Elective section - things I should know to prepare myself

[ArtemisBean]

Owing to a previous bad 3c tear I've been advised to consider a section this time. They're leaving the decision up to me and I'm swaying towards the section at this point. But I'd like to hear from mums with experience of an elective and the recovery period afterwards. Was it what you expected? Anything you wish you'd known, or would do differently next time? Any adverse effects on the baby and/or breastfeeding? At the moment the biggest incentive for having a section is that, although it's 'major surgery', the long-term after-effects are likely to be minimal compared to having another 3rd or 4th degree tear that could leave me with problems for the rest of my life. I feel like whichever decision I make I'm screwed 🙁

Be prepared that even if booked in for an elective on the grounds of potential danger to both parties/that the child won't be coming out the usual way, if you go into labour early they might decide "to let you have the chance to do it yourself" and try very very hard to deny you a section until the point at which it becomes clear that it will be a life threatening emergency at any moment if you don't get one...

I had an EMCS with my first but it felt very calm and quick. Take all the pain relief they offer you and keep on top of it once you leave the hospital. I bounced back quite quickly but wish I had slowed down and tried to do less because it is sore afterwards. Sneezing and laughing hurt for a few months! I bled a lot afterwards for about 6 weeks which I wasn't quite expecting.

I've opted for an ELCS this time and hoping it all goes to plan. I didn't feel out of my depth with the first section and wanted that same kind of experience (though I know it's not guaranteed). Vaginal birth also seemed very invasive with people checking how dilated you are, the chance of forceps, etc so another c section is much preferred.

@SingingWaffleDoggy

I had extensive tearing with my DC after a forceps delivery with coccyx damage. I was under the gynae team for treatment for nearly a year afterwards. I’m pregnant again and the thought of another vaginal delivery brings tears to my eyes. I wouldn’t have another if I had to give birth vaginally again. I had a consultant appointment at my 20 week scan and went in prepared. I’d read about the risks of further tearing with scar tissue, the chances of another retained placenta and the surgery risks of c-section and he was so understanding. He said that he would have supported whatever decision I made but that he felt I was making the right one for me. I’m already getting pelvic floor pain just with the pressure of the pregnancy so am even more convinced it was personally the right decision. I’ve been advised to take plenty of reading material/tech so you don’t get bored waiting, and high waisted black knickers. I’m going to take some squash as I’m more likely to drink that than water, and some snacks for the recovery period. I’m struggling to find button up PJ’s in a dark colour though.

I have also struggled to find button up pjs. I have got a few of these and some plain black pj bottoms from the same place. Never breastfed before but I have some camisoles for underneath so hoping that's all I need

Forgot the link..

www.yoursclothing.co.uk/black-tier-smock-tunic-blouse-p

Sorry to jump on to this thread with questions. The advice so far is brilliant!

I am due a caesarean in two weeks for my first and probably last baby. Does anyone have any tips about getting in and out of bed with a next to me cot? I am probably really overthinking this. I'm struggling to get out of bed at the moment due to the bump and severe pelvic girdle pain but I'm up at least every hour in the night for the loo. I hope that passes!!

My elective was lovely! It honestly felt like a dental appointment with a bit more faff all around and wasn't anywhere close to what I imagined "major surgery" would be. The fact that everything was incredibly under control, DD was out and safe within minutes and the actual procedure entirely pain free really helped my anxiety. The best part was I had loads of energy afterwards to enjoy DD and could hardly believe she was already here without having gone through birth.

The aftermath is painful, not going to lie but it was pretty much what I expected. I managed it with OTC Solpadeine and ibuprofen as the hospital morphine drip made me dizzy. I found the pain entirely manageable when you're sitting/lying but it goes up a lot if you try to walk. A lot of advice here is to get moving early, so I think the best option would be to take just painkillers before you intend to go to the loo/shower, or always try to get up and moving once the meds have kicked in.

I needed 5 weeks before driving and could definitely still feel the surgery site stinging while walking around. Breastfeeding wasn't a problem. DD had low blood sugar 24hrs after birth and she got some formula but my milk came in 2-3 days after the birth and everything was ok after that (as "ok" as the repetitiveness and discomfort of BF can be ). I BF in side-lying position which made it easier to rest.

The hardest part was honestly sleep deprivation. I'm not sure whether BFing had more to do with that than the ELCS, but both combined was a rough experience. I basically got 1-2 hours of broken sleep for the first few weeks and was literally starting to hallucinate. I didn't want DH giving her a bottle for fear of "nipple confusion" but in retrospect I think that's far less of a danger than BF websites try to make it out to be.

My ELCS was very positive overall - lovely experience actually seeing DS for the first time, healed really quickly, barely any scar.

Re. BF, for me personally it took 5 days for my milk to come in - 5 days of supplementing feeding DS with as much pumping as I could do, while the hospital tube fed him after every attempt at BF (he was delivered by ELCS because he was small for dates, so they didn't want him losing any more weight). However, I have PCOS so struggled with low supply, plus DS had a tongue tie so never latched particularly well, so I'm not sure how much of it was the ELCS and how much of it was my tits being "neither use nor ornament."

Thank you @pinklillie that’s the sort of thing I need to look at.
As for the next to me crib, I’m planning to put in on the other side of the bed so I can crawl/ roll across to it (doesn’t that sound attractive!) rather than around it.
I’m worried about milk supply as breastfeeding was very easy last time, and I’m a little nervous that my body won’t realise I’ve given birth! The replies on here are reassuring though.

Planned section was amazing compared to birth no 1 which was 56 hours of contractions ending in forceps and episiotomy. I found this recovery hard. Could barely walk leaving the hospital after 2 nights.

Planned c section, I pushed my baby from the recovery room to the ward 4 hours after the operation. Discharged the next day and in the park the next. I maybe didn't take it as easy as advised but I'd no issue.

Look into c section pants. I bought mine from mothercare but you can get similar from John Lewis and boots. They are high waisted but have a support band. It's about £25 for 2 pairs but I wore them for a month and with a newborn you put a wash on everyday anyway.

Peppermint capsules to help with wind and getting your bowels back in action.

No more babies here but would def go c section again. My husband was against the section but now he's all for it & tells everyone to give birth this way (obviously thinks he's an expert now 😂)

Oh, also - getting the baby out is incredibly quick! Almost all the operation is sewing you back together afterwards.
In mine I was vaguely aware that someone was weighing a baby off to one side whilst they were prepping me after doing the spinal/lying me down - but obviously they only have one baby in the room at once and it was my DS, already out!

One emergency. One planned. Both fine. I echo the big black pants advice and comfy jamas but the one huge tip from me is to get your legs in a comfortable position before the anaesthetic takes effect. I didn't and then being unable to move them when I wanted to was really strange. Sounds like it would be the least of your concerns but this is the part of it I remember most

Such brilliant advice, thank you everyone! My consultant is leaving the choice up to me (although if I hadn't recovered as well from the tear as I did, they would be telling me categorically a section was the best option) and I've got until the end of the month to decide. Everything you've all said is reassuring me that it's the best choice ☺️