Positive plus size csection stories please!

[Ek3009]

Hello!

So I’m in a bit of shock, had a routine growth scan today due to high BMI and baby has been breech all the way through. I have been expecting a section at 39 weeks due to breech so was prepared for that but she was measuring on the smaller side so they are taking me in on Friday at 37+1!!

They aren’t overly concerned about her size as she isn’t too small but they just want to get her here to make sure everything is ok. I was given steroids today and back in again for another lot to help her lungs etc so I feel confident with all of that.

I have quite a high BMI so now starting to panic about the pain afterwards and recovering, I also have a cyst on my right ovary and they will possibly remove my full ovary while they are there so don’t know if this will cause extra pain!

Just looking for some plus size ladies who have had a csection and what was your recovery like. Please try and keep it positive so I don’t freak anymore than I am haha!

I have had two - emergency and elective. My bmi is 39. I did struggle after the first - couldn't bend down for days or sleep laying flat as it hurt too much. But during rhe day i felt pretty fine. After the elective, i felt fine! 1 piece of advice i read before the elective was to lie as flat as possible as at night in hospital - otherwise your wound starts healing with you in a sitting position. Made my recover soooo much easier 2nd time around!

Bmi-wise i think the only problem is keeping the wound dry during healing once the dressing is off. My big stomach turned into a hanging apron so talc is your friend!!! But otherwise i personally havent had any issues.

Good luck for the birth!

Thanks so much for your advice will definitely keep that in mind! To be fair I’m so looking forward to being able to sleep on my back again so hopefully lying flat isn’t to painful.

Thanks for the good luck :) finding it so weird I will have a baby by Friday not that Iv 9 months to prepare or anything haha!

Ive just had one (Wednesday) with bmi of 39. Make sure you turn enough, i was left on my back for too long during an induction and now have pressure sores on my back (not horrific but something i didn't expect). Keep legs mobile, even wiggling and ankle rolls. Make sure they use pressue socks and your partner presses your feet/legs . Unsure about healing, but my hospital fitted a PICO7 over my wound which apparently is good for high bmi patients for the wound healing (its right under my flab ). I'm no expert but mine was fine and my bmi didn't cause any particular issue

How did it go OP?? Hope you're having lots of lovely cuddles! My BMI was 34.2 prep-pregnancy and probably well into the 40s by the time I had my section. The recovery was fine. I mean, I felt rough, but I don't think anyone who comes out of major surgery with a newborn to look after feels particularly awesome

I don't remember my BMI, but I was almost 37yo and a size 18 (5ft5") at the point of becoming pregnant.

I had an EMCS (after a thankfully healthy and trouble free pregnancy). The CS was the best thing I've ever done, if I were to have a second child I'd elect for CS 100x over.

Sure, it was difficult to move around, and my legs swelled like shiny seals for 24 hours post-op (wide leg trousers are strongly recommended), and it was a little inconvenient (little things like pushing the plunger down on a caffetiere are less arm, more core, than you'd imagine), rolling over in bed took proper planning, not just instinctive movement.

But within 2-weeks I felt mainly fine - so long as I didn't push it.
In 6-weeks I felt completely fine unless I seriously over-did it.

One thing I found difficult (and opted out of) was breastfeeding, I think due to the nature of the 'emergency' part of the CS I was somewhat shocked so my milk took several days to come in, and never fully established - so if you're keen to breastfeed it's worth looking into support to do so ahead of time, so you can make it work.

I had a tiny bit of weeping at the wound site, no infection, generally - 10/10 recommended.

Wah! Missed it!

I hope your recovery is straight forward!

Thankyou everyone! She’s here and she’s just gorgeous!

The op went so much better than expected although I’m only on day 2 of recovery so not getting ahead of myself!

Getting up for the first time was definitely the worst part and I cried like a baby haha but feeling so much better already.

We are still in hospital, hopefully get out tomorrow but for anyone reading this for the future it’s really not that awful and the reward is worth it 1000x over!

Many congratulations!

Take care not to over do it when you leave hospital. It's so easy to just push it a little too far and end up feeling a bit sore.

Congratulations