elective c section positive stories

[MamaB12]

As the title says..
i’m due for an elective c section early next year and i am so nervous!
i have previously had a emergency c-section which was so traumatic🫣
the most i'm worrying about is the cannula and spinal, i’ll be fully aware of pain from these whereas last time i was contracting and completely out of it.
i was thinking of even putting numbing cream on my hand before?!
Also any recovery recommendations? i currently have an amazon basket full but open to more recommendations!

My elective c sections x 2 were amazing. My first one I was out and about on day 5. My second my recovery from the section was just as quick but I became poorly with something not related to the section and so recovery took a bit long overall.

Cannula and spinal were both absolutely fine for me, I wasn’t in any pain.

I took peppermint capsules and arnica which I think helped with recovery, I didn’t take any of the pain relief that can cause/make constipation worse. I had long phone chargers and various cushions everywhere I may sit at home and changing mat up high.

I hope it all goes well for you.

Accept the pain relief but definitely take senakot or similar to keep everything moving.

I have had 3 c sections I have never found having a cannula fitted that painful. I have had ones for other operations too. Spinal was fine as well. It was all very calm and matter of fact just walking into the operating room.

Hi, I've had 2 emergency c sections which were tough because of the exhaustion of labour for hours before the op. My next c section was elective and it was so much easier being relaxed and not exhausted. I didn't have any issues with cannula or spinal. Recovery was much quicker due to being properly rested before birth.

My elective section was such a positive experience; especially after an emergency one the first time around.
It helped that I knew what to expect with the recovery so I bought the big pants and peppermint tea! I also planned that I would have plenty of nappies, wipes and spare clothes downstairs as I knew going up and down the stairs would be hard. I also didn’t push myself too far after my c section.
best bits of advice second time though is on the way home have a rolled up baby blanket between you and the seatbelt and have lots of cushions in bed as one under your knees makes it easier to sleep and get up

Like you I had an awful experience with an emergency c section and I had an elective c section with my second and it was a much better experience, I went into theatre very frightened but it was a good experience.

I’ve had 4. I had 2 under GA and 2 under spinal. Much preferred the GA ones but they were all fine really.

I've had 2 elcs. I don't remember much pain with the cannula and spinal. I just closed my eyes and let them get on with it. I found the surgery really straightforward and quick.

I took the meds I was given by the hospital to help with recovery - paracetamol, lactulose, clexane. I didn't take anything else. The only time it was really painful after recovery was when I sneezed or laughed!

I had one with my twins and it was really positive and if I had more babies (which I am not as that ship has sailed!) I would have one again. Canula etc and the actual procedure was totally fine Keep up the pain relief after though I felt ok so stopped and then it hurt lots and I had to start taking it again. My recovery was fine and much faster than lots of my friends who had had natural deliveries with stitches etc.

Don’t worry about the cannula & spinal, the anaesthetists are experts at doing this so you won’t feel it much.

You can also talk to them, I was very anxious & annoyed that I needed an elective (breech) after previous straightforward VBs. I didn’t like the lack of feeling/control etc but the anaesthetist was very reassuring.

I had an elective c section which was really nice and peaceful, a walk in the park compared to my previous difficult vaginal birth.

Ds2 is almost 14 and I still say that was the best present he could ever have got me! (he was breech and couldn't be turned)

Breastfeeding was just as easy as with ds1. Can't remember any practical tips I'm afraid. I do know that I didn't need any pain relief after about 2 days maximum, but I was very lucky with that I think. Scar is practically invisible and has been for many years.

Same here.. Elective, and minimal discomfort. I think it's very different when it's planned.

I’ve had 3 elcs and 1 emcs. I had problems with the cannula every time, and the most recent c section (last year), even the anaesthetist struggled to get a vein.

It will be calm, everyone will introduce themselves which I found unexpectedly emotional. In terms of recovery, forget the peppermint tea, chew gum like you’ve never chewed gum before to get your insides working again!

Mine was brilliant , out and about within a week , driving by the end of week 2 . I didn’t need any pain killers after the first few days .

Can't edit my post above, but I went in at 7am, operation at 3pm, home the next afternoon. Maybe they needed the space!

2nd Csec after emergency 1st here too… was so much quicker, so much calmer, amazing.
The worst bit was definitely getting the epidural in. But it’s totally doable
op. Numbing cream deffo.
Then bosh, you’re pretty much done! Good luck and congratulations 🎉

I had a traumatic experience first time around ending in an emergency section which was really hard to recover from.
Second time around was so easy and peaceful and actually quite healing after my first experience. I was up on my feet the next morning. I was so well, I ended up getting tea and toast for a couple of the other women on the ward. I went home and had no problems with breastfeeding or anything. We were out and about really quickly too. I don’t recall any problems with the spinal etc.
I did hand express in the last couple of weeks to make sure I produced colostrum as I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed after an elective section but there were no issues.
It will be fine.