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

Same as everyone here, semi-elective section, very good experience. The scary bit for me was the epidural. It didn't hurt or anything, but I found it very scary to try and not move while they poke at my spine. Still, the anesthesiologist was lovely and really helped calm me down. Once that was done (maybe 5 mins total) the rest was fastforward speed and before i could even tell what was happening, i was holding my baby girl! I definitely remember asking the anesthesiologist "so when are they going to start" for him to say "they are doing it now!" And then hearing her cry about 1 min later!

Ps: not to scare you but I did get the shakes: part due to the anesthetic, part due to nerves, I basically started shaking incontrolablly during the surgery (just my hands, not the whole body) Again, didn't hurt or anything, it was just weird. They told me it's quite common and nothing to worry about. But I was sooo stressed I would drop the baby!

The scar , 6 months in, is still visible but it's very low. I haven't been in a bikini yet but it would have to be a really trashy bikini for it to be visible, lol.

Best of luck with the surgery and please don't worry, it will be fine.

I'd planned a drug-free home birth then switched to planned CS two days after due date best decision I ever made. It was a profoundly special birth despite being a million miles from what I had pictured. The theatre team were WONDERFUL (lots of dark humour, laughter and love in the room). I was home within 24h and healed well. I'd do it again in a heartbeat (less so the actual having two kids bit 😂)

Being honest the first couple of weeks were hard. I struggled to stand up straight, stairs hurt, I couldn’t bend down to pick things up. Needed lots of help from family.
however after a few weeks it was like nothing ever happened. I didn’t want a c section but didn’t have a choice, I‘m glad now though.
I also have a friend who was out pushing the pram with no issues a week after hers

Easy peasy, the best decision I made.

Much easier than my first birth which was a kind of botched vaginal birth (my fault for being obstinate about wanting to do it "naturally".

Boy did I learn my lesson!!

I’ve had 2 c sections! First was an emergency section after a terrible long labour and recovery from the c section was fine but I was done in from the long labour and infection I got.

My second elective section was amazing. I even let a trainee anaesthetist try and site a spinal for half an hour. I was out of hospital in less than 24 hours, walking around fine. I couldn’t pick my 2 year old up off the floor but could get her to stand on the couch and then carry her. I could walk up stairs. You just have to take it easy and keep on top of alternating ibuprofen/paracetamol.

My c section scar and overhang is significant but due to the trend for high cut wedgee bikinis I still look good in a bikini

I had two elcs. The dates were booked in quite far in advance for 39+1 and I was a little concerned that I might go into labour before then, but didn't. Each time, I was told to arrive at the hospital early in the day, but then they tell you when you are planned to go to theatre, but that things might change if they need an emergency delivery in the meantime.
Walked down to surgery myself each time, both with a spinal block (sitting and trying to round my back for the injection was tricky but okay). You are aware of pressure/pushing/tugging during the surgery but it wasn't painful. It surprised me each time how quick it actually was from first incision to baby being delivered. One thing that surprised me was that they still used instruments to deliver the baby - it probably sounds obvious but having seen TV shows where they make the incision, then reach in with their hands, I was a bit surprised when dc1 was born with a red line on his head from the forceps (the line disappeared quickly). Could hold both dc after they had had apgar. Both cs were in the morning, I can't remember if I was out of bed later that afternoon or the next day. Each time, dh was in with me (they tell partners that if they feel a bit queasy, they have to move themselves and go sit on the floor out of the way. If a partner faints, they will just be ignored as the focus is on mother and baby. Thankfully, dh was okay and stayed conscious!) First time I was sick later that day (I have a history of that following anaesthesia). Before the second one, the anaesthetist asked me about it and gave me a lower dose of something so I wasn't sick the second time (but did need more painkillers after the second one). Straightening up/getting out of bed was slow and difficult at first. The bit that is a bit tricky is you are not meant to lean over things/lift up heavy things, which makes picking up your baby from the cot tricky at first, depending on the availability of help on the ward. I was in hospital a few days each time. The scar is low down, so doesn't show in a bikini, but if you get the paper maternity pants (are they still a thing? My dc are a bit older now), get the bigger/higher ones because otherwise the elastic sits right where the scar is.
I thought having to inject yourself in the tummy with an anti-coagulant would be horrible/difficult, but it was fine. Didn't have a problem with stairs when I got home, but dh carried dc the first few times.
I second the recommendation for a v-shaped pillow, and also say take it very easy at first. The day after we got home, we went for a little walk with the pram (dh pushing it, me hesitantly walking alongside). I really struggled with even walking to the end of the (short) road.

I have had 2 sections, one emergency and one planned. I had great experience and quick recovery and soon going for a 3rd! Try not to worry, they are really pretty standard procedure, you'll be in good hands

Hands up here for an emergency c section. It was straight forward. It took a while to recover. Walking was a little difficult at first and no driving for a while. After a few weeks things improved massively. The scar was just unbelievable. You would never know I had a c section and a 9 lb baby girl came out of such a tiny scar! The scar was just on the pubic hair line....cant see anything. Make sure you have help as it is surgery. You need to recover. Good luck xx

@trutabish - you posted before and deleted it after you didn’t like what people were telling you.
Your partner walked out. You will have no/min support after birth.
Your friend is going to be with you for your birth but you are for some reason uncomfortable having VB with her there.
Is that a correct summary of the situation?

Please, please think about how you are actually going to get through the first several weeks after c-section on your own.
You are so overly focused on the delivery that you are ignoring the actual important part.

Vaginal delivery with epidural is for the most part straightforward and you can walk out of the hospital the following day - or even the same day (as a friend of mine did).

I had two C-sections. Was on epidural with top ups for a few days in the hospital. Then home with H and my mom helping. They changed baby, made me food. I breastfed and was in pain on and off for a few weeks. Then my scar got infected.
I certainly didn’t go for walks with baby or up/down stairs.

Unless you have lined up live in support for at least a weeK or two AFTER delivery - c-section is really bad idea. Not only because things can go wrong, but because even if things go right it is really hard on your own.
you aren’t even supposed to lift your baby - as you can rip the stiches, etc

Wasn’t it deleted for breaking talk guidelines? I did ask the op but she didn’t respond, pretty sure it’s the same person

You can certainly lift your own baby after a section, it's harder if you have an older child who wants to be lifted though!
no idea of OP's backstory so don't really want to share any more of my own story if it's not legit

All fine here, not much to report. Nothing hurt, but sore afterwards- to be expected (feels like you’ve done 2000 stomach crunches!). Felt mostly back to normal after a week- but you should take it easy as you don’t want to bust the stitches.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/relationships/4606373-fair-reason-for-a-c-section

this was it...

I had an emergency c section with my second, after a vaginal birth with my first. I was absolutely terrified when they told me! But the amazing doctors and midwives reassured me it would be ok and they were right. I didn’t feel a single thing, I healed well, and my baby and I were fine, I breastfed fine (I was told this is something c section patients worry about).

Recovery can be slower, but just prepare for that.

You’ll be ok, OP. I know it’s scary, but you’ll be ok.

I was told I would have to have a c-section if I had another, and - now that I know it was ok - I wouldn’t be so scared of a c-section again.

To answer some of your questions - my scar is below knicker line, you can’t see it in pants or a bikini!

And when I got home from hospital I went straight to bed, which was upstairs, so stairs must have been fine. I definitely had a slower recovery than a vaginal birth, but I was physically feeling more normal again after a few weeks. I definitely had to take it easy (and I had a toddler so that was interesting!!), but I could get to the bathroom etc on my own.

I have also heard that those who have electives recover a bit faster than emergency sections? Not sure if that’s right!

My c section scar is barely 6 inches long and sits just above my pubic bone. I would have to wear a teeny weany bikini for it to show.

I had an emergency section under general anaesthetic. I found sitting up in bed really sore for at least 5 days, I was sad to leave the electric rising bit of the bed when I went home! In fact, anything that involved engaging my abdominal muscles was sore for a week.

Maybe have a think about coping strategies in case you do go into labour before your section date. If you have a section planned then they bring it forward if you're in labour (I think) but you'll need to cope with contractions while you are sorted (don't want to scare you, just prepare you!)

I had a C section because DD was a breach. It was a walk in a park really, the only slightly unpleasant part was spinal but after that it was bliss. Felt nothing, she came put happy.
i did have to take it easy at home for a few weeks but overall compared to vaginal birth of DS (48 hours), it was lovely.

I struggled to recover from the trauma of dd1’s natural birth but twins were born by planned cs and it was so much easier for me. Take the regular pain relief and follow the advice given and you’ll be fine. I was driving at 4 weeks.

I loooved my c section. Planned c section due to issues but even if all had been fine, I would still vote for the c section. Ended up being an emergency as DD wanted to come early (she’s still as impatient…) and it was stressful- up until the point where I could get in for the section.

They wheeled me into this lovely clean room with calm doctors and nurses, they even had some classical music playing. They administered the epidural and made me feel really secure and looked after. Put up the screen, lay back, and watched them lift DD out of me. She wasn’t even crying- just wiggling a bit and frowning at all the drs as if to say ‘who the heck are you lot?’, the same face she still does when bemused by something now!!

They had to check her over before skin to skin due to the medical issues picked up on her scan, the only time she cried was when they put her on the scale to weigh her and it was cold! They then wrapped her in a blanket and put her straight on my chest. I had a lovely cuddle with her while the drs sewed me up, then I passed her to her dad while they wheeled me back to the recovery ward. She could have stayed on me but I wanted him to have a cuddle with her.

I followed the nurses instructions on recovery immediately after (pee often, get up and walk but gently) and had very little pain & healed well. 7 years on you can hardly see the scar, current DP didn’t realise I had a section even after seeing me undressed!

The sudden early labour was scary- the section was wonderful & chill and I’m so so glad I had her that way.

I've had a c-section with my first and then a vaginal forcep delivery with my second. I don't regret not choosing to have a section with my second but it would have prevented some anxiety the day I went into labour as after labouring for 19 hours I was rushed to theatre for a instrumental birth.

Some plus points...If you're anxious you will be able to plan exactly when you're going into hospital and plan accordingly. You know you're going to be recovering for quite a few weeks afterwards, so you can plan to have help and support at home with baby. You will have a chance before the section to meet with the anaesthetist and surgeon to discuss the plan and any anxieties you have. I was anxious about the spinal/epidural but honestly it's not painful at all and it's fairly quick for them to do. My covid jab hurt more. Also having a catheter fitted sounds scary but it's a god send, you don't have to get out of bed to use the toilet when you're tired and sore!

Best of luck!

It's fine op. I've had 2.
It's a very routine operation.
Over very quickly.
No tearing me a new butthole.
No vag stitches.
No peeing myself in my 40's either.
You'll be fine.
And congratulations!!!

I have identical twins who shared a placenta and were in a weird position so had no real choice other than a c section. They were born at 35w, were pretty small and it was still a lovely positive experience. I held them more or less straight away and managed to breast feed them for 10 months (I was super worried the section would impact on that). My scar is tiny and very low (below hairline) and isn't visible in any bikini I have worn. I was pushing a massive double buggy around a park within 2 weeks and stairs were fine. My top tip would be to take all the drugs because afterwards I felt I was on a high and and pain kicked in later, as I hadn't taken all the drugs offered! When I first found out I was expecting, it never entered my thoughts that I would have a section but I would have one again in a heart beat if needed. Good luck I bet you can't wait to meet your baby!

I had an ELCS, my biggest piece of advice is don't stress. I worried so much, I felt sick and shook on my way to theatre but it was fine, I felt so silly afterwards, it was a lovely experience. I was up and about the following morning tending to baby and had a shower. Keep on top of pain relief and rest and you will be fine OP. I'll be having another if I'm ever lucky enough to have DC2.

I’ve had two - one for twins that were lying wrong and one for placenta previa. They were both lovely calm experiences. I was terrified before the first one, and yet it’s now the happy place I go to in my head. It was not at all painful, and was over before I’d even thought they’d started, with the singleton.

Both times they wrapped up the babies and put them on my chest, their little peepy eyes looking at me. It was wonderful and surreal.

They also tilt the bed to one side to get your organs to shift over a bit, so when they do that, don’t worry, you won’t fall out.

I was sat up and breastfeeding inside the hour. The recovery was fine, I had a lot of wind I seem to remember, and it felt like I’d done a million sit ups. It will be all lovely. Take a deep breath and enjoy it. X x x x x

I had a csection and it was absolutely
fine.
I was in less pain and felt better than when I had a vaginal birth.
I knew when it would be and could plan childcare and order a food delivery etc. As silly as it sounds for me being organised helped with my anxiety about it!
Good luck OP
🥰

Top tips:

MASSIVE cheap knickers
silky satin (cheaper the better) PJ bottoms for shimmying up the bed easier.