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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Talk me through your c-section experience

60 replies

pianopants · 21/05/2020 13:16

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!

OP posts:
Shelby30 · 23/05/2020 09:15

Interesting you were told not to shave. I had a planned section and my waters broke and full on contractions at 37Wks. I do remember them saying in the theatre that we need to shave the top area is that ok. I'm not awfully hairy. I'd already had a previous emcs I don't know if they done it then but I know there are hairs near the wound now.

For my second one, I had to try and get slotted in with the planned sections but I was in agony and full on labour so they said they wld take me about 9/10am. I'm not sure when it was exactly but I remember it taking a while to get everything set up in theatre. I don't remember that from my first but I had been in labour for 15hrs and was exhausted and out of it lol.

I've heard they take the most at risk patients first, so someone very over weight or other health issues.

Good luck I hope it all goes to plan.

Midlifebaby · 23/05/2020 11:56

Hi @pianopants

I had a CS 2 weeks ago, it was much easier than I expected. It was a tricky op as the baby was transverse and her head came out last...additionally I have a very large fibroid so the uterus was cut in a J cut, but the incision on my bikini line is small, low & neat. I was watching in the reflection of the operating light and remember thinking...this is going to really hurt when the medicine wears off but in reality I was very lucky and it didn’t hurt at all. I was sore, and took paracetamol and ibuprofen for 1 week, and ibuprofen for the second week as advised for Anti-inflammatory purposes.
I was in high dependency for 36h due to 1.6l blood loss, but was out of bed with catheter out & in the shower after about 18hours, I had a terrible experience on the maternity ward caused by 2 healthcare assistants who really need to reconsider their career choices, but the midwives were great. However as partners aren’t allowed right now, and I needed help expressing as baby couldn’t latch, I insisted on being discharged the second day (less than 48h after op)
2 weeks on I’m almost back in my pre maternity clothes and feel ready to drive although I’ll wait a bit longer.

Do harvest some colostrum if you can as your milk might be slower to come in/baby might not latch well with the cs

I was worried about cs but it was a very good experience for me as a natural birth was not an option - I feel a bit like I dodged a bullet when I hear some of the painful recovery stories!!!

We did need postnatal feeding support, baby has been to cranial osteopath which I highly recommend as this really helped her relax after a traumatic birth, and I had her tongue tie snipped privately as I really want to be able to breastfeed and 2 weeks on we have not managed this (I’m expressing with a hospital grade pump & I've just started taking Domperinome to improve milk supply)

OhArsebags · 23/05/2020 15:38

Did anyone have to administer blood thinning injections to themselves for a few weeks after? I didn’t after my first but did after my second - no medical reasons

2007Millie · 23/05/2020 15:46

@OhArsebags

Yes I did. That was 18 months ago

TheMostHappy · 23/05/2020 15:48

Yes I did injections for 2 weeks after

ThisIsHappening · 23/05/2020 15:52

I'm scheduled to have a section in 3 weeks and have been told I'll need to have blood thinning injections for 10 days post-surgery. I think it's standard practice now.

OhArsebags · 23/05/2020 15:56

Shit. I hated injecting myself Sad

georgiams · 23/05/2020 16:50

I tore bad with baby number 2 so had elective c section 9 days ago with number 3 and I can't believe how amazing I feel not far off back to normal and minimal pain especially in comparison to the aftermath and recovery from the tear ! X

MissisBee · 24/05/2020 16:34

Ah, crap, I forgot about the injections!

I'll not go into detail about the actual section, as it ended up being a major emergency one. And I had a general anaesthetic, so didn't see any of it. I was in recovery for nearly 24 hours because of medical problems that contributed to the emergency, so I always feel my recovery was delayed by a day or so. DS was in NICU too, so that's a bit different. Once I was on my feet though, that did encourage me to get moving, so I could go and visit him.
I was lucky to have a side room, because he was in NICU. It was right beside the nurses' station though, so their chat at night kept me awake. My hospital's usual pain relief regime is paracetamol and diclofenac, but wasn't allowed diclofenac because of the above mentioned medical stuff. So I needed a few doses of morphine the first couple of days. I was in for 8 days (again, the medical issues, not because of the section) and by the time I got home, was only needing occasional paracetamol.
The food was horrible, so I got visitors to make themselves useful and bring me nice stuff.
The weirdest thing I found, was that I didn't get a normal full bladder sensation for quite a few days. I would feel my tummy getting sore, realised I hadn't weed for a couple of hours, and would feel much better once I'd been. That was a bit unexpected but didn't last long.
Re the injections - I was lucky to have a numb patch just above my wound that I aimed them into, they are really sore! I'm due another section soon, so hoping I have the same again!

Original poster
pianopants · 24/05/2020 18:54

I'm at the hospital for monitoring as the midwife thinks by body is going into labour. But It's frustrating because they said I need to just ride it out until my section on Friday and if I go into active labour first, then it'll be an emergency section which defeats the purpose? I'm feeling stressed.

OP posts:
Original poster
pianopants · 24/05/2020 19:04

P.s thank you all for your really helpful stories and advice.

OP posts:
TheMostHappy · 26/05/2020 14:28

How's it going OP?

Original poster
pianopants · 26/05/2020 21:28

Hey @TheMostHappy, thanks for checking in.

I'm a lot more calm than when I posted last. I was just panicked and worried about worst case scenario.

I'm currently home, but in very early labour. I am so hoping that baby will stay put before my section on Friday. If I move into active labour before then, I've to call mat assessment and go in to be examined (again) and they'd assemble a team to perform an "emergency" section.

So as it stands, I'm uncomfortable and a small amount of pain but just need to sit with my legs crossed and avoid sneezing or coughing until Friday 😂.

OP posts:
TheMostHappy · 28/05/2020 18:17

Wishing you all the very best for tomorrow OP!! I hope your little one stayed put for you. You will both be absolutely fine.

LillianFullStop · 28/05/2020 18:53

Good luck tomorrow @pianopants! Hope baby stays put overnight. Strange they don't just do the section now since they know you're in early labour. My section is on Monday so not far behind you - hoping mine stays out too over the weekend!

Worried most about what kind of support I will get on the wards without visitors and not being mobile after the section.

2007Millie · 28/05/2020 20:23

Good luck! Xx

Original poster
pianopants · 28/05/2020 21:24

Thanks all!

Nerves are kicking in a little bit now, it doesn't seem real as it's so planned. But very exciting!

Positive vibes your way for Monday @LillianFullStop Flowers

OP posts:
mintich · 28/05/2020 21:44

I loved my c section! Very relaxing after my first forceps birth! The only thing I regret is not paying for a private room for the first night

mintich · 28/05/2020 21:45

Oh ffs I'll read the full thread next time!

Original poster
pianopants · 29/05/2020 01:02

@mintich was still a lovely and reassuring post regardless ☺️

OP posts:
LillianFullStop · 29/05/2020 06:32

Thanks @pianopants - all the best today!!

Original poster
pianopants · 29/05/2020 11:23

Little tip - take a fan! In this heat and the double gown before theatre, you need a fan!

OP posts:
LillianFullStop · 29/05/2020 12:02

Oh thanks for the tip! Just ordered one I hope it get it in time Smile

Original poster
pianopants · 31/05/2020 11:20

@LillianFullStop Hello, thought I'd give you an update on this thread. I'm home (asked to be discharged last night) because I was so exhausted and knew that being in my own environment with my husband to help would be far better.

First of all, my little girl is amazing. The c section itself was a weird experience but controlled and they talk you through everything they do. I did feel a lot of tugging and pulling which at times, was uncomfortable but not sore.

Husband was there for the 35ish mins of stitching up and about 20 mins of recovery. I got a private room which was great for when I was violently sick in the evening from the morphine (apparantly it's given in theatre and in the epidural?). However, I sort of felt like I was forgotten about.

The little one didn't sleep at all, so I had about 26 hours of no sleep which was what resulted in me asking to go home. So glad I did as after two 4 hour sleeps, I already feel much better.

When the meds ware off, it is sore, so as previous posters say, keep on top of them. Definitely get a fan from somewhere (hopefully yours arrives in time) and take some healthy snacks.

Best of luck for tomorrow Flowers

OP posts:
LillianFullStop · 31/05/2020 11:40

Thanks for the update @pianopants! So glad they let you go home and could let you get some sleep. Same with me I would get more rest and help at home so it would be preferred unless there was an actual medical reason to keep us in.

It must have been tough for DH to leave so soon after though. Did baby stay in the cot awake or you had to hold her all night/tried to feed? I guess there are pros and cons to getting a private room - you'll have the privacy but I can see how you could get forgotten about.

Did they send you home with any painkillers stronger than paracetamol and ibuprofen? eg codeine?

My fan came yes so it's all in the bag now all ready for tomorrow!