The truth about c-sections...

[Ladyem]

Hi!

I am 31 weeks and may have to have a c-section as my DD suffered a shoulder dystocia during birth.

The decision is being left up to me, and while I know that having a section practically rules out the possibility of this baby suffering shoulder dystocia I am, well to be honest, terrified of the section and wondered if those of you who've had one could tell me the honest truth about if what I've heard about them is true!

*The drugs will make you shake and throw up - not what I want when lying flat on my back and a man with a big knife is cutting into me!!

*Administering the spinal is really painful.

*You can't have skin to skin and feed straight away, you have to wait until you are in recovery.

Many thanks in advance!

I've had three. I would have preferred a normal birth, but it wasn't to be. I can't say I enjoyed the process, but I believe that giving birth naturally is not generally a particularly fun thing to do! They are a bit scary, because it is a proper operation so there are lots of consent forms etc, but you should not be overly worried or let it get to you too much - if medical advice is in favour of it, then it's probably the safest thing for you to do. The spinal is not nice, but it's not terrible. I usually go very dizzy and have to lie down to have it, but that's not a great problem and the doctors are all lovely and supportive. Once you've had that, you won't feel anything for a while. The actual operation is fine - you do feel them pulling you about, but it doesn't hurt. It can feel a bit detached from the process, but if you have your partner with you, get them to fill you in on what is going on. You can ask them to let you find out the sex of the baby yourself by showing him/her to you. I've never had immediate skin to skin, but I think some places do do it. I've had the baby with my husband right next to me, and then skin to skin as soon as we move through to recovery, which is OK. To be honest, while you can't feel much of your body I always feel too nervous to hold the baby until we are in recovery in the bed with the nice side bars and stuff, but each to their own. I think the key thing is to accept that you are having this for your baby's safety, and not to start the whole guilt thing us Mums do so well, about whether you do skin to skin immediately etc. My kids have breastfed beautifully in the recovery room, for a good forty minutes or so, and then slept snuggled into my arm whilst waiting to go the ward, all skin to skin until you have to move through the corridors.

The most difficult thing is not being able to pick up your elder child for a good month or so because of the stitches. So I should train them now to be used to walking up and down stairs etc, so they don't have a huge shock when Mummy can't carry them. Best of luck!

Just a thought - do you have to decide now whether to opt for a CS or not? I had Emergency CS with DS1 who probably would have had shoulder dystocia if we'd progressed beyond 7cm when he got well and truly stuck. With DS2 I decided that if I went into labour earlyish when he was (in theory anyway) a bit smaller I'd give a VBAC a go but at 41 weeks I decided nature was trying to tell me something and booked my CS. My consultant was quite happy with this and wrote on my notes that I could be booked in for a section quickly if that's what I decided.

Might make you feel there's less pressure on you for a decision too quickly

I was shaky after the c-section but was also shaky when i had an epidural so think it's something to do with the drugs..but even with a natural delivery you could have epidural...

Didn't feel a bit sick at any point..

And believe it or not it didn't hurt me at all afterwards..just take whatever pain relief you're offered and drink peppermint water (i got it off the midwives)

I had an emergency CS after 25 hours pre-labour contractions. It was for me the NHS at its best. Superb teamwork, focussed medics with great bedside manner. Because it really was an emergency (for the health and well-being of me and my now beautiful and healthy DD) I didn't have my "birth playlist" on my portable ipod docking system in the room cause it was such a rush to get us in, but a lady anaethetist kindly played Clannad so we had some music.

I vaguely remember slight shaking now it has been mentioned but that I was with exhaustion anyway when I arrived so not sure what was result of spinal.

The spinal didn't hurt (but I had taken a deep gulp of gas and air before going to theatre so not sure if that helped!). It worked quickly and the operation went well.

The only post-op problem I had was an infection in the wound, which I expect was from an unclean bathroom I should have spoken up about it b4, but was so relieved to have got there. Because of infection it took me the full 6 weeks+ to recover and I didn't dare drive. However I have had friends who had planned CS on medical advice for 2nd and 3rd babies who you wouldn't have known had had them for how able they were within 48 hours.

I hadn't heard of the vomiting until reading this thread!

Oh and I would have had skin to skin straight away, but sadly my DS came out not breathing (no cry ) (the reason for the CS, not as a result of it) so was rushed down to special-care past me as I was being stitched back up. However the top NHS team wheeled me down in a bed once I had recovered so I could poke my hand through the porthole of incubator and hold her hand. DD made a good recovery and has made up for the crying since .

Apart from the infection, I can't sing the NHS praises enough. They saved my DD life, and lowered the risk to mine too. It wouldn't have been my choice to have a CS, but was necessary. Oh and they are very careful to make sure you can't feel any pain or discomfort during op. I felt very strange sensations but nothing scary or painful.

1. No shaking or throwing up here

2. I don't remember even feeling the spinal go in.

3. DS was handed to DH immediatly and then to me. I don't remember trying to b/f until we were back on the ward anyway but I could if I wanted to in the recovery room.

The only think I would say that is sometimes cs babies take a little longer to b/f than vaginal deliveries but just keep perserving if you do want to b/f.

I had an emcs and next time will be going for an elcs.

I had an elCS 1.5 months ago.

• I felt like throwing up for about a minute. This was before the operation. They waited for it to go away before they started.

• Spinal not painful at all. Feels a bit cold, that's all.

• I didn't feed right away, but it wasn't a big deal. Baby latched on and fed like a champ some hours later and hasn't let go since. (ouch!)

I've had an ecs, and

1. The drugs did make me shake and throw up - and each time I vomited, they had to keep stop doing what they were doing, and I had to try really hard to try control the shakes.

1. I had an epidural which was topped up, and like JemL, was so desperate for the relief that I think it blocked out whatever pain there was!

1. I have no idea if I could have had skin to skin or not - all I know is that I kept vomiting so there was no way I was going to be able to hold my DD. Once I had calmed down and was in recovery, I did get to have skin to skin with her. DH held her and bought her to me so I could see her, but that was it.

've had four sections, 1 emcs with an epidural, 1 GA and two planned.

I did shake with the drugs
The spinal was not painful
I fed all, except the GA, of mine in recovery which was very quick.

The itching when your skin becomes 'alive' agin is unbearable. Take flannels to cool your skin. I did get trapped wind that I felt in my shoulder.

I only stayed in two nights, played my own CD throughout. Got a private room, which was money very well spent..

Oh, I forgot about that weird trapped wind thing in your shoulder! I had it after my 2nd section. Had never heard of it before and thought I was having a stroke or something. It passed quickly, though.

On the feeding thing, all, including the GA delivery, fed for at least an hour for their first feed and latched on first time.

Well I must have been VERY lucky! I had an emcs because of pre-eclampsia at 34 weeks. Maybe it was because it was New Year's Day afternoon but it was all a very relaxed and pleasant, actually exciting experience. Friends had told me not to look into the big light as you might not like to see the reflection on its shiny exterior so I didn't!
The spinal was absolutely fine (although, I never went into labour so might be a bit more tricky if contracting) and there was simply a warm feeling going up from my feet. I didn't even realise it was done until I felt that... then my female surgeon got on with it quickly and efficiently. My husband was asked if he wanted to see the baby coming out (which he did and has now seen more of me than he might like to again!) and, after he was checked over (he was pretty early and only 5lb) he was given straight to me for skin to skin (in Chichester, West Sussex obviously pretty enlightened) - my recovery was quite easy. I didn't even take the pain killers after the morphine wore off...

Back home, the only problem was a severe bout of constipation! I had a whole night of desperation to go for a poo, in the end, the district nurse had to come out early in the morning and give me an enema - bliss! Apparently, they should give you some medicine to take home with you to stop that happening, but I didn't get any....

Other than that, no feeling sick, or being sick, no shaking, no infections on the tiny scar (which now, 6 years later you can barely see!) - I'm not going on to have another baby, but if I had have done, I would have begged for another csection!

Hello! Recepient of 2 emergency c-sections here. My friends who have had planned sections have told me that their experience was very calm and that their recovery was relatively quick.

Although I didn't have immediate skin-to-skin contact with my babies, I was shown them immediately and breast fed them soon after in the recovery room (am still feeding number 2 at 11 months - fed number 1 until 14 months). I did not feel that I had lost out on the skin-to-skin experience because I had plenty of time to make up for it!

While I appreciate that your question was about the process of the c-section, I would just like to add that your recovery can be made much easier if you put some thought into how your environment is set up for when you get home. This is an advantage of knowing that you are going to have a c-section in advance!

For example, if there is space, you could use a changing table to ensure that you are not having to bend down when dressing baby / changing nappies and collect baby things into one area so you are not having to walk around too much. You can also put a cushion on your living room chair to make it easier to stand up and sit down.

Good luck with your baby - I hope you get the experience you want.

I had skin to skin with my last, baby 2 (GA) had skin to skin with Daddy to warm him up as I was still out!!

Hi, i had an emcs with my dd. I did feel very sick after my section and threw up a lot, and weirdly had the most intense shakes for a while after. I had an epidural, but i barely felt it through all the contraction pain, but could understand this would be more frightening if you were going in with a clear head. I had skin to skin in recovery about an hour later, and had no problems latching or bf. All the problems i did have were exacerbated by a very long labour and being exhausted, which would not apply in an elective. Tbh, I did find recovery much tougher than i thought it would be, and i was a bit useless for a while - unable to pick up baby for a few weeks, difficulty getting in and out of chairs/beds etc. I think some women recover very quickly from sections and are up and about in a matter of days, and others find it very difficult, and i dont suppose you find out which one you are until you've had one! If you do chose a section, buy a changing table and v shaped pillow, lifesavers!

*The drugs will make you shake and throw up - not what I want when lying flat on my back and a man with a big knife is cutting into me!!

• I've had both emergency and elective and this didn't happen with either for me.

*Administering the spinal is really painful.

• It wasn't painful for me, the jab they gave me to numb the skin stung a bit though. It was a tricky procedure on me, took a long time and got very uncomfortable, but it didn't hurt.

*You can't have skin to skin and feed straight away, you have to wait until you are in recovery.

• I held dd1 straight away but no skin to skin, they took her away, but I didn't ask for it either as I was off my face on drugs, had been in agony for almost 48 hours and only knew I was having a c-sectino 10 minutes prior to that moment.

-second time round the dts were quite early and were taken to be looked after so i didn't get skin to skin until on the ward.

Hope that helps a little.

Hi!

Thanks for all of your comments! It is really interesting to hear all of your stories and experiences!

Notadomesticengineer - thanks for the info re: when I get home! I've taken note and will make sure I do that!!

I probably sound like a complete wuss about all of this, but I hadn't anticipated that I might have to have a section and when it was just announced to me it was a bit of a shock . Then making the mistake of looking them up on the internet and scaring the life out of myself!!! Thanks for all of your supportive words and reassurance, I do feel much more informed about making my decision now!

you are not a wuss. its a serious operation, and one which in some way is belittled because its put side by side with a natural birth.

best of luck which ever way you go.

Had an unplanned C section and although I found it unpleasant, I would have another, this is what happened to me ....!

Spinal, honestly didn't feel a thing apart from a little scratch, in fact the doctor said if I felt it I could punch him and it was fine! However its the weirdest sensation, you get 'hot bot' which is a really hot bottom, then you just go numb! One of the scariest side effects for me was my blood pressure dropped really low and I felt terrible but they got it back up and I was OK!

They gave me morphine without telling me and I was horrendously sick and completely out of it for about two hours when I got back to the ward, this really upset me as I felt terrible and couldn't hold my daughter.

Was really itchy but stopped after a tablet.

Breastfed within minutes of getting into recovery which was lovely and had skin to skin contact as well. If you struggle to hold your baby, press the buzzer they expect you to do this as you have had a major op.

I didn't have anymore painkillers apart from paracetamol after the first lot of morphine and I thought the pain was OK, scar was tender but not awful!

One of the most lovely things that happened to us was we asked the surgeon and all the people in theatre to go quiet when they took the baby out and I wanted my husband to tell me what sex we had, they did as we asked not word or sound was made and it was beautiful, still makes me fill up now!!

My recovery went really well, my husband was amazing and looked after me and I did nothing!

I can understand that your anxious but its not as bad as some people make out and you will be fine! Lots of luck on meeting your new baby!

Just to add mine too:

2 emergency cs, but second much earlierin the process and so much calmer.

• didn't throw up either time
• spinal didn't hurt either time. 1st time I already had an epidural, 2nd time I didn't and was v worried but it didn't hurt at all
• fed in recovery both times. established bf no problem at all. dh held both dd and ds as soon as the nurses had cleaned them up (dd needed resussitating too, but that didn't take too long)

Someone just mentioned the trapped wind - excellent point. more uncomfortable than the spinal in my experience. take peppermint teabags in with you. made all the difference for me, 2nd time round.

good luck!

hello, I guess every mum is different and reacts differently but i had an unplanned and unwanted c section but in response to your questions
*The drugs will make you shake and throw up - not what I want when lying flat on my back and a man with a big knife is cutting into me!!

• not in my case no particular reaction to the drugs I recall whatsoever

*Administering the spinal is really painful.

• don't recall any pain, the anticipation makes you overlook all of that if there is any pain which I geniunely dont remember any of

*You can't have skin to skin and feed straight away, you have to wait until you are in recovery.

• in my case not at all, my baby was breastfeeding literally within about 45 mins of being born without any problems

good luck I am sure it will all go well

Hi, I had a emergency CS and it was fine.

I know it feels like you're about to jump off a big cliff but when you're through it you will wonder what you worried about!

Spinal didnt hurt AT ALL for me. They numb the area first, then you have a local anaesthetic, before they put the line in. I can honestly say I didn't feel even a drawing pin prick. Nothing whatsoever. You have to sit still but you are well propped up into position, and the MW will help keep you still/occupied.

I did shake during the op but it wore off quickly.

Felt a tugging sensation as baby was brought out but no more exertion than trying to get tummy control knickers off, for example!!

You can have skin to skin straightaway. I personally couldn't because the baby was impacted and there was meconium in the waters etc but I was told the baby would be seen by paeds first, so it wasn't a shock and I was just happy the baby was fine. Skin to skin afterwards was great and baby latched on fine.

Was up and about the next morning and the drugs are so good it didn't feel painful.

Was walking about fine and had to be reminded constantly not to do too much (because I felt so good!)

I have had no probs from the CS or the recovery either physical or mental, in fact I had had such an awful labour the CS was actually the nicest part. Next time I will definitely be having another CS but it will be a planned one which I will look forward to even more because it will be quick and calm.

Good luck!

Hello, I had an emergency cs and it was fine.

I vomited in theatre all over my husband and the anaesthetist .

I didn't shake but had trapped wind in my shoulder, as soon as you feel it coming on drink some peppermint tea so make sure you take a supply to hospital.

I fed about 45 mins after DD was delivered and it was no problem - I'm still feeding her 9 months on. (During pregnancy I naively thought that if I had a cs it would hamper my chances of breastfeeding.)

In all I had a good experience, it feels a bit like someone's doing the washing up in your tummy and although I was in a quite a bit of pain for a few days by the end of the week I felt ok.

Good luck, you'll be fine.