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Childbirth

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

Anyone booked in for an ELCS soon?

44 replies

MyGrassIsBrowner · 16/09/2021 12:22

I'm on the countdown.. 18 days and feeling quite positive and excited about it all. This will be my second baby. Previous natural delivery but came away with low grade prolapse and long horrific recovery. I dont want to potentially risk any further damage down there so I've opted for a section this time.
How are you ladies feeling? I have awful PGP this time round and I am soooo fed up with being pregnant now. I also nearly choked on my own acid last night in bed which was a lovely experience. The heartburn is real! 🙈
So ready for her arrival now I am dying for newborn snugs!
X

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MyGrassIsBrowner · 23/09/2021 10:11

@Chameleon2021 No harm in giving delivery suite a call and explaining to them what you've been experiencing. Least they can do is put you on CTG machine and they'll be able to tell if it's contractions or not. I certainly would want checking over if baby is breech though. How far along are you now?

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MyGrassIsBrowner · 23/09/2021 10:17

@Chameleon2021 Is this your first baby? It's totally possible you could be in the latent labour phase, it can last days/weeks. I've had regular Braxton Hicks for a couple of months now but this is my 2nd baby. Having experienced contractions Braxton Hicks although uncomfortable are not as intense (at least not for me personally) just feels like my belly is being shrink wrapped, best way to describe it!
When I went in for monitoring though they weren't picked up on my CTG so clearly weren't strong enough. Contractions however can be pretty bloody intense. If you're worried though I'd definitely get onto your hospital asap. Better to be on it than leave it til the last minute. X

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Chameleon2021 · 23/09/2021 10:21

2nd baby but they're 10 years apart so it's all new 😂

I went in at 35 weeks with the same thibg. They just said they were non productive contractions and weren't doing anything so imagine its the same thing again!

38 weeks tomorrow so still early days really. Will go for a walk and see what happens and maybe give them a call in a bit x

jessicakxx · 23/09/2021 10:38

@Chameleon2021 I had a day two weeks ago where I had braxton hicks every 3/4 minutes lasting around 30 seconds each from 9 in the morning till 7pm at night, I genuinely thought I was in labour. I called triage and they'd said as long as I wasn't in pain and hadn't lost my waters then they were totally normal! But if your worried you could always call to help settle your mind :-) my baby is also breech xx

MyGrassIsBrowner · 23/09/2021 10:47

@Chameleon2021 Oh bless you! Definitely keep an eye but I would be tempted to call if you're still suffering. If anything just for peace of mind. They may not even admit you for monitoring. But since you have laboured before I'd definitely be inclined to call. X

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Chameleon2021 · 23/09/2021 10:56

@jessicakxx yeh this sounds about right!

Off for a walk so will keep you posted 😀

Peachee · 23/09/2021 13:37

Hi all section booked for Tuesday.. been a really strange week emotionally for me. Can anyone tel me what the pre op consists of please? Booked in on Saturday.. Have had MRSA swabs and guessing they will do covid ones too.. just wondering what else happens.. xx

Chameleon2021 · 23/09/2021 14:11

The hospital just called about mine to remind me about the section next week (like I'm going to forget 🤔). She said they will take bloods, weigh me and give me some tablets. Will also talk through the process and what to expect and I will see the anaesthetist.

MyGrassIsBrowner · 23/09/2021 15:02

@Peachee My pre-op is two days before my section, they've said I'll have bloods taken, PCR test and MRSA swab. I've already signed my consent forms. Pre-op is the easy part! X

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Peachee · 23/09/2021 19:14

Ahhh Thankyou. I know I’m so nervous about the whole thing. Also hate having bloods done.. sure it will be a drop in the ocean with what’s to come though. Good luck ladies xxx

Loki01 · 23/09/2021 19:43

Mine is tomorrow and I am starting to get anxious!

The weirdest thing is I don't really think about the baby, I am not excited, nothing. The baby is wanted. I just feel a bit blank.

Peachee · 23/09/2021 19:51

Loki I feel exactly the same. I don’t know if it’s the adrenaline..

Loki01 · 23/09/2021 19:56

@Peachee I am glad I am not the only one! Felt a bit weird:)

LunaDreams · 23/09/2021 21:46

Hi ladies. Just wanted to give my experience of a c-section to hopefully provide some reassurance...

I had an ELCS planned for today but naughty baby decided to surprise us by starting labour on Sunday eve (imagine my horror at getting out of bed for a wee and waters breaking niagra falls style!!)

Went into hospital where I was monitored until 4cm dilated..surgeons then asked if I wanted to continue with labour or go for 'emergency' c-section (only called so as unplanned). Decided to go for section as still concerned about size of baby and wasn't particularly enjoying labour!

Honestly I can't stress how positive the section was. I was in a bit of a state by time I got to theatre having laboured for 7 hours but as soon as I got there the theatre staff were so calm and friendly I felt at ease. The spinal was painless and they thoroughly checked it had worked before starting, explaining everything the whole time. We were offered music choice but I was too excited to think! It literally took them 5 minutes from starting to deliver our baby boy. They dropped the drapes so we could see him then cleaned him up and handed him back within 5 mins.
Then spent the rest of the time (about 40 mins) cuddling our son and chatting to anaesthetist about names and having photos!

Taken to recovery for 2 hours with lots of skin on skin and feeding. Then taken to ward where I was in for 2 nights. Back home and already pretty mobile with pain well controlled. Am having feeding issues but that is nothing to do with the EMCS.

Honestly I keep thinking about the birth and all I have is happy memories. It is nerve wracking when they feel you in and you see all the staff and equipment but it really was such a calm and positive experience compared to what I had of labour.

All the best for your sections- nerves are normal. Just keep reminding yourself that you are about to meet your baby :)

LunaDreams · 23/09/2021 21:47

*meant to say wheel you in, not feel you in!!

MyGrassIsBrowner · 27/09/2021 14:09

Just catching up on this thread ladies, I lost it for a bit!

@Loki01 Did you have your section, can I ask how it went? Hope you're enjoying your newborn bubble now!

@LunaDreams thank you for sharing your ELCS experience, it sounded wonderful!
Did get a bit excited when you said they 'feel you in' DP hasn't been able to go near me for months hahaha!!!!

I'm in for my section this Monday coming, getting slightly nervous now but so excited! I've been having it rough the past week in and out of hospital and under monitoring for potential pre-eclampsia tied with majorly high blood pressure, so all of a sudden I've been thrust into panic mode when originally I was calm about the whole thing. I'm on blood pressure tablets now which seem to be working but do make me a bit woozy and tired. My ankles and feet keep ballooning as well which is proving difficult when running around after an 18 month old 😞 x

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Loki01 · 27/09/2021 16:23

@MyGrassIsBrowner
Hello! yes, survived the section :).

It was ok, not an enjoyable experience but I am a control freak and things are happening to you that you have no control of so it's understandable.

We went in at 7 am, but were only taken to the theatre after 2 pm. I was starving by then and was a bit sick as I was so anxious. The staff were lovely though and everybody introduced themselves and explained what they will do.

Once in the theatre, I had the spinal. It took a few goes which made me anxious, but the Dr knew what she was doing, as I say, I am a control freak. It did not hurt though, just some pressure and she just kept giving more local.

The legs started to go a bit tingly, lied on the table and they waited for a bit. The anesthesiologist kept making sure it's working, alternating the cold spray and prick test. She really made sure I was happy that I couldn't feel anything.

Then the cloth came up and they called my husband who was sitting in the corner by to come to me. They started, it took around 20 mins to get him out. I was surprised it took that long and thought something was wrong. As you can see, I am really mental:)
Nothing was wrong and the surgeon actually commented that there was no scar tissue after my previous section, all was really good. I asked for a tummy tuck but was declined:)

When I heard the baby crying that's when I realized I a having a baby and started crying. Finally, the emotions were there.

My husband went off to the weighing area, I haven't seen the baby for about 20 mins actually. I didn't really mind, I heard him and it made it more exciting to anticipate what he looks like. I didn't ask them at that point to show him to me, I am sure that is not normally a problem if you would prefer that.
Then my husband sat down next to my head with him and I could touch him and watch him.

My uterus wasn't contracting well, they kept pushing on it but it wasn't getting the tone. The anesthesiologist gave me some hormone drip to help with that and anti-sickness medicine. I lost just over a liter of blood so was told I might not be able to go home so soon, might need a transfusion. It was all fine though, it wasn't an emergency, apparently, this is not uncommon.

They rolled us to the recovery room, checking my pressure and heart rate all the time. It was all good, didn't look like the blood loss affected me too much. I was very tired and cold thought which was actually quite nice after boiling for so long in this pregnancy:)

As all was good, they took back to the postnatal ward, the husband had to go after around 2 hours. They took my blood at around 9 pm to check my iron levels and I was up and about at 11 pm. It was much easier than with my emergency section.

The night was hard, I was soo tired and had no milk so this was exhausting. In the morning I found out that my iron levels were actually still within the normal range (go figure!) so was able to go home on Saturday.

It was a good experience, just looking forward to the pain ending so that I can move around properly.

Keep going! nearly there!:)

MyGrassIsBrowner · 27/09/2021 17:36

@Loki01 Oh bless you lovely. Even though a couple of things I guess didn't go exactly to plan I guess you had a nice calm experience regardless!
I cant wait for that first moment of seeing baby, I'm strangely nervous about it and I'm not sure why lol.

Hope you are getting plenty of help at home and are able to rest when needed.

I'm at that point in my pregnancy now were I hate it. Hate waking up everyday because I am in so much pain with my PGP. The blood pressure tablets are making me feel horrid as I the iron tablets they have me on. Everything just feels like it's all gone wrong these past few weeks 😩

Well, I hope you're enjoying your bubba and good luck for the future!! Xx

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Loki01 · 28/09/2021 19:30

@MyGrassIsBrowner
Hi, yes it wasnt a bad experience! Turns out the pain was a hematoma in my scar. Had a scary sudden bleed from the scar last night, ended up back at the maternity ward. Luckily the stitches are holding so they re-dressed it and gave me antibiotics just in case.

The baby is good though, so as long that is the case I cant complain too much:)

Understand how you feel. I couldnt wait not to be pregnant anymore by the end:)

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