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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:
Peaplant20 · 27/04/2021 15:13

@MixedUpFiles what qualifies you to advise people to avoid a c section at all costs? Seems very uneducated to me. Both have risks, vaginal is riskier in some aspects and c section is riskier in others. Overall the risks of each are low as we have excellent healthcare in this country. My sister had an elective last year and she was up and about the next day and said all it felt like was that she’d done loads of sit ups. Obviously that’s not the same for everyone.

MixedUpFiles · 27/04/2021 15:41

Yes, I’ve had been cut from hip to hip multiple times. I am confident based on my experience in advising a woman to only consider a c-section as a last resort, not because she wants to avoid a vaginal birth.

Peaplant20 · 27/04/2021 15:47

@MixedUpFiles women are allowed to request a c section purely because they want one now (“maternal choice”) so although perhaps it wasn’t the best experience for you, the medical profession clearly considers them low risk enough these days to offer them to women who want to avoid a vaginal birth. My sisters cut was less than the length of my hand, certainly not hip to hip!

PollyDarton1 · 27/04/2021 15:49

I had an elective nearly 5 years ago. Best decision I made (on mental health grounds, long story) - the birth was blissful even if I did crash on the operating table and need adrenaline to boost BP!

Honestly recovery was so easy. Whilst other antenatal mums were struggling with tears by week 2/3 I felt fine. I've had zero complications and the tiniest of scars.

I'm one and done but if I had another I wouldn't hesitate for an elective.

traumatisednoodle · 27/04/2021 15:58

*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!*

The smoothest recovery has to be from an uncomplicated vaginal birth. Gave birth to DD at 12:40 am home by 3. Walked her to the GPs for a newborn check at midday. By the afternoon was picking up and carrying my 2 year old. Yes an elective c-section can have a relatively smooth recovery, but an easy vaginal birth is less disabling.

Moominmiss · 27/04/2021 16:17

I’ve had 1 emcs and 2 electives. All 3 were actually wonderful experiences.

Recovery with all 3 was relatively painless and perhaps easier than some of my friends who suffered severe tears down below!

With my 2 electives I was up and walking within 6 hours of surgery and went hone the next morning around 24 hours after surgery.

My scars from c sections were no more than 7” in width and healed perfectly. I then went into have a tummy tuck a few years later and so now have a hip to hip scar, but even my recovery from that was pretty easy!

I’m nearly 20 weeks pregnant and will be having my fourth c section this time around.

Experiences obviously vary from person to person, but there’s no reason to fear the worst. You can always find horror stories of both c section deliveries and vaginally births.
Just keep on top of pain management with painkillers you’re provided with, and accept any help from your partner or family.

I was back doing pretty much all of my day to day activities, including driving 2 weeks after surgery.

Good luck x

riotlady · 27/04/2021 16:44

@MixedUpFiles how long ago was that? It’s not typical to be cut from hip to hip.

My section recovery was ok, have never had a vaginal birth so nothing to compare it to. Was walking around and showering in the hospital after a few hours and was out for a (slow) walk around the shops after a week. Obviously it hurts a bit as you’ve had surgery, but it’s not awful or unmanageable.

ivfbeenbusy · 27/04/2021 16:46

I've had 2 - second time was with twins. Recovery fine - didn't even need morphine BUT I was on my feet within hours and constantly moving (my twins were in different part of hospital). It was the women who didn't move from their beds calling for morphine. I was driving within 2 weeks

CandyLeBonBon · 27/04/2021 20:04

@MixedUpFiles

Yes, I’ve had been cut from hip to hip multiple times. I am confident based on my experience in advising a woman to only consider a c-section as a last resort, not because she wants to avoid a vaginal birth.
They don't do hip to hip in the U.K.

Ive had 3. Not one hip to hip

CandyLeBonBon · 27/04/2021 20:05

@MixedUpFiles

Yes, I’ve had been cut from hip to hip multiple times. I am confident based on my experience in advising a woman to only consider a c-section as a last resort, not because she wants to avoid a vaginal birth.
And if the op has already had a traumatic vaginas birth she has every right not to want to go through that again, especially when there is an alternative.

Your comments are wildly inaccurate

Iwonder08 · 27/04/2021 20:35

Reality is different for every woman. I was up 4 hours after the surgery. Paracetamol /nurofen was enough to almost not feel any pain. I took them for 5 days post surgery. I was able to go for a walk with a pram on the third day post surgery. Everything healed nicely with no issues. The procedure itself was calm and relaxed, took only 30 min or so. I felt no pain.

Warmduscher · 27/04/2021 20:39

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

If I’d avoided it, both DD and I would be dead and DS wouldn’t exist.

sarah13xx · 27/04/2021 20:42

I’m having an elective section (first baby) due to severe anxiety about birth. I’ve also got placenta praevia, which was discovered after I requested a section but they’ve now said I’ll probably need one for that anyway! I’m just reading every post on the subject now to get a better idea what to expect 😂 I’m so worried about the actual procedure (and really mainly just the spinal) that I feel like I can’t worry about what it’s like after. I’ve kind of geared myself up that the first week won’t be much fun but I’d way rather the pain was there than down below because I’d been cut to bits 🙈

CandyLeBonBon · 27/04/2021 20:58

@sarah13xx

I’m having an elective section (first baby) due to severe anxiety about birth. I’ve also got placenta praevia, which was discovered after I requested a section but they’ve now said I’ll probably need one for that anyway! I’m just reading every post on the subject now to get a better idea what to expect 😂 I’m so worried about the actual procedure (and really mainly just the spinal) that I feel like I can’t worry about what it’s like after. I’ve kind of geared myself up that the first week won’t be much fun but I’d way rather the pain was there than down below because I’d been cut to bits 🙈
Honestly. You'll be fine. The spinal really sounds worse than it is. Best of luck Thanks
sarah13xx · 27/04/2021 20:59

@leggingsandwellies

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.

This is what’s doing my head in just now! You don’t sign a form to say you’re happy with the risks of a baby coming out your vagina therefore a section seems way riskier because you have to see it written in black and white. Yet getting your lady bits cut in two with little to no pain relief is absolutely fine 🤣😭 no thank you!
sarah13xx · 27/04/2021 21:01

@CandyLeBonBon thanks! I think I’m making that part of it into a bigger thing than it really is 🙈 I just overthink and even thinking about the idea of a needle going into my spine makes me shake 😂 I need to just put a mental block on that and the operation part of it and just kid on I’m excited to see the baby and nothing else

Jfw82 · 27/04/2021 21:01

Had an induction and natural vaginal delivery for first (fortunately no tears) and my second was planned section as baby was breech. It was a really calm experience. But recovery and looking after baby... much easier after number 1 than section

Coconutmeg · 27/04/2021 21:06

I drank a lot of fluids straight after so that the catheter was filling up well and they were happy to remove it.
Then I could start moving about.
Moving/walking is your best way to a faster recovery.

Nubbin · 27/04/2021 21:41

My first dd was a forceps delivery after a very very very long induction. Second an ELCS.

The second I had at around lunch - discharged the next day at 9 am (COVID this year so no desire to stick around from me or the midwives) - once at home I found the leveraging off bed difficult - picking up, walking were fine it was just the moving from horizontal to sitting to standing that put pressure on the scar - I ended up rigging scarves across bedposts to make it easier. Within 2 weeks I was walking the dog - within 3 begging the gp to let me drive. I drove again at 4 weeks happily lifting the car seat in and out.

Compared with my first - recovery was a lot easier but equally I was a lot more confident re dd2 so not the same sleep deprived wreck.

LifeBeginsNow · 27/04/2021 21:55

Has anyone got experience of recovery immediately after a csection under GA? I keep reading about these lovely experiences of being handed your baby and getting bonding time but I won't be able to do that. I just dont know how long I will have to wait to be awake enough to hold my baby. It's going to be surreal being pregnant one minute and waking up to a newborn being passed to me that I have no memory of delivering.

Original poster
Yummymummy2020 · 27/04/2021 22:53

Thanks so much for all the feedback everyone, it’s really reassuring to hear of people’s experiences mainly being good! I had such an awful experience last time that I think a planned section should be a lot less painful overall as I was in a really bad way and wasn’t able to walk around much at all as I had a bad experience with forceps and epistomy that needed an awful lot of stitches and then had healing issues! I was grateful as getting my baby out so fast saved her but I really was left with a lot of pain and physical issues after which i was told could be made worse with a vaginal birth although if straight forward and not a other instrumental delivery could also be fine. Even if baby does turn it would be an induction again so I know I would be running a risk of needing a section anyway if not another instrumental delivery again but reading how people were up and about after a few hours really makes me feel much better about getting one whether I have to or choose to! So thank you all again!

OP posts:
Original poster
Yummymummy2020 · 27/04/2021 22:56

Although I’m new to a c section I did get an epidural last time and in my case that didn’t hurt at all, they used a spray on my back first and I didn’t even notice it going in at all, just wanted to tell you to try not to worry too much about that bit as I was expecting it to be awful when it was no such thing! They told me it would take 20 min to insert it with prepping the area and that but actually it was way way faster than that! I was genuinely shocked when they said it was in as I was waiting on the pain to come!

OP posts:
Original poster
Yummymummy2020 · 27/04/2021 22:57

@sarah13xx

OP posts:
sarah13xx · 27/04/2021 23:00

Oh that’s reassuring! Thanks ☺️ I think by the time it comes the excitement will be more than the fear!

QwertyGirly · 28/04/2021 09:35

@LifeBeginsNow, I think many more women have a c sections performed under local anesthetic. I have met or heard of very few women who have had a general anesthetic for an emergency c-section, and none that have had a general for a planned section.

If you post a new thread, maybe women with a similar experience will be able to offer you some support.

But to reassure you, I had an emergency c-section with my first, he was immediately taken away to be resuscitated, and I didn't see him for some time after birth. We bonded very well and had no issues with breastfeeding etc, except that he was so tired that we had to wake him up to feed. That was because of the difficult and very long labour, not the emergency c-section itself.