Elective C-Section

[FartnissEverbeans]

Hi there everyone, I’m pregnant with my second and considering my options for the birth.

My first birth was vaginal and, although it might have looked ‘good’ on paper, it was a really horrible experience.

In spite of that, I’ve wanted to avoid a c-section due to the potential for complications and, if I’m honest, scarring.

However, I read a recent study that suggested that women with elective c-sections actually have fewer adverse outcomes - as do their babies.

So now I’m considering it and I’d love to hear other people’s experiences of elective c-sections. Emergency c-sections are very different, as I understand it, so I’d rather hear specifically about elective ones.

What was the recovery like? I have a four year old so that concerns me.
How much pain and discomfort did you experience afterwards?
What is the scarring like?

Thanks!

Haven’t had one to share my experience but I think I’m living in a positive bubble about c-sections.. I’m about to have one next month and after being petrified for so long I’m now telling myself it’s going to be completely fine. I think the actual procedure will be straightforward and relatively quick at least and I’ll get to meet my baby in a much more controlled environment than the drama (I imagine) of a vaginal birth. It’s the only birth I’ve ever considered, I just didn’t see the alternative as an option for me at all. Wouldn’t have had children if that was the only choice! I’ve spent years researching it all and although it’s very hard to find specific risks of elective c-sections without emergencies involved, most of the evidence I’ve found does say electives are the safest birth option, followed by a vaginal birth then emergency c-section (for obvious reasons). I got a lot of the info on birth rights and you can look up your hospital there to see their policies etc. Midwives/consultants love to sway the risks and make it sound like you’re going to 100% die going in for an elective when that isn’t what the true risks actually say at all 🙄 I just said yes yes yes to everything they said and signed the form.

Not looking forward to the recovery part and I’m allocating the first week to be pretty difficult to do anything (walking, getting in and out of bed etc). The second week I’m thinking I’ll still be housebound but will be getting better at walking about the house, looking after baby etc. For me that’s absolutely fine though, might be more difficult for you with another child. My cousin just had one and was out walking by 2 weeks then was running at 6 weeks. I think I’ll wait til 12 weeks to do anything more than walking though! The scar part is the one thing I haven’t really thought about, I’m not sure why. I think I’m maybe just so scared of the entire thing that a scar is the least of my worries. I’ll use bio oil on it over time and I’m not one to wear a low bikini anyway, can easily wear a high waisted one and no one will see it

If you decide you want an elcs get a referral to the consultants ASAP.

I had an elcs with my twins as they were breech and transverse, didn't want it tbh but it was the best option for the girls.
Surgery was better than I expected. I did have heavy blood loss so kept on recovery longer than normal. I was able to walk once on ward, less than 12 hours after surgery but felt like a lead weight so stayed in bed the night. The next morning I felt pretty normal, no need for painkillers and quite mobile once catheter was out. I was discharged within 36 hours of arriving at hospital, iron was low but not too low. Once home I was back doing most things, did avoid heavy lifting but was fine lifting 2 & 4 year olds after a few weeks. I didn't drive for 6 weeks as dh was home. My wound got infected a couple of weeks after surgery, doctor said there was what looked like a non dissolvable stitch in which was probably where bacteria got in. It was completely painless and sorted with stitch removal and antibiotics. Scar is barely visible, I notice it at the start of af and after heavy deadlifts. Currently 34+6wk, my scar is a bit uncomfortable when I get braxton hicks but has otherwise been fine, I may be going elcs again depending if the consultants decide it best to deliver early (better than induction for me).

I had a horrible first birth so opted for an elective for my second birth, it was a dream in comparison.
Was fantastic for planning going in to hospital and arranging childcare for dc1.
The whole procedure was over with quickly and I felt no pain at all the day of my section (was dosed up on pain killers) but the next day I was up and walking about (carefully) showered, and just on regular paracetamol. It was painful at that point, but to me it was nothing I couldn't deal with, nothing that stopped me shuffling about.
The ride home in the car, I was very sore though! Felt every single bump in the road, even with a cushion!
Once home I was able to get about but had rest too. Kept up with the paracetamol, and each day there was an improvement in the pain. I was off paracetamol within the week.
I'd say recovery from my section was much easier then from my 3rd degree tear. Without a doubt.
The scaring is very red and sore to start with, but nearly two years later it's faded a lot. I don't think it's very noticable at all. I know it will continue to fade.
i'm almost back to pre pregnancy weight but my stomach isn't as flat due to my little over hang where my scar sits, it's really not too bad at all, but thought I'd mention incase that would bother you.
If I ever had a third (absolutely not!! ) I'd have a c section for sure!
Good luck.

I was booked in for an Elective section in March because my baby was Breech. My waters broke 2 days before my elective section date and then I had to have an ‘emergency section’ it was an amazing experience and the way my emergency section went, it was not much different to what had been described to me for my elective, the only difference was waiting in Triage to go to surgery instead of having a scheduled time like for the elective. It was such an amazing experience I want to do it all again. The section took around 1 hour and I was in recovery, back to ward quickly and up and about that evening, got home the next day and made a great recovery. The pain is completely tolerable and I was back driving at 5 week, I’m now 17 weeks post op and you can barely see my scar.

Elective for my second after a very difficult first birth. Cannot recommend enough. It was calm, planned and whilst painful for a few days afterwards, it was worth it.

I still have a scar over 2 years later and a slight overhang but would take both not to have had a repeat of my first birth.

You do need to ensure you have support in that first week following the birth and help to get around if you live in a rural area given it takes a few weeks to drive again.

Following along as I’m also having an elective 🙂

I had to have ELCS with my first due to low lying placenta and I loved it.

I knew a few weeks in advance what day and time I was going in and everything was so calm and relaxed. The surgeon and theatre staff were really reassuring and laid back. I lost a lot of blood so had to stay in 2 nights but I was fine. The pain wasn’t too bad and I was out walking a mile or two everyday from day 4!

I’m currently pregnant with number 2 and I want to go for ELCS again

@sarah13xx Best of luck! The recovery part is what bothered me most, but recovery from my vaginal birth was pretty awful anyway as I ended up with some sort of inflammation in my pelvis and could barely walk for about a month.

@Chelyanne Thanks for this! Really helpful to hear from the perspective of someone in the know

@Misspacorabanne Thank you! This sounds like a really positive experience. WRT the scarring, tbh I don’t really like showing my belly anyway so I don’t see why it should bother me!

@KJB2020 Thank you! This sounds like a great experience. I’m glad for you and I’ll be bearing your comments in mind!

@gg96cgp Thank you! This sounds like exactly what I would be hoping for. I’ll have help, thankfully, as our nanny lives with us and is awesome.

@Cafeaulait27 Good luck with yours!

@Giraffe888 Thank you - it’s lovely to hear so many positive stories! There are so many terrifying stories on here about vaginal and EMCS births - it’s quite unusual to hear so many nice ones in one thread!

I loved my ELCS - all very calm and peaceful, no drama or fear. Recovery was fine, I stayed in one night then home the next day. Agree that the car journey home was the most painful bit!

I do have a scar but it’s far down and would be hidden by even the skimpiest bikini should I ever choose to wear one so it really doesn’t bother me.

Good luck!

My scar is extremely low. I’m not sure if it’s unusually low but it’s so far down nobody (except maybe my partner on his birthday 😂) would ever, ever see it. It’s also covered by hair.

It’s interesting to hear people’s experiences about recovery. I’m expecting my second and wanted to have a VBAC so it’ll be easier to look after my toddler but maybe I should reconsider.

Following this post as I am in the same boat OP. Really really swaying towards elcs!

My ELCS experience was perfect!

Very calm and relaxed
Theatre staff were great
Minimal blood loss
Very neat scar which is barely visible a year down the line
One night in hospital before being discharged
Only needed paracetamol and ibuprofen for pain
Very quick and easy recovery with no complications

Now pregnant with DC2 and will be requesting another without hesitation.

Jumping on this post as it’s similar to what I want to talk about…

I have 2 children already and due my 3rd in Feb.
I was wondering if anyone else has been in the situation where they ha e other children and no local family.
My family and my partners family are 3 hours away, so if I went into labour I’d have to wait for them to get here before I can go on to the hospital, which is the. Nearly another hour.

I wanted a c-section (my other 2 were natural births) just so it could be planned and I could arrange for someone to be here for the children.
I’m really panicking about what I will do if I go into labour naturally and nobody to watch my others.
I want a c-section on this basis.
Any advice!!!!

@HappyMummy2020 you can have a c-section for whatever reason you like. It’s up to you whether you think that’s the best choice for you based on your circumstances and health etc. I had one on Monday and it was absolutely amazing. Recovery has been a million times easier than I imagined it would be and I’m able to comfortably walk around the house and possibly manage a short walk with the pram at 1 week. If it’s just a child care issue and you actually want a vaginal birth then I’m sure there are solutions to this. You could get someone used to watching them before February who would be available at short notice?

I’ve had 1 emergency and 2 elective sections. Am booked in for my 4th section, 3rd elective in just under 3 weeks.

My experiences of electives have been wonderful and very positive ones.

The surgery itself and atmosphere in theatre was very calm and relaxing, I was passed baby straight away for skin to skin and I was able to breastfeed immediately.

Don’t be alarmed if you feel cold and shiver uncontrollably during the surgery, it’s totally normally and is a result of something in the drip.

Once up on the ward I was up and about walking around within 5-6 hours and had a shower.

I was home from hospital in just over 24 hours after the surgery. I was driving again in just under 2 weeks, and whilst I didn’t do any heavy lifting, I was able to comfortably look after baby and pick them up and go out for gentle walks within a couple of days of being home.

My scar is tiny, around 6 inches in width, and very low, it sits below my underwear line so isn’t visible when wearing a bikini etc. I do have numbness around the scar area though which I’ve had since the first section.

Relaxed sections are encouraged and this is what both my electives were like, and what I will opt for again this time.

I’ve attached pictures of the info I was given this time. I just have to tick the options I want and hand in at my pre op appointment.