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

Give me a C section any day! After 3 VBs (horrific, barbaric, 10+lb babies) the relief of GA and waking up with my 4th was an utter joy! Bonded straight away unlike with the others.

Also birth partner for some of my grandchildren coming into this world through VB. Both daughter and daughter in law were 60+ hrs in labour. Neither have had another child.

C section (emergency) here too. I am so grateful to the docs and nurses, they were awesome and I got to hold my baby soon as I was stitched up, gave her a kiss before then and she cuddle dh while that happened.
I was up and about after 3 hours and walking up and downstairs easily after 3 days. My scar is flat and invisible pretty much. Baby is now 10! And a happy healthy perfect child 🥰

I had three c sections (1 emcs, 1 elective but turned in to an emcs when I went in to labour spontaneously, 1 elective) and honestly I am so glad I have never had a vaginal delivery.

I was stiff and sore after them but nothing out of the ordinary. I recovered well and was driving again within a few weeks. Yes, I do have a scar, but it's nothing compared to the birth injuries that some of my friends have unfortunately suffered.

@trutabish i had one 6 months ago - it was unplanned but absolutely totally fine and I’d absolutely have another!!! I actually feel v lucky now to have had one. I recovered quickly - I could do stairs etc but slowly slowly at first - take your time afterwards to get back on your feet. I had no complications and nothing particularly to report about - the team were fabulous and I am still shocked at how quick it was - honestly I think it took about 20 mins in total! It was relaxed and chilled. I was knackered after but that’s because I’d already been in labour for 24 hours and no baby appearing hence the C sec. It was sweet relief!! I am grateful now that I have had no ‘physical’ damage from childbirth - the scar is fine, fading now, and I read horror stories on here of tears and prolapse from vaginal birth and I thank the lord I missed out on these delights! You’ll be fine. I was terrified of giving birth and even though it didn’t go to plan it was totally fine. And I’m someone who is terrified of the dentist even!!! Let alone hospital. Also if this is your first - you really don’t know the journey so full of love that you’ve got coming. It’s a few days of discomfort and recovery after birth for hours and days and months of gorgeous snuggles, chubby cheeks, chunky baby thighs, giggles… congrats and enjoy!! I’m secretly looking forward to if I have baby no2, as it will be a planned C sec this time so I won’t have the stress of labour then C sec again!! I’ll be able to waft in knowing what time it will happen. Try and think further ahead about what loveliness is coming your way after the birth. Xxxx

Forgot to say, 2 of my best friends are doctors, GP & A&E, and both have had elective sections out of choice based on their experiences at work. X

It is easy to worry, when as you say people talk about it being major surgery. Try not to focus on that, but just try and channel your thoughts in thinking this is when you get to meet your beautiful little person.
Both mine were c sections. First was emergency, and it was such a positive experience for me I requested that my 2nd could be an elective c section. Unfortunately I was persuaded to try for a vaginal birth, but that didn’t go well for me, so I ended up with a second c section.

I was up and moving around (slowly) afterwards, and recovery was pretty straightforward. Had I gone ahead with a third, I would definitely have insisted on a c section.

My elective was a breeze. Back driving at 10 days PP and no painkillers required after hospital, I'm 8 weeks on and totally back to normal as if it had never happened. Was so much more chilled and settled with DD2 when I wasn't knackered from (failed) labour. I felt great!

My first was an emergency which was a bit rougher but still not difficult.

Don't stress OP.

My second was "elective" (my consultant said at my 38wk checkup "Right then. Everything looks great except for the way your baby is lying and we are going to fish dc out tomorrow. Is that ok with you? I'll make some calls and we will check you in this evening".

The entire experience was great.

Complete opposite to dreadfully painful "pre" labour, failure to fully dilate, interventions, internals leading to infection which spread fast to baby, emergency emergency section on dc1, didn't even really see dc1 for two days after birth. Off to NICU, bad start to bf and never really took off.

The elective was calm, serene, painless and I got to meet my baby straight away. Bf was pretty straightforward (WITH some support fed til 2.5yo). It was all just chalk and cheese.

Don't be afraid.

I’ve had 3 sections. All 3 emergencies and preterm. All went extremely well and healing was straight forward. After my first c section I was up and about on the same day, didn’t really need anything for pain relief either other than paracetamol and making sure I didn’t overdo it. Best of luck.

1 emergency and 1 elective here - lots of drugs with the first as a vaginal delivery was attempted, felt very out of it. However, the elective….. absolutely incredible- no pain because of the epidural, I was able to focus on the moment, the staff were calm, it was very serene. He was out 15 minutes after arriving in the theatre and skin to skin straight away after birth. ELCS’s are very routine for the staff and so there’s no stress - all very straightforward and no ambiguity making it a very sensible option if you’d like to feel in control. Good luck 😊

My third was c section and having already had two vaginal births I'd say they both have pros and cons, neither worse than the other. It wasn't bad and I was walking about same day etc, don't overthink it, you will be fine.

Mine was emergency for twins. Csection was planned, just not at 32weeks!
It was absolutely so civilsed and stess free. I was up and about very quickly and back to normal. Cant compare as i havent had a vaginal delivery, but i feel that i recovered at least as quickly.
For my 3rd child, doctors recommended section for safety and I agreed with some speed! Bit different this time as not an emergency, but still calm and civilised , with speedy recovery.
I couldnt be more positive about them!

I've had 2 c-sections. The first was an emergency and the doctor recommended the second one. Both of them were fine.
I found getting getting in and out of bed for the first few days was difficult, very hard to roll over.
Wishing you all the best!

Had 2. One emm and one very last minute elective. Absolutely fine both times. Very fast recovery.

So with elective c sections, can you ask for a general anaesthetic rather than being awake? I’m thinking about having one, but with things like local anesthetic I’m always needing extra top ups as I can still feel things. I assume at the very least there would be some sort of sedation if you were nervous.

@cloudygreyskies you can have a GA but it’s usually only given during an emergency.
Normally you get the spinal tap- numbs you from the waist down, you will not feel pain during the operation.

I'm not sure what exactly made you anxious but I had an emergency one and it went well. I felt nothing, the baby was born within minutes and they stitched me up again which took half an hour or so? Didn't feel a thing. Had a lovely baby, was a very emotional and beautiful experience. I did have recovery pain so I would recommend getting a few packets of oaracetamol and I took 1000 mg three times a day till I forgot two weeks after and it was fine. I found it a bit difficult to get up out of bed or change sides so if you van rent one of above the bed things that you can pull yourself up on, that would massively help. Because your stomach muscles need to heal you're going to be slow with walking up the stairs and stuff.

Recovery is not without pain, but you can manage it with medication and I wouldn't hesitate to have another section if I needed one.

To add to all the previous helpful posts where you've been advised to keep up on the pain relief afterwards, I don't disagree, but limit any you're prescribed with codeine in them. The only thing that caused me excruciating pain after my first c-section (didn't make that mistake again after the second one) was severe constipation 😆

I've had 3 c sections, an emergency caesarean, a failed induction leading to caesarean and an elective.

The elective was the best by far and I think it's because I knew what was happening and could plan and I wasn't exhausted from being in labour. A lot of the horror stories are from emergency c sections and they are like 2 completely different procedures.

You can play music so choose something, relaxing or special to you to listen to.
Take some comfy slid on slippers, footwear that you don't have to bend to put on are best for when you go to theater and afterwards.
Get moving when you can to help recovery.
Talk to your anesthetist or midwife if you need anything during ( they are the ones normally there for you, and you can chat to them if you need anything )
If you start to feel sick during surgery let them know it's just your blood pressure dropping, they can sort it almost instantly ( well they did for me).
I read a statistic that said a lot less complications happen during csection deliveries because they're controlled which helped some of my anxious thoughts.

Congratulations and I hope a safe arrival for your baby.

I was like you - utterly petrified before giving birth.

I had a scheduled c-section with my twins.
It was an amazing, calm experience. I didn't feel anything during the operation. I had minimal pain afterwards - I wouldn't even call it pain - just a dull throb (like the feeling you get in your muscles after a workout).

I had the c-section in the morning, and took it easy that day. I walked no problem to brush my teeth etc before bed. The next day was up and about - no pain at all, but walked in a shuffle to mind the stitches. Picked up twins etc no problem.
The third day I was pretty much back to normal - pushing the twins in their little trolley to the baby-change room, walking down corridors to get water, etc.
The fourth day I was totally fine - walked all across the hospital to get to some new-mum training they were giving.
When I was discharged, I was home alone, running up and down the stairs etc.

So please don't worry!!
What are you most worried about - the potential pain? I took the meds offered, and never felt any pain.

Hello OP. Well done for making a choice and congratulations on your pregnancy.

I found the experience of the caesarean manageable with a lovely team who kept me updated on things. One of the drugs makes you shake a lot, but they told me to expect this so it was fine. Not painful at all during it; just an odd washing machine inside feeling. You can take a playlist in and have skin to skin.

Stay on top of the lactulose and keep moving to avoid constipation, which is a side effect of the pain relief tablets they give you.

Two bits of advice in terms of prep to do now so things are easier in recovery:

• get a baby changing table rather than attempting to just pop your baby on the floor to change them - I found getting up and down from the floor very hard for the first week or two. You want to be doing things at waist height not at floor level. Changing tables come up frequently on free cycle.

• buy some Always incontinence knickers. They were a big game changer for me. Much easier than maternity pads and gave me a nice pulled-in and supported feeling which was welcome after the surgery. You still bleed from your vagina a lot afterwards just the same as if you had had a vaginal delivery as that’s the womb sorting itself out post pregnancy so you need to be ready with your pads or incontinence knickers.

OP, I’ve done it both ways. I had a c section for the second. Technically an emergency but it was a case of dr wanting baby out in the next few hours as monitor had shown a couple of dips. It wasn’t an emergency in the sense of a rushed response - I hadn’t even got started in labour.
I would never have wanted one by choice but having had one, I am very positive about them. The whole experience was great. Scar is on the top of the pubic line and not visible in any bikini I’ve owned since! I healed quickly and felt better about it once I’d got past about 3 weeks. 9 days in I looked in a full length mirror and was very emotional and upset because of the overhang but that went within weeks after. Fortunately I have a friend who told me hers was bad at that stage and recovered. So - yes, your stomach will look worse than after a vaginal delivery but it will recover. Longer term I’ve had absolutely no problems with the scar and to be honest I’m more bothered ( although not much) by the weird looking labia I have after the second degree tear with my first.
I hope all goes well for you.

You can probably choose your music, you can choose how you find out the sex (if you don’t know already), you’ll be in and out in about half an hour - the baby being born will happen surprisingly quickly! You can hold the baby straight away.

62 hours of labour ended in an emergency c section. The c section was BLISS! I finally got a chance to rest, the baby was being more carefully monitored. Baby now has serious health issues caused by damage done attempting natural birth when they were too big. I WISH I had pushed for a c section from the beginning! Recovery really not that bad at all. Peeing is no problem, and a few months on all is well! Will definitely be opting for a c section next time round. You will be absolutely fine :)

I had an emergency section, my experience was good, it felt very calm and controlled,the staff were all brilliant and very relaxed and that helped me feel reassured and relatively relaxed. This is from a generally anxious person who has never had any other kind of surgery and can't even watch casualty or any medical TV programme. I don't even need to see blood to pass out at the thought of it. I did mention to them when they asked if I had an concerns or questions that I have a fear of blood and don't want to pass out as I'm meeting my baby! They reassured me and I did feel safe and looked after.
Recovery was fine too, quite sore for a few days but this soon eased.
My scar is barely noticeable 4years on and sits below the bikini line.
I'd recommend some biiiig pants for the weeks after just so the elastic doesn't irritate the stitches.
That said I found the surgery part of it much preferable to 48hrs with the pessary and an induction...if I had another I would definitely choose an elective.