I want to hear about Csections

[hannah345]

Hey.
So little bit of background, I am 30, I have a 8 year old and a 5 year old. 8 year olds pregnancy was fine apart from lots of reduced movements, induced at 38 weeks, birth was amazing - loved it! Weighed 5.9oz
My 5 year olds pregnancy, was fine, again reduced movements so had to be induced at 37 weeks - birth was AWFUL!! Birthing pool for 4 hours, they had to break my waters as I was in labour for I think it was like 10 hours etc, I was falling asleep in the pool, so they got me out on the bed where they broke my waters, went into septic shock and was pinned down to get a canular in. I don't remember anything else as I was in about of consciousness.
Me and daughter was treated for 4 days for sepsis, then at 6 days old she was rushed to high dependency unit for 2 weeks, as she was on deaths door. She weighed 6.14oz

Both of my pregnancies I wanted a eppy, but I was so out of it and not thinking in both labors, by the time I asked for it, it was too late so I know full well in this pregnancy I know I'll forget or be too focused on getting through the pain and I just won't ask for it. It absolutely petrifys me thinking about giving birth naturally again.

So basically, I am pregnant again... and I really want to opt for a c-section. I know some people will say I can't, or they will moan. But my last birthing experience was absolutely awful and still suffer PTSD from it.

Can I hear your non emergency c-section stories, good or bad please.

I asked for a c section because I’d had a third degree tear previously. Post natal care was bad and it really affected my mental health. Long story short, it was amazing. I spent the entire pregnancy so relaxed, knowing I wouldn’t have to go through labour. Go for it.

3 sections here. 1st was 'emergency' after failure to progress, 2nd and 3rd were planned. Best decision ever. Recovery was fine and I have lovely memories of all 3 births. So calm and recoveries were good. If you ask for one and stay firm, you will get one.

Brilliant experience.
Calm, planned, as in I was given a date and time to turn up so could sort out getting other child to school & picked up.
Felt very safe and really well looked after.
I was home in less than 24 hours.
Back on the school run in 10 days afterwards.
Pain well controlled, breast fed immediately.
Highly recommend.

Mine was emergency but I was sat up and mobile the next day and went home. I never needed help to get out of bed, just made sure I did everything steadily. Drove after four weeks when I felt safe to do so.

Obviously some people experience a harder recovery but wanted to give a balanced view that not everyone finds it very difficult.

1st ELCS - 2nd child - I had a vein in the wrong place (they’re meant to move out the way as the bump grows but this didn’t for some reason). So they opened me up and then discovered this so just had to go through it. So I lost half my blood but it was very controlled as they knew it was going to be a blood bath and gave me a transfusion straight away. It was weirdly chill. Was in the high dependency room for 1 night which was lovely as 1:1 midwife who comes when called, and private room (which we’d planned and paid for) for 1 night. I did develop an autoimmune disease following this and I’m pretty positive it’s from the blood loss/transfusion physical trauma.
Recovery still WAAAAAAY quicker and easier than my first birth (massive tear). Was driving and babywearing after a couple of weeks. Had to have 10 days fragmin injections which DH did for me.

2nd ELCS which was so healing mentally and v v calm. She flipped into breech about 10 mins before my section so again another surprise when they opened me up 😄

The worst bit for me is the spinal but it’s over quickly and then if you feel faint or whatever they give you the necessary drugs right away.

I LOVED my c sections and that the teams were so so friendly, it felt so celebratory and caring. Everyone introduces themselves to you and chats and is kind. The anaesthetist stays by your face the whole time to tell you what is going on and the midwives are there for the baby. Anaesthetist also takes the photos in my experience!

I have had 3 planned c-sections- all for different reasons. The biggest challenge I found was accepting that I was not going to have the 'perfect' birth my naive self had 'planned'.

Other than that they were calm and positive births. The recovery was fine although I learnt after my third not to rush things.

Lovely, calm, the procedure itself pretty painless but the recovery rough for a few days. Home next day though. Never regretted it or felt like I missed out on anything. It's very underrated to know when you're giving birth, going into it having had some sleep and not meeting your baby and being thrown in the deep end after potentially days of pain, exhaustion and anxiety. Totally personal choice though!

My c section was technically an emergency as it had to be at 34 weeks, so earlier than planned. But very calm - I was told in the afternoon it would be 8am the next morning and I was in overnight to be monitored. I found it quite surreal as all the doctors were super relaxed and just chatting normally. They asked me which radio station I'd like.

I was amazed how quick it was - from lying down after the spinal injection to babyon my chest was about 4 minutes. Longer to be stitched up, but still amazingly quick from my perspective.

Long term recovery fine. Scar is small and below bikini line.

Things that I wasn't ready for:

How flipping cold it is being opened up in an operating room. No pain, but CHILLY!

Ask midwives for lactulose. The first post-section poo is terrifying. I needed oramorph for that (ibuprofen and paracetamol all I needed the rest of the time) and I really thought I'd rupture something. Wish I'd known it was normal! Recovery other than that was easier than I expected.

You'll be in blood thinners for a while. Do you have someone thatcan inject you? DH was way better at it than I was.

I pushed for c section after previous four day back to back labour ending in forceps etc etc.
Was refused, complained and went higher and was granted the c section.

The actual experience was odd, from walking self into theatre to epidural and feeling a bit detached from the whole thing.

My baby wanted none of any of it and I ended up with forceps again to pull her out from under (felt like rib cage).
The pull of the forceps lifted my body from table, was not the gentle sensation of someone washing up etc.
Unfortunately, I lost a lot of blood and had a BP crash in recovery, that was scary.

So all of that sounds horrific but I’m just letting you know there can be special challenges with c sections too!

I honestly don’t regret my section at all and my daughter and I were fine.
My first birth was horrendous but I did feel much more viscerally involved.
Less so with c section, felt much more medical, much less involved.

Recovery was fine, was in hospital for two days. Driving within two weeks and generally got on with it.
Did get a UTI from catheter, apparently common so watch out for that a few days after birth.

Best wishes for whatever you choose.

probably already been mentioned but take peppermint tablets in with you to help release the painful gas following OP

Great experience!…I had a 3rd degree tear with my first baby so they suggested a c section with my 2nd, knew what time and day I was going in, first one into theatre, back on ward an hour or so later and home the next day…..healed nicely.

Oh also I never had anyone say no re. c section request. Never had any painful trapped gas. Never had the mythical amazing tea and toast either!! Never across 3 babies, 2 hospitals, 7 years! Fuming.

Oh also lots (most?) c section babies are forcep babies. All had little forcep faces ❤️ was a surprise to me, no one told me that ahead of time!

C section here as DD was breech. Yes it’s major surgery but felt better and recuperated quicker than I would have believed. It sounds as if you had a v traumatic experience and that a c section would be better all round.

I had two vaginal births followed by a c section. The comparative recovery has been awful. Not driving has sucked. Not feeling like I can jump straight back in to being mum to the older two has been horrid. I’ve got a wound and an overhang and a lumpy scar which I didn’t have before and I’m sad and disappointed that I couldn’t have another vaginal delivery. My baby also had TTN (more common with c section babies) and was taken straight out of me and out of the room then to a paediatric ward and I didn’t see him for 4 hours.

@MyFaceIsAnAONB forceps weren't used for any of my sections I've never heard of that? I think they just pull out with their hands?

Two planned sections here in two different hospitals. Both times I was steered towards the decision by consultants; the first time in an absolutely horrid way, the second in a very gentle way that made me feel I was in control.

The surgery and recovery for both were absolutely fine with no complications, for which I am very grateful. The birthing experiences though were poles apart. The second time was wonderful. We had a playlist, the anaesthetist kind of ‘hosted’ and kept me in the loop, there were photos, immediate and lengthy skin to skin, breastfed right away - like a birth should be. The first time was highly medical, silent, no one kept me in the loop so I didn’t even know they’d started, no skin to skin, baby immediately wrapped in towels and passed to my husband. I had 10 days of clexane the first time and 14 days of fragmin the second time. DH injected me and got pretty good at it. I am at peace with my births for the most part.

If you want one then go for it. I’m sure that they will respect your wishes and be supportive. I think they have to be nowadays. Do advocate for yourself though. Write a birth plan and tell everyone on the day what you want and don’t take ‘we’ll see how it goes’ as an acceptable response. Good luck!

Also, you will need BIG pants. I mean, huge. Like the biggest pants you can possibly find. And they will become beloved to you. You don’t want normal knicks rubbing against your scar. Eurgh.

Elective sections aren’t usually done til after 39 weeks so be prepared that you could go into labour before that. We see it a lot

I've had an intervention free VB & a CS. Be mindful that painkiller offerings differ, I was told to buy my own paracetamol, that was it. The pain was bad for the first few days & I didn't like how my body was restricted with movement but I had no pain after VB so expected similar.

You'll be in blood thinners for a while. Do you have someone thatcan inject you? DH was way better at it than I was.

Not necessarily. I wasn’t given them. I think it varies by NHS trust and whether you’re considered to be an at-risk group for developing blood clots.

oh & ventouse was used during CS, apparently really normal.

From the moment I found out I was having twins I knew I wanted a c section. The twins came earlier than I would have liked - 33 weeks and one of them was very small. The distressing bit for me was having then taken away to NICU having only glanced them for a few seconds.

But the operation and procedure was absolutely fine, even the recovery was ok too (apart from when I screamed at the nurse as she was trying to get me up so I could see my girls that my stitches had burst - she looked at me very seriously and said I can assure you they haven’t 😂)

I was offered an elective section as I had difficult labour and a large tear with my first.

I'm so glad I did it as the recovery was so much easier. Minimal discomfort, driving again after 2 weeks (not usually advised so I got the ok from my GP first), scar is barely noticeable now.

Downsides were that I got a wierd sharp pain shooting down my leg and nearly passed out during the spinal anaesthetic so they had to lie me down for a bit then try again, and I didn't hold my baby until I was in recovery as I felt really sick and was retching into a bowl. Not easy while lying flat on my back!

It was fine despite that though. The theatre staff were lovely and my partner enjoyed having first cuddles.

I had an emergency c-section 5 weeks ago at 35 weeks. Although it felt like between emergency and elec (baby needed to come at 35 weeks and they said he would struggle with the contractions). So I had an hour to prepare for it.

I remember shivering in the theatre while ai had the spinal. I don’t know why, I didn’t feel cold but I probably was, or nerves. The spinal hurt for a few seconds and then no pain after that. The process is fairly quick.

Also the worst part for me- due to having high bp, preeclampsia and csection I had to take the blood thinning injections for 6 weeks! I was dreading the 10 days and it turned into 6 weeks. I still have 6 left and I started them on 2nd April. I have somehow got used to injecting myself. The midwives put them in my leg and that really hurt, I found in my stomache just to the left of my belly button is much better. There’s a tiny bit of pain but pinching the skin between takes away some of it.

The recovery has been fine. I made sure to get up and do slow short walks. After a week I felt normal and my body had to tell me to slow down. I still have occasional aches so I don’t know if I’m still trying to do too much.