Any positive c sections???

[h27]

I Have been booked in for a c section on the 19th march and i am totally nervous!!! I had a very difficult birth with my ds who is 2.10 which ended up with 3rd degree tear and lots of other probs!! I am getting to the point that i cant sleep because i am so worried about having a c section, and the thought of not being in control of my body scares me to death! i had to have a spinal after i tore so bad with my son and i hated not feeling my legs etc! I am worried about the pain after the section as i have heard so many horrible stories!! has anyone got anything positive to say about c sections or advice on calming the nerves between now and next monday!!!! Please help. H27

[2Happy]

Hi, h27, sorry to hear about your bad experience with ds.
I'm nearly 5 weeks after a cs; ds2 got completely wedged and despite the obs guddling around with forceps, he wasn't for shifting so had to be shoved back up and taken out the sunroof.
I was pretty disapopinted because I'd been hoping for a better delivery than ds1 (forceps), but as far as the cs itself was concerned, it wasn't a big deal. Yes, it has been sore (esp the second day, expect to feel ok on day 1, do too much, and pay on day2!) but tbh I found myself feeling less drained than I did after the forceps with ds1. And the pain is really no worse than the fanjo pain after forceps (and, I imgine, a 3rd degree tear!), with the advantage that you can sit comfortably, and your pelvic floor isn't rodgered. My biggest tip is to mke sure you have plenty help from friends/relatives - the hardest hardest thing I've found is looking after ds1 (21m) while being unable to lift. Even now at 5w I still find it difficult to lift him, so think about how you're going to do normal daytime stuff that includes lifting such as bed, bath, mealtimes.
It really isn't that bad x

[2Happy]

Oh, and lots of big pants and loose trousers - anything sitting on your cut is uncomfy!

[Gingermonkey]

I had an emergency section with dd which was awful because I'd wanted to give birth in the proper way and ended up being knocked out with a GA. Next time round I was determined to have a natural birth but had cholestasis (sp) and had an elective with an epidural. It was great - honestly it really was! The whole experience was lighthearted as the surgeon was so nice and everyone in theatre was chatting away to me and DH about all sorts of rubbish unrelated to babies. There was no pain, no discomfort and it actually kind of tickled because I could feel something going on down there which made be have a fit of giggles. Honestly, don't worry - just relax and enjoy the rest and attention you'll get afterwards - and milk it for as long as you can!!!!!

[Whoooosh]

DD stopped growing at 34 weeks when my Mum died so I had a planned section at 38 weeks.

It was fine.

I was dreading it,absolutely terrified of the spinal,not bonding etc but it was a very calm and positive experience for me.

Yes it is painful afterwards,you will need to take advantage of all hep offered but I was driving within two weeks and doing light stuff ok.

You willl be so thrilled with the new baby,keep focussing on that and good luck.

[Ali5]

Mine was great (well, in the grand scheme of things not great..but you know what I mean!)
Planned because I had OC and ds had to arrive around 38 weeks. There was no pain or discomfort before or during - just an odd sensation as DS was coming out.
Take every painkiller they offer, don't be afraid to ask for help(you'll be a priority on the ward), get family and friends to come at regular intervals to help with baby (and bring food) and enjoy being looked after.
Make sure you get up and walk every day, even if it's just round the bed. I wasn't in pain afterwards either really, just aware that something wasn't quite right - it was just a matter of moving carefully.

You'll be fine, good luck

[Ali5]

Oh, forgot to add that I'd planned a home birth, so it was as far away from that as possible. No problems with bonding or breastfeeding either, baby just lay on my chest as I was wheeled back to the ward best feeling in the world.

[grannycrackers]

h27, i have had a bad section and a good one. to try and make yous go well i suggest you talk about your concerns with all the staff and question them a lot. i asked so much they kept checking everything and reassuring me. because i'd had problems last time and was worried i got extra special care and the outcome was a very good experience.
as for pain afterwards, morphine is great ! the worst after that for me was wind pain and peppermint really helps and it's reassuring to have something to hold against your tummy when you get up in the first few days

[NAB3]

I am positive about my emergency section as without I definitely wouldn't have my lovely 5 year old.

[bundle]

I've had 2 very positive c/s - one emergency (failure to progress) and one crash (had a GA because BP dropped dramatically). I think you just have to pace yourself, take all pain relief before you feel pain and get as much practical help when you get home as possible.

[Hels67]

I had a generally positive experience - DD was lying transverse at 39 wks after much of the pregnancy being breech, so I had an elective c-section.
It was quite painful, but take all the offered painkillers and get up and walk around as soon as you can - you'll be walking stopped over like an old lady at first, but it gets better quickly.
The worst thing I found was the constipation - so eat plenty of fruit or fruit juices (ask your relatives/friends to bring them into hospital for you) and eat brown bread not white.
I also bought some cheap undies in Tesco that came up high on my tummy and didn't aggravate the scar - no problem throwing them away then.
The staff in the operating theatre were excellent (better than any of the midwives) and always told me exactly what they were doing - it was a bit TMI for my liking, but I know some people like to know what's going on
By the way I'm pretty hospital-phobic after heart surgery as a child, and I wouldn't hesitate to have another c-section.
Good luck!

[TuttiFrutti]

C-sections can be very positive experiences, so please stop worrying and start looking forward to it!

I had an elective c-section 4 weeks ago. It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life, totally pain-free (honestly!) and peaceful, which aren't words I would personally use about natural labour. I had previously had a long labour ending in an emergency c-section, which was a horrible event that took a long time to recover from.

The elective couldn't have been more different. I can honestly say that the most painful thing was having a canula put into a vein in my hand beforehand. That made me wince, but after that I didn't feel a thing. I got the feeling back in my legs after only 2 hours, and was walking after 4 hours. Painkillers this time: paracetamol. Last time: morphine injection.

Plan what music you would like, who you want to tell you about the baby's sex, etc.

Yes, you do hear horror stories about some c-sections, although I've heard a lot more about natural births (your experience sounds as if it might be one!). The vast majority take place with no problems at all.

[TuttiFrutti]

Forgot to add: I took arnica for a few days beforehand three times a day, and every couple of hours on the day itself, then three times a day for a week afterwards. That could partly explain why I healed so easily compared to last time.

[julezboo]

Hi there

Havnt read the ohter posts so sorry if i repeat anything!

I ws like you, losing sleep over my second cs, for my first i was knocked out, it was a horrible experience before and after tbh, he was 9 weeks early also! Wont go into details so i dont scare you even more!

But I just had my second cs (elective) 3 weeks ago tomorrow, was very relaxed, the spinal wasnt so bad and i freakily enjoyed every minute of it! Didnt even feel the spinal going in. Soon after (still in recovery was only there for an hour) the feeling came back pretty quick. The pain afterwards was sore as to be expected, the first day up and about was the worst imo, but take the pain relief they offer and take it regularly - if they dont offer cos they are too busy ask them for it! By the second day I was able to get up withhardly no pain at all, Now Im fine, have been pain free and pain killer free for about 2 weeks, Im driving again already and pretty much back to normal (cept i cant cough properly lol dunno what the hell is going on there LOL) Feels weird in my tummy if i try to cough! Lochia loss wasnt too bad, still on and off but I managed with normal sanitary towels.

i just tried my best not to think about it till i had to. On the morning i woke up i warned my partner i might be a tearful wreck by the time i got to hospital but in all honesty i cried a little bit just before they started and I think that was more because i was nervous, anxious and excited i was going to finally meet my baby after so many mc's and a torublsome pregnancy! It was a lovely experience in the end and i was home two days later

[Eleusis]

Oh, sections are lovely. Way better than tears (so I hear). And a planned section is such a lovely peaceful experience. For starters you can enjoy and cuddle your lovely little brand new baby when you aren't exhasted from the labour. It will probably be morning or mid day and you can spend your whole first day together.

[Alibobster]

Please don't worry about having a section. I had to have an emergency c section and it was actually a really nice experience. It's totally pain free, you're not exhausted from pushing a screaming so you're totally alert and aware of what's going out before you meet your wee bundle. And I also felt that because so many different people have to be there to assist ie doctors, nurses, I actually felt really safe and well taken care of. It was a calm and beautiful experience

[ArcticRoll]

hello h27,I've had two cs.
The first one was an emergency after a long labour.
The second one was an elective and it was fantastic! As your cs is planned it will be a lot less traumatic than an emergency. I'm sure if men had to give birth they would opt for them! Yes it is umcomfortable afterwards and you will need help around the house but I had a really positive experience and hope you do too.

[kate7]

I have had two sections, first was emergency and second planned. Dont have much idea regarding first as GA knocked me out and I feel I missed out on things a bit. I remember berating dh as I thought he hadn't rung anyone to tell them about dd's arrival and then found out it was the next day, not an hour after the op as I thought!! Second was planned and I was really scared but it was fantastic, all the team were amazing and the atmosphere was really calm and positive. I didnt feel anything, dreaded the spinal but in the end never noticed it, and was so busy chatting to the anaesthetist I asked them when they were going to start only to be told, we are just about there, the head is almost out!!! Felt a bit of tugging at being stitched up, but no pain. Post op, pain relief was almost too effective, you can think you are better than you actually are so be really careful you don't overdo it, and you will def need lots of help at home for at least the first 2 weeks.

[Aloha]

I had lovely cesareans with both ds and dd, yes, it can be odd to not feel your legs but what I did was to pretend I was in my yoga class letting everything go really heavy and relaxed. I also insisted on the staff telling me jokes as a distraction, which really helped, and I strongly recommend it! Then, when your baby is born, which happens really, really quickly, you forget all that and are very, very happily distracted! I never felt out of control except for the tiniest moment of 'oh dear! I can't feel my legs!'. To me being mentally & emotionally in control matters much more than the physical side, and I found the pain and true lack of control of the contractions in labour a million times more traumatic and distressing than being anaesthetised. I didn't have much pain afterwards (and compared to contractions it was absolutely nothing at all) - you get plenty of painkillers so do take them all. And with dd I was up the next day and showering etc and home the morning after that with no pain relief at home at all. I think it's fantastic!
Why not concentrate on stuff you can control? eg picking out some music to play in the theatre, and making a birth plan - ie do you want to discover the sex yourself or be told? Would you like the baby laid on your body straight away before he/she is taken away to be cleaned up and weighed? Do you want your dh to take pictures? Practise relaxing breathing. Think about some nice things.

[Mistiek]

Hello H27

I have been quite nervous too - mine is booked for the 22nd March. However I keep reminding myself it can't be worse than my previous long labour that resulted in an emergency C-Sec.

I have been told by many that it is so much more relaxing to have an elective than emergency.

My only advice to give you, from my previous C-Sec, is to make sure you keep your scar as dry and clean as possible. you may have a bit of an overhang so make sure you keep it dry as I was not allowed out of bed for a whole day (staff were too busy) and landed up with an infection and on anti-biotis for a few weeks. But it still was not that bad...

The best thing about a C-sec is the attention you get aferwards. I have a 23 month old son and am looking forward to being able to just sit on the couch or in bed bonding with our new little girl while everyone else has to run around and do all the chores and look after DS.

Take all the help that is offreed and dont try and do too much to quickly as you will suffer for it later. Take it in your stride and enjoy the time you have with lo while recovering.

I am going to milk the attention for as long as I can as once its over I will have 2 children to look after and will be rushed off my feet.

[lizziehoney]

I def found my c-section easier than my natural births. far less painful. Recovery time will be longer (though again, far less painful than my fanjo felt full of stitches!)

[DivaSkyChick]

Not to hijack but can you breastfeed on pain killers? Thanks!

[Aloha]

Yes you can!

[RedFraggle]

Hi H27, I had an emergency c-section and the actual op was ok and the recovery was really not too bad. I was out of bed within about 12 hours and was able to have a shower, I pushed for an early discharge as I wanted to be home asap and I was home on the third day after the op. First week or so I remember I couldn't stand up totally straight, but other than that I was surprised at how fast I recovered! I was driving 5 weeks afterwards.
I am having an elective c-section in June and am looking forwards to having a relatively calm birth! Still slightly apprehensive but I think that is normal with birth no matter how it is actually happening...

[McDreamy]

Have to sections - both great, fantastic teams, post op recovery good (home on day 2) no wound infections, no problems good luck