About to have my first section and quite anxious

[TheLolaMontez]

Morning all,

I am currently 37+1 days pregnant with DS2. He will be our fourth child after losing two previously - one a full term stillbirth and one to a late miscarriage.

We were meant to be induced yesterday for normal vaginal birth, however whilst on the monitor in the morning DS decided to flip around from cephalic presentation to transverse! So they couldn't do the normal induction.

I've never had a csection before and I'm lying here unable to sleep feeling pretty anxious now.

I've got to have more steroids via intramuscular injection soon which were stingy but not the end of the world. I don't feel like I'm the best with pain although I know I have no choice, I'm just letting myself get caught up in a little anxious whirlwind.

I don't have any family aside from DH who is taking care of DD (20 months) at home.

Just looking for a handhold and some positive c-section experiences. I'm dreading something going wrong

Thanks everyone

Sorry to hear about your previous experiences OP.
I've had 2 c sections. One 2 years ago and one 7 weeks ago. Both babies breech. With the first didn't find out until I was already overdue and in for a scan. The second I knew much further in advance.
The actual operations for both were easy. I think because it's planned one rather than an emergency and you're not in labour it was quite relaxed! I didn't feel a thing either time and because I'd had quite bad PGP it was quite relief when the anaesthetic took hold. I was surprised at just how quickly they get the baby out, the majority of the time I think is fixing you up after.
The worst part is the recovery after. But I wouldn't say I was in a huge amount of pain after, it just you're not really able to sit up or get if bed that easily. Second time round I recovered much more quickly, only it was more challenging as I had a 2 year old to contend with.
Make sure to take all the pain meds they give you, even if you think you don't need them. And try not to do too much too soon.
When your partner goes back to work just try to have everything prepped in advance if possible. If everything is in easy reach it will be much better.

Hi op, firstly I'm so sorry for your loses and congratulations on your impending new baby.

I've had two C sections - an emergency with DS and a planned with d twins. Both straight forward, no infection, twisn were perfect and came straight out to me, then into recovery and on to ward. Lifting is a nightmare and you'll find it hard once home not being able to pick up your DD for a while but you will heal and will go back to normal after a few months.
Remember planned C sections are a standard days work for them but they will be monitoring you and baby closely, you'll have a whole team there just in case baby does need a little help but you will both be fine xx

Thank you both, I think it's helpful to read positive stories!
I know I will always have anxiety around having babies, it's just not something that can be fixed but at least with a vaginal birth I know I've done it twice before and can do it, this is completely new territory and quite scary!
I'm hoping for nice and chilled - that sounds lovely. And of course I just want my DS to be ok, I can't wait to meet him 💙

Hi op!

Sorry to hear of your previous losses

I had an elective for DS2 3 weeks ago and I’ve got to say it was lovely compared to DS1 vaginal birth

The actual op is so quick and you’ll be back on the ward holding your baby in no time

At my hospital they like you discharged after 24 hours if nothing is wrong

Top tips are:
Get moving as soon as you can feel your legs...go for little walks to the bathroom and back (even if you’ve still got the catheter in) every hour or 2. Stand up straight. This really does help

Don’t over do it - only do what you feel you can manage

Get some peppermint tea from the nurses for the trapped wind pain. It can be in your shoulder and really hurts. Get more for home or in tablet form from amazon

Get DH to bring a cushion for you to hold against the scar for going home in the car. Will feel better to press against it with this for any bumps

Keep it clean and dry. Shower daily, pat dry and then dry with hairdryer on cool setting

Order some c section knickers from amazon. This keeps the air to the scar as they’ve got little holes in them like the ones at hospital. Helps stop infection

Good luck!

Just had my second lot of steroids. My poor bottom

@TheLolaMontez - PM ed you - positive story

All best wishes to you

Hi @BasiliskStare - I have just read your message and wanted to say thank you so much for taking the time to send me such a positive story. I am starting to feel a little bit more calm now.
I keep hearing other babies o the ward, I amSo ready to hold mine now 💙💙💙

I've had two. I joke I'm the poster child for c sections.

Last time I was walking round the ward after six hours and went home at 25 hrs post birth.

Just take it easy. Get as much done for you as possible both in ward and at home. Be as mobile as you can and try to walk normally but don't try to do too much or the bleeding will tell you to slow down.

I wouldn't say it's my favourite thing to do but it's not life changing, it's something that happened and I'm back to normal now. I hope everything goes well for you. You get to meet that gorgeous baby!

I had a planned c section due to health issues during pregnancy and honestly would choose a section again if I had any more children.

The experience in theatre is so calm and relaxed. Your baby is out really quickly and I got to hold him the entire time as they sewed me back up!

Recovery is tough I would say the first week or so. By week 2 I was feeling much more myself and only on paracetamol if I overdid it. By 4 weeks post section I was able to drive again (check with your insurance as some don’t cover you til after your doctor signs you off ok to drive).

Best advice I got was get up as soon as you can and have a shower - felt amazing after it. Take all the painkillers offered to keep on top of the pain. And move little and often it really helped recovery.

Due to a long induction process my dh was back at work one week post section and I managed. I had him take everything I needed downstairs each morning and honestly was fine. It is sore but I would say after the first 4-5 days it massively improves.

@Shelly54 - so right - I had a while of not being able to leap around like a mountain goat - but then ( what's the old joke - can I play the violin Dr ? " no reason why not" - Excellent because I couldn't do it before ) - there will be a time of taking it easy & getting around is harder and not doing heavy lifting ( I was told nothing heavier than a filled kettle ) but it is only for a few weeks & it does get better. - the operation itself I thought was less stressful than some dental hygienist appointments I have been to.

All best LaLolaMontez & best wishes to Montez Jnr

Elective c section was brilliant. So relaxed, as it’s not an emergency it’s calm, and quick. Second peppermint tea/tablets for trapped wind, lots of fruit and dulcosate after (anything to get bowels working normally as they have had a bit of a shock), stay on top of pain killers, and make sure you have help for the first week or two, after which you feel better. Everyone is different but for me the recovery was much better than vaginal delivery.

Oh bless you ,am so sorry ...I hope you are ok.. I had two planned c section and recovered really well . Try and get up ASAP post section...it will make a huge difference to your general recovery .Accept all,pain relief offered .My daughter was 20 months when I had my 1st csection and it’s amazing how intuitive she was ....lots of help with baby!! Good luck for today and you will be meeting your darling son very soon for a beautiful,long awaited huggle 💕💐

Wishing you lots of love and luck OP

I had an emergency c section with DS.

It was fine, honestly. The anaesthetist stays with you and looks after you.

There may be a lot of people in the room but that's quite normal.

I was up and walking catheter out in less than 12 hours.

Keep on top of pain relief. I took mine every 4 hours and it never hurt. People who miss a dose because they feel ok tend to have more trouble:

Looking forward to baby photos later

Good luck OP but I'm sure you won't need it. I've had two cs and can honestly say they were great. I was also really nervous going in to it - no one likes to have surgery, especially awake. But as pp said it was over so quickly. You'll be holding your baby in about ten minutes. Ten minutes in to a vb, you wouldn't be sure you were in labour yet.

Everyone's experience is different but my recoveries were really easy, pretty much pain free. Take it easy and listen to your body, that's the same as after a vb or anything really.

Thank you all so much ❤️ I am feeling more relaxed now. I just keep thinking every hour that goes by is another one closer to meeting this little mischief maker and every unpleasant thing I have to have done is just another hurdle, taking me ever closer to my baby.

Thanks for recovery stories too - I have been worried about recovery (again as it's an unknown) but these all sound pretty positive

My two c sections were both great. The babies were out quickly with zero pain. The recovery was mildly painful mostly when getting up after being still for a while. Nothing some ibuprofen couldn’t take care of.

Best of all you are not knackered after days of labor so you can really appreciate those newborn baby snuggles.

This is true - I'm also kind of looking forward to not being off my face on gas and air so I can really appreciate every moment of him coming into the world

Absolute breeze, getting a tiny tattoo was worse! You will be fine. It's such a lovely experience compared to vaginal induction, believe me.

Good luck x

I had an emergency section after a long labour. I’d have a million sections over labour any day, even though my only experience is an emergency one. My recovery was pretty straightforward, and I have no lasting complications at all.

I’m due again in August and really looking forward to my elective section!

Wishing you all the best for today.

Sorry to hear of your previous losses

Honestly.... I thought the steroids were the worst part, everyone recovery is different but the actual procedure was quite a pleasant experience. I was 36+4 and baby had a short stay in nicu, that was much harder to deal with.

Hope all goes well later, oh and make sure they offer you some food after not being able to eat in the run up I was so hungry in recovery

I'm already hungry and very thirsty they think I'll be going this afternoon but not had a definite time yet. It will probably do me some good to not be stuffing my face for a few hours

Have a Google of “gentle sections” if you haven’t had the chance to think about birth preferences. There are some nice options for planned sections, like having the drape lowered so you can see baby born (you can’t see the incision, just baby being lifted over your bump), own music, delayed cord clamping (a minute was standard at my hospital so not full delay but better than none), and skin to skin in theatre. The latter is awkward - I definitely had DS’s foot in my mouth at one point - but lovely to be able to hold them straight away.

Good luck!

Good luck with it. Honestly you will be fine. I had an elective section last Monday. I researched the hell out of it beforehand and would agree with all the advice you’ve had so far. The procedure itself is fine. Worst pain for me was the local anaesthetic and that wasn’t even that bad. I was surprised how much I could feel- no pain but definitely aware of the rummaging in my belly and the pressure they apply to get baby out. I knew exactly when baby was out as I felt such a relief in pressure then a second or 2 later heard baby cry- was an amazing moment. It is so worth it. My previous labour was 24 hours and awful- it was surreal how quickly this birth was. I was having tea and a cheese sandwich in no time!
Like others said, move around when you can, don’t be afraid of moving. Eat lots of fibre and drink water to get your bowels moving. Enjoy the cuddles with your beautiful baby

How are you op? Hope you’re cuddling your new baby by now

Good evening everyone

Introducing Baby Montez - who decided once again to flip around this morning! I ended up having an induction so avoided csection in the end!

Active labour 1hour, two puffs of gas and air, two pushes and he arrived! 6lb 9oz of lovely squishy baby-ness.

All ok so far, just need his resps to settle and then they're happy for us to go home he's just having a snooze - busy day for the little chap!