Positive elective c-section stories please!

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After having a very very traumatic emergency c-section 3 years ago, i have now got to make the decision whether to have an elective section or VBAC, I am booked for an elective c-section on 25th March but can obviously change my mind if need be. I was so sure i didn't want to have a VBAC at the begining of my pregnancy but after speaking to my new midwife she thinks i should go with a VBAC. The main worry with the section is the recovery time after as i have a 3 year old also. With my emergency section i had blood transfusions etc after so recovery time was much longer than expected. Does anyone have a positive elective c-section story? I need a bit of reassurance they aren't all as bad as my last section!

Thank you!

Yes! Had an elective cs nearly 3 years ago after a traumatic emergency cs 2 years before that. The elective was fantastic - no pain at all, calm, peaceful, just total joy as I held my baby while chatting with the surgeon.

Recovery was much better than with the emergency, where I had no feeling in my legs for nearly a day as I had so many top-ups of epidural. With the elective, they only give you enough anaesthetic to get you through the 45 minute operation, so I was amazed that I could wiggle my toes about an hour later and felt as if I could have walked around after 2 hours (didn't though, as operation was in the evening so I just went to sleep).

Felt back to normal after just a few weeks, whereas the emergency took months.

Watching with interest!

Have had two elective sections. Recovery remarkably fast after each. Have been told it's MUCH easier to insert the epidural when a woman not in labour (I only felt stinging from the local). Felt the 'sore tummy and they've downgraded the painkillers just as the baby really wakes up and starts demanding milk' period a bit more with the second - the old shuffling to the shower and leaning sideways crab-like to get baby etc, but honestly was never in serious pain and recovered v quickly. Bfing was easier after second.

I had my second elcs last week and am still on cloud nine I agonised over VBAC vs elcs and so was booked in for my due date, new years eve. I could change my mind at any time and i decided that if i went into labour before my date i would give it a go. DD1 was breech and i was very anxious so the first experience wasn't great

So this time, I didn't go into labour so went in with DH at 7.30am. We had a lovely morning waiting for our turn (there were a few emergencies which went first) DH and i sat talking about everything and having a laugh. Then we went down to theatre and everything was calm and lovely. We were chatting to the midwives and surgeon and the radio was playing James blunt, your beautiful It was lovely. Before we knew it our beautiful DD2 was born The midwives were talking to us all the time about what was happening, how well it was going etc. They took lots of photos for us too.
Then we went through to recovery where i had tea and toast And after an hour in there we went onto the ward.

It was just lovely, and so far one week after the op i am doing well, only taken 2 paracetamol this morning! Walking around and doing things, not over doing it but ykwim.

Good luck, its a hard decision to make but i am so glad i went with elcs in the end. It was the right choice for me and my family.

I've had three. The first was the worst as I really had no idea what to expect and the two after that were great! Healed really quickly and had lots less pain, knew my limits from the first time which helped. After my third one the midwife couldn't believe how quickly I was up and about and needing no help!

My experience was almost identical to TuttiFrutti's. The elective was calm, and as a sideline we were able to plan for child care for our 3 year old ( my parents live 150 miles away). I even had a cd of my chosen music playing!

The wierdest part was having to climb up onto the operating table mycelf - I don't know what I'd expected!

ANother one here who has had two, very positive elective c-sections. First was due to dd1 being breech. With the 2nd I did try for a VBAC but when I got to 11 days overdue I gave in and had a section as the one thing I didn't want was to be induced. Am glad I opted for elective section as apparently dd2 wasn't engaged at all so probably would have needed intervention and probably would have ended up with an emergency as opposed to elective section.

Recovery 2nd time round was far easier than first, in fact everything was easier. Dd1 was 2.3, and I did worry about not being able to carry her etc but in the event I don't recall that being an issue. Good luck, whichever way you go!

I had 2 disastorous births and then had elective for ds 3.

Fab birth, all done and dusted in 58 mins. Happy environment, calm but considered. I didn't have any 'wishes' and just let what happened -happen iyswim.

Moving around was difficult but not painful I just felt I was an old lady! I did need help with my 2 other dc (then 5 + 20 months) but only needed the help for around 4 weeks.

I didn't lift anything though even my 20 month old -who had only been walking a couple of weeks- this was tough but I knew I needed to be careful to prevent further problems, also I heal very slowly so I needed to be doubly careful.

I had 2 infections and my scar my still need to be redone as it stands proud on one side and irritates sometimes but I don;t regret a thing and would have another c-section no problems.

I wished I knew that my milk could take an extra day to come in as it was a c-section. That would have been handy to know.

Every midwife I ever said "elective section" to tried to scaremonger me out of it. I've come round to the view that lots of midwives (though I'm sure not all) are not exactly unbiased.

I had an elective sectio two years after my crash section because it was the only way to ensure avoiding another emergency. It was fab! So much better than an emergency. Frankly, I have no desire to experience vaginal delivery. It sounds horrific.

If you make sure you have someone else to lift the three year old for say 2-3 weeks you should be okay. Can your DH take two weeks off? Followed by a dail Mother's help for another week or so? You should be okay with that (if you heal well).

i am booked in for my second section next monday, on my due date, after an emergency one first time round. My midwife has been fab, but i had to see 3 consultantants before they would book me in in my date. one wanted to book me in for 4 days over.
My dd was 9lb 2oz, and i was told she was just to big for my body, but the first consultant i saw laughed and told me a big baby is over 10lb! It has been quite stressful trying to sort out actually. I keep being told a vbac would be so much better for me etc, but i have no wish at all to have a 'normal' birth!
When they told me of the dangers of a section, i asked wouldnt it be worse for me to have another emergency, and they said no. surely it would? and they said they'd only let me labour for 6 hrs etc, but it sort of defeats the object for me. i am ok now, but was in tears and really stressed out at the thought of going into labour, having all the drugs again, and then 16 hours later them deciding i needed a section!

omg i have gone on! lol

"I was so sure i didn't want to have a VBAC at the begining of my pregnancy but after speaking to my new midwife she thinks i should go with a VBAC"

To be frank f*ck what your midwife thinks you should do and research all the available options and make a decision about what YOU want to do. Then tell her.

(Never had an elective c-section, had fantastic emergency c-section for my first DC and will be requesting elective for my second)

I've had a hospital birth, a home birth and a planned C section. If pushed I might say my c section was my favourite!

It was calm, happy and relaxed. All lights were turned out other than the operating light. I had skin to skin immediately and was feeding whilst still in theatre.

Good recovery, fantastic support, just a really wonderful birthing experience!

Thanks everyone! After reading how calm your experiences have been, it has made it soo much easier for me to stick to my guns and not be pursuaded by others saying what would be "best for me". I will be going for an elective c-section and hopefully it will be as happy, calm and relaxed as all yours were.

Thank you all!!

I had an elective C section 3 weeks ago & I can honestly say it was the best choice for me. The whole experience at Kingston was fantastic. My obstetrician (Carl Chow) was wonderful the midwife that took care of me (yasmin lovett)was perfect! I wanted to take her home with me . My pain was minimal & nothing like what people had warned me about.
I got lots of raised eyebrows from people when I told them I was having an elective. People seem to have very strong views about it. I know before hand I was very nervous & it was hard to find positive stories on the internet. I think people are more likely to write about bad experiences which is a shame. So for anyone facing the same thing, you'll be fine! My whole experience was completely magical! Pain free & perfect!

have had 2 electives - no emergencies so can't compare- but bothe my birth experiences were positive. walked into theatre, epidural no problem, baby out quickly, operation over quickly and left for lovely skin to skin bonding time in private with dh in recovery room.

recovery was fine - even with 22 month old ds second time around. i did lift him a few times (toddler emergencies...) and didn't do myself any harm.

i've been thinking of starting a thread about this.

it's nice to read all the positive stories and they have helped towards my descision to have an elcs.

still have 20+ weeks to change my mind several times though

1st v traumatic emrgency, 2nd amazing elective. Just fabulous. Paracetamol suppository and away you go! Recovery was minimal (barr usual taking care) could walk and everything! Laid a LOT of ghosts to rest.

I had emergency CS with DS, and it was the biggest relief EVER after failure to progress etc after being induced etc. Decided to have an elective with DD, it was great - no problems with either.
You do find some of the midwives and doctors arent too supportive, but that doesnt bother me, its my body and my baby and therefore my choice.
Good luck

I had a traumatic emergency CS with DS1 and an elective with DS2. My elective CS was lovely and I was on a high for weeks. I had skin to skin immediately and managed to do biological nurturing to get BFing off to a good start. My recovery wasn't too bad either and didn't seem to be in as much pain as the emergency one.

The same as whoopstheregoesmymerkin (cool name BTW) I laid a lot of ghosts to rest too.

Mine was great - hardly any pain afterwards (paracetamol seemed enough once they took the epidural out), could walk around and carry my baby (carefully), post-operative recovery was good. Good luck!

I had my elder son in 2005 via an emergency c-section. My waters broke early and nothing happened.... After 3 attempted inductions and 54 hours and counting, my temperature soared and my son's heartbeat dropped. I had to fight to get them to take me to surgery as they wanted to give it a couple more hours.... At the end, the surgeon said she couldn't believe they'd made me wait as they position he'd been lying in he would never come out on his own. Marvellous....

The second time round, I opted for the elective section. As an epileptic I'm high risk anyway and given what happened the first time, there was no way I was going through that again. It couldn't have been better. They surgeons, midwives, nurses were all brilliant. I told one of the midwives how upset I'd been about not bf number one son and she made sure we had skin to skin contact as soon as I was in the recovery room. It worked!! We breast fed for 4 months, something I never dreamed could happen after the traumas the first time round. In your shoes, I would go for the elective. It will probably lay to rest the traumas of the first op.

For me, recovery time was much quicker with the elective. Arnica tablets help. If you can get help at home after that would be great. My elder son is 4 and a half and full of beans so the fact he was at nursery part time helped and my husband and friends were all hugely supportive.

Good luck!

Hiya I've found out I'm 7 weeks pregnant and im scared to death of giving natural birth again.
I have never suffered mental health until now I cant sleep eat or even bare to think how I'm going to give birth again.
Then I though I could have a c section but then as I read more about it I was scared to death about that too im so scared I dknt know what to do, this will be my third child and my mind is doing over time please can anyone give me good experiences on c sections it may help a little im scared that the pain is going to be really bad after a section

I've had two great electives both of which I enjoyed. No issues. Up and walking the same day. Able to care fully for the baby that same evening. Minimal time in hospital. No pain. The only negative for me was dreadful trapped wind after my second. The wind was agony! But I count my blessings that that's the worst thing that happened to me. People are very negative about c sections but electives are great. With my first, they threw everything everything me to dissuade and block me. I'm very glad we forced it through.