C-Section on Monday- Nervous! Any positive experiences?

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Hello,

I'm booked for a C-Section on Monday due to baby being breech.

This is my 2nd Child. The 1st was a straight forward VB.

I'm very nervous about the C-Section (particularly the spinal block). They were initially going to use a GA (due to some problems with bleeding in the past) however they've since reconsidered and I much prefer the idea of a Spinal block even if I am very nervous!

Just looking for anyone with any positive experiences to share/advice?

TIA

How exciting! I've had 2 ELCS and both were lovely experiences. Try not to worry (easier said than done I know!). My advice is to relax and enjoy it as best you can and once the spinal has worn off, get up and moving as quickly as possible! The more you move, the better you feel. Obviously just gentle shuffling around on the bed and then a bit of pottering about round the bed - not going for a run or anything! Keep on top of pain relief and take everything offered - the first 24 hours are the most painful and then it gets better quite quickly, although honestly I found recovery from my vaginal birth much more painful than from a c section. Another tip is put everything you need at home at waist height as bending down and stretching up can be quite sore for a few days. Good luck with it all!

I had a c-section in Feb (planned that turned into a serious emergency situation 3 weeks early). I had a great experience. Despite it being a real emergency (narrowly missed a GA and they didn't wait for my partner who was 30mins away as they felt they needed to get in now) the whole thing was pretty relaxed. The staff were fab- I had a midwife (the one who had been looking after me for the past few hrs so I felt I knew her a bit) by my shoulder explaining everything to me, the anaesthetic guy responded immediately when I started to feel sick and was chatting away checking on me throughout, all the staff introduced themselves. I was even offered a choice of music- didn't care by that point! Baby was held up for me as soon as she arrived and the midwife had offered to take my phone to take pictures as my partner wasn't there which she did some really good ones. Baby was then taken to be assessed but kept within my eyeshot- I think I could have asked for her to come straight to me but I wanted her checked on anyway and was very shaky, staff made sure to move out the way so I could see her all the time.
My partner was then rushed in as he arrived at the hospital as she was being born! I wasn't up to doing skin to skin as I was incredibly shaky so she was given straight to my partner and he had skin to skin instead, again the midwife took some lovely photos.
My recovery was very smooth- off painkillers after 2 weeks except the occasional one at bedtime and moving pretty normally after 10 days.
I would advise take all the pain killers they are offering and get moving (gently) ASAP.
One thing I didn't know is because baby was breach (not the reason for the section but she would have had to be anyway) they have to have a hip scan in the first few months as it can effect the development of the hip sockets.

Planned c section was the best. Staff all relaxed and the atmosphere was so calm. I don't have any good memories of my first natural birth but the c section was lovely. Even the recovery was so much easier than a very bad 3rd degree tear, episotomy, a ventouse and a haemorrage. People know you've had surgery so are more supportive and willing to help, whereas with natural birth you are just supposed to get on with it. I was totally wiped out by the exhaustion of the natural birth and the 12 hour labour with no pain relief (midwife refused). I would think myself lucky to have a planned c section. Good luck and enjoy your new baby.

Oh yes mine!

Had an emergency section. It went very well my scar healed up so well and the staff were brilliant.

Some advice if u don't mind.

If you can stay in an extra night it gives you the chance to take stronger pain relief for an extra day.

Take arnica tablets afterwards for a few weeks I swesr it helped my healing.

Once bandage is removed put a maternity pad on the scar it really helps give you security that everything isn't going to fall out.

Pack peppermint tea or peppermint capsules as you can experience trapped wind from the op and have shoulder pain.

Pack giant knickers that will sit above your scar.

Drink loads of water afterwards as the nurses will need you to pass a certain amount of fluid afterwards before they are happy to release you. There will be disposable containers in the bathroom for you to urinate into to measure. But you don't need to show the nurses this just tell them what volume it was.

Bring an extra long phone charger or extension cord as you won't be as mobile to plug in your phone.

Don't be afraid to ask for help lifting baby.

The urine thing obviously varies by hospital as I they did have too see mine

My c section was amazing. All the staff were so, so kind, I felt in control and I knew what was happening every step of the way, I had music playing and people laughing and it was a great experience (which is a weird thing to say about major surgery I know!) I was up and about in 6 hours, was only taking paracetamol by day 3 and stopped all pain meds after about a week and a half. I went for a gentle 5k jog 7 weeks after. (I’m saying this only because I read/heard tons of horror stories about long difficult recoveries and no stories like mine and that scared me)

I also recommend staying the extra night and having a power bank/long charger cable. Drink tons of water and peppermint tea. Try to get mobile (gently and with help) as soon as you can even though it’s scary at first. And practice pushing yourself up to get out of bed! You’ll be fine 🙂

I had an ELCS almost a month ago and it was great! No pain or discomfort during and recovery was easier than I expected. I will definitely have another one if I have more kids x

I had an unplanned c section nearly two years ago, I had a lovely experience though and will be choosing an elective this time. I healed really well, regained my core strength and generally found the whole experience really positive.

I got up and about as quickly as I could and went home the next day which was a huge relief. My husband rearranged things so I didnt have to bend down and we picked up a changing table off fb marketplace which really helped. Aound 3-4 weeks post c section I felt really well, but forced myself to continue to be careful and v glad I did.
One thing I'll do differently this time is have a cushion for the drive home to place against my stomach, the drive home was v painful. Good luck.

This is all top advice! My 3rd was ELC after two iffy vb and it was fine - just make sure to do as you're told in terms of activity after and if you feel a pull or weird, scale it all back (was pushing a heavy supermarket trolley about 8 weeks after when I suddenly thought "nope" at a tricky corner and that was my sign to be careful a bit longer!)

Congratulations in advance!

Thank you all for sharing your stories/advice! It really helps to hear that you've had such positive experiences :)

I've had two ELCSs. Both calm and enjoyable. I'd heard rumours about the epidural needle being huge and it really wasn't.

I was home the next day with the second one (even going privately where they encourage you to linger). Having help to pick up your baby from the cot is helpful, as the twisting is painful. But the recovery was straightforward and I was back to driving in a couple of weeks.

Also, I had a hip replacement recently and the nurse tied my (extra long) mobile phone charger around the handles on my bed. Small gesture but I was very grateful after surgery when I wasn't mobile.

Maybe pre tie/loop your chargers or take those velcro tags so you can tie it to something.

I had an EMCS and the worst part for me was the spinal block but that's because I was 10cm dilated, had no pain relief, had been on the induction drip for 6 hours and was contracting like a mad lady. I imagine in a more calm and controlled setting it would have been a breeze!

The biggest pointer I was given was to get mobile as soon as you can. Once my catheter was out, I spent most of the time upright and out of bed. I didn't really struggle to do things like getting out of bed etc It really wasn't as bad as I had feared. I had minimal pain too - I went home the next day and the hospital sent me off with a local of paracetamol, ibuprofen and a bottle of morphine - I never used the morphine as I just felt achier than in actual pain.

Watch out for infection, which can be quite common - I started to ooze a little clear liquid and it was a bit smelly but a quick trip to the GP for some antibiotics and cream and I was all sorted.

Oh and even with a c-section, that first poo can be excruciatingly hard work 😑especially if you've needed iron tablets (I had a big blood loss), so ask for some lactulose if you're struggling!

Just listen to your body and do what feels right. If it hurts - stop! I was driving after 2 weeks as I felt okay, but pushing a big trolley around the supermarket at that point was a step too far!

Hiya OP

I'm going in for my 3rd section tomorrow.

My top tip - take a canvas/material bag - something that you can either have in the bed with you, or hang on the side of the bed once the procedure is over and you are back on the ward. This means you can keep lots of things - phone, bottle of water, magazine, snack, nappy, dummy etc all within easy reach without having to get in/out of bed to find stuff.