Hi Ladies,

Thought i'd come and see what i can find out in this section.

I have been having various scans, consultant appointments, CTG's etc as my placenta isn't working properly at giving nutrients to baby and so it is looking that i will be having a c-section in the next 2.5 weeks!! I am 34+4 weeks and baby is roughly measuring 30 weeks

Although i am a tad nervous etc about this i know that it is best for baby.

What can i expect from a c-sec? i.e. the procedure, music whilst having it done, aftermath etc.

I've read odd bits online but would like to hear your experiences etc

xx

hi! i had an emergency c section so not sure how much help i can be as i was exhausted after 60hrs of labour before it so it probably didnt help my recovery time.

my recovery time was about 7 weeks until i physically felt better, i managed to do without painkillers after about 4 weeks. it was also really difficult to hold/carry/feed my baby during his first month my tummy and scar still hurt now after 12 weeks if i have quite a busy day.

on a positive note, no "downstairs" issues to worry about!

if my next one is planned, i can imagine it will be a lot easier as i could of slept the night before, sorted the house out, made plans for visitors etc

i always thought a section was an easy option i was so wrong!

dont mean to scare you, hope i havn't! just letting you know that it is a major operation and the recovery will vary from person to person, but dont take it lightly!
xx

Hi - I also had an emcs so my experience will be quite different from yours!

Despite my 3 day labour and the whole emergency bit I found the cs to be quite positive!! Drs were very relaxed, had my Oh next to me and I felt in safe ahnds. It actually felt like they were massaging my belly - very strange!!!

I didn't get to hold my LO until after I had been stitched up but that was becaus he had gone in to distress and they needed to check him over first(he was fine!).

I would say it took me a good 6-7 weeks to feel right - although I still feel in pain sometimes now when i overdo it (18 weeks on today) - also my tummy is still numb in patches. The scar is beautiful though - nobody will ever notice it!!

Was able to resume a normal sex life quite comfortably which is a bonus hehe!

I think the biggest tip I can give you though is make sure you have plenty support in place before hand! Planned csecs normally have a quicker recovery time but you still need to take it very easy. No housework or ANYTHING for atleast 6 weeks. I was told that lifting my baby was literally the only thing I was allowed to do and I really really felt it when I ignored that advice!!

Don't worry about it though - it's not the easiest way at all but it certainly was no where near as bad as I always imagined a csec would be!

Good luck!!

xxx

Hi

I also had an emergency c-section, due to fetal distress & failure to progress.
I have heard that recovery from planned sections are much quicker and easier than from an EMCS.
It took me about 7 weeks to feel 'normal' again, and I didn't risk driving until after 6 weeks.
I'm now 7 months post c-section, scar has healed really well, but I still get the odd niggling pain and numbness in the scar, which is all normal.
I found it painful to lift DS, for example if he was on the floor - I couldn't bend down to get him and was only able to pick him up comfortably from the level of the sofa. I was so grateful of the help I received from hubby and family.

Music was playing in the background while I was having my section (DS was born to one of our wedding songs!!), and I'm sure you can take a CD for them to play if you are having an elective.

I think I'll be going down the elective section route when we fall pregnant again.
Good luck xxx

Hey,

Saw this on the homepage. I've had 2 c/s, one emergency due to fetal distress and one elective. I can honestly say that the difference between the experiences was incredible!! With DS (the emergency) my recovery felt to take ages, was in lots of pain for a long time and struggled to get BF established cos I could barely move!! With DD (the elective) I was out of bed comfortably the next morning, home a couple of days later and driving again within 3 weeks (with the doctors blessing)all while looking after a 3 year old too. I think, because it was planned, I was more prepared mentally for it and therefore in a better frame of mind in terms of recovery. A re cap of DD's elective c/s story for you:
Day before B day we went to hosp to meet the anaethetist (sp!) and have bloods taken etc. They gave me some meds to take first thing the next day (something to do with reflux and stomach contents)and told me not to eat or drink after midnight.
Went to hospital on B day at 8am, shown to our room and had obs done (usual suspects, BP, temp, urine dip, CTG on baby) MW then came and inserted catheter and I got changed into a most fetching hospital gown. There were a couple of emergencies and higher priority electives in before me so we got to theatre at about 1.30pm. I have to confess that this was the only time I was remotely nervous, walking into theatre was a bizarre experience!! The spinal went in without a problem, they check that you're numbed properly by spraying a freezing cold liquid on your tummy then the drapes went up and OH came in looking handsome in his scrubs :lol: . I didn't feel anything (either time) when they were delivering baby, not even the "washing up" sensation that some ladies get. DD was delivered screaming at 2.04pm. She was held up so we could see her and they quickly checked over before wrapping her up and laying her next to me. We had a few mins with her then OH and her were taken to a recovery room while I was stitched up. Twenty mins later missy was stuck down my gown for some skin to skin and guzzling like a pro! The only slightly unexpected part of my section was when the lovely German anaethetist announced that they were going to "putten ze painkiller uppen ze bum!" before rolling me onto my side and duly inserting it lol!! Was still numb so didn't feel a thing~oh the joys!! Catheter came out the next morning and I had a shower after which I felt much more human. I don't know about the music in theatre, we never bothered, but can't see why it'd be a problem.
My top tips are to buy some dark, HUGE, belly warmer granny pants for afterwards in a couple of sizes bigger than you'd normally wear. I'm a 10 and 14's were perfect. Smaller pants will rub your scar and hurt!
Standing up for the first time afterwards is bizarre but I promise you won't split in two (though you will feel like you will!)
If you need to cough, sneeze or laugh then press something like a pillow or your hands firmly onto your scar when you're doing it (same applies when you need to poo for the first time after too!)
Don't get constipated~take lactulose if you're prone to it (I was, loved my poo juice )
Take any painkillers that you're offered when you're offered them. Keeping the pain at bay is the best way!
My big V pillow was a godsend, used it for sleeping, feeding and everything in between!
Sitting up from laying down is hard. If you can, sleep propped up at first.
In the car on the way home, put a rolled up towel or pillow between your tummy and the seatbelt.
Peppermint cordial and hot water is amazing for the trapped wind which is an after effect of the surgery. Tastes like hot mouthwash though!!

Hope that helps a bit, apologies for the essay!!
Good luck
Xx

Hi another emsc story, due to fetal distress and lack of progress. I was petrified of this being the way i was to give birth but all things considered i have positive feelings about it now. The actual "birth" part is quite quick (or at least it seemed that way to me) it's the stitching up after that takes the time.

I did feel sad that i didnt get skin to skin, although they did the best they could, i do think that i missed out on some of the initial bonding because of it.

I actually started to feel better from it quite quickly and even drove before i was supposed to as i was doing myself more damage by trying to walk everywhere as i hated being cooped up (OH cant drive) I did set my recovery back about a week by doing too much walking, so dont try and do too much too soon.

My scar has healed well although i have a few stitches which just wont disolve and i have residual numbness which is getting slowly better.

Hope that your experience is a positive one xx

Hi,

I had an elective section nearly 3 yrs ago due to severe spd.

I had to be at hospital for 7am - at ours they only do 2 electives a day - both am with emergencies understandably taking priority. i was second to go down and went down about 10am which was later than they had planned as they had a job getting the baby out of the previous lady.

I had the usual blood pressure done, was given some really rank stuff to swallow to help keep your tummy settled. I had my legs measured for the support stockings you have to wear. I then had to get changed as did hubby and we were collected to go down to theatre.

Got into theatre and atmosphere really relaxed, consultant came to check i was happy with everything, spinal block was put in and then onto bed. foff was then shaved a bit more than I had done already lol!!! Chloe was then born at 10.48am. Me and hubby then had cuddles while still in the theatre and then through to recovery. I should have only been in there for a couple of hrs at most before being on the ward again but I wasn't very well after to stayed there for a few hrs.

I was then on the ward for a day and half. I recovered very well, I was totally ok but still being careful after 2wks and back driving after consulting doctor at 4wks. No problems since.

It was a great experience. I have read your story and sounds like the best thing for the baby. Good luck and will look out for the updates after!!

Lara xx

Hi
I had an elective section 21 months ago for breech presentation, and it was a very positive experience overall. the atmosphere was relaxed, and OH got to stay with me the whole time (even while they were doing the spinal, which was a godsend as I was petrified at that point and shaking and crying!!) but it was fine. The procedure was very quick, they had her out in what seemed like a couple of minutes and took her to weigh etc, then it took about half an hour I think to get stitched up again but we were cuddling our daughter and not really aware of anything else. Spent about an hour inrecovery I think, had first breastfeed etc, all the nurses and docs were lovely. I don't really remember any midwives being about though until actually on postnatal ward.
I did regret missing out on the skin to skin, but they said they couldn't do that as the operating theater is kept quite cool so she'd have got cold.
The recovery did take a bit longer than I expected, I didn't even get out of bed for 2 days after - although that was partly due to the hospital being so busy and I think they forgot about me!
But don't be afraid to ask for as much help as you need in hospital, press that buzzer! And as others have said get as much help as possible lined up for when you come home, if your OH can take extra time off work encourage him to do so. It took a few weeks until I could stand up without having to haul myself up using my arms, which is difficult if you're also holding a baby....
Agree with the comments about getting things, erm, moving.... get some 'poo juice' (LOL!) and peppermint tea. I was quite bunged up for a bit afterwards.

with some exceptions (like having had to have a section before) I don't think that at the outset of pregnancy a c-section is how many people would want to/think they're going to give birth, and it's not the easiest, but you will be fine, and have a lovely little baby soon

good luck, let us know how you get on
xxx

Thank you ladies. I've only just been able to read these replies as i was amitted to hospital on Friday due to high blood pressure and protein in urine, back home now though

All your replies are very informative and now have more of an understanding of what will happen. Just got to wait and see what consultant says in week on when delivery is likely which i reckon will be in a weeks time as i have had 2 lots of steroid injections now to help babys lungs!!

xx

Should also have said, avoid any fizzy drinks for a long time, i had some celebratory bubbles and ended up in agony!