Caesarean section experiences

jjj1980

I had an EMCS at 34 weeks due to Pre-Eclampsia and HELLP syndrome in 2009. I actually can't really remember much about the time from the night before she was born to 3 days later when she was finally brought to me. Things are very patchy and whilst it could be partly down to all the different medications I was on and being kept immobile the bed for 72 hours, I don't remember being in any pain as such.

Once I was disconnected from the drips, arterial line, monitors and catheter, I was helped to the toilet and kept going dizzy due to having been laid down for so long. The amount of movement also made my BP spike.

I do remember the Anaesthetist that did my Epidural was having real problems siting it as I was really swollen from he complications. He was the Consultant Anaesthetist as well as there was a real worry as there was no one higher available to try and I was too ill to be put under a general.

Erinnire

I had an EMCS with my first after a long labour her heart rate just fell and wasn't coming back up so we were rushed down to theatre, The section was fine I didn't feel any pain but it is the most bizzare experience to feel her being pulled out. They showed me her very quickly and then gave her to my mum who just sat in the room for a while and then I think they took them both away whilst they finished up. I had a small infection and the scar split a little but it wasn't too bad. The worst bit of the whole thing was having the stitches thread pulled out by the midwife after a few weeks, I was almost sick.

Second pregnancy I had a VBAC and forceps and it was horrendous. I ended up being taken down to theartre and prepped for an EMCS because we both were so ill, but they gave forceps a go first and managed to get her out, but the cut they did was massive I still cannot have sex without lots of pain nearly 3 years later. I was in so much pain for weeks and the bleeding... Blimey!

If I have another child I will be having a C section or I honestly do not think I could go through it again. So that will be the first thing I say to the midwife at booking appointments lol!

osian

I've had two (planned) and they were both fine.

My last one (20 weeks ago) I was home by the next day. My advice would be to try and be mobile as soon as you can. I found that if I rested too much I'd be in more pain the next time I moved. Obviously don't push it too much, but I was ok to go to the loo/shower and tend to the baby etc. Take the painkillers offered and you should be able to manage the pain fairly well.

I find that the first week I have to be fairly careful but I'm ok round the house. Within a week I am back walking normally (gentle with the pushchair for a few miles), so you should be ok for the wedding hopefully. About a month in I can easily lift things like the car seat and the hoover and now twenty weeks in I am back doing exercise classes and running. To be honest I found that my bust hurt much more than the c-section.

As for the driving check with your insurer, I was driving in 3 weeks with my 1st.

I'd recommend big knickers to fit over your scar and I washed with tea tree soap to prevent scar infection.

Good luck!

thrifty-gal26

I had an un-panned c-section ( May 2012 ) so wasn't really sure what to expect.

I remember the drugs made me shaky and REALLY itchy. I could sense something moving around in my tummy but couldn't really feel any pain. They passed baby to my husband and he brought him over. He "trimmed" the cord instead of cutting it.

Hubby lay baby next to me so I could munch him a little then he went into the recovery room and did skin to skin. Longest part seemed to be stitching up. I was brought to recovery room where husband and baby were waiting for me and they put my son in my bed where he stayed all through the night till next morn ( delivered at 10.30pm )

I had on a gown, a huge pad between my legs for the blood loss and no knickers and all kinds of wadding underneath me. Oh and the sexy socks.

I was able to sit up by morning. Had oral morphine for 12 hours ( every 2 hours ) and then all the painkillers I wanted. I was given iron and injections in my tummy everyday for blood clots which I carried on at home ( husband did it ) I thought I would wake up in pain but I was fine.

I was let out 2 days later and could walk fine. Was mobile really quickly. They said I could lift nothing heavier than my son for 6 weeks but i just got on with it as soon as I could. The worst thing was I couldn't go to the toilet for a few days ( they warned me about it ) and when I had my fist bowel movement it was like the world was ending.

I don't think it impacted bonding with my baby as I got to cuddle him for 10 hours straight after he was born. We were both tired, dirty and a little weary but it was the most amazing night of my life.

minimoneysaver

I called my insurance company both before and after, so speaking to two different people. Was told by both that it is an urban myth that you have to wait for six weeks after a c section. They said as long as I was okay and able to drive, go ahead! I waited two weeks.

Tigsteroonie

I had a c/s 3.5 years about when littl'un had to come out in a hurry.

I found the process rather surreal - walking into a theatre where I knew they were about to cut me open; feeling someone rummaging around inside me like I was a shopping bag; having an anaesthetist who cracked really bad jokes ....

My scar didn't heal well, I was in hospital for 2 weeks (not really a problem as my baby was in NICU just down the corridor) and I had a massive bleed towards the end of week 1 whilst stood at the incubator. Once they'd diagnosed an infection in the wound as the reason why it hadn't healed, they could treat me & send me home.

I didn't drive for 6 weeks. I did call my insurance who said "It was up to me & my doctor as to whether I felt well enough, same as I shouldn't drive if I feel unwell at any other time". But with the wound/scar problems, I really didn't feel up to driving until around then anyway.

ETA. The most painful part of the c/s? Having the cannula put into the back of my hand so that the initial anaesthetic could be fed in, and then having that cannula in for the next few days. It made it impossible to do anything with my left hand.

fluffymuffy

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

ETA. The most painful part of the c/s? Having the cannula put into the back of my hand so that the initial anaesthetic could be fed in, and then having that cannula in for the next few days. It made it impossible to do anything with my left hand.

Unfortunately that was one of the "conditions" I had to agree to to get my natural breech births. And it was easily the worst part. I had to have it in place in case of emergency from the onset of labour.

EssexGirl

My first almost 15 years ago was an emergency one as my DS got stuck after I'd been induced due to pre-eclampsia (not to mention Bells Palsy bought on by the pre-eclampsia swelling!) I don't remember much about the whole thing as they had given me some Diamorphine and it made me vomit violently and hallucinate. I've since found out there's an anti-sickness drug that I wasn't given grrr. I do remember the process of having a spinal block was hindered by me having regular and very painful contractions. I was kept in for nearly a week and was climbing the walls to get out! Recovery was tough and I had a couple of small infections but other than that it was fine. I think the recovery from the Bells Palsy has been worse than anything, I'm still suffering now.

The 2nd time 22 months ago was planned. I had gestational diabetes which I suspect I had with DS, and refused to leave the gyn office until he had scheduled my section date

DD was born a week early. We didn't tell anyone (apart from her brother and grandparents) when I was having her, nor did we divulge her name to anyone, only me and hubby knew that. birth is supposed to be a surprise and boy was everyone surprised.

It's amazing how much more relaxed a planned c-section can be. I had been admitted the night before for insulin monitoring, and hubby came in around 7am. I was finally taken down around midday and was in recovery with baby an hour later. After the spinal they sprayed me with cold stuff and I swore blind I could feel it until they all laughed as I could "feel" it on my tummy and they were spraying my leg :rotfl:
I didn't enjoy the actual rummaging around, my surgeon has very big hands and I'm sure he was tickling under my ribs. Wasn't the most pleasant sensation. I knew instantly when they injected the painkillers after the op as I felt sick. Luckily they had the anti sickness on hand this time and all was well. I was discharged 24 hours after delivering my daughter after we had both passed blood sugar tests and the anticoagulant had been prescribed. I'd been injecting insulin for weeks so doing that didn't bother me.

I found recovery easier this time as I knew what to expect & didn't push myself too hard for a few weeks. I didn't drive for 8 weeks as I was told not to by my consultant. I did have a little infection problem with the scar as I'm a bigger girl and have a tummy overhang, but all is fine now and the scar is neater than the first time round. I just wish I'd asked to be sterilised while he was in there.

My biggest word of wisdom is when you do your first poo, it feels like your stomach will fall out. Take a cushion or pillow to lean in to.

Hope it all goes well for you xx

samsil

Hi,
My first baby ended up being a long slow labour resulting in emergency section, I was spaced out and struggled to breast feed etc.
So I practically begged for a planned section for second baby and I was glad I did.
Went something like this-
Go in to hospital for quick pre-op appt day before-take tablets fill in forms and nil by mouth from midnight.
Check in 8am for 9 am schedule delivery on day.
Gown up. Take anti sickness drink which is vile but knocked back.
Taken to delivery suite walk in with hubby. Spray your back with cold spray. Small injection to numb the area for the large spinal. Lean over to get the angle just right. Felt fine didn't really hurt I just kept as calm as possible .hubby said he was dead surprised but it's nothing compared to labour lol.
Then lie back you have blood pressure stuff on and I think maybe cannula in your hand too at this point .
They will test how effective the spinal is, pinching your chest armpit etc. when sure spinal is fully effective they will tell you they're starting.
Then it's really quick, baby was shown to me, weighed, given to daddy, then we went to recovery room for skin to skin baby latched on great, I felt really 'with it' and not too exhausted like previous. I was glad I did it.
My only tips would be, I had lots of tummy cramp which was uncomfortable and 'peppermint water' helped. I was constipated for ages -oops tmi- grapes helped! Second the 'big pants' advice you don't want a knicker line near your scar.
I left hospital 48hrs after section, took it pretty easy at home made everyone else do everything for a week. About ten days after section I had to do the school run but as we walking distance preferred to have baby in a baby carrier strapped to my front so I could hold hands with my eldest. Also sound silly but pushing down on a pram to get the leverage to get up and down kerbs is quite hard with weakened tummy muscles so I preferred to use the 'papoose" thing for a long time.
Hope all goes well for you

Emmamumof2

Thank you all for those experiences, I know everyone is different, but I feel reassured knowing that I can prepare myself for what might be! Definitely taken the advice re: big knickers onboard!

The wedding is only just 5 minutes from our house in a hotel start to finish so I plan to still go (unless Im really poorly) but just accept that as soon as I feel ready to come home I will - it will be two weeks plus post c-section so fingers crossed.