C Section

OrkneyStar

Nicki wrote: »

I'm amazed at those who were driving in less than a week! I had two sections and my insurance said I could drive when my doctor said I was fit, and my doctor said I could consider myself fit when my scar was healed enough to be able to do an emergency stop without breaking open. As my stitches and staples didn't come out for 5 days, following which my wound was not quite healed, there is no way I could have done an emergency stop safely within a week of the surgery.

OP I am another one who didn't get morphine (unless it was in the epidural which is possible I suppose). I had co codamol and paracetamol and didn't need anything at all after the first 3 or 4 days

I took a wee while to get back to driving too, was probably a bit over cautious but thought better that that under! Think it was just over 5 weeks.

Janepig

I had my gall bladder out earlier this year with open surgery rather than keyhole and I took longer to get back driving after that than after the two sections, it was much more painful. My friend who was driving after a week obviously felt it was right for her, who am I to judge?

Jx

pukkamum

Nicki wrote: »

I'm amazed at those who were driving in less than a week! I had two sections and my insurance said I could drive when my doctor said I was fit, and my doctor said I could consider myself fit when my scar was healed enough to be able to do an emergency stop without breaking open. As my stitches and staples didn't come out for 5 days, following which my wound was not quite healed, there is no way I could have done an emergency stop safely within a week of the surgery.

OP I am another one who didn't get morphine (unless it was in the epidural which is possible I suppose). I had co codamol and paracetamol and didn't need anything at all after the first 3 or 4 days

I had no option but to drive within a week, my husband went back to work and I had to get the kids to school!

Nicki

pukkamum wrote: »

I had no option but to drive within a week, my husband went back to work and I had to get the kids to school!

If you were medically unfit to drive however your insurance would be invalid and you would be committing a criminal offence. Would you use the same argument if it was the day after having a general anaesthetic or if you had a migraine affecting your vision?

Personally when I was recovering from my second section, I was able to call on friends and other mums with kids at the school to do the school run for me for the first few weeks and if I hadn't been I would have either taken the kids by taxi or walked with the baby in a pushchair. Driving with an unhealed abdominal incision is foolhardy, and had a child run out in front of you outside the school gates you would almost certainly not have been able to brake safely and remain in control of your car so you were putting other children and your own children at risk.

A lot of insurers forbid you from driving for 6 weeks post section irrespective of whether a doctor has declared you fit for this very reason.

This is what the DVLA say about driving after a c section

https://www.gov.uk/caesarean-section-and-driving

MoneySavingMamma

I had a c-section with DS1, it was after hours of traumatic labour, attempted forceps etc.
Baby was 9lb4oz, so his was likely the reason for being stuck, as next 2 have made it out naturally (6lb14oz & 7lbs 6oz, but with both needed stitches)
It wasn't nice, had 5 days in hospital, but once home recovery wasn't that bad after 1st week. I thought it was horrendous at the time, but now having pain, stinging & other pains 'down there' on natural births, it's not that much worse, as this is pretty bad (no3 was born Thurs!)

As for OH looking after you, I felt the same, for different reasons, I was a teenage mum & we'd been together 3yrs, but still in that shut the bathroom door & make an effort stage. He stayed at the top of the bed for the birth (actually did the same for all 3) and I felt uncomfortable with the thought of him helping me & knowing about the gross stuff that come with birth.
The day after the hospital told me to have a shower, he came and helped me, washed me down, held me up, everything.
It was gross & embarrassing & disgusting for about 1min. Then it just felt right, we'd made this baby, I'd 1/2killed myself getting it out & he was there to help me & look after me. It was nice to let my guard down & be looked after. Wish I could do it more often, as I like to make out I'm a tough cookie & can do it all! Being vulnerable and accepting help from your partner can be very rewarding, but I understand sometimes it's like jumping out of a plane!

Drugs given- dicloflex? Not sure what that is, I was breastfeeding & know whatever I took was naff & i wish it was stronger! I found BF after c-sec very hard, as afterpains were strong when feeding. I don't know if I'd put myself through the BF if I'd had a section again.

Janepig

Nicki wrote: »

If you were medically unfit to drive however your insurance would be invalid and you would be committing a criminal offence. Would you use the same argument if it was the day after having a general anaesthetic or if you had a migraine affecting your vision?

Personally when I was recovering from my second section, I was able to call on friends and other mums with kids at the school to do the school run for me for the first few weeks and if I hadn't been I would have either taken the kids by taxi or walked with the baby in a pushchair. Driving with an unhealed abdominal incision is foolhardy, and had a child run out in front of you outside the school gates you would almost certainly not have been able to brake safely and remain in control of your car so you were putting other children and your own children at risk.

A lot of insurers forbid you from driving for 6 weeks post section irrespective of whether a doctor has declared you fit for this very reason.

This is what the DVLA say about driving after a c section

https://www.gov.uk/caesarean-section-and-driving

Which is why my friend checked with her doctor and HV and spoke to her insurers before getting back behind the wheel.

Jx

ouchy2012

I would ignore it, every person, birth and baby is different.

I had emergency c-section with my first after being induced, opted for vbac with my second. 2 weeks before my due date they told me they were worried about me giving birth due to previous section (6 years earlier) and also as the scans and measurements showed my baby was 'definitely' over 9lb.

anyhow 2 weeks later my due date came and went and 13 days over i went into natural labour but baby became distressed and well guess what? i need another emergency c-section and my baby was no where near 9lb he was a tiny little thing at 7lb 4.



Also to add my recover was fine both times, first time i was out of hosiptal withing 3 days and up on my feet within a week, second time i was out just over 24 hours after having him and was back on my feet withing 3 days. Infact i recovered so well i was managing to walk over 4 miles a day on the school run.

twigpig

Well, firstly, your midwife isn't helpful measuring you on the outside with tape measure and saying you're not measuring big, when you've had a scan which is actually the best way to assess baby size. The scan will be the most accurate measurement, although it isn't a perfect science.

Being induced does not always result in a section and as someone else said, a section is a possibility in any birth.

I've had a section after being induced (due to increasing high blood pressure) as my first baby was a little distressed after getting to 0cm dilated and sitting awkwardly. (I'd had an epidural just as extra info). We agreed with a section as you really just want the safest route for you and your baby to get through the birth. Ironically, I had the best recovery compared to my 2 friends who went through natural birth - one of whom still has 2 pro-lapses almost 2 years later, that the nhs refuse to resolve until she's completed her family and the other who recovered about a year after the birth of her child.


So, the pro's

• The actual section is very quick. I think an hour had me from start to finish. That is a guess though;)
• I healed much quicker than my friends did who had 'natural births'
• By 4 weeks, I felt pretty normal.
• I didn't need to squeeze out something the size of a watermelon from my lady bits :rotfl:

The con's

• I struggled to lie flat for the first 10-14 days as it pulled on my scar, so I slept sitting up a little with some extra pillows for support.
• I opted not to drive until 6 weeks but my hubby was around so there wasn't any need for me to drive.
• I still have a little patch on my tummy that is still numb. The feeling may or may not come back in time.
• I had a minor infection in my scar easily resolved without complication and this can happen in any birth.
• The first day after the operation is very tough moving around etc. I felt exhausted but then I'd had about 3 hours sleep in 48 hours!
• You'll have a catheter after having a section as you'll be a little immobile for the first day.
• I went into a little shock after the section and was a bit shaky, so I didn't hold my little one right away. My hubby enjoyed his daddy time though.......
• You do need help for the first 2 weeks both for you and the baby. My hubby was a god send. You will need this help.

I also only needed paracetamol/co-codamol and ibuprofen after the birth.

Ultimately, you need to be comfortable that your birthing plan may need to adapt and change along the way to get you and baby safely to the end of the process. I hope that you manage to get the birthing plan that you want.......


Best of luck

osian

Hi, just wanted to say I've had 2 ELCS and they were both fine, with my 2nd I was home the next day. My 1st I had to stay in 3 nights as I'd had pre-eclampsia before baby was born.

Took it easy but was not an invalid, could deal with the baby and light household stuff -washing bottles, tidying up, dusting etc. Got my husband to hoover! Was walking about a couple of miles within the week (slow and steady, but faster than in my pregnant huge and heavy state) both times.

Think I was in co-codamol in hospital, then home with paracetamols.

With my 1st I was driving in 3 weeks (check with insurer and Dr first), with my 2nd the doctor who discharged me said wait 6 weeks, but I think he was being extra strict as he was sending me home early and I couldn't be bothered to go to the surgery to check earlier so waited the 6 weeks..

Agree with wearing big pants, buy some tea tree or some sort of antibac soap to wash yourself with. I just lived in soft clothes like tracksuit bottoms and leggings for a couple of weeks.

Honestly try not to worry, in my case I desperately wanted a section each time and really phobic about a natural birth so can understand the fear from the other side I guess.

Good luck!

butterflylady

Thanks again for all of your supportive posts.

I thought I'd update u on the outcome.

On Friday the 29th I was admitted to hospital due to reduced movement , the midwife was concerned that the placenta was starting to fail as I was already overdue.

The decision was taken by the drs to induce me, what followed was the most brutal 36hrs of my life, where labour was induced but no pain relief could be provided until I was in established labour!!

Due to the care or rather lack of it provided by the midwifes, my partner had to help/provide lots of intimate care for me. Not once did he complain about doing it nor did I feel uncomfortable with him doing it. In fact we've talked about it since and feel it's made us closer than ever.

Once in established labour our daughter was born very quickly in the early hours of the 1st of December. A week later I can't imagine our life's without her.