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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

So what does a C section feel like???

42 replies

horseshoe · 11/03/2008 22:04

having delivered my first 2 vaginally it looks like this might be a c section due to breech.

I am sort of thinking great as I dont labour that well but is it as simple as that?

I know its still a surgical procedure but someone told me they have you out of bed really early on now and you no longer stay in hospital for days?

Also the tugging thing!! Is it unpleasant?

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Botbot · 11/03/2008 22:07

I read once that it feels 'like someone is doing the washing up in your tummy'. That describes it pretty well. Not painful or uncomfortable or unpleasant, but you can definitely feel something going on.

I was up and about the next morning and ready to go home after two nights. It's all a bit of a haze now, but recovery was much easier than I thought it'd be.

Wasn't keen on the surgical stockings though

cyanarasamba · 11/03/2008 22:10

Have you been offered an ECV (where the baby is turned manually inside you to a head down position by a consultant manipulating your tummy). Sounds scary but worked for me.

Still had a c-section though due to problems in labour not related to the original breech.

snowleopard · 11/03/2008 22:12

It is a tugging and kind of rummaging sensation, and I got the feeling the surgeon was really having to pull very hard. He didn't quite put his foot on my chest to brace himself but it was a bit like that!

Afterwards, you can feel pretty weak, sore and not up to much - sitting up and walking around is hard - I had a catheter for urine at first and was given a sponge bath in bed. When I had my first shower, after a couple of days, I felt very faint (luckily a nurse was helping me - don't go and have a bath or shower unattended after a CS as it can be dangerous; if there's no nurse to help, have your DP/DH with you). You have to keep the scar very clean and watch out for infection, and you have to take it very easy for 6 weeks so if at all possible, arrange for friends or family to be around to help with your older ones.

kid · 11/03/2008 22:12

With my first one nine yeara ago, I wasn't allowed to eat or get up for 24 hours.
After my second one 6 years ago, I was being fed just hours after the op (but was sick), I was up the next day and home the day after that.

The recovery was very painful, but I think I did too much too soon. If you do need a c-section, let your body guide you as to how much you can do. Otherwise you just delay the healing by doing too much. It took me almost 12 weeks to fully recover. Got me out of carrying the shopping for a while

cariboo · 11/03/2008 22:14

Like having a bunch of elves doing morris dancing on your lower tummy.

bellavita · 11/03/2008 22:14

Surgical stockings are the major downside!

It does feel like someone is washing up in your tummy, but it does not hurt.

Both my Ds's were c sections due to being posterior and rather large (compared to me). I had DS1 on a Friday lunchtime and came home on the Monday and I had DS2 on Thursday late evening and came home Sunday and in both cases they got me up the next morning.

kid · 11/03/2008 22:14

I was sent for a shower on the second day so I could remove the dressing and be allowed home. It was horrible but then I am the quesiest person ever!

cariboo · 11/03/2008 22:15

They had me up and walking within 24hrs.

snowleopard · 11/03/2008 22:15

Oh and if you want to see it, you can get quite a good view reflected in the mirrored light things over the operating table (likewise, don't look at them if you don't!)

cariboo · 11/03/2008 22:16

And no, it doesn't hurt!

Jackstini · 11/03/2008 22:19

Couldn't feel much at all really due to spinal block - bit of rummaging and was quite surprised when dd appeared over the top in a couple of minutes.
Timewise I had dd at 10.36am on Thurs, was in recovery til 1pm, labour suite til 5pm then ward with a catheter in. Next morning catheter out & I got up and had a shower (bit of shuffling but not too bad) and Sat pm I went home as I was doing fine. Had a friend who stayed in for 5 days though, think it depends how you are doing and what your home situation is. (dh was at home and I wanted to be there rather than him having to leave us at 8pm when visiting was over. Due to cs had to be on ward, not in maternity hotel.)
Not ever given birth naturally so can't compare but I did not think it was bad at all - and I am a self confessed big wuss.

geordiemacminx · 11/03/2008 22:20

I had emergency c/s at 1pm on Friday, was out of hospital at 7pm on the Saturday - no problems what so ever - would have another one if I had the choice

The main pain was afterpains when breastfeeding but they went away after a couple of days.

Original poster

horseshoe · 11/03/2008 22:22

I have a few weeks for baby to turn yet but he been in same position for most of late pregnancy so looks like he could be settled there.

The offered me a ECV if i need one but turned it down. I heard it very painful and Im a big wimp.

I thought I would just go for the c-section but wondered if I was being nieve.

I had internal stitches with both my previous deliveries which took ages to heal too.

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BibiThree · 11/03/2008 22:22

With my first, emergency section, it felt quite rough, thought I was being pulled about a LOT but no pain whoatsoever. Lots of pressure felt up under my ribs, but after a long labour, dd had to be pushed back up (sorry if tmi) to get her head out of the incision. Up and about the next day but not with ease, out within 4 days.

Second section, planned, barely felt a thing, had a spinal block this time, not through epidural like last time. Felt virtually nothing and with twins, I really thought I would. Recovery was actually better this time but I was in hospital for 2 weeks with the girls, so no cooking, cleaning, laundry, chasing dd1.

beeper · 11/03/2008 22:23

Rather depends if your epidural works well or not, mine was bloody agony and I am hoping to avoid on this time.

Original poster

horseshoe · 11/03/2008 22:24

I had afterpains too with DD2 and told to expect them with this one.

Urrggghhhh dont fancy much watching the procedure....

OP posts:

ArchiesMama · 11/03/2008 22:24

The tugging is weird but not unplesant!

I remember They described it to me as it would kind of feel like ur in a washing up bowl for part of it and i kinda got what they meant!

I dont think it hurt at all i remember the numbness starting to wear off and bein really scared that i wyd be in agony soon....but it never happened!

I would say get walkin about as soon as you can...ds was in special care so i recovered v quick as had to keep walkin to go see him

Overall it was all a lot quicker, easier and less painful than i expected!

chubbymummy · 11/03/2008 22:27

I had an emergency section and was terrified on the way to theatre (I'm needle phobic so lost the plot at the thought of someone cutting me open). However it was nothing like I imagined and I felt like a right muppet for screaming in protest as they wheeled me in! To be honest with you I didn't realise that they has made the first cut until the anethetist told me that they were almost ready to deliver the baby, I thought they were still preparing me and drawing on litttle lines. When they began to cut through the other layers it did feel a bit strange, tugging and pushing but not painful or even uncomfortable. The anethetist and surgeon were amused that I fell asleep on the table as they were stitching me up (in my defence I was very tired after a long failed labour).
The recovery was much better than I expected too. It was difficult to get in and out of bed and hurt to get from seated to standing at first but not so much that it stopped me. I was up and walking around later the same day and went home after 2 days (although they recomend between 3-5, I requested to be discharged.) I had no problems tending to my baby either.

Original poster

horseshoe · 11/03/2008 22:27

Wots the difference between a spinal block and an Epi???

I had epi with DD1 and it only worked down one side of my body

OP posts:

TooTicky · 11/03/2008 22:31

I hated the epi and panicked (can't stand numbness) so they put me right out.
The next day, they booted me out of bed and sent me to have a shower (alone) when I really didn't feel up to it. Was also told, rather bossily, to wash off the gluey stuff from the stitches.

chubbymummy · 11/03/2008 22:32

A friend of mine had a section with dd and a vb with ds but tore down below and needed stitches. She said to me that she would choose a section anyday over stitches down there!!!!!

bellavita · 11/03/2008 22:33

I had an epidural with Ds1 - you are numb from waist down.

With Ds2 I had a spinal and you are numb from the shoulders down. Did not like this feeling. I felt as if I was in a box and the lid could go on at any minute - very claustrophobic.

cariboo · 11/03/2008 22:35

I've mentioned this before on MN but my dh fainted when I had an epi & had to be wheeled out!

HarrietTheSpy · 11/03/2008 22:37

DD was emergency c section under general anesthetic. I am so hoping for a VBAC simply because the possibility of being awake during another CS terrifies me - the curtain, the mirrors oneo f the posters described above. Am thinking of asking for gas and air on top of the spinal/epidural if I have to have the procedure just to take my mind off of it all!

kid · 11/03/2008 22:58

The difference between epidural and spinal is the length of time they last for. I remember being numb all over for both, to check it had numbed enough, they pinched me!

I could still move my arms though to hold baby, weird.

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