C-section: what do I need to know??

[Purplepjs]

Hi all, so my baby is breech at 38+4. I think they may offer to try and turn her, otherwise it’ll be planned c-section. My midwife today was next to useless, laughing away while I was sobbing! Anyway, am feeling more rational now I’ve had time to digest the news! Two questions, if you can help;

1. what are people’s thoughts on trying to turn baby? Pros/cons? Things to ask the consultant tomorrow? (My husband is away so I want to make sure I think of everything)
2. if I do have a planned c-section, what can I expect? Any tips or things I might need/will help, either at delivery or for recovery? How long did you have to stay in? Thanks so much, I’d really appreciate hearing anyone’s experience.

Hi, I had this exact thing happen with my first baby - personally I didn’t go for ECV as I think it is something like 50% chance of it working with first baby....and it could also result in an emergency section that day anyway if anything stressed baby out - I am sure lots of people have good experiences with them though and if you wanted to try then go for it - I think the consultant will assess whether or not it is a good option for you at the time too due to fluid and things.
I had planned section at 39+2 and it was a very positive experience - calm and relaxed, in to hosp at 7am, baby born at 10am in recovery for a couple of hours then onto a ward (had hours skin to skin and fed baby) and then 2 overnights on the ward and home first thing in the morning on the 3rd day - advice would be not to over exert yourself, and give your body time to heal (I also took arnica tablets).
The surgeon came to see me after section and said an ECV wouldn’t have worked anyway due to baby position.
I was, like you very upset when it transpired I would need a csection it just wasn’t in my plans - but all turned out absolutely fine!
Good luck with whatever happens!

I had a breach which they couldn’t turn due to low fluid and small baby.
They will advise you on what’s best - but you can ask of how likely it is to work in your situation.
Planned c section is good. Just can be a longer recovery - but I can’t imagine recovery from some of the vaginal births I hear about is a laugh!
There is a recent thread about c sections if you do end up that way.

I had a planned c-section due to complications. It went about as badly as a c-section can go (barring death) and it was still totally fine - I really didn't realise any of the bad things that were happening! I had to have extra surgery which involved extra anaesthesia and lost loads of blood, but still recovered quickly - was up and about the next day, home the day after and out and about within a week. Very little pain - nothing that paracetamol and anti-inflammatories couldn't handle. The whole thing was very relaxed and peaceful despite the complications - as soon as my baby was out she was up close with me and I couldn't have told you what else was going on, I was just staring at her!

Top tips:

• Stay in hospital as long as you feel is necessary - I wish I'd stayed a night longer as I would have got more sleep!
• Don't push yourself
• Take arnica tablets
• When you first stand up, stand up as straight as possible - it will hurt a bit but it'll help you get back to normal more quickly
• Prep a table next to your bed with all the things you'll need for the first few days - water, lip balm, wet wipes, painkillers, sanitary / maternity towels etc etc - saves you getting out of bed too often
• Have Dad or someone else on hand to do nappy changes etc - your only jobs are recovering, breastfeeding if you choose to, and cuddling your baby!

I recovered more quickly than a lot of my friends who had vaginal births and there's something very predictable about a c-section which suited me. Best of luck!

Thank you so so much for replying; and for sounding so positive!! I am definitely coming round to the benefits of a predictable time/date for birth etc,...will be far easier in terms of care for my 5 year old etc. And as you point out, recovering from a vaginal delivery isn't a walk in the park either (I had forceps/big tear/needed follow up surgery 10 months later, last time). My concerns re c-section are mostly based on the fact that my husband is disabled and so can't do lifting/carrying/nappy changes etc, but my mum will come and stay for a while, so I'm sure I'll be better able to cope by the time she needs to go home.

Thank you for the advice re turning; yes, I don't really want to end up in an emergency c-section situation, and my fear is that I go through the turning and then she just flips back again. Will try to write a list of questions before I see the consultant and just see, as you say, what they think the chances of success are.

Thanks again so much for taking the time to respond, I really do appreciate it.

This is exactly what happened with my DD1 in 2014.

I did all my research and decided to try the ECV. It didn't work. Bear in mind if you do opt to try it, different consultants have different success rates. Also you could trigger labour so they will ask you to sign consent forms for emergency section if required and ask you to bring your hospital bags.

After it didn't work I was literally lying on the bed getting dressed and a midwife walked in with a diary to ask when I wanted my ELCS.

I had it at 39+2 and it was a fantastic birth experience for me (much MUCH better than my EMCS with DD2 in April this year). I felt calm and very prepared. Once you are on the ELCS list you see lots of medical professionals (surgeon, midwife, anaesthetist) before the big day and again on the day so lots of opportunity to ask questions. The surgery itself lasted about 30-40mins. I found the pain manageable and was discharged after 48hrs. After 3-4 weeks I felt practically back to normal and started driving after just over 5 weeks. I'm a control freak and loved the fact I knew when I would have my baby. I had all the house cleaned and tidied, a big food shop in, DH and I had a 'date night' the night before (takeaway and a DVD). DH could prepare his work for his paternity leave and do a proper handover knowing exactly when it would happen. Physically I don't have issues with pelvic floor etc like some natural birth mums I know (although obviously have a scar). Lots of plus points!

Tips for recovery at home:

-Pillows and cushions everywhere, even on the sofa to make it easier to stand and sit. I had a dining table chair in the front room for a week or so.
-Meals in the freezer so even the most sleep deprived hopeless husband can microwave for you
-Take someone with you for the first trip out with the pram - even if on a flat road it's amazing how much you use your stomach muscles to push a pram. I was in agony until I got to 5 weeks.
-Don't be afraid to tell the hospital staff if you are in pain. I didn't do that with my second CS and went 6hrs without pain relief and then was in agony. I didn't buzz and ask as I didn't want to trouble them on an obviously short staffed day. Got an almighty telling off when I said that to the midwife who finally gave me some drugs.

• You'll have a catheter fitted as part of the CS so a night dress is better than PJs so it's unrestricted. You'll still bleed afterwards as if you had birthed naturally and so obviously with numbness down below it's best if this night dress is a Primark cheapie so it can be thrown away in case of staining.

Ah just seen your latest post! I recovered from my second CS with a 4yr old at home and limited help from my DH who had 1.5 weeks of paternity. You'll manage! Allow yourself lots of DVD afternoons. Allow the house to get messy. Concentrate on your recovery and feeding baby for a few weeks. I kept my eldest in nursery for a while too so she had some normality and an outlet to run about and play without worrying about mummy's tummy or the baby.

Lots of good points covered here. One from me: make sure you have peppermint tablets/tea as the trapped wind I suffered from was a killer. I was prescribed mintec, if I recall correctly, sorted it in no time at all!

I would refuse the ECV personally.

Echo all the tips above for recovery.

• Cushion or pillow to go over your incision on the car journey home so your seat belt doesn't put pressure on it. Slowly over speed bumps!

• Don't be rushed home until you are ready.

Let your wound get plenty of air as you want to avoid infection.

I had elcs due to ds1 being breech. I refused the ECV, my mum had it done with my brother who ended up brain damaged as a result. There was also a thread on MN around that time of someone whose baby had died following ECV.

The elcs was brilliant!! So calm, very quick. Stay in as long as you can, take your time over recovery. Take ALL the drugs. I recovered really well, the first week was the hardest.

if you drive, talk to your insurer about how long you have to wait after the section before you are covered for driving again.

My insurer made the decision based on what my doctor said.

Focus on recovery - not the state of the house

Thank you again; really, really helpful advice.

I'd heard someone mentioning mint tea for post c-section....great reminder. will pack some if c-section ends up being the route.
Super idea re pillow for under seatbelt for way home...will write that one down!

Thank you for the further opinions about ECV.

I have had two c sections, although both were technically classed as ‘emergency’ the first one really was only classed as such as the baby was coming quite quickly feet first so I couldn’t wait until morning for a planned section as was their original plan (baby was breech but I went into labour naturally before planned section). That section was actually very relaxed, the team were fabulous and talked us through every step, I remember laughing and joking with them. Top tips - if you start to feel sick during section tell the anaesthetist and they will put some anti emetics into your drip, which works very quickly. Ask to have baby tucked under your chin once they are out for skin to skin, baby comes out quickly but then the stitching up seems to take ages so it’s lovely to have baby close. Afterwards, keep up meds every 4 hours, it really makes a difference. Big knickers up to your tummy button are great because they support your scar and don’t irritate it like lower waisted pants. I recovered very quickly from that section, was out on a gentle pram walk by day 6

On ECV, I wasn’t offered it, but a friend had it recently and found it painful and distressing. When I read up on it in my third pregnancy as baby was breech again I decided against it.

Good luck!!

Definitely buzz buzz buzz when you need to in hospital. If the baby needs a nappy change - buzz. You need something you can't reach - buzz. You need pain relief - buzz. You feel unwell - buzz. Need the baby passing to you for feeding - buzz.

Seriously that's what the buzzer is for. You might not always get an instant response but they will come!

I had an elective and am super grateful for it. The birth was lovely. My husband and I arrived at 8am, played music and tried to get our head around the idea we were about to meet our baby. We had our son at 12pm. The room was full of people but super calm and cheerful, actually jovial. The rummaging wasn’t comfy but by no means painful though I didn’t think the ‘washing bowl’ analogy was accurate. When they moved me post birth it was weird to see these slabs of leg I didn’t associate with, but I knew of phantom limb syndrome so just looked away.

Post section in hospital I had no remorse for asking for max midwife help and taking max morphine. A definite high point 😉

My stomach knacked afterwards for a few weeks. On my first walk outside I wondered if choosing a section had been a mistake. Then I learned it’s because they had to yank my abs apart to get him out and stitches hurt more on tight muscles. Next lesson. Don’t weight train pre pregnancy! Equally I know four people who had electives with no stomach pain afterwards.

Oh. I had to put in a suppository pre birth. I wasn’t expecting that 🤭

My at home tips are buy a litter picker from Amazon. No bending required!
Wear clothes with pockets so you can carry what you need.
For me, dresses removed the risk of any bands near my delicate tummy.

I had an emergency section last week after 12 hours off labour, best advice I could give you is if you can, get up and out your bed as much as possible! You’ll feel better for it, the Medication will sort the pain! I had the Section Wednesday and I was shopping in Morrisons and B&M on Saturday! Good luck xxxxx

Yes travellinghopefully. I forgot about massive pants, they’re a big winner! Good luck purplepjs! With all this prep it’ll be a doddle.

Can't comment on the turning issue. However, had an unplanned c section and had a great experience. Up and about quickly and driving again 4 weeks later. I was in hospital 4 days and found the whole thing way less traumatic than I expected.

Thank you all. You really have made me feel so much better. Thank you for taking time out of your evening to reply.