ELCS booked (eeeeeeeeek) - looking for your experiences and tips please

[CaptainChristmas]

I know it’s been done to death, sorry, but I’ve just been booked in for an ELCS after complications with my previous birth and even more complications following the birth.

Would love to hear your tips and experiences, especially:

• how tired were you after the op?
• is there a lot of bleeding after the op? I obviously had lokia last time, but wonder how CS compares and also wondering about bleeding from wound.
• how long did you have to stay in hospital?
• how did breastfeeding go? We didn’t really get into the swing of things last time as we were both so poorly. Not sure whether to think things might go better this time or if that’s naive.

Many TIA

Not tired at all but high from the morphine.
I didnt have any bleeding
I stayed in for 36 hours
Breastfeeding went well as he latched on straight away.
I had no pain after about 3 days and was up and about as normal.
Take in lactulose to help you poo afterwards and a breastfeeding cushion so baby not touching the scar .

Best of luck

Exhausted but it was an EMCS so a little different! 26 hours of labour preceded...
No bleeding from wound but I bled a lot during it. My bleeding was heavy for a couple of days but then light and lasted for about three weeks.
In for two nights but I lost a litre and a bit of blood so kept in.
Breastfed without a problem.

Would recommend massive pants for after, keep the maternity trousers that go over bump for a bit. I had to have dulcolax as I couldn’t poo!! And have a cushion handy if you have to sneeze to hold over your wound.

I had a fab experience with my section and would happily have another. I know some people don’t but mine went very well and I think I’m just a bleeder as I topped my levels back up without a transfusion as they thought I would need. It was fine - just take it very easy for a bit afterwards as you won’t be very quick getting anywhere!

Thanks both!

I needed morphine last time and can’t say I enjoyed it, so was hoping to avoid this time. I can live with it if it’s necessary obviously. I think it and at the end of a trying few days, so maybe I’d feel better on it this time. Thanks for mentioning as it’s something I can ask the anaesthetist at my pre-op appointment which is in only a few fecking weeks. I’m mildly freaking out. Obviously, I’m happy with ELCS or I wouldn’t have booked it, but just a bit apprehensive having never done it before.

*it came at the end of

I ha period type bleeding for 6 weeks but apparently nothing like the type of bleeding from a vaginal birth.
I was ready for discharge two days later and breastfeeding was no problem.
I’d make sure you have some massive underwear/high underwear and clothes that won’t push against your scar. I couldn’t wear anything that pushed against it for a while but luckily over bump maternity jeans and leggings are perfect. I also found the shirt style button nighties incredibly useful both for breastfeeding and the fact that I didn’t have I stretch to get them on and off.
Also take the lactulose offered until you have a movement as it can be quite scary with your scar at first.

I was home the next afternoon.
Was much easier than previous EMCS( after long induction).
Was up and in a chair 6 hours post birth and walked the toilet myself about 2 hours after getting up, walked to the corridor to get breakfast the next morning and then walked to the car in the afternoon for the lift home.
It was painful, but moving around as much as I could, kept me mobile and I took painkillers by the clock so my pain was more or less managed.

Plan help for afterward, no housework, no meal prep other than a sandwich at most and only do baby related things and focus on getting yourself better.

And stay on the same floor as the toilet for a week or so during g the day, so you don't have to struggle upstairs if you need a wee!

I had elcs with my first so athat the time had nothing to compare it to. It was an altogether great experience!

I didn't notice being particularly tired. (Not as tired as after labour with my second)

• I had no bleeding from the wound - I don't think that's to be expected tbh. I had a huge loss of blood the followibg morning bt that was because ut had pooled with me laying down. I then had normal post child birth bleeding. Ten days I think then a bit of light sporting after that.
• I stayed in 2 nights. I was given the option of a 3rd.
• bf went OK. Looking back I think I could have done with help earlier than I got it as ds was feeding constantly. And I do mean constantly. Everyone told me how well I was doing when in fact he wasn't getting enough milk, had an inefficient latch or something. Breast compressions and switch feeding for a few days sorted it out.

I didn't have morphine. It was painful, and I took the medication I came home with religiously (paracetamol and something else....) but was back driving after 3 weeks. Took baby for a slow walk in the pram at 1 week.

I think I recovered really well, and while I think it's great that some people (like the ppm above) are "up and about as normal" after 3 days I think it is highly unusual (and I struggle to imagine it!)

I almost had one for my second, I had that good an experience with my first. Only having an 18 month old put me off - there's no way I could have lifted him.

Get big pants. Good luck!

Thanks all, for the tips. I will definitely be taking the lactulose and investing in some enormous pants! I have a few pairs of maternity leggings which will do in the hospital. I have some harem pants as well which will do at home when I’m hopefully not as big. Thanks for the nightie tip, as I was going to buy massive pyjamas. Will go for nighties instead.

I have a 3yo who is not going to take kindly to not being picked up! She already looks like this when I say I can’t carry her, (I’m 8 months pregnant, obviously). She shouldn’t need to be lifted as much as a younger toddler though, so hopefully I’ll be able to rest a bit after. DH is taking some holiday, as well as paternity leave, so I will have some help from him, which is great. DD is at pre-school two mornings and one full day per week as well.