C-section experiences please

[Dani_Ldn]

So after an unsuccessful ecv, I have finally resigned myself to the fact that unless baby turns himself, that I will have him by c-section in 2 weeks time.

I was wondering if you ladies could please share your honest experiences with having a c-section done.

* How long before you were able to be up & moving about
* How long was your recovery time (before you could lift baby, do housework, go out walking etc..)
* What is your scar like, how low down is it & is it very big? Does it ever fade?
* Did you feel like you weren't able to bond with baby as well?
* Did you find that you had any issues with your milk coming in?
* How long were you in hospital for (UK)?

I have an appointment on the 20th with the consultant, so I can ask questions there, but am more after people's first hand experiences.

Thanks in advance! x

 

[Macmad]

My experience was a EMCS so will probably differ from a scheduled c section but here's my answers.

* How long before you were able to be up & moving about - I was up and walking around 12 hours later
* How long was your recovery time (before you could lift baby, do housework, go out walking etc..) I recovered fairly quickly, didn't do any housework but was able to lift baby and go walking within the first few days
* What is your scar like, how low down is it & is it very big? Does it ever fade? My scar is ok, I think.. Its not very big and pretty low, well below my bikini line. It was numb for a long time and I never really got full feeling back until after a year. I still don't like touching it
* Did you feel like you weren't able to bond with baby as well? My situation was different as LO was in NICU for a week but we still bonded fine
* Did you find that you had any issues with your milk coming in? No issues with milk, came in 2 days after c section
* How long were you in hospital for (UK)? Not in UK but talked my way out after 48 hours

I am currently at 90% chance of c section but at least this time it will be planned and I want local anaesthetic, apparently that helps with quicker recovery too.

Good luck to you

 

[Dani_Ldn]

Thank you

 

[cutedimples]

Both my experience was a EMCS so will probably differ from a scheduled c section but here's my answers.

* How long before you were able to be up & moving about -

1. 2006 I was up and walking around 12 hours later but was very fragile and sore for 2 months.
2. 2012 I was up and walking around immediately after the catheter was taken out.

* How long was your recovery time (before you could lift baby, do housework, go out walking etc..) I recovered much quicker the second time round, even drove my car after a week.

* What is your scar like, how low down is it & is it very big? Does it ever fade? My scar is ok, its small and pretty low, well below my bikini line. No it doesnt fade.
* Did you feel like you weren't able to bond with baby as well? No i could bond perfectly both times.
* Did you find that you had any issues with your milk coming in? No issues with milk, came immediately when babies were born
* How long were you in hospital for (UK)? Not in UK, im in SA. we were discharged 3 days after the babies were born


Good luck to you

 

[Hopeful18]

I've had two C-sections, one emergency and the other scheduled. The most recent was two weeks and three days ago

* How long before you were able to be up & moving about
- My section was at 11 on Monday, I was up by noon the next day. I was nauseous from the morphine they gave me the day of the section, so I don't know if it would have been sooner if that hadn't happened.

* How long was your recovery time (before you could lift baby, do housework, go out walking etc..)
-I could hold the baby that day and lift her the next. I couldn't get in and out of bed with her while I was in the hospital, I had to have someone hand her to me. Once I was home, I slept in the recliner the first few nights because it hurt to lay flat and get up and down, but have been ok with that since. It's not totally pain-free, but not miserable either.
About a week after, I could do small things around the house, but nothing real big. I have asked others to vacuum and that sort of thing because my abdomen is still very sore.

* What is your scar like, how low down is it & is it very big? Does it ever fade?
-It's very low, below my underwear line, and the first never faded so I wouldn't think this one will, but it's not something anyone but DH sees and he doesn't care. His words to me about it were, "If you're naked and I'm worried about that scar, I have a bigger issue than the scar!" lol

* Did you feel like you weren't able to bond with baby as well?
-I don't think bonding with baby was hindered at all by the section. With both, I was nursing within an hour of when they were born.

* Did you find that you had any issues with your milk coming in?
-I had no issues, milk came in 3 days after the section. I was worried about that too, thinking if my body didn't go into labor on it's own, how would it know to start producing milk. It was explained to me that when the placenta is removed, that's the actual trigger for getting body ready to produce milk, not labor itself.

* How long were you in hospital for (UK)? I'm in the US and went to hospital on Monday and could have come home Wed or Thurs. I chose to stay til Thurs. I figured one more day with extra help was worth it! lol

I wish you tons of luck!!!

 

[ispeakinsongs]

I had an emergency section just over two weeks ago.


* How long before you were able to be up & moving about

It gets a bit better every day, I feel fairly normal now after two weeks. The first days I really struggled to get up from bed or the sofa, it was extremely painful.
* How long was your recovery time (before you could lift baby, do housework, go out walking etc..)

I can do light things now like walking and housework without problems. It took about two weeks.
* What is your scar like, how low down is it & is it very big? Does it ever fade?
It looks very neat and I don't think it will be an issue as it's so low down, nobody will see it and these kind of scars fade with time.
* Did you feel like you weren't able to bond with baby as well?
Not at all.
* Did you find that you had any issues with your milk coming in?
Not at all Breastfeeding and going well!
* How long were you in hospital for (UK)?
I discharged myself after one night, but they usually recommend 2-3. Found I could not sleep there so really wanted to go home.

 

[LDC]

So after an unsuccessful ecv, I have finally resigned myself to the fact that unless baby turns himself, that I will have him by c-section in 2 weeks time.

I was wondering if you ladies could please share your honest experiences with having a c-section done.

* How long before you were able to be up & moving about
I had my section at 11am on the Sunday, I was up and about the Monday morning

* How long was your recovery time (before you could lift baby, do housework, go out walking etc..)
I could lift baby that day, and she was big, carry her the next day, I wasn't bothered about housework and you can't lift so I didn't do any for about 4 weeks, I went out walking four days later but it was very slow and painful after a while, I wish I hadn't tried.

* What is your scar like, how low down is it & is it very big? Does it ever fade?
My scar is low down, I have a tattoo on my front and they avoided it which thrilled me! It has faded over time but the area is still numb.

* Did you feel like you weren't able to bond with baby as well?
Not at all, you can't still lift baby, change baby, feed baby etc and its a great excuse to just sit and cuddle!

* Did you find that you had any issues with your milk coming in?
None at all, still BFing 5 months down the line

* How long were you in hospital for (UK)?
I discharged myself on the Tuesday night as I wanted to go home and felt I needed more support - being left at night was not fun or easy.

I have an appointment on the 20th with the consultant, so I can ask questions there, but am more after people's first hand experiences.

Thanks in advance! x

Hope that helps! Don't worry, a section isn't half as bad as your think

 

[Dani_Ldn]

Thanks ladies, am starting to feel a little better about it all

 

[MYBezalel]

* How long before you were able to be up & moving about
I stood up for the 1st time and paced around my room at about 30hrs after my C/S. OB scolded me for not doing so right after my catheter was removed. Honestly it hurts the 1st time to sit up although assistance is still needed.

* How long was your recovery time (before you could lift baby, do housework, go out walking etc..)
Recovery time was about 2weeks when the pain subsides and tummy itches sooooo much. The binder helps a lot. It makes the pain bearable and it minimizes the fear of walking due to the wound. For the walking, I was able to visit my baby at the nicu after 2days although i can't walk that much yet due to the anesthetics. My feet still numbs at that time especially when I just woke up. I was able to carry my baby at the nicu only after 1week not because of the C/S but because of his condition. Housework, I honestly did not do much. My mom and hubby forbids me.. So when my son came home, I only took care of him.

* What is your scar like, how low down is it & is it very big? Does it ever fade?
Mine turned into a keloid scar and it's dark The cut is just above the pubic bone and it's about 5" long, vertical incision. Ok, mine is kinda big since the OB is actually saving baby from getting distress. As much as I wanted it to be a bikini cut, it will distress my baby. So the cut is big enough for him not to cause any distress. I know for sure it will lighten, since my mom's is C/S too. I saw her scar and it's already pale so yeah... it won't fade but rather lighten.

* Did you feel like you weren't able to bond with baby as well?
This one actually depends. I know for sure it's not always love at first sight. Bonding between mom and baby is the time spent when taking care of baby and thus bonding occurs. For me, I was able to bond with my son despite the issues we came across in his health.

* Did you find that you had any issues with your milk coming in?
Nope, I bought a pump since I can't BF him yet. It took about 20mins of pumping before milk finally came in.


I hope my experience could help a bit

 

[Mrs Bee]

Mine was emergency c section but it was a really positive experience... I was out of bed after 12 hrs... I went home after 2 nights in hospital and was out walking down the beach on day 4... I was rather impressed with what I could do.. I just did as my body guided me... My scar is nice and neat, I really love it, I feel it's a part of me, I wouldn't want it to fade... My mum(who had me via c section) said my scar at 3 weeks looked like hers after 6 months

My milk came in on day 3 and so far breast feeding has been going amazing, I bonded with my baby right away... It was a traumatic labour but I didn't have any feelins that I'd failed because it ended in a c section... If your baby doesn't turn just think it doesn't matter how the baby arrives, as long as they do so safely.

At 4 weeks pp now, I'm feeling so great... The swelling around the scar has gone and I've got the numb feeling... Which is really strange, but I'm not sore whatsoever

I wish you all the best however things turn out xxxx

 

[helena]

* How long before you were able to be up & moving about
I stood up for the 1st time and paced around my room a little about 6 hours after the operation. The earlier the better.
The next morning, so about 24 after the operation, I took a shower unaided.
I left the hospital after 4 nights and by then I was strolling about. Fr the first few days it feels tight and a little aches when you first start to walk but it wears off very quickly, like walking off a stiff leg.
Movement really does help a fast recovery. The more you move the less it hurts. If you sit still and don't try and walk much it hurts more.

* How long was your recovery time (before you could lift baby, do housework, go out walking etc..)
My op was in the morning and that night I would lean over while in the hopsital bed and pick baby from her/his (I have 3) crib.
I was at the supermarket with DH doing the heavy stuff after 6 or 7 days. A week on I was pretty much normal but just being careful to not lift heavy things.

* What is your scar like, how low down is it & is it very big? Does it ever fade?
Mine is in my pubic hair, about as narrow as the pubic hair width. It fades over time (I have 3 in same place).

* Did you feel like you weren't able to bond with baby as well?
Not at all. My ops were the best times of my life. If anything I was better prepared to meet baby. I was exhausted or in pain, I was ready and waiting and in love right away.

* Did you find that you had any issues with your milk coming in?
Nope. I had no issues with any of my three.

 

[Dani_Ldn]

Thanks girls Well a week to go & bub is still breech & not looking to move.

Can you please tell me how soon after the section did you start to bleed? I have read the thread on how long people bled foe (2-5 weeks, oh no!), but not sure when to expect it to start.

 

[helena]

Right after you come out from the recovery room, straight after delivery as with a vaginal birth you will wear a pad.

 

[MYBezalel]

Thanks girls Well a week to go & bub is still breech & not looking to move.

Can you please tell me how soon after the section did you start to bleed? I have read the thread on how long people bled foe (2-5 weeks, oh no!), but not sure when to expect it to start.

Right after the operation. It was not that heavy, compared to normal delivery but it took me about a month before it went away. Also, not to mention the lochia scared me. I thought it was blood, but it looked like a liver-like texture. I think it was part of the placenta. After it came out, that is when my bleeding stopped.

 

[helena]

No idea what lochia is. I. HAd 3 sections and no idea what that is. I wouldn't worry.

 

[Dragonfly]

* How long before you were able to be up & moving about
* How long was your recovery time (before you could lift baby, do housework, go out walking etc..)

Few weeks , I had to go through the labour which was very hard on my body so I was sore every where for a long time. Bed sharing and breastfeeding was a life saver there.

* What is your scar like, how low down is it & is it very big? Does it ever fade?
I never look, or more to the truth I cant even see it under the flap I have. But now as I am preg again I look and cant really see it at all.

* Did you feel like you weren't able to bond with baby as well?
Not at all, I was handed my first a few mins after and he was breastfeeding,. That helped.

* Did you find that you had any issues with your milk coming in? No issues at all. I didnt know there could be or anything about breastfeeding then,.
* How long were you in hospital for (UK)?
2 nights I left early over bad care.