Planned c section experiences

[BigHeartyTruffle]

Hi everyone

Just wondering if you could share with me your planned c section experiences - both on the day and in terms of recovery? I have a medical condition that means while I don’t have to have one, there would be advantages to it, particularly avoiding a potentially drawn out and stressful process that could exacerbate my condition.

Keen to hear all experience - the good the bad and the ugly!

Loved mine so much! It was honestly the best experience of my life, it felt almost spiritual (and I’m definitely not a spiritual person). It was so calm and relaxing and felt like a perfect way to bring a baby into the world. I was only in for 12hrs after, no issues with recovery. On day three we went for a lovely walk and a pub lunch (although should probably keep that quiet as many people frowned upon that in a previous post!).

I loved mine too. The day of the surgery was calm and organised - I went in for 12 and was in theatre for 3. I felt quite sick and hot initially but asked for anti sickness and felt much better. I could feel tugging in my stomach but no pain at all. Dh could watch the baby be taken out, cut the cord etc. was in there for less than an hour in total then wheeled off to recovery for an hour or so then the ward. Felt very sore the first night and next day but the pain very quickly subsided to a bit of discomfort which lasted about a week. Honestly recovery was very easy for me though I know it’s not for everyone - but same with vaginal births. My scar is healing very neatly so far and I’ve had no issues whatsoever. Good luck with whatever you choose!

I have had 2 planned c sections now and both absolutely beautiful. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Allowed home 24 hours after each. Recovery was easier than I expected. Sore but manageable. Just keep on top of regular pain relief even if you don’t feel like you need it. I was up and out with the pram after a few days both times, I felt like the more I moved the better I felt. Xx

I had a planned CS about 6 months ago after complications late in pregnancy which really spooked me (history of loss).

Sorry to say I hated the whole experience and strongly regret going down that route. The surgery was disturbing, very unpleasant, and I felt totally detached from my newborn. Hated being incapacitated afterwards too and couldn’t do much for baby. Scar hurt for months.

The whole experience can still upset me, like if baby kicks me in the scar while I’m holding her - it’s painful and makes me sad that my body is damaged. I wasn’t expecting to have such a strong negative reaction as baby is fine! I think I’m in the minority though - can see PPs sharing really positive experiences.

I’ve had 2 c sections - one emergency and one planned. The emergency was first after trying to be induced and then my baby was distressed. I hated the whole experience and feel very traumatised by it! And really didn’t ever want to go through that experience again. I didn’t feel connected to my little girl when she came out at first and recovery was very tough.
I then got pregnant with twins and when the consultant/midwife said there is a strong likelihood I will have to have a c section I cried.
However when the time came it was a completely different experience as it was planned. I felt much more relaxed, the staff were calm and not rushed. it honestly felt very very different. My recovery has been much quicker.
Whatever you chose, good luck with it all xx

Mine was lovely. Music playing as DD2 arrived, staff really relaxed and chatty, immediate skin to skin and she latched on in theatre. I was really well rested so was able to do the night shift on the ward without feeling exhausted and stressed, it was really lovely just me and her overnight, we were left largely to it bar the usual checks and I wasn’t out of my mind with tiredness. I was back driving 10 days PP, didn’t need any painkillers after leaving hospital and felt great. Not everyone has that experience I know, but genuinely I felt pretty much back to normal within a few days. The midwife told me off for doing too much when she came to visit, but my body was telling me I was fine so I listened!

The EMCS was a longer recovery but still not bad. Most of the issues with the EMCS were due to the speed she had to come out and being exhausted from the labour process. I found the elective genuinely healing.

No lasting effects from either my emergency or elective bar the scar and some residual numbness which is almost gone two years later.

I’ve had one difficult vaginal birth followed by two ELCS, the latest 6 weeks ago. Personally, I preferred the ELCS a thousand times. Yes, it was sore in the first few days, but keeping on top of painkillers took care of that no problem. Incidentally, I was on the same amount of painkillers I’d been after my failed ventouse/ forceps / 3b tear/ episiotomy vaginal birth; but probably for a shorter duration for the sections! Overall, recovery was smooth. The atmosphere in theatre was great, I felt very looked after and the medical team was calm and in control. No regrets at all.

I had 2 elective sections, both were fabulous experiences. Went in first thing in the morning, both times had a few hours wait as wasn’t first on the list but husband was able to wait with me, the worst bit was having to miss breakfast! The procedures were very quick, the spinal feels weird but once everything goes numb you don’t really feel anything other than some pulling. They lowered the drapes so I could see the baby coming out and afterwards wrapped them in a towel and gave them to DH to hold (my choice, I didn’t want them on my chest) then once I was in recovery I held them and the midwives helped baby to latch for the first time. My eldest was a few weeks early so had to stay in for 3 nights but with my youngest I got to go home less than 24 hours afterwards. Recovery was very smooth, I found it pretty painful for the first 3 days then much easier. I was able to walk to the pub for lunch within a few days and was back driving after 10 days. No long term issues with the scar etc.