Anyone else happy with their C-section?

[Arisa]

So after a traumatic emcs at 37 weeks I was regretful and upset about not having a vaginal birth but now, one week on I look at my tiny tiny scar which is no bigger than a stretch mark and think "phew, did I make the right choice"
My lochia has basically disappeared, I have no perennial discomfort, my pregnant piles have gone, I can use the toilet for both peeing and bowel movements without it aching and I am not bleeding all over the place and changing pads every five minutes. In hospital too after my first shower there was no massive gush of blood everywhere and I could cross my legs
Now when I look down at my lady bits I see everything the same way it used to be, there is no gaping hole, wound or tons of stiches from tears of episiotomies

looking back now it was worth the three days of discomfort and frustrations, and injections and IV drips etc because now its as though I have not even given birth

my boobs are the same size they were during pregnancy, they have not gone up, there are no marks on them and I got no painful horrific engorgement or contractions from feeding my baby via breast
I had a medication to dry up my miilk before the dreaded day 3 engorgement came through so my boobs have not ached one bit

yeah all in all I am luck, and so so so so glad the pregnancy is over
it was more sore and uncomfortable than the birth and recovery itself

anyone else happy with their C-section OR bounced back quick?

 

[Laraa]

This is my second section. My 1st one 2 years ago was an emergency one. I recovered very well with the emergency one but seem to be recovering even better with this one.
Day 8 today and i feel great (touch wood) i want to go mad with my housework but trying to hold out for a little longer. The bleeding this morning is everso light which is good. Overall it has been a tiring pregnancy full of plenty heartburn and basically living in the loo (if it werent months of sickness it was weeing every 5mins or constipation) the birth was lovely and the recovery so far has been very smooth. Im happy

 

[ChezTunes]

LO was breech so I had an "elective C section" and it was so much better than I expected. My first baby, and first stay in hospital too so I had no idea what to expect other than other peoples' experiences! The birth, my stay in hospital (other than missing OH) and recovery was brilliant. I'd do it again, for sure. I'm sort of thinking maybe I'd prefer it to a vaginal birth! If that makes me terrible, then... My bad. I did originally want a VBAC but then there's still that risk of EMCS anyway. However my next pregnancy goes, at least I can face it knowing how great my last recovery was and that I don't have to be so terrified.

- My lochia was very light, I was expecting a massacre.
- I was up walking twice the first night and they were quite impressed.
- I was able to breastfeed for the first week, then made the hard choice to stop as it was making me miserable because it felt like they were on fire when she was feeding, I used to sit there crying as she fed because it hurt so bad.
- My periods returned back to normal right away, at about 5 weeks and then again 30 days after the first started.

I can't complain.

 

[imurchia]

I had a c section on 3/26/2012 and it was wonderful!! After the fifth day I felt as if I had never had surgery and my scar is barely noticeable! As soon as they took the catheter out that next morning I began walking and did so many laps around the nurses station throughout the day (I was told that if you dont move around much than the healing process takes longer and I refused to be one of those people who ended up having a hard recovery).

 

[wilbz]

I had an emcs with my first and vbacs with my 2nd and 3rd I was up and about quite quick and was happy with the way it went, yes I was sore, but nothing unbearable

 

[babyblog]

Me! I had an electve this time after a traumatic labour and EMCs last time, I can't believe how well I felt a within the week, I hear horror stories about vaginal tears and stitches and Im glad I didn't have to go through it. I'm a bit squeamish about that kind of stuff anyway so a c section suited me just fine!

 

[Arisa]

Same here Babyblog, the vaginal tears and scars as well as increased risk of piles from pushing really put me off and I have none of that to worry about
so they are not all bad

 

[SabrinaKat]

I wanted a c-section anyway and my consultant ob/gyn agreed (for a variety of physical and psychological reasons); but had an emergency one due to my pre-eclampsia. I have recovered pretty well, but the first few weeks were pretty hard, which I think was more due to the excessive swelling and recovery from the pre-eclampsia. In fact, within two weeks, was trying to do stuff around the house, but had to force myself to relax a bit more!

Now, at 4 months post-baby, am pretty good -- I do get some pains at the incision when it's AF/PMT, but have been told it's pretty normal. Also, I try not to overdo it and haven't gone back to the exercise bike yet, but do gardening, walking, etc....

Am delighted overall and would, if I got lucky again with another one, have another c-section!

best wishes

 

[Arisa]

OMG sabrinakat you sound exactly like me. I had pushed for a planned c-section due to psychological reasons but then developed pre eclampsia and ended up with an emcs which did give me a bit of trauma for the first few days but now one and a half weeks on It feels as though it was not even an emcs or a big deal.
its good to know there is that option out there especially for women like us who do develop pregnancy complications I mean an elective would have been nice as you could plan to have a special dinner with your DH the night before and get all prepared and take your music and camera in with you to theatre which we missed out on and that upset me for a good three days but now I see my tiny scar and minimal blood loss which is non existent and think "Thank god I made the right choice"

 

[JessPape]

After 20 hours of labor, and progressing to 8cm within the first 8 hours, than not progressing pass that. I'm glad I had a c-section, she was completely worth it, and I wouldn't change it for anyhing. I've had a pretty easy recovery so far (1 week PP today). I think one of the reason why im okay with it, and not stressed or upset, is because when I got pregnant I looked at it being a possbility and read up on c-sections, though I didn't want one, i didnt throw it out of the book. Because of this I think it helped. My milk came in within 3 days, a little trouble latching the first 2 days but all in all i don't regret it.

 

[capegirl7]

I am very happy with my C-section! I labored very well, went from 4-10 cm in four hours. When I started to push my LO heart rate dropped. We had an emergency section and the cord was wrapped around her leg. She was born perfectly healthy though
I was able to walk around the second day and now at 9 weeks I feel great!!! I felt really good after the first week. I couldn't believe how great the recovery was. All the doctors tell me I am a perfect candidate for a VBAC if I want to but I might do an elective C section for my next She latched on right away and I have been breastfeeding ever since with really no problems!

 

[Eala]

I am really happy that I had my C-section. My first birth left me with mental and physical scars which I'm still recovering from. This time, although I had a few physical issues afterwards, my recovery was a lot better because I wasn't in pieces psychologically.

I'm not having any more children, but if I was to change my mind, I'd definitely go for an ELCS again

 

[nataliecn]

I'm over 3 years past my section. But it was definitely the best choice for me. Granted, it was planned - and that meant my body didn't start the labour process and what not.

I healed fantastically. I felt awesome the next morning. Was up and about wandering. I was shocked how fast I started bouncing back. The only time I was really in discomfort was getting in and out of bed as we have a low bed. And those muscles sure didn't want to help me get up!

Part of me wishes I was able to experience things like waters breaking, contractions, etc. But I couldn't have had a better birth experience in the end!

 

[Arisa]

I'm not having any more children, but if I was to change my mind, I'd definitely go for an ELCS again

DITTO
i do not want any more kids but if ten years down the track it happened it would an elcs all the way as long as i did not develop pre-eclampsia

 

[megangrohl]

After a 19 hour back labor I was so happy to have my c-section. It was so painful and I did really well with the contractions up until 5cm - no screaming or crying. I needed the epidural, but the reason we needed the c-section was because her head was too wide to descend.

Overall my c-section experience was good. It didn't take long and the incision mark is barely even noticeable. I'm 6 weeks PP now and I feel pretty good. I had barely any lochia or pain, I had no perineal damage or vaginal tears (obviously) etc.

What was hard for me was seeing my belly afterwards but since then it's gone down quite a bit. It takes time to go back to having a tight belly like before pregnancy due to them pulling the abdominal muscles away to get to the uterus and from the size of my baby (she was huge!!!).

So yes, my experience of the actual c-section was good.

ETA - I was up walking less than 12 hours after my surgery. It was sore by not unbearable! I also had the catheter taken out 12 hours later and peed and pooped, with no problems, shortly after. This was our first and last baby. Everyone keeps on saying it won't be but I had a horrible pregnancy and I don't want another baby and either does OH. So we are quite happy with just one.

 

[Butterfly89]

This has totally put my mind at ease. I have a heart condition and weird pelvic formation which would end in a very complicated vaginal birth, therefore I am "choosing" c-section (as highly recommended by my past doctors). But I have been feeling sooo nervous because of all the horror stories I've heard about how awful you feel after, how bad the scar is, how bad this or that is.. etc..

I am so glad to hear that it CAN go well! I am tired of people making me feel like I am a bad mom for making this choice. But I don't want my heart to stop during labour, that's kind of serious, lol! =( Even my mom keeps telling me how awful they are (not that she had one) so maybe I can tell her now that it's not that way for every one!

I have everything planned out and am looking into the best post-op care like belly bands/scar protectors, scar tissue massages, and how I want the op to go exactly (as much as I have a choice). Ty for sharing this ray of light!

 

[Liesje]

Mine was elective, and it was great, I'd do it again in a second!
As far as the scar, I know it sounds cheezy, but it's kind of like a souvenir... When I look at it, it brings back fond memories
(no one can look at their vagina and say that!)

 

[stepmum]

I was supposed to have a section for him being breech anyway but he decided to make an appearance at 32 weeks which resulted in a EMCS.

I was shitting myself! I had never had an operation in my life before, I was convinced the spinal wouldn't work and I'd feel everything. I didn't The only niggle I have was that my section took forever even after he was delivered but I had cysts that they were sorting out so it wasn't a standard section. It really was just like them doing the washing up in your stomach.

Don't get me wrong afterwards I felt so bloody helpless and had to stand up like a 92 yeard old. My heart was in my mouth every time I coughed as I thought my insides were going to tumble onto the floor. But this only lasted a day before it was bearable. I was up and walking the next day. A week after I was back to normal-ish.

My bleeding was also not what I expected, I imagined I would have to strap several of the maternity pads to my knickers but a normal nightime sanitary towel was sufficient and it was really light after about a week too.

I respect people who have a preference but to be honest I didn't. He was born how he was born, I would have been shitting myself just as much about having him vaginally as I would a section. Either way childbirth is scary! But now I feel the path has been chosen for me and I will have another section. Plus I got to 4/5cm before my section so I did get a taster of the whole experience.

At least when LO asks me where he came from I can tell him he came out of mummy's tummy, literally

 

[Arisa]

Exactly stepmum, i know your experience was rather forced and had to happen but mine was similar too only baby was closer to full term than your we man but at least its over and your wee lo is safe

The only thing that concerns me now is having to wait to lose weight
I cannot go back to the gym for three months or vacuum and do heavy lifting for six as I tried to lift groceries the other day and ended up in agony and in bed all of t his morning so my advice would be to not do anything more than lift your baby and very light housework like dishes or cooking dinner for a good few months

the best thing is my scar looks barely noticeable compare to my awful stretch marks, i need to post a pic soon, i mean i am three weeks pp and the scar looks like a thin line literally thats all but my muscles hurt when I move and get out of bed so I am still on four hourly pain relief but its only paracetamol and I have mental health issues as my baby blues have gone but I have developed bad post natal stress and depression so its hard having to wait to lose weight because even walking hurts, why can I not be one of those post C-section women who can exercise and take baby for walks at three to four weeks post partum? I guess it could have something to do with getting over pre eclampsia and the swelling and headaches are still present an d I did have an EMCS and was ill. perhaps I need to be more accepting of myself and let my body adjust before I lose weight and let the pre-eclampsia settle down first xoxoxo

 

[stepmum]

Exactly stepmum, i know your experience was rather forced and had to happen but mine was similar too only baby was closer to full term than your we man but at least its over and your wee lo is safe

The only thing that concerns me now is having to wait to lose weight
I cannot go back to the gym for three months or vacuum and do heavy lifting for six as I tried to lift groceries the other day and ended up in agony and in bed all of t his morning so my advice would be to not do anything more than lift your baby and very light housework like dishes or cooking dinner for a good few months

the best thing is my scar looks barely noticeable compare to my awful stretch marks, i need to post a pic soon, i mean i am three weeks pp and the scar looks like a thin line literally thats all but my muscles hurt when I move and get out of bed so I am still on four hourly pain relief but its only paracetamol and I have mental health issues as my baby blues have gone but I have developed bad post natal stress and depression so its hard having to wait to lose weight because even walking hurts, why can I not be one of those post C-section women who can exercise and take baby for walks at three to four weeks post partum? I guess it could have something to do with getting over pre eclampsia and the swelling and headaches are still present an d I did have an EMCS and was ill. perhaps I need to be more accepting of myself and let my body adjust before I lose weight and let the pre-eclampsia settle down first xoxoxo

Thanks hun, yeah we're both fine

Honestly try not to be so hard on yourself, it's a major operation and although I say I was back to normal-ish if I did too much within the first say 6-8 weeks it would put me back a step

And yes your pre-eclampsia is probably adding to your recovery, seems like you have had a difficult time too hun Some women have complications, some don't which is why the recovery time is different for different people x