Please tell me your ELCS stories!

[MyGrassIsBrowner]

Just that, how was your experience(s)?
I'm due to meet with the consultation on Monday with my request for one. I'm currently 22+4 with baby no.2. My DD is 14 months now, my birth with her was on an MLU. Midwife at the time was not supportive, I pushed at all the wrong times, didn't get any pain relief (G&A) until the last minute when at that point I couldn't focus on it as I was in so much pain, she was back to back also (contractions were off the scale pain wise) ended up with 2nd degree internal tear and graze on labia.
Pretty sure I've got a mild prolapse now, rectocele and I'm fairly certain as I have had a good look down there (okay, it hasn't been formally diagnosed but was dismissed by the nurse when I had my smear after DD) so haven't bothered to follow it up. Took me months and months before I could sit down normally without being in agony. Now I'm getting heavier it's exacerbating all my previous symptoms (especially feels uncomfortable when I sit on the loo and sometimes find I have to manually remove stool as I'm too fearful of pushing.
Anyway, midwife pretty much said no off the bat, straight onto me with the risks etc (which I have made myself fully aware of through my own research) must have then felt sorry for me as I cried down the phone to her she then arranged for me to meet with the consultant on Monday which I am so happy about. I know I may have a bit of a fight on my hands for one but I just want to get myself prepared!

So... did you have one? How did you find it? Am I being daft? I look forward to reading your replies! 😊 x

I had a similarly terrible first experience OP, and a ELCS for the second, of which I have lovely memories.

Yes the spinal needle bit is not nice and the catheter etc, but I had all that for the first birth too (failed epidural and then spinal after days of agony and no sleep).

I opted for the latest date offered, then it was delayed again due to scheduling so ended up being 39+6.

I was lucky to be able to breast feed with no issues.

The service before and after was a million times better than for the first natural birth. It felt like we’d gone private, despite being in the same hospital. We were in a lovely quiet ward for several hours pre and post-op with baby and a small team of midwives looking after us and always available, right outside our cubicle. Toilets clean, and not down a corridor miles away from the bed like in the main post natal ward.

We got to do slightly delayed cord clamping and skin to skin immediately after.

I took it really easy for the 6 weeks after birth, was always conscious of the slices through my organs healing up, so was in no rush to get back to normal activities.

Just remembered, I had a mild cold/cough which was actually harrowing - the fear of coughing made me hold it all in for days until a midwife said I would give myself pneumonia as I had really rattly lungs/breath. (Hold a cushion into whole stomach area, to stop movement, not just the wound, it’s not as bad as you think it’s going to be.)

Healed really well and no pain except for the coughing, with just paracetamol and ibuprofen after the first couple of days. Still have various issues down there from the first birth though.

Definitely would recommend ELCS based on my experience.

Was just 1 night in hospital btw, that seems to be the norm now, seems a bit crazy as they must assume you have lots of support at home.

@MyGrassIsBrowner I don't remember any clots. I remember switching to the thinner pads after about 7-10 days though. I think I was off all pain meds by 3-4 weeks but to be honest it's all a bit of a blur!!

Have to say mine was great! I had gone into labour before the planned section, but because I had to have a section, they prepped and I was in theatre within 4hrs. Spinal was fine (was amazing as it stopped the labour pains!), it was so calm and relaxing, listened to our own music. Had skin on skin after the clean up and was like that for hours. Had the section at 7pm, catheter out and walking around by midnight-1am, discharged at 4pm the next day. Stopped the painkillers after day 3, went for a pub lunch on day 6! Was a great experience for me and my husband.

@sarah13xx that's exactly what I said to my DH, it'll be like going to a blumming retreat haha. I say that now though, probably wont be like that when the reality sets in before my date 😂 Bloody hell, I'm talking like I've been accepted already, but to be honest I'm not going down without a fight. Got my notebook in front of me this morning writing down all my questions and quotes from the NICE guidelines that I feel are relevant to me. I'm going in prepared! 💪
I'm not good with blood in movies, but irl for some reason I can cope? Strange one 😂 I'd absolutely love the opportunity to watch them pull her out so I'm definitely going to ask about that. I wonder if DH will be able to cut the cord? He did it with DD but ended up hacking it cause he didn't realise how tough it was. The midwife was just like... 🤦🏻‍♀️ lol. In his defence you dont realise how bloody strong and rubbery they are, it's mad!

I'm happy for DH to have first hold of her this time, my mind will be too focused on them getting me stitched up and blubbing so I probably wont be in any state to try and attempt to hold her haha!! X

Oh, and my husband cut the cord. I wasn’t even aware of being stitched up, too busy cuddling! Was moving around fine when I got home and had minimal bleeding, barely a tablespoon at a time. They lowered the curtain so we could see the baby come out - it was like the lion king!

@Grognonne wow, that on a whole sounds like you had a lovely experience. Looking back I'm so sad about the trauma I went through with my DD. I so hope a section will turn out as nicely as so many of you other ladies experiences with them!

@Grognonne so amaaaazing that you got to see them pull baby out. I really want that. It's like a once in a lifetime experience. It must be so surreal!

@MyGrassIsBrowner yeah definitely! You might find they don’t give you much hassle about it and will just agree it there and then but it’s best to be prepared! They can obviously tell by speaking to someone if they’re in the ‘no other option’ camp or whether they can be swayed easily. Yeah I saw a YouTube video of a gentle c-section and it was too much for me but you’d maybe prefer that if you want to see what’s going on 😂 I’m pretty sure as long as everything’s gone okay they can cut the cord. Not sure whether my partner will want to though, he’s a nightmare even coming to the scans with how freaked out he gets never mind sitting through me being cut open 🙈 think I will want him to have first hold too. I’ve seen some people have the baby kinda lying on their neck but it doesn’t look great at all so think I’ll just say hi then he can hold him til we’re in recovery and I can get sat up in the bed x

@sarah13xx I do hope I'm not having to fight too much. I'm so emotional at the minute and I know I'll start crying.. I'm so embarassing haha.
Yeah the table is tilted at an angle as well and on top of everything else it'll just be an awkward position for us to have a good hold of baby. Besides the wait to hold baby will make it all the more special! Though DH has already informed me I'm not getting a look in 😂 x

Hey ladies, quick update!
Had my hospital appointment last night to request a c-section. Sadly all the consultants were in surgery and so the clinic was delayed by hours, I waited 3 hours before been seen to! I didn't quite mind though it got me out of the house!
In the end I was seen to by a gynae doctor. She confirmed my prolapse which is in fact rectocele which is what I suspected all along. I didnt particularly need to do much begging and she understood my reasons for wanting an elective this time. She's referred me to speak to the actual consultant in due course to finalise everything and probably get a decision in firm but so far it looks promising. I have been booked in for an antenatal check and scan at 36 weeks so I'm assuming this is something routinely done before section date is given? Anyway, I came away feeling quite positive about the whole thing. I had to laugh though as when I told her I'd done a tonne of research she said right.. I wont bore you with the risks then 😆 xx

I’m so sorry to hear you’ve found it so hard to get a c section. This is my first baby and I asked for a c section due to fear of a ‘natural birth’ - I am well aware of the risks of a c section and wanted to do that. As you say when you describe your first birth, it’s not as though a vaginal birth is risk free!

I was lucky that my trust are very supportive and the midwife was fine with it. Although she did make one stupid comment ‘oh you millennials, you want to be able to plan everything and you want it to be exactly how you plan it’ etc etc I just ignored her.

I have to have 2 appointments with consultants but I have been told it’s just a formality and that my c section will go ahead. I hope they’re right!

Hope everything goes ok for you xx

@Cafeaulait27 I dont understand why the midwives feel the need to pass comments or judgement, at the end of the day it isn't down to them to say yes or no to the section anyway. Think they just like to get their 2 cents in!
I'm now waiting to see the actual consultant anyway so all being well, my decision will be supported 🤞 even if this consultant refuses, they do have to refer you to someone who will do the section, so it seems I'll get one regardless, I just dont want a consultant who is going to do it begrudgingly, that's my main concern at the moment.
You're so lucky your trust has been super supportive! It seems like the NHS is just overwhelmed by the influx of lockdown babies at the moment, they must be doing far more sections than usual! Xx

@MyGrassIsBrowner yes! I hope I get a willing consultant too. I don’t even have a medical reason for wanting mine but I deserve to be treated without anyone being funny with me, and so do you!

From what I was told by the obstetrics team it seems some trusts make it much harder for elective c sections than others. It’s a real shame that women are still being treated this way sometimes! Xxx

@Cafeaulait27 I totally agree. You are well within your rights to request a 'maternal' c-section however, it is down to the consultant in the end and sadly they can also refuse. But there will be a consultant who will accept on maternal preferences and they may transfer your care to another hospital if you have another nearby.

Good luck with your further consultations, I hope you get the result you want! Xx

@Cafeaulait27 I'm also requesting one Monday without medical reasoning at my consultant app. I'm soooo nervous. Will let you know how it goes. Good luck with yours

@MyGrassIsBrowner that sounds really promising and really pleased for you xx

My section is this Friday!

However I'm feeling a little nervous, I have a sore thoat not sure if it's a cold or tonsillitis (doctor tomorrow). Apparently this won't affect my section but I'm so nervous of passing anything to baby!

@MyGrassIsBrowner aw that’s great you were listened to and were obviously right all along! Yeah I have another scan at 36 weeks too, I think mine is so they know exactly where the placenta is before cutting me open 🙈 but I presume it’s a routine thing! It doesn’t sound like you’ll have any difficulty in getting it, especially when another doctor has confirmed you actually do have a medical reason. I’m getting my section date at only 33 weeks (but I think that’s just because she felt sorry for me and thought it would be easier than listening to me til 36) 😂 She’s certainly implied she’s booking it at 33 anyway, I hope I don’t turn up for that appointment and get fobbed off for another few weeks. Just want to keep my legs crossed now and hope he stays in til the date! Everyone I know just now keeps having their baby early 🙈x

@MyGrassIsBrowner when I had the phone appointment firstly to discuss why I wanted a c section she said basically everyone at my trust who wants one, gets one. She said the consultants won’t say no as they are a very pro choice Hospital. So I really hope she’s right! I don’t really want to have to go to a different one to get a c section, fingers crossed xx

@jessicakxx Thank you and good luck with your consultation too!

@Cafeaulait27 Your hospital sounds very supportive which is great. I'm still not 100% sure what my hospitals stance is on being pro-choice for mothers when it comes to birth plans but I'm sure I'll find that out the further I go along. I can't see me being refused a section but I'm just desperate to meet with the consultant now so I know where I stand!

@sarah13xx I bet the doctor had never seen a lady so happy to be told she had a rectocele... LMFAO. I just knew I wasn't going daft and so many people had tried telling me I was overreacting and that 'things take time to go back to normal down there' I'll be perfectly honest, the day after I gave birth I had a look down there and was horrified, ever since that day I knew something wasn't right.

Yeah I think the 36 week scan is to check babies position and placenta, although baby can move even after 36 weeks lol. How far along are you now? This is my concern is going into labour before the date lol. I was 40+6 with my DD so I'm hoping this one will be too comfortable in there. I've also got a feeling this little lady is going to be big, I'm only 23+3 and my bump is huge! My DD was 8lb 6oz so not huge but certainly not small by any means lol. No wonder she ruined me on the way out 😆 x

Good luck and keep us updated! Xx

@MyGrassIsBrowner haha probably thought what a strange appointment that was 🤔🤣 yeah it seems to be! My baby move between breach and right way up every other day it seems 🙈 I’m 33 weeks this week so it’s only a few days til my appointment to get it booked in! Yeah hopefully she stays out til the date you’re given. I’m still being quite active and doing the odd light pregnancy workout but I’m going to stop them next week and try and take it easy with the walking in case that starts anything off 😂 I think my date might be at 38 weeks if the placenta is still as low, kind of hoping it is then it’s less chance to go early! x

@Cafeaulait27 I expect some updates yourself too lovely! 😊 x

@jessicakxx I know right.. I did feel sorry for her though she looked stressed, she must have been the next best doctor to put in place of the consultants as they were all on call and there were so many ladies still waiting to be seen, was a nightmare.
Ooooh wow you're very close then omg!! Have you found out what you're having?
I would definitely start taking it easy though now, definitely dont want to do anything to start labour 😆 I just recently sold my birthing ball on FB Marketplace as I'm hoping I wont need it now 🙈
I've got anterior placenta this time, I'm wondering how that affects the section then, especially if the placenta is where the incision will be made. Something worth asking for sure! Aww I'm so hoping you get your date 🥰 xx

I've just got an appointment through to speak to the consultant next Thursday! 😀 x

@MyGrassIsBrowner wooo that's brilliant xx