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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Considering C-Section, anyone out there with positive experience?

58 replies

PinkyPromise77 · 10/04/2018 09:43

I'm a FTM but I am a little older. I know that everyone tries to push for natural birth and that our bodies are made to do that but at 35 I am definitely not going to recover as quickly as I would if I gave birth at 25 and the bits down there may never get back to normal :) Having a friend who worked managing maternity ward in a private hospital constantly dealing with operations for women who had natural birth that destroyed their vjayjays... she said if she ever gets pregnant there is no way she is doing it naturally :) I felt slightly bullied by my midwife to opt for natural birth but I don't like the unknown, whether there will be birthing pool available that I wouldn't want to do it without, whether the private room my husband wanted to book for me to recover would be available etc and I want this fear to go away knowing exactly what is happening when. I know it may be silly... but I would love to hear from any positive c-section experiences if there are any :) xXx

OP posts:

Scrambledheads · 10/04/2018 14:24

I've had two sections, one emergency and one elective. Elective is obviously preferable. I had my dd at 10.30 and was making my bed at 6pm. Had a shower and was discharged in the morning. Less than 24 hours after admission. My scar healed very well and I was out shopping with the pram a few days later. I had very little pain, and any I did have was remedied by paracetamol.
If I have another I will without a doubt have an ELCS. I explained to the consultant that I was well aware of the pros and cons for vaginal and c section births, and he was happy to book me in. Any questions, please ask.

Scrambledheads · 10/04/2018 14:28

I should also add, I don't have a 'nasty' scar either My scar is a thin silvery line that is barely visible.

PasstheStarmix · 10/04/2018 14:34

My friend had an elective section and ended up with a nasty infection in her scar. The previous emergency c section she’s had years earlier she actually recovered better from. I think it goes to show there good and bad experiences with all methods of birth and you don’t what can happen no matter what you chose. Birth is going into the unknown whether you like it or not. The main thing is getting your beautiful baby at the end which makes it all so worth it.

PasstheStarmix · 10/04/2018 14:34

there’s*

PasstheStarmix · 10/04/2018 14:35

don’t know*

AnUtterIdiot · 10/04/2018 14:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Glassofredandapackofcrisps · 10/04/2018 14:43

My elective section was fab up and about the next day. Absolutely no regrets about choosing it. Drove 10 days later cleaning and lifting after 3 weeks no issues whatsoever. And I second pp you're 35 not 45. I was 36.

Original poster

PinkyPromise77 · 10/04/2018 15:05

Thanks @Scrambledheads that's great to hear you had such a good recovery. I've also read up A LOT about both pros and cons for both options and still definitely swayed towards ELCS.

and thank you for your offer may take you up if I have other questions! Much appreciated xXx

OP posts:

PasstheStarmix · 10/04/2018 16:08

Hope it works out for you op, I think as long as you take into account that with birth it’s going into the unknown no matter what you decide plan than you’ll be fine. I hope you don’t have too much of a fight on your hands to get your c section. Hopefully you’ll have a supportive surgery and local hospital. Good luck

PsychoPumpkin · 10/04/2018 16:14

I had two natural births 5 years apart, both absolutely awful, my dd had to be recusitated and with the second I lost a lot of blood and had nightmares about the pain for months afterwards.

Was prepared to go through it again one last time but luckily for me, my last baby was favouring a breech position but was actually still free so went from breech to head down to lying across on a whim.

I got a section and it was wonderful, so calm, I was so busy chatting to my husband that I didn’t even realise my daughter was out until she was handed to me.

Recovered really quickly and if I had another I’d push for a section 100 percent.

PasstheStarmix · 10/04/2018 16:37

I'm the opposite to you, Yeah natural labour and the pain of a VB birth scared me but I would rather that than a c-section. Surgery was a bigger deal for me. I will be devastated if I have to have a c section the second time around as I’ll be so scared! I do not want the recovery, or the thought of being sliced open.

I think women are brave who have/rather go through a c-section. I wish I was as brave as you guys!

Dreamingofkfc · 10/04/2018 18:40

It is quite common for doctors to go for elective sections, esp those in anaesthetics and obstetrics as they often see the really awful situations. As a midwife, I couldn't imagine choosing to birth my babies in front of a room full of people, in such a clinical environment, so I had my two (and planning this one) at home. It was long, but not really painful as I knew what to expect and was really prepared. I'd like to thing my vagina has returned to normal, I didn't tear so looks and feels the same.

You might find it tricky when trying to arrange an ELCS, esp as a first time mum but am sure if you see a consultant that isn't prepared to sign you off for one, they can refer you to someone who will.

Original poster

PinkyPromise77 · 10/04/2018 20:20

Thanks all! I had an appointment with a consultant today and although he firstly said natural birth would be a good option for me he then went on to explain what things I would not have due to certain issues I have which basically means it would have to be a super straight forward birth with no complications otherwise it would be Emergency C-Section 😂 so all in all I would be heading that way so I told him I would definitely want to have a planned one rather than worry about emergency and the fact they won't be able to monitor my baby so I'm seeing a midwife for a final consultation and he said if I still want it he will give it to me, so I'm really pleased. I mentioned everything to my husband and he said that ELCS seems like a best option so I believe this is what we will go for 😁

OP posts:

kiabella · 10/04/2018 21:40

I had a planned section, no labour or anything before because my DD was breech and it was too late to turn her. I was so excited to just meet my baby so didn’t put much thought into it until the day.
I found the whole thing very traumatic possibly because I simplified in my head that it would be a lot easier than it was. People told me I’d “got off lightly” or “not really given birth”, even though I could barely walk or hold my daughter. I didn’t get to see her as she was born and felt very detached and alone through the operation despite my husband being there with me. I struggled to bond.
I can understand your reasons for wanting a section but try to think about all possible scenarios. I only ever read positive elective section stories so it was a massive shock to find that I didn’t feel the same way when it was me on the table

PasstheStarmix · 10/04/2018 22:35

It’s helpful Kia to hear your story because as you say you don’t tend to hear a lot of negative c section stories that can lead some women into being shocked at the reality of having one; it is major surgery and a cut in your uterus and not just a surface wound I suppose. I’m sure OP has fully researched all options and their risks as it did sound like it.

Thursdaydreaming · 11/04/2018 01:08

It's a tough one isn't it. A c section is by definition a massive wound in your abdo. Clearly painful and can be slow to recover from.

But risk a vb and you can end up like the women on this currently pinned thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/guest_posts/3218083-Guest-post-I-had-45-stitches-inside-and-35-outside-by-the-time-they-were-finished

Suffering lifelong pain, incontinence and mental trauma.

PasstheStarmix · 11/04/2018 03:44

It is but the massive wound is a given the VB example isn’t.

sockunicorn · 11/04/2018 03:58

Ive had a c section and then a natural birth and I can happily say the natural is FAR easier. In my experience....C section has left a visible exterior scar, was harder to get stomach back into shape without overhang, hurt more, recovery time was a bitch, had to have daily injections afterwards. Felt like I couldn’t just relax and enjoy my baby and pop the kettle on. Plus had to stay in hospital for 4 days. Would opt natural any day of the week! Good luck either way

Happyandshiney · 11/04/2018 04:13

I had a tummy surgery before and my recovery went very well hence considering C-section.

You weren’t caring for a newborn before though, it’s a whole different ballgame.

I had a positive C-section experience in terms of having one meant that my twins and I are all alive because I had one.

It wasn’t scary. The staff were wonderful, answered questions and kept us informed all the way through.

I got skin to skin with my twins immediately afterwards and breastfed them as well.

I did get an infection in my wound despite scrupulous attention to hygiene but it cleared up with treatment.

Ten years on I do still have occasional pain in my scar area and my core strength has never recovered.

You should follow medical advice.

A c-section is fine but it’s certainly not and easy option and certainly doesn’t leave your body unchanged.

Best of luck.

mogulfield · 11/04/2018 04:43

I’ve had a vaginal delivery and a c section and I’d take the vaginal delivery every day of the week over my c section. Recovery was far harder after major abdominal surgery, even after my 6 week check i struggled to run, whereas 6 weeks post vagina delivery now and I feel totally back to normal and able to run.

That being said, you asked for positive c section stories, and mine was under GA, so was very stress free! (Altho leading up to that point wasn’t!)

Original poster

PinkyPromise77 · 11/04/2018 07:57

Thanks for all your answers. Some went way away from the original question :)

My decision is fully informed and following years of research. I was looking into birth options long before I was pregnant as wasn't sure how my medical condition would affect it either on top of the fear of tearing which scares me personally more than the scar on my abdomen and other things I already mentioned.

As already spoken to my consultant he was a bit wishy washy why exactly I should have natural birth since there are so many no nos in my case and a bunch of things they won't be able to do for example monitor if Baby is in distress and would generally be a section just an emergency one unless there is absolutely no issues (which I'm apprehensive at assuming based on my mum's and my sisters births).

I would really appreciate positive stories as I have read already a lot of negative experiences and would like to hear from women who actually would definitely go for section as it was a good experience for them.

Thank you!

OP posts:

PasstheStarmix · 11/04/2018 09:10

I understand your decision is as fully informed as it can be but I think people who’ve been through it just wanted to give you both sides to consider. I know from experience that all the research in the world didn’t prepare me for the realities of birth no matter what the method.

PasstheStarmix · 11/04/2018 09:10

Good luck

PasstheStarmix · 11/04/2018 09:14

‘unless there is absolutely no issues (which I'm apprehensive at assuming based on my mum's and my sisters births).’

Also best not to make comparisons with family members regarding how your birth will go. My birth was nothing like my mother’s births. If I’d have let me mothers births put me off i’d have ended up going down the wrong path.

PasstheStarmix · 11/04/2018 09:16

my*

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