c-section

[LavenderInTheField]

Wondering how did/do you make the decision between C section or vaginal birth?

And how early on do you have to make the decision if you choose elective c section?

Anxious about vaginal birth but also heard c section can take longer to heal up. how did you heal up if you had one?

Is this your first? There's no other medical reasons for a section? I guess you're talking of a planned section (ime very different experience to emergency)

sorry yea first baby so trying to read as much as possible but there's so much conflicting info, so hoped to hear from other mums who have gone through it or having the same debates!

planned elective c section rather than emergency.

You'll get lots of medical professionals telling you to go for a natural birth. In fact I don't think elective sections were even an option unless there were underlying medical reasons.

Is there any reason why you're considering it as an option?

It's major abdominal surgery so not something to go into lightly.

I’ve Had both an emcs and a VBAC.
There are lots of things that can go wrong with both
for example I was incontinent after my cs but not my VBAC. But basically it boils down to pain during or pain after.

Hi @LavenderInTheField I asked for an ELCS at my booking appointment. I was given a mental health check, to see if there was any underlying anxiety that could be helped, it was a lovely chat with a nurse, and she was very supportive of my wish to have a ELCS. No one tried to talk me out of it, it was very straight forward.

Noone reads your birth plan, so if there is anything specific you want, either supply it/ do it yourself, or remind every single midwife you come across.

My recovery was very good, but I’m fit, very slim and 30. An overweight friend had a difficult recovery as her scar was less able to heal.

I had the CS at midday, and told all the nurses and drs I intended to leave after the minimum 24 hours. Didn’t get a wink of sleep as I was so full of adrenaline! Up, showered and dressed at 9am, but it was difficult to get released, and after 4 hours of asking for our paperwork etc, we eventually left at about 1pm. Next time, I’m just going to walk out at 9am.

I was out at lunch on day 5. My husband drove us there so I walked all of about 20 feet! Take it v v easy, even if you feel fine, rope in as much as help as possible for the first week at least, and get lots of ready meals, ready made formula, and bottles of water/snacks by the bed for you.

Congratulations and good luck!

I had an emergency c section after not progressing past 6cm dilated with my first. Mine was straight forward and healing was fine just keep on top of meds if u have one x

I wanted control over my delivery so opted for an elective C-section. Sat waiting around for contractions to start would be my idea of hell!

I had c section went to theater 11.40pm twins was born 12.08/12.09 and I was in recovery by 12.30 stayed in hospital 2 nights babies was born on a Saturday and I was almost back to normal by wed/thurs other than heavy lifting but was walking around and getting out and about I found it helped scar wise stitches had dissolved and bruising was gone by day 5 and I started driving after 5wks

I had sections for medical reasons.

My recovery from both was long (months) and very painful including wound infections with first and post op complications with second.

I wouldn't recommend one unless necessary. Neither of mine were by choice.