Emergency C Section vs ELCS

[RT5463]

Hi all.

I’m really looking for some reassurance/information about the difference between an emergency c-section and an ELCS.

DD was born via emergency late stage c-section (cord prolapse). It was terrifying and awful!

DS was born via straightforward VBAC and was a great experience (relatively speaking 🥴).

Whilst I was up and about fairly quickly after the c-section, it was a much harder and more painful recovery than the VBAC where I was back running/swimming within a month.

I am now 33 weeks and baby is breech. I can’t go past 37 weeks as I have a cervical cerclage so if he hasn’t turned by then the cerclage will be removed and ELCS at the same time.

His health and safety is obviously my absolute priority, but to anyone who has had both an emergency section and an ELCS, please send some reassurance my way that the process and recovery is different?!

Thank you ☺️

Everything is way calmer, more relaxed etc other than that there's the advantage of not having been in labour before it!

I haven't had an EMCS but friends and family have and it sounds completely different to my ELCS

There's rarely any going into labour for a start, no contractions or mother/ baby in distress, pain, pushing, panicking etc, no running into theatre, baby isn't halfway down the birth canal.....

My ELCS was such a chilled and positive experience. I have nothing negative to say about it at all and am just hoping my second one will be the same!

And I recovered faster and better than others I know who'd had a vaginal birth with nasty tears, prolapses etc

I had an awful emergency c-section and then had a wonderful elective c-section.
The whole experience was so so different, i look back on the 1st birth with horror and the 2nd with a smile on my face. Its so chilled as you know what date your going in and you can plan, everything's spoke through with you in a calm and non rushed manner.
No labour to go through before so your not exhausted/stressed from that.
The recovery was still hard but it was alot better than the first time round, my body wasnt in shock/ as exhausted as it was with the emergency one.
I have nothing but good things to say about it.
Congratulations OP

Following because I’ll be having an elective in spring after an emergency c section in 2021. I’m looking forward to not being exhausted from a 24 hour labour prior to section!

Im booked in for an elective after two emergencies so I’m following keenly. Excited not to be completely exhausted before even getting into theatre