Elective C-section

[LittleDoveLove]

Hello, this is my first child and for a few I reasons I am likely to go for an elective c section. I don't have anyone I can really ask on these things and I was just wondering has anyone else done this by choice and how was it? Have you regretted your decision/ had a bad experience? Or was it as calm as I have heard. How long did it take you to heal and do things? Thank you for your experiences in advance.

I think it depends on your reasoning. I have had two sections. One emergency and one elective. Both were okay but overall I would have rather done it naturally because of the recovery and the state of my stomach (vain I know).

@LittleDoveLove - haven't done it yet / had baby but after my first labour with my son, I've opted for a section this time around.

I won't be booked in until around mid January but so far really glad I've made the decision. X

Had a crash section with my first child. And opting for an elective this time but not getting booked in till end of Jan. Unfortunate I had a general anaesthetic and it was very much an emergency so can't comment on the actual procedure itself. But even with an emergency in regards to recovery I was on my feet within 24 hours, kept on top of pain meds and I was fine. Had no issue with healing. Stitches were dissolvable internal ones so they weren't an issue. Luckily had DH for the first 2 weeks so didn't do anything much more strenuous than lift DC and go for a short walk (while he pushed the pram) only issue now nearly 7 years later is my skin is still numb about an inch from the incision site

To answer your questions further:

Both very calm experiences, even the emergency.

Felt horrific for about a week. Swollen, sore, difficult even to deal with baby. Tons better after that. By week three felt pretty normal although still twinges and not able to do lots.
By week totally normal.

Some consequences they don't advertise. Bowels and bladder can be funny. If you are breastfeeding your milk may come in late as a result of the trauma or blood loss. Baby is likely to be mucousy which as a first time mum was terrifying for me.

It's a weird one. Friends who have delivered naturally have struggled as well for a few weeks post partum 🤷🏻‍♀️

Overhang of skin is beyond depressing. Beyond.

I wish I’d gone for an elective C-section. I was persuaded out of it, but I just had this feeling that elective c section was the way to go. Instead I ended up going through labour in almost its entirety (10 cm dilated) and then got rushed for an emergency c section because of complications.

If you feel a c-section is right for you, then go for it. I will say that I did haemorrhage during my c section and lost a lot of blood which was not great but these things do happen.

Make sure you are firm with the midwives afterwards about pain relief, I really had to beg to get given drugs afterwards and I won’t lie, the first couple of days are painful and getting into a seated position from lying down is hard. However, I had mine a week ago today and although still slightly painful it’s minor and controlled with paracetamol The incision is still swollen and is still leaking a bit, but I’m told this is fine as long as the liquid is clearish and not pus or yellow or smelly.

So yes, in short, it’s major surgery so complications are possible and the recovery process is slower but the c-section part of my labour (despite the haemorrhage!) was still the least traumatic part and I’m definitely going to go down the elective c section route if I have a second child down the line.

I hope that helps! As it was only a week ago it’s very fresh in my mind.

Oh and in terms of pain and being able to do things I’ve been on my feet like normal since day 3 and tending to baby very well. Very swollen feet though so issues with putting shoes on! Be prepared for feet and ankles to be balloons for a few days.

I had emergency c section on the 14th November for my first baby, although I had a great experience with no complications and was back on my feet the next day, I wish I did it vaginally due to the fact the baby never got put on my skin straight away once he came out, still gets me emotional thinking that moment got took away as I have been looking forward to that moment my full pregnancy! But I got my cuddle eventually, although It felt like hours and hours before I got a good hold, I don’t think it was more than an hour after he was born I got a cuddle!
People have been really surprised when telling them how fast I have recovered as if they have only heard horror stories about c sections but everything about my c section was professionally done with even a good bit off entertainment throughout! Go with your gut and good luck xxxxxxx

Oh god yeah the swelling in the feet and hands is bad haha, homemade soup is great for it though, so every cloud.....

I had an elective and it was a wonderfully calm experience, and I was up and about 2 days later. Didn't need painkillers after a week, and was driving from 5 weeks.

In contrast, 2 mums in my NCT group tried for natural birth and ended up with emergency c section. Recovery was much much slower. When I saw them a week ago (our babies are now 7 months), both said they'd now go for elective anytime.

One downside - yes, I have the c section 'apron'. And not sure it's ever going to go away.

Alanares89 just wanted to reassure you that you don't necessarily get immediate skin to skin from a vaginal birth. With DS, he ended up getting stuck and I needed forceps but due to how long he had been in the birth canal the obstetrician yanked him out, threw him on my stomach where the paediatrician swiftly whisked him away to be appraised.

OP had an awful first birth so having an elective this time. People talk about recovery time with a c section, and the over hang. I had a 2 year+ recovery with DS and adhesions which caused an overhang. I also have permanent damage from it.

I had elective 4 weeks ago. The procedure itself was fine and relaxed, I asked the doctor to talk as he was doing procedure as wanted to know what was happening rather than just lying there, this really helped me.

I was warned recovery is tough and it really was. Was in lots of pain for a week and couldn’t do much for myself.

4 weeks on and I’m nearly back to normal- scar healed although still hurts occasionally. When I go for a long walk I hurt that evening hoping by week 6 this has all gone.

Good luck

Thank you everyone it is so good to hear real life stories. This is really helping me x

I had an elective, and am having another one again in a few months.

Realistically, many sections cause some disfigurement to the tummy area (overhang shudder) from where you are stitched up, but many vaginas don't look the same from where they are stitched up. It's often a choice of where you want your stitches etc...

I found the procedure fine and the recovery much easier than expected. It seemed to be a breeze compared to most women I know who had vaginal births - and without the hours of agony first. I was very pleased with my decision, hence going for round 2!

I know this isn't my post but so glad I commented as I'm having a planned section in Jan and it's just confirming I've made the right decision.

@Sleeplikeasloth - I'm one of those women with a bad vaginal labour and I defo have the stitches to prove it lol x

Best of luck with your decision. Pp mentioning exhaustion is a great point. It's tiring enough with a newborn. Whatever you decide it will be worth it ❤️ ... maybe you won't feel it for the first few weeks but every day just gets better and better and you fall more and more in love. I hope it all goes well for you OP

Have a look on Childbirth board, there’s been a few threads about c-sections recently.
I had one in 2014, great experience & really near scar, no overhang or tuck or anything like that :-)

As a contrast I had an EMCS 5 years ago and the only visible clue on my stomach is a thin white line scar. I had no complications and it was a positive experience.

However if I was to have another child I would want a VBAC. But if I had to choose between elective CS and induction I’d choose the csection.

2 x emcs here. One after a long labour, pushing and failed forceps, the 2nd a lot more of an elective affair but I was in labour and dilating fairly fast so still classed as an emergency.

2 x very easy recoveries. With my 1st ds was in NICU so I missed the drugs rounds and at some point realised that 1. I hadn't had any pain killers and 2. I wasn't in any pain. With my 2nd, dd was with me and I just declined all pain relief as the mess a student made of my cannula hurt more than the wound.

My stomach has seen better days but one of my stretch marks stretched during my second pregnancy and that looks far worse than my scar. Dd is almost six months old and my scar is just a thin white line.

With my 2nd because I already had a 3 year old, I was just back at stuff straight away. By week 2, I was pushing the pram on the 3 mile round trip to preschool with no ill effects whatsoever.

My 2nd was amazing. They dropped the curtain so we could watch her being born (would totally recommend), she was on my chest almost straight away after a quick rub down and delayed cord clamping so definitely very calm.

Just be vigilant for signs of infection. My scar became infected during the heat wave, I was showering three times daily thinking I was doing the right thing but I was making it worse. Check your temp and anything your not sure of get checked out, never leave it. It took a good nine weeks until I was able to be independent and feel well. Good luck ladies.

I had two traumatic vaginal deliveries and a traumatic missed miscarriage in hospital last year so requested an elective c-section this time.

I found it extremely difficult to actually obtain the c-section. I had five different appointments with consultants and a consultant midwife and they used a heck of a lot of scaremongering tactics to talk me out of it but I didn’t give in. Then on the day of the section with DP and I dressed in our scrubs, the consultant again tried to talk me out of it! I couldn’t believe it.

Anyway I had the section a month ago exactly tomorrow and I’m just about healed now. The first week was by far the toughest. I left hospital the morning after the section, my local hospital tries to discharge women ASAP and I was happy with that because home is obviously much more preferable. During the first week I was in a lot of pain and since they only send you home with ibuprofen and paracetamol I had to request stronger pain relief from the GP and was given naproxen which helped. DP had to do everything including lifting me out of bed and onto/off the toilet- quite embarrassing and degrading but I had no choice. I was hunched over in pain when I walked for the first few days too. Once that week passed I felt fine again pain wise but I stupidly started to push myself too much and ended up regretting it because it made the pain return so my advice is not to do that , wait until you’re definitely healed.

The actual section was strange. It was a very calm and positive experience compared to a vaginal delivery for sure, especially because I have had two deliveries go drastically wrong. The tugging and pulling throughout feels bizarre and I felt very sick, I was convinced I’d vomit. I’d say that and the spinal (which took them ages to get in and absolutely killed) were the worst parts along with the first week after the section and the anti-clotting injections you’re sent home with are horrible too. I admit I only let DP give me five out of ten of the injections because they hurt so much and I really couldn’t be arsed with more pain than I was already in!

Overall though I’m glad I opted for the section and I wouldn’t say the recovery period has been any worse than after my traumatic vaginal deliveries. My wound healed fine too and it’s really not noticeable.

Thank you everyone, what are the jabs like are they like epipen things?

Yeah they're okay. It's like a plunger type thing rather than a needle. Not sore as long as you don't rub after it goes in.

If your midwife is sympathetic she might inject them for you on the days she's there.

Honestly, some people seem to find the jabs fine, others find they really hurt (they burn, rather than the jab itself hurting). Maybe it's just how different people's bodies react. Still, unpleasant, but bearable (and I'm horrific with needles)