Elective C Section Stories

[Lunamoon23]

Hello ladies,

I'm currently 19 weeks pregnant with my first child, 20 weeks on Monday and have a meeting with a consultant at my 20 week scan regarding an elective c section.

I've chosen this route because I suffer from tokophobia, I've delayed becoming pregnant because of it and knew before we started trying that this would be the route I'd wish to go down: however, I'm still petrified.
I have abit of a fear of hospitals, I'm needle phobic and the whole thought of childbirth in general sends me into a state of panic. I've done lots of research regarding c sections, the pros, the cons, I pretty much know the procedure step by step. I guess I'm just looking for a hand hold. I don't have a friend who's had a child via c section so really hard to relate (and they've been quiet judgy so don't really want to express my feelings as I just get, 'just do it the normal way' dismissing my feelings) my mums been super supportive but again, hasn't experienced one. My husband has been great, but then again, he's not going through it so I think it's hard to relate or find comfort in his reassuring words.

Just wanting to hear from women who've been through it personally... elective wise. As I know an emergency section and a planned one can be very different experiences too.

Thank you in advance xxx

Also I should add, I've never had any surgery, big or small. Infact I've never even stayed overnight in a hospital.

Following because I’m in a similar situation. I can’t imagine going through a vaginal birth so I’ve opted for an elective c section, but I’m terrified of major surgery. While I have no experiences of my own to share, I have a couple of friends who had an elective and both said that the surgery itself wasn’t as bad as they thought it would be and they were off the painkillers from 1 week post surgery. That’s what I remind myself when I’m panicking about it. I’m 32 weeks now.

Mine were planned rather than elective (hip defect meant I might not be able to delivery vaginally without dislocating my hip!) but obviously in practice that's the same as an elective, though I guess you are worried you don't have a 'proper reason' to have a c-section, though I think you very much have one and don't owe anyone an explanation.

It was all a while ago in my case, but I found them both a very positive experience (no2. was officially an emergency one as I went into labour 8 hours before I was due in hospital, but was ultimately quite relaxed). The nice thing about it is you can have your choice of music on, it helped me a bit. The only uncomfortable bit was putting the needle in at the base of the spine to numb you but it was very brief and not that awful. We were chatting away with the medical staff - be aware there will be quite a lot of people in there.

They will give you choice as how you want to do things, and once the anaesthetic kicks in it's pretty straightforward. The sewing up takes a little while as they go through a lot of layers.

You will feel kind of spaced out afterwards, so try to get DH to stay in the recovery room with you until you're a bit more together.

You won't be that incapacitated afterwards, people seem to think c-sections mean being unable to do day-to-day tasks for weeks on end but honestly I felt pretty normal within a few days, and was off strong painkillers after a day or two.

I've had both an elective and an emergency one.

Elective was far less scary, it was booked as an appointment, I was told to not eat the night before, was given special shower stuff to wash with, got into my gown and off we went. Be prepared that emergencies will take precedent of course and the first date I had for DD to be born I had to go home as too many emergencies happened, but I was told this was so unusual and just typical of my luck! But the second time was great, booked in for 3pm, DD born at 4.20pm, back on the ward in time for dinner! Even had a CD of music playing while she was born.

Emergency was at 28 weeks, absolutely terrifying, everything was rushed for obvious reasons, I had PTSD from it. DH wasn't there as it literally happened very quickly (my waters broke at 27 weeks so I was in pre-natal care).

I lovedddd my planned C-section (funnily enough, I had to have one for very similar reasons to the poster upthread, risk of serious damage to my hips!). It was just fantastic, calm and relaxed, I had my own music playing and it just felt so chilled out. Afterwards was weird, I felt spacey and sick but the antiemetics were great and I soon felt back to myself. I was up and about by the evening (had DS at midday ish) and would’ve very happily gone home the following morning (we had to stay two nights in the end, nothing to do with having a c-section) recovery was a walk in the park, barely had any pain and altho I did take it easy(ish) I felt very capable.
Peopel can be a bit judgey but I don’t really give a fuck. If it’s not one thing they’re judging you for, it’s another, that’s motherhood I’m afraid!!

Mine was one of the best experiences of my life. It was so relaxed and everything went to plan. I had an easy recovery too and was up and about way quicker than I was after my vaginal birth. I just remember being handed my baby and thinking, “Wow, that was quick!”
Had baby in the morning, on the ward by lunchtime and had a few visits in the evening. It just felt so under control. My vaginal birth was an entirely different story and something I just could not have gone through again. It was a disaster. I’m a total advocate of electives if that’s what will give you a positive birth experience.

It's been a few years but I've had an emergency one and a elective one. The elective one was calm and the best decision for me even though family members were saying do it naturally I totally ignored it,do what's right for you not anyone else

You need to get help for your needle phobia as you need iron injections after a section for a few days.

Also be aware you could be in hospital for longer after a section.

My second was elective (for medical reasons). The actual section itself was great. But the recovery was horrendous.

I had post op complications and was in hospital for 10 days. I was in a lot of pain for several weeks including a wound infection and it took some months to recover.

My first was an emergency section and the recovery wasn't great either. I was in for 5 days and again in a lot of pain for several weeks.

Whilst lots manage with a couple of paracetamol and claim to be back to normal after a few weeks for others like me it was long and painful.

It's important that you know that it can be tough, painful and complicated.

If I could have had a choice I wouldn't have had a section because the recoveries were just so awful.

Good luck with it.

I had an elective c section. It was a breeze. I had an appointment which meant I could plan accordingly. I had a lovely day the day before and a lovely calm night. The procedure was smooth and straightforward. Lovely staff. The recovery was also far easier than some people said it would be.

Nothing matters except the baby being born and the mother and baby being safe and well. Don’t let anyone who judges you make you feel bad, they aren’t worth a second thought.

I’ve had an emergency CS with my first pregnancy and planned with my second. The planned CS was the best decision I’ve ever made. The NHS will try and persuade you to go for a vaginal delivery but do what you feel right for you.

I had an elective section due to anxiety (I'd had a lot of pregnancy losses) and it was perfect. My son came out to the song I walked down the aisle to (playlist was on shuffle, so just by chance). The night before we went for a last date night, the morning of it I had a leisurely bath before heading to the hospital for 11 as I was on the afternoon list. The spinal was not my favourite part of the day but it was all over quite quickly. I spent 3 days in hospital but that was because of my blood pressure, not anything to do with the section. I was up and showered the day after the section and went for a small walk with the dog, DH and the baby. 3 weeks after I was at our allotment doing some "gentle" gardening. I'm 6ish weeks now and will definitely elect for a cesarean again. I wish you all the best x

Ah yes I had forgotten about the daily injections afterwards. I thought they were to help prevent a blood clot, but I may be mistaken. You have to self administer those so perhaps not the best with a needle phobia. Also the needle they use to do the spinal block is a bit alarming, even for me and I don’t care about needles usually. Easy to just not look at that one but you still know it’s there, and it’s reasonably painful I suppose.

I had planned section (not for any medical reason, just because I wanted to do it more than normal delivery) and planning on second one for this pregnancy. First time I was over and done in 45 minutes, could have been out the next day but had to stay in with the baby (non section related). By the time we were both discharged on day 4 I wasn’t taking any painkillers and I went on a long family walk on day 6. I can’t tell you your experience will be the same, but I wanted to minimise the uncontrollable parts of Labour (tearing, trauma etc) and so that’s why I did it. Got judged to hell by my ex midwife MIL but who cares, I had the birth I wanted and I’m not stressed at all about doing it second time around either! Be prepared for there to be a lot of people with actual jobs in the operating theatre, but aside from that it was a doddle

I had a planned section with DD due to unstable lie. It was a wonderful experience.

The only time I felt a little overwhelmed was when I was first taken into theatre. DH had to stay in the waiting room while they administered spinal block. I just found it a bit overwhelming walking into theatre without DH, full of strangers, bright lights but also I think just the emotions and enormity of the situation hit me, that I was about to meet my darling baby!!

Once spinal block was in and DH was in the room it was all absolutely fine. Nurses and doctors truly are angels. All chatting away to me, reassuring me, narrating what was happening on the other side of the drapes. Once DD was born the rest of it was a complete blur, nothing else in the world mattered....I had to ask DH to fill in the blanks! I have zero recollection of being stitched up or wheeled out of theatre 🤣

Day of surgery was fine. Day 2 I was very very sore. Much improved by day 3. I was only on paracetomal from day 4 for a couple of days. I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone. As one of the previous posters flagged though, you likely will need to self inject blood thinners for a week post surgery, just to be mindful x

Mine wasn’t elective as in I went into labour naturally, and was petrified all through my pregnancy. I did a lot of breathing preparation lessons and lots of ‘rehearsals’ (on Spotify there are some good ones). Then during Labour I had to go for a C section due to something unforeseen. THE RELIEF was epic. If I’d have know how messy and complex Labour was, and how unbelievably simple the C section was (or seemed to me, in comparison) I would absolutely have had an elective C sec from the start. If I have another baby I will 100% have another c sec.

You're going to have to get over that needle phobia as you need to inject yourself afterwards. I had an emergency section that was a planned elective but he ended up coming a few weeks early before our scheduled date.

It was mostly great. Very calm and controlled. I did experience the shakes and severe itching but I told the anaesthetist and he sorted that right out. Recovery was awful for two days (stay on top of your painkillers) but I was walking around Tesco on day 2. Had DS at 3am, stayed in hospital overnight and was out the next day so a total of about 28 hours in the hospital.

Healed like an absolute dream. A few months on I have some numbness in the lower part of my tummy but it doesn't affect my life. Wound healed fully in 10 days. Felt back to normal about 2.5 weeks in. I'm considered obese too so I thought my overhanging tummy wouldn't help but it was fine with proper cleaning and drying.

You've got this!

I had an ELCS with my second baby after a traumatic delivery with my first.

It was a bloody dream! Would recommend to anyone! Walked down now pain. Staff incredible and looked after me and baby so well. Nothing hurt. The spinal was slightly uncomfortable but fine. Whatever drugs they gave me were wonderful. I was awake and chatting to my husband the whole way though. When they delivered him they held him up for me to see. I had delayed cord clamping as requested. They then brought him to my chest for skin to skin and get stayed like that for several hours.

The recovery was great. I stayed in two nights but that's because baby wasn't born until late afternoon. I was last on the list. I was up walking in the a few hours.

Day three I was at the park (albeit slowly!) with my 2.5 year old and 3 day old baby (and DH!)

Honestly the recovery was so much easier than my horrendous tear with my first baby and the scar is minimal.

Good luck

I just had my elective C section in March. It was elective but actually my baby was firmly breech so in the end there was no choice.

It was brilliant! Went in at 8am, baby handed to me at 10.36am, released at 2pm the next day. Walking that evening as soon as the spinal wore off.

I was worried about wound infection but no problems in the end. I honestly barely felt it afterwards - no real pain - despite only being allowed paracetamol. (Then again, I would describe the first few days / weeks of having a newborn as being in shock so I wasn't focused much on my own body!)

I also was entirely mobile right from the beginning, fine getting up off sofas and beds, and lifted a fair amount (I'm a single mother and basically had to, though I tried to take it as easy as possible.

All in all, very efficient, thoroughly recommend!

That said, the actual surgery, while totally fine and I'd do it again now I know what to expect, was rougher and scarier than I expected. I got properly nervous going in (though who wouldn't really). And while no pain at all, you can feel a lot, very rough rummaging around inside you - I'd say pretty violent tbh. Someone described it as having the washing up done inside you and that's about right! I also didn't enjoy not being about to move my legs at all. But no pain and obviously it's all necessary. Still better than the alternative as far as I'm concerned!

I'd say I had a particularly good experience - others I know have struggled a bit more. But by far the worst recovery and damage stories I've heard have been vaginal births. Most of the mothers I know who struggled a bit with C sections weren't expecting to have one - all the electives were very happy.

Also, worth noting that of the approx. 20 women I know through various baby groups who had their babies in the last few months, 18 of them had C sections!!! Only 3 of those planned / elective. My logic was that I was pretty likely to need one anyway so I might as well skip right to it and that has been proved very right anecdotally. Nationally the stats are 1 in 3 first time mothers have C sections, but my direct experience it has been much higher. Many say they wish they'd chosen it from the beginning rather than going through labour and various traumas first.

Don't let them put you off! They have to give you one if you want one. If it's the right choice for you then it's right. My feeling was that I wouldn't regret it even if I had complications as it's what I'd chosen, whereas if I had a difficult vagina birth I'd always regret not insisting on an elective.

Also don't compare people's emergency section stories to electives - it's very different and much less traumatic. Most of the trauma and damage in emergencies seems to be from the labour they went through first.

I’ve had 2 sections - one was unexpected but not an emergency (breech baby) and the subsequent one was planned (was allowed to opt for one because of history so I did). I had very positive experiences with both. It is so calm and the staff are incredible. The injection in my back was really painful but it’s over so quickly and then I didn’t feel a thing throughout. Recovery was easier the first time than the second but I think it was my fault because I didn’t rest enough second time around.
There are NHS video walkthroughs on YouTube that are really helpful to show you what happens - I showed one to my DP as he had no idea what to expect at all.
Don’t worry about what people think / say about your choice - I had heard many horror stories about vaginal births and emergency c sections so was happy to have a very civilised planned C section both times! Best of luck x

Excuse my ignorance but is tokophobia fear of vomiting ? If so I told them I had bad reaction to anesthetic and was always very sick after surgery they promised to give me all the anti sickness meds but I still committed violently through out and after both. I'm not saying this to scare you I'm just telling you the facts x

No tokophobia is a fear of childbirth x x

This is one of the parts that terrifies me, having the spinal block and I've heard partners aren't allowed in at that part - which I hate, he's going to be my rock throughout and that's one of the main parts I feel I really need him to be there for! Is it the numbing injection they give before performing the spinal block that hurts? Or the actual spinal itself.

It's strange because I know I'll likely experience pain after the surgery, but oddly I know I'll cope ok with that once I'm home and settled and can cope on my own way without medical personal, it's all the medical stuff that just freaks me out!! I hate it all..

I have been made aware of these and yes I was also told they're to prevent blood clots not iron related. But I'll have DH do them and I won't look whilst they're being done. Again, when it's something in my control I feel ok about it, it's when it's not I freak out. Xxx

Is this the numbing they give before giving the spinal? I didn't realise that needle also goes straight into the spine, I thought that was placed in the skin surrounding the spine?
Sorry if a stupid question xxxxx