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

@Cafeaulait27 yip, of the people I know who have given birth recently the ones who have stayed in for more than 2 days had lost a lot of blood and that’s why they needed to stay in. None of them were sections funnily enough! Yeah can you imagine the risks of vaginal births if those same high-risk women all went for it naturally. There would be way more deaths! My friend who had forceps, episiotomy, the lot now has a 1 year old and yet still wets herself on a daily basis. She said absolutely go for it. It’s the people who haven’t given birth recently that remember it in a better light or those who haven’t at all that seem to want to sway you into it 🤷🏼‍♀️ People try to tell me they were the same as me too but just decided to do it. I can assure you you weren’t the same as me if that was your decision! There isn’t a hope in hell I’ll be doing it, no matter what 🤣 There’s definitely still a stigma around sections for some reason. It’s so bizarre people are so interested in every private detail of your bodily functions when you’re pregnant and how a baby left your body! I’m hoping my story is just ‘went in on the day I was told, straight forward, met my baby, home the next day’ 😊 Feel like people expect the big dramatic story and I’m determined not to have one 🙈

@sarah13xx @Cafeaulait27 Sad thing is you're both probably absolutely right that it all boils down to money. Which is just awful. Considering we pay our damn taxes!
I know of ladies who had 3rd and 4th degree tears, numerous surgeries afterwards and are still suffering years on. It's depressing.
Me and my DH have decided this is going to be our lasr baby, so even if my recovery from a section took a little longer than most, I'm okay with it. I'm actually just excited to know I'll be able to sit down without feeling like my fanjo is being ripped in two. I want to be able to provide adequate care for both my toddler and my newborn and this time for me, a section will allow me to do that.
I hope both you ladies get everything you want!!! X

I've been following this thread but not had anything to contribute.
My midwife suggested an elective c section for this baby, there were a lot of complications last time for me and baby. I have the consultant appointment coming up. I've no idea what their stance will be. We weren't having another baby mainly due to the labour but here we are it must be the hormones but part of me wants to take my chances with a vaginal birth.
Any of you who have your ELCS, could you update on what your experience is like and your recovery? Especially if there are toddlers in the house.

@Peach01 Hey hunnie! So sorry you had a bad experience. When do you have your consultation appointment?
Mine is on Thursday and I'm really excited now at the prospect. I think once you spoken to your consultant you'll be able to make a more informed decision on how you want to birth. How far along are you?

Thank you
Hopefully once I get the consultants opinion it'll help. I think if they're supportive of it I'll be more inclined to request it, if they're not then I don't know how I feel. I don't know what to expect but around 70% sure I want one. It seems like the most sensible option after last time but it's the unknown.
I'm 16 weeks, the appointment is on Wednesday. That's great. I hope your appointment goes well on Thursday. It's great that you're sure and you can get prepared for it all.

@Peach01 Obviously as others have said further up the thread, you can request a c-section for maternal reasons and are well within yours rights, so if you feel you want one and get pushed back, you can fight it or asked to be referred to a consultant who WILL do it, and they can't refuse.
How did your first birth go if you dont mind my asking? Instrumental intervention? Long labour? I had a ridiculously quick labour, too quick for my body to handle I think. I now I have a prolapse which may get worse at the years go on. I can already feel it aching more as my pregnancy progresses now which is making me really sad about the rest of my pregnancy.
The risks of c-section outweigh the risks of worse damage to my pelvic floor and prolapse via a vaginal birth so I've pretty much made up my mind now.

The midwife had said that, I don't know how I feel about it to push for it.
You'll be sorry you asked 😂
Induction, constant monitoring(head clip failed twice), haemorrhage, baby's HR disappeared, drs came, 2 stayed, forceps, cord around neck pulling baby back when I was pushing. Dr cut it on the way out. Baby was born perfect. DP overheard them say they didn't expect a good result. The Drs were amazing.

I've heard a quick labour is a bad labour. I'm not surprised it was too quick for your body to handle. Did you go into labour naturally? They say your second is often quicker too. Was the prolapse terrible? That's awful it's affecting your pregnancy. You definitely don't want to take the risk with that becoming worse. I've had problems with my episiotomy and don't want another. I found recovery terrible, my iron was rock bottom, had nothing left in me. Missed out on that "instant" feeling people talk about. That's the hardest part.

@Peach01 Jesus you poor woman. Makes my labour and delivery sound like a breeze 😳 how was your recovery initially? No one told me about the post partum bleeding and when I got home I was passing huge clots. Thought I was dying! It was pretty traumatic for me. Twinned with the pain I had everytime I sst down, just awful!
I can totally understand you being scared you're pregnant again though after going through that ordeal.
So my prolapse isn't hanging out of my body or anything but there is a visable bulge in the opening, which is the back wall of my vagina being pushed against by my rectum. It thankfully hasn't effected my sex life and DH doesn't bat an eyelid, he's very understanding of it all. But it really makes me feel less of a woman and I fear another vaginal birth will make it ten times worse! X

I just had my consultant app regarding my Papp-a and asked the question regarding Csection in the end, he asked why I wanted it, I said due to health anxiety, he said do I know there are complications and I said yes I've researched. He then said he'd put a note on to say he's approved my c-section request and that it'll be booked in at my 32 week scan for week 39. He sounded like he was in a rush and I didn't even have to go through my notes that I'd written. Feeling really relieved as I thought I was going to have to really push for it but feel like he was that busy he just wanted me off the phone anyway lol. X

@jessicakxx aww hun I'm super pleased for you! I'm nervous about my appointment on Thursday now I've a feeling knowing my luck they're going to refuse me now! 😂 to be honest though they've booked me in for a scan at 36 weeks which tells me this meeting on Thursday will be to go over the risks and put my decision in writing... or so I hope 🤭🤞 xx

@MyGrassIsBrowner I know you will get it and that would make sense about the 36 week app! Wishing you all the luck and will be thinking of you :) xxx

My first DD was IVF; I don't cope well with anything down there (first smear I had she nipped me internally with the speculum and since then I go for them looking like me and come out looking like Gene Sinmons from KISS) and at 36 weeks I had a total meltdown and realised I wanted an ELCS. Spoke to a midwife who booked me in with a consultant, she asked my reasons so I told her about my first smear and also that I'd went through so much to fall pregnant with DD I didn't want to risk anything so she approved it there and then. Hospital for 6am bang on 38 weeks, had her just after 8.

Fell pregnant naturally with DD2 and immediately knew I wanted another ELCS so it was put on my paperwork from my first appointment and I had her last year. Again, in hospital for 6am and had her just after 12pm.

I am a total baby with anything medical however I can't explain it other than because it's planned, it's so relaxed. You go into theatre and your partner waits outside until you've had your spinal (never felt a thing both times when they were doing it) then immediately it feels like stepping into a warm bath - the warm sensation goes all the way up your body and then you're completely numb. I remember seeing my leg in the air at one point while they took my knickers off 😂 anaesthetist is up near your head and is always doing your obs and checking you can't feel anything (he used like an ice spray on me every 5 minutes) and if you feel sick you can tell them and they'll give you some meds (during my first I felt like I was going to throw up so he popped meds in my drip and a few minutes later I was sorted). When it comes to getting baby out (takes around 20 minutes from going in) I personally felt like a pulling and tugging and they were getting mine out. Once baby is out the longest bit is stitching you back up. Both times I was in theatre around 2 hours and then back on the ward you will inhale the tea and toast you get along with anything else!

Seriously, I watch casualty with a pillow over my face yet I'd have another ELCS tomorrow! Positive experiences both times!

Listen to your body and you will be amazing. Good luck!

@MyGrassIsBrowner found it terrible. Incontinence, bleeding and pain from the epesiotomy. Felt like my pelvic floor couldn't hold everything. Was being checked for pre-eclampsia until 10 days post pregnancy. Proteins weren't high enough to diagnose but the other symptoms were getting worse.

Can imagine it would've been horrible to sit down after a prolapse. A lot of side sitting? Does the pressure of the baby push it just now? That's awful you feel like that, you've done an incredible thing bringing your baby into the world. Yeah you definitely don't want to do anything that's going to aggravate that. I hope you get your c section booked in and have a much better experience and less of the unexpected, you can be better prepared.

@jessicakxx fantastic. What a relief that must be

@dillydallydollydaydream7 thanks for your detailed description, this is exactly how I’m hoping mine goes 😊 think I’m so worried about the cannula in my hand and spinal that I hadn’t really thought of the numb feeling or much beyond it!

My first was ELCS. It was fine and I recovered very quickly. Second was a vaginal delivery.

Re the moving your bowels, get some glycerin suppositories and it will help.

@jessicakxx good news for you then! Suits you that he was too busy 😂 that’s good they’re booking it in as early too

@jessicakxx Aww thank you lovely, will update the thread after my appointment! Xx

@dillydallydollydaydream7 Wow, that sounds like you had an absolutely wonderful experience with your sections. I think we all hope it goes down like that for us! That would be the dream. I'm pretty good with needles so the spinal block doesn't bother me in the slightest. It'll be the pure anticipation the night/morning before my section that will have me on edge but I want to try and get a good sleep in beforehand lol! Can I ask how soon you were up and walking about and when they removed the catheter? X

@Peach01 Oh yes, lots of side sitting or sitting with one bumcheek on a pillow. Proved rather uncomfortable when breast feeding which resulted in me having a really shit experience and having to put DD on formula. Determined to try breastfeeding again this time and going to take a nursing pillow along to the hospital with me.

I find now when sitting on the loo I get a dragging sensation and it aches. Sometimes I have to splint the bulge with my thumb when going for a poo as the bulge is essentially the stool sat in my rectum pushing against the back wall of my vagina. Nothing hangs out of my body thankfully but you can see the bulge at the entrance. I'm just glad I got an official diagnosis as when I went for my last smear I asked the nurse to check for me and she said.. meh, everything looks okay. When deep down I knew something wasn't right. Or I got the usual 'things are going to be different down there, you've had a baby' .....hang on? Why should it be when our bodies are made to cope with childbirth?! Its frustrating and can definitely be avoided. X

[quote MyGrassIsBrowner]@jessicakxx Aww thank you lovely, will update the thread after my appointment! Xx

@dillydallydollydaydream7 Wow, that sounds like you had an absolutely wonderful experience with your sections. I think we all hope it goes down like that for us! That would be the dream. I'm pretty good with needles so the spinal block doesn't bother me in the slightest. It'll be the pure anticipation the night/morning before my section that will have me on edge but I want to try and get a good sleep in beforehand lol! Can I ask how soon you were up and walking about and when they removed the catheter? X[/quote]
Ah the anticipation is like nothing else I won't lie - with my first I was first on the list so didn't have long to wait but I was third on the list with my second and it was like waiting a lifetime! With my first they removed it about 9pm after visitors had gone (pre-Covid) but after my second they removed it about 8pm - mainly so they could bring a cake in for me and sing without me being self conscious 😂(it was my 30th). First time round they stood me up and I shuffled to the chair before tea but my legs were still unsteady so they left me a bit longer, second time as soon as my catheter was out I went to the bathroom to freshen up. I felt loads more steady second time round. Just don't push yourself too much but try little and often cause as soon as you're moving you're on the mend - I'd heard horror stories about people not being able to stand for pain but it was nothing like that. Tip: take in loadsss to drink cause you have to pass so much water once your catheter is out before they'll let you out the next day so I took a couple of bottles of juice and some of the big bottles of flavoured water x

[quote sarah13xx]@dillydallydollydaydream7 thanks for your detailed description, this is exactly how I’m hoping mine goes 😊 think I’m so worried about the cannula in my hand and spinal that I hadn’t really thought of the numb feeling or much beyond it![/quote]
You are very welcome the catheter did freak me out but it's the way they smack your hand to get the vein up (I am literally so squeamish writing that 😂) and I was freezing, but once it's in try not to think about it. Soon as you're back on the ward and they're finished giving you any additional fluids they'll remove it - the feeling of it being out is amazing!

Had the appointment this morning. It was a case of if you want one, you have one. I could have a good vaginal birth but no guarantees. I have another appointment with them booked in to speak about. Pleased I have such a long time to decide.

@Peach01 that's brilliant news, glad you have both options available to you so you can decide in your own time xx

It was very laid back. Somethings telling me to have a vaginal birth (hormones no doubt) but all the negative things I don't want to happen, there will be no control over.

@dillydallydollydaydream7 😂 not looking forward to that bit at all! I’m fine with normal injections but I feel like I’ve looked into where the cannula actually goes a bit too much and now I’ll be overthinking it. I’ll try and just countdown from 10 at every sore bit or something 😂

@Peach01 was your appointment in person or on the phone? Mine is this week and was meant to be in person (it’s my second one) but it’s now on the phone it seems 🤔 every other appointment is in person apart from these consultant ones