I'm only 6 weeks pregnant but knew even before I was pregnant that I would need a ceaserian.
Can I just ask whats its like and how it is afterwards, and do you get offered to stay in hospital longer to recover?
Btw I'm not too bad with pain but want to know the truth so please tell me the truth! The good parts, the bad parts and the AWFUL parts, thanks.
Also did anyone have a planned c-section? If so, how early did u get it, at how many weeks etc.?
Cos I wont be turn until I'm further along.
xx
Moony

i had an emergency section and i cant even think of 1 single bad thing about it honey,it was the best thing-really.
i had a spinal block,didnt feel a thing.
I stayed in for two days after the birth, but only cause of a different problem,i had ruby wednesday afternoon and was doing my shopping at 6pm friday evening, i used paracetemol for pain relief but it honestly didnt hurt very much was a little uncomfy.
I bled for 9 days and after about a week i was back to normal.

Sections have such a bad rep but i would much rather have a sectiopn than a natural birth when i hear about all the damage some people sustain down below.xx

I had an emergency section Sept 07 and found it ok. Not as bad as i'd heard and if it had been a planned one i'd have been worried beforehand but now knowing what i do i think a planned one would be even easier as no 4 day labour before an emergency one like last time and you can prepare for it all and not be so exhausted afterwards! In fact natural births can be very unpredictable and have had some real horror stories from friends that did it that way and their recovery afterwards was worse than mine! Recovery ok, hard to move around for a day or so, difficulty getting out of bed etc but they give you good painkillers and you can go home quite quickly after one now. Sometimes used to get an aching in my scar area for the first 6 months or so if i'd done too much walking/housework etc but nothing really now. I stayed in for 6 days after birth but that was due to my son being in SCBU after going into distress in labour so not to do with my C-section. I had a lot of bad feelings about the birth and still do even now but that was more to do with baby in SCBU not having to have a section. Although some people do make you feel guilty for not doing it the natural way but if it's the best thing for you and the baby then you just have to keep telling yourself that. As long as you're happy with your choice then that's the main thing.

It takes a few weeks to get back to normal due to exhaustion whichever way you do it, the only thing is not being able to drive for 6 weeks and i can imagine it would be hard if you had a toddler and couldn't lift them and things like that.

I'm over a year on now and scar has faded well, got a bit of a baby belly still and hear that the hangover over the scar never goes without a tummy tuck

All in all i didn't find it too bad and would do it all again. The only aspect of a natural birth i'd like is getting to hold the baby straight away but that's not always the case anyway if you're getting stitched up etc so i'd go for another c-section if i have the choice i think. So it can't be too bad! The NCT does a good book on c-sections, found it at a sale after the birth and got it ready in case i have another (TTC no. 2 now so hopefully soon!)

Good luck with everything, hope to have been a help!

Amy. xx

I had a planned csection at 38wks back in 1995 as my daughter was breech... i expected it to be awful and was terrified but all in all it was fine, i had a spinal block and was up and and about the next day, back in them days (lol) you were in hosp for 5-7days which was fab, my recovery was excellent and i was out shopping the day after coming out of hosp!
2nd time round was a failed vbac and emergency csection, which was awful as i wasnt prepared for this esp at 42wks pregnant!! It did hurt more 2nd time round (1998) but recovery was just as good, and only in hosp 3days, my scar did split slightly prob cos i thought i cud do more than i really cud! Your able to hold baby immediately after there born. You just need help in hosp to start with to get the babes in and out their bedside cots and if you are going to breast feed, finding a comfortable position is a must.
Some 10/11 yrs later im on no3 and have already seen my consultant who agreed planned csection and at 38wks instead of what is now the norm of 39wks, and i have no worries about it all, in fact id much rather have a section, hear far too many "horror" stories of splitting and stiches and problems years later etc "down there" ooo yuk!

What shocked and upset me more was peoples reaction when they hear you have had a section and not given birth "naturally"...this hasnt changed over the years as im getting it all over again!! just ignore them!!!

Jacki 23+3

[Modified by: malakin on November 19, 2008 04:30 PM]</p>

Thanks girls!
It's not that I'm choosing to have a c-section, I HAVE to get one.
I'm not scared, and I have had a natural labour and that wasn't bad, so I really don't mind either way apart from they have told me natural labour isnt an option for me and it could make me seriously ill due to a health condition.
And Amy my best mate had a c-section, she said she prefered natural labour but she didnt have no flab over her scar it disapeared after several weeks cos she excercised! So I'll keep my fingers crossed! Lol :)
she also got to hold her baby straight away! (as there was no problems wth the baby, he was breathing normal and crying right away etc, )
I am actually looking forward to having a planned date.
xxxxx