C section worry - no horror stories please

[trutabish]

I’m very anxious. Please don’t post unless it’s something positive as I am aware of the downsides hence my anxiety.

For mental health reasons I have elected to have a c section. I am terrified. My partner is not around so a friend will be with me. I am so stressed and worried and feel like such a wimp. I always wanted a natural birth so already feel dreadful. I know c section isn’t the easy option at all but it’s not what I wanted, I just can’t cope mentally.

Please can I hear anything reasuring about c section?

id be grateful if people didn’t debate vaginal v c section to discourage a c section as this has now been decided. Thank you xx

Hi had a (mostly) elective c sec for my second and hands down it was the best choice. I was a bit worried before how I would cope with a toddler and a newborn post c sec but really shouldn’t have. I was driving within about 2 weeks and had the baby in a sling from the off so I could carry on with toddler dc. It was uncomfortable at times of course as it is major survey but I felt recovery was very quick really. I was up as soon as my spinal wore off and was walking round my room with a catheter in straightaway. Best thing to do is move and stay active to help your body recover. Obviously don’t go mad and go for a run or anything but keep walking gently. Don’t listen to a lot of the horror stories on here, some people find it takes forever to recover but I really didn’t. MYbe because I was active all the way up to birth and also have a get on with it attitude.

things that I would recommend; a u shaped feeding pillow to keep baby off your stomach, big pants (I just bought cheap black ones from Asda in a size up), a flask/lidded coffee cup so you don’t hAve to get up and put the kettle on, and all the usual new mum stuff.

It will be fine. The actual op is a bit weird as they put the screen up and you can hear voices/feel people pushing on you but also can’t see anything so it’s weird. But very quick, I think mine lasted about 25 mins all in and that included stitching me back up again. Ask for anti sickness meds as you might feel a bit queasy and thick socks and my feet were freezing! DH was with me for the whole procedure so I am sure your friend will be too.

Mine was emergency but it was bloody great I have to say!! I recovered quick

baby would have died had I not had one she was in real distress

i will have an elective if I have a second wouldn’t even attempt natural tbh I’m too anxious something could go wrong and I feel a c section for me is a better option!

it really will be fine :)

Research slow sections. I'm also an anxious person and was allowed a playlist, silence apart from me and my partner, slow cord Cut so I could nurse. Be warned that the drugs are very powerful and I felt quite out of it. Weeing afterwards was really strange as I was still a bit numb! It will be fine. Pack a comforting blanket, soft socks, headphones and music, snacks, juice! Explain that you're anxious and they'll be kind, I'm sure.

I had an ELCS with my second child. It was completely straightforward. I already had a toddler then so didn't get much time to rest, but it was fine. I don't really remember much about it, which suggests that it wasn't any problem. Good luck with yours!

i had two emcs and both was fine nothing like the horror stories you read on here! I was dragging a double buggy up to the 3rd floor days after my 1st one as I lived in a 3rd floor flat so had no choice, can’t relate to any of this “I couldn’t hold my baby for 6 weeks after” when you have no choice you just get on with it i was alone after both sections with multiple kids to look after and just got on with it, no help what so ever.

just wondering though are you the poster who wanted a csection as you didn’t want your friend to see you giving birth? as that thread was deleted for breaking talk guidelines (in other words a troll)

I had a section under a ga due to health issues and it was fine. I was home in 48 hours and while it was sore. I didn't even need pain meds after day 4. Recovery was easy , I was up on my feet within 4 hours and was completely healed by week 6, with no infections or anything.

I wanted a water home birth and got an emergency c section and the section was the best thing of the whole process. Please do not worry , tell them in advance what you want (music for example). I also wanted partner to tell me sex of child, not them, which they did. All in all, i have a very happy memory of the c section. Wishing you well.

My dd was breech so I elected for a C section and it was absolutely amazing!
I knew exactly when I was going to have her so could plan around it.
The day of the C section I was nervous but didn't need to be - the delivery team were so kind and reassuring.
They also let me keep my full face of makeup on so my first photos after I look amazing 😂
Recovery was really quick, I was back buying stock for my business a week later.
Please don't worry, you will be fine!
Ps I never felt a thing during the C section xx

I had an emergency c section a few years ago and have opted for an elective c section for baby number 2 in a few months time. It was overall a good experience and I recovered quicker than I thought. Just make sure you rest as much as possible and take any meds they give you for as long as you need. I know it can feel scary as it is surgery but I felt very looked after and the room was calm, hence my decision to have a second!

My baby was sideways.

My c section was like a calm dream. I stayed home for 4 days after being discharged and then managed a short beach walk on Day 5.

I had elective c for my second baby and it was one of the happiest days of my life.

c section was straightforward, they delivered my son straight to me on my chest so I could cuddle him while they finished the operation

i had expressed colostrum beforehand as I knew he might not feed straight away and the midwife helped me to give him that and the get him on the breast

pain relief was good so I was elated when I came out of the theatre with my beautiful baby and had tea and toast and spent a few hours marvelling at my baby

then I was up and walking the next day and out of hospital the next

it was easier than my first emergency section and I knew what to expect.

honestly I think an elective c can be fine , good luck xx

Thank you so much for the replies. I am in such a state at the moment as my mental health is on the floor.

It’s the idea of it happening that fills me with fear. You hear people saying how major it is etc and that scares me. I feel really really alone and just want the whole thing over with!

Hi I’m 4 weeks away from having my fourth c section. My first was an emergency so when it came to my second I couldn’t get over the worry that if I tried a VBAC the same issues experienced with my first would happen again. Choosing an ELCS was the best decision I could of made, the process was calm, the theatre teams were amazing and made sure I knew what was happening at each step and I found the planned nature of it comforting. It was a really positive experience. Ive been lucky and have found recovery with all my sections straightforward and not taken too long at all. There is nothing wrong with choosing a c section if it helps you feel calmer and happier, I wish you all the very best

I had an emergency C-section nearly 7 years ago. It went really smoothly, all the stuff were amazing, supportive and calm and I've had no long term problems from it.
I was up and walking about the next day and within 2 weeks I felt completely back to normal.

Keep on top of pain killers and move about gently as soon as you're able to are my tips for recovery.

staff*

I'm super anxious!! Had 2 ELCSs, all fine.

Just focus on meeting the baby rather than the operation, you'll be in and out in an hour and just take it easy for the recovery.

I really wanted a c section, as I understand it it is the least risky option.

You'll be fine, all the best x

I had a planned section earlier this year. Honestly, it was a great experience. Like you I was extremely anxious but I was so reassured by the lovely staff. I was taken down to theatre at 10.45 and baby was born at 11.10am, epidural was fine barely felt it (you need to relax and listen to the nurses and anaesthetist to get into the right position) . We were in our own room with our own midwife (popping in and out) til 2pm ish then on the post natal ward for 1 night and went home tea time the next day. The staff were lovely and so responsive to the buzzer (don't be afraid to ask for help) and treated me (and all of us on the ward tbf) with care, kindness and dignity. I was out for a dog walk 2 days after and driving (with clearance from GP) after 9 days. I recovered really well - I'm not young or in the best state of fitness so I was really pleased how well I did recover. No issues with scar, the dressing came off after 5 days and it knitted together v nicely. I would recommend-keep on top of your painkillers , get supportive knickers (everyone says to get massive ones but I needed some just slightly smaller because my tummy felt all weird and wobbly - normal!), take arnica afterwards, don't let yourself get constipated, use a hairdryer on low heat to dry your dressing/scar properly, use a v shaped pillow to place around yourself to hold baby, try and get mobile as soon as you feel well enough to, don't overdo it - listen to your body.

Best decision I ever made. Brilliant experience and I was fine lifting baby in car seat (very heavy) onto buggy four weeks later. Driving in three weeks. Hoovering took about two months but one wouldn’t want to push things too much, eh?

I’ve had two emergency sections and one elective.

The recovery from all of them was really quite straightforward (although I had nothing else to compare to).

The elective though was just lovely. I bonded with that baby DC so easily and quickly and went home feeling mentally well as I hadn’t lost sleep and been through the pain of labour. I would recommend to anyone.

Getting up and walking as soon as you are able to is really important. I was furious when a matronly midwife forced me up the day after my first, saying to me “You are young and fit, up you get”! It is quite painful on the first day and she was insistent that I needed to stand up and have a walk, and I was insistent that it wasn’t going to happen as trying to get up hurt so I wasn’t doing it… she won the stand off in the end, and after that first time I started to feel better physically and to recover as I started having short walks around the ward. I learnt then, for the other sections, that it is like ripping a plaster off - just do it, and that is the worst over.

Thank you. I keep waking in the night worrying about it all!

This has been really reassuring. I have struggled so much with the decision as I always had in my head to have a vb but just mentally I don’t think I can face it due to so many things that have happened in my life recently. I am clinging on to some sense of certainty.

I had an horrific vaginal birth and then 2 lovely elective c-sections. The second one was even easier than the first and my scar was smalled afterwards. No problems with wound, I left the hospital after 2 nights, could walk up stairs and drove well before the six week limit. It is surgery though so make sure you have help with the baby immediately afterwards.

@SisterGabriel 😂 that made me smile

Hardly any pain as kept on top of meds.

is the scar obvious in a bikini?! Random question!

@Pallisers was there a time you couldn’t walk upstairs?