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Original poster

C section experiences advice needed

23 replies

daisycupcake · 12/05/2014 14:15

Hi
My consultant has recommended I have a c section this time around due to my previous birth and pregnancy. Can anyone tell me what a c section is like, how long will I be in hospital, recovery, how many weeks I'm likely to be when I have it? I'm 31 weeks at the moment
Thank you

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ThatBloodyWoman · 12/05/2014 14:24

Mine haven't been pre planned, but I was in about 48 hours after each.
I felt pretty good within a couple of weeks, but found this can be the hard part to not do more than you should.
Having the spinal block done was absolutely fine for me.
There will be sensations and rummaging but no pain.

Take some waist high pants and clothes that will sit well above the wound.

Good luck.Don't worry, it's nowhere near as bad as some would have you think!

pinksummer · 12/05/2014 14:34

I ended up with emergency c section.
I agree to the rummaging but for me it was when I was being sewn up so you don't care you just want to see your baby. It takes longer than you think to be sewn up.
I spent one night in hospital, made myself look perky and asked to go home and they were happy with that.
You'll have a catheter which was no issue for me. Just make sure you are aware when it was last emptied, as my nurses seemed to forget and you don't want an infection. You'll be able to see when it's full.

Recovery, you'll be shuffling for nearly week but to be honest for me I think it was more nerves. Once the big plaster comes off after a few days you feel more normal. I was happy to drive from about 3 weeks. I didn't, I think I waited till 4 and called my insurance who were fine with it.

Defo big knickers! I ended up wearing my husbands boxers, the slim fitting ones, they hold a big maternity liner nice and snug and the waistband is gloriously high!

I was taking paracetamol and ibuprofen every 4hrs for about 5 days. It made me a little constipated but nothing terrible.

A c section was my worst case senario for birth and it really wasn't terrible. I'd happily have another to avoid all that pushing for nothing!

SomeSunnySunday · 12/05/2014 14:37

I had an EMCS and then an elective section.

My elective section was great. I went in to hospital the day before for bloods and form filling, then went back on the morning of the section. I had a catheter fitted, then was taken down to theatre. A midwife went with me. I was given a spinal anaesthetic - you have to stay very still and curled over for this, probably the hardest part, but not sore - and an IV drip was put in. The anaesthetic kicked in fairly quickly, then the operation was done very calmly. It seemed to take an age for my baby to be lifted out - in reality it was probably 15 minutes, as opposed to under 5 with my EMCS. There were lots of people in theatre - an anaesthetist, 2 obstetricians, a paediatrician, theatre nurses, the midwife with me... But it was calm, and a nice experience; I even got to chose what CD to play.

Post op the drip and catherter came out a few hours later, and I managed a shower later the same evening, stayed 2 nights in hospital, then went home the next morning. I recovered really well - I ran a 5k at 6 weeks post c-section, having trained for a couple of weeks. You do need to take it very easy for the first week or so though, and wear big pants .

ApocalypseNowt · 12/05/2014 14:42

I've had an emcs and an elective. They are totally different things.

With my elective it was so calm and lovely - a really brilliant experience. DD2 was born at 10am and i went home the next day. I was sore but up and about pretty much straight away....only needed paracetamol here and there whereas with my emcs recover i was on allsorts and would be clock watching so i could take my next dose!

Definitely remember to bring your own music though. i didn't and the radio was on so DD2 was born with Robin Thicke warbling that he "knows she wants it". Urgh. Luckily the next song on was Madness' It must be love so i'm going to tell people that was the one.

Good luck op x

TheWildOnes · 12/05/2014 14:47

I also had an emergency cs and a elective cs, and agree they are totally different. My elective cesarean was so much easier to deal with, I was home within 72 hours, I was able to plan everything in advance and my recovery time was pretty quick.

meg76uk · 12/05/2014 15:11

I had an EMCS after 3 days of failed induction;it was brilliant. Calm and cheery after the exhausting mess of labouring off and on in vain, and I was nothing but happy with it. I was up next morning, and could have gone home that day if I'd wanted. Wise words as:re big pants, I found maternity leggings comfy for a few weeks, but I was entirely fine in 2 weeks and I'd say 90% in a week. My advice is don't be a hero, take whatever pain relief they offer. My son breast fed like a champ from 5 minutes old despite the epidural and whatever the happy pills they gave me were...

Original poster

daisycupcake · 12/05/2014 15:17

So glad that people have had positive experiences. I had such a horrible natural birth first time I want this to be better experience. Feel very scared but should hopefully be a planned c section unless any complications arise in the meantime (50-50 chance.) most people seem to be in 1-2 nights which isn't so bad. How many weeks were u all when u had ur planned c sections? thanks

OP posts:

ApocalypseNowt · 12/05/2014 15:25

I was 39 weeks and DD2 was 9lb 5oz so i was reassured an elcs was the right choice!

ChicaMomma · 12/05/2014 15:26

39 weeks seem to be the optimum to have the ECS Daisycake..
Mine looks like it'll be Friday 13th (!!) June, at 39 wks on the button.. as baby is breech. All told, i'm hoping it stays breech. My friends who've had elective sections all swear by them. No downsides they say!!!

ChicaMomma · 12/05/2014 15:31

actually, 2 minor downsides that have been highlighted to me

1- breastfeeding is that little bit harder- milk slower to come in, mobiltiy in holding the baby

2- if you're going again, you ened to give it a good yr/18 mths before even trying.

oh and a 3rd- you are really only recommended to have 3 sections... so 3 kids.. but sure look, who has more than 2/3 in this day and age

weebigmamma · 12/05/2014 16:02

I had a planned section 4 weeks ago and it was great! I was very nervous, particularly because I am overweight and was expecting lots of difficulty recovering and looking after the wound etc. But everything went perfectly well.

The op itself was very quick and yes to the rummaging- that was weird, but painless. The stitching took longer but everyone was very chatty and calm. I was in hospital for 3 days altogether and I have to say I quite enjoyed being looked after. I was on my feet the next day and honestly I felt miles better than I did when I was pregnant. Plenty of drugs so I had no pain and I took care to look after my wound and keep it clean and dry but it was easy and it healed really well.

After my first birth which was 'natural', I'd choose ELCS any day! I felt miles better a lot sooner.

Good luck to you! xxx

Original poster

daisycupcake · 12/05/2014 16:13

Thanks so much feeling so much better than I did this morning! Iv heard lots of horror stories so was feeling really quite scared but feeling better. Hubby will be on paternity leave for 2 weeks and my mum is going to take a week off work after hubby goes back so il have 3 weeks off help- which I am so grateful for.

OP posts:

Uptheairymountain · 12/05/2014 16:36

I had an EMCS but, after a couple of very, very achy days, I was absolutely fine! It's a big operation but it affects everyone differently; you might be lucky.

hubbahubster · 12/05/2014 16:59

I'm just over a week from my second ELCS. The last one was a very calm, controlled experience, if a bit daunting. I went in on Tues, was out on Thurs and was walking around Tesco with DC1 over my shoulder on Fri. I was on a sack of painkillers but never felt uncomfortable, despite losing a lot of blood (anterior placenta).

I'd recommend big pants, leggings and peppermint tea (the wind you get afterwards is awful!). Oh, and since you'll be in hospital for at least a couple of days, get DP to bring all your meals in. NHS food is terrible!

cathpip · 12/05/2014 17:10

The midwives were giving me peppermint oil in hot water and lactulose in hospital as my trapped wind was painful :), section though was fine and this one has been my fastest recovery (have had 3) the trick is to do bugger all for at least 5/6 days, well it was with me!!!

weebigmamma · 12/05/2014 17:22

i didn't get any wind although i hear it's common. i did have more blood loss than with the vaginal delivery tho. recommend the doing very little! :-)

Surprisethird · 12/05/2014 17:44

Hi I have had two elective, both perfectly fine, I have my third this Thursday and although everything went fine on the others I am still cacking myself lol! But it's been nice reading this thread and helped me realise it's fine :0)
It's just amazing how quickly your body recovers to say what it's been through

frankiebuns · 12/05/2014 21:05

I had an emcs with first child after 19 hours of hell, I'm now having a planned c section this time I was told I would be having it at 39 weeks but as the hospital only do it on certain days I'll actually be 38 + 6

OnABabyDiet · 12/05/2014 21:59

After reading all these lovely, positive stories, I won't share my section experience with you op!!

Yes to big pants.
Yes to not being a hero and taking all pain relief on offer
Yes to checking your catheter regularly

And yes to straws... sometimes even sitting up to get a drink can be agony!

Good luck op! :)

Edenviolet · 12/05/2014 22:07

I've had four c sections.

Emcs after failed induction (I was in labour wed-sat) only got to 2cm dilated and dd had fetal distress. She was 9lb 10ozs. Recovery was ok, minor infection a week after but not bad at all.

Elcs at 39wks due to placenta problem. Lost a lt of blood and felt quite bad after and also had an epidural headache. Ds was 7lb 10

Elcs at 38 weeks. No pain at all after. Felt great. Dd was 8lb

Elcs at 36 weeks due to same placenta issue as with ds1. First day was a bit sore but ok after that. Infection four weeks after and had to go back to hospital but I was fine.

I can barely see the scars.

amroc18 · 13/05/2014 00:14

Had an EMCS after failed induction last week and just to say the section part of it was much, much more pleasant than the 30 hours of failed induction prior. Second the tips above on big pants and clothes!

peeapod · 13/05/2014 04:19

ELCS at 39 weeks. Baby born at 17:02. Skin to skin started at 17:05, ended 5 hours later. First feed at 18:00 as soon as I entered recovery. It was last thursday. too emotional to write much more at the moment but it was a good experience and the right choice for me.

ChicaMomma · 13/05/2014 13:54

awww great peeapod, congrats! sounds fab. I've read your original thread so many times as prep for my own imminent section.

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