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

I’ve had two. Both sort of between emergency and elective, in that the baby wasn’t at immediate risk but Labour wasn’t progressing. The first time I had pre-eclampsia but my induction wasn’t working fast enough so I asked for an c section, and the second my Labour wasn’t progressing as desired and there were concerns about my scar wall . So particularly the second time it was quite calm and I had a wait of about an hour before being taken down and given an epidural.
I was really frightened of the epidural, the idea of it, but it was fine. It didn’t hurt like some blood tests can. I didn’t like the feeling of being numb so high up, I was scared about my breathing, but each time someone held my hand (midwife) and talked to me reassuring me about what was happening. The actual process of cutting and then brining out the baby is a strange sensation, you can feel the pressure as they tug and get the baby out, but not pain. I was scared, but I focused on my baby, and actually thought of older women in my family who’d gone through c-sections . My husband’s Grandmother had two, in the 1930s, and I was an emergency c-section baby.
It helped that each time the team were really lovely to me.

I was also terrified of child birth, hate needles and not good with blood either. The horror stories from vaginal births terrified me and given family history I was convinced mine would end in a c-section regardless so I opted for an elective.

They do try to put you off and it is major surgery (I’d never had surgery before) but ultimately trust your instincts.

My husband was with me the whole time and I don’t regret opting for one. Mine didn’t go as smoothly as the majority of people, my son was born very smoothly but I had bleeding and they didn’t know why, that’s what I heard them say which made me panic. The anaesthetist did a great job and although I lost 2 litres of blood I felt okay afterwards. When you sign the form saying you understand the risks it has postpartum haemorrhage and something like 3-5%, I just didn’t realise it would happen to me. Thankfully though it’s in a controlled environment and they know what they are doing. I didn’t need a blood transfusion as thankfully my iron levels were good which I think was due to taking my prenatal vitamins right up until the day before the section. I was home the day after surgery so only one night in hospital. Recovery is harder and you do have to not overdo it and look after the wound to avoid it opening up. I stupidly was so focused on my baby I neglected myself and it opened slightly when the stitches dissolved around 3 weeks so definitely accept help from others and check your wound or ask someone to check it if you can’t see it. I’d still do it again but I’m probably more mindful about the risks than I was before.

Planned section here for medical reasons and mine was such a positive experience.

I was in the whole week prior with pre-eclampsia and they brought the date forward a week. Covid time so no visitors allowed that week then my partner could come on the day itself.
The whole experience was very calm and relaxed, no stress or urgency, everything fully explained etc, no pain. My partner cut the cord, I got skin to skin.
There is nothing I would change about it. Even the recovery was absolutely fine.

I'm pregnant with my 2nd now and this will be an ELCS.

@Vsah22 you sound very similar to me.

Thankfully, I've had my meeting with the consultant, and he was fantastic. Told me about the risks but not in a scare mongering way. Infact he was very reassuring about the risks and talking about most being very low risk.
I've done quite a lot of research regarding possible risks though so feel quiet self aware of what could possibly go wrong. But I understand nothing can prepare you for it until your in that moment.

Sorry to hear that happened to you though, must have been really frightening. With your fear of needles, how did you find the spinal?

Also, in regard to your recovery. What was it you were doing that caused the opening of the wound. My husband is only going to be off work for 3 weeks and most of my family and friends all work full time.. so after week 3, it'll very much be me and baby home alone during the daytime, so this worry's me slightly xxxx

@sel2223 I'm so glad to hear you had some a positive experience both during and after. Any tips? Xxxx