Elective C section stories??

[reynold]

Hello everyone. This is my 3rd baby 25 weeks. I did vaginal delivery with both my others but had complications in both deliveries. First was pre eclampsia took 3 days for induction to work. Second was his heart rate kept dropping and he wasn't breathing coming out which has gave me serious ptsd for this pregnancy. I've read a lot about elective c section as my anxiety ( diagnosed) has been through the roof about this pregnancy and birth. I'm terrified. I was getting induced at 38/39 weeks due to my anxiety being really bad I can't sleep without worrying etc. I have always been induced due to GD anyway and I'm getting tested next week for this pregnancy. But I'm slowly trying to find out more about the c section and peoples stories. I have 4 kids 2 I gave birth too and obviously this one on the way, my partner works so he will only be home for 2 weeks. Which is what's scaring me about c section because the school runs after he goes to work etc. and big thing is I have a fear of dying... it's horrible thought in this pregnancy, has anyone got any positive or negative c section stories so I can help make my mind up? Thankyou x

I had an elective section after having an emergency one with my first.
I had him on Thursday morning and left hospital with him Friday evening.
He was born on the 22nd of December and I was making Christmas dinner 3 days later 😬 (silly of me really, I should have been resting).
The discomfort lasted for a couple of weeks, I wasn’t in severe pain though.
The worst I felt was trapped wind from having the surgery, that’s a common side effect apparently.

@LizBennet aw late congrats hun! I'm just petrified I have the worst anxiety I'm so scared i won't make it through either birth or c section , I just cry every day from the crippling anxiety I have. I've spoke to my partner he said he stands by me whatever I decide but he's also scared as he doesn't want to see the c section cutting etc. I'm petrified xx

I had an elective for DC2 (DC1 natural…arrived at 42 weeks, I think I was a bit mad going that late!).

I had terrible SPD for both pregnancies which left me pretty much immobile for the last 3 months or so before DC2 arrived. I would say this made recovery harder as I had no tone, core strength or physical fitness after months on end of not being able to walk. If you are able to stay fairly mobile in pregnancy I’d say you will find c-section recovery a lot easier than I did. I was however driving at 6 weeks and doing the school run at 3 weeks post section.

I will say having experienced both types of birth, c-section is a different type of recovery. You do need to give yourself some grace and put in place some solid help for at least the first week, ideally first 2 weeks post birth. If you push yourself (which it is tempting to do) you can end up worse off down the line. My personal experience was that c-section recovery was more intense in the short term, however once I was healed I was fine, no lasting side effects. Whereas with a natural birth recovery took longer but was less intense, I do still get pangs from my episiotomy which I don’t get from my section scar despite being about ten times bigger!

Ps - just to add the c-section itself was fine. I was bricking it but they are so lovely, it’s like a well oiled machine. You really can just lie back and let them get on with it which is such a different experience from hours and hours of contractions and interventions. Me and DH found birth births just as special and magical despite being wildly different!

I had elective. Not going to lie afterwards it fucking hurt! A LOT. For a long time. Around 4-6 weeks until the pain fully went. I was on morphine and it worked a treat but skip a dose and my god. In hindsight I think she tied me up a bit too tight. And again in hindsight I am glad she did. Her work was literally impeccable. 2 years on you can’t see even see a line.

It was surreal. One minute I am lying there listening to the music. Next thing babes on my chest. Milk came in perfectly on time and breastfed in the recovery room.

I had 2 electives, first due to breech baby and second due to first section! Loved them, recovered well and would choose another one if I ever got pregnant again (which I won't!)

I had one, and it was so much better than my first vaginal birth! The pain afterwards was bad for a few days but more manageable after a week and by ten days or perhaps two weeks I wasn't even taking paracetamol. Obviously people have different experiences but it was better than I feared!

I've had two elective c-sections and have zero regrets. I was petrified the first time (I was petrified any which way he was coming out, to be fair) but it was actually quite a calm experience. I was out within 24 hours both times. The meds left me groggy for a while, but I couldn't sleep a wink in hospital and was desperate to get home. The scar healed well both times with no issues. Just don't try to run before you can walk during the recovery process - you'll know if you push too hard. I had periods again within 3 months despite breastfeeding - boo!

BTW, couldn't drive for 8 weeks afterwards (not just that you're not allowed to, but it really felt too much). I could walk reasonable distances (not miles on end, mind you) within a couple of weeks.

I had elective as I was single and needed the sense of control about dates and to book in support, among other reasons.

I enjoyed the procedure itself and loved hearing and seeing my baby come out! Within a week you should be fine to move around and walk big kids to school, definitely within two weeks. It is hard for the first few days to scoot across bed or get in and out of bed and it hurts a lot to laugh for first couple of days so you have to seriously be serious about people not making you laugh--- on day 2 you will fart a lot so they need to leave the room if they can't not laugh. I got set off giggling and I cried from the pain!

You are so so so so unlikely to die from a c section it's the most common surgery in the world

Had elcs with my 2nd child. Hands down easiest decision after torturous 1st birth and weeks of agony.

It is major abdominal surgery and you need to remember that when it comes to recovery but good, regular pain relief and pacing yourself will help massively.

Are you seeking support from perinatal mental health for your anxiety?

I had an elective in November with my second after a horrible forceps birth with my first baby.

I was totally petrified too! But everyone was lovely and it felt calm and in control.

I found the recovery so much better than my forceps birth! I took the pain killers and tried to rest. Day 2 I was walking down to NICU to see my baby. I went on a pram walk about day 10 and was pushing the pram to nursery to drop my eldest off at the end of the 2 weeks when my husband went back to work.

I would 100% do it again!

Elective after emergency here. Loved every second and minimal pain for recovery both times. Honestly I know everyone has a different experience but I'd recommend an elective section good luck and congratulations!

Had 1 natural birth and 2 elective. Procedure fine, recovery im not going to lie was absolutely awful so painful for weeks afterwards. Get help on hand with older ones incase you need it.

I've had 2 ELCS and they were amazing. I really enjoyed them both. Never had any pain, just a bit achey and uncomfortable. Up and about within 24 hours a both times, going to the supermarket a week later, no long term effects on my body and you can barely see the scar. Eyebrow threading was more painful by far.

I was terrified beyond belief of vaginal birth though, so when I found out DS was breech was one of the best days of my life. Felt like I'd been given a get out of jail free card.

I’ve had 1 EMCS and 1 ELCS. I was in hospital 2 nights. It is honestly great feeling like you’re more in control.

Don’t worry about dying, there are loads of staff in theatre with you. It will be the aneasthetist mainly by your side. Both mine were lovely.

I would absolutely recommend it, as long as the right care is there afterwards.

I did depend on my DH helping me in hospital afterwards, and I took codeine for a while to manage the pain.

Start taking lactulose asap to prevent constipation.

Get peppermint tablets to prevent trapped wind.

Take paractamol and ibuprofen with you in case they are late with topping up your painkillers.

You can potter about a bit at home but do mainly rest. You need to find someone else to help with school runs.

First kid I had an emergency c section, 2nd I had an elective as I didn't fancy the small chance of uncontrollably bleeding to death with vbac.

Elective was dreamy! Very calm and peaceful, awake but on some amazing sedative which felt like heaven. Had it while DS1 was at preschool so didn't even need to get babysitting!

These stories are lovely! I'm just scared I seen a lot of post in c section Facebook of people saying they felt everything and was traumatized etc my anxiety is crippling and really getting me down

They check you are numb before they do ANYTHING. And if you're in any pain you tell someone.

I had elective. I am very anxious and squeamish. I didn’t feel the spinal tap going in at all and the nurse said it was the most uncomfortable but and might feel a scratchy didn't feel a thing.

All you have to do is let them know, they will ask you what you do and don’t want to know about and see.
So I asked not to be told anything! Or shown anything. So I had a screen, music. It was over in minutes.
DH wanted to see the placenta 🙈 so he had a nose at that lol but I saw nothing apart from my baby. They’ll even ask how you want your baby ‘served’ - so straight on you, cleaned and on you, cleaned, wrapped and on your partner- whatever you wish.
It was very peaceful and totally painless, surgeon was chatting away- it was fine.

I didn’t bother with pain relief afterwards, I tried Oramorph but it made me feel sick. It did hurt, like a 1,000 sit ups sort of pain. Hot water bottle and a belly band support sorted me out! Obviously you are quite sore for a few days/weeks take it easy.

Good luck OP. Do not look at Facebook !!!!! they’ll check you are numb before proceeding- you will not feel a thing and won’t be able to for a good while afterwards.

I@Missingmyusername thankyou hun, I won't look on there, my thing is the afterwards I have steps to go in my garden I'm worried after 2 eeeks when partner goes back to work and I have to do school run I won't be able to get the pram up there etc

I’d really recommend your partner takes some extra time off beyond 2 weeks if he has any annual leave to use.

@MariaVT65 , unfortunately he can't as he's on a year probation due to it being a new job he only gets a day off a month