Please come and tell me your positive Elec CS stories...

[MarkStretch]

Mine is taking place next week and I am starting to get really nervous.

Also have my pre-op assessment today and would appreciate any tips on what to ask/expect?

my sis had an emergency cs followed by a planned one. She raved about the elective cs said it was the happiest moment of her life. She was so relaxed even a few hours afterwards and had a really wonderfully easy first few months with dn2 incomparison to dn1. Her breast feeding was much easier, and she was so happy.

She was all up for a natural birth with DS1 but now is convert.

Hi, had mine just 3 weeks ago and have to say it was one of the best experiences of my life! I keep reliving it still now as it was just so much better than my first natural (well, 2 lots of ventouse then forceps!) delivery. I'd definitely do it again....

Agree it's a bit nerve wracking before hand when you're waiting for them to come and get you but once you're there it's all go and I don't really think you have the chance to get too nervous as it's all so exciting IMO. The spinal really isn't that bad and being numb wasn't half as bad as I thought it would be.

Recovery surprisingly ok too, I'm driving fine already. Have been taking arnica though.

Good luck, do try and enjoy it as it's an amazing experience and really is as relaxing as everyone said it would be.

Oh I'm getting really excited now!

I had my 2nd section in November. First one (after a failed induction in 2005) left me feeling shell shocked and very low, really. This one was a straightforward elective (had wanted a VBAC, but complications towards the end of my pregnancy meant it wasn't possible) - and a lovely experience - seriously! I was still fairly terrified walking into the operating theatre, but I needn't have been. The whole thing was strangely serene and the moment my DD was born was the best moment of my life. I have recovered much more quickly this time, too.

I would do it again asap if DH was up for more babies

Thank you so much for starting this thread MarkStretch - I hope it has made you feel better, it certainly has me.

Don't want to hijack the thread but just have a couple of questions. My consultant booked me a date and the nurse gave me a couple of hand outs but that was about it. My next appointment is with the local midwife at 37 weeks.

They didn't mention a pre-op assessment? Also no-one has asked if we have any preferences about the birth, ie skin to skin etc - do we ust tell them on the day what we would like? Should I ask them about this or does it vary from hospital to hospital?

Feeltrapped (am pleased you're finding this thread useful too, it's nice to know there are a few of us in the same boat)- I would write it all down in a birth plan and stick it in your notes. The you can talk to your midwife about it. I think they told us about the pre-op when they booked my section at my 36 week check at the clinic so they may tell you soon.

They told me that the surgeon will visit me on the morning of the CS so we can ask questions etc. It might be worth while asking him then?

Thanks everyone for your postitive stories, I can't believe mine is getting so close. Had another moment at 4am this morning thinking 'I CAN'T DOOOOOO IT!' but then I rationlise and feel excited about it.

Would love to hear more if anyone has any?!

I agree that Arnica definately helps. I was out shopping in the city centre on Day 5 with no problems. The midwife told me off for 'galloping' down the stairs. My friend who had an elective went out for a curry in the evening after she got out of hospital (day 6) weighing 7stone 2 .
The only issue I had, which is to do with the atrocious way my body handles anaesthesia was that I got hypothermia and I also split my scar from vomiting- but they caused no problems after the 1st day.

I am having another elective in August and I worry that the recovery may be a touch harder as DS wil only be 2.8 and loves being picked up/carried.

Thanks to those ho posted BF tips after a c section, I am really keen to finally get it ight this 3rd and final time.

Good luck, Mark Stretch.

Bump!

Haven't read the whole thread, but I was also nervous before my ECS (well, Sh*ng myself actually) but I wanted to add to this as mine was pretty positive.

I won't go into the whole pre-op thing, as it was boring (dripped beforehand with insulin and glucose for GD) but it all happened so fast. My CS was arranged for 3pm, and at 10 past the anaesthetist came in to my room and said rather dramatically 'It's Time' I walked to the theatre with DH behind me, they put me up on the trolley and started with the spinal straight away. The two consultants who had been looking after me for the weeks prior were the ones doing the surgery. They remembered me and DH, and were really chatty and upbeat. The spinal hurt for a few seconds, but the anaesthetic kicked in really quickly, and before I knew it, I was being laid down and the screen was going up. DH was the on my left and the anaesthetist was on my right.
He was brilliant! He explained everything that was happening, and asked if we knew the sex of the baby... We didn?t and he asked if DH wanted see the birth to be the one to announce it (he did although he lost it in theatre, and was crying like a baby himself!)
The anaesthetist told me they were cutting, and then told me they were sucking out the fluid. Then he asked DH to stand up and watch his baby being born. DH stood up and looked over as they pulled the baby out, and he immediately burst into tears shouting ?OMG Its a GIRL!!? over and over ? we were convinced we were getting a boy so much that DH actually said to the consultant ?It IS a girl isn?t it? ? That was a pretty good moment, but then they lifted her over the screen to me and she was just beautiful! Eyes wide open and looking around as if to say ?I don?t much care for this place!? They took her to be weighed etc and then as they gave her her vit k jab, she screamed the theatre down!
It was really quick being stitched ? about 40 minutes, but I got to hold DD on my chest, and get to know her as that was going on. Afterward, I went back to the observation room, and had skin-to-skin for about 2 hours with her. They got me some tea and toast, pain relief jab and gave me a bed bath. I went back up to the maternity ward 3 hours after the birth (They gave me my own room there too)
They left me alone, besides some blood sugar issues for DD which were handled by SCBU nurses who said DD could stay with me, but did her BM?s every 3 hours. The next morning, I was up and showering and was ready to go home the next day.
It was brilliant all in all, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat ? fair do?s to the hospital, they made me and my DH feel special and treated my DD wonderfully. I will never slag off the NHS ever again!
Good Luck! ? I was so scared before my section, but I posted on MN and got some lovely replies and that really got me though. I hope I have returned the good will. MN has been a godsend through my pregnancy and motherhood. X

first emergency c/s was scary. Second was so lovely and wonderful that as soon as it was over I said "I want to do it again!". It's just lovely, really lovely. Sure you'll be nervous, who wouldn't be, but it's really fine once you get started - nothing beats it, for me!

Just thought I would update this thread and tell you that I had my beautiful baby boy by ElecCS on the 3rd Feb.

It really was a lovely positive experience and all of the hospital staff were utterly amazing, from the nursing auxillary who escorted me to theatres and talked complete crap at me for hours to relieve my nerves, to the surgeon and anaethetists who were so reassuring.

It was a strange sensation walking down to theatres, and I won't lie, I was terrified but every was smiley and kind and relaxed and chatty.

DS was born within 10 mins of them starting and from then on the operating theatre was buzzing with excitement and everyone coming over to say congratulations.

We're home now after 4 days in hospital and I am down to the minimum pain relief.

Thank you everyone for sharing and for everyone contemplating, it's really not as bad as you imagine!

Congratulations MarkStretch! What a gorgeous pic of your dd and ds - aw!

I have only just found this thread and I am having an elective c-section in 6 weeks time - so your thread has been brilliant (and made me blub due to all the lovely stories! Pregnancy hormones.......!.

Can I just ask - do you get morphine during an elective? I just so want to avoid any drugs like that because when I had dd by emergency section she went floppy and stopped breathing due to all the drugs I'd had beforehand.

Congrats, MarkStretch! Fab news

meeps - you only have the spinal/epidural during the operation itself - that's all you'll need. You won't feel a thing, promise.

Afterwards I was given a mixture of codeine and paracetomol for pain relief, with the option of morphine if I wanted. Most hospitals pretty much allow you to self medicate, so they'll offer you something every 4 hours and it's up to you if you take it or not.

As far as I know (and they were fine about me asking a million questions), I had a spinal block and an epidural before the op, and Methadone as pain relief afterwards.

You're only allowed 6 doses of Methadone, I only needed 4 and then went on to oral painkillers and anti-inflammatorys which have done the trick.

And yes they allowed me to self medicate also so don't be afraid to ask for it.

I found my spinal started to wear off really quickly, certainly by the time I had left recovery I had some movement and feeling back, but that's when the pain also started so they gave me a dose of Methadone, followed by a top up and I had no further pain.

phew - just a few ladies mentioned morphine on here which got me worried. I want to knwo what is going on this time round.

Am quite looking forward to the whole thing now!

Honestly meep, ask them, ask them about everything. They were so good with me, even the surgeon whilst busily working was telling me everything was fine, going well etc.

The only time I felt uncomfortable was when they lifted DS out, I can only describe it as going over a bump in the road. I told the anaethetist I felt a bit odd and he popped a little something in my canular and I felt fine again.

I wil ask and ask and ask . At least I won't be babbling away like an eejit and mistaking the nice drug man for dh this time round!

hi everyone my first planned section was much nicer managed to bf with spinal block much quicker recovery, but second section under GA belongs on another thread!

good luck and be positive if the section planned, mine was much better experience. they explained everything talking to me throughout the procedure and then held my ds straight away and forgot about the pain and what they were doing. sigh in awww! just amazing looking at ds on my chest.

hi everyone my first planned section was much nicer managed to bf with spinal block much quicker recovery, but second section under GA belongs on another thread!

good luck and be positive if the section planned, mine was much better experience. they explained everything talking to me throughout the procedure and then held my ds straight away and forgot about the pain and what they were doing. sigh in awww! just amazing looking at ds on my chest.

sorry for two posts by the way waiting for my section at 39+ weeks in march 9 but hoping for vba2c before that!!! fingers crossed.

sorry for two posts by the way waiting for my section at 39+ weeks in march 9 but hoping for vba2c before that!!! fingers crossed.