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Original poster

Women that had elective C-sections. Any regrets?

203 replies

BellaRosex · 02/08/2025 08:54

Hi all,

Currently 30 weeks pregnant and trying to decide whether to give birth naturally or have an elective C-section.

Curious to hear of other women's experiences of elective C sections - positive and negative!

TIA x

OP posts:
ChampagneLassie · 03/08/2025 20:39

I had emergency c first time, elective second. The NHS is such a s* show now if I’d done my research on the % of emergency at my local hospital 25% I’d have opted for elective the first time around. So that’s my only regret. I don’t think you can trust they have adequate resources to support natural labour and not balls up, so to avoid emergency c id recommend planned c

Workworkwork01 · 03/08/2025 20:39

Babyboomtastic · 03/08/2025 20:36

@mumofamudmagnet just coming back on

"You can't drive legally for 6 weeks after or your insurance is void. You have to wear circulation socks and have injections of blood thinners in your stomach each day for a while afterwards."

The 6 weeks driving ban is a myth. A few insurers insist on on it, but the vast majority do not ban you for 6 weeks. It's either when you feel you can do an emergency stop/feel safe to drive. Some require Dr sign off, which traditionally was done at your 6w check, but you could ask for at any time. Lots of people on here driving within 10ish days.

Circulation socks: depends on the hospital and risk factors. I didn't, despite being quite fat and old. Also, they are a choice.

Injections of blood thinners into your stomach for a while: some women have heparin injections, some don't. I had them for 10 days into my thigh because I was old and fat. Many women don't have them. Again, they are a choice. I stopped taking them early with my second because I was back to full mobility.

Everyone I know that has had a csection has had at least 10 days of injections, I think it’s standard now. 7/8 of my NCT group had sections and we all had them and aren’t old or fat!

thaisweetchill · 03/08/2025 20:41

None whatsoever, I had an emergency section but was told weeks before to have one but (hormones!) I was adamant i wanted natural… I wish I’d have taken their advice so I didn’t endure the 24 hours of labour with no breaks of contractions. I haven’t given birth naturally so I can’t compare but my recovery was great, you just have to take it easy. Compared to friends I recovered quicker than their natural births.

CatsorDogsrule · 03/08/2025 20:43

mumofamudmagnet · 03/08/2025 20:20

I've had one natural birth and one section. Yes, the natural birth was more difficult but that far outweighed the section. I had a really difficult recovery from my section and still having issues 7 years later. I got an internal ruptured that burst open my stiches. It has totally ruined my core muscles. I still get back pain from the epidural. The recovery time is so much longer. You can't drive legally for 6 weeks after or your insurance is void. You have to wear circulation socks and have injections of blood thinners in your stomach each day for a while afterwards. My natural birth wasn't as bad as I expected and there was lots of options for pain relief. At the end I felt really proud of myself and the environment, atmosphere and emotions just seemed to be so much more amplified once baby was put on my chest. Plus, I was back on my feet withing half an hour, home the next day, and driving within the week.

Everyone's experience is different I suppose. For me, I would 100% have a natural birth over a section.

Goodness, what a horrendous experience, how wonderful that the natural birth was easier for you.

I will say that my insurers confirmed there was no 6 week rule, and that it certainly wasn't illegal to drive before then. It's more of a grey area that you should be medically fit, which in the UK is usually discussed at your 6 week check, but can be before then.

I was personally driving 10 days after my second section, sanctioned by my doctor. I also had a very large 95th centile 15 month old toddler to carry around by myself, plus the 99th centile, 10lb 6oz newborn, so no easy feat for my wound. (Husband was military on a tour of duty, so no other option.)

I have had c-sections in both the US and privately in the UK (plus a total abdominal hysterectomy) and have never had blood thinners, so I'm not sure how typical your experience is.

SensitiveOverthinker · 03/08/2025 20:46

I had to have a c section as my daughter was breech. My son was born "naturally"
Recovery was far far easier with natural birth. And experience was nicer. Just my personal opinion!

Dinodoodle9545 · 03/08/2025 20:48

I had my first by section after a failed induction, technically an emergency c-section but wasn’t really because it was all very calm and I could’ve waited if I’d wanted to. For me it was great, up and about in 5 hours and home the next day. I was very lucky that the postnatal ward was very quiet (Christmas day) so there was no delays or overrun staff etc. Partner even got his own bed!
Day after I was home I had the baby in one arm and was pushing the hoover round with the other.

I have chosen an elective for baby #2, booked in a few days time. I’m not worried at all about the procedure but staying overnight in what will be a packed ward I’m dreading. And the recovery part while also having a toddler too young to understand why I can’t pick her up/be climbed all over will probably be much harder.

doodleschnoodle · 03/08/2025 20:55

My insurers said if I felt well then that was fine. They seemed a bit bemused I was calling them at all tbh! It’s definitely one of those C section myths that gets trotted out on here frequently though. There are plenty of other surgeries in that area and elsewhere that don’t seem to have this mystical six-week driving ban attached.

ScoobyX · 03/08/2025 20:58

Having had both I would never choose a c section - it’s major surgery with a longer recovery time.

pennypans · 03/08/2025 21:04

I had an elective (breech) & a VB. Much preferred the VB recovery.

Workworkwork01 · 03/08/2025 21:06

I think I just felt a bit yucky after the section? My mobility was fine and was walking around Ikea within a few days but I had digestive issues for a while, got tired very easily and my stomach was swollen for several weeks.

pinksky78 · 03/08/2025 21:06

I've only had vaginal births, and they were quick (3 hours and 1 hour 40), easy, and I was home the next day with ds1 and after 6 hours with ds2. Friends who've had sections found recovery hard, still suffer with back pain, and 2 are down about the overhang from their scar. So I don't see a section as an easy route, it was actually my fear. But you have to do what's best for you for you, everyone is different. As long as baby is safe it doesn't matter which way they come out.

ninjahamster · 03/08/2025 21:07

Huge regrets. Wanted natural births so badly, ended up with 4 sections.

pennypans · 03/08/2025 21:07

@GrumpySparkler I would agree with you re pain, It's amazing how the pain in VB goes away straight away (I didn't have time for pain relief).

S251 · 03/08/2025 21:07

I had a planned c section and I have absolutely no regrets!! If I was to have another I’d do the same again. All I would say is don’t underestimate the recovery.

pennypans · 03/08/2025 21:13

I have a lot of medic friends and most have had planned sections - I think that speaks volumes to the current state of labour wards

I read this on here but all my GP, surgeon, midwife friends & family wanted VB except one who decided on CS as was expecting twins.

Decaffe · 03/08/2025 21:14

No regrets whatsoever. It was a fantastic experience and I’m so pleased I chose it.

pennypans · 03/08/2025 21:16

no scar visible (as some parts are fully healed can see it’s going to disappear entirely).

Do scars ever completely disappear entirely?!

pennypans · 03/08/2025 21:17

Everyone I know that has had a csection has had at least 10 days of injections, I think it’s standard now. 7/8 of my NCT group had sections and we all had them and aren’t old or fat!

same

pennypans · 03/08/2025 21:19

I didn't have to not drive for 6 wks though

SchnizelVonKrumm · 03/08/2025 21:26

I has an ELCS for DC2 (DC1 was vaginal delivery after sweep/induction).

No regrets whatsoever, it was such a calm experience.

Don't underestimate the recovery, but equally don't assume a VB recovery would be better on that front, especially if it's your first child (my C section recovery was waay easier than for DC1, even with another child to look after).

Persephoneofhell · 03/08/2025 21:28

3 x elective C-section beautiful calm births. Each breastfed straight away whilst I was being sawn up. Honestly the best days of my life.
No regrets at all.
Most medics I know seem to have electives.

SchnizelVonKrumm · 03/08/2025 21:29

TinyFlamingo · 03/08/2025 20:31

My vaginal birth was brutal and lots of trauma. I'm currently 28.5 and think I'm going to do an elective because no one can garentuee it won't happen again and why retraumatise myself if I don't have to?

This thread has been really helpful! Thank you :)

This was how I ended up going for ELCS. I was getting so stressed and anxious over the fear of a 2nd difficult delivery. I felt like a new woman once I'd made the decision and booked the CS, like a weight had been lifted.

SchnizelVonKrumm · 03/08/2025 21:30

Persephoneofhell · 03/08/2025 21:28

3 x elective C-section beautiful calm births. Each breastfed straight away whilst I was being sawn up. Honestly the best days of my life.
No regrets at all.
Most medics I know seem to have electives.

I hope you were being sewn up not sawn up Grin

SchnizelVonKrumm · 03/08/2025 21:33

ninjahamster · 03/08/2025 21:07

Huge regrets. Wanted natural births so badly, ended up with 4 sections.

I'm sorry to hear that. You still delivered a baby 4 times Flowers

ThisZanyPinkSquid · 03/08/2025 21:33

I had an emergency with my first and elective with my second.

I absolutely do not regret it!! I had complications during both and if I delivered naturally I most likely wouldn’t be here! So would not change either.

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