For those who have had a c-section

[Cakelaur]

Just asking for some info. I'm placenta previa (at the mo... it may move) so looking into c-sections. Did you have to have spinal block/epidural? Or were you under general anaesthetic?

How long before you could get up and about after either option? And how long was recovery time?

Thanks xx

I’ve had two sections - an emergency and an elective. I had an epidural for both, although I know some emergencies will be under general for good reason.

I was pretty much made to get up at hospital and walk around the following morning (both sections were about lunchtime, so talking within 18 hours ish.

I felt stiff and a bit weak and scared of moving in case it hurt, but getting up and about early on does help with getting you mobile again.

I recovered well from both surgeries. With my emergency I probably tried to do too much too soon in terms of getting out and about, shopping, driving etc. I experienced a few moments of feeling sore and weak because of that.

With my elective I was lightly active, but nothing major, for 6 weeks. Healed beautifully because of it I think. I was doing buggy fit classes a8 weeks post section (and I’m not fit usually!).

Never experienced a moment of pain after either surgery either, as I took all the pain relief they gave religiously.

It IS major surgery, so treat it as such, is my advice. Go easy, don’t exert yourself...you’ll be ok

I had a general anaesthetic, although I understand this is rare and the result of my specific circumstances (cord prolapse). There simply wasn’t time for a spinal or epidural.

I was up and about a few hours afterwards, although I felt like I’d been hit by a bus and, despite taking painkillers religiously, wasn’t really comfortable for a few weeks. The doctors told me they didn’t have time to be as ‘careful’ as normal so hopefully, if you have an elective, recovery might be easier.

Having said all that, I did recover well - no infection etc. There were a couple of times I overdid it and my body let me know, but overall I was fine. Just take it easy at first!

I had an EMCS with spinal with my first at 10.30am, up in the evening, didn't know anything about csections (planned natural birth all the way) so just thought I'd go have a shower! Have an ELCS booked in 2 weeks, slightly nervous about it. Best advice I think is to take the pain meds religiously even if you feel okay.
Best of luck OP!

I had epidural for two sections. The first one I had a big PPH so was poorly so didn't get up for at least 24 hours. My second section went better and the section was 7pm and I was up and about the next morning.

At my hospital they try and get you out within 24 hours of an ECS. I was up and walking about 8 hours after mine.

Mine was emergency under GA. DS was born at lunch time and I had my catheter out 24 hours later then I was able to get up and move about.

The first time I got up all I could do was shuffle. I felt like I'd been hit by a bus, or like I had a massive horrendous hangover without the headache. Laughing and coughing was uncomfortable for a few days too. I was in for 2 nights and when I got home for a few days I was nervous about standing up straight incase the stitches burst open (not that they would have).

My recovery was really good with no issues with the scar but I guess everyone is different. I'm 5 weeks post section and the area is still a bit numb which I believe to be normal.

I have had 3 ELCS all for different reasons. Once I got my head round needing one I found them really positive experiences, especially with my second and third as I had learnt from experience. I had an injection in my spine for all of them and I found that bit the worse! I hated the cold numbing spray! I had my favourite CD playing through each of them and dh took lots of photos. Everyone was kind and helpful. I found my blood pressure really dropped after each of them and needed to eat and drink as soon as they let me. I always had lots of snacks packed in my bags! I asked for the baby to be in a cot attached to the bed which made breastfeeding easier. I think as pp have said getting up and about as soon as possible but taking it easy is important. I had a shower, got dressed and put a bit of make up on as soon as I could with my 2nd and 3rd as that helped me feel better mentally. I did push myself too hard with my third and my stitches became infected but I was coping with a 4 year old and 2 years old!

I had a cs with epidural due to placenta previa. No problems with surgery or recovery. Wound was fine, numb on the incision for a while, I can’t remember for how long.
I felt bruised and tender on my upper stomach area more than anything else. I just needed to ease in and out of chairs.

Get out of hospital bed as soon as recommend, in my case it was the next morning and make sure someone is with you in the room (I didn’t, impatience).
Recovery time was about 6 weeks. I did exactly as I was told and I still took things easy after that, didn't lift anything too heavy, just to be sure. I was driving at 6 weeks.

I had a positive birth experience. Be gentle on yourself for those first few months and good luck

I had epidural and cvs at 10am, was up and showered by that evening. Can’t say the getting up was easy, as others have said it’s major surgery. However I found the most difficult bit was having the first wee after the catheter was out (wish they’d just used a continance pad). I’d suggest having 1st wee in the shower.

*C-section, not cvs 🤣

2 sections both under spinal (our local doesn't offer epidural so can't compare) and up and about within 12 hours.

#1 recovery was pretty much instantaneous tbh, I took painkillers occasionally as required but don't recall much pain or inconvenience.

#2 recovery was a bit more prolonged but I was back to walking the 6 mile a day school run within 2 weeks with the help of a few extra painkillers and taking it easy when I could.

I was stitched both times with internal, dissolvable stitches, I've heard others vision about different methods (e.g. staples or traditional stitches) but obviously that's only really anecdotal.

I had an elective section under spinal last week. I personally found the spinal quite an unnerving experience - not being able to feel most of your body properly is very odd but overall it was ok.

I had my section at about half 2 and had a very short walk on the ward with the midwife at about 10pm but this was very much my choice. My catheter came out the following morning and I had a shower late morning.

I was pretty sore the following 2 days but things started to improve from then onwards. 4 days after my section I managed a 5 minute walk round the block, 20 mins with some pram pushing 2 days later and 30 mins a further 2 days after that.

My wound is healing well and my stitches came out yesterday (day 10). Considering it is major surgery and sleep has been quite minimal since I feel recovery is going pretty well.

Mine was an emergency after 15 hours of labour, I'd already had an epidural which wasn't working properly. I had a spinal for the csection. First night was ok but awkward picking up the baby etc. My catheter was out at 6am the next day and I got up and dressed straight away.
Felt like I'd been hit by a bus but pain wise was fine, i was so achey and felt so heavy when I stood up at first. I had liquid morphine until I was discharged but only took paracetamol and ibuprofen for the first few days.
Like others I did push myself when I was home, day 3 was the worst for me pain wise so my other half got me some stronger pain relief from the chemist. Worst thing for me was I had a chest infection at the time so coughing was really painful, i think I would have been fine if I didn't have that.
I did feel like sitting down for a long period of time made it more painful when I got up so I tried to be active as I felt that helped me.
I loved my csection, recovery for me personally was so much easier then my two previous natural births due to tears and episiotomy I had with them.

Thank you everyone for your experiences. I'm a littler nervous to say the least! Was planning a totally natural birth so all of this is totally unknown to me. Glad to see so many of you had easy recoveries and sorry to those who had slightly awful experiences.

I'm really freaking out about the catheter the most (silly I know) I've just heard horror stories of bladder infections etc! 🙈 and the epidural gosh I don't know where to start.

For those with GA... how long until you were awake? I'm worried about length of time without holding baby. Obviously with natural birth you imagine to give birth and then hold your baby straight away.

But ultimately I also know the most important thing is to get my little bean here safely.

I had general both times and it was great, go to sleep pregnant, wake up with baby sleeping away next to me.

ELCS in 2014, spinal block. Wasn't allowed up for about 8 hours. Went home following day at my request as i felt i would recover better at home with help of husband (i did) scar clean and healed on outside by day 5. Didn't feel relatively normal for around 2-3 weeks but still took it easy as felt bruised. X

It's usual to have a spinal . Home day three totally back to normal - realise this won't be everyone's experience .

I had emcs under GA due to my back issues. I came round within an hour. She had skin to skin with my husband for most of that time, then she came to me and got herself latched on. I don't think we had any bonding issues.

It’s all a bit of a blur really and I’ve no idea how long it was until I was awake. DS was in special care so I got to visit him and hold him when I came round, then I was taken to a ward to sleep. A bit later I was able to shuffle along to SCBU to see him again.

First was a converted epidural after failed forceps/pushing. Was on my feet after 5 hours. Catheter out after 23 hours. Could walk to NICU on my own by 24 hours. Ds was born on the Tuesday, we left hospital on the Friday, would have been earlier had he not been in NICU.

Second was a spinal. Up after 7 hours, would have been earlier but I was still in recovery due to a lack of beds and they threatened me with my scary consultant if I even tried putting one foot out of bed until I got to the postnatal ward. Catheter out as soon as I got to postnatal so 7 hours after dd was born. Was told I had 6 hours in which to pee in the bucket or it was going back in. Dd was born on the Thursday, we got out on Friday.

I was in labour with both of them but dd was really an elective, just with labour pains.

I had really easy pain free recoveries both times. With ds, the bruising from the failed forceps hurt more and with dd the mess they had made of attempting to stick a cannula in was way more painful. I was pushing the pram to pick ds up from preschool by week 2 which is a 3 mile round trip and now (am 11 weeks post 2nd section) have been 10k walks with the pram with no ill effects.

I was planning a GA with dd up until about 10 minutes before we got to theatre and they told me I'd be awake in around an hour if everything went okay. With ds because of the state I was in, I couldn't hold him for about an hour and a half even with the epidural. Dd I held within about 4 minutes so it can vary quite a bit even if you awake.

Thanks everyone. Really appreciate all of your stories. It's getting a bit more real now!!

OP, re how long to holding your baby question. As soon as my DD was born they poked her head around the screen, then as soon as the cord was cut they put her on my chest. I can only imagine this isn't too much different to vaginal child birth in hospital. She loves the story of her first look and cuddle.
Having a UTI after the catheter was a worry for me too (I get loads). But the wonderful thing about a planned c-section is you can drink loads of cranberry juice before you have it done.

@EndOfEternity ooh thanks for the tip on cranberry juice.

I had an emcs but already had an epidural on board for my labour (one where you could move legs) they just added different drugs for the spinal.
The c section was fine, I didn't like being stitched up again as you can feel things moving with out feeling them if you know what I mean. I was also pretty sick immediately after but obviously unable to move but think that was more to do with all the drugs I'd had prior to the section (had pain relief, epidural and hormone drip prior to the csection drugs so think I just had a bit of a cocktail).
DH has the first skin to skin cuddle after the initial placing DS on me, which worked as I was so tired after a long 24 hours!
Recovery was fab, ate breakfast (section at 00.06) up after less than 12 hours and in the shower, catheter out. Discharged after 36 hours and first trip to town/meal out at day 5.
Make sure you keep on top of pain relief and rest when you can!
Best of luck

I've had four, 1 emergency, three planned. I stayed awake for all of them. I was up and walking round about 4 hours after all but the first, which was about 7 hours.
Catheter had to stay in for 24 hours after my third section as they had worried they had damaged my bladder, but all was ok.
I've stayed in for 2 nights for all my sections. With my third and fourth they were eager to get me home after 24 hours, but I had to stay in as needed longer recovery, probably due to the fact I've had multiple sections.