Worst part about a c-section?

[sarah13xx]

Not a good thing to ask but having one in 2 months and I’m not great with pain.. just want to know EVERYTHING! I’ve never been in hospital for anything, think being pregnant is about the second time ever having my blood taken 😂 I’m fine with that and like flu jab type pain but how much worse is it having the cannula put in your hand and the spinal? I’ve heard it’s not the actual spinal that hurts because the stingy bit before it is from the injection to numb the area.

So how bad was it? 😂

I loved having the catheter, one less thing to worry about when I couldn't walk. My CS was emergency so quite scary, and not being able to move anything below my neck ( Except arms ) I found very unnerving.
It wasn't painful though.
The worst was from a couple of days afterwards when you realise it's really difficult to do anything when you most need to

@Garman haha oh no, I had ruled that one out hoping I’d know nothing about it 🙈 I get bad uti’s so I’ve heard people say you should drink a lot of water before/after it to keep it going through your system when they take the catheter out! Just praying I don’t get one

I didn't find my C-section painful at all, didn't feel anything, even during the theatre prep. The recovery was the difficult part, only advice I can really give is avoid sneezing for the first week or two afterwards, I know easier said than done but trust me, try not to sneeze! It hurts like hell.

Had no issues at all with either time though recovery after the elective was better than the emergency which makes sense. Worst part for me was not realising that my tummy would always have that overhang so unless you're very slim it's something to consider.

@NeedCoffeeToSurvive that seems to be what most people are saying so im probably worrying about the wrong bit! I will try my best to avoid it 🙈

The recovery from my planned c-section with my second (breech) was a thousand times easier than from the vaginal birth of my first. I tore and it was painful to sit for weeks. No one seemed to care about how much pain I was in. With my c-section, I got some great painkillers and was doted on much more. A far less painful experience.

Emergency C section. Saved my life and that of my daughter. I was in a lot of pain and difficulty so the obstetrician called it and they put me under. Recovery was OK but I do have a scar. Ultimately you want a healthy baby, and be OK yourself, so that's all that matters.

You dont feel any cutting op and you wont see anything over the curtain. I dont think you are naked? Think they cover you from pubic area. I don't remember many people being there either.
Certainly when I ended up in theatre with emergency forceps etc there were miles more people then.

My planned c section was a very calm and dignified procedure. Hope it's the same for everyone.

And I never had the trapped wind with either csection, thankfully, it sounds terrible!

The wind afterwards - the often recommended peppermint tea wasn’t strong enough for me. Peppermint oil was what I needed and I was so grateful that I had it ready. Honestly, it made a work of difference

Painkillers for when you leave hospital - different NHS trusts have different policies as to the painkillers they give you to take home. Mine gave me nothing, I bought my own paracetamol and ibuprofen which I alternated. You can only buy limited amounts of these in one go, so it might be an idea to stock up. Friends in my Amelie natal class who has their babies in a neighbouring trust were given a week’s worth of other stronger painkillers to have at home and really benefitted from that. They called hem ‘magic brown pills’! I don’t know what they were, unfortunately. But I found it very painful recovering from my first EMCS after a four day failed labour and I wish I’d known that some other painkillers might have been available to me (they weren’t offered). I thought I was just being weak and needed to think more positively. Medical staff talk about not giving other painkillers if you’re breastfeeding, but we all breastfed at that time, so it couldn’t have been that which made a difference to me not getting these painkillers. Might be worth asking?

After my second EMCS, they stitched me up differently. With my first, I had dissolvable stitches. With my second, I had one long piece of cotton type thing. The sensation of that being removed at home by the community midwife was something I wasn’t prepared for! If you’re stitched like that, just be aware that it doesn’t hurt but feels very very odd.

Again with my second EMCS I had to self administer anti-blood clotting injections at home. I don’t know whether that is because things changed between my first and second EMCS, or whether this is something that only happens if you’ve already had one CS. But something to be prepared for mentally if this is what is suggested for you.

I had an unplanned c section and it was honestly fine. It's different for everyone of course but I found the recovery fine - had to be a little careful getting in and out of bed but it was by no means excruciating.

The atmosphere in theatre was lovely - I guess it's a 'nice' operation (when straightforward) so everyone was in a good mood. The most painful part was when my IV line got blocked somehow and my hand got really sore from the build up of pressure. The actual process of getting the baby out was rougher than I expected (could feel myself being held down and yanked all over the table) but not painful at all.

Having compared birth notes with my NCT group, only 1 out of 8 had a straightforward natural birth. I'm definitely glad mine went how it did in the end and would definitely get an elective C Section if there's a second time round.

Top tip: don't look up into the lights above the operating table. They are mirrored and will give a grandstand view of what is going on.

Post surgery if you need to cough try to sit straight facing front (I had a chest infection and quickly learned this).

@WellTidy thanks, did you literally just take a bottle of peppermint oil and take it or did you have capsules of it? I absolutely hate flavoured tea so would way rather have capsules or something

@MissHoney85 glad you had a nice experience of it 😊 hoping mine goes smoothly! I think on the whole most c-sections do, whereas as you say, there can be a huge variety in how natural births go! I have a low placenta so I’m just hoping it’s moved a bit so I’m not high risk by the time it happens

I had an emergency and a planned. I used hynopbirthing techniques with the emergency one to help keep me relaxed. I am a big wuss about needles so was terrified of the spinal but when it came to it, it was fine. Have something prepared that you can think about / talk about while the spinal is going on. I find it helps to distract myself while they are doing it!

In terms of the operation itself, I had no pain. At all. Not even the sensation of pressure! They say to expect to feel pressure (not pain though) as they get the baby out, but I honestly didn't feel a thing. I healed really well. I used to feel a bit winded for the first few days when I tried to sit up, and it wasn't very pleasant, but I wasn't actually in pain. I healed beautifully both times and my scar is minimal.

Don't be scared! You can do it. If I can do it, you definitely can :)

@GnomeDePlume I think I saw this on a video online, wasn’t sure what they meant but wasn’t going to look just in case! 😂😬

I’ve had two - one emergency under GA (red button, bed rushed down the corridor to theatre job), and one planned fairly recently.

The GA section the worst bit was not witnessing my DC be born. That affected me for a long time. I also didn’t take care of myself afterwards and overdid it (attempted a 5k just a few weeks post partum..) that really messed up my recovery, and I experienced scar pain for a few years afterward, despite physio.

Second child, I had a planned section. The things that really struck me were:

• the waiting around in the room, thankfully private rooms at our local NHS maternity hospital (used this time for relaxation techniques)
• the theatre table really does tilt quite alarmingly, but you won’t fall
• the anaesthetist had trouble with the spinal, it took about 20 minutes to get in. They have things they can do to help though, I was in all sorts of positions, and they got a scan machine eventually.
• I found the local anaesthetic fine.
• the cold spray is COLD
• the moment baby was born was utterly magical, and I will forever treasure that memory
• I shook uncontrollably after in recovery (making breastfeeding quite interesting!). They have lovely warm blankets for this reason though.
• keep on top of your pain relief (one they offer you is ibuprofen up your rear)
• make sure you go home with diclofenac and take it. I went home with paracetamol and ibuprofen, which was ok - but the diclofenac is really good.
• take help for your recovery. Have family help with housework once DP is back at work, and if your DP is prone to laziness in the home, be very clear what the expectations are for afterward.
• take it easier than you think you need to, for longer than you think you need to.

With my second, by 8 weeks post partum, I was able to comfortably do a 5k walk at a slow pace.

On the whole, the planned section was fabulous.

Good luck!

@feathersandferns aw thank you, it sounds like yours was a positive experience! I have got the mindful birth group c section hypnobirthing course that I’ve read through but need to listen to the audio files every night before it so I can listen to them if I’m waiting a while to go in. In my head if I can get the cannula and spinal in at that point I’ll then get excited about seeing my baby! Prepared that after it might not feel great but at least by then you have a baby to be happy about 🙈

I’ve had 3 and I don’t think there’s a bad thing really.
The catheter is out in after you’re numb so you don’t feel it.
The pain killers they give you are great and I was uncomfortable but can honestly say I didn’t feel in pain.
The catheter coming out is a strange tingly feeling but not painful.

I’ve just thought - the worst thing is probably opening your bowel for the first time afterwards.

All mine were elective. I have had brilliant births.

@gnomedeplume I was warned that with my first c-section! With my second I watched the whole time and it was honestly amazing, I saw in the reflection as they pulled his head out first and then his body, I wish I had asked to watch properly.

@thisisfineihavewine ouch! I run too but have stopped since being pregnant (didn’t want it making my pelvic floor any worse 😂) but I’m definitely planning to take it very slowly to get back into!

Have heard that about the theatre table so il try not to panic that I’m falling off! Hoping they can get my spinal in quickly 🙈 was your partner in or out the room at that point? Not that il be caring by then if it doesn’t go straight in! I will take all the painkillers they offer, the second they offer them 😂 He has been warned about everything he’ll have to do so I will give him a guided tour of how to work the washing machine etc before we go and tell him where all the baby stuff is! I have two big dogs and I’m conscious of them not being ‘left out’ but if we’re going a walk my partner can just take both until I’m definitely healed enough to lead them.

Thanks x

I looked but I am a bit if a ghoul!

I have had 1 EMCS and 2 ELCS. The middle one was the best, very calm. The third one was tricky because of the chest infection as I kept coughing.

If you do have to inject yourself with anticoagulant post surgery the anticipation is worse than the actual injection. Don't wear pale tops as you can bleed a bit from the injection site and not notice until you see the blood stain. (I have a blood clotting disorder so frequently have to inject myself).

@SpunBodgeSquarepants oh no, I’m funny with things like that so I better not 😂 I was watching an early series of one born every minute the other day and it was a section. I think when there’s sections on it now they just show you the head end up on this they showed you just about the whole thing, couldn’t even look at the tv so I have no chance if it’s me 😂

I needed no painkillers and my catheter was removed around 4hrs after each Cs so definitely not 24hrs. In fact, I was home 12hrs after one of my emcs.

Only pain was shoulder pain due to trapped wind. 4 days after my second, I was back doing the school run on foot and I was back running at 9 weeks.

This isn't everybody's experience but it can be straightforward. Just listen to your body, accept help if you can and buy big pants!

@Littlegoth

The trapped wind after. And being constipated for 5 days. I did a lot of walking up and down. Didn’t help.

Everything else was manageable.

Ye gods the trapped wind! Take peppermint tea bags with you. The urge to do a massive fart but you can't is awful. The first poo is pretty horrific too. You think you're going to burst stitches. I held a cushion over my scar. It was all a bit of an ordeal as I had a private room and ended up leaning on the emergency button in my aim to get a good pushing position so had midwives banging on the door thinking I'd passed out or something 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ But the relief afterwards is the best.

Get up to walk as soon as you can. It will hurt to get up and you will be slow which is stressful when your baby is crying. It's the only major surgery where you cannot rest and recover from. Within a few hrs you are responsible for your own recovery AND another helpless human and survive on about 2 hrs sleep if you're lucky.