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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Did you have a bad elective c section/ recovery

43 replies

Sandstormbrewing · 14/09/2018 18:35

I've requested a section. I've read lots of very positive stories about them on here however no bad ones. I do know someone whose wife died following a section (from infection) so I know it isn't always a walk in the park but I'd like to hear others experiences.

OP posts:
Stroller15 · 14/09/2018 18:42

I had one 2 days ago. I had a big keloid scar from my 1st EMCS so had to have that removed and lost a lot of blood. The standard 6 hrs till mobilisation turned into 12 and I am incredibly tired. It is also more sore to walk than with my 1st!

Not to scare you OP, I'm sure it will go fine - just prepare yourself and take it very easy on yourself. All the best!

Original poster
Sandstormbrewing · 14/09/2018 18:59

That's great stroller. Thanks. I haven't had one before so no previous scar to worry about.

OP posts:
CathyandHeathcliff · 14/09/2018 19:14

Following as I’m hoping to having an elective with my first baby and would be interested to hear.

Rosemary46 · 14/09/2018 19:16

Remember that “ elective “ mean planned. It doesn’t mean that the patient chose to have one.

So many women having elective CS needed it because of complications in their pregnancy, or perhaps other medical issues. So these issues might affect their recovery.

Original poster
Sandstormbrewing · 14/09/2018 19:22

Rosemary46 I'm aware of that, whilst having one is my preference I also have medical reasons making one a good idea. I really just meant people who didn't have an emergency one, as they are very different.

OP posts:
TotallyShatteredToday · 14/09/2018 19:29

I had an emergency one with my first and an elective with my twins as I was advised not to risk another natural birth. Recovery from both was quick. I just had to wear huge pants so they did not aggravate my stitches. I hate hospitals and was out the next day with both births. I had some help for the first few weeks but after that I was on my own with three children under 18months. All was well!

Yourcupwillneverempty · 14/09/2018 20:03

In the nicest way OP, you're not doing yourself any favours asking specifically for bad experiences, you will just torture yourself and really, what difference will it make? Mentally prepare yourself by all means for having a less than perfect experience/ recovery etc but you just have to go with it. You could have an awful natural labour and be left with life changing birth injuries, or a nice 'normal', quick labour with a quick recovery. You could lose a lot of blood during or get a very bad infection after a CS, or have a lovely section and recover amazingly. I really really get the fear of the unknown (I've had 2 ELCS myself, my first was technically an emcs at the time as my waters went and I started having contractions but was planned for 2 days later) but what will happen to YOU will happen whether you have 100 people telling you it was amazing and easy or 100 people telling you they nearly died and were put under general and haven't been the same since. I know, I tortured myself from the minute I found out I was pregnant about how awful a CS would be as I knew I wanted one but it was fine. The bits that weren't I just dealt with when they came up. Ask for tips, advice etc but winding yourself up does you no good.

Original poster
Sandstormbrewing · 14/09/2018 20:25

@Yourcupwillneverempty I did have an awful natural labour with life changing birth injuries! Which is why I want a section this time. But last time I did hypnobirthing, read the positive birth stories and got in to a positive frame of mind. I didn't prepare myself adequately for the possibility of it going wrong, what to look out for, risks etc and this time I want to. I want to know the bad stories, the risks, the things that go wrong. I want to be prepared. I want to go in with my eyes open, I think it'll cause me much less heart ache than my last experience.

OP posts:
Dinosauratemydaffodils · 14/09/2018 20:30

I really just meant people who didn't have an emergency one, as they are very different.

They aren't always you know. I've had 2 emergencies (including a cat1 where they cut me hip to hip and tore my uterus into the bargain) and have bounced back faster than anyone else I know including those who had electives. A lot of recovery is down to overall health, genetics and luck.

fishfingersandketchup · 14/09/2018 20:33

Yep, planned c section for medical reasons, it went perfectly. Recovered quickly, up and about that evening, home after 1 night, driving after 4 weeks. If its right for you and your baby, you do what you need to doThanks

fishfingersandketchup · 14/09/2018 20:34

Jus realised that's not what you actually asked! But a positive story for you anywaySmile

StressedToTheMaxx · 14/09/2018 20:41

My first emergency section I bounced back quite well. But the second one (planned) I was in a bit more pain the first few days.
It was my own fault I tried to be "brave" and stopped pain killers too early. Day 3 I was doubled up in pain and ended up on ever strong pain relief just to get it back in my system.
I would say if you take pain relief effectively. They don't need to be very strong doze etc as long as you take them when they are due.
And showering or a bath-with help in and out- to keep the scar clean is the key I would say.

Yourcupwillneverempty · 14/09/2018 20:43

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you could at this stage have a lovely natural birth and sound like I was assuming you were a first time mum, I can see how it sounded like that. I just meant that from your thread title it sounded to me that you were asking for less positive stories and really, if you're already pregnant you will be having the baby either way so it's better to plan for the worst, hope for the best. I had 2 lovely, calm elcs with very good recoveries both times, a friend had a 'bad' elcs and lost lots of blood and had to have a balloon stent thing in her uterus and had a more difficult recovery but she had her first a month before I had my 2nd and it really worried me even though I'd had one before and had the 'good' side of elcs. My point that is being badly made is that if it isn't a nice experience no amount of anecdotal advice will help you at the time, you just get what you get. I didn't mean to sound patronising and I'm sorry if it came across that way.

Spiritedhorse · 14/09/2018 20:49

Yes. Once they were ready to cut, the doctor asked if I minded if there was a student present during the procedure. I said I didn't without thinking, I just wanted it over. During the whole thing he was giving really graphic explanations of what he was pulling and pushing and tearing, and at one point he let the student put her hands inside me to feel for something... Envy
I have the worse scar ever. I'm pretty sure the student had something to do about it.

Robots1Humans0 · 14/09/2018 20:50

@Sandstormbrewing I had elcs after birth injuries with DS1 and while the first few days are initially harder, the recovery was about the same length of time, and also emotionally able to cope a lot better ! The whole experience is surreal as you are awake and not off the planet from sucking gas and air for hours , but I was smiling in recovery as opposed to crying and shell-shocked the first time around. Baggy pants, try not to cough and give yourself more time than you think to sit up !! It will be fine good luck xxxxxxxxxxx

PasstheStarmix · 14/09/2018 20:52

I wanted an elective with my first baby but didn’t have the energy to jump through hoops to get one. I ended up being pleased about my birth and being relieved I didn’t get one as it would have been a mistake.

Chrisinthemorning · 14/09/2018 20:53

I requested a CS, and that request was granted. Later we found out that I had placenta praevia so had to have a CS. In the end I had an emergency CS as I bled, but I was booked for CS later that same day.
Mine was a good experience and I healed very well.
My friend from antenatal had a VB and when we met up about 6 weeks after DS and 10 weeks after for her, she was still in pain!

PasstheStarmix · 14/09/2018 20:53

I couldn’t have been convinced against an ELC at the time and it took me to actually experience a VB to realise that this was the right birth for me after all.

MakeLemonade · 14/09/2018 20:56

Not a bad story per se but I had an EMCS which I had a dreamy recovery from and an ELCS that was more challenging. I had more pain, it lasted for longer than expected - DH had to take additional paternity leave as I couldn’t managed the school run (6 minute walk) at the end of his two weeks. I also got a small infection in the scar that took a while to shift.

The thing with childbirth, no matter how you do it, is that it’s unpredictable and you can’t guarantee how you’re going to feel. What is your consultant recommending?

FizzyFeet · 14/09/2018 21:03

My ELCS wasn’t straightforward- I lost a lot of blood in theatre, but it turned out that that would have been the same with a vaginal delivery. Recovery was slower than I’ve read about on here! Was in the hospital in a side room for 6 days due to pre-eclampsia worries, and developed a small infection in my incision. But after 7 days I was home, tired but on the mend. I was in better physical shape than a friend with 3rd degree tear! I had to take an annoying amount of drugs including a few days of injecting myself which was mostly annoying because they were all scheduled at different times, and between that and feeding DD there was barely any time for sleep! But much of this is not specific to having an ELCS.

I would 100% do the ELCS in the same circumstances, even given the bumpy recovery, have never regretted it.

Original poster
Sandstormbrewing · 14/09/2018 21:24

I lost a lot of blood in my first delivery and ended up in theatre for placenta removal. I had an almost 2 year recovery and even now I'm not recovered fully and never will be.

My consultant has said it's my choice but that from my presentation thinks a c section would mentally be easier on me. It's highly likely a vaginal birth wouldn't work due to my anxiety. My birth injuries were mainly caused by the labour and not the forceps though so it's the actual labour I'm most worried about.

Thanks for replying guys.

OP posts:
MakeLemonade · 14/09/2018 22:03

IME they don’t recommend ELCS lightly so if your consultant thinks it’s the best course of action I’d be inclined to go for it. And stop reading CS stories! It’ll drive you mad Grin (have this badge!) and what will be will be.

GaryWilmotsTeeth · 15/09/2018 16:20

I had a Cat 1 EMCS with DD after a very long and exhausting labour and a planned CS for unstable lie after a week of bed rest with DS.

I would say that the planned CS and recovery was harder than the EMCS. Unco-operative DS was still moving around during labour and got fairly wedged and had to be really dragged out and then I had a big PPH. I was in theatre/recovery for a lot longer than with DD and wasn't able to hold DS for ages. The pain levels and physical weakness/incapacity was worse, I felt bruised and weak too.

Sorry not to be very positive OP, I think I'm the exception to the rule though.

Robots1Humans0 · 15/09/2018 20:16

Agree with @MakeLemonade if consultant is recommending it , then to go for it. It really isn't as scary as you will work yourself up to be. If I knew how bad my vaginal delivery was going to be, i definitely would've gone for CS xxxxx

BumbleeBeeMe · 15/09/2018 20:38

Honestly?
Having a caesarean is fucking horrible.
-You can feel them prodding about inside your body, it's scary and invasive and you have no control over anything.
-you can only move your upper body to hold your baby for a couple of hours, you don't get full movement to your body back for 12 hours (I think, it might be quicker than that).
-It's painful as shit afterwards. I got an infection and had to stay in the hospital for five days and you can't go straight home even if you wanted to. You can't walk until at least 24 hours later.
-the nurses leave you to sit in your own blood for ages and you can't move to do anything about it.
-you can't get up to get to your baby / get a glass of water etc
-most people take oral morphine after it and it knocks you out and you can't even react to your baby crying.
-you can't lift anything heavier than your baby for six weeks, including opening heavy doors.

  • I personally couldn't bend down for at least three weeks because of the pain.
I know my birth experience could have been much worse but it definitely wasn't easy or nice