Tell me about your elective c-section

[FartnissEverbeans]

After a really shitty time with my firstborn’s vaginal birth (awful pain, episiotomy, ventouse, postnatal pelvic inflammation that left me unable to walk, no sex for ten months and ongoing pelvic floor issues) I’m very seriously considering an elcs if I were to have another.

Can you tell me about your experiences? How was the recovery? And what is the scar like? Are the scars less noticeable than those left by an emcs?

Thanks!

Compared to 1st born's awful vaginal delivery (forceps, tearing, needed catheter), elective c section was a breeze.

I say that despite them still using forceps to get dd out and her being in Scbu for a while.
For me, recovery was quicker and less painful. Yes there was pain but at least I could sit down!

The scar is barely noticeable (and again because of forceps) they had to open up more than usual. I do have a pouch but am fat anyway!

I was driving after 4 weeks, breastfeeding was as easy as after a vb and I if I ever had another, I'd have a section in a heartbeat.

I had a semi elective last year, was after a failed induction where they just couldn't get me started so offered the section, it was so much better than I expected, the experience was really nice and I was back on the ward after an hour I think, was up a few hours after that pottering about and then about 7 hours after was able to walk around the corridors with the baby in his crib and go to the tea room etc.

I was discharged 22 hours after the section with codeine and was able to go out for coffee/go to the supermarket 48 hours after getting home, I drove after 10 days (after speaking to midwife and insurance) the scar is tiny and really low down it's just a thin white line below my knicker line. I'm due DS2 2 weeks today and having an ELCS this time so hoping it goes as well. Good luck!

Was a great decision. I’d been adamant I wanted this for years, and I stuck by it despite being judged. Was a great way of ditching people who couldn’t respect my decisions/told me ridiculous stories. I was careful not to lift anything or move too much for two to three weeks but I quickly got stronger and was able to hold my babies each time. I bottlefed (oh I’m a terrible mother ) and was able to do this immediately. My scar faded to be a thin white line that isn’t noticeable within six months. I have a slight pouch (maybe two cm extra) on my right side but I’m very small so I suspect it’s more noticeable than it would be on more womanly women!

Pain wise I’d say it’s a 4 out of 10, compared to previous surgeries it was a walk in the park. I didn’t need painkillers beyond the time in hospital. We didn’t have sex for a while, but that’s because we were both exhausted and neither of us felt like it - my husband did all night feeds due to me having a lot of early morning work calls that don’t care about maternity leave. So the sex thing is more laziness and comfort on our part than anything to do with the operation.

I’m scheduled for my third Caesarian next month and have no qualms at all, just excited to meet our newest family member!

Mine was great. My first birth sounds like yours and I swayed back and forth for months but finally decided to have an elective section.

I was out the next day. Not going to lie, its sore, and hard going for that first week or so. But my first recovery was worse.

I was very nervous beforehand but it went great and everyone was so lovely and so reassuring. I've never regretted it.

My scar is really small and just starting to get much lighter now (a year later). I do need to wear high waisted trousers for now but I assume I wont have to forever. I prefer high waisted anyway.

If I were you I'd go for it.

I ended up having an elective c section with my second DC after having an awful experience with my first DC was induced in hospital for over a week waters broke 8am didn't give birth till 3.40am which ended up being cut and forceps 3rd degree tear smacked up on drugs lost 2.2pints of blood and just was an awful experience at and awful hospital

I finally got the birth I wanted with my second in a much better hospital I didn't feel a thing was amazing to be handed my DC and remember it all.

The theatre staff were beyond amazing chatty made me feel at ease straight away my DH was sat next to me so that was lovely as well we also got to take photos and had photos taken of us with our DC something which we didn't get to experience with our first.

Once the spinal wore off I wasn't in any pain was back to feeling myself 2 weeks after c section scar healed well no issues was able to walk and move about after the catheter was removed 6 hours after.
I did need help with my DC whilst I was waiting for the spinal to wear off I was sick a few times cause of the medication whilst having the c section but that didn't put me off I was sick when having my first but felt a lot better this time around

One tip if you do go ahead with c section just keep up with the pain meds to keep the pain at bay it's not painful it's just very achy it was more my back that hurt me more than the wound itself but I would have a section again in a heartbeat

I think I might opt for an elective c section for my second baby. I had a very similar experience to the OP, plus DS was a big baby. I am just worried about how it will affect me getting out and about with my newborn? I have a DS already and will need to do school run walking, etc almost immediately, due to DH being self employed he will not be able to take much time off work. I'm a SAHM at mo so no second income. I don't have a car so no driving issues.

When I had DS I carried him in a front sling, can I do that after a C-section or not for a while? They tie around the waist. Plus I have a dog to walk. I managed all this despite a lot of post birth issues last time, it's so hard to choose. I'm actually pregnant, but it's early days.

I has an ecsec for DC2 because she was breech.

DC 1 was 40 hour labour, foreceps, epesiotomy and csec was a breeze in comparison.

I do think that an elective csec is a better recovery than a vbac with extensive intervention but not better than a "simple" vbac. Sadly you can only know which it is too late

I remember with DC 3 dreading the birth and looking at this massive bump wondering how she was going to get out. As it was, the internal csec scar was too thin and started to come apart so I had an emcsec with no labour and 15 minutes notice. DH wasn't even able to get there.

Still preferred it to my vbac experience

I think pain afterwards, healing and your scar are very individual. Both my sections were emergencies but both my recoveries were pain free (up within hours, no pain killers at all post what I was given in theatre) and my scar was a thin white line within months.

When I had DS I carried him in a front sling, can I do that after a C-section or not for a while? They tie around the waist.

We are in Scotland and I was wearing dc2 within about 5 days in the wrap which came in the baby box. I was doing the 3 mile round trip to take dc1 to preschool with the pram by week 2, absolutely no issues whatsoever which brings me back to my first point, it's really individual.

A breeze in comparison to my vaginal (same as yours pretty much). Operation itself totally fine, list a litre of blood but lost 1.5 with my vaginal, had that euphoric moment people talk about (didn't with my vaginal) and by 5 weeks I could barely tell I'd had surgery unless hoovering or lifting something fairly heavy (3 weeks pp I was a pall bearer for my grans coffin).

Honestly, best thing I ever did. There was a point, around week 3 pp where I didn't get noticeably better and wondered if I'd made mistake but by week 4 I made a big leap in recovery and never doubted again!

I'm 4 months pp now and my scar is still a bit red/ purple, but it's covered by my underwear. It's not painful, my stomach isn't numb (unlike my vag due to nerve damage), I don't have an overhang (I think that's luck).

I'm not having more kids, but if I did, it'd be c section all the way.

I had an ELCS with DD. I felt less nervous than I thought I would. I was first on the list and DD was born by 9.45! I had to go into theatre to be prepped alone which was a bit scary but the team were wonderful, really put me at ease. I couldn't feel the drip or epidural going in, and there was no discomfort at all.

The actual procedure was a bit weird being tugged about but I was so excited I didn't care a bit. DD was out within 7 minutes, they took her off to check her over and cut the cord, then she was on my chest throughout being stitched up (which I don't remember happening as I was concentrating on my baby).

Recovery was difficult at times as I did feel quite a bit of pain. But the mistake I made was missing a dose of painkillers, which it was hard to come back from. So make sure you take every dose of the good stuff in hospital. And have maternity leggings to hand as I couldn't wear even maternity jeans over the scar. Which is tiny, barely visible and neat and I have no overhang.

I'm expecting again now and will ask for another ELCS. The control and predictable outcomes don't compare with vaginal birth IMO.