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Original poster

Reality of an elective section

51 replies

Yummymummy2020 · 27/04/2021 13:42

I know all births are different, but in terms of recovery after a section, assuming all goes well, what can I expect afterwards? I have fear of the unknown as I had a traumatic vaginal birth last time. My baby is breech if that makes a difference so likely will be a necessary section over elective but I intend to ask to get one even if baby turns!

OP posts:

MixedUpFiles · 27/04/2021 13:48

It is a major abdominal surgery. You may find yourself barely able to sit up without finding ways to leverage your body weight with your arms. Recovery can be extremely slow because you don’t get the rest you need since you have a newborn to care for.

It’s a wonderful, life saving surgery, but should be avoided if at all possible.

CandyLeBonBon · 27/04/2021 13:50

Elective just means planned. It doesn't have any other 'meaning' and is called the same whether you elect to have a baby because they're breech or because you had a traumatic vaginas delivery previously. A lot of people attach a value to the word 'elective' that just isn't there, so try not to think of it like that. There are only two types of c-section: planned and unplanned (ie elective and emergency am- because something has gone wrong with a vagina birth).

I have had both types. Planned section is calmer, easier on your body and easier for baby.

Recovery (in my experience) was easier with a planned section, but all birth is (relatively) painful and if you want a section, have a section. Going into labour with a breech baby causes most obstetric/midwifery teams a bit of a panic because there are lots of things that can go wrong and a section is statistically safer, but even if baby turns, and you still want a section, you have every right to choose one.

idontlikealdi · 27/04/2021 13:51

I had an EMCS. DTs delivered at 2213. I was discharged 48 hours later. Recovery was no issue at all.

I would rather a controlled surgery than a whole load of birth injuries.

CandyLeBonBon · 27/04/2021 13:54

It’s a wonderful, life saving surgery, but should be avoided if at all possible.

That's a dreadful message to put out. Women already feel pressured into 'giving birth properly' and that statement feeds right into that bullshit!

MyCatHatesOtherCats · 27/04/2021 13:54

It is major surgery with risks - but there is no risk-free way of giving birth. And the reason for asking for one doesn’t need to be physical. So, even allowing for it being major surgery, it is the best choice overall for some women.

I have had two sections, one emergency and one elective. The recovery was actually more painful second time round with the elective. I left hospital after one night and perhaps should have stayed a second night as the second night was really painful and paracetamol and ibuprofen weren’t cutting it. Rested as much as I could. Had a very hands-on DH and grandparents available to help with DC1. Went for a short walk on day 6. Picked up DC1 from school on day 7 (10 minute walk each way). I could have driven after about 3-4 weeks.

My experience is that the first week or two can be difficult but then I recovered well. I had no complications such as infections.

Zarinea · 27/04/2021 13:55

My recovery was lovely (breech baby also) and I'd certainly do it again.

I was up and walking within a few hours, and feeling fairly normal within a couple of days. Pain managed with paracetamol for a week or so, but it was far easier than I expected.

The best bit (for me) is that there are absolutely no long term affects I've noticed, which I've been thankful for as a few friend who had vaginal births are struggling with prolapses.

Would 100% recommend!

CandyLeBonBon · 27/04/2021 13:56

Oh and op - I've had 3 sections. They're painful at first but so are 4th degree tears to your lady bits.

MyCatHatesOtherCats · 27/04/2021 13:56

Oh and sitting up from lying was painful for the first week or so, as was standing up, but they will encourage you to mobilise as soon as you can and this will help overall. They can show you ways to move which are less painful, like rolling onto your side and using your arms and legs to push to a sitting position.

Lelophants · 27/04/2021 14:00

Mine was surprisingly easy and it was an emergency. I didn't feel the need for pain killers but took them anyway and was fine. I enjoyed the experience.

Lelophants · 27/04/2021 14:00

@CandyLeBonBon

Oh and op - I've had 3 sections. They're painful at first but so are 4th degree tears to your lady bits.

For me tears would be a lot lot worse.

user648482729 · 27/04/2021 14:02

First 5 days were pretty difficult; in a lot of pain and on constant pain killers, was worried that my older DD would accidentally hurt me and getting up in the night was particularly painful. After 5 days it got a bit better and as long as I carried on with painkillers I could move about well; getting up in the night was still painful but I found ways to manage.
After 3 weeks felt a lot better; I’ve had two sections and after my first I pushed myself too much and ended up making recovery take longer and the pain last longer. With my second section I took it easy and just focused on my two children and let my DH, mum and mil do all the cooking, cleaning and tidying and if it didn’t get done then I didn’t stress about it. I found recovering from an elective easier because I didn’t go into it exhausted after a natural birth not professing etc. I was well prepared and as well rested as you can be at 39 weeks.

PaniniHead · 27/04/2021 14:02

I was up and walking the same day, home the next day. No pain relief. Learn how to ‘log roll’ to help you out of bed, it really does make it easier

notagainmummy · 27/04/2021 14:03

@MixedUpFiles

It is a major abdominal surgery. You may find yourself barely able to sit up without finding ways to leverage your body weight with your arms. Recovery can be extremely slow because you don’t get the rest you need since you have a newborn to care for. It’s a wonderful, life saving surgery, but should be avoided if at all possible.

Have you actually had one?

Totally the opposite experience here. Nice and calm. Music, laughter and a health baby at the end. Recovery wasn't any worse than the episiotomy I had first time round.

Chelyanne · 27/04/2021 14:08

I had elcs with breech twins after 3 vb's. I was terrified as I'd only heard bad things. The surgery was calm and I didn't really care much about what was going on. They did tilt the table slightly to the left which was uncomfortable with 17lb worth of babies in there so I supported it with my hand until the 1st was out. They were delivered 1 minute apart and I was too busy enjoying them to notice them stitching me up. I was in recovery for about 8 hours as I had heavy blood loss. I got up and walked once dh went home about 12 hours after surgery and felt like a lead weight so stayed in bed after that but didn't have any pain relief. The next morning I felt fine, once my catheter was out I went for lunch and a shower. No problems carrying both our girls and once home I was doing most things with no need for pain relief. I did avoid very heavy lifting for a few weeks and dh did all the driving for 6 weeks as he had paternity leave. My wound got infected 2 weeks after surgery as my stitches didn't dissolve as they should but removal and antibiotics sorted it and it was completely painless. I only notice my scar at the beginning if af and after heavy deadlifts these days. Hoping to go vbac with this baby but I will be happy to have ercs or emcs if needed.

QwertyGirly · 27/04/2021 14:11

I had an emergency c section (after a 48 hour labour) and an elective. The elective was so much easier to recover as my body wasn't as exhausted, I was emotionally more stable. I could sit up ok with a few hours, and walk/have a shower after around 12 hours. When home, make sure you have a breastfeeding pillow (even if you are bottle feeding) to help with supporting baby, and ready-made food. Plan for having nappies/wipes/clothes not too low down on a shelf, as it can be difficult to bend down (it's not hard to bend down, it's the getting up that's hard). I could do everything within around 5 days, except pushing a double buggy. No driving for a while.

THNG5 · 27/04/2021 14:11

I've given birth 4 times: first time naturally then 3 planned sections (breech, placenta previa, because I'd already had 2 sections). I found the whole process so much more relaxed and the recovery easier than my first (I did have forceps and loads of stitches with him).
I do think it's just luck of the draw on how you recover from what I read on these forums though.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 27/04/2021 14:14

2 emergency sections here, very easy recoveries. Definitely think it varies. I had zero issues and was on my feet within hours. Friends had varied experiences but apart from one who had an infection found it positive overall.

Nats1984 · 27/04/2021 14:15

I had a sneeze vaginal birth with my daughter , no stitches etc home within a few hours. Body completely unchanged after .
Had an emergency section with son . Home the next day, pottered about (slowly) tidying up in between making bottles. Did a full Tesco shop day 4. Cooked a roast for my dad on day 5 , it was doable because I wasn’t BF so I topped the painkillers up with codeine as I just wanted to be up and busy. Still occasionally feel a sort of pinch behind the scar 4 years later though don’t feel quite as strong.
Tummy tuck booked in a couple months to ‘de-mum’ my belly because it really doesn’t do much for the bikini bod , I’d say that’s the only downside. But obviously the upside is I think I’m the only one of my friends with more than one kid who’s pelvic floor has never let them down. I’ll take 4 years of occasional tenderness and twinges for that.

Immunetypegoblin · 27/04/2021 14:17

My mother loved her elective section, she said it was nice and calm and so much better than the two VBs! I have heard good things from other people as well re planned sections, so would be encouraged by that were I you OP

PolarnOPirate · 27/04/2021 14:20

I’ve had a 3c tear with forceps and an ELCS which didn’t go completely to plan. We’re considering DC3 so this is a real decision for me - definitely leaning hard towards another ELCS as overall my recovery was a lot quicker. But still wasn’t allowed out of bed for over 24 hours so still have a numb patch on my coccyx from sitting on it for ages!

Countrylane · 27/04/2021 14:22

@MixedUpFiles

It is a major abdominal surgery. You may find yourself barely able to sit up without finding ways to leverage your body weight with your arms. Recovery can be extremely slow because you don’t get the rest you need since you have a newborn to care for. It’s a wonderful, life saving surgery, but should be avoided if at all possible.

This is nonsense as far as I'm concerned. I ended up having an EMCS after 18 hours of labour with my first. There was more pain in five minutes of labour than there was in the whole of my C section recovery. Take it easy, take the painkillers, but compared to a bad vaginal birth an ELCS is fine.

PaddleBoardingMomma · 27/04/2021 14:26

@MixedUpFiles

It is a major abdominal surgery. You may find yourself barely able to sit up without finding ways to leverage your body weight with your arms. Recovery can be extremely slow because you don’t get the rest you need since you have a newborn to care for. It’s a wonderful, life saving surgery, but should be avoided if at all possible.

Ridiculous, damaging, uneducated and frankly idiotic message to be putting out there. You've no right to tell anyone that a section should be avoided, let alone to be scaremongering.

leggingsandwellies · 27/04/2021 14:28

I've had a non instrumental vaginal birth and an elective section. For me the section was amazing- so so so much easier than giving birth vaginally (just in my experience!) the pain of recovery is nothing in comparison to the pain of labour, and I was up and about in no time! Far less traumatic and easier overall.

I was really tired of all the 'but it's major abdominal surgery' comments before I chose the section-it is yes, but that doesn't make it harder or riskier than giving birth vaginally.

MindyStClaire · 27/04/2021 14:47

I've had two, both wonderful. First was an EMCS after a failed induction, very calm. Second was an ELCS with a large transverse baby, and unusually was more complicated than my EMCS but still grand.

Stay on top of your pain relief, don't wait for it to wear off, and if the standard drugs aren't cutting it just ask for something stronger. Once you're up and moving and the catheter is out, you'll feel much more human. I was able to do everything for the baby at that stage, and was lifting my toddler (briefly) after a few weeks. It did take the 6-8 weeks to feel normal again, but I was doing most things before that.

Agree about comparisons with friends struggling with prolapses or weak pelvic floors. I'll take my oh-so-sexy overhang!

User0ne · 27/04/2021 14:48

If you're having a section it's worth ensuring you have plenty of support for 4-6 weeks afterwards especially as you have another DC.

Ideally you want someone else doing all the older child care and all the housework/cooking.

The advantage is that you can plan it

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