ELCS- severe or long term complications

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Hoping someone can give some advice. There is a high possibility I will need to have a ELCS. Am down as high risk as multiple complications with last birth involving severe haemorrhaging, blood transfusions etc and have an appt with a consultant in a few weeks to discuss options.

I know the 6 week recovery from
c section is bad but I can get plenty of help for that. I am more interested to know of any severe risks at the time and ongoing long term complications. For example some women have said their abdomen goes numb- what effect does that have on your day to day life?

Any advice gratefully received. Was so focused on getting pregnant after history of mc that I didn't think enough about the enormity of getting the baby out!

Hi - I can't give advice on lasting complications since I didn't have any! In regards to risks, I am due for my second ELCS on Sunday and just went through the consents with my OB. She advised main risks are bleeding (but that occurs with VB as well), accidental graze to bladder (rare & fixed in surgery), infection of the wound. Like any operation really.

My first ELCS I would say I was 90% recovered after 2 weeks, felt absolutely fine within 3. No lasting numbness or pain, no infection, minimal bleeding. Small white scar which is pretty invisible now and no overhang.

Honestly, I think most ELCS are very straightforward.

Il be having second CS next year,
Modest was EMCS and I was also mostly recovered within 2 weeks and felt fine after 3-4 weeks

I have minimal scarring

I have terrible overhang though and will need corrective surgery to fix once final child is born and I’ve got back down to starting weight.

No complications here x2 and easier recovery than when done as an emergency apparently. Slight numbness round the wound site which occasionally comes back 5 years on but doesn't affect me at all other than I notice it sometimes when I itch my skin.

I felt 90% recovered by 2 weeks and completely back to normal after 4. I don’t have any numbness, the scar is tiny and so low that it wouldn’t show even in the tiniest bikini, I don’t have a shelf and my stomach looks pretty much as it did before. Recovery times can vary but it’s such a common procedure and severe complications are incredibly rare.

I had a bad first birth with dc1 (3.5 litre blood loss, severe tearing, sepsis) and had dc2 via c section 10 weeks ago. The c section was a far easier and smoother recovery by a long shot. There was some numbness to my stomach at first but it's mostly back to normal now. I do have the over hang too but it's not that bad. I guess it's up to you to decide what the risks are for you - my consultant went through the pros and cons of another vaginal birth or an ELCS. Given my higher risk of tearing again and ending up incontinent vs the fairly low risks of complications with an ELCS, it was an easy choice for me to make. Good luck with whatever you choose.

I had an ELCS 15 months ago. I've had no long term issues. My scar is still a bit pink but my body seems to take forever to heal scars anyway. The recovery from my ELCS with DC2 was a breeze compared to the EMCS that I had with DC1. After the ELCS, I went out for a 10 minute walk after 5 days. I felt completely back to normal after 2 weeks and I was driving after 3 weeks. I'm due DC3 in August and will be having another ELCS and I feel completely relaxed about it after my experience with DC2.

(apologies for the billion acronyms)

No complications here at all. In fact I don't know anyone who had a c section and had and problems with it. Whereas I know lots of people with on going long lasting problems from vaginal delivery.

A numb abdomen has no effect on everyday life. If you get any it is likely to be short term.
It doesn't take most women 6 weeks to recover from CS. I have had 3 of them and recovered easily, with minimal painkillers, much sooner than that.
ELCS really doesn't feel like an enormity at the time. It's quick, calm and easy in general.

Long term women who have had c-sections, emergency or elective, are as likely to suffer from severe pelvic floor problems as women who have had assisted deliveries - but we are talking decades here. There is also more of a likelihood of severe pph and uterine rupture both during and after birth - the risk of this goes up even further if you are anemic, have a Blood disorder / trait that results in low hb levels, and / or are obese / overweight.

No long term complications and I've had 2.

I had an ELCS and it was the most wonderful calm and positive experience. Recovery was absolutely fine, up and about and no problems. Don't remember feeling like I was 'recovering' for more than a few weeks. Nothing like 6!

Absolutely no long term complications at all. Unlike numerous friends who had vaginal births and have no end of problems!

Oh wow this is so reassuring- thank you everyone. I really don't want another vaginal birth and not sure what the consultant is going to recommend based on the litany of problems before/after delivery but I am glad to hear it doesn't usually take the whole 6 weeks to be back getting on with things.

I've had two and there's no long term issues for me at all. The 1cm or so of skin along where the scar is is a little but number than the rest if my skin, but it's never caused any problem at all. It improved significantly after a few weeks each time. No overhang at all, though the area around the incision was a bit swollen for a few months. After a year I was left with a fine silvery scar - it was quite red for a few months each time so can take a while to settle down.

I'd do it again if I had more DC, but that isn't going to happen now. Yes it was painful afterwards for a couple of weeks, and I felt like my insides would fall out for a few days, but far preferable to the alternative for me given all went well. The only drawback is having to care for a baby during the painful bit, unlike a vaginal birth I suppose. Take painkillers before the pain kicks in and it helps a lot.

Tbh second time round i knew what to expect and it was much easier. I was driving short distances again after 2.5 weeks and took my DC for a short walk to the park after 4 days. First time round I rested up as much as I could for a couple of weeks and was back to normal within 6 weeks I'd say. The bleeding wasn't too bad either, midwives told me it can be a lot less after a section as they clear some of it out during the op. No idea if that's true but it seemed to be for me.

For balance I am pretty sure I have adhesions. I've always been able to feel ovulation but a couple of years after my section the pains will literally take my breath away/make me yell out and I have a pretty high pain threshold. But I was driving after 11 days and would say I had a good recovery.

Ive had 2 emcs, half my lower abdomen is painfully numb after the second, while don't concider it as a complcation from surgery, it does have a psychological impact on my wellbeing as when I bump it or my children touch it I'm reminded of something traumatic being done to me.

I had one three years ago. My skin feels a bit weird and sensitive along the scar, I have to wear big pants now as underwear elastic the sits right on the scar is uncomfortable.

I also still get an annoying, dull pain on one side under the incision sometimes, it was bothering me more recently when I started running again for the first time in years, but it's pretty mild and only an occasional thing these days.

I had a very bad birth experience the first time around, my physical recovery was 16 weeks before I began to feel even a little bit better. I had retained products, two post partum haemorrhages as a result of that and a whole host of other issues.

My elective was like the difference between night and day. It was so calm and stress free. The op was really straight forward, I went in on the Monday and was home by the Wednesday afternoon. I felt pretty much recovered in 2 weeks and right as nine pence within 4. My incision healed beautifully no issues at all with that, no lasting numbness either.

Take the painkillers, accept any and all help that's offered, especially when in hospital, use that buzzer and don't feel a bit bad about it! Move around, wear big pants and you'll be grand most likely.

Good luck!