Positive c section experiences?

[Mamatobe2021xx]

I’m early in my pregnancy (just under half way) buttt I am thinking of the birth as at the end of the day it’s how we get to meet this baby we love so much!

Bit of background on me, I am a very anxious person and have diagnosed anxiety. I enjoy being in control of things (parenthood will challenge that I’m sure) and for me the thought of having a bad vaginal birth scares me.

I’ve heard it is common for your 1st birth to be your worst and for me I would just like a controlled situation where I know what’ll happen/what to expect and hopefully it’ll be positive?

I’ve asked my mother and aunt about this and they went off on me stating I should never ask for a c section and it’s sooo hard and bad and the recovery is just awful.

I know it is a lot harder recovery wise than vaginal birth but so many women do it so I’m sure I’d be able to?

Sorry for rambling - please tell me your positive c section experiences?

I've had two sections. The first one was quite scary as I had to have it in an emergency and under general anaesthetic. It took quite a while to recover from the anaesthetic and I had to stay in hospital for days afterwards. The actual wound/stitches weren't too bad though. The second one was less scary - still not planned but not an emergency and could have an epidural which was nicer and easier to recover from. Again I didn't find the wound too bad and that was with a boisterous toddler to deal with too. You will need to inject with anti-clotting stuff (clexane?) for a few days after and they give you seriously unsexy compression stockings to wear too! I think a planned one would be fine as long as there are no complications. Your abdomen will never be the same after though, they did a neat job of stitching me up both times but I still have a visible scar and if I put on weight it creates an overhang 😢

I loved my c section. It was an emergency as DS was breech, my waters broke and he was merrily starting to make his way! It was over quickly, I didn’t have an adverse reaction and was walking around by the afternoon of the same day.
It hurt a bit getting up and down from sitting and up stairs but I didn’t need to take any of the drugs they gave me to take home. It didn’t affect my looking after of DS and I was out the next day.

I’ve said to DH I will only have a second if I can have a section again!

I've had two, a straightforward EMCS and a sightly complicated ELCS. Both ultimately positive experiences. The recovery was ok, no more no less. It did take me the 6-8 weeks to feel in any way normal again, but I was able to do most things I wanted around the house much sooner than that. I wouldn't relish another but at the same time it wouldn't put me off having another DC if I wanted one (I don't).

Both of my csections were emergency ones.
I recovered so so quickly, with my first child, I was out walking (SLOWLY) around town with husband and pushing pram four days after.
Second csection I wasn't, but that was because my twins were in NICU as they were premature. However, I was up, dressed, showering myself etc.
I won't be having a fourth, but if I did, I'd be begging for a csection in labour!

The only thing I would advise though is to take your regular pain relief for I think a week/two weeks maybe? Certainly must have aided me to be back on my feet quicker after leaving hospital.

I.had an elected c section because blood pressure would not come down even in hospital on bed rest all day. I had an 8 year old and a 5 year old and it was mid December. I was told I could not go home unless my blood pressure went down or baby was born. I was worried about my other children's Xmas gifts so asked for elective c section. My baby was 3 weeks early and 8 lb 12 1/2 Oz. I went home on third day after section. No problems at all. As it was completely pain free I wished I had had my first two births by section. The only downside you can't drive for 6 weeks.

Don’t have a positive c-section experience to tell you but you sound exactly like me! I’m 30 weeks and have worried all my life about giving birth, to the point I nearly didn’t want a child at all. I’ve had every judgemental comment and every comment of how hard the recovery will be etc 🙄 I’m sure there are plenty of long recoveries out there but on the whole, most experiences I’ve heard have been calm and controlled, the actual c-section has been relatively painless (compared to a natural birth anyway) and the recovery is fine as long as you take your painkillers and don’t overdo it. I’m more than prepared to take it easy, there is just no alternative for me as to how I can/will give birth. I put a post on asking for people’s experience’s of how long it took to have your c-section approved, how it went with speaking to consultants etc and I had some really helpful comments but also sooo many comments telling me about how I’d probably go into labour early, how I shouldn’t get a section, how their vaginal birth wasn’t too bad etc 🙈 I can’t emphasise enough how much there is just NO alternative so none of these comments were helpful to me and just raised my anxiety levels even more. Anyway, I got my section approved last week 😊 After telling my midwife at every appointment and then getting myself so worked up between appointments that I had to contact her again and ask if she knew if I’d had a consultant appointment arranged yet because I desperately needed to speak to someone, it all turned out to be fine! The consultant was lovely, she just listened to my reasons and could hear how worried I was about it all. She asked if I wanted referred to birth reflections (counselling etc) I said no, there would be no point and it would actually make me more anxious having this decision pushed further along the road. She agreed and just read me the risks (all of which I knew already and most of which had been dramatised to try to put you off a section - she gave the risks of an emergency section combined with an elective. So many of these problems could actually have been caused by attempting to give birth vaginally then ending up needing a section). So I’d do your own research on the risks and bare in mind you will be having an elective section for no actual medical reason so will have no underlying medical issues likely to cause any complications, whereas lots of people even having an elective will have. She has given me an appointment in a few weeks to book in the date of my section, which I think is actually way earlier than what a lot of people get it but she could tell I wouldn’t settle til I knew exactly what was happening 🙈 Hope you get the birth you want! Have a look on birth rights maternal request c-section and find your hospital, it will show how many they have performed and what their protocol is when someone requests one x

Hello 😊
Another anxiety sufferer here... weirdly I was far more terrified of a section than vaginal birth. My first birth was pretty traumatic, 3 day labour, 3rd degree tear so straight into theatre etc, but still for my second I wanted a vaginal birth because the idea of a section was so awful. That’s anxiety... you feel what you feel sometimes with no logic, and any anxiety is valid. Anyway, my second baby was transverse & refused to budge, so I had to have a section. The op itself was brilliant, I got all the skin to skin I’d missed with my first, and was able to nurse. I wasn’t exhausted at all. Everyone was so lovely. Pain/movement wise, the first days i found very hard and told my husband it was as bad as my first. By the end of the first week I’d retracted my statement and recovery was relatively easy. I am unlikely to try for a third but if I did, I’d be requesting a section from the start.
Choose what makes you least anxious and cut out anyone else’s noise. It’s your choice, and your mental health is as important as every other aspect of your pregnancy.

I've had two emcs. I was up and about within 3/4hrs with both, catheter out and looking after the baby. Home after 12hrs with one of them and never needed a single painkiller. Physically, I found it a total doddle. Only pain was from trapped wind which manifested as v bad shoulder pain.

I was the opposite of you and desperate for a vaginal delivery so psychologically, it wasn't easy. But physically? DH's vasectomy recovery was harder than my section recoveries combined.

Ultimately though, there's no right or wrong and the spectrum of experiences is vast. You can only make a decision and put in support around it to help you through. A decent midwife should be on board with helping you throughout the entire decision making process and if that necessitates a referral to further perinatal support, then so much the better.

I had a c section approx 10 weeks ago. Like you, I was anxious regarding birth. I had an elective and it was honestly a dream. The calmest, most loveliest day. Of course there is pain, but there is with any birth. It was just so controlled and serene. The key afterwards is to stay on top of your painkillers and get moving as soon as possible. Every recovery is different, but after four days I felt relatively normal. Still some pain, but more a general tiredness. I would do it all over again.

I have had four. They were lovely positive experiences.

I had a semi elective c section 6 months ago. Honestly, it was great. Such a calm birth experience and recovery was not too bad. I never took more than paracetamol and ibuprofen (but following advice I did take these for a few days/week). Getting in and out of bed was a bit tricky (even harder with a next to me crib), but I didn't find it bad at all. I will have a c section again if I have another baby.

Good luck OP!

Remember that you'll be told all about the risks of a CS but medical staff never run through the risks of a VB. I had an ELCS last time for anxiety (turned out to be a damn good job, as midwives had repeatedly dismissed my concerns that baby was transverse - she was transverse), and it was fantastic. Yes I was a little slower getting up and running than NCT friends with a VB, but then I can remember asking one if they were considering no. 2 around our babies first birthdays, and she looked horrified and admitted she was still far from fully recovered. The only thing that I really struggled with was getting out of bed for a week or so post birth, not helped by high bed on divan. Otherwise if you stay on top of painkillers it honestly isn't bad at all.

I am pregnant with my second and having an elective c-section this time after a difficult first birth - I won’t bore you with the details.

I have several friends who have had c-sections and all have said the recovery is fine. I think it’s hard initially but that soon passes with time.

I think recovery for a straight forward vaginal birth is easier (mine wasn’t and all of my friends who’ve had c-sections said they’d opt for another section over my birth), but that doesn’t make a c section horrible, just different.

Hi OP,

Congratulations on your pregnancy.
I had an emergency C-section nearly 7 weeks ago with my baby daughter. It was much much better than I thought it would be. I am a very anxious person too. The operation itself seemed so quick, the team were excellent, so professional, kind and caring. Yes it was a bit scary because of the emergency aspect but they were all so good that I felt comfortable and in safe hands.

Recovery wise it was much quicker for me than I expected. As soon as I could feel my legs and felt safe to stand I was able to pick up the baby which was later that day. Of course you shouldn’t overdo it and ask for help as much as you need. I found the pain was quite manageable, the worst aspect for me was the chronic constipation caused by the dihydrocodeine medication. I recommend taking something for constipation alongside straightaway. After 2 days I didn’t need any more pain relief but everyone is different and everyone’s recovery is different, so don’t compare yourself to anyone else.
The scar healed well and quickly and the stitches are dissolvable which is handy. Have big knickers ready so they don’t aggravate your scar!

It was my first birth so I can’t compare it to a vaginal birth as such. I only managed to labour to 2cm before the EMCS. But in all honesty the vaginal sweep and induction process I endured for 3 days prior was much worse for me than the Op!
Don’t do any heavy lifting for at least 6 weeks and take things steady, just do what you can manage and accept lots of help.

Anxiety wise make sure you get lots of help and support now, talking therapy might help along with doing all the preparation you can such as Hypnobirthing which is great for breathing techniques and also antenatal classes. A lot is available online now.

Good luck and I hope everything goes well.

It's a tricky decision. I know women who have had & 'easy' vaginal births those who have had awful, disabling experiences. I also know women who have had awful c sections with serious complications, and some who found it absolutely fine.

I've had two sections, both calm, positive experiences but very different in terms of pain afterwards. I would say if the main reason for having a c section is to avoid pain, you may be seriously underestimating how much recovery from major abdominal surgery can hurt. Perhaps it was because I'd never had major surgery before, but I was quite shocked at how painful my first c section was. I definitely said "Why would anyone choose to do this voluntarily?" a few times! And being in charge of a newborn immediately afterwards is a challenge. Lack of sleep doesn't help with the healing process. I felt like everyone raves about how much easier a c section was and felt like I must be doing it wrong. Now I know that not everyone is back to normal after a fortnight and it is normal to struggle afterwards.

My second c section was absolutely fine though. Far less painful, up and in the shower next morning no probs, no painkillers needed after a day or two, home quickly and even took DS1 to the park four days later.

No one can decide what your best option is, or predict how things will go, apart from your midwives/doctors/yourself.

I loved and still love the fact I had sections.. I felt the same as you, I didn't want to go through the unpredictable chaos of vaginal birth.. and having so much pain and instruments used on such a delicate area. Yes my sections were both really painful afterwards, but post pain where I could rest and be calm was far preferable to the madness of birth. After a few weeks the pain is gone and you feel so relieved you stuck to your guns and didn't experience the trauma.
I can't comment on how it felt during as both times they put me to sleep and I woke up with a baby! Perfect