Those who have had C Sections

[MomToBe2025xx]

Hiya everyone :)

For context, I am currently 26 weeks pregnant, and last Wednesday I had a consultant appointment to tell me that I will be having growth scans every 4 weeks and that an anaesthetist (excuse my spelling if that's wrong) will be calling me, and I am now under consultant led care, not midwife. He said this is due to my size etc and not baby growth? He was very vague and was reluctant to answer any questions properly, he mentioned that I essentially may struggle as baby grows and struggle giving birth?
Obviously this wasn't very nice to hear as I had really wanted a water birth (I know child birth doesn't always go to plan btw) So it sounds as if I may end up having a section?
I will of course do whatever I have to do that is safe for me and my baby boy, I am just petrified of the thought of a C section...
Petrified of being in surgery, petrified of the recovery etc... I'm getting quite worked up about it. I have such a helpful partner which I can imagine will really help.
I just wanted to know if anyone has been in the same situation as mine and also how people found their c sections?

Thank you xx

I agree the blood thinning injection things are the worst bit, mostly because I wasn't entirely sure I was doing them correctly!

The op was fine, you can feel some rummaging around which is odd but no pain. I remember being relieved when I could feel my legs again as I didn't particularly enjoy that!

The pain afterwards I found manageable. After my first I was given co-codamol but that made me extremely constipated so after my second I didn't bother and just took paracetamol and ibuprofen. I was anaemic after both so took floradix which was more gentle on the digestive system than the iron tablets.

Mobilise as soon as you can as movement helps recovery (gentle, not strenuous!). Our nct teacher recommended adding a couple of drops of tea tree oil to the bathwater to assist wound healing (after your dressing comes off). I don't know if that's what did it but my scars are practically invisible.

And finally - get some massive knickers so the kicker elastic comes way above the surgery site

I have just explained in more detail above on what happened...
I am also now on my 3rd midwife, I had 1 for booking and 16 week, a different one for 24 and now a new one for 'young moms' from 28 weeks. I think I may message her and ask as she may know more. But I'm just as confused as you, hence why so anxious :)

Realistically OP any birth can end up being a c section, but of course you may not need one. If it is looking very likely closer to term, then as everyone says, a planned one is always better than an emergency. How old are you ? Are you under 5’ tall ?
In terms of the weird feeling, you can feel all the rummaging and pulling, but it doesn’t hurt. It really is strange. Recovery varies , I recovered well but I had a part of my lower abdomen feel numb for a long time, more so after my second section. I have a “shelf” over the scar since the second, which I hate (first scar was much better) but my friend has a better second scar than her first which was an emergency.
I think support post birth in hospital isn’t great, but that probably applies to tricky natural deliveries too, they turf you out quickly ! I really missed the electronic hospital bed as getting to a sitting up position to feed the baby was the worst thing. Gently walking around was ok.

Thats so helpful, thank so you much! Glad you had a positive experience x

I had a semi-emergency section 2 weeks ago. I went in to be induced (baby was measuring big on growth scans). Waters were broken and labour started really quickly. I requested a mobile epidural which then completely stopped my contractions! Baby had also passed meconium and heart rate was dipping when I was on my back (he was fine with me lying on my right). Doctor was brought in and offered me the drip to kick start my contractions again but given situation with baby he would likely need forceps or ventouse (or even emergency section). I declined the drip and went for section instead as was tired and really didn't want forceps/ventouse. They were in no rush to get baby out (as he was fine) so I went into theatre about 2hrs after making the decision. It was a really calm environment, music playing, surgeon singing! My mobile epidural just needed to be topped up to a full epidural. Baby came out crying and absolutely fine! He also needed forceps to help scoop him out as he was quite far down the birth canal. My DP cut the cord and had cuddles next to me while I was stitched up. We were in theatre for just over an hour. Transferred to recovery where we had skin to skin and fed baby.

Catheter was taken out 12hrs after surgery. I was given paracetamol, ibuprofen and oramorph for the first 24hrs (make sure you request these regularly). Passed urine ok which meant I could go home 36hrs in total after surgery.

Usually you are discharged with paracetamol, ibuprofen and dihydrocodeine. However I'm allergic to codeine so just had to manage with ibuprofen and paracetamol and it was fine. I stopped the ibuprofen after 4 days and by day 9 had stopped all painkillers.

I've had to take lactulose to help bowels and wind (and remember if you are prescribed codeine based medication this can make you constipated too).

I have no regrets over my decision to have a section. In fact I wish I'd chosen this at my 38 week appointment instead of induction. I am incredibly lucky to have fallen pregnant (IVF with extreme MFI) so this may be my only one and wanted to experience childbirth. However, I had a really positive experience and would choose to have a section again.

Really helpful tips!! Thank you so much😊x

Ah I see, but 20/21 years is hardly an extremely young age in terms of giving birth. I would push to discuss this further with a consultant. It is extremely important that you understand why a recommendation has been made (and it is a recommendation not an order). And also that you have agreed with the recommendation before it goes further - you are not obligated to agree or 'go along' with it, particularly if the evidence provided is very poor. It is your body and your baby and therefore your decision. And a C-section is not a decision to take lightly in my opinion.

Im 20, 5ft4 and not underweight or overweight so I'm confused as to why he brought age into it?
This is helpful though, and I have heard that care afterwards isn't always the best.

Sorry only read your post with your age after I had posted.
21 at delivery shouldn’t be an issue at all carrying a baby to term, and unless you are very tiny with a six footer partner, size shouldn’t matter either as your weight is healthy.

That sounds like it was a nice experience in the end, I am really happy for you😊It doesnt sound like you are in surgery for too long either, which is good (granted all goes well)
Thank you for this x

I had emergency section with my one and only. Didn’t manage to have another baby but would definitely have gone for another c section.

I understand that I'm still classed as 'young' it is just confusing that he didn't go into any detail whatsoever. That's why it felt like an order as such, he didn't suggest alternative options or even an insight as to why my age/ size comes into it. I wasn't very well informed basically. x

This was my experience over 40 years ago. I had an elected C section first, due to a large baby and a slightly small pelvic exit, and I really should have asked for another section with my second. I had a very smooth delivery with my first and recovered quickly. For the second I was cut, tore and forceps were used. It caused pain during sex later and problems in menopause that led to three prolapse operations.

This is what I had thought? Im healthy weight, 5ft4, he said baby is growing fine. Partner isnt a giant😂So i am just confused x

Sorry to hear about the problems you had, I think I need to consider things like this more

I don’t understand the age and size thing then, your twenties are the best years to have a baby from a physical point of view, and you are average height and a healthy weight . There seems no reason for any worry at all.
It is sensible to know more about c sections anyway though, as you may or may not have one. I found the advice I’d had from friends helped me when I needed my first section as I roughly knew what to expect. Wishing you the best of luck op.

I just would've liked some more information as to why. As I will do whatever I have to do for a safe delivery no matter my fears. I just think as a FTM they shouldn't leave you in the dark?
Positive is I get more scans so I can see baby more before birth

Sorry haven't RTFT so I'm sure I'm repeating everyone else!

I had two sections, essentially because my babies were big and I was small (well, short - I'm not small ). One very relaxed EMCS following a failed induction, and then the second was a slightly complicated ELCS. Both very relaxed in theatre (even with the complications second time round), both straightforward recoveries. I'd decided by the time I was in recovery on DC1 that DC2 would be a section! It turned out to be necessary anyway as she was transverse but that was always the plan.

The surgeries were fine, genuinely would rather a section than a filling (that might say more about my fear of the dentist). Both babies breastfed in recovery and were EBF without issue (if that's something you're worried about). You have to take it easy with the recovery but it was honestly fine. Take your painkillers on a schedule - I made this DH's job as my brain was fried - and taper them down slowly.

My first and only birth was an elective section. Best choice I ever made, was amazing. I had no support no family or friends babys dad not interested so I was alone. So the wonderful workers arranged a midwife to hold my hand and reassure me and take pics for me

Your incredible! Glad the midwives were there with you 😊Thank you for this x

I know a woman who had 5 kids vaginally and was under 5ft! Her pelvis was a good shape apparently. So I don't see how that would be an issue? But for me I would never have a vaginal birth as I have tokophobia and also CPTSD. Age shouldn't be a factor as you are woman and not a young teenager. Btw the blood thinning injections are very simple I've been on them since 6 weeks pregnant. Just plenty of rest lots of fluids, glycerol suppositories if your constipated. The belly binder helped me as it kept my back supported and also meant I could have a barrier to keep my scar safe.

I had an emergency C-section (due to baby’s growth) and whilst it was like an episode of Holby City in the sense that it was dramatic and traumatic - it was the best thing.
My advice is don’t push for a natural birth if the advice given is to have a c-section. It will be a lot less stressful for you, baby and the father.

To be very honest I am not sure why they even allowed me to attempt a natural birth, but this was over 10years ago.

All the best OP!

I really wanted to have a water birth and I’d done all the hypnobirthing classes etc.
However, I ended up with very bad gestational diabetes which could only be controlled with large doses of insulin. It also meant I had very big babies and too much amniotic fluid (which increases the risk of cord prolapse).
The safest option was to have a planned c-section with both my children (although in both cases I went into premature labour and the c-section was brought forward).

Honestly, it was totally fine. The c-section itself was really calm and my recovery was pretty quick and smooth (I went to a restaurant for lunch on my way home from the hospital on day 3). I think I recovered more quickly than quite a lot of my friends who had vaginal births.
The first day or two is quite painful, but the pain relief definitely helps. I was up and walking as soon as the epidural wore off, it’s uncomfortable but you recover better if you’re mobile. I was able to do most things by about 2 weeks post partum, and by 6 weeks I was totally back to normal.
If it makes you feel better then I felt completely relaxed having my second c-section because of how well the first one went. I’d happily have another one if we were planning to have more kids.

I know that I was lucky and not everyone has such a positive experience but I did want to reassure you that it’s totally possible that you will. Also, planned c-sections do tend to have fewer complications and be a lot calmer than emergency ones.

Yes definitely a lot of scare mongering about not being able to BF. Obviously if you lose a significant amount of blood or have a post partum H. Then it will be slightly harder. But keep an eye on your iron levels. Arnica tablets are helpful. I ebf both of mine no issues. Obviously if you want to bottle feed it's your choice

Thank you for this, I know I am still young, and some may think I'm silly for having a baby young. But they have made me feel VERY young, by mentioning my age in correlation to carrying full term and child birth and putting me under a young mother midwife team now from 28 weeks...
This is really helpful though, thank you!