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’ve had a natural birth and a c section. I recovered far quicker from the c section than the vaginal birth. My natural birth was traumatic, long and painful and I tore badly, still giving me issues to this day. The c section was planned, calm and quick. It was a totally different experience.

What a lovely experience! Thank you😊

Im glad you had a positive C section experience, thank you 😊

I remember getting looks and dismissed a lot, they thought I was a lot younger than I was! No risk of that now after 2 kids 🤣. But you are an adult and a responsible one. So feel free to ask questions. And never be afraid to ask why! Yes c section is a major surgery. But informed consent is key. I'm typing this waiting for my birth choices appointment! Your body! Being a younger woman is actually an advantage biologically

I've had 1 of each and my c section was a million times better. The recovery was easier - more straightforward, more predictable and shorter.

The birth was also much nicer - no pain once the spinal went in (I was already in labour), much calmer and more serene (despite being an emergency c). I wasn't anywhere near as exhausted so I was better able to care for my baby and I wasn't distraught or battered and bruised like I was with my vaginal birth.

The whole thing was just far calmer, straightforward and predictable. Which I preferred.

Ultimately, the aim is to get your baby out as safely as possible and keep you both alive!

Everyone has their preferences for birth and you are absolutely allowed to advocate for what you want but do listen to what the consultant has to say - consultant led doesn't have to equal ELCS by the way, it may just be down to where they want you to give birth so they could keep an eye on you both.

In my case, I had an ELCS in my first pregnancy and it was a great experience (I know that sounds weird!). I loved having a planned date and not going through the pain and uncertainty of spontaneous labour. Everything was well explained, super calm and chilled. My birth partner was with me, I was awake throughout, got skin to skin, partner cut the cord etc.
I was discharged after 24 hours and recovery was a lot better and easier than I imagined it would be.

I'm having another ELCS with baby number 2

I wanted a natural waterbirth with my first too, didn't want to be induced or have any interventions, I thought I would breathe through the pain. I ended up being overdue, waters breaking but don't go into labour, induced, eventually asked for an epidural, and then ended up with an emergency csection anyway. The C-section itself was fast and straightforward! Recovery was fine! DH did everything while I rested and healed.

I'm now scheduled to have a planned C-section for my second child tomorrow! 🙂 I'm surprisingly not worried and confident it will go smoothly. I'm a little nervous about recovering while looking after my older child but I have support available thankfully. I'm really relieved it's all planned out - I wouldn't want all the complications and uncertainty from last time.

Can you speak to your consultant and midwives again to get more information, put your mind at rest as to why they think a C-section is necessary? It always boils down to minimising risks to you and baby.

I also wanted a water birth and ended up having a c section. I had like a week of planning it, I was petrified and adamant that I didn't want one at the start of my pregnancy but it ended up being best for me and my little one. I'd suggest watching positive YouTube videos on peoples experiences, that really helped me :)

@Mamma173737 Best of luck for tomorrow ♥️

Yeah I have had some funny looks but I decided to go through with this so I own it😂I was asking questions but he was so vague and dismissive! I was shocked!!
Best of luck with your birth x

That sounds like a great experience, thank you! 😊

But surely you won't definitely have a CS.

Can you wait and see? If you go into labour spontaneously you've got every chance of a normal delivery.

I had four CSs and I've always wondered what giving birth felt like.

I did find the post-operative pain and recovery was truly awful, although many women don't.

All the very best, whatever happens.

Ah how exciting! I'll say congratulations now although its early😊Hope all goes well!
Yeah I think I may contact my midwife today maybe? x

2 emergency c sections
1st failed induction and failure to progress, cervix had stopped dilating, was actually going backwards and baby's heart rate started dipping.
Turned out she was a face presentation and had got stuck, quite some tugging required to get her out, born with bruising on her face.
Second one, labour started naturally but again didn't progress due to cervix not dilating enough. They didn't let it go on so long this time, after about 10 hours they were saying I needed another CS.

I found the worst thing about the recovery was not being able to drive for 6 weeks. Obviously a bit sore afterwards but frankly I was in way better shape than some women who'd given birth naturally and needed to sit on rubber rings due to wrecked undercarriages and painful stitches.
The felling of a C section is like someone doing the washing up inside you. Weird but that's all.

I know nothing is actually set in stone. But by the way he was talking, he didn't mention any other options etc.
Thank you😊

I've had w csections. The first was an emergency. I had already delivered my babies feet and the wanted to her her out quickly. It was very quick and scary. I had a general anaesthetic so no pain.

The second was lovely. It was planned and very calm. The injection was a bit sharp but over very quickly. When they get the baby out it's like pulling and pressure.

The recovery was okay ish. I was back to normal in 4 -6 weeks. The first 2-4 weeks o needed help. It was tricky to sit up from laying.

Honestly it was the best experience of my life! It didn’t feel like surgery, it was so calm, and relaxing. Had my music playing in the background, husband holding my hand. Skin to skin, they latched on immediately and I was able to feed them as they tidied me up.

I had no trouble with trapped wind. I took paracetamol for a couple of days but I didn’t have any pain or discomfort. I was discharged 12hrs after birth and was walking around the park, going to the shops and out for lunch by day 3!

I didn’t have to wait 6wks before driving, I felt able to do it by week 3.

In comparison, it was no where near as bad as having my appendix out (which was keyhole surgery!).

My friend had a horrendous vaginal birth, and I told her my experience and she elected for a section for the second. She also had a wonderful experience, no issues with pain or looking after a baby and toddler straight after.

Thank you! Yes go for it, call them now. You shouldn't have to feel dismissed or be left in the dark and worrying when the answers to your questions are right there. It's a bit frustrating that the consultant was being vague and dismissive so I would just line up your questions in advance and keep chipping away at him until you are satisfied. I imagine many doctors think they are doing what's best for the patient the way they parcel out limited information, but they don't actually want their patients to go into a procedure not understanding why it's recommended or needed.

I had my first C section because I was overdue and my husband hadn't turned up from abroad. (He was in a conflict zone- no phones[. I managed to get myself into such a state worrying because they had been trying to induce me but said the baby was going up not down. When myDH finallymadeit,my gyie took him on one side andtold me we were going downstairs whichI thought was the car park!!!! Next thing I remember is waking up with a cuddly bundle lying in DH's exhausted nap. Second time, it was my choice mainly after hearing all the horror stories first time around. I loved the water idea but not the 30stitches hurting for a couple of years. I had an epidural, same lovely warm feeling mentioned above, never felt a thing but had a really interesting conversation between my gynie, DH andthe midwife!

Thank you! I'll do whatever is safest, I just want to be informed especially as the antenatal team are already aware that I struggle with anxiety, he could tell I was visibly stressed and anxious in the appointment as I didnt know anything! x

I also wanted to add not to be afraid to ask the most basic or what might you think are silly questions. They will have heard them all.

I asked my consultant at our meeting if they did swabs of the vaginal canal for C-section babies for their gut health etc. And his response was "why would we rub that onto a baby's face?" And I was like "you tell me, there's research and news articles and you're the expert!" I went with his recommendation not to do it - I wasn't planning on arguing, I just wanted to know if it was an option! I mean the way some of them talk to patients is so unnecessary, but try to not take it personally and just figure out how to get the answers you want.

It's so understandable you were anxious - you had a plan for how you wanted the birth to go, and now they are saying something different. I was the same, I really wanted a natural water birth and really resisted the idea of interventions, but once baby was here none of that mattered and it was much more straightforward than I expected. Hopefully the responses here will help you feel calmer.

I’ve only read your posts. I was a FTM at 28, am 151cm tall and mine and the baby’s weights were fine. When the baby was found to be breech - the day before due date - my height and shoe size 3 were used to argue I needed a section. Honestly, you will be fine but you need clarification to understand and trust their guidance.

As log as my baby is healthy I dont mind how he comes out 😊I will call my midwife today and hopefully get some answers (although this is a new midwife I've never met!!)

Yeah I just want some more information, I asked why the scans and a section was necessary and all I got was 'ahh well with your size and age you know' and I was thinking No I don't know!!😂