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Pregnancy

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Original poster

what's the worst thing about having a c-section?

64 replies

sotough · 16/07/2010 19:32

I had a horrendous labour and birth with my DS (now almost three) and various pelvic floor issues afterwards. i have since had four miscarriages but am finally - yipee - 14 weeks pregnant.
There's no evidence my MCs were related to any damage done to my poor old body during childbirth but i'm more anxious than i would otherwise be about giving birth again; not keen to repeat the nightmare experience i had giving birth to DS, (a 32hr ordeal on gas and air and some pethidine; the latter was not in the birthing plan needless to say.) and am considering an elective c-section this time, depending on medical advice of course.
Before anyone jumps down my throat i'm under no illusions about what a serious operation a c-section is; don't for a minute think it's a bed of roses or some kind of easy option; am certainly not too posh to push (indeed, i tried the whole hypnobirthing thing last time, to no avail); have a reasonable knowledge of the medical risks involved etc.
I'd just like to hear the 'what they don't tell you' things about c-sections, so i'm fully informed. please hit me with your experiences....

OP posts:

watsthestory · 16/07/2010 21:17

This reply has been deleted

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mrsdisorganised · 16/07/2010 21:22

Firstly big congratulations!!

I would say in your situation it would maybe make you feel more relaxed knowing what was going to happen, elective sections are there to give us that choice especially if you have had a bad history.

I have had 5cs, first 2 were emergency and the other 3 were elective (we got the go ahead pre-conceivng dc's 3,4 and 5 from my consultant). Each one was completely different, on the whole I found recovery sore but ok. After dc3 and 4 I had a wound infection which made everything a bit harder and by far the worst was the horrendous headache after dc5 which was brought on by the spinal injection, and went on for weeks, my own fault as I left hospital asap and could have had it treated had I told the nurses.
www.medicinenet.com/spinal_headaches/article.htm#intro

Another thing was the skin to skin contact straight after baby is born, I never experienced that until dc5 when a keen young midwife said I was able to and was horrified that I had never had the oppertunity before it was lovely!! By the time we got to recovery dc5 had moved down my chest and latch on all on his own, very very special.

Other than that I echo many answers before regarding wind, bowel movements! I also felt incredibly guilty after dc1 and moreso after dc2 at failing to have a natural birth which I desperately wanted, however I am extremely lucky that I have had 5 lovely children and I am so thankful! Good luck and hope you have a
good pregnancy and birth.

strandedatsea · 16/07/2010 21:41

Wow mrsdisorganised, 5 cs! Respect to you, I thought three was the limit, 4 was pushing it.

I am sorry to hear people saying they felt guilty for having c-sections. Other people tried to make me feel like somehow I couldn't "join the club" because I hadn't done it the "hard way" but can't say I ever felt any guilt.

At the end of the day you deliver a healthy baby - what's there to feel guilty about?

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 16/07/2010 21:48

I would say having a scar and an overhang of skin but I'm not sure the overhang is to do with the c-sect or just loose skin. Would I have had it if I'd had a vaginal birth?

Afterwards the soreness and discomfort but you could argue the same for tears and stiches down there.

Having to rely on other people to do things for you in the early weeks as you are weak, sore and unable to lift anything heavy.

For me, the healing took a long time as I hadn't been stitched very well so I had a small open wound for weeks afterwards.

Mentally I feel as though I've missed out on an important experience so next time around I am determined to do it 'properly'.

Mercedes519 · 16/07/2010 21:49

sotough I had a semi-elective so calm, collected and absolutely fine. I was in hospital for a week (DS problems not mine) so I did get a lot of rest and I think that meant it didn't hurt as much because I didn't overdo it straight away.

One tip - on a lighter note. Midwife shaved me with a dry bic razer before the op. OMG the itching as it grew back through the scar... I was expecting physical pain but that was something else!

bibbitybobbityhat · 16/07/2010 21:50

People wanting to know why you didn't give birth vaginally.

Haliborange · 16/07/2010 21:51

The cs overhang thing is caused by the scar being tighter than the surrounding skin. You can sort it by losing weight sometimes, or surgery. Or if you have another section the next time they might stitch you up more carefully! I had one after DD1 but a flatter scar after DD2.

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 16/07/2010 21:54

Thanks Haliborange, it hasn't gone with me losing weight but I've promised myself new tits and a tummy tuck when I'm done with child rearing/breast feeding

Mooncupflowethover · 16/07/2010 21:57

The pain after my first elcs was immense. I was totally unprepared for it, I was in absolute agony for about a week. I couldn't roll over or move without intense pain.

My second elcs, for whatever reason, was much better.

Mooncupflowethover · 16/07/2010 21:57

Oh, and the bloody horrible overhang!

OgreRebel · 16/07/2010 22:08

Yup, 12hrs. Not my choice. They needed the bed.

My c-section scar never hurt and is almost entirely invisible. The episiotomy scar (failed ventouse and manual rotation attempt) stung a bit at first though. Nowt to do with the cs though.

HeinzSight · 16/07/2010 22:16

Pain from air rising up to shoulders from operation site. Very ouchy ouch. Peppermint tea needed!!

bytheMoonlight · 16/07/2010 22:19

Jesus wept woman, how it could not have hurt?

Chynah · 16/07/2010 22:27

I have had 2 ELCS which were very good experiences with very quick recoveries.

I have never had a problem feeding, lifting, caring for my newborn even straight after the op - you just have to make sure everything you need is in reach until you get your legs back

Up and about and showered next day - dressing etc not a problem just take it slow and carefully.

Next to no pain and off the painkillers within a week.

Could look after myself and baby and toddler once home (2 nights in hospital) was picking up toddler and driving car within 8 days.

Was back out running 5 weeks after feeling fine.

Lovely scar too!

smallorange · 16/07/2010 22:29

I've had three c-sections. Worst for me was the morphine sickness after to op, the spinal being inserted was unpleasant, first night is tough trying to breastfeed.

But I got through a breastfed them all, was walking around the next morning and discharged the day after that.

bytheMoonlight · 16/07/2010 22:43

I showered the next day but I think that was more to do with the painkilling supposity they shoved up my bum during the op

DwayneDibbley · 16/07/2010 22:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SparkyMalarky · 16/07/2010 22:57

Had an ELCS first time round and it was a positive experience so trying to remember the really crap bits!

The painkillers I had did not touch the pain the first night and trying to pick DS up was just awful (and the MWs weren't very helpful either!)

Also, remember feeling like my insides weren't quite back in the right place for a few days afterwards which freaked me out - and yes, pooing felt harder to do after the CS than after my VBAC with stitches.

Oh, and when the bandages came off I really truly thought my scar might burst open and my insides fall out. To the extent that I asked a MW to check for me. Clearly it was actually fine .

Original poster

sotough · 17/07/2010 08:07

thanks again everyone, this is fantastic info. perhaps i should start another thread about the best things about having a c-section as clearly there are a lot of positive experiences out there. i have my first midwife appointment on monday which is why i'm asking mumsnetters about it now and will see what she says.

OP posts:

PenguinNZ · 17/07/2010 11:24

Congratulation!!!

I had a EMCS with DS after 4 days of labour, induction, ventouse, forceps, the whole bloody lot! I tried the 'real' way and it was crap. Anyway, I did not feel any pain, not during recovery or at any time with my scar. Then again I took all the drugs offered post surgery.

However I did experience the fear that everything was going to fall out of the scar. It didn't BTW. {grin]

Not being able to pick up DS the first night was horrid, but made soooo much worse but horrendous MWs on the ward who said if I couldn't pick him up to BF him, they would give him formula (WTF?). I said no, but when he woke the whole ward crying for the 4th time, I was crying too and gave in. I did manage to BF a week after we were discharged, but that is despite the hosp MWs. Do not put up with any crap from MWs!!!! I found they were particularly guilty of pretending a CS was a walk in the park and that if you were not running a marathon within an hour, you were malingering.

Sorry, I'm ranting, but still winds me up over 2 years on and much therapy later. Grrr.

Anyway, I too am planning an ELCS with this one, due in Jan 2011.

DS was 11 days overdue and it felt like a month! I love the fact that I will know exactly when this LO will arrive, helps with arranging childcare too.

Ragwort · 17/07/2010 20:29

Re: getting back to normal - my DH invited his boss and wife to lunch the day after we got home from hospital after having had an EMSC - I coped fine !!! (no help from DH) - it is such an individual thing how you recover from an op. Agree with others that its the 'judgy pants' attitude of other people about not having a vaginal birth - but you know what, a few years (or even months?) down the line - no one cares how you gave birth.

Tootiredforgodtyping · 17/07/2010 20:45

Tennisfan - you were very lucky. It seems to be you making all the assumptions calling the notdriving and not lifting a myth. You wouldn't do those things if you'd had your tummy muscles cut in half for any other reason, so why would you do it for a c -section.

purplehonesty · 17/07/2010 21:08

For me it was much the same as everyone else...not being able to lift the wee man out of his hospital cost...they are too high compared to the bed so I ended up raising the bed as high as poss and hoiking him out by his swaddling blankets poor toot.

Take peppermint tea with you, once I'd started that the wind went away.

Oh and don't go for a mile long walk a week after then do the food shopping (you'll pass out)

Good luck

whirleywoo72 · 18/07/2010 21:08

hi, im on my 4th, and my second was an emergency section, so never got to hold him till i came round, but luckily 3rd came normally, and i have told them im not having a section, only if danger of life and not to be on the safe side xx i am now 31 wks pregnant and have had 5 misscarriages in the last 14 yrs xxx i found it uncomfy and sit ups are out the question till u get ur stiches out xx

good luck

mosschops30 · 18/07/2010 21:18

they didnt tell me about the possibility of my stomach coming open and me holding my bowel in
the pain after the c-section and after the 2nd operation was horrendous and nothing prepared me for that (had previous normal vaginal deliveries).
My c-section ruined the first 2 months of my life with ds2 and i will never get that back

Was not prepared to have ongoing pain 8 months later, bowel adhesions (which are common with any type of abdo surgery), MRSA,PTSD and a not particularly attractive scar.

You will get people on here who think c-sections are wonderful, similarly people who think that vaginal is the only way to go.

All i can say is that surgery carries greater risks (to bowel, bladder, infection etc)

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