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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

cesarean information needed please

11 replies

amylou131 · 17/07/2017 10:29

Hi I've been told I'm eligible for c-section as my last Labour was hard and traumatic but it's my own choice if I go ahead with it.

I don't really know anybody well enough that's had a c-section to ask about it.

Can anybody here give me any info on wot it was like for them? The feeling? Any regrets? How long it lasted? Any problems?

I know everyone is different I'd just like some kind of idea. Thank you

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
IWantACheeseburger · 17/07/2017 10:38

There was a big thread on this the other day that should help you. I've had two sections and planning a third. They were wonderful, a lovely way to meet my babies, no regrets at all. Good luck!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2977955-To-ask-what-a-c-section-is-like

SirVixofVixHall · 17/07/2017 10:49

I've had two, and I was very sad about the first one, but had come to some sort of acceptance by the time I had the second (after trying for a v-bac). I do hate my scar with the typical c-section "shelf". I also took a long time to recover and get feeling back on my tummy . i still have a couple of slightly numb areas. I can see there were good reasons for them, but I found the whole thing of surgery pretty traumatic. I would avoid one unless there really is no alternative, a c-section is more risky than a straightforward natural delivery. Maybe agree in advance on a sensible point during labour to give up and move on to a c section? That is what I was advised to do when I was trying for a v-bac with dd2, and it did help. There was a clear point when things were not progressing properly, I knew that would mean another surgery, and was prepared.

minkfondant · 17/07/2017 11:04

I had a planned section for my 2nd and couldn't recommend it highly enough. After a postpartum hemorrhage in my first birth, I took months to feel normal again. I felt 100% fine 10 days after the section. It is major surgery, but I had a great experience.

Foniks · 17/07/2017 11:04

I had an EMCS first time, and will be trying to get an ELCS for the second.

Mine was pretty easy. I had to get moving straight away because baby was in SCBU, so I was moving much sooner than most other mothers and it really helped with my recovery so I'd definitely advise that. It's painful and tiring to at the very start but well worth it in the long run. I was making small trips about a week after and went to a big event at 3 weeks.
Honestly, moving so quickly was the main reason I was able to get mobile so quickly. You really won't want to, you'll want to stay resting, but it'll help you so much if you force yourself too... obviously don't push yourself too hard, work within your limits, but try to take small, slow walks round the ward asap.
There were others on my ward who didn't move straight away, and a few days later they were really struggling.

The feeling, well you don't feel much. You can feel pressure when they're trying to pull the baby out, and for some reason you feel pressure on your chest too, as if somebody is sitting on you, but once the baby is out you don't feel much. Just feels numb.
Your belly will probably feel numb for a while after too.

It was all over quite quickly once it began. Rushed into theater, prepped, got baby out and that was it.
As yours will be ELCS, it'll be more mellow. Less rushing round.

I have no regrets, and will push for c sections in future.

I'm sure, as yours is ELCS, it'll be so much more chilled. If your baby is fine and no complications (because all births have risks), they might put baby on you for a moment too, for you to meet, dad will get to hold the baby too. If they don't breath straight away or other complications, they'll go to a small table in the corner and work on the baby for a minute and let you see it after, just like vaginal birth.

Good luck!

oliversmummy26 · 17/07/2017 12:33

HI Amylou I had EMCS with my first after 4 days in hospital being induced..I was desperate to get him out by that stage and didn't care what they did to me!

The operation was actually really chilled out and laid back, it was very quick. I already had an epidural in so they just topped that up. I remember feeling like someone was tugging at my tummy when they were cutting me, but it didn't hurt, and then my son was here. They showed him to us over the screen and took him off to be weighed and cleaned and wrapped up. One of the midwives took loads of photos and baby was handed to my ex.

The strangest feeling was after the baby was born, like someone was wiping out my insides, but it was over really quickly. There was no pain at all, but you can feel pressure and things moving about!

Then I went through to recovery and had some skin to skin and tea and toast Smile followed by a sponge bath.

When I got onto the postnatal ward I was desperate to have a shower, I hadn't washed my hair in 4 days and had visitors arriving that afternoon!

My catheter was removed 12 hours after baby was born and I was straight up and in the shower for a proper wash. It was very painful, but I managed and was so pleased I did as it meant I could go home the next day. The midwives were so impressed that I was in the shower so quickly and said I was obviously ready to go home.

OnceI was home on day two, I can't really remember any pain, I kept on top of the meds they gave me (paracetamol and diclofenac) and just took them at regular times, so didn't really get to feel the pain. I went for a walk to the coop down the road with the pushchair on day 3 and was tired, but pleased I'd made it out.

I'm having an ELCS in 7 weeks for my 2nd, and just hope I'll be able to be out again as quickly!

amylou131 · 17/07/2017 16:16

Thank you, I think I'm going to go for the section as my last vb was very traumatic. I just like to know what to expect. Can you move your bottom half at all or are u pretty much paralysed? I panic too much

OP posts:
UnaOfStormhold · 17/07/2017 16:35

The spinal stops you feeling pain or temperature below the waist - they test it with a cold air spray to be sure it's working. Your legs feel like a bit of a foreign country and you can't move them but sensation does come back quickly post-op. Recovery was slower than friends who had straightforward VBs but faster than those who'd torn etc. I had an EMCS and would have an ELCS for future births as it was a good experience and my chances of a successful VBAC are low.

EdgeOfGlory266 · 17/07/2017 16:38

I had an emergency c section with my 2 and a half year old and in all honesty it wasn't great. That being said, with my current pregnancy I have been offered elective c section or a VBAC. I started my own thread regarding this topic and had some great replies. I think an elective is the way forward. Have a read and good luck with whichever option you choose. Either way you will have done an amazing job. That baby has to come out one way or another. Do what's right by you and your physical and mental health.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/2969202-Vbac-or-elective-section-Talk-to-me

Mummysh0rtlegs · 17/07/2017 16:40

Total paralysed from just below chest down. They had to roll me so I could throw up throughout (Until they couldn't roll me and just sucked it out my mouth). I had to have one for various reasons and I have a knackered hip and was advised not to give birth naturally because of it (I did the first time and was pretty bad afterwards). If I had a third I would have a VBAC if I could, as knackering and scary as labour was I think I recovered faster and had a better time really. But then I reacted to the anesthetic and was throwing up before / during / after, had two wound infections and mt husband went abroad for work for three weeks at 5 weeks Post section. Not being able to lift my toddler for weeks was pretty rubbish too.

It was lovely and calm and well managed and I didn't have the orthopaedic issues afterwards, but I'm not sure I'd do it the same again. Not that I had a choice (breech and placenta previa)

oliversmummy26 · 18/07/2017 10:22

I was completely paralysed, they tested my epidural with an ice cube. It was the strangest feeling, I could feel the pressure of the ice cube running up my leg, but it was only when it got to the area not affected by the epidural that I felt it cold.

So I couldn't move my legs at all, but I could feel pressure, just no pain. It's very difficult to describe..

It wore off pretty quickly though once the epidural had been taken out and feeling came back bit by bit until my incision was suddenly very painful. Liquid morphine sorted that out quick enough! So make sure you stay on top of your meds, and call a midwife if you start to feel any pain.

CatsCantFlyFast · 18/07/2017 10:30

Normal labour with my first, which I loved. Emcs at 34 weeks with my second. I found it stressful; I don't like clinical environments. However it was fine, easy, not uncomfortable. I had the added stress of my baby going straight to nicu so was left alone as my husband went with her. I had the easiest recovery - section at 10amish and at midnight I walked to the nicu on my own without pain. Was off painkillers within 2 days. Scar has healed fine although obv the scar is tighter than the skin above causing the typical bulge despite losing my pregnancy weight. Was hard with a toddler in terms of not being able to lift her and stopping her leaping on my stomach. Otherwise no issues. However I know I had it easy

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