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Original poster

Don't want a C Section :(

76 replies

blue122 · 02/07/2020 17:37

I am 36+1 and baby is breech. I have been told today the possibility of him turning now is very slim as I am a first time mum and he is measuring very big. My midwife has basically told me that because I don't think I want to try an ECV I am going to need a c section.

I know nothing can be done and the most important thing is that baby gets here safely and healthily but I guess I'm just really upset about it.

Any positive c section stories to cheer me up?☹️

OP posts:
waterjungle · 02/07/2020 19:25

BTW Take all the painkillers afterwards religiously - even if you don't think you need them - you really do x

Oliversmumsarmy · 02/07/2020 19:30

You also don’t have to have a section. Vaginal breech birth is an option

Friend went through that. I am sure some women are ok but I won’t say on here the details but friends breech birth made a CS look like the easy option especially with recovery time.

rosegoldwatcher · 02/07/2020 19:32

Both of mine were delivered by c section.
The first time I was all prepared for a 'listen to classical music whilst breathing through the pain' natural birth but, dang it, the old cervix would not progress beyond 5cm.
The second time the midwives insisted that I would be able to have a vaginal delivery. I knew differently (it felt exactly the same) but played my part until they said, yes Mrs Rose you will need another c-section.

All you will miss is a load of pushing. The end result is exactly the same. Lovely, lovely baby.

Lilybet1980 · 02/07/2020 19:37

You absolutely should not be back driving after 9 days. If you need to “drive carefully” you shouldn’t be driving at all as you would not be capable of performing an emergency stop.

Lilybet1980 · 02/07/2020 19:42

I’ve also had two c sections, one emergency and one planned. No issues with either and the planned one in particular was a very calm experience. I had no issues with breastfeeding and recovered relatively quickly from both. I was back at the gym in 6-8 weeks.

In terms of looking after DC after, I found it much easier with DC2. I think that was a combination of not having been through labour beforehand so my body wasn’t so knackered and DC2 was a much smaller baby. I found feeding a big baby post C section quite uncomfortable and had a sore back for a while. But not significant in the grand scheme of things.

userabcname · 02/07/2020 19:50

I had an ELCS 8 months ago. It was a very positive experience- calm and happy. Recovery was fine. Dh took 3 weeks paternity and after that I was fine with my 2yo and newborn. It all went very smoothly.

HavelockVetinari · 02/07/2020 19:55

I felt like you do, and was gutted when I had to have one - I thought recovery would be awful and the scar would be ugly.

I couldn't have been more wrong - I was walking around the ward 3 hours after waking up (mine was under general anaesthetic), driving after 10 days and running after 5 weeks. The scar is very low down at the top of my pubic hair, no issues with wearing a bikini or cropped top (although I can't really do the latter any more now I'm 35, a bit too mutton).

So please don't stress about it. It's much better to get baby out in a safe controlled manner than risk them getting stuck/oxygen deprivation/severe tearing/incontinence.

Best of luck, you'll be grand Flowers

HavelockVetinari · 02/07/2020 19:57

@Lilybet1980

You absolutely should not be back driving after 9 days. If you need to “drive carefully” you shouldn’t be driving at all as you would not be capable of performing an emergency stop.
Massively depends on the person. My GP examined me and was happy that I could drive - I showed her I could jump up and down with no problem, she said I obviously heal quickly and I was safe to drive.
Oliversmumsarmy · 02/07/2020 20:01

Lilybet1980 yes I could have performed an emergency stop if I had to.

Unfortunately we don’t live on an area where we have public transport or pavements or street lighting so you have to drive everywhere.

Think I would have gone mental day at home on my own for weeks on end

reinacorriendo · 02/07/2020 20:01

I have 2 emcs I’m so glad I did, I’m still intact.

I was under GA for second one but first one was fine, felt strange but nothing else.

I took arnica both times to help me with bruising and found it helped, I recovered very quickly

Honestly if I had another, I wouldn’t, I’d opt for c section

eausolovely · 02/07/2020 20:03

Was chatting to my big sister about this the other day, she had one emergency and one planned section. She said even the emergency one was fine and not traumatic at all. She said the planned one was amazing and was really calm and relaxed and she knew exactly when the baby was going to be there and she was out in an hour.

She also said the recovery wasn't that bad at all. Just do your research and make sure you make the best decision for you x

Discoballs · 02/07/2020 20:07

I had a lovely planned c section back in November. It was calm, relaxed, positive. I wasn't exhausted after it. In fact I was positively elated for days. The recovery was no worse than for the episiotomy I had with my natural labour. Just kept well on top of my pain meds. I had a rope attached to the end of the bed so I could pull myself out of bed to see to the baby. I kept moving, but had lots of rest too. I was driving within a week.

MuchTooTired · 02/07/2020 20:08

I had a surprise elcs due to severe pe with my DTs.

It was absolutely brilliant. They really took the time to make me feel at ease and in control of what was happening (I was absolutely terrified!) and recovery wasn’t too bad. Out shopping 5 days afterwards, husband went back to work a week after they were born and I was back to driving in two weeks (had permission from dr and insurance company were happy with it).

Whilst I do feel wistful I’ve never experienced labour and a vaginal birth, if I have anymore children I will definitely have another section. Mine was calm and a bit of a giggle, when things got hairy with dt2 the response was phenomenal and I like knowing what will happen!

Echobelly · 02/07/2020 20:17

I had two sections due to a hip defect which meant I risked dislocating my hip otherwise during birth! And they were great, really positive, happy, recovered fast ( I think the 'no lifting things for weeks' thing is nonsense) I don't think I missed out on anything, or didn't get to bond with my kids or anything like that. I chose music to play as babies arrived and it was all very pleasant and relaxed.

Psychologically, it helps I suppose in my case that I was told in my teens I'd probably have to have c-sections if I had kids, so I can imagine it feeling very different if you were hoping for a standard birth.

ThatLibraryMiss · 02/07/2020 20:19

I had an emergency section after a long very painful labour - large baby, back to back, brow presentation. It was wonderful. I feel I missed out by not being able to have an epidural and be awake but that was the only negative - apart from having to wait so bloody long for it. I had her on a Sunday, diamorphine for the pain on Sunday and Monday and by Tuesday it was very well controlled with paracetamol. The first night it felt like my insides would drop out every time I coughed but that got better quickly and I was much more mobile than the women who'd had vaginal deliveries. I would walk normally rather than like a cowboy and sit down without easing myself onto the corner of the chair.

My friend who had a very similar experience but ended up with forceps tore despite the episiotomy and was quite badly damaged. She took her rubber ring everywhere for months.

I was told not to drive for six weeks and that vacuuming was strictly forbidden as it was the worst thing I could do. Apart from that there were no restrictions and I was able to care for my baby perfectly well.

Lilybet1980 · 02/07/2020 20:21

@Oliversmumsarmy did you try? Just interested to know as it’s not the kind of thing you want to test in an actual emergency! I remember after a couple of days I felt fine but then when I dropped something I lent forward quickly to try and catch it and felt everything pull. It’s the sudden movements that are the problem.

@HavelockVetinari a GP may have signed you off but I’d be amazed if you would find an obstetrician who would. And you definitely shouldn’t be carrying a baby in a car seat at that stage so would hope you had someone else to do that for you.

OP, I’m not trying to stress there are issues with a c section but I do believe that one of the reasons I recovered so quickly was because I listened to the doctors advice about taking it easy.

For anyone who is driving within 6 weeks please do check your car insurance is valid as some have specific policy exclusions.

ChipsyChopsy · 02/07/2020 20:22

I'd pic a c section over labour any day of the week. But plenty would say otherwise. I honestly think it's swings and roundabouts. What you gain in one you lose in the other. Positives of c sections -you can prepare, be well rested, eat well, plan for recovery. Negatives - some would say you feel a little bit like you've taken the easy way out, but I defy anybody to experience day 2 post section to come to that conclusion. Healing can be tough (mine wasn't). Nothing that couldn't also be the case after a VB, tbh.

ThatLibraryMiss · 02/07/2020 20:23

I think the 'no lifting things for weeks' thing is nonsense

I remember that! They told me not to lift anything heavier than 8lb, I think it was, then packed me off home with my 9lb2oz baby.

Lilice · 02/07/2020 20:25

@blue122 I know exactly how you feel. My second baby was breech and I had to have a c section. I was devastated at the idea (I know it's very silly but that's how I felt at the time). I really wanted a vaginal birth but nothing that I did would make him turn. I even had two failed ecv. In the end, the c section experience wasn't so bad. Compared to my first birth, it was pain free, peaceful, and relaxed. The recovery wasn't as easy though. In any case, I think it's normal to kind of "grieve" the birth you had in mind, now that it's being replaced by another scenario that you didn't expect

SummerDayWinterEvenings · 02/07/2020 20:27

All of mine were c section. I recovered quickly and babies were all healthy and I was too. Honestly mine were lovely.

AlwaysColdHands · 02/07/2020 20:30

I’ve had two c-sections, the first due to breech was just so calm and in control, it was great. Yes, recovery from both was really tough for the first week or so, but manageable and I had zero complications & was on the mend quickly both times. There are lots of useful threads in the childbirth section about practical stuff which I’d recommend
Best of luck!

SoftBlocks · 02/07/2020 20:31

I had an elective section and it was a wonderful, calm experience. It was amazing.

SoftBlocks · 02/07/2020 20:32

I recovered very quickly as well although that may have just been luck.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 02/07/2020 20:34

OP, I’m not trying to stress there are issues with a c section but I do believe that one of the reasons I recovered so quickly was because I listened to the doctors advice about taking it easy.

I literally bounced back and with the exception of hoovering (still dh's job 5 years later) did what I wanted which included pushing the pram 3 miles a day by the end of week 2 with dc2. Didnt need pain killers post theatre with either (both emcs). My consultant said some women recover very fast, others take a bit longer. She suggested it was genetic and that they have to err on the cautious side.

Borisplums · 02/07/2020 20:38

I had a c section. Baby was transverse & stuck. I wasn’t keen on the idea but it was really lovely!!

It was calm & dreamy. Really loved it Flowers

On Day 4 post c section I was walking on the beach albeit slowly

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