*HELP!* C-Section booked for Friday - super scared!!!

[Mummatobefeb2022]

I have a C-Section planned on Friday and am absolutley bricking it!

The thought of the section itself is bad enough but the recovery is making me super anxious! Any tips for a smoother recovery?

All words of encouragement appreciated please!

Ok I was very reluctant to have a c-section and cried many times as it became more obvious that it was the most sensible option.

Then the day came and it truly was a lovely experience, I have nothing but lovely memories from that day. It felt like a very calm and pleasant way to have a baby. We still had skin to skin afterwards , there was music playing as she was born and dh still cut the cord.

Recovery wise as long as you stay on top of pain killers, it's ok. Not great at first but gets noticeably better each day. And stock up on laxatives- post-section constipation was by far the worst part of it for me.

Aww couldn't read and run. I had an elective c-section and it was the most wonderful experience of my life. We got to see her being lifted out and it was just amazing! So calm and just wonderful! My recovery was easy and straight forward. Far easier than my friends who had tears! I'm having another c-section and already can't wait! I felt very nervous but did lots of deep breathing throughout so I stayed calm and honestly I just loved it!

All the best OP and just try and enjoy xxx

Thank you so much both of you, you've really helped to put my mind at ease and I just may be able to get some sleep tonight.

So nice to hear some positive stories, I know because I am having one I am super tuned into it and it seems everything I read is negative! But you've both really helped. Thank you xx

Planned section was great! I was walking about that same evening, home the next morning. Small walk with pram the following day. I had friends who had vaginal births who took longer to recover (with some pretty horrendous injuries in some cases). I think one of the biggest positives of a planned section is that there's so little left to chance.

I had a c section and I was home the next day and went for a pub lunch two days after that. As PP said, keep on top of your painkillers and you should be ok. The hardest part is trying to get of bed for the first week, you kinda roll out of bed! ☺️ I have the best memories of the actual c section. It was just lovely x

I had a planned section 4 weeks ago. It was such a positive experience. I was on the ward chilling out in the morning, everyone explained everything so thoroughly and I walked down to theatre with DP allowed in once I'd had the spinal. I had a midwife who was only looking after rme and honestly she was such an amazing person. All the staff in theatre were lovely too, we chatted about all sorts but they were so professional too. After baby was born we got our own room for recovery for about 3 hours then we went back to the ward. The staff there were amazing too and came when I pressed the bell for help.
My recovery has been really good; baby born late morning and I was home by tea time the next day, we had visitors the next night, we were out for a walk within a few days and we've been every day, I was cleared to drive at 2 weeks PP, dropped painkillers by 2 weeks, didn't breastfeed (my choice) so no issues there, still.bleeding a bit but it's never been more than a heavy period. Just take it easy and accept help, get as many things to hand as possible (like a caddy with baby's nappies etc in), I took arnica tablets post birth, keep on top of pain relief (don't wait for the pain), drink plenty of water on hospital so you're able to pass water after your catheter is removed (they'll want to be assured you can go) , have things organised so if you do need things passed to you etc you can say where they are, I've got a v-shaped pillow that I used in pregnancy and then used to hold baby so she wasn't resting directly on my stomach. Good luck!

First baby was an emergency c section.
Second I wanted another section but wasn't allowed. Ended up as a high forceps delivery.
I recovered more quickly from the c-section so I think you are extremely lucky to be having an elective section. Best wishes.

I've had 3 C sections, 1 emergency after 20 hours of labour (exhausting but went smoothly), one elective (lovely and calm experience) and the third was planned though I was actually already in labour by the day of the section and I had a uterine rupture, fortunately whilst on the operating table (scary, though team were professional and only explained afterwards what had happened, once I was stitched up with baby in my arms). My tips are -

Stay on top of painkillers.
Try to get walking around as soon as possible and as straight as possible.
Trapped wind after a section can be incredibly painful. Lots of peppermint tea eased it a bit.
Let people help you with things if you're struggling. My DH and my mum took care of housework etc and even friends were only too happy to do things like running the hoover round etc when they visited in the week or two following my section.

Good luck, I'm sure it'll be fine.

I’m so glad I had c-sections. The recovery does take a while and do keep on top of painkillers, but the birth process was totally civilised and chilled. A far cry from most of my friends’ births who went the natural route! For my second pregnancy, the midwife was supposed to steer me towards vbac - her view was of course you would go for a c-section, you have 8 highly skilled people in a room with you making sure everything goes as smoothly as possible; the only downside being cost. Congratulations and good luck! Xx

Oh and I didn't need half the stuff I packed.

Wore the same clothes to go in and to leave
Hospital gown for section. Long nightie afterwards.
Didn't take a dressing gown
Didn't have a bath/shower (HCA helped me wash in bed and provided towel)
Baby only went through 2 x body suits and 2 x baby grows

Use the extra room for your favourite snacks instead! I had a lovely feast afterwards (you have to fast before the section)

Two elective c-sections here. Both very calm, even though I was nervous. The anaesthetist was lovely both times and talked me through it all. You should know you usually lie on a slight tilt, and when they cut the water sack you can get a rush of the waters - all normal! And the baby is out really quickly - you can feel lots of tugging but it doesn’t hurt. The stitching up takes longer but you will have your baby to focus on!!
I needed some help after my first to get comfortable to feed but got the hang of it quickly and avoided lying the baby on my scar. But I was up and about in a couple of days both times and recovered well. Don’t try and lift for a few days though - it really helps you heal if you can not put stress on the scar at all.
Just focus on how lovely it will be to meet your baby in a calm controlled and safe environment!

I had an ELCS and it was embarrassingly easy. I was up and about within 24 hours and doing the supermarket shop within a week. Kept on top of my painkillers and was never more than achy and a bit uncomfortable. You can barely see the scar and I don't have an overhang or anything.

Fab experience. 10/110 would c-section again.

I had an emergency csection 8 weeks ago and it was great! I had been booked in for an elective but my waters broke at home, but it was super chilled, stress free and a much more enjoyable experience after my first baby was born with forceps and episiotomy.

Better recovery too. It felt like my uterus was falling out for weeks after my first Labour, but thus one was much better!

I had a c section 2 weeks ago and my recovery has been better than my vaginal birth. 4 wobbly days where I couldn't stand from sitting easily but then improved quickly every day. Walked a slow mile twice this week. Not in pain now. It was very hard for 4/5 days but it got much better.

Thank you all so much, it's really put my mind at ease - I honestly can't thank you enough!

It will be a lot less scary than you think it will be. I wish I was on Mumsnet before I had mine as I was a nervous wreck.

The actual procedure I found fine. I was even laughing at the anesthetists jokes at one point!

With the recovery, I found the trapped wind painful. Peppermint tea helped and once I could get up to walk that helped too. The wound area wasn't half as scary as I imagined.

Congratulations op and soon you will have your beautiful baby in your arms.

Like a PP I had an elective CS planned but my waters broke at 36 weeks so had an emergency CS. (Didn't really feel like an "emergency" in a scary sense though, it was twelve hours after the waters broke and everything was really calm). The whole thing was a perfectly lovely experience, no significant pain, no stress.

I had a planned section too. I cannot imagine how tiring it must be going through labour then having to have one anyway!
I was most worried about the anesthesia but I honestly felt nothing. The section itself was bizarre feeling but the nurses and Dr's kept the reassuring chat throughout. DH helped with babe when she was born, it was all smooth for us. Only small issue was having to wait so long without food! I was last up in the day!
Recovery wasn't bad either, the day after, dd and I basically slept the whole day with dh watching over us. When we got home everything was tiring, getting in and out of bed tricky and I didn't enjoy the injections I had to put in my leg daily. I went out for a veryyyyyy slow short walk after a few days and it was good progression after that. I think I felt pretty normal by 3 weeks just reminding myself to be careful and take it easy.

Good luck for tomorrow and enjoy your newborn snuggles x

My ELCS was lovely too. Very calm and (for me the reason for wanting it) baby came out perfect and utterly unbattered. My recommendation would be to get in some windeze for the trapped wind - I drank loads of peppermint tea but actually it didn't clear it and I was in a lot of pain from the trapped wind (much more than from the surgery!) - the windeze cleared it within hours. Hopefully you won't need it, but it's as well to be prepared!

Good luck and congratulations on your imminent baby

I hope it went well today OP xx

So sorry for the delayed reply, I have been in a newborn bubble since Friday. My little (big) lady arrived at 11.30am, weighing 9lbs 7oz!

Thank to you all so much for your words of support and encouragement, I went in for my section on Friday and it was such a lovely experience.

I was still a little nervous when I walked into theatre, but the theatre team were so friendly and made me at ease instantly. We were even allowed to play our own music! I can honestly say the most painful parts of the experience was having the cannula inserted and the trapped wind 12 hours later (thank god for peppermint tea!)

Recovery wise, I am quite sore and achey but able to move around. I have spent the past couple of days rooted to the sofa, and only got up to ensure I don't get any blood clots! Staying still really helps the soreness and whilst it isn't pleasant, it really is manageable! I hope I haven't been lulled into a false sense of security and it suddenly gets worse LOL!

Thank you all again, your words really helped to relax me on Friday! For anyone else who is reading this who is worried, please don't! It was a truly lovely experience and would 1000000% do it again!

Congratulations.
I had mine 2wks ago on Friday 4th. Don't do what I keep doing and thinking you're fine so just do 'a bit' of housework. I think I've set my recovery back a while as I've definitely damaged myself.
I've started with an infection too as my wound has started opening. Not pleasant.

I did find that my pain got worse a few days after the c-section which I assume is the bruising starting to come out. But if it happens just make sure you're on time with your pain relief. I also had an evening of trapped wind almost a week after the op, so be aware you may suffer another bout out of the blue.