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!

Yay! So glad your fan came! I hope your hospital has air conditioning too (mine didn't )

I got sent home with paracetamol, diclofenac and blood thinning injections. I'll be honest in saying that the paracetamol doesn't really touch the sides so I've been taking Co-codamol every now and then instead of the paracetamol.

It was tough not having DH or visitors especially being in a side room when I needed basic help with things. I kept dropping the bed controls on the ground and having to buzz for someone to help (I was beginning to annoy myself! 😂).

Yes @pianopants thanks to Amazon Prime! Hope you are keeping cool at home now

I worry about that too having to buzz for help for everything I would annoy myself too. That's good they've sent you home with stronger painkillers as I don't think paracetamol and ibuprofen would cut it!

I had a spinal block last time so I was on the IV and had a catheter after my first birth and I kept dropping the bed controls out of reach too but at least last time DH was there to help me with it.

All the best for today, @LillianFullStop! ❤️

Thanks @pianopants! My baby boy is here! ELCS went smoothly and DH got to stay in recovery with us until our bed was ready in post natal (about 1.5h)

Dreading the spinal wearing off though...

Congratulations @LillianFullStop! You've got this ❤️

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

I'll say now I haven't RTFT but I have had three elective c secs. 1st very medical and not very personal. 2nd ok better. 3rd I had a Jentle c section and delayed cord clamping. Lovely experience. Low noise. Lowish lighting (you want the obstetrician to see the rabbit so to speak). Delivered onto my chest, breast fed him while the surgeons stitched me up and lasered the adhesions on my bladder from the previous ops (2 4 1!). Probably not what you are asking but I do like to remind folk that nice c section experiences are possible in some circumstances

I had a surprise elcs due to severe pe with my DTs. I was already in hospital, and the day I had them they checked my charts and decided to get the babies out that day - I was 36+5.

I had awful water retention so couldn’t put surgical stockings on nor remove my wedding rings so they taped them up. The spinal wasn’t too bad (missed on the first go) as I was so huge it was difficult to put the bump out of the way! I was terrified of feeling them cutting so the anaesthetist really took the time to quadruple check (more for my peace of mind I think!) and explained everything that would be happening and reassuring me every step of the way. She told me if I started freaking out she could give me something to calm me, she was amazing. Despite being at my most vulnerable, I felt in control of what was going on.

I freaked out when I saw them wearing the full on face masks, but again was reassured. The atmosphere was really calm and we ended up having a bit of a laugh. When dt2 was born she had struggles breathing but the room filled up with more medics and she was whisked away to scbu before joining us in the recovery room afterwards.

I do not have a high pain threshold at all, but the recovery for me was really quick and it wasn’t too bad. I was out shopping 5 days after, and back to driving in two weeks. Even if you feel you don’t need them, keep up with the painkillers afterwards as I thought I didn’t need them and holy shit it hurt! I kept up with them after that.

A maternity pad on top of your knickers under trousers is blissful and takes a lots of the pain away from moving.

Another absolutely gross bit of advice - get some fig juice/laxatives/whatever helps you go normally for afterwards. Didn’t know this, and wish I had!

It was tough in the ward but manageable, even the first night after they’d been born I was able to lift them out of the cot for feeding. The midwives were absolute super stars though and took the babies on night two for a few hours so I could sleep as they knew I was dead on my feet.

Overall, I’d definitely have another section again if I have any more babies. It was a fantastic experience and I felt that I really made the best choice for the three of us.

Good luck!

Bother, I’d not rtfs, sorry for that!

Massive congratulations though!!!! 😁🌷

@MuchTooTired no apology needed! All wonderful advice and I'm it'll help someone who pops on to this thread in the future. 😊

I’ve had 2 both planned at different hospitals in the same trust. My second was brought forward because of reduced movements, that was fine on a Friday and was decided on the Thur. They were busy because it was Easter weekend but they said it would definitely be done that day even if it got late. I actually ended up being the first to go down because I was considered the most complicated due to a chronic condition.
The spinal being placed was fine both times, the local was a bit painful, but I couldn’t feel the actual spinal going in much at all. First time I got to feed in recovery but second time baby had to go transitional care for the day. Luckily I had Colostrum frozen so baby was able to have that from a syringe, she was starving poor thing, chewing like mad on her hands when her Dad went to see her, and no sign of letting me feed her or giving her a bottle.
Care on the postnatal ward was pretty poor both times. Apart from the first time the hospital had breastfeeding support workers who were brilliant and made me tea and toast as well as helping me to get baby to latch. He had jaundice which wasn’t picked up for days, so he was too tired to feed properly.
Best to keep up with painkillers and take them on time, remind the staff if you need to. It’s much easier to keep on top of the pain that get it back under control when it’s got bad. You might be fine with Paracetamol and Ibuprofen but lots of people need morphine etc as well initially. Oral morphine can be given every 4 hours if needed so do speak up if you need it. It’s best to be in less pain and able to move about than stuck in bed, they’ll want you to have eaten and used the toilet before you can be discharged.
Best to take your dressing off in the shower, it hurts less. A cushion to protect your scar from the seatbelt on the way home might be useful. Keep it clean and dry and keep an eye on it.