C-section stories please - brutal truth if necessary!

[SantaGotStuckUpTheGreensleeve]

I'm more or less sure that I am going to ask for an elective caesarean if we have another baby. I would like to be awake and dh to be there. Can anyone share their experiences with me? How much pain is involved? How long does it take, and what is the recovery like? I don;t know very much about it, but I know I can't go through another "natural" delivery.

[bauble99]

Greeny. I was saying to Mr Bubble earlier that I should write a book about childbirth experiences. Thus far I've had: a 'natural' birth. An induced 'natural' birth. An emergency CS (general anaesthesia) and an elective CS.

I think, because I'd had at least one 'natural' birth, I appreciated the planned CS. Childcare was arranged and I was totally in control of the timing.

DH enjoyed the experience and I was totally involved.

Good luck!

[SantaGotStuckUpTheGreensleeve]

Thanks bubble, I appreciate it . You have been through the lot, haven't you!!!

[Caroligula]

I had 2 elective caesareans.

No pain, just an odd feeling of someone fumbling around in your insides ("Tell him about my insides Edward").

Could breastfeed afterwards OK.

Very inconvenient for six weeks though. You just have to be careful, but a good excuse to do no ironing. I recovered really quickly from the first one, felt OK after about 3 weeks.

[Skribble]

OK brutal truth.

The spinal was quite painful to get in but was fine once in, my blood pressure dropped and I felt really strange the anestitist (sp?) asked if I was Ok as I had hardly a pulse. Some people feel really sick but I didn't.

I wasn't convinced that the spinal was effective until they moved my legs and I couldn't feel it at all. You can feel movement, not the cut but once they start taking the baby out it did feel a bit like a couple of body builders rooting about in me.

I had quite bad bruising from where the clamps were and of course it starts to hurt when the spinal wears off. If you laugh or sneeze you really feel you might split.

Recovery from an elective is normaly quicker than an emergency one when you have been in labour as you won't have had pethidine or drugs like that and won't be as exausted.

You can feel quite restriceted at first as you find it hard to sit up on your own and will need help out of bed or to lift baby over for feeding. Its amazing how much you use thos muscles there without realising it. Pushing the pram down to get it up the kerb proved that, ooh.

I got lots of ingrowing hairs in my
scar, depends how high you hair comes anyway, DH took great joy in extracting them. Tip before you go in get someone to help you shave or wax down a bit so they don't send you a student with a dry bic to do it for you.

[2000milestoeidsvold]

one emergency c-section, one elective c-section and due to have another elective c-section in Mar - all were fine. Even the first which was a little scary - went from having an ultrasound to having a baby in a matter of an hour or so.

yes can be painful but you have pain releif to cope with that.

1st one - in the UK - pain medication suppository style at end of op and then tablets however long after as I needed.

2nd one in Aus - patient administered pain relief for first 24 hours - great - just used it when I needed and then codeine after.

Was fully recovered and back on deck with no2 after 3 weeks - lifting 12kg toddler who was not walking, driving etc.

1st one took a little longer but had stressful situation which probably was not helping.

only other difference between 1st and second was arnica - so will be taking it again with no3.

As our eldest has special needs - having the 2nd section ( although I had kinda wanted a vaginal birth - but not fanatical about it iyswim) was so much better for all involved - sh was due to start a new job the day I had no2 and so we were able to arrange childcare for dd1 whilst I was in hospital for the week and it was just better for all concerned.

I think if you take it easy without totally do nothing then it helps you recover better than if you totally do nothing for the 6 weeks and then try to do everything again iyswim.

Both were very positive experiences. 1st time - dd1 was rushed to ICU ( she had a heart defect so we knew and anticipated that). No2 I had dd2 to cuddle and feed whilst they stitched me up and it was fab.

sorry for long message.

[2000milestoeidsvold]

oh yes - you feel no pain once the spinal has gone in but you are still aware of movement - sounds strange and it is a little weird. When they are getting the baby out it feels like someone is doing the washing up in your stomach - but it doesn't hurt. Just weird.

[2000milestoeidsvold]

i really did not want a c-section as I am a big wuss. My 1st c-section was the first surgery hospital stay I had ever had in my life. Never had stitches before or anything. Hate needles, the thought of one going into my spine made me feel ill and I was amazed at how well it all went.

[jampots]

ive had both emergency and elective c/sections. there were no pros to the emergency from what i remember.

IIRC the op itself takes about an hour. you dont feel pain but you do feel a rummaging around which is a bit weird. the worst bit for me was the epidural/spinal block. that was vile.

i am a bad patient and i wasnt able to move around very much. i bled profusely post op and every time i moved i flooded so that was horrid. After the op the pain from wind is horrific so stock up on peppermint tea to drink.

i personally would rather teh natural delivery myself.

[JingEllBells]

Hi Greeny

I had an elective section with dd1 because of placenta praevia. It was a brilliant experience from start to finish. I was awake throughout and dh was with me. I held dd as soon as she was born and she stayed with me and dh throughout the time I was being stitched. I had much less pain than I imagined. The spinal anaesthetic stings when it goes in but as soon as it's in you can't feel it. The operation itself is weird (you can feel them prodding about inside you, although no pain) but the time between going into theatre and getting the baby out is very quick and once the baby is out you are just focusing on her and not really worried about the other stuff going on. I had a catheter in overnight but got up the next morning (dd was born at c. 10.00 a.m.). I had morphine for pain relief immediately afterwards, but wouldn't have it again, because I hated the way it made me feel (out of control and spacey and a bit freaked!). I found a combination of paracetomol/codeine and voltarol at first and then just paracetomol was fine. I was uncomfortable at first, obviously (you have had an operation, so you'd expect that) but nothing awful.

Good luck.

[jacksmumsarah]

I had an emergency c-section after 3 days of labour. I got to 9 cm and started pushing as the consultant said I was 10cm, pushed for 2 hrs and made cervix start to swell and go smaller, they said to wait till I was 10cm again, but I demanded a c-section and got it as they were talking of uterine abruption (or something like that, don't know as I was so high). My dp got ready for surgery and told to wait in the tv room, they ended up having to knock me out as they coldn't get the spinal in, but nobody told dp until they brought the baby down, so we both missed his birth (that was the worst part). But apart from that don't really have anything bad to say about them. I wasn't in any pain when I woke, just getting about can be quite scary as i was convinced things were going to fall out of my stomach. Was walking around the next morning, and had a shower (although I requested a midwife take off my dressing as I was too scared). Came out of hospital 4 days after c/s and was hoovering etc 5 days afterwards. I had staples which I wouldn't recommend as they made my skin really itchy and hot, was such a relief when they came out. I thought them coming out would be really bad as the gave me aa starnge pair of scissors to take home for the visiting midwife to use on me at home, but it was painless. 14 months later though my skin is saggy and wrinkly and have lots quite a lot of sensation and it feels uncomftable still to touch. But I have a beautiful healthy baby boy and would hve a c/s again no probs.Hope my rantings help

[MKGnearlyimmaculateconception]

good to hear you're thinking about another Greeny! I haven't had one but but my sister has had two one emergency, one elective. She said she would never want a natural birth. Only problem she had was an allergic reaction to the anestesia. She started throwing up on the table after the first one, and kept throwing up all day. Just check to see what anestesia you'll have to save yourself the pain

[macneil]

Mine was elective, but I had to have it because of a hip replacement sticking into the inner pelvis. I'm glad I had it because after doing it, my doctor told me there'd have been no way of delivering vaginally. Also, the fact that I have one leg longer than the other has given me a twist in my spine that I didn't know about, so it took well over an hour to put the epidural in, and a couple of anaesthetists had to be drafted in to help - if I'd had this after hours of labour attempts, I would have been hysterical. As it was, I suddenly started shaking madly with panic for two reasons - a) I thought I'd be paralysed by the attempts and b) I thought I'd have to have a general anaesthetic if it didn't work for any longer, and I've had generals and hate them.

Anyway, my anaesthetist explained later that it's done in an area that can't cause paralysis, and I didn't need to worry at all. But for a while I was horribly scared. As soon as it started to work, the tests they did to make sure it was working were rigorous, and the last, that made me feel happy, was when she said 'What am I doing to you now?' and I said I can't feel anything, and she said 'I'm pinching you very very hard'.

After that, my husband came in and sat with me, I experienced no pain, the anaesthetists stayed up my head end with my husband and a few nurses and everyone was very fun and chatty. It was relaxing and nice.


The post-op pain was never very bad, although I'm quite butch and good with pain. A couple of days later I could stand easily - it hurts, and is draggy, but not awful - and now just over 2 weeks later, I can't walk far or fast, but there's no pain.

Okay, the cautionary part. Epidurals have just been linked with problems breastfeeding, perhaps because the drug is absorbed through the placenta and leads to a sleepy baby. But perhaps it's because a lot of c-sections are linked to early delivery or delivery problems, both of which could cause breastfeeding problems. I have a small baby and flat nipples and I haven't managed to make her latch on yet. It has caused me no end of real heartache and I cry a lot. But if you've breastfed before, I don't think this should be a problem for you, and you won't have the nipples etc problems I have. That's my only caveat. I couldn't have delivered naturally but I think women should be able to make this choice without feeling guilty or worried. It was a pain free operation, and recovery was pretty fast. Sure, I'd like to be a bit more active now, and maybe could be after a vaginal birth, but apparently things get back to normal after 6 weeks in terms of what you're allowed to do. In my limited experience, you'll feel up to doing those things quite a long time before that.

[jabberwocky]

I've had two. First was an emergency and I think recovery took a bit longer b/c of the 30 hours of labor preceding.

Second was originally a planned section but waters broke early. Still had a bit of planned element though as we just went straight to the hospital and surgical team was already assembled and ready. So no contractions and super fast recovery. Even with a 3 year old to look after this time in addition to a newborn I've had no problems.

[TuttiFrutti]

I had an emergency caesarean after a 23 hour labour, and the section was much better than the appalling labour that preceded it.

Totally painless at the time (I'd already had an epidural during first stage labour, so didn't need a spinal block). Afterwards, yes it is quite painful to sit up or bend around your stomach, but they give you painkillers for that and after the first couple of days you'll be fine on occasional paracetamol.

I think recovery times vary a lot. Mine took several weeks, but that might have been because it was a highly traumatic emergency operation (they had 5 minutes to get the baby out alive), plus an exhausting long labour beforehand with no sleep for 2 nights, plus I had a haemorrhage afterwards and lost masses of blood. Next time I am having an elective when hopefully none of these things will happen, so I'm told the recovery should be much quicker.

[hulababy]

I had an emergency c section following failed induction. I don't remember much about the spinal at all, sorry.

The c section itself was a veyr positive experince. I was awake and DH was with me. The doctors spoke to us all the time, and our baby was with us in a very short length of time. We saw her briefly and then they took her away for 5 minutes to do their checks. She was perfectly healthy so they brought her back, wrapped up for me to hold and cuddle.

During the c section I felt no pain or discomfort at all, just some rressure and pulling about.

My recovery went very well. I left hospital 3 days later with iron tablets and pain killers. I was very anaemic so needed lots of iron. But by the time I left I was using painkillers very little and very infrequently.

I had a small infection after about a week - some weeping, but nothing major. Cleared up very quickly.

The rest went well. I did as I was told and took things easy. I accepted help from family and friends, and just tried to rest as best as I could as well.

I wasn't allowed to drive for 6 weeks. This was a pain! I was definitely read to get out and about by that stage!

[missingmywine]

Hi - 2 emergency C sections and have now opted for an elective for my third. I am quite lucky as recovery time for both was quite quick - there was no way I was going to pee in a bottle the first time and was walking to the loo after 3 hrs! The hardest thing I found was not being able to drive and remembering that actually you have had a major operation - if you do do too much it can hamper the recovery and your muscles take too long to reform. The stitches/staples can be a pain & the loss of blood can be abit alarming but overall it has been fine - good luck!

[Azure]

I had an elective due to 3rd degree tear with my first-born. In all it was a very calm experience - such a difference to the trauma of first time around. The spinal was painful going in and I felt quite dizzy and a little sick, but that soon passed. As the others have said it's a really strange but not painful experience when the baby is being pulled out - but looking at the small scar I'm amazed how they did it. The only downside with the birth was DH fainting and spending the duration of the operation on the floor with oxygen - but I suspect that's not typical .

The most difficult time was the first night - the catheter was still in and it took me ages to move myself to pick up the baby. Of course you are bleeding and I was too embarrased to ask the midwife for help with changing a sanitory towel, so that was a struggle - no-one actually offered to help with this, so I don't know what you're meant to do in this situation. Pain relief was by suppository for the first day. By the afternoon of the second day I was able to have a shower, which made me feel a lot better. Anyway, recovery went really well - I spent two nights in hospital and was driving again in 2.5 weeks. I had no problem with breastfeeding - DS2 latched on straight away and supply was ample.

Best of luck.

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[NotQuiteCockney]

I don't know what your labours were like (and have never had one myself), but I wouldn't recommend a section, generally.

I've had two, an "elective" (footling breech, failed ECV) and an "emergency" (v relaxed, waters broke, meconium, head not engaged, cervix not effaced, despite weeks of prelabour). The emergency sucked slightly less than the elective, but not by much.

The operation itself doesn't take long. 20 minutes? 30? You chat with an anaesthetist, they put in the epidural (which is gross, gross gross, and I had some leg pain with the last one, which meant they had to take it out and put it in again, and then it leaked for a few days after the op). You are numb (although I do know a few women who have been numb on the surface, but not on the uterus, cue immediate GA, removal of partner etc etc). No pain in the op.

It takes quite a while for the epidural to wear off. There is pain, but you take lots of meds at this point, and tail them off. You need to listen to the pain and not do any heavy lifting ... ideally, you lift nothing heavier than the newborn for the first 6 weeks.

The scar is not that bad, but it can have strange effects - I have no sensation on my stomach from the belly button to the scar. Which is a bit weird and gross.

Elective sections have (I think) a bad effect on breastfeeding. The baby is (generally) not fully cooked. Also, thanks to them not suctioning DS1 properly, he spent his first 36 hours or so in SCBU (went blue, and I was the first person to notice ), so got no chance to latch, cue latch problems, cup feeding formula, using shields, skinny DS1 etc etc etc.

Your abs are hosed afterwards, more so than with a normal pregnancy. It hurts to cough, or sneeze, or laugh. You have to build them back up. I've not been good about doing abs work after DS2 (was good after DS1) and so I still don't think I could do a situp, now, two years on.

[ProfYaffle]

My c/s was technically and emergency but I wasn't in labour so hadn't had any drugs, wasn't exhausted already etc etc

I had been dreading ending up with a c/s for the whole of my pregnancy but, in the end, I found it all quite easy. The op itself was painless, the epidural felt like extreme pressure on my back but not painful as such.

I'm a wuss so asked for as much morphine as they were prepared to give me, post op. I found the recovery surprisingly quick and easy. The worst bit for me was being bed bound with a cathater for 24hrs or so. I hated being helpless and asking for help all the time but once I had the cathater out and was able to shuffle around I felt much better. I was discharged on day 3 and by day 5 walked into town (about 15 mins) and had a pub lunch.

I couldn't drive for 6 weeks but that was down to my insurance company, I felt fine to drive by about 3 weeks or so. I was very careful not to lift heavy stuff etc so that may have helped my recovery.

I'm now pg for the 2nd time and to be honest, in my heart of hearts, I'd love to have an elective this time round although I feel really guilty for feeling that way and not demanding a vbac.

[ProfYaffle]

I should add, I successfully bf dd for over a year and I did do a lot of abs work to build them up again. (that makes it sound like I'm thin - I'm not!)

[Emskilou]

You did say brutal truth didnt you????

My ds (2nd child) was an e-c/s after 24 hour labour, was horrible tbh! So could well be different from elective c/s.

Had the spinal which was heavenly all going well, felt like washing up in my tummy, then out came ds who promptly peed on my face, nice (but I was soooo high I didnt care!)

Anyway, the spinal started to wear off and I could feel what they were doing in a painful way so they had to knock me out with general, 2 hours later I came round not remembering what had gone on and sat bolt upright quickly laid down again with the help of lovely midwives!!

I later found out that the cause of the spinal wearing off could have been because they 'nicked' a main artery and I lost a lot of blood! Sooo glad I wasn't aware of this! But the drs, consultants, midwives, student who shaved my pubes were all amazing and so so so so helpful and lovely all the bad bits didnt bother me at all. Until I got onto the postnatal ward where there was an evil troll of a midwife but thats another story!!

The recovery was quite hard but that was only because I thought I could do more than what I actually could ie lifting my dd aged 14 months at the time. I did find that the cesearean belt my sister bought me was a godsend though!! Like a bit of belly armour, probably didnt do anything but was a little reassuring when you have toddlers running at your belly at high speed!!

Sorry if this was a bit horrible, but as long as you are prepared you will be fine should you need/want a cs.

[fiiiivemadmarchhaaaares]

Gah, had typed a lovely post and then lost it somehow.

Long story short, I think the epidural would be the thing I would be fearing the most if facing an elective. It also made me sick.

Op was 45 mins with DS emerging afer less than 5.

Catheter and drain no problems.

Afterwards, movement not too great but not many painkillers needed.

Had everyone for Christmas 3 weeks later, driving at four, gym at six.

Overall I though it better than the horrible labour beforehand.

[olivhohoho]

i had an emergency c-section in the summer. it was a very good experience despite the fact that dd was in scbu for a week afterwards. the spinal block didnt hurt and the relief from the pain was sooo welcome! the theatre staff were lovely and dh was with me. couldnt hold dd as she was poorly so cant comment on bfeeding (despite the fact i couldnt for 5 days, she still managed!)
afterwards, had morphine then voltarol etc. only pain i felt was excruciating trapped wind, they gave me something and peppermint tea helped too. had disolvable stiches and no problems with wound. I'd definitely have another!

[Kelly1978GotRunOverByAReindeer]

I liked my section, it was very calm and peaceful after two vaginal births. the spinal went in eventually, though I did feel it going in and it did hurt a bit. My blood pressure dropped a lot, and I had to have transfusions. The actual delivery was veyr nice, though they wouldn't let me hold them until I went in the recovery room, and I did miss that bit. I also didn't like my newborns going off without me, while I had to wait to be stitched up!
Recovery was pretty quick. My morphine drip came out of place (morphine going into your hand is bloody agony!) and the co-proxomol made me sleepy so I actually got by on parecetamol after the first night and wasn;t really in any pain. All in all it was a very positive experience.
the only things I don't like is that I have a very wide, lumpy red scar (possibly bigger because of dts, nto really sure). I still have a numb patch on my stomach. And I get a lot of backaches from where the epidural went in.

I read your birth story on another thread, and an elective section has to be better than that. Good luck with it.