Elective C Sections experience

[sarahjsdddd]

Hello,

I was just wondering what's people experienced with having an elective c section, and what we're the reasons? And positives and negatives of having one.

I am 20 weeks pregnant, have a 2 year old which was a traumatic (vaginal) birth. I also have a 3cm cyst/mass in my Fallopian tube which is being monitored, I was told that if I do have a c section it could be looked at l/removed during the procedure, but it's not a reason to explicitly have a c section. I was due to have keyhole surgery for it before pregnancy. I am terrified of general anaesthetic and being put to sleep, and needles/blood (though giving birth last time has made me more accustomed to that!)
So I'm thinking of elective c section because of the traumatic birth, but I'm worried about the recovery after too, and having to stay in hospital for longer, the wound etc

Please can anyone let me know their experiences/reasons! Thank you x

I've had both an elective and an emergency c section (which would have been elective anyway). Both times I was up on my feet within 6 hours, catheter out after 8 hours. First pregnancy was breech - I stayed 2 nights. Second pregnancy was twins - I felt well enough to go home after 1 night but stayed 2 as hospital quiet and twins were in NICU. I didn't have any morphine and managed fine on paracetamol and ibruprofen - carried on with painkillers for about 7-10 days after the c section. Wound is hardly visible and to be honest hardly Noticed it within a week or so. I felt recovered enough to drive after 14 days

I had an elective earlier this year after an emergency one the first time round. I wasn't on my feet within 6 hours, but was up and home the next day with the elective. To be honest once at home I questioned the wisdom of this a couple of times while struggling to get up from our bed, but actually as long as you have support, it's fine.

The epidural / spinal is the worst bit but you don't see the needle, if that makes you feel any better!

I've never had any issues with my wound. It's always healed fine. You do have a scar, but its under your knicker line. I forget about it most the time.

Watching with interest as debating a csection for birth of dc6!

The recovery is my main concern as i will have a nearly two year old plus newborn and older dc

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE

I had a 4 year old at home too. I found that because I had no choice but to get up and around (twins in NICU for 2 weeks so had to get to the hospital every day) and DD to spend time with too recovery was faster than the first time where I just lay in bed for a few days 🤣

I had an elective with our twins at 38wk, twin 1 turned breech between my 32 & 36 week scans and twin 2 was transverse.
I got to hospital 7am, babies were delivered 10:30&31. It was pretty chilled out and I didn't really notice much after having babies given to us. I was kept on recovery as I had quite heavy blood loss, I went up to the ward around 7pm. I was able to get up and walk after visitors left around 10pm, did feel like a lead weight though. Once I had my catheter out the next morning I was able to walk down the ward for a shower and to get some lunch and felt fine by then (no pain relief needed). I did have to nag to be discharged but left at 7pm the day after delivery, my iron was low but not bad enough for them to keep me. I was able to do most things once I got home, I didn't drive for 6 weeks because hubby was home and I didn't lift heavy butvI still cracked on with all the housework etc. I did get an infection in my scar as my stitches didn't dissolve as they should but double antibiotics and removal if the stitches allowed it to heal.
These days I forget about my scar until I do heavy deadlifts.

I was terrified of cesarean as mum said hers with me was awful but it was so much better than expected. I'd had 3 vaginal delivers prior to mine too. I'm thinking of opting for elective cesarean again with current one as I'm considering sterilisation at the same time.

Hi, I had an emergency c-section with my son, was awake for the procedure. I had him at 2:30am on a Wednesday morn and then was home 1:30pm Thursday. I found the recovery ok, the only thing I would say is make sure you are well hydrated. At one point they were thinking of putting my catheter back in because I hadn't been for a wee, turns out I was very dehydrated.
I am having an elective c-section this time around and feel that is better for me.

Those who had a section of twins / while having another pram aged child - at what point could you manage a double pram?

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE

Those who had a section of twins / while having another pram aged child - at what point could you manage a double pram?

Doctors/midwives encourage you to be active ASAP. I went for a walk with the double pram just a few days after getting home. We had a zeta stroller side by side, super lightweight and maneuverable. Next youngest was almost 3 so happy to walk alongside pram.

I had an awful traumatic birth with my daughter as she got stuck during delivery so definitely requesting a section this time.

Can i ask at how many weeks are this done? I'm guessing they dont want it too close to due date incase baby comes early.

I've had an emergency and an elective c section. Would deffo recommend. My son was 2 years 8 months when I had the elective. Found it absolutely fine. Stayed in the hospital one night. Was able to bend over straight away! Just keep dosed up on para and ibo don't wait for pain to come to take it. It was such a calm stress free experience for me.

@ThickThighsSaveLives

I had an awful traumatic birth with my daughter as she got stuck during delivery so definitely requesting a section this time.

Can i ask at how many weeks are this done? I'm guessing they dont want it too close to due date incase baby comes early.

My elective was carried out at 39w. They wouldn't let me go later than that as she was breech though and at risk from cord prolapse.

I had 3 vd's and then an elective.

My third vd was a 37 week still birth, my forever baby died the day before he was born due to a bad cord entanglement.

I was promised a 36 week induction - during the week 35 DD turned transverse and I fought for an elec-c instead. Thankfully as circumstances meant the outcome of an induction bear no words.

I was out of bed with 6 hours and would have been home within 2 days were it not for dd having jaundice.
Back to complete normal by 4 weeks.

@ThickThighsSaveLives

I had an awful traumatic birth with my daughter as she got stuck during delivery so definitely requesting a section this time.

Can i ask at how many weeks are this done? I'm guessing they dont want it too close to due date incase baby comes early.

Ideally no earlier than 39 weeks to allow the lungs to develop fully. If they deliver earlier for any reason you usually get steroid injections to help speed up lung development. They wouldn't let me go over 38wk with twins because the placenta becomes less efficient and still birth risk increases with them after that gestation. I had 2 steroid injections in the run up to surgery, only signed the papers 9 days before when scan showed breech status.

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE

Those who had a section of twins / while having another pram aged child - at what point could you manage a double pram?

Within a 2'days

I had an emergency section with DS1 which was after a very traumatic attempt at a natural birth. Second time around we opted for an elective because of this and it was like black and white. So easy, so relaxed (if I can say that) compared to an emergency or (failed attempt) at natural birth. I was up and about the next morning and home by 5pm. I was sore, and maybe could've stayed another night but DH was keen to go. I tested up at home and was walking about normally with a pram within the week albeit being very careful.

Is the no bath rumor true?

Hi there I choose a c section when offered one due to mental health concerns (ptsd) on the day everything went well , everyone was lovely and very understanding took about 8 hours and I was in the shower and cleaned up I couldn’t really help
With the baby luckily my partner was aloud to stay 2 nights when I came home I bounced back fast it wasn’t with out pain the healing was a long road but it went well , I’m due my 2nd in June will be another c sections this pregnancy’s is a little harder as my scar inside has fussed meaning it’s quite painful but it’s my last pregnancy so will grin and bare it xx

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE

Is the no bath rumor true?

You're not to submerge the scar until it has fully sealed as you increase the risk of infections. It's the same with any surgery.

Planned with twins at 36 weeks following EMCS with DS.

It was very calm and relaxed, the only issue for me is the meds they give you / the spinal knock me sick, but I told her and they gave meds that eased it immediately.

Because they were healthy I had them with me immediately unlike first birth. I was sore and I didn't know about after pains, hard picking the babies up and because it was 36 weeks and I'd lost a fair bit of blood I didn't get my milk in for 5 days.
Recovery was harder by having older one and the twins just before Xmas so I'd say make sure you've got decent support

Thank you so much for all the replies they're very helpful, I forgot to mention that I also thought it would be good to have my cyst removed at the same time as the c section to avoid 2 surgeries. I'm also 99% sure this will be my last baby

Are you always awake when having a c section?

Also, what happens when you have a planned c section booked but you go into labour early/unexpectedly? 😳😦

@sarahjsdddd

Thank you so much for all the replies they're very helpful, I forgot to mention that I also thought it would be good to have my cyst removed at the same time as the c section to avoid 2 surgeries. I'm also 99% sure this will be my last baby

Are you always awake when having a c section?

Also, what happens when you have a planned c section booked but you go into labour early/unexpectedly? 😳😦

unless something goes wrong with the spinal/epidural you will be awake. General anaesthetic c-sections happen but they are rare. Your partner won't be able to be in the room for a delivery under general.

If you have a planned c-section but go into labour they will assess you when you get to the hospital. it will be classed as an emergency section but if you are too progressed in labour it may be safer to deliver vaginally.

Are you always awake when having a c section?
Yes, I believe general anaesthetic is only used if there is a real emergency during a natural birth or something goes drastically wrong during a planned CS. To be honest being awake makes the surgery feel a lot less "major" if that makes sense? To me it felt like going to the dentist with a bit more faff. Being awake to hear the baby cry for the first time is fantastic.

Also, what happens when you have a planned c section booked but you go into labour early/unexpectedly?

Might differ depending on hospital but you simply go in asap and they will perform the CS immediately as planned. It will technically be categorised as an "emergency" CS since labour already started but the experience won't be much different. I had a scare at 32wks where I though my waters broke. Went in for monitoring and they said if that was the case then they'll prep me for the CS as planned.

I have absolutely no regrets about my ELCS. Everything was fantastically calm and controlled. I had no side effects from the spinal aside from some leg trembling when it was wearing off. Recovery wasn't a breeze but pretty much exactly what I expected (lots of painkillers and taking it slow for 6 weeks). I think the fact that you can have the cyst looked at speaks for an ELCS.

Thank you all so so much for the advice & experiences, it's made me much more confident in my decision
At what point should I mention this to someone? I told my midwife at booking that my previous birth was traumatic and hinted at it, she said later births are often quicker & easier & I could be referred to talk to someone to 'debrief' about what happened - not heard anymore
I'm now 20 weeks, next appointment with her is at 25 weeks. I'm also under consultant care, but no idea when my next appointment is with them. Can I request to talk to the obstetrician? I'm guessing discussing it earlier is better?! X

My experiences of elective sections were amazing. It was entirely painless procedure and recovery was far easier than expected with get less pain than expected.

I was back to normal levels of activity within about 4 days both times. I wouldn't choose to give birth any other way.

OP - I’ve not had one but have requested one, due in the summer. Reason for this is that DH and I have spent the last few years going through 6 rounds of fertility treatment, including using a donor/ egg that has amazingly worked (finally!). It’s been a traumatic journey to get to this stage with 5 surgeries also to get to this point in addition to the treatment and we want the baby to be delivered as quickly as safely as possible. I don’t want to be in a situation where there’s potential for things to go wrong/ things to go to an emergency c section - which seems likely given friends experiences. My consultants are completely on board with this and have agreed with my request. One commented that he’d have steered me towards this option if I’d not raised it.
I think go with your instinct on this and take your additional medical needs into consideration. If you can have the cyst removed at the same time, that would seem a sensible approach. Good luck!