Elective C-Sec first baby

[jlou92]

Hi All First time poster here.

I'm pregnant with my first and due an elective caesarean in the next 3 weeks, I've read up on it and spoke to the consultant etc but I'm looking to read about peoples real experiences if anyone can help.

I'm extremely nervous incase I go in to labour before my date, I'm dreading the post natal ward as I have severe anxiety so the thought of sharing a room with a few others that I don't know fills me with dread and I already want to discharge myself given me and the baby are fit to leave and It's still 2+ weeks away yet! I'd rather be home with my other half and the baby where I know I'll get all the support and rest I need. My hospital doesn't do private rooms otherwise I'd have asked to pay for one. I'm also dreading the recovery process as I have health anxiety so I'm very paranoid about infections etc. Am I normal to worry about all these things?!

I also have my dads wedding to attend 3 weeks after the section and wondering if any of you would've felt up to a wedding at that point in your recovery with a new baby? (It's only 15 mins away) but I'm worried I'm going to struggle and will it be too much for the baby?

Thanks in advance for any input

I've just had one, it's been absolutely fine and for me the whole thing including recovery has been much better than my vaginal delivery!

Don't worry about the post natal ward, you get privacy with your own curtain so it doesn't really feel like sharing. My advice is to take a fan with you though, it's hot in there this time of year.

Recovery wise, I'd say expect the first week to be quite difficult but then you should start feeling like you're getting back to normal soon after. My scar was small, neat and absolutely no bother to me atall from the start and I think this is the case for the majority nowadays, just make sure you've got comfy underwear and clothes to wear afterwards (high waisted).

About the wedding, to be honest 3 weeks after is quite soon so it might feel like a bit of a mission going, if it's only down the road though you could always just pop in for a short amount of time or whatever you can manage. Might be an idea to talk to your dad about it now and just explain that you might not be able to do the whole day.

Try not to worry, I know that's hard but just look forward to the positive which is you getting your lovely baby at the end of it!

I've had both an emergency and an elective and my elective was a wonderful experience. I felt calm and in control in the run up and the actual op was a breeze compared to induction and an emcs! The worst bit was getting the epidural placed but after that everyone chatted away, we played music and a baby came

Recovery wise again I had two very different experiences. First time I got infected and had a really rough time, no way could I have gone anywhere by 3 weeks. With my elective I was driving by week 3 so in that case yes I could have done the wedding.

My advice is listen to your body. If you feel like something isn't right then get it checked straight away. Listen to the physio at the hospital and do the things they recommend. Take it easy as well! I changed no nappies for 2 weeks after my second. I literally sat on the sofa and fed DD while DH did everything else. Don't push yourself, it's major surgery and you need time.

And try not to worry about the hospital. I would have hated a shared room as well, luckily my hospital is only single rooms, but it's probably only one night and you'll be home the next day in your own bed. Good luck OP, and congratulations!

Hey I had an elective c section at 39 weeks and I had the same fears as you. The procedure itself was well organised and relatively calm. It felt a bit strange being in an operating theatre awake but the staff were great and told us everything that was happening. I will say the spinal block felt weird as expected but only lasted a minute or so. In case no one tells you the baby doesn't always cry at first which frightened. The midwife explained that the baby wasn't ready to come out so seem a bit shocked as to where she was at first but soon started crying to my relief.

I don't like being in shared rooms in hospital either but there was so much going on afterwards that I seemed to forget about it and concentrated on the baby and myself. I did have the curtain on the cubicle closed most of the time as did the other mothers. It was nice in a way though to know you weren't alone and everyone else on the ward had a c section so we're all in the same-ish situation as me.

With regard to going home, the minimum stay was 2 nights but I ended up staying 5 because of my own medical condition nothing related to the birth and I was given the option to stay as long as I wanted within reason. They are reluctant to let people leave too soon as it's harder to get back in once you are discharged. With infections for yourself they are pretty hot on monitoring things and if you feel any issues make yourself heard rather than being fobbed off. The obstetrician will have to approve your release too I remember.

I would say in terms of pain it wasn't that bad really considering but be realistic that you have had major abdominal surgery and it will take a while to feel comfortable and do ordinary things. I went out for a walk 2 weeks after and was ok but I know of people who were doing that after a few days.

On the whole it will be ok and something you will get though fine.

Best wishes to you and your baby x

For the recovery just remember that each day gets better and try to take it easy as much as possible in the first bit by getting your partner or other family to do as much as possible. Also take regular painkillers for the first week at least. Some activity is good for your recovery but no need to overdo it even once you are feeling better.

I would have been OK going to the wedding at 3 weeks apart finding it hard to find clothes that fit and look presentable at that point (neither my old clothes or maternity ones fit and my stomach was still quite big). As for your baby it may depend on whether they like sleeping in their pram and how feeding is going. If breastfeeding it may take time to get established well enough for feeding easily in public or it might be easy from the beginning if you are lucky.

My partner could stay as long as wanted in the hospital. Although it was hot and noisy on the ward I found it much easier to get in and out of the hospital bed than at home where I had to prop myself up with loads of pillows to sleep. Taking a shower was also easier in hospital as I didn’t have to climb over the bath to get in and there were railings to hold onto.

I had one for my first baby (and only baby so far 🤣), it was a great experience.. genuinely so lovely! Mine was for severe anxiety around giving birth, I just wouldn’t have had a child otherwise. I was so scared of going into labour before it and they made mine quite far into the 39th week which was annoying but I think my constant state of fear actually prevented labour from starting 🙈 I regret not calming down a bit now I see how well it all went but at the time it was just a case of survival for me. I didn’t worry about the postnatal part before it, I was just so scared of the actual operation, which was fine. It turned out the ward after was the worst bit as I was on a ward of 4 beds and beside the creakiest door ever. They come in and out to check you so often that you have no chance to sleep so I just decided to stay awake in the end up. It was nothing to do with my baby either as he slept most of the night but other babies cried and I jumped every time someone came in the door again. I was able to walk a semi decent distance by 2 weeks after but still slow. I think a wedding at 3 weeks in terms of just having to get ready etc is a lot but I would say you’ll aim to be there for the meal or something then head off. You’ll still be bleeding and I did too much lifting him about the house in the second week and my bleeding had basically stopped but came back heavier after I’d overdone it.

I really would try not to worry too much, it’s a great day! I will 100% be doing it again!

I had a c section at 39 weeks. I was also nervous about going into labour but the hospital and my midwife were great about explaining what to do if that happened- you would phone your hospital straight away and explain that you are having a c section, they should ask you to go in straight away rather than wait at home.
I suffer with extreme anxiety, I have ocd and fear being around germs, sickness etc. The hospital were aware of this, they couldn’t provide me with a private room but they did put me at the end of the ward, next to the window, with no one next to me or across from me.
I also wanted to leave as soon as I could but I really needed the support overnight from the midwives. I put my mask on whenever anyone came to check ion me. Wait and see how you feel on the day, the hospital will do everything they can to make you feel at ease.

I managed home the next day but it was painful. I followed hospital advice and went short daily walks. 2 weeks pp I had an infection in my wound- nothing could avoid is sadly. I felt okay but was in a lot of pain. At 3 weeks pp, my dh caught covid which sent my anxiety into overdrive. I really struggled but got through it because of my dd. Looking back it actually helped with mt recovery as I was forced to do everything in my own. I think it is possible to go to the wedding at 3 weeks pp but see how you feel at the time. It might be too much with your baby, would you feel comfortable leaving the baby with anyone for a short time? I recently went to a wedding when my baby was 14 weeks. She was able to sit/sleep through the ceremony but it was too much for her and thankfully I arranged back up for someone to look after her for a couple of hours .

I can't answer about the section as I've had 2x vaginal births but -

I'm a bit of an antisocial cow and just kept my curtain closed on the ward when I had to stay with DD1, which was actually fine. I got discharged asap but had to stay 3 days due to complications with me.

I'd look at getting a soft wrap and just wear baby for the wedding, at that stage they're still so squishy and sleepy they'll probably love just being carried around all day close to you. Don't feel obligated to pass baby around for cuddles and leave whenever your ready. If your bf then baby may want a few more comfort feeds and it's a great excuse for baby to be passed back to you - boob literally fixed everything.

Congratulations on baby, I know it's nerve wracking and everyone looks back with rose tinted glasses but newborns are lush! (Although it's bloody hard at the time!) 😂 x

I’ve had 3 sections, the most recent 12 days ago. The PN ward is not great but you will be fine. I was out the following evening on my most recent section. I would feel fine to attend a wedding as physically I feel MUCH better (the first 5 days were tough) and baby is bf well. However, the opposite was true after my second section, I could barely walk up the stairs for the first month and my DTs were not feeding well enough that I could attend an all day event. Trying to bf them took hours.