PLANNED C section stories...

[RubyF30]

👶🏼 Planned C Section Experience Stories 👶🏼

My husband and I are expecting our first baby, we are so excited! I am planned in for a c section due to medical reasons.

Starting to get nervous, read so much and watched so many videos (done my research lol) however I witnessed 1 video of a woman screaming the whole way through it and that 1 woman has gave me the absolute fear 😩

I know there’s going to be pain and a lot of aftercare but the video has gave me crazy anxiety now 😅

I would love to hear your stories of your scheduled c section. I would put positive only but would rather be realistic.

Please don’t hold back…
PLANNED stories only please.
Can’t wait to read them 😊

I have no idea why she'd be screaming unless it was anxiety.
One EMCS, one planned with twins, neither hurt during the op cos you're on strong painkillers. Did need anti nausea meds both times as I immediately felt sick after the injections in my back.
EMCS was v fast, planned with 2 of them much slower but all very calm. In planned babies came straight onto us (36 weekers) and stayed with us.
Uterine contractions were AWFUL but I got oramorph which worked. Trying to tend for babies whilst not able to move very well was hard so def have DH for as long as you can.
Recovery time, both times I rushed it but no infections etc, just should have rested more.

My sister had a planned c section and had a lovely experience. She went on to have another baby a few years later (another planned c section)
I remember it being very calm, and there was one woman in the ward across the way from her who had gone through a long labour and ended up with a c section and she was so wrecked, I remember her pointing over at my sister saying loudly to the nurse ‘why don’t I feel like that’ my heart went out to her. There is a big difference between a planned one and an emergency one.

All the very best.

It was all very chilled and quiet. Baby was born quiet quickly and most of it was them
stitching me up. Afterwards I’d say it was sore but there was no pain at all. However, I would ask what the post op pain relief options are at your hospital as I’ve heard some horrors about NHS wards expecting you to make do with just paracetamol. Overall it was a really positive experience.

One emergency section and one planned section here. The planned one was a breeze. I went into hospital, waited to be called in and the whole procedure was quick and painless. Recovery a bit trickier but I was on my feet again the next day. Just don't try and do too much too soon or you risk infection and further damage.

I won't lie, it feels like quite a clinical way to give birth. Lots of lights and metal clanking and people hovering around. But for me it was the safest option (health issues and previous section) so I went with it and I really think it has to be the most straightforward way to give birth. Good luck!

I've had a natural birth and a c-section (planned). The section was fine, I felt things were far more "controlled" than a natural birth and it was a good experience, as these things go!

I had a horrendous 'natural' first birth.

Was so bloody traumatised that I had a planned section with my second child. Hands down the best possible birthing experience. Happy staff, calm environment and baby was born in no time.

I wouldn't even hesitate to have another planned section. It was amazing.

I had twins by planned section, i wish I had more relaxed and able to enjoy the experience as it was amazing.
The staff fulfilled our wishes of lifting the babies above the screen, we were able to have delayed cord clamping, nothing bad to say other than they put my legs in the air to help the spinal work and I spent the whole time feeling like my legs were up in the air!
Good luck

I have no idea why she would be screaming, either - you have a spinal anaesthetic so can’t feel anything below your mid-chest.

I went in for mine at 11am, had the spinal, lay down, drapes were put up and from that point all I could see was DH and the anaesthetist. At some point a catheter was inserted. I heard crying at about 11:30, and that was DS. DH went over to hold him while I was being stitched up, then he was put on me for skin to skin (couldn’t do delayed cord clamping as he had vasa praevia).

Once they were done, DS went back to DH while they slid me off the operating table back into a bed. Then DS came back to me while we were wheeled back to my room.

Then I spent the rest of the afternoon/evening in bed cuddling DS and trying to BF. My mum came up to see us. I had some food. DH gave DS his first nappy change. DS had low blood sugars (premature) so the midwives came round to check his blood sugars every so often, and gave us some formula to top him up with. He slept in a little cot next to me overnight. DH slept in a recliner chair.

In the morning, the catheter was removed and I got up and went for breakfast. I was a bit stiff and wobbly, but not really in pain as such. Did a massive poo which was honestly the most painful part of the whole thing (I had had a fair amount of cocodamol, fairly beige hospital food, and no laxatives). DS had his post-natal checks done, and had his first bath.

Stayed in for five days due to DS’s low blood sugars. By that point I was up and about like normal, able to nip down to the coffee shop leaving DS with DH, get in and out of beds/chairs ok, etc.

Oh just to say tho, you might have an arrival time, even am idea of where you are on the list but if you and baby are well you will be shunted down for emergencies. My NCT plan was quite aggrieved she'd had to have her planned C Sec quite late. I pointed out WE were the emergency as DS nearly died and therefore were the reason she was late 😬

One emergency, one planned here too. The emergency one was following a failed induction and was a very calm experience. The planned one was actually more complicated because of a very big, transverse baby - she needed a bit of help when she was first born and I lost a lot of blood. But it was still lovely and calm, the doctors were teasing me for being awkward which put me at ease as it was clear they had everything under control.

Once we got to recovery, I would say equally straightforward recoveries for both, no real pain (thank you painkillers), breastfed both without issue.

Entirely positive experiences.

I had a planned section with my first due to him being breech - the worst bit BY FAR was having the cannula put in, but you need those with many vaginal births too. Like PP, no idea why someone would be screaming unless they were scared?

I felt nothing during the surgery, just some "rummaging" sensations, which were weird, but didn't hurt. Was able to hold my baby immediately, so skin to skin, breastfeed in recovery etc.

I was up and about within 24 hours and I've got a photo of me in the supermarket a week later doing the weekly shop with teeny DS. Kept on top of the painkillers and never had any serious pain - I was just achy and uncomfortable for a few weeks.

It hurt less than wisdom tooth removal, eyebrow threading, or falling downstairs in a nightclub while wearing stupid shoes.

My planned c section story is that I was booked in for an ELCS at 39 weeks but he decided to arrive a week early.
It was still a very calm experience. I was so nervous because given it was baby number 3 labour progressed very quickly I was worried we wouldn’t get to theatre. They totally had it all under control and were so laid back. Baby did have to go into an incubator for a very short while afterwards as he was breathing a bit fast and they brought him over as close as possible to me to see him ( they said it happens sometimes with section babies).
Sometimes things don’t quite go to plan but that’s okay. So have that bag ready in case baby decides to scupper all your plans.
Sometimes you can be bumped down the list for a theatre so just be mindful of that going in.
Baby is 11 weeks now and pain of first couple weeks is already a distant memory. Just sometimes scar feels itchy but it’s healed well and is way smaller than I expected it to be.

I am so confused as to what she would be screaming about!?

My experience was very calm, all medical staff were total professionals. I couldn’t see anything and just chatted to my husband and anesiathist(no idea how to spell that!).

Recovery I found fairly easy. I was up and walking that night and I personally had no issues with gas or using the toilet.

Im booked in for an elective next week for my second 😀

To reassure you, if the spinal didn’t work for some reason, they just wouldn’t start. They do check you are numb before they start cutting… so that isn’t why she was screaming. And honestly they would just stop and/or convert to a general anaesthetic if someone was that disruptive. Nobody wants to do delicate surgery in somebody writhing about and screaming. It’s an elective procedure, not an emergency, there is plenty of time.

Are you totally sure you were watching a real video of an ELCS, in the UK?

Most emergency c sections aren't some panicky horror story either. I had one and it was a calm, quick and painless experience. The surgeons were chatting to each other about newly bought heels and a colleagues birthday cake that they ate earlier while stitching me up. The vibe was calm, friendly and joyful.

Well, the recovery wasn't painless but by then you're healing and can ask for drugs.

My friend had a planned one and they put some warm thingamajig above her belly so she could have skin-to-skin cuddles with the baby while they were stitching her up. She loves those first cuddly memories.

Planned c-section as I was high risk for eclampsia and my blood pressure was sky high throughout the entire pregnancy. I remember struggling finding information about c-sections. All courses seemed designed for natural births. If they did talk about c-sections, it was all about the medical procedure itself, I wanted 'tips for aftercare', 'personal experiences', 'how best to recover', 'what is normal to expect after 10 days', etc. (My son is only 8 months old, so not that long ago). I can highly recommend a webinar I did through "My expert midwife" website. It was 1 hr and cost £5. You could type questions at the end, I learnt so much from it.

I like you did my research beforehand and I remember seeing a photo on instragram of the healing of a c-section week by week over a 8 week period. It horrified me, like literally black and blue. I was so nervous when I went in for it, thinking it was going to happen to me too. It did not at all. (Which is suprising as my son was stubborn and wouldn't come out so they used forceps on him through my stomach).

I got a c-section infection as the last stitch came apart on day 4 post surgery. Honestly just looked like a bee sting. It itched and there was a little pus, but I rang the gp and they prescribed some tablets over the phone for me. Cleared up really quickly.

Personally the worst part for me was the preloaded injection pens they send you home with to stop blood clots (I think) . It was 10 pens and I dreaded doing them nightly. (My friend had a course of 40 to do) They really sting and definitely leave little bruises across your stomach. My top tip whenever you do, do not inject near the bruising of a previous injection point!

I had a planned section with my second as we sadly lost our first baby at 33 weeks (due to a genetic condition) and I delivered him vaginally and was worried giving birth to my second baby might trigger something in me.
I was so nervous for the C-section, but it was honestly an amazing experience. We were the first section of the day, and everything was just so chilled!
We turned up to hospital at 7am, the section was due to begin around 9.30 I think, so we had plenty of time to relax. They kept coming and just checking baby's heart rate and checking on us.
We walked down to theatre having a laugh with the midwives.
The worst part for me was the spinal, but I think that's because they had a student do it and it took 4 attempts! It also made me feel as though I couldn't breathe and like someone was sat squishing my windpipe, but I told the anaesthetist and he said it was just because of the numbing feeling. My oxygen was always fine.
Music was playing in the background, my daughter was actually born to ocean eyes by Billy Eillish which is now such a special song to us. We have a video of her being lifted out of me which I adore! And some pretty gruesome photos too 🤣 she was out within about 5 mins of the procedure starting. I honestly can't remember how long it took to get me back together, it flew by because I was just in awe of my little girl!
Great experience and I'd do it again 🥰

My planned section was a lovely experience (emergency section the first time around). I was very nervous of the spinal block and couldn't stop shaking, but didn't feel a thing when they did it.
DH was with me the whole time which was lovely, it felt fairly quick and baby was put straight on my chest.
Recovery was quick, stayed in 2 nights and was picking the toddler up, driving and pushing the pram by 3 weeks. Very neat scar and no birth trauma. Would have done it again if I'd had a third.

I loved mine. Only thing I was iffy on was the spinal, I went all wobbly and dizzy but after that it was a breeze. Everyone was relaxed, we had music one, we chatted and then out came DD. Recovering was brilliant too. All in all it was completely different to my emergency c section with DS. If I ever have another (no thanks!) I would go for a c section no questions

I had a planned section with my second after an absolute horrific “natural” birth with my first…
I was terrified (although marginally less terrified than the thought of a second vaginal birth) but it was fine. They asked if I wanted to do skin to skin (I did) so they put my gown on backwards and put the stickers for the monitors on my back so they could lay baby on me but unfortunately I had a weird reaction to the spinal and my blood pressure kept crashing and I kept feeling like I was fainting, the anethsatist sorted me out but I got DH to hold her in the end as I was frightened I would faint and she would fall off me!
all in all it was a positive experience though and recovery wasn’t too bad as long as I kept on top of the painkillers! I was home after 24hrs although DC1 was missing me, if I hadn’t had him at home I might have stayed in hospital another night!

I've had an emergency and a planned and the c section was the same with both
Planned I walked down to theatre, sat on the bed for the spinal, was helped down on to the bed, the anaesthetist is by your head and talks you through it... After feeling like someone is washing up in your abdomen, they lowered the drapes and lifted my little boy out, who was placed directly on my chest. I have the most fond memories of such a special and calm day.

Best day of my life.
Beautiful, calm, just lovely.
I cried with happiness 😭 the poor anaesthetist thought I was in pain.

I had an unplanned scary one first, but the planned CS & took away all the upset & trauma from first time around. Made it all better.

I had a CS birth plan which I shared with my surgeon & she was so good & did whatever she could (e.g. left the cord long so DH could cut it/ showed us the baby so we could discover the sec ourselves) but she was honest with me about what she couldn't do too.

Only negative was I felt a bit sick during (told anaesthetist & he adjusted things) and then vomited my guts up for 12 hours after both births. My body is AMAZING at growing gorgeous babies, but crap at the actual birth 😂

My C section was fantastic. The day itself was great- back on my feet by the evening to have a shower and no pain that couldn't be dealt with using paracetamol and ibuprofen. Obviously I was in pain but it was totally low level and manageable.

I was back home 24 hours after surgery. Couldn't quite manage the stairs that first night but was fine with them the next day. We have a shower over the bath and that was never a problem if I took it slowly. I was back doing everything I usually did around the house within a few days and going out for walks and lunch by a week. Never needed anything stronger than the paracetamol or ibuprofen.

We had a wonderful experience. Youll have everything explained to you during your pre-op with a midwife and anaesthetist. On the day, arrived on the ward in the morning, everyone was lovely. Was free to leave the ward and did but you have people coming back and to a bit. Took my time unpacking and getting stuff ready to go to theatre and for our return. Walked down to theatre, lots of people in the room but all wonderful, calm, reassuring. I was worried about the epidural but barely felt it (listen to what they say about how to sit). Delivery was within about 15 mins. My womb wouldn't contract and I bled a bit so that wasn't so good but they acted so quickly and calmly in sorting it out and it meant DP got time with baby then and afterwards while I came to (felt hot, sick and dizzy). We had a private room and our own midwife for around 3 hours (had hot drinks, toast, help with baby etc) until we were ready to go back to ward. I was up and about by midnight and the catheter was removed. Couldn't wee at first (weirdest feeling!) but they assured me it was normal and would come and it did by 1ish. We were out by 4pm the next day - they said I was welcome to stay but there was a snorer and we were fine so I was desperate to get home.

I had a planned section, the actual section was fab, incredibly calm got to listen to music and was generally lovely. Only downside was the spinal kept hitting a nerve in my back, but it wasn't painful enough to be screaming just enough to make you twinge a bit! It also took about 3 minutes to get my daughter out!

I don't want to worry you, but my aftercare was dreadful and lead to some issues, but that's due to the hopsital trust I'm with rather than a normal issue!

My one piece of advice would be listen to your body and do not be worried to ask for help/different MWs or HCA's if they aren't helping you the way you need. I understand they are understaffed and overworked, and I don't think they genuinly want to make you feel rushed or not help you, but not getting the right help after can be detrimental to healing. And also don't feel ashamed to ask for morphine! I absolutely had morphine (and codiene as I'm allergic to ibuprofen) and im glad I didn't just struggle by on paracetamol!

You will be fab and congratulations!!