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 😊

Well I didn't scream but it was the most painful experience I've ever had. I was given additional pain relief and eventually they offered to move to a general anaesthetic as it was hurting so much. They had almost finished by that point though so I declined and gritted my teeth a bit longer!

I cried the entire time because my first birth was traumatic and it brought back memories but it was actually really calm (apart from me!). The team were all lovely and I was well looked after. There was music, mood light, aromatherapy. Seriously, the only negative to the procedure was me.

The recovery wasn't great and I was totally unprepared for how much pain I was in after, but I'd never had any surgery before so I had nothing to base it on. I definitely should have stayed in hospital for longer but I just wanted to get home to my son.

My planned section was smooth sailing. It was all over in under an hour and obviously you can’t see anything with the screen up, but it was an amazing moment when I heard DD crying and they lifted her over the screen to show me (the lion king moment they call it).

The local anaesthetic they did before the spinal was quite painful but over quickly. I did have a bit of a reaction to the anaesthesia as my blood pressure dropped at the start and suddenly felt very queasy. Told the anaesthetist (who was keeping a close eye throughout) who got me a sick bucket and I was sick quickly but felt fine afterwards. It’s just a strange sensation when you’re being sick and your stomach muscles are numb! They just kept an eye on my BP throughout and during recovery, all was fine.

Pain-wise I felt nothing until the anaesthesia wore off a few hours later and even then it wasn’t awful. More of a dull ache than anything, and I kept on top of pain relief. I was able to walk to the toilet later that afternoon (my section was about 9am) and they removed the catheter.

Hardest thing for me personally was keeping the scar dry/aired as I have a bit of a belly but I made sure I dedicated time to it every day. Also felt a bit frustrated at times by not being able to bend over/pick up stuff I had dropped etc but DP was on hand.

Overall it was a really positive experience and the best birth plan for me.

Mine was semi planned- failed induction so had a c section the following day. It was lovely. Had my music one- which the surgeons loved as it was gorgeous classical. Very very relaxing loved it all.

@SleepingStandingUp could have written your post word for word!
One EMCS and then a planned for twins too, planned was much smoother for obvious reasons. I found it all very chilled and calm in comparison to the EMCS, also needed anti-nausea. Anesthetists were great, chatting to me and my husband throughout as surgeons really took their time.
Longest part is getting stitched back up! But with my twins I could hold them and talk to them (my firstborn went to NICU for a few hours) that was really special for me.
Recovery was much better second time around, had a new type bandage called a PICO 7, an excellent invention and really helps to prevent infection as your scar site is effectivly in a vacuum for 7 days. Recommend asking about if its an option for you OP.
Good luck, sure will all be smooth! Oh and pick the music if you want and record the moment baby pops over the curtain - I didn't but my friend did and its such a beautiful video!

The only painful bit was when they put the cannula in my arm, and that was not terrible - maybe 4 out of 10?

the actual c section was not painful at all. Felt very odd - I could feel things being pulled and pushed but no pain.

Recovery was much easier than my vaginal birth. Key is to keep ahead of the pain - so you take your next painkiller when you start to feel off not when you desperately need to.

also key not to overdo things, take it as easy as possible. It’s actually a good excuse to do what I found ideal with a new baby anyway - spend the first couple of weeks snuggled up in bed with them, let them cluster feed as much as they want to build up your supply, read up on safe co-sleeping. And get your partner to handle nappies etc so you get some rest!

I had a planned c section that didn’t exactly go to plan however I was told after that this is extremely rare
My son has Down’s syndrome and a congenital heart condition Also he was breech and his umbilical cord ruptured so after being rushed in 5 or 6 times but then after scans being told let’s wait to protect his lungs as long as possible my planned section was booked for 37+3
i have a lower back injury so having the epidural wasn’t easy but not painful
The procedure went well and my son was delivered There were a lot of extra professionals present the cardiac team for him
He took an age to cry which was hard and then after a quick meet and cuddle he was take to SCBU
At that point my epidural failed and I felt a huge pain / burning sensation and my blood pressure crashed
i was given a big dose of morphine while they finished the stitch up then taken to HDU for recovery
I wasn’t allowed to leave my bed for 3 days until my blood pressure recovered
The evening of the section the anaesthetist came up to the ward and apologised for what happened and explained it could have been my back injury as it is exactly at the point of the epidural
I was fine after with no lasting side effects
I must also point out the reason I was awake was that I have always had anaesthetic issues anyway
So extremely rare
The vast majority of planned c sections go without a hitch

My first was emcs. No pain during, recovery was great
Managed well with paracetamol and ibuprofen which in my opinion stops you from doing too much. If you're given tip top painkillers as my friend was, she walked 3k 5 days after her section which wasn't a good idea!
I was ready to drive at 10 days and well healed within a few weeks.

2nd DC was planned csec which was calmer and again went well.
I bled a little more and had a compression dressing stick on. Removing that in the shower post birth was the most painful bit!
My wound didn't heal fully, about 1-2cm just wouldn't shut, but I had a little overhang and it was a hot hot summer. I attended my 'wound clinic' and that was sorted around 5-6 weeks. But because I had to rest more after this, I healed so much better. I'm almost 4years pp now and my body is great!

As a tip, I had MASSIVE pants and stuck a big sanitary towel to the inside so the absorbent side was against my wound.
Peppermint tea for any trapped wind post op.
Tie a dressing gown cord to the bottom leg of your bed so you can pull yourself up with it.
Partner who will cook pizza all the time (can eat without cutlery!)
Microwave for reheating the same cup of tea 5+ times.

I had a c section planned for 39 weeks. Complications meant that it became (technically) an emergency at 37 weeks.

No ambulances involved. Just a midwife appointment, then a walk to the hospital for further checks and then the doctor saying that I will be having the baby at 6pm that evening!

I had packed my hospital bag and DH was dispatched to collect it but that was the extent of my preparations. Crib wasn’t put together, house was a mess etc.

But mentally I was prepared for a c section so I didn’t have a negative experience of it being (technically) an emergency c section. To my mind, it was planned but brought forward unexpectedly.

And it was wonderful! I was prepared for some pain and problems afterwards and … nothing. Maybe some slight stiffness the day after but no pain, no problems pooping or anything. I sailed through it. So did DD although she did get a night in nicu as a precaution.

I was shopping about a week after and felt confident to drive two weeks after. We live in a three stores house so I was doing stairs on day 4 when I was discharged.

My only advice is to ask how long you should wear tubigrip for after. I think that maybe I should have had it on for longer. It did get me back in pre-pregnancy shape very quickly. Not that my pre-pregnancy shape was particularly good but still.