Talk me through your c-section experience

[pianopants]

Hello,

I'm scheduled in for an elective section next Friday and am curious about the process.

I've to be at hospital at 7am in the morning on the day, but other than to remove my nail varnish and not shave my nether regions, I haven't been told much at all.

I'd love to hear about others experiences, especially if on a Friday. I'm concerned my section will get pushed back and if it does, do they do them on the weekend?

Communication with any medical staff has been very limited due to the current situation so I haven't had a lot of opportunity to ask questions.

Thanks!

Good and bad experiences are welcomed as I'm a realist and want to be aware of all possible eventualities. Thanks!

Sorry I don't have any advice about ELCS I've only had an EMCS due to have my ELCS in just over a week.

Why do you have to remove nail polish?

I've had two but the first was a planned "emergency" after a failed induction, so I'll tell you through my second as it was scheduled.

I arrived in hospital at 7am along with all the other mums who were having c-sections that day and we waited in a room together for a while before being taken to the ward.

When we all got to the ward they got changed in to gowns, had observations done and I think signed forms etc.

We all went down to theatre in order of priority - so a lady expecting twins went first, and I went mid-morning because I had high blood pressure due to (undiagnosed at the time) kidney disease.

When we were called down to theatre we waited outside for a few minutes before being taken in to the operating theatre where I sat on the bed and went through multiple attempts to insert cannula and a couple of goes getting my spinal bloc in. DH feinted half way through that as I sat there watching being fanned by one nurse and another holding his size 11 feet in the air in white theatre welly boots. him with his feet in the air

Sorry the product of my c-section pressed send... I will continue. He waited outside once he Composed himself whilst they got the spinal block in. They test to see if you are numbed and you are tilted on the table so not flat on your back. You do feel a bit of "rummaging" around before they get the baby out.

It takes longer than you think for the baby to be born!!

When the baby is born, he / she will be bought to you all going well and you may well get a lovely first cuddle, then you will be able to watch whilst they are checked over and whilst the surgeon does his stuff at the business end delivering your placenta and closing you back up.

You'll then go through to recovery an have lots of lovely pain killers and you will be monitored. Once feeding is established and they are happy with you and the baby you'll be taken up to post-natal ward. That's when my experience all went downhill so I will stop there and hope you aren't in the same hospital I was.

Happy to answer any questions if you have any! Good luck!

My first c-sec was a Friday evening 6.30pm but again slightly different circumstances.

Both c-sections my blood pressure dropped really quickly. First time they weren't expecting it for some reason so I unfortunately was sick (despite being nil by mouth for over 24 hours before hand) and passed out. Second time I expressed that I was concerned that would happen again and they had anti sickness drugs ready to go in my cannula and monitored me very closely. I felt a little nauseous but the IV anti sickness drugs put a stop to it almost immediately.

You will have a catheter for afterwards which they put in whilst you are on the operating table.

The first time I stood up after my first c-section was agony, worst pain i ever had - I thought I had come undone, and passed out again, but second time around it didn't hurt anywhere near as much. Keep moving when you are able to.

I've had an emergency and an elective and it is exactly as @TheMostHappy says it is, apart from the fainting, mine was a near miss
All I would say it to be prepared for the pain when you first stand up, post op. But remember, this is as bad as it will ever feel. Keep on top of your painkillers, don't be a hero, and try to walk about and shuffle along as soon as you can. On the flip side, don't overdo it. I did on the second one and my wound got infected as it opened slightly. By two weeks post op I felt much, much better and (apart from the normal having a newborn stuff) was feeling pretty pain free.
Hope it all goes well for you!

Thank you both!

Couple of questions - @TheMostHappy if you're comfortable sharing I'd be glad to know what your hospital experience was like after the section so I can best prepare. Thank you for sharing so honestly.

And have youet your husband live it down yet!? 😳😂

Do they do any tests on the morning such as urine or blood pressure? I'm on close watch for preeclampsia so just want to know if there's still time to pick this up.

Thanks so much!

I've had two. Both at large sw London hospital. I have type 1 diabetes, had them in my 40s and both measured big (I'm almost 6') so it was decided to have section. We picked a date around 38 weeks. Was not told not to do anything (nothing about nails or shaving, but I don't do either anyway).
As it happened my waters broke in the evening at 37 weeks so went in to hospital and they put a fetal monitor on me as I was not in active labour and they were backed up. In the morning they wheeled me in to theatre, gave me the epidural which made me feel sick - your blood pressure plummets which can cause nausea. Then they did the op - must have put a catheter in at some point but didn't feel it and after baby out quick look then off to clean and do checks - no cuddling then. They put pressure stockings on to prevent clots.
Bit hazy now but eventually back to ward of 8 women and baby in bassinet by my side. Couldn't move. Midwives tend to whip the curtains back without warning and ask two questions without fail: have you had a bowel movement and have you sorted birth control (mum in next bed was 20 and already had an 11 month old - she was more typical patient). I hadn't packed much so my husband brought a bag of change of clothes and stuff for baby.
I couldn't feed well - baby didn't latch on so I had more people manhandling my boobs than I would believe but we did sort it. Catheter disconnected so got very wet but it was about time I could stand so they removed it. Had to take baby with me to loo as not allowed to leave him. Food awful so my husband brought me some when visiting after work. Left after four days. It was a busy ward and didn't see the midwives much. They were kind and mostly foreign, generally on the 'just get on with it' school of caring.
Second time got baby out as scheduled. She was ill though so went straight to NICU. So I was put in ward with other mums of NICU babies - most very premature. Quite a different atmosphere as they were all quite worried. My daughter had a tube up her nose down to tummy for feeding but I was encouraged to breastfeed which I did after a couple days. She was released after three days and we spent one night together on regular ward then home.
Expect to feel sick with the anesthesia. About 8 people in the operating theatre: surgeon, assistant, midwives, anesthesiologist, nurse, student doctor, student midwife. You will not be embarrassed as they will all see the 'active end' and you will not care.
You may be on busy ward with not much attention. You will have to do everything for your baby- change and clean him, though this will be tricky initially as you won't be able to move for a few hours. It is boring as anything so bring a book or magazines, though it is hard to concentrate. Food may be dire. You will want to poo but may be scared to bear down as you will worry about your stitches. You will still bleed for four or more weeks (this did take me by surprise). You will not get much sleep. You will be dazed a bit confused and very overwhelmed. But that wears off. Morphine injections for pain.
I went home after a few days and next day was out at a restaurant breastfeeding my baby! Recovery pretty quick though I did not drive for six weeks. Only had one visit from health visitor so walked to local clinic and signed up for postnatal classes pretty quickly so could meet local mums.

I went in at 7am for mine. It was very busy to start with - blood tests, bp, checked baby, spoke to anesthetist, consultant, midwife came round a couple of times and I got changed into the hospital gown thing (although kept my leggings on until I was called). Then waited around for a bit. At 11.15am they said they were ready for me, I was given an antibiotic and then we were taken to recovery to drop off the bag we had. Straight to theatre from there - very quick and smooth, worst bit was the cannula, I didn't really feel the spinal thing at all. Baby was out at midday and DH cut the cord, they cleaned the baby up and put him on my chest and that was that! Once I was stitched I was taken back to recovery for tea and toast and started breastfeeding. Then to the ward which was a bit crappy - very hot, noisy and no one ever came unless I pressed the buzzer (I got forgotten for food twice which annoyed me). My most important advice is keep on top of the painkillers even if you think you're ok, because then they wear off and you realise you're in quite a bit of pain! So take them religiously and if they skip you for whatever reason during the drugs round (you're in the loo/asleep) make sure to buzz and ask for them! I was discharged the following day. Recovery was smooth, didn't need painkillers after day 10, felt fine within a couple of weeks. Good luck!

First was emergency, next two were elective. Loved it to be honest. Knew what to expect. Knew what time procedure was due. Didn't feel the needle going in etc. Recovery was difficult but not impossible with painkillers etc and was good to go in a few weeks. Would never have had it any other way.

I don't think I had urine tests on the morning of the op - as they were done at pre-op a week or so before, but definitely oxygen sats, blood pressure and temperature tests. They may do your urine though if you are poss pre-eclampsia.

After care - first time around it was fine, although they were quite impatient with me when I struggled to stand for the first time and there was tutting and eye rolling. Second time around it was absolutely awful in the hospital I was in.

Ds was born without a suckle reflex which isn't that common in full term babies so we really struggled with breast feeding. I got no help and we ended up supplementing with formula. The post-natal ward I was on was tiny and too many women were packed in.

Nobody had any consideration for anyone else in the room. Tvs were on full volume all night, loud constant telephone conversations, visitors were unlimited. One father dropped off three children to be looked after by the lady in the bed opposite me and they literally ran a-mock, screaming and ransacking my bags for my food whilst I couldn't stand, opening my curtains and playing hide and seek.

The second night one lady pressed the midwife bell to complain my baby was crying - he was hungry and couldn't feed properly and again I got no help.

I was collecting colostrum and feeding him with a syringe and whilst I couldn't get up I called the midwife to get a syringe from their fridge for me and it took over an hour and a half to come.

Once I managed to get up, I accidentally wheeled my bed over trying to get on to it, and it pushed the bedside cabinet over slightly in to the next bay and I was firmly told off my midwife for being inconsiderate to my neighbour after listening to her tv on full volume all day and her visitors pushing their chairs in to my cubicle all day and smelling their awful take away food stink.

I literally couldn't get out of there quick enough.

Like I said though, that's just my experience and one hospital - I hope you dont have to go through that.

As for DH, no I haven't let him live it down yet. It still makes me chuckle remembering it!!

And yes to the lack of sleep - second night I got literally zero hours and zero minutes.

It’s easy. You lie there and it’s done.

I had my gel nails freshly done, my bikini wax and shave top up done (they will shave you In theatre if you don’t do it yourself - yuck) brought my own pillow into the room and silk pillowcase and I didn’t wear a hair net. It depends where you go and who you get on the day I imagine though. They even let me bring my Polaroid camera and lipgloss in a little bag.

Ask for glue instead of staples/stitches too.

The worstPart Was getting the epidural, it made me sick.

Get a belly bandit for after they are fab and get up and WALK ASAP. Then they will take the catheter out.

I've had one during lockdown. Lots of masks, but everyone very friendly.

Partner and I went to hospital, taken to a bed on a ward. Waited a couple of hours, while they did observations, asked me some questions, signed some forms and introduced to surgeons. Partner and I got changed. We walked down to theatre. Sat on op table to get anaesthetic. Operation was weird, but wasn't long until baby born.

Unfortunately my experience after that was atypical, as the baby had some problems (fine now). But it should have involved cuddles in theatre, then baby put on bed next to you as you at ewheeled back to the ward, where a midwife gets you started breastfeeding. Then eventually moved to recovery, then to a ward. Partners can stay for about an hour after birth, but no visitors after that.

I went in at 7am, can't remember now the tests etc that they did. Mine was the last of the day in the end, so I had plenty of time to get bored and nervous! I think went in around half three. I suddenly got really frightened immediately before I went into surgery, but the doctors and nurses were incredibly nice to me. The spinal hurt more than I expected, but then it was fine.

The theatre was a bigger and brighter room than I expected and it was quite cold. The drugs made me feel quite funny, and I was surprised when my husband was suddenly beside me. He held my hand and stroked my hair through the whole thing.

I've seen it described as feeling like someone is doing the washing up in your stomach, and that's how it was for me. And then they held my baby up and it was an intensely happy moment. I said "he's a boy!" and the world felt perfect. They took him to the side, in my eyeline, and my husband helped with cutting the cord off him. I clearly remember my husband just beaming and beaming.

Then they brought him over and I got the cuddles. It was great actually.

Recovery wards are shit, but the section itself was overall a very positive experience.

With my second baby it was a but different but still fine, but I got skin to skin before they cleaned the baby up. I had wanted that the first time, but it didn't happen for whatever reason. It was 'better' to have the skin to skin, but I still think of the first time round as being pretty prefect to be honest, and it hasn't bothered me that it didn't happen.

I’ve had an EMCS and an ELCS. The latter was earlier this year but pre-Covid.

Mine was afternoon so had to eat breakfast prior to 0600 then no drinks after 1000 (I did rinse my mouth a couple of times).

On arrival, we had to wait in a room off the ward. Then I put hospital gowns on (a second to act as a dressing gown) and stockings. No hairnet. I was allowed to keep knickers on until I was in theatre. Various blood pressure checks and so on. We met the surgeon, the anaesthetist and were also shown theatre (because I was terrified and the midwife thought it would help - she was right).

Then it was down to theatre, wait outside for a bit while DP got into scrubs, and into the room. We had our own music (phone via Bluetooth). I sat on the edge of the bed, knickers and slippers off, they did the cannula with numbing gel, then the spinal. That didn’t hurt bar a couple of scratches, just pushing. Then feet up on the bed and the staff get busy - you get shaved at the incision site, catheter in, they test the spinal has worked, antibiotics into the drip, etc. DP was with me throughout.

Baby is born quite quickly! We had skin to skin in theatre, which was awkward, but then I asked for him to be lifted off as my blood pressure was low and I felt sick and shaky. DP held him near me. We could take photos in theatre as long as staff weren’t in them.

Then we went through to recovery where they helped baby have his first feed and I was given a drink (also offered toast). After a couple of hours I was wheeled through to the post natal ward.

I was lucky as it was quiet and staff were really helpful - I was still bed bound and DP went home once we were settled for the night but staff came quickly when I buzzed, helped with feeding and changed baby too. Catheter came out the next morning and I was able to get mobile, and I was home within 24 hours.

I was worried about it being pushed back but they were clear that would be unusual - mine was a big hospital and had two theatres, one of which was generally reserved for electives.

Thanks very much everyone. It's good to hear about to different experiences to prepare me.

I had a vaginal birth with DS1 and tore pretty bad as well as reacting to the medication hence the section this time around. I was on a ward for the first night but as DS1 was taken to NICU for monitoring for a night, I was put in a private room. So this time around I'm sort of dreading the ward. Especially being so debilitated.

My main concern, and one most of you have highlighted, is the recovery. I don't have a high pain threshold and like to keep busy so I'm going to need to completely change that.

Any tips or good products I should have to aid recovery?

I have only had an emergency section (after a long labour) and it was still better than the labour itself. Even though it was a complicated section (DD was stuck!) recovery was OK, and far more straightforward than some friends recoveries from vaginal births.

I just took paracetamol and ibuprofen after about day 1, and I have a v. Low pain threshold!

I should say paracetamol and ibuprofen by the clock, I didn’t wait to be in pain. Just took it regularly.

I’m having an elective section in August and am almost excited for it!

My 1 bit of advice would be to get up and get moving as soon as you can. Dose up on pain relief and just try and walk a few metres a day. It'll really help your recovery.

I don’t remember feeling much pain after the first Couple days if I stuck to taking pain killers

BUT do not let this fool you into doing to much , I did because the pain was masked ( and was a single parent so not much choice ) and I think that set back the wound recovering

To be honest OP I had an ELCS and the pain wasn't bad, not really. I felt just like I'd overdone a workout but slightly more. It only really ached if I laughed or moved too quickly.

I was in at 9am, first of the day, and by 5pm was up walking and had a shower, which in hindsight was probably helped.

I was a bit hit and miss with the pain killers TBH as in the end I didn't really need them, but asked for a few just to see what they were like AND I didn't think I had a particularly high pain threshold.

I won't repeat what others have said as they describe the procedure pretty accurately. I consider myself to be incredibly lucky to not have to endure a vaginal birth with all the unpredictable and often horrific outcomes I've heard about!

I've had 3 sections. One elcs, 2 emcs. Although they aren't my favourite way to spend a morning, it's really not that bad. I especially found the elcs very calm, and quiet.

They ask you to hold a pillow and lean over as much as you can to put the epidural in, then spray you with water. Every time I said that I could feel it (not sure if I could) and they put more in to make sure I was numb.

When it comes to the op you can feel a lot of tugging and pulling (feels like someone's washing up in your belly), but it's over quite quickly (less so after 3 sections because of adhesions). I would recommend you ask them if there are any steps they could take to prevent adhesions as I suffered terribly with them between section 1 and 3 (during section no 3 the surgeon packed my stomach out with gauze to prevent them and I've never had a problem since).

Please try not to worry. It's a pretty quick process and the healing although annoying, is quite quick. You'll feel loads better after a week, loads more better after 10 days and much better than that after 2 weeks.

Get a changing table so you don't have to change baby on the floor. Also some tea tree wash (Australian bodycare is good) to keep your scar clean.