Tips or advice for elective section...

[Summer135]

Booked in for elective c-section in a couple days time!! Excited but so nervous. I had emergency section with DD that's why this one is elective.
Anyone have any advice? Tips? Things to especially pack or any positive stories would be great to hear? Or anyone booked in for one? xx

Watch! Seeing your baby moving both under your skin and outside your body at the same time is the most amazing, unique and weird in a wonderful way thing. I had attachment issues with dc1 (emcs/nicu stay/breakdown) so they insisted I watched and I'm so glad I did.

You can't see anything because the bump is in the way.

First time I was gutted that I had to have ELCS. Baby was breech and transpired we would have both been in a lot of trouble if I’d gone into labour as his head was stuck under my ribs. NCT had made me so ashamed of it, the bastards.

Second time round I chose a repeat section and have not once regretted it. I watched him being lifted out and it was cool although I gave the anaesthetist a heart attack when I almost reached unknowingly into my own incision.

Both were very calm we chose music in theatre. Everyone chatted. My main tips:

Biggest belly warmer pants you can find to avoid rubbing scar
Easy to put on shoes or boots
Talk to your theatre team, they seem to love it to and when I ended up for the second time in Trendelenburg with my knees on two people’s shoulders (I have unique issues with regional anaesthetics which stubbornly refuse to work for a loooooong time) it was a god send
Accept the whole thing is a little undignified especially the catheter
Accept the ward is noisy and you won’t sleep much
Line up help for first four weeks as you’ll need it with DC1
Talk to DD1 about what’s happening. We told DS1 that the baby needed to come out through a special door that the hospital would put in then they’d have to stick it closed again so mummy needed to be in hospital. He wasn’t worried.
Bring DD1 to hospital to meet DC2. Video it. DS2 pee’d all over DS1’s top his expression was priceless. We all laughed.

Above all it’s still a birth and if everyone is healthy and happy at the end that’s the win. make it an experience to enjoy!

Mine was great - so relaxed and the day went much faster than I expected.
Second the big belly hugger pants, and I also had comfy high waisted joggers to wear afterwards.
Take all your medication. Even if you think you're feeling better - take everything you're given as you can go downhill fast pain-wise. And take your lactulose!
Relax and put your feet up as much as you can after too (granted this is much harder with a second child) it will really help your recovery.
Good luck!

Also take something to do/read whilst waiting. I never made my elective with dc2 as I went into labour but my consultant said bring books, magazines or colouring books etc because you might have to wait a while.

Get moving as soon as you can. Our hospital likes the catheters out as soon as you get to the postnatal ward.

And snacks. I have twice been moved at a funny time and twice had issues with my first food once nil by mouth was fine with...

We Deliveroo’d in Domino’s - man it was great!

Thank you for all the replies!!!
My extra big pants are ready and packed haha and I love the sound of dominoes pizza.
Definitely will ask if I can see baby being pulled out. Can't believe today is the day!
Thank you for all your tips xxx

Good luck! It's a lot calmer in an elective section scenario - I did the same as you - remember not to pack white (or non black) pants - that's my biggest tip lol (so many of mine went in the bin! )

Happy 'new baby ' day 🥳

I had one on Friday! I was lucky that I was first on the list so baby was out by 10am but when we went up to the post natal ward at about 4pm, one of the other women was still there and waiting for hers (I think they had a couple of EMCS) that they needed to fit in. Definitely bring something to entertain yourself! It was a pretty relaxed experience though despite baby taking a while to wake up and me losing more blood than they wanted. I was reassured throughout though by the conversation that the doctors were having about the house prices in south London - no drama at all! I was up and about pretty quickly. Could easily move from the bed to the chair they used to take me up to the ward. Definitely take all the painkillers they offer you and ask for more if you need them. Good luck!

When you’re back online would be great if you told us how it went. Hope you are enjoying new bubs!