses will be lovely and it can be calm if planned. It is very different from a genuine emergency c-section under general anaesthetic.

What I would be more concerned about is why your baby is measuring at 12lbs? Have you had any symptoms of GD? Big babies and GD go together and I had undiagnosed GD with DS. It was discovered when they pulled him out and he was 10lb6oz. He had a hard time managing his blood sugar levels.

WRT your concerns over PND, I think you should speak up with your team. There are trained professionals who can talk you through this. I wasn't aware that fears of having PND make you more likely to have PND and here in New Jersey, USA, it is a criteria for obns that flags you for PND therapy before delivery.

@ want2be

I had a large baby - 11lbs, no GD / he was also 2ft long at birth.....blood sugar normal.

I had a huge bump and a huge babe but it wasn't due to health complications, in fact I was wearing normal clothes. It was "just one of those things" I don't think OP should stress why her baby is large, more what makes her more comfortable delivering.

I had an emcs with my DD. It was totally fine. Very quick but it felt reasonably relaxed. I was asked if I wanted to see her being born (I didn't but dh did and was allowed to look over the screen). They left her cord long so that dh could still cut it and he had skin to skin with her until I could hold her. I recovered really well and had a good bond with DD. Hope everything goes well for you!

I had an ELCS. It was planned, I knew what was going to happen and when. I'd have another.
Yes it was a bit odd, as in sitting in an operating theatre while my spine was injected.
But DS and I were fine. We BF for a while. I had PND but don't feel it was in any way related to the CS.
BF didn't work out but that was more about low blood sugar due to diabetes and him needing formula. I also didn't get good advice in hospital.

I had a lovely, calm EMCS (long story) and no PND. Skin to skin and breastfeeding within 30 minutes.
Before going to theatre the supervisor of midwives came to talk to me because many women (apparently) feel they've failed if they don't manage a VB. My view has always been that whichever method is safest for you both is the best method.
Good luck

I loved my elcs. It was a lovely calm in control experience. Had skin to skin in theatre and bf in the recovery room. Straight forward recovery and a tiny scar. I know lots of women who've had c sections and none of them had pnd. Good luck.

I had a c-section 2 weeks ago and it was a really positive experience. I was up and about 6 hours after, picking up my baby etc, out the next day, walking dog on day 4 with minimal pain only when I coughed. 2 weeks on I am allowed to drive.

When they say don't lift anything heavy for 6 weeks it's important to listen.

Everything else was fine. Good luck.

I had an EMCS. Skin to skin immediately -they even let the baby sleep beside /on me for about 10 hrs as because I was immobile, there was no risk I'd roll over onto him.

I breastfed exclusively until he self-weaned. No PND /baby blues.

Pain wise, I was on Difene and Paracetamol days 2-5, Paracetamol days 6-14. So you are sore for the first few days but the week after that felt like the way you'd shuffle around walking if you had period cramps. I got bead stitching which left me with a tiny thin white line that's almost invisible even with a full brazilian wax.

Do listen as much as you can. Gentle walks when you can and don't over do it particularly in the first 3 weeks, it will set your recovery back.

If you offered me a Csection or vaginal delivery right now I'd probably opt for the section!

Glad it's not just me with positive experiences of ELCS.
We also had skin to skin, and a really positive experience