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!

Hi,

I've had two c-sections: one emergency and one 'planned' elective. The second time round I was give the option of going for a natural delivery but the scans suggested she was going to be big so my consultant thought a c-section would be lower risk.

The first one was a bit of a blur as I'd been in labour for ages and had a couple of tries with forceps. I didn't have any problems with either the spinal going in or nausea during the operation and recovered pretty quickly.

The second time, it felt really easy. The advantage with a planned c-section is that the team are all in place, ready to go & relaxed. You also get scheduled in for a civilised time of day so you can (at least theoretically!) get a good night's sleep before hand. I didn't even realise the spinal was in (fantastic registrar!) and although I had a bit of nausea, it passed very quickly. We didn't do skin to skin but DD latched on straight away in the delivery room and is a boob-girl to this day (7 months later).

Good luck - whatever happens. I really didn't find it a big deal at all (I may have been lucky) and once you've got your gorgeous baby, it doesn't matter how they arrived!

I wish i'd have none about the shaking and sickness tbh before my planned section with dd1 (breech baby). the fact that i was so unprepared and ill -informed contributed to my pnd i believe.

the drugs made me feel dizzy during the section, seriously dizzy and i lost all sense of co-ordination. they were telling me to roll on my side but i couldn't.

when dd was lifted out of me i was shaking violently and continued to do so for about 2 hours after the birth. because of the shaking i was unable to hold her (would have dropped her).

i was also puking during the section and afterwards.

i had horrendous wind afterwards too.

afaik i've had the worst experience amongst my friends who've had sections and experienced none of these .
my advice: prepare for and expect the worst, hope for the best.

i wish i'd have none known sorry

I have had 4 sections, all of them were fine. TBH I did find the epidural painful, but only because I had an inexperienced doctor. During the first one, I did have a bad reaction to the epidural and I fainted, but they soon sorted me out. I got a really itchy nose each time and a pain in my shoulder after no 2 and 3, but I was so wrapped up in my lovely babies that it didn't seem too bad. Each time I have made sure that I get up and start doing things for myself. I had skin to skin contact with all of my dd's once in recovery, but found it too tricky whilst lying on the table. In fact with no.4, she "crawled" to the boob herself. It was amazing. I only stayed in hospital for one night with no.3 and 4. I have bf each of them for a long time. Good luck. xx

I had a emergency section was it was absolutely fine. Had a combined spinal epidural and didn't feel a thing (had a consultant do it so maybe that's why) other than a lovely sense of relief as all the labour pain suddenly went. No sickness, very little pain afterwards and was up and moving around within hours. Just don't get it when people say that can't move/lift/feed the baby as I did all 3 pretty much instantly. Only side effect I did have was huge amount of shaking. All in all was a great experience!

Clearly some people react badly to the drugs, I was fine no shaking no vomiting - but I had two full labour followed by two emergency C sect and wasn't sick during those. Many women are sick during labour.

Anyway, discuss the procedure of the section with someome at the hpsital in as much details as possible. For section 1, the recovery table for the baby was in the surgical suite, so baby was 'visible' all the time (they couldn't give him to me as he had minor heart problems) but at least, I could see him.

With c sec 2 (in a different hospital) they actually took the baby in a different room to weigh him and dress him. I wasn't aware that they were going to do that I was in tears when they took him to another room. My husband went with him and took loads of pictures. I was feeding within about 45 minutes as it took ages to stitch me up (this is unusually long time - sometimes for second and third C secs there's lots of scar tissue and it's more difficult to close, which isn't a problem for first C sec.)

Anyway, I would suggest that you discuss the very specific details of the op with someone who isn't a midwife or health visitor - maybe ask for an appointment with an Anesthetist? or a Registrar?

I had emergency c section after hideous attempts at natural birth, no problems really, a little sore for a few days after but at least it was my stomach and not my lady parts (wink)!!!!!!
Didn't get skin to skin straight away but successfully breastfed afterwards.
If they give you Kapake as a pain killer watch out, gives you chronic constipation which to me was far worse than anything!!!!
Good luck and try not to worry!!!

I had emergency c section after hideous attempts at natural birth, no problems really, a little sore for a few days after but at least it was my stomach and not my lady parts !!!!!!
Didn't get skin to skin straight away but successfully breastfed afterwards.
If they give you Kapake as a pain killer watch out, gives you chronic constipation which to me was far worse than anything!!!!
Good luck and try not to worry!!!

Hi ladyem. I hope I can give some reassurance on having a planned c-section. I had one for my DD, now 10 months old (reason was severe SPD). I have looked up the birth story I posted on MN after DD was born and pasted it below for you to read. HTH.
To answer your questions:

• I was a little frightened when the spinal was going in but it wasn't painful. You just have to relax and sit very still.
• I was not sick at all after the drugs (but I recently had a GA for an appendectomy and I was extremely sick afterwards, so I suppose it could happen).
• I did not have skin to skin in theatre, but DH sat next to me the whole time and for most of this was holding our new baby close next to me. After the operation we had skin to skin and she started feeding straight away!

One thing that helped me very much was that the anaesthetist seemed to nominate himself as the person to chat to us all the way through which I found very reassuring. I agree with other advice posted - be fully informed, be prepared for some possible unpleasantness, hope for the best, and most of all - look forward to meeting your lovely new baby.

Birth story:
We are back home now and my darling daughter is gurgling sweetly next to me. I just can?t believe how much love I feel for this tiny bundle!

DD was born by elective c-s at 2:19 pm on 9 Sept. Everything went very well and the whole team were wonderful ? taking my birth plan notes very seriously and looking after me for all the tricky bits like the SPD movement restrictions. I must admit I still found it a bit scary in theatre, but it was all over so quickly. When the surgeon broke my waters there was a massive gushing sound and they told me later it was like a water bomb shooting across the room which managed to hit several people and a drench a piece of theatre equipment! A few minutes later DD was born and they lifted her above the screen for us to see. She was totally healthy right from the start ? excellent lungs, etc! Everyone said what a good weight, look at those hefty thighs (clearly my daughter then!). For the rest of the operation DH held her next to me (there were too many drips etc for me to hold her). We just gazed at her the whole time. I then had a little rough patch with very painful tightness in my chest and had to have some more pain relief as I was getting really anxious while the operation was going on and finding it hard to breathe. Lord knows how many drugs they ended up pumping through me, but I had no side effects or sickness at all afterwards, which was great.

Back on the ward she latched straight away to my breast and seemed to know exactly what to do! I was so amazed at her, this wise, beautiful little girl miles ahead of her mother [we need an emoticon for happy crying tears of joy and wonder]. I had been so worried breast feeding would be a drawn-out struggle, but my little angel has taken control of the situation with great enthusiasm and shown me exactly how to do it!

She has a thick head of dark hair and the cutest little button eyes and nose. I can gaze at her all day long!

I hope anyone else facing a c-section feels encouraged. Even though the birth itself was a fairly medicalised experience, the overwhelming thing is the happiness and attachment we have for each other, which I just can?t express. I had no idea I would feel this strongly for her. It is like my horrendous pregnancy never happened. I think this the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me and I would honestly do it all again tomorrow.

Hi. I've had two elective Sections for different medical reasons.

Section 1
I was sick and shook
Spinal block not painful but arching my back with a baby in my tummy was uncomfortable (although I was really quite overweight at the time)
The drip in my hand was quite uncomfortable
Skin on Skin not done for several hours as DD1 had to go to the baby unit
Scar not painful at all.
Tummy muscle a bit sore but I didn't really follow the Physio's advice so my own fault.
Up and about and showered by visiting hour.

Section 2
I was sick but didn't shake
Spinal block not painful
Skin on Skin in recovery
I was very craeful after my muscle experience the first time so stayed in bed for 24 hours.
Scar a bit sore for 2 weeks.

someones been telling you horror stories. i had an emergency section because my baby and myself were dying, to be blunt about it. the spinal doesnt hurt much at all, not compared to labour pains. i was up and walking around the next day. i didnt throw up or feel dizzy from the drugs. and as soon as my daughter came out, she was given to my husband who then laid her on me, and i cuddled her while they stapled me back together.

to be honest, if i ever was going to have another child, i would opt for c section. dont believe everything everyone tells you about them. for every one bad one, i bet there are a thousand good easy ones.

PS My last section took 57seconds! It was planned and I had a senior registrar (due to it being my fourth!).

I had a c section as baby was breech. Id known about it for weeks so worked myself up to worry about the operation Id stopped looking forward to having a baby. so in a way that spoilt my experience a bit.
I was slightly irriated that they insisted i wear one of their stupid nighties for the operation, I asked how i was supposed to breastfeed with that on as it didnt have a front fastening? after much persuasion i was allowed to wear my nightie.

The operation was fine i knew it would be I was NEVER worried about that. It was the aftercare, all the above. It wasnt fair that I couldnt hold my baby until nearly an hour after she was born.
It was hard breasfeeding flat on my back with the pressure thing on my arm as when i tried to use that arm to hold her the alarm went off.
It was hard on the ward as i could move, was so stiff couldnt hardly move until the next afternoon, when i had to wait for them to take the catherter out before i was allowed a shower. this was 24 hours after.
I must say i was never in a great deal of pain it was more of an annoyance just felt really stiff and couldnt get up. I kept ringing the midwife to pick the baby up pass me a drink etc turn the light off.
I had to leave the hosp after 32 hours as they were full, but i was ok. glad to get home.

I took it easy for a couple of weeks just light housework and i drove at 4 weeks.

I still feel slightly numb at one poitn of the scar.

I felt annoyed at some things that other mums could do and i couldnt, but i got my beautiful baby who was born safely.
Its not what we would plan but its how it has to be sometimees. Good luck

2 electives, both completely different! I did throw up during the operation both times but this is caused by low blood pressure from the spinal. First one was dreamy and lovely, second took longer and was trickier due to semi-breech position. I didn't get to do skin to skin until recovery, but I did get to cuddles them whilst I was stitched up and they only took them away very briefly to weigh and count fingers etc. There was more interest in weighing my freakishly huge placenta, which drew crowds.

I think everyones elective c-section is going to be different but I loved every bit of mine. The spinal block isn't enjoyable but not painful . I was aware that bits were being pulled during the section but it wasn't at all stressful. They allowed me to hold my baby as soon as they could and allow feeding and skin to skin contact. My recovery was really good and had my section at 4.00pm on a Monday and was on my way home by midday on the Wednesday. It would have been earlier that day as we were ready but we were waiting for checks etc... I gave myself a few days and was out shopping by the weekend.
I do think that it makes a difference having an elective to an emergency tho.

I had an elec section too (breech) and didn't know what to expect but like Ema76 I loved every second - it was an amazing and surreal day

In answer to your questions:

I did feel v faint and dizzy because of low blood pressure (and threw up a bit of bile) but it passed within seconds.

I didn't have any pain from the spinal.

Bubs needed a bit of help with breathing so didn't have skin to skin /establish breast feeding until recovery.

Recovery from CS was fine tbh - was up withing 24 hours and walking down the stairs to SCBU the next day.

Very best of luck anyway xx

Thank you all for sharing your experiences with me! I'm going to have a long chat with my consultant and make sure I feel totally prepared for the section, should I have to have it!!

It has really helped me to hear all of your stories, so I thank you again!