Elective section experiences

[rainbowMIT]

Hello all
I have my section booked for Friday.
I'm absolutely terrified.
Had a very very traumatic vaginal birth 3 years ago and had a majorly long painful recovery hence the section this time round.

Iv read some very positive things about elective sections but at the same time Iv also heard some horrific stuff. Im scared of dying on the table like terrified.

Can anyone give me some positive experiences? And talk me through what I may experience please?
Thank you

I can’t speak for an elective but I had an emergency c section when I had my son as the labour wasn’t progressing and our heart rates were both high and it was so relaxed even though it was an emergency one.

I felt at ease as I knew the safest option was to have the procedure for both of us. I was up and about the following day once the epidural had worn off and although I kept on top of medication, I found the pain manageable - just take it easy no hoovering bending down further than to pick the baby up from cot - eg, I didn’t put dishes back in low cupboards etc just not to overdo it

I’m having another baby in January and have the option to do a vbac or an elective c section and I’m opting for an elective as I already have the scar (which could rupture potentially if I go to full term and naturally labour) and I didn’t want to same outcome if this labour didnt progress

Try not to worry about it you’re in the best hands xxx

Hello! Two electives here - both very positive experiences but second slightly harder recovery. For mine I got to choose some music to play, and all the medical staff in the room were really clear as to explaining what they were doing and why. It was a bit weird feeling them tug around but then childbirth is weird in general. I went into recovery wards before main ward but that wasnt for too long, and was placed with other CS mums (not sure if this was just my hospital). My advice is to treat it as it is - it’s major surgery so if you can make sure you rest (harder with 2 than one though!)

How exciting OP! I've had 2 elcs following a traumatic birth with my first. They were both lovely experiences! It's very calm, controlled and the team are really good at letting you know what's going on and reassuring you. You'll get there at your time slot, be prepped for theatre and then may or may not have a bit of a wait as they have to juggle the emergencies too (take a phone charger and book or tablet loaded with some TV shows or films you like!). When it's your turn, you will head down to theatre and you do get poked and prodded a bit but nothing major. Then they lay you down and put up the screen. Usually chat to you while it's going on and both times we were offered to play music via the Bluetooth speakers. Quite quickly the baby is out and then they stitch you up which takes longer but you have the baby to occupy you! Then off to recovery which is always my favourite bit as it's quiet When they are happy with you and baby you're taken to the postnatal ward. The numbness will wear off and then it's best to start moving around (firstly in bed, kind of bum shuffle around) and then standing up (make sure you have someone with you the first time as you may be wobbly). Be ON IT with painkillers- take everything, even if you feel OK as there will be some pain / soreness so get on top of it early. Both times I was discharged the following day. Took it easy for a week or two then felt pretty much fine. All the best and congratulations in advance!

Best decision for me to have an elective c-section. It's much more relaxed, just keep on top of your pain killers! I was up and about much quicker than my forceps delivery with my 1st xx

I have one child and opted for an ELCS and I wouldn’t change a thing.

It was a lovely calm experience and my recovery was straight forward, just keep on top of your painkillers and don’t push yourself.

As with PP's, I had to have an elective after an emergency section , only a year before.
Such a relaxing experience, I can recommend it 😃
After the trauma of 23 hours labour followed by an appointment with the crash team, this was so wonderful.
Not to underestimate the recovery...it's a major op but I was very lucky and recovered really quickly. Difficult having a 1 year old too but we managed it and I don't regret it for a moment.

I have had an emergency section and recently an elective section. It was lovely. There is some tugging and pulling but baby soon arrives and the staff will really look after you. I asked for radio 2 to be on in the background. It was such a calm experience. Enjoy meeting your baby!

3 ELCSs here & each one I wouldn't change for the world. It was a lovely, calm experience and once you go in & meet the team who are caring for you you'll feel so much more at ease. Once your spinal is in you'll be so focused on the baby arriving you're very unlikely to be thinking about the fact you've been frightened about the section. I found mine to be very organised & everyone knows exactly what they are doing. Honestly each one felt about 10 minutes long, it passes by so quickly! Wishing you all the best & for the safe arrival of your baby.

I had a pretty decent experience - booked in, I was the first of the day so they walked me down everyone was SUPER nice, friendly and relaxing. The midwife was there. Had a chat with the anaesthetist and surgeon. Very brief. I asked if I could have a numbing injection before my cannula was inserted which was the best decision I’ve ever made.. So many people in theatre checking everything and anything including my well being. They sprayed my body from bottom up to check I was completely numb. Lay down and I was spoken through each step. I felt a bit sick so someone put a nice cold flannel on my head and looked after me like I was a child myself. They were so caring, The surgeon began - I then felt a bit of pulling and tugging and the baby was here. They lifted him so I could see took him to be checked. They then stitched me up whilst they were showing me the weight and told me the sex and other things. I then went into recovery whilst my other half looked after the baby, in the same room. That was lovely, although I could have the baby myself if I wanted for skin to skin. Went back to ward and rested. In 5 hours I was up having a shower and the next day I was home. All in all good experience. I also had an emergency section which was an even better experience. The elective was very straight forward and timely.

I had an elective section and it was great! All very calm and straightforward, toast afterwards, quick recovery and minimal pain. Good luck!

I had a similar experience. Traumatic VB and then elective for my second child last year. I only have good things to say about it. The hardest part I found was waiting - I was low risk and so got bumped after arriving at 7am to about 2.30pm. Obviously this is because riskier emergencies came in so I’m very grateful I was low risk.

The actual procedure I found reassuring. They are so organised and calm, everyone introduces themselves and they’re incredibly responsive when I started to feel a bit nauseous. My experience was going in, meeting the theatre manager (not sure that’s his actually title!) He was lovely, talked me through it all. Next up was anaesthetist who sites the needle in your back for the spinal. You sit hunched over normally facing away, with the your back curled like an angry cat. Again, they were really kind, only tricky part is keeping still as the needle isn’t sore but makes you jump sometimes. Then as feeling goes in your legs you’re quickly lowered to the table. Actual procedure took about fifteen minutes from starting to baby being out and they normally tell you they’ve begun. And then once baby is out (I didn’t want to hold baby till they’d been checked) they passed baby to me and closed the wound. You’re so distracted by the baby I didn’t really notice. And then into recovery for a few hours before going to the ward.
Recovery is painful at times but take meds proactively on a schedule, don’t wait for the pain. First couple of days are tough, but by day ten I was a lot better. Don’t overdo it as the one day I did I really suffered. By the third week I’d really turned a corner.
Any surgery is scary - I was carrying some ptsd from my first birth so felt like so many things could go wrong. But it was a great experience. We won’t have more but if I did I’d choose elective a hundred times over. Good luck. X

Three electives here. All extremely calm, professional, friendly experiences. Highly recommended!

I had an ELCS and I remember walking into the hospital on the morning of the procedure and I was grinning from ear
to ear in the knowledge that I was going to meet my baby that day. I can’t explain how wonderfully happy I felt and it will stay with me forever.

The waiting around wasn’t fun but the actual procedure was fine. I was worried about having the epidural/spinal with regards to thinking it would hurt, but it reallly didn’t. One thing that did surprise me was how quickly it took effect. As soon as he’d inserted the spinal needle and infused some of the block into my spine I felt a really pleasantly warm/hot sensation all down my legs and then I couldn’t feel anything.

As I lay back on the bed I had the anaesthetist near near my head and he was chatting to me the whole time about all sorts of nonsense which kept me feeling really reassured. And I could hear the surgeons chatting away and laughing with each other during the section and it was all just so calm. I could feel my lower body being rocked a little when they were pulling the baby out but otherwise I was just lying comfortably.

The only thing I didn’t like was that when the baby was born they gave him straight to my husband and I didn’t actually hold him until I had been wheeled into recovery and I really regrets that. My son is 9 years old now and I still feel sad about the fact my husband held him first and that I missed out on those first special skin-to-skin moments.

So my only advice I would give you is to make it clear that if all is well, you want the baby passed straight to you.

I had an elective section and it was a fantastic experience. Everything was so nice and calm in the morning, everyone was really friendly and kept me up to date on everything that was happening and when. The section itself was fine, it was a little uncomfortable getting the anaesthetic but then it was fine. I couldn't feel a thing and then my baby was here and I was cuddling him.

The recovery was absolutely fine as well. I had the catheter out, walked to the shower and stood for a shower by 6pm or so (baby born at midday). I was home by 6pm the next day. The pain from trapped wind was worse than any from the wound itself.

By the end of the first week, I was physically back to normal and doing long walks with the pram. The pain lasted until the end of the second week, but I never needed more than paracetamol and ibuprofen. By week 3, I was taking the pram on the train by myself. I had to do injections for a few weeks but they weren't terrible.

I had to be at the hospital for 7am for an ELCS. Due to emergencies rightfully taking priority, I didn't have him until 5pm. It was a long, thirsty wait!