Elective c section recovery vs emergency section recovery

[Userrr141]

I may need to have a c section but im worried about the recovery. If i try vaginally first i may end up needing an emergency section anyway. My boss said recovery from an emergency section is worse because of the trauma your body has already been through in labour. Can anyone give me an idea of recovery from elcs? How many days in hospital? When able to get out n about etc ... i have a toddler already and dont want to be in hospital too long

Morning! I'm sorry but I don't really have any experience of both yet! I'm booked in for my elcs on Monday but had a emcs three years ago.
Last time I ended up in hospital for a week (including time before section) and was out three days after the section. It was painful but I was up an dabout fairly quickly.
I've heard having a planned section means being out the next day (fingers crossed) but will fully depend on what happens. I lost a lot of blood last time and had to monitored in case I needed a transfusion. I'm hoping that if all goes well on Monday I'll be out on Tuesday afternoon!
I'd like to see what responses you get!

Has th dr said he hopes you to be out tuesday? That would be ace! Hope all goes well monday! I lost a lot of blood in a traumatic forceps delivery a few years ago too but got the blood transfusion straight away so was out the next day.

I had an elective and it honestly was brilliant. Recovery wise, I was out and walking about within 10 days - I remember going to cafes with DH whilst he was still on his two weeks paternity leave. My GP and breastfeeding counsellor both said I was doing really well considering I'd just had a section, so perhaps I recovered a bit quicker than usual. I believe what really made the difference was that my DH stayed in hospital with me for the two nights, and fetched and carried baby and everything else for me, so I was able to rest. I also got out of bed theday after and paced up and down the ward and had a shower, slow movements definitely help! Good luck. I'd have another tomorrow - and will do again next year with DC number 2.

I think that's right ELCS recovery should be less traumatic than EMCS.
Do search or post on the Childbirth Talk. I've seen threads on that topic and many mums there have had both types of delivery.

Unfortunately the doctor hasn't said when I'll get out but I'd read that you can be out the next day and clung to it!
The first night after my section the midwives took my baby when she cried and let me rest which was great. I only had to wake up to feed. I'd been induced on the Saturday and only had the c section on the Tuesday so I was exhausted! This time, I'm looking forward to enjoying having my baby and not just been physically drained from 3 1/2 days of labour!
I was always terrified of forceps as my mum had them with me and was left traumatised and so badly torn she couldn't have another baby naturally. I'd take the section any day!

Actually, I have my pre-OP appointment this afternoon so I will ask and feedback!

I had an EMCS last time and the recovery was ok - but the additional tiredness from attempting a VB didn't really help. I was up and about after 5 hours and discharged after 48 hours.

I'm booked in for an ELCS this week and at my pre-op was told it'll be the same again - up as soon as the anaesthetic wears off and home in 48 hours. I'll definitely be taking whatever pain medication is recommended though - I tried to go without too soon last time and that wasn't a good idea!

Went into my ELCS after a good night's sleep and feeling rested, having kept fairly fit and healthy throughout pregnancy. Went home the following day, and out for a (very slow and tentative!) walk with the pram on day 4. I took regular paracetamol / diclafenac or brufen for a week, whether I felt I needed them or not and I think that really made a difference.

Although my emcs was on the back of a two day painful labour, the physical recovery from that and my elcs were exactly the same. Just without the mental trauma.

Friends who have gone through both and I think anything elective would be easier on you!" They compared it to going for a jog after a heavy drinking might vs a sober night. Emergency = tired /pain etc thennnnnn recovery is aways gonna be worse then calm and controlled x

I had an EMCS after failing to progress. DD had poo'd in the womb and I was getting nowhere.
11am my induction started and 4am the following morning it was decided to EMCS. DD was born at 5:45am.
We left the hospital the following evening around 18:00, once I could wee without a catheter and my bloods were okay.
As for followup, I had to inject with blood thinner for a week and take paracetamol and ibuprofen regularly.
It was painful, but I was outside having lunch in a cafe within 3 days.
I was able to drive around 3 weeks post too. Worst part was the leg swelling. I had no knees for about a week!

My first - EMCS after 12 hour labour that was induced. Contractions non stop, but no dilation, my BP rocketing and baby in distress. Alarms going off, nearly lifted off the table when they pulled baby out. Felt like I'd been hit by a truck after EMCS. Still managed to walk 12hr after but was in pain on and off for months (plus got infection) and I am still mentally traumatised now.

2nd - ELCS after decent night's sleep, so calm,the nurses and anaesthetist were so relaxed, got bashed about a bit pulling baby out but nothing awful. Up on ward later feeling amazing, walking the next day as it was late afternoon delivery. Walked out of the hospital 40hrs after I'd gone in, painful but bearable. Recovered physically and mentally so much quicker. Took baby on a 40min walk when she was 4 days old. Very slow but I felt OK

So for me my EMCS and ELCS were like 2 completely different operations, there is no comparison actually. My ELCS actually helped my PTSD from the EMCS.

This all sounds positive then! 48 hours doesnt seem too bad didnt want to be in 3 or 4 nights as id miss my dd. vfoster thats great timing yes please feedback! When do they tend to book you in for it would it be on due date or before?

I've had both & recovery was no different - other than I got a wound infection from saggy overhang the second time but that's down to 2 huge babies

ELCS recovery much nicer than EMCS.

You go in with a good night's sleep behind you for a start.

I stayed in hospital for 3 days for both but didn't shut up until they gave me a private room following my ELCS. The labour ward after an EMCS was torture. Much lazier at home second time round too, fewer visitors and more time to enjoy baby dd and toddler ds.

So, the midwife says it's more likely I can come home on Wednesday! Which still isn't too bad after my week long stay with number 1.
She explained that if there were no issues I could possibly go home on Tuesday but they don't like to send someone home the next day as they don't get you up and moving until the next morning (perhaps this is just my hospital as I've heard of people up and about after a few hours).
Plus, she explained that with other kids at home they like to keep people on for monitoring for 2 full days.
I think they used to book you in at 38 weeks but have recently (?) changed that to 39 weeks for ELCS. I'll be 39+1 on Monday. They only do them on certain days because I asked for today as I thought the 7/7/17 was a cool birthday but they don't do electives on a Friday! So might depend on due date and first available day.
I have to turn up at 8 and hope I'm first in the queue for 9am!

I did 30 hours of back to back labour which didn't progress. Ended up being transferred and having an EMCS. I was stood up after about 6 hours. Mobile by 12 hours (only really hindered by the fact that I was tethered by a super short catheter and it was rigged to the bed.) Discharged by 24 hours.

Felt like I'd been kicked about in the gut somewhat but I imagine that there would have been equal considerable discomfort had he come out vaginally and not via the sunroof.

If I was to have another, I'd choose an ELCS.

OhOurBilly I had a very similarexperince to you and would also definitely opt for an ELCS should I be in a position to need to choose (unlikely). DD 15 now and the trauma of the experience still with me, even though I was physically active quite quickly afterwards.

I've had two ELCS. Stayed two nights first time, one night second time. Hospital was so busy second time there wasn't room for me in post natal and I didn't fancy a second night in recovery. No option for DH to stay over alas so I just wanted to go home instead of forlornly ringing my bell in the hope that a stretched midwife might come to my aid.

The biggest difference was the drugs. In 2011 I had diclofenac and codeine to take home. In 2015 they wouldn't give me these as I was BF (sorry firstborn!) so I got normal ibruprofen and paracetamol which meant the pain was very different to my first experience of recovery. I was convinced something had 'gone wrong' as it hurt so much - quite frightening. Quickly realised it was just to do with the strength of the meds.

Overall v positive experiences though and no effects on pelvic floor or any of that sort of thing. Also it's great to know when you're going in instead of waiting for it to start (although baby can always come early of course).