Positive C-Section Stories- Booked in for This Tuesday

[leomummy21]

Hi All,

I'm having a C-section this tuesday, very nervous especially about the drip they put in my arm and the epidural and also recovery.

If anyone's got any tips positive stories these would be much appreciated, not long to go now

A CS can be a positive experience all you need to do is prepare yourself thoroughly. ask to have music in theatre if possible (it will help you relax), ask to have someone with you at the birth, ask for a slow and gentle delivery of the baby out of your uterus, ask them to give him to you for some cuddling in theatre, tell them to talk to you- describe what's happening (but if you get stressed by those kinds of things, just ask them to talk to you so you don't feel alone), and have skin to skin as soon as possible (beneficial for both you and baby).

tip for recovery: get up and walk as soon as you can- it will help you recover more quickly.

and smile you can do it.
good luck!!

My 2 elective sections were just so utterly fantastic. Undoubtably it's a bit weird walking into theatre and having all the drips etc and spinal put it (odd more than painful), but it's all so jolly and happy all the staff are friendly and chatty and relaxed - fantastic. My emergency one was a bit less fun as it was all so scary etc after 30hrs of horrendous labour.

I had skin to skin cuddling immediately and bf as soon as in recovery room

Thanks -its good to hear some positive feedback, will tell them i'm nervous of needles eek!

I recovered quickly too.
I drank (a lot), so that they were happy to get the catheter out soon and then I could move around.
I think moving is the key.
So like belgianbun says, take the painkillers.

I had an emcs with ds1 and an elcs with ds2 the recovery from the elcs was so much better. Don't know if it's because it was elective or because my body kind of knew what to expect but i could just move so much easier.

I was out of bed and in the chair the next morning and they took the catheter out later the same day then i could go anywhere .

The spinal was fine. Everyone was talking and taking my mind off it and dh was holding my hand.

Ds2 was shown to us then taken to be cleaned up (took quite a while cos they noticed he had 1 finger missing on his left hand) while they stitched me up. Ds2 was then given to dh not me. Not sure why because i had held ds1 once he was cleaned up. He had his first breastfeed in recovery

I had an EMCS - it was great, honestly!

Epidural didn't hurt AT ALL - they numb the area thoroughly and I didn't feel a thing, not even a scratch.

Actual CS op was very quick - around 4 mins to deliver baby then about 30mins of stitching etc which I also didn't feel and time flew because I was so besotted with watching my new baby.

Up and walking next morning (had CS during evening). Pain perfectly manageable with the painkillers they give you. I thought the scar/incision would hurt or sting the most but it didn't. Sitting up/down was quite ginger for a while though.

All in all I felt very nearly good as new within 2 weeks of the CS and totally back to normal, as in would never really know I'd had one, within 8 weeks.

You'll be fine! Top tip though - don't wear ANYTHING that presses even lightly on the scar at all. This includes things like under the bump maternity trousers ESPECIALLY. The lightest pressure can cause your scar to flare up and possibly lead to infection so it's big knickers (maternity ones are best) and over the bump or high waisted leggings/trousers even after the birth. No under bump or hipsters or even pajama bottoms which lie low!

Some good advice for when you're in hospital is to find someone who had their op the day before and take note.... What ever they're up and doing today you'll be doing tomorrow! A lovely lady pointed this out to me when I was mildy hysterical whilst waiting to go for my c-section - dd was breech so kinda put paid to my nice homebirth plan

I've had 2 emergency sections (although one under GA because they couldn't get the epidural in in time).

I've had lots of cannulas in my arm over the years.

I can PROMISE you that a cannula being inserted usually feels like a scratch, then a tiny bit uncomfortable but that is all. I am totally needle-phobic (and a wimp to boot)and never look at what they are doing and it is not a big deal.

I have only had a spinal/epidural in emergency situations and can imagine that with a planned section this bit might be a bit strange or daunting. Just get your partner or the anaesthetist to talk to you lots while it is going on- it will take your mind off it all and should help. It won't hurt- you get a local anaesthetic first and thereafter will feel pushing.

Recovery is the bit of sections that I hate, but even so I marvel at the fact that 2 weeks after such a big operation I can be up and about and almost normal. I suffered in the first couple of days after mine (especially the second time when the hospital people told me I should be ok with just paracetomol and ibuprofen!) but the good thing about a planned section is that they should be able to take the time to get your pain meds right and also that you won't be tired from labour which should aid your recovery.

My tips are:

Definitely get up as soon as you can but take it very easy- I overdid it and got shipped back to hospital.

Don't be a martyr. Take whatever pain meds are offered and don't be afraid to ask for more if you need them.

Giant pants that come up to your natural waist are key.

Take in an extra pillow - the NHS will probably only provide 1 and it can be good to put one over your scar when you hold/feed the baby.

If you want one, ask the medical people if someone can take a photo of the baby being born, weighed or whatever. I really wish also that I had a photo of my DH in scrubs, he looked lush even though I was so knackered from labour I could hardly see!

When your scar has scabbed over you can massage it daily (gently!) to help break down any bumpy scar tissue and improve the appearance of your scar.

How exciting - you'll meet your lovely baby ssoon!

Oh god yes, take all the drugs they offer you!

Good luck.

I had an planned CS and it was amazing, wanted you to know that it can be very positive, beautiful experience

take your painkillers on a regular basis, although the pain I had second time round was far less that with first EMCS under GA - a lovely surprise because it wasnt as bad as I was expecting it to be. I recovered really quickly.

You will be fine and you will love every minute - promise! Of course you will be nervous, try and relax, let them do their job, trust them and, well, I'd have another one tomorrow no problem!

I had a planned section in november (and have a lovely healthy baby sleeping on me right now ) it was a beautiful thing. I was petrified, but they were lovely to me and the minute I caught sight of my big fat messy baby being lifted up over the screen, screaming her little lungs out, all the fear just melted away

You will feel odd as the spinal kicks in, I found it helped to think of the thing as a bit like getting drunk and enjoy the sensation rather than fighting it. You will also feel weird sensations during the op, pulling and pushing inside you, but once you know that is normal, it is more weird than anything else.

I also HATE needles and medical stuff (have to be knocked out to have a tooth out!) but I loved my planned section. My first birth was horrible (full labour then an emergency section) and I honestly think the second birth healed my mental wounds. That sounds a bit wanky, but it is true.

:D I am grinning now just thinking about me lying there on that table, big hole in my belly, with all sorts of monitors and so on, medical staff and DP all around me in scrubs and me crying and laughing and thanking everyone again and again

I also have had a much worse time recovering from spd than the section, and I was naughty and overdid it. Even now, you would find it hard to believe that a baby came out of that scar (although i suppose they are designed to get through an even smaller hole )

I had a vaginal birth with first child and emergency section with second. The section was by far the less stressful option. Epidural didn't hurt and wasn't anything like as scary as I had anticipated, operating team were lovely, and I was in much better shape to enjoy ds straight after birth: they put him on my chest while they were sewing me up.

Thanks from me too for these positive CS stories - I'm not booked for one as yet, but my baby is breech and has been firmly wedged in that position for ages now and I'm starting to resign myself to a CS instead of the natural active birth I've been preparing for.

Good to hear it can be such an affirming experience and the recovery not too bad.

I had an EMCS last time and it was fine -- will prob have a planned section this time though not booked yet. These stories are really heartening.

Leomummy, good luck for tomorrow and please let us know how you get on.

Hi there,

just to let you know baby was born safely - was a great delivery, in a lot of pain but feeling a lot better two weeks on- thanks for positive stories, calmed my nerves a bit

Congratulations!

Liking these good stories too, I will store them all up against the doom n gloom brigade!

Hi
I'm writing from my hospital bed after an el cs yesterday at 9am. So far been great. I was very nervous but staff were wonderful. Canula and spinal literally were just a scratch. It's an odd experience but you get tonnes of reassurance before it starts that it won't hurt. All over very quickly and staff laughed and joked all the way through so very relaxed. Dh stayed whole time and didn't faint!
Had a couple of hours in recovery where lovely mw got my beautiful little boy latched on and then up to ward.
You'll feel pretty zonked and stupidly I didn't sleep which I regret now as my little man hasn't got the hang of bf so we were both woken every few hours to try so not great night's sleep.
I've taken all the pain relief offered and felt mild discomfort at most and that is only when using tummy muscles to move. They are removing catheter in a min so will see then.
Make sure lots of water left in reach as I'm very thirsty and good to drink lots.
Will let you know how it goes today if you'd like.
Altogether amazing experience and you get an amazing little person to boot!

Thanks to everyone who has written their stories. I have just spent all night on internet trying to find some positive info about c-sections. I suffered an immensely traumatic first delivery with my first baby (forceps, episiotomy, tears and transfusion). So when planning our second baby it was under the understanding that i would have an elective section. My GP agreed with me and referred me to Obs before i was pregnant to get confirmation I could opt out of VB. The Obs i saw didnt but up a fight and agreed wholeheartedly -the right thing for me.
Today I have seen a different Obs who spent the majority of the appointment explaining graphically everything that could go wrong with a section.He has scared me half to death. Left me in floods of tears and shaking like a leaf!
I feel so much better after reading your posts and know now that my original decision is the right one for me and my family and i will be sticking to my guns. Thanks all. x

I had a planned C section and it was fine- I knew the time and it was easy to plan and I certainly did not feel I was "missing out" on anything. It was all over very quickly and the recovery was also fine.My daughter had to spend 2 days in special care for grunty breathing, but I think they were being ultra cautious- she was fine. Dont worry- they are experts and have done it many times before! One word of advice- when they put the epidural in they tell you not to move an inch, but it is helpful for them to tell you when you can! I was left holding my breath when they had finished ages before! Good luck!