C section experiences?

Rae0928 · 2023-08-22T20:03:59+00:00

I’ve decided to go for an elective c section due to a previous induced birth which traumatised me. Also currently suffering with hyperthyroidism so not sure what happens after birth so would rather have at least something planned. What’s everyone’s experiences? Also If babies are born poorly how much access do you get to see them after surgery?

ohhollyfred · 22/08/2023 21:13

I had two very different c sections

First was an emergency at 35 week. Baby was unwell and rushed to SCBU. Dad was allowed to go see her immediately but I had to wait in recovery for the sensation in my legs to return so probably had to wait about 3 or 4 hours before I could be wheeled in to see her. Recovery was not as bad as I had thought it would be as long as I kept on top of pain meds.

Second was planned. Lovely and relaxed out on our own play list all theatre staff introduced themselves baby was out straight on to my chest and stayed with me on my chest for the following hours. It was so special and I realise now how much I missed out on not having that skin to skin with my first daughter. Recovery was slightly easier as. I knew what to expect. Scar was neat as they went in through the same scar.

Post two c section body isn't great. I'm not think anyway but I have an overhang of fat on my
Tummy from the tightness of the scar that I don't think will ever go even with weight loss so I can't wear tight dresses any more and sometimes I can see it in jeans too.

Overall elective section for number two was still a lovely experience but recovery is no walk in the park and it is longer recovery than s vaginal birth is no stitches etc

Original poster

Rae0928 · 22/08/2023 21:18

ohhollyfred · 22/08/2023 21:13

I had two very different c sections

First was an emergency at 35 week. Baby was unwell and rushed to SCBU. Dad was allowed to go see her immediately but I had to wait in recovery for the sensation in my legs to return so probably had to wait about 3 or 4 hours before I could be wheeled in to see her. Recovery was not as bad as I had thought it would be as long as I kept on top of pain meds.

Second was planned. Lovely and relaxed out on our own play list all theatre staff introduced themselves baby was out straight on to my chest and stayed with me on my chest for the following hours. It was so special and I realise now how much I missed out on not having that skin to skin with my first daughter. Recovery was slightly easier as. I knew what to expect. Scar was neat as they went in through the same scar.

Post two c section body isn't great. I'm not think anyway but I have an overhang of fat on my
Tummy from the tightness of the scar that I don't think will ever go even with weight loss so I can't wear tight dresses any more and sometimes I can see it in jeans too.

Overall elective section for number two was still a lovely experience but recovery is no walk in the park and it is longer recovery than s vaginal birth is no stitches etc

Thank you so much for replying and sharing your experiences. I’m nervous for my c section but so excited and glad I’m not going to have to go through being induced again!
so sorry to hear that your first was poorly! When you were well enough to see her did you get 24/7 access or was it day time only to see her if you don’t mind me asking? My daughter is high risk for thyroid so I’m waiting on peads to discuss plan of care after birth (although it would be rare for her to develop what I have), fingers crossed all goes well but just dread the thought of not having her with me!
im hoping because I’m having an elective c section I’m saving myself even more trauma then needed x

OP posts:

FlowersAndBooks · 22/08/2023 21:18

I had a really good planned c section. All very quick, very calm. The midwives were lovely and gentle with me. I had immediate skin to skin with baby and she wasn’t taken away from me. They wheeled the weighing trolley to my side as they stitched me up, and weighed her in my sight, so she was never away from me. DH was there the whole time. I was up and showered and dressed 9am next morning, and left within 24 hrs of the c sec.

Amazing experience, I plan to have at least two more! DD was born with a slight abnormality, but the midwives were very reassuring and didn’t take her away from me, we took her in for a check up three days later, and a follow up a few weeks after that. All was fine. Good luck OP!

honeyrain · 22/08/2023 21:20

Hello I had an elective for my first baby and I'm due one this Thursday! 🥳

Honestly? I found it amazing,

I knew the date, I could plan/prepare/nest until my heart was content!
Baby was out so quickly! None of this 40hrs of labour, a section takes about 1hr
The pain wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, manageable with the medication you go home on
No vaginal pain/scared to poo/tearing/issues!! Amazing!

Some things to note...

mobility is annoying. You kind of have to do this roll thing out of bed (think no "sit-up" type movement) for some weeks until your wound heals
your wound could get infected (mine didn't but it's common)
the spinal is also mobility limiting but it's worn off after 12hrs
you have to take Clexane injections for a couple of weeks after to minimise risk of clot....they sting like little bitches.
you might be nauseated after (I wasn't) but I did have itchy skin from the morphine which lasted a day or so.

Also think it depends a lot on what kind of person you are/how well you tolerate pain/family support to help with driving and lifts/other half to help with mobility and sitting up etc afterwards.

I could have a very different take after Thursday 🙈🙈🙈 having a toddler in the mix will be very different this time round!

I also cannot compare to vaginal birth 🤷🏼‍♀️

Original poster

Rae0928 · 22/08/2023 21:20

ohhollyfred · 22/08/2023 21:13

I had two very different c sections

First was an emergency at 35 week. Baby was unwell and rushed to SCBU. Dad was allowed to go see her immediately but I had to wait in recovery for the sensation in my legs to return so probably had to wait about 3 or 4 hours before I could be wheeled in to see her. Recovery was not as bad as I had thought it would be as long as I kept on top of pain meds.

Second was planned. Lovely and relaxed out on our own play list all theatre staff introduced themselves baby was out straight on to my chest and stayed with me on my chest for the following hours. It was so special and I realise now how much I missed out on not having that skin to skin with my first daughter. Recovery was slightly easier as. I knew what to expect. Scar was neat as they went in through the same scar.

Post two c section body isn't great. I'm not think anyway but I have an overhang of fat on my
Tummy from the tightness of the scar that I don't think will ever go even with weight loss so I can't wear tight dresses any more and sometimes I can see it in jeans too.

Overall elective section for number two was still a lovely experience but recovery is no walk in the park and it is longer recovery than s vaginal birth is no stitches etc

Also I honestly think I’m past caring about my body at this point lol, us moms are warriors!

OP posts:

Original poster

Rae0928 · 22/08/2023 21:24

honeyrain · 22/08/2023 21:20

Hello I had an elective for my first baby and I'm due one this Thursday! 🥳

Honestly? I found it amazing,

I knew the date, I could plan/prepare/nest until my heart was content!
Baby was out so quickly! None of this 40hrs of labour, a section takes about 1hr
The pain wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, manageable with the medication you go home on
No vaginal pain/scared to poo/tearing/issues!! Amazing!

Some things to note...

mobility is annoying. You kind of have to do this roll thing out of bed (think no "sit-up" type movement) for some weeks until your wound heals
your wound could get infected (mine didn't but it's common)
the spinal is also mobility limiting but it's worn off after 12hrs
you have to take Clexane injections for a couple of weeks after to minimise risk of clot....they sting like little bitches.
you might be nauseated after (I wasn't) but I did have itchy skin from the morphine which lasted a day or so.

Also think it depends a lot on what kind of person you are/how well you tolerate pain/family support to help with driving and lifts/other half to help with mobility and sitting up etc afterwards.

I could have a very different take after Thursday 🙈🙈🙈 having a toddler in the mix will be very different this time round!

I also cannot compare to vaginal birth 🤷🏼‍♀️

Hiya! So glad to hear your experiences and will definitely take note of what you’ve said! I also have a toddler at home but was delivered vaginally through induction which I honestly wouldn’t recommend, couldn’t bare the thought of going through that again! It also left me to deal with vaginismus so I don’t think even a natural birth is on the charts at this point lol. I have extra growth scans planned with this pregnancy due to previous low birth weight so glad I’m being monitored abit more extra. Definitely excited for this c section though now that I have some reassurance!

OP posts:

Twimum23 · 22/08/2023 22:37

i had my first set of twins via c section 6weeks ago which was my first pregnancy. I went down to theater at 11.40pm and was in recovery by 12.30pm and twins was born 12.08 & 12.09pm my second twin was also born in the sac which the theater team said was really rare to see, they were born at 33wks when I got to recovery their dad went to give them a fed and to see them as like previous people have said u have to wait for the sensation to come back in your legs mine where in nicu for two weeks just being born so early and was 7weeks prem but as soon as I could feel my legs I got taken down to see them and me and my partner could go see them whenever we wanted even if it was early hours of the morning but other visitors could only go to see them with either me or my partner between 3-7pm other hospitals might be different. I found I was back to almost normal like 3 days after surgery except from heavy lifting but the more you walk around the better I found scar wise bruising went after 3-4days and outer stitches was dissolved 5-6days but now I’m back to normal driving and daily routine. Hope it all goes well for u

ohhollyfred · 22/08/2023 22:40

I was allowed to go see her whenever I wanted. I was expressing milk every three hours and was slowly and painfully walking myself between the two wards to deliver it to the nurses so they could put it in her feeding tube.