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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Worst part about a c-section?

100 replies

sarah13xx · 21/05/2021 09:34

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? 😂

OP posts:
seepingweeping · 21/05/2021 13:10

My emcs was much smoother than my planned one but that was medical negligence.

I loved my catheter.

Take something for trapped wind and prepare for the first poo.

Have a small cushion to hold over your scar when you cough/sneeze.

thisisfineihavewine · 21/05/2021 14:03

@sarah13xx my DH was allowed to stay with me from going into hospital, until we left (our trust have been wonderful with COVID and very sensible with balancing care and precautions).

He was allowed to be with me while I was having the spinal, however that was apparently an exception and isn’t usually allowed. (I had severe pre natal anxiety, with needles being a big trigger - my DH attended therapy with me pre birth to learn techniques to help me remain calm)

That said, as happy as I was to have him with me while they were doing it, I likely would have coped without him there at that point - that staff are wonderful. I suspect having a calming and approachable personality is a requirement of being an anaesthetist! The whole theatre team were truly wonderful, I felt very safe the whole time Smile

Susannahmoody · 21/05/2021 14:10

Worst bit is the overhang that you get afterwards. The pain, procedure etc was fine for me.

Garman · 21/05/2021 14:14

Everyone's experiences really vary, I have no overhang after 2 sections, neither do two of my friends out of 5 of us that have had 2 sections.

moovinon · 21/05/2021 14:20

A C section is absolute bliss compared to the pain of contractions.

With my first one (emergency), I didn't notice the spinal going in. It was a bit painful after to move, but not horrific. I was able to get up with my baby in the night for feeds and was walking the prom 4 days after giving birth. It was great.

2nd one (planned), I jumped a bit with the spinal going in, but that was purely out of shock. It didn't hurt. The pain after was worse than the first time round and probably hurt for about 3 weeks. Hurt to get up to feed baby in night, hurt to bend etc, but I would still take that over the pain of contractions any day!

FenugreekGodess · 21/05/2021 14:25

The worst bit for me was when open and it felt like I was being punched in the stomach, not excruciating but top level discomfort. And also the bit where it feels like someone stamps on your chest. But it's all very short lived and worth it xx

PiratePetespajamas · 21/05/2021 14:34

The heaving and retching.

Had two sections, one emergency, one planned. Despite discussing it extensively with anaesthetist beforehand, I threw up almost as much with the planned one, until (sorry TMI) it was just green bile. My husband said he felt really sorry for me, it was just relentless.

Otherwise, I loved both my sections - after the car crash of failed labour with my first the section was calm and positive and relatively painless. The second was downright joyful. Recovery was okay with both. The injections suck - get someone else to do them. Buy massive pants for after. Hold a sanitary pad on your scar when you go for a poo. Use a cushion under the belt in the car. You’ll be fine. Good luck!

FenugreekGodess · 21/05/2021 14:41

Forgot to say I'm almost 4 wks since c-sec and no pain since the op, all I ever get is a stingy paper cut feeling along tiny parts of where the incision is randomly for a second or two randomly, not even daily. First week or two I probably felt discomfort moving around but that's now gone and I used to find it hurt to laugh or sneeze or cough but no longer xx

cocoloco987 · 21/05/2021 15:38

The catheter was the worst thing for me both times. They put it in before the spinal Confused. Couldn't wait to get it back out, thankfully was quick. I only experienced the trapped wind the second time and it pretty unpleasant. Worse that I didn't know what it was and hadn't experienced it the first time and no one bothered to explain (or give me any meds - pain wise or anything else). This was abroad though. I'm pretty sure they give you more than paracetamol after a section in the UK so don't let me out you off

allfurcoatnoknickers · 21/05/2021 15:53

I had an ELCS and it was embarrassingly easy. Just stay on top of the painkillers and you'll be fine, I found it uncomfortable rather than painful. Having my wisdom teeth out was 10000x worse. I was up and about and walking to the supermarket within a week. I don't have an overhang either and I've only got a faint scar. 10/10 would c-section again.

I refused the injections because getting up and walking hurt less than those stingy little bastards.

The worst bit is the judgement and snarky comments from other people. There are a lot of c-section judgers and shamers out there Angry. Oh and having the cannula put in. That was AGONY. It hurt so much I was crying from the pain.

waltzingparrot · 21/05/2021 15:56

I've got a numb bit across my scar. If I roll around the floor on my stomach, it feels weird.

Mammyofasuperbaby · 21/05/2021 16:29

I had an emergency c section with my first but I stopped caring by that point as I was so ill and worried about my baby who was premature. I'd been pumped full of so many drugs at that point that I didn't notice the rest. But the pain after was horrific, I was bruised from my waist down - it was just black. This was because tiny babies are harder to deliver and I some of my meds made the situation worse for me but I was cat hung the bus to the hospital by 3 weeks pp.
Second was elcs and that was so much better. Baby was still prem but much bigger, I had minimal bruising and I was up and about within hours (just as well as baby was very sick ). Pain was OK second time around too.
The only thing I hated was the uncontrollable shaking during my sections. Thankfully the anesthesia specialist (who was with me both times - lovely guy) gave me something to calm the shaking a bit

2021expecting · 21/05/2021 17:02

I had a planned c section 11 weeks ago, honestly the whole operation was great, talked me through each stage, the spinal was grand, a sharp scratch before but nothing worse pain wise than having blood taken.

I found the incision to be tight/painful laughing/sneezing afterwards for a week or 2 but manageable. Oh and the trapped wind, I remember seeing the wind moving around my stomach but peppermint tea sorted it quickly. Would do it again if needed, was a lovely, calm experience.

Original poster
sarah13xx · 21/05/2021 17:36

@2021expecting aw that’s great, congratulations ☺️ Glad your experience was so positive! I can cope with a sharp scratch 😂 definitely going to get peppermint tea/oil to help with that, it sounds like the worst bit!

OP posts:
Tempusfudgeit · 21/05/2021 17:39

Constipation. All else was great!

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 22/05/2021 00:48

In case someone hasn’t confirmed, Colpermin tablets are peppermint oil in an easy to use form 👍🏻

Hughbert · 22/05/2021 01:08

My experience of a planned CS was not quite as positive. I'm the exception rather than the rule though, I think! The anaesthetic made me anxious, which I was told was normal. I had bladder weakness for a long time after the catheter was removed, which I didnt expect. I took a long time to bounce back, but on here everyone was going for walks soon after, but I couldn't stand upright for a fortnight. My scar is still numb 15 years on.
I'm not trying to be the downer, but I found it all a bit harder than others and that made me even more stressed. I wish you well with yours! Flowers

cocoloco987 · 22/05/2021 07:52

Lots of people say don't do too much but also don't do to little. My dr made me keep walking right front the start. I was in theatre at 8am with my first and up by 5pm. Second was a little longer as I was in theatre at 4pm so was left over night. The dr couldn't stress enough the importance of lots of gentle walking to help the healing process and pain. When he'd come in and I'd wince sitting up he'd tell me off for lying down too long. Sure enough it eased very quickly when going for a small wander and not staying in the same position too long. Having said that I didn't have the wincing the second time round. First was caused by a tight stitch. Just don't do any bending, picking things up from the floor or up high or any lifting. Walking is fine

Ilovelove · 22/05/2021 08:04

I have had an emergency and a planned. They were both good and positive experiences although of course the planned one was calmer going into it.

The only thing I have to say is... I blocked and flooded the loo with my first trip to the ..ahem..bathroom. Blush

Original poster
sarah13xx · 22/05/2021 08:08

@Ilovelove 😂😂😂 haha no way!

OP posts:
Original poster
sarah13xx · 22/05/2021 08:09

@cocoloco987 that’s good advice, I will try not to lie down too long if I can 🙈

OP posts:
Original poster
sarah13xx · 22/05/2021 08:10

@Hughbert oh no, sorry yours wasn’t so positive. I think some people’s opinions of sections are still that they’re the easy way out! But I’m going into it with my eyes open thinking it could be awful so if it’s anything better than that I will be very grateful 🙈

OP posts:
Original poster
sarah13xx · 22/05/2021 08:11

@LooksLikeImStuckHere getting these ordered ASAP 😂

OP posts:
wellingtonsandwaffles · 22/05/2021 08:14

Trapped wind after (got medication) and the injections you take for a couple weeks.

SwanShaped · 22/05/2021 08:15

For me the worst but was the waiting beforehand. I was so nervous. The spinal was fine. Nowhere near as bad as I thought. I loved the catheter coz you don’t have to worry about going for a wee at all. First poo after it was a bit scary and it feels so weird on the first time you try to stand up. The other worst bit for me was that my baby was in NICU and I couldn’t see him for hours because you can’t walk.

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