Elective Caesarians only - has anyone had any problems afterwards?

[chaufleur]

I am currently considering having a CS. I have heard lots of good and bad experiences of CS, it seems to be that the majority of good experiences were from elective CS, whereas the majority of bad were from emergency CS.

Therefore I am trying to get a balanced picture of elective caesareans only, because (obviously) I am not planning on having an emergency caesarean! . When I have read CS threads, there are plenty who say "I had a CS, don't do it" then it turns out to have been an emergency CS which obviously a person wouldn't choose to do IYSWIM. I view elective CS and emergency CS as two quite different operations/experiences.

Did anyone have an elective caesarean, that led to physical problems and if so, what were they? I don't mean things such as: having to avoid driving; the baby not being ready; breastfeeding issues; a longer stay in hospital etc etc.

I am referring to things like incontinence, nicked bladders, stitches infected ie personal, physical issues. I am genuinely curious to seperate out what bad physical experiences come out of an elective caesarean.

By all means post with your good elective caesarean stories too!! (in case I do have one! )

TIA!

I had an em cs 2 years ago, TBH no real problems but the recovery was a bit shit. Was on painkillers for 3 weeks. BF was a nightmare. I wouldn't like to go through that again.

Had a planned cs in sept and was only on paracetamol by day 3 and didn't have any need for them after a week. It was a truly weird experience knowing I had had a major op but I didn't suffer. BF has been very very easy and apart from my scar I feel 100% and have even been to the gym. I would recommend one if a natural birth is not an option.

mine elective was fine

my emergency one was terrible

I have had 2 (well, 1st was for medical reasons so not strictly an emergency, crashing through doors experience, but rather more calm affair like an elective)

No major probs (2yrs after 1st and 4 months after 2nd), although if i do too much it can pull and the scar twinges. This happened for quite a few months after my 1st and then i got pg again so not sure what the longer term effects will be and whether i will get back to feeling 100%

However, i did take arnica before and after both CS's and the MW's all commented on how little bruising and how well healed my scar was so i would recommend this

A friend had an infection after her CS and was in a lot of pain for a number of weeks. This was cleared up by AB's and as far as i know 2yrs down the line all is well

Good luck, however you go

sorry - typing one handed

I have had two elective c-sections - very different experiences.

First time around, I found the recovery very tough. I didn't have any major problems, but I felt exhausted, physically weak and just rough for months afterwards.

Second time around was 3 weeks ago. I have been amazed at how much better I have recovered this time around. I am lucky in that I had no major problems with the actual operation either time. I felt more pain with my second section in the days afterwards, and had to have stronger pain relief (morphine) while in hospital, which made me feel a bit wobbly for a few days, but on the whole, I can happily say i feel loads better this time around and can hardly believe I had major abdominal surgery just a few weeks ago.

The main difference this time has been how I have prepared for the recovery period. I've rallied around more help and am taking it much easier - no stressing about the house or shopping or going out or anything other than slobbing about the house with my baby, bonding. It has helped loads, honestly.

My main advice to you if you are considering a section is to make sure you take it as easy as humanly possible for at least a month or two afterwards, even if you feel fine. it will speed your recovery no end if you take it easy in the early days.

I have had an em c/s and an elective

I was fortunate enough to have two uncomplicated surgeries and fairly uneventful recoveries, [though I needed a drain after the elective and it was fairly unpleasant for a few days], no probs bf etc.

I found the em c/s infinitely less traumatic than the emergency [which was in its own was a fabulously positive experience]. In my experience labour hormones help you through all sorts of things - pain, anxiety etc. Not having had these with dd I struggled to bond with her initially.

I think, also, if you are weighing up options you should think about your desire for any possible future pregnancies.

Good luck with your decision

oh yes, arnica does seem to help. the midwifes were pleased i took some to hospital.

The only word of warning I would say is that I wasn't scared during the em cs op, it was such a rush as DS was in distress. But I was very scared during the planned cs as I was more aware of what was happening, the theatre staff were very calm and reasurring though.

The main one for me is the state of my belly. The numb overhang that will never go away.

It might not sound like much, but it when I see myself naked in a mirror it bothers me. It also limits the clothes I can wear.

I ended up with an elective caesarean section by default as the induction stuff did not touch me. After 4 doses of the stuff and hardly any cxontractions and no opening of the cervix they offfered a CS which I accepted. They did it that afternoon - straightforward procedure and no complications.

I was out of bed the next day

Went home after 3 days

Wound got infected at around 8 days and gaped. Hideous.

GP gave me antibiotics and the wound eventually healed.
Couldn't lift baby, do housework for a while though (would consider the housework bit a bonus though )

Wound/scar area stayed numb for about the next year and a half.

From my time as a midwife I've seen nicked bladders, babies who have had nicks from the scalpal, nasty postnatal blood loss (as occurs sometimes after normal deliveries) and nasty wound infections which have become generalised causing serious illness. BUT these were very rare in elective cases - it was of note if they occurred in women who'd had a booked section. Saw them more frequantly in women who'd ended up with emergency sections.

I had a section which was planned, I had pre ecampsia and dd was breech.
I did not have any issues afterwards, just a sore back

elective was a dream

the only thing is that it seems a little unreal that you are having a baby - was chatting througout about my job and was reading the paper just b4 they wheeled my in - was easy peasy

I had an elective cearsarian with DD who is 3 now. Was lovely especially after the natural birth i had had with DS who is 8!

No problems really after, was sore and had problems moving for a few days but by day 5 i was moving more freely and after 2 weeks was driving and back to normal really. DDs birth was calm and planned and meant we could organise childcare etc for DS and DSD and it worked out really well!!!!

What makes em/cs and el/cs so different? Surely it's still the same procedure...

Thanks for your responses. It is interesting that it does seems to be (on the whole, but not always of course) a better experience from an elective CS than an emergency.

Good point re bonding with the baby though. I do think that labour hormones must help in this respect. There again there are probably those who have had VBs who don't instantly bond with the baby too.

my emergency csection was a general anaesthetic after anaeasthetist had cocked up epidural and pierced spinal column (not nice at all)- 18 hours of labour not going anywhere me frightened and baby round wrong way

My elective was calm, calm, calm.....

2 electives - both were amazing experiences - no pain at all.. was bf'ing 10lb DS on my lap within 8 hours and had no issues moving or driving.. am sure it was due to the preparation I had mentally and feeling really relaxed.. never had a single problem since except very broody need to do it again and again!

Not really, no@Mark

Many emergency sections are done very, very quickly. The incision is made as a matter of emergency, so obviously it isn't done so with such tlc. The baby may also be already in the birth canal, so there may be lots more tugging and pulling etc and so more chance of damage to the woman's internal organs. Emergencies are often carried out under general anaesthetic, too, which can mean a slower recovery for the woman.

And obviously it is all much more emotionally traumatic, which can (and often does) affect physical recovery time.

That's interesting.

I have been contemplating an elective for a while, have had one em/cs and so far this baby is breech so the decision may be made for me.

Were you not all cacking your pants before you went in? I think I'd be climbing the walls!

I don't know if I buy all the 'bonding hormones' stuff about c-sections. or at least, not sure if they apply to a good, straightforward elective.

My most recent elective was blissful, actually. I don't know how I could have bonded with my DD more. The whole thing was so serene and calm, they lowered the screen so i saw her being born (well, sort of...I didn't see my internal organs or anything grim like that! )...and we had skin-to-skin pretty much straight away. Twas lovely

I am still blissed out 3 weeks later

i wasn't cacking my pants as i hated the thought of labour and that always scared me more than csection did

ooo i saw my insides in the reflection of the big light and i said this they bloody moved the light - i was gutted as it was like watching Casualty - wierd eh?

Yes, I cacked it big time both times, especially at that moment when they wheel you into theatre and you realise that 'Shit! I really am having major surgery NOW...argh!'@Mark.

ah thats lovely MrsM