Are C sections scary, painful afterwards and dangerous?

[dinny]

probably yes, just wondered

right, have booked GP appointment to ask for referral to St George's

spoke to the MLU as well there - feel so much better knowing I can have this baby where I had dd and ds

1.Not if planned.
2.A little bit (but you get pain relief and there's always Arnica)

1. Not compared to the alternative (I would have been very ill had I not had a section with my dd as she was distressed and stuck and my scar from previous CS had started to rupture)

ooh, forgot about stuck bit. Did he need salad servers?

Good Luck!

no, they did some thing with my legs over my head and got him out!

1. A little as DS1 was emergency c-section (have recently done VBAC so very proud )
2. Uncomfortable until staples came out.
3. Both DS & I would have died without one so am very pleased I had one.

Scary - No. Not as scary as the unknowns of a vaginal birth anyway. But, not exatly a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park either.

Painful - Sorry, but yes. But usually only for a couple of weeks.

Dangerous - this is debatable. I think it's safer for mum and baby, but this statement is likely to be met with violent opposition from pro vaginal crowd.

scary - not at all, mine was emergency but very calm, relaxing music etc. I was worried about the anaesthetic not taking and being able to feel what was going on, bit irrational really but it was the fear of the unknown.

painful - yes, for a few days. then a bit uncomfortable. much less painful for me than the pain a friend of mine had from severe tearing. The pain relief you are given in hospital is pretty effective, imo.

dangerous - well, I guess all surgery is to a degree. However mine felt a lot less dangerous than being hooked up to a drip and watching dd's heart rate slow . I had absolutely no doubt that a caesarean was my only choice to have a healthy baby. And I did

the PRO VAGINA CROWD !!! - surely the crowd who give birth as nature intended unless it is medically NECESSARY to have a section!!!! Not the too posh to push or lets put a good date in our diary crowd!! And I had a c/s and would have both died without and then not had DS2. This is violent opposition yes although you are obviously entitled to your opinion of course

thanks, this is all v helpful

do you think I should go with my gut and change hospitals to the one where I had dd and ds (and has a good reputation and am comfortable there) than the nearer one I am booked in?

Definitely listen to what your instincts are telling you. It's very important you feel safe and secure in labour.

yes, you're right of course - I feel less anxious thinking I can go there...

I would definitely choose a hospital based on quality of care rather than proximity to my house. If you are more comfortable in another hospital, try to get into it.

Now now, Aquarius, one can be pro vaginal without being an arse. See if you can find that balance. Som epeople prefer vaginal. That makes them provaginal. Personally, I'm rather pro the medical approach. Both are valid preferences. You don't need to be rude to people who choose to have sections for what you consider to be invalid reasons.

I think using the term "pro vagina crowd" is offensive, and that you intended it to be so, so you get as good as you dish there really.

I had two emergency c-sections. the first was surprising rather than scary, the second was scary, but less so than being induced.
They were both very painful afterwards, even with painkillers, but yes it is a bearable pain. You should be aware that you may still have some pain/discomfort for a long time afterwards. I had a numb area for several years, and sneezing can still eight years later be painful. However I think that is probably scar adhesions after having two c-sections (they get more complicated if you have more of them) and am aware that difficult normal births can have aftereffects too.
For the dangers you need to look at stats really, which all point to a normal birth as the best option. It's the interventions and unexpected things that cause problems, and you can't really tell if they might happen to you or not.

As StGs is only 30mins away I would definitely go there. If you are worried about your alternative you will worry regardless of the birth option you take. Plus is you are higher risk for any reason they will have the expertise to manage it. Personally I would avoid a private hospital because they often have very limited emergency provision (lots of transfer to the NHS come from the private sector).

thanks saying that about St George's - just worry cos of distance but it is a matter of trust

hope Gp is ok about referring me there (seeing her tomorrow am)

wonder if I'd be in time to have my scane (due in 3 weeks) there too....

mamlovesmambo - I really do apologise. You;re right and I shouldn;t have been so quick to judge. I guess I felt if you'd said that to me I'd be terrified but perhaps I needed to hear it!

My c section wasn;t a fairy tale so I do have some understading of your post. To originla poster - make sure you have lots of support afterwards and time off work!

You shouldn't have a problem. Explain why, and they should understand. I was offered a choice of three hospitals when I was pregnant. It will mean moving your antenatal care, which will be a bit of a nuisance, but I think worth while for you. I worked at St Gs a while ago, and the unit was known to be good then too.

thanks Nooka

well, have been to see GP and she was really nice, said no prob to refer me but she was concerned about the distance (esp if go into labour in the day as the traffic is v bad) and also about the distance to go if need after care there etc

anyway, I am booked at the other hosp to see the consultant in Jan, so I am going to decide then, I think - she says it won't be too late to change at any time

I'm really in two minds now

Dinny, I had an elective cs at ES after an emergency one elsewhere. The team were fantastic - there are twin midwives there, they're men actually, and they were very sweet and reassuring. The cs was fine, ward very empty and for second night I moved to a private room (won't let you first night) which was rather horrid but the staff were incredibly nice. I went home on day three. Much nicer than the hospital in Hertfordshire, although that's not saying v much. One of my friends has a phobia of ES and went to Kingston instead which, I hear is v nice.

Haven't read all the posts, but I had an emcs and it was wonderful. Very relaxing and calm. I was up having a shower 7 hours later and had very little pain afterwards. Some of my friends who had natural births took MUCH longer to recover (also some recovered from nb very quickly too).
I don't think you can tell in advance how you will cope with either. Both can be scary, dangerous and painful.

Hi, Sykes, how are you? Are you still in *?

Thanks for the reassurance - have just booked in the for antenatal tour to have a little look - GP said what I do realise already that much of it is the luck of the draw in terms of mw etc

why does your friend have a phobia of ES? a friend of mine went to Kingston and hated it so much she had next 3 at SG! have heard not so good things about ES though, so good to hear positive story, thanks!

I had an elcs with DS4 as he was an unstable lie.

I was calm until I walked into the theatre and saw the table, machines and loads of people. Once Spinal was in I relaxed a little but then my BP droppped and I felt like I was falling backwards through the table, knew I was passing out but couldn't tell anyone, fortunately aneathetist noticed my hand had gone like a claw in front of my face and snapped me out of it, he fiddled with his syringes and I felt amazing - he told me it was the heroin!

Not so much pain after wards, good painkillers taken routinely work wonders just sore and tentative about standing up straight. Soreness on one side of incision, it felt tight and each time I stood it would stretch. Only lasted a few days.

Didn't feel in danger but the passing out bit freaked me a little and I told DH to just keep talking to me. Once DS was born and I had got over the inital shock that he wasn't a girl it sort of distracted and I actually got v. bored waiting to be stitched up.

Scariest bit was being put back on a bed from the table with no sensation at all below the waist, thought they might drop me.

mehgalegs - were your other 3 VB? which would you prefer if had another one - VB or EC?

Yes, am still where I was. We should meet up one day. Congratulations, by the way. ES is weird. My mother (who had Alzheimers) was treated terribly there - the ward was revolting and the poor old people had a miserable time. Understaffed and badly staffed. I wouldn't say ES maternity was brilliant but compared to Herts it wasn't too bad. My sister visited me (she lives in US) and thought it was disgusting. Not quite sure what that says about her/me? But the staff who did the CS were lovely. After care not great but better than Herts. My friend has had eight miscarriages (also has three lovely children) and ES managed to lose her notes on numerous occasions, get her mixed up with someone else, you name it, they did it. Her h drove her to Kingston for number three and she was there for all of half an hour - virtually had the baby in the car and that was with good traffic at about 2 in the morning.

I thought your sale had gone through

wonder if our paths ever cross in , should meet up some time definitely

I think UK hospitals would seem grim generally to someone used to the US - SG looks very grim, and tbh my first delivery was not good care (though delivery straightforward)

the other thing is I'd be a long way from the children if had to stay in any length of time at SG...