Planned C-Section tomorrow - petrified

[AmberM223]

Just looking for any last min reassurance or tips really haha! 2nd birth - first one very traumatic ‘natural’ birth with forceps. Opted for planned section this time - which i am happy with,
or i have been until its now less than 24 hour away!!
Little one is 2.5 at home so scared of recovery.
I am an anxious person anyway and i just keep thinking the worst, it feels like its really taking away from the fact i’m actually having a baby, i can’t seem to get excited for it at all, i’m just too scared of it all. Hopefully i’m not the only one who has ever felt like this!

Don't worry about it. I've only had one birth and it was a planned C section. Only the second day, one day after the surgery day it was painful; afterwards it was very tolerable. I could do everything and take care of my newborn very early on.

Just listen to their advice and don't lift anything heavy for 6 weeks afterwards and you should be fine. I'm planning another C section for my next baby.

Good luck 👍

It’s going to be fine I promise. I loved mine. The procedure itself is fine you just need to trust in the process.

I won’t lie after it is painful once you get home. Do not let them fob you off with ibruprofen and paracetamol. You can have liquid morphine at home and it is gold standard for breastfeeding due to its short half life (so you time it after a feed).

Make sure you move the bed using the controls and reposition slightly regularly so you don’t get a dead bum whilst your staying over night. Do not be shy to use the call bell for picking up babe from the cot.

And just rest as much as you can. Don’t overdo it. I found showing my toddler the scar helped as said I had a big boo boo and it hurts so I can’t pick you up as your too heavy. He was much better when he could visually understand the reason.

It is a wonderful excuse to literally be waited on hand and foot so enjoy and make the most! 😊

It's natural to feel anxious for any surgery but this is all planned and it will go smoothly. I remember thinking they hadn't started yet and all of a sudden the baby was already out! They might be able to play some music you choose to help tou feel calmer. All the best for the arrival of your baby!

I had an emergency c section and it was good. I was back up on my feet the next day walking around and took a shower which made me feel brand new. I was tender a little tender on the drive home esp over the speed bumps but other than that I was good. I only took paracetamol and Neurofen for the pain. After about a week I was back out going for walks but I didn’t lift anything heavier than baby in car seat. At 6 weeks was given the all clear and was back riding my horse!

Genuinely a planned c-section can actually be a positive experience. It’s a lot scary and hectic than a traumatic “natural” birth. I’ve had three and while the healing isn’t fun it’s totally doable, even with a toddler

I was in your position 3 years ago, when my second baby was born by elective c section, also after a “natural” birth with forceps. My eldest was also 2.5 at the time, and I was also so nervous that I couldn’t get properly excited about having a baby. It went very well, so much so, that I had my third also by ELCS three months ago. This time I wasn’t at all nervous.

I have to agree with the PP who recommended insisting on proper pain relief. I really don’t understand why it has to be such a fight to get it from some nurses, when it’s so necessary for mobilising properly, and so for recovering well! I still remember on day 2, as I was about to be discharged with baby 2, a nurse saying “let’s try to do away with the Ibuprofen shall we?”. No, really, let’s not!

I had oramorph, dihydrocodeine, ibuprofen and paracetamol for the two days in hospital, and then dihydrocodeine, ibuprofen and paracetamol for a week at home. I kept the ibuprofen and paracetamol going for a good ten days after that. It worked beautifully for me, I mobilised well and had really smooth recoveries both times. So do insist. As the anaesthetist told me, you are not supposed to be in pain. The most you should feel is discomfort.

Other things that helped: getting up as soon as possible and doing gentle walking. The nurses got me up 6 hrs after the first section and 4 hours after the second.

A pillow under the seatbelt was a godsend on the drive home. I also kept a pillow in my lap at home when the children were around so I wouldn’t get kicked.

Once at home, make an effort to keep your scar as dry as possible for the first few weeks. Use water only on the scar in the shower, and dry and air it really thoroughly after. I used a clean maternity pad to dry it out completely and then I lay down for a few minutes with the scar uncovered to air it. I also wore mesh pants and dresses around the house. My scars healed really well both times.

Take it as easy as you can for the first few weeks - frequent, gentle walking, but no more. I didn’t carry or lift anything heavier than the baby.

Very best of luck! Honestly, compared to the forceps birth the c section recoveries were so so much smoother. Hence why I chose another ELCS for my third baby, without any hesitation!

Oh i just want to thank you all sooo much for your replies. They really have made me feel brighter just reading them, i have been a mess all day. Don’t get me wrong i feel sick to my stomach but i think its just the unknown (and the hormones) putting my little one to bed tonight knowing it was the last time on his own broke my heart!! But trying to get excited to meet new baby.

Thanks for all the tips especially medicine wise!!

I had an emergency c section after being pretty sure I didn’t want one the whole way through my pregnancy. As it turns out, I’d probably opt for one if I have a second DC. Recovery really not as bad as I thought it would be (although appreciate everyone is different).

I honestly think the day before a section is worse than the actual day!
I have had four, I wouldn’t have done it again and again if it was horrendous x

I had two C-sections and similar age difference. It all was fine!!!
Hope your H will be around and help with the toddler.
Just take care of yourself, and use all the help you can get.

DS1 was an EMCS.
Things I wish I had known....take really big pants (up to the waist granny pants) keeps pressure off the scar and maybe helps with the little paunch you can get as you heal
Don't try to recover too quickly. I didn't feel much pain after first couple of days and pushed myself after about 2 weeks with a walk into town. Left me surprisingly sore.
If you're a wimp get someone lined up to do your anticoagulation jabs.

I'd also recommend that you talk to DC1 and help them understand that mummy will have a sore tummy so she can't lift heavy things and that they can have lots of hugs but need to climb up onto the bed/sofa so that your tummy can get better. They'll see you holding the baby and also want to be picked up.

I had a section. It was lovely, very calm and pleasant.

Of course, there was pain afterwards but it gradually improves every day and managed with meds.

you will be fine and many congrats on your new baby

Same as you OP. First birth was natural and bloody traumatic. Didn’t recover for a good year. Second birth was a c-section and the whole process was calm, serene, no pain. Recovery was a doddle compare to the first time.

Same here. Horrific 'natural' forceps first birth, second was a planned c section - best decision ever. Agree on pain relief - i did it all on paracetamol and ibuprofen - was very sore during days 3-5 - should have asked for more! Good luck for tomorrow.

I had 2 elective c-sections and I wouldn’t change the experience for anything. Smooth sailing. Breastfed almost straight away and for several months afterwards, had ample painkillers and now 2 beautiful kids -20 and 17 years old respectively. It will all be fine! All the very best! Enjoy!

Thanks guys! I’m at the hospital now trying to settle my nerves. I do keep thinking the recovery can possibly not be worse than my first birth (it was BAD) so here’s hoping.
My partner will be around for the next 3 weeks so hopefully i’ll be much more able by that time to parent x2!!
Thanks for all the well wishes 🩷

You will do super! Honestly, I was not happy I had to have a c section due to what I heard about recovery but reality was better than where my mind went! Keep us posted on when baba arrives!

All the best for today! I had an emcs recently, so not quite the same. But everything went smoothly and I was able to see and feel improvements every day. My recovery was very smooth and quick.😊

Thank you everyone! 4 days on now - c-section was a lovely experience! I mean don’t get me wrong i didn’t like the spinal block and i was VERY sick despite all the sickness meds being put in, but they made it such a calm lovely experience, would do it again!

Healing has been ok so far, today has probably been the worst day actually despite taking all meds. But absolutely better than my first birth so far!

Congrats! Happy to hear all is going well!