People who have had an elective ..

[BethHx]

Would you have it again?
How does it compare to a natural birth (if you've had both)?
How is the recovery after? (is it true you can't hold your baby for a few days etc?)
Any other advice would be appreciated too

 

[blokeandbird]

Never had a natural birth so I cant comment on that. I found it absolutely fine. Recovery was very quick and you can hold your baby near enough straight away (I held mine in the recovery room). I will be having another c-section this time. Would of loved a natural birth but couldn't manage it the first time so didnt even attempt it the second time. Hope this helps

 

[cassarita]

Can't answer because mine was an emergency c-section but just wanted to say that you will/should be allowed to hold your baby right in recovery after your c-section.

I had an emergency c-section and was able to start nursing right in recovery. Unless there is something wrong with baby there is absolutely no reason why you wouldn't be allowed to hold your baby.

 

[BethHx]

I heard that it hurts to hold them, pick them up etc.
& that its hard to sit up & stuff?
Maybe ive heard wrong x

 

[kelzyboo]

I had my section 7 days ago, i was sat up in recovery and held my baby while still in theatre I held him pretty much all day, theres no reason you can't if baby is fine!
You can sit up, they just move the bed up so that your sitting up!
Recovery is hard at times, i'm a week post op now and have a slight infection so its a bit sore but i'm walking around fine and doing pretty much everything for my LO x

 

[Keera1Aiden2]

I had an emergency c section with my daughter and a vaginal birth for my son (induction with an epidural). I held my daughter in the recovery room but it was 2:30 am and i was kind of in and out of it, then she was moved to NICU so it was a while before i got to hold her and a week before i took her home. I actually found the recovery from my c section easier than my recovery with my vaginal birth. ( I had a 2nd degee tear and they had to use a vaccume to get him out). All that was hard with the c section was i had to hold a pillow to cough or laugh and getting in and out of bed was a little hard but i was out and shopping 3 days later. But with my vaginal it was sore to sit or walk or anything for the first week. But all in all i would do another vaginal birth it was such an experience. So i've had it both ways, feel free to PM me if you have any questions but keep in mind i am in Canada

 

[BethHx]

Thankyou. Im just weighing up my options atm.
This really isn't my main priority but is it harder to lose the weight after a c-sec? Like will my belly stay wobbly for longer?
Also how big are the scars or does it vary?
Im really not a vein person & none of this bothers me just Q's i have lol x

 

[willyandcourt]

I tried vaginal delivery for 48 hours... I ended up with a c-section. I was sitting up as soon as I was returned to my room. I was up walking 6 hours after my delivery. I was able to breastfeed as soon as I wanted (don't remember just how soon I tried). Before delivery I was scared, but my doctor and other surgical staff were very knowledgeable and helpful in calming my fears. I was awake the whole time. I would definitely go C-section again. I lost weight very quickly, but I think that was helped by breastfeeding. I started back to my aerobics class at 8 weeks postpartum.

 

[DJ987]

Mine was a semi-emergency but not really any different to an elective I was just already in hospital.

The worst part for me was not being able to reach my baby when she was crying during the night as I still couldn't feel my legs and had a catheter in. She was crying and I couldn't get to her and had to wait for the midwives to pass her to me.

It was sore to walk for a while, and hurt to cough/laugh. But I think I had a good recovery.

I have to have another section this time but given the choice I would prefer not to as its still major surgery and I world rather not put my body through that again.

 

[pinkgem100]

its been 9 days since my section, i had an emcs with DD and had Elective with DS and i have to say that i am feeling good, its hard at times but DD is only 20mths old and doesnt understand that i cant do some of the things she wants at the mo, but we are managing!

i hels DS in recovery and was sitting up when back in the ward, i was up, out of bed and showered after 12hrs and was home after 2 days as was missing DD and when she came to visit it broke her heart when she had to leave me so came home!! been out the house most days, taking it easy and still taking pain relief but would go mental cooped up inside all day!! the only draw back i have at the mo is that im still under midwife care as my scar has been a bit weepy in one little spot but she has told me to carry on as i am as im not overdoing it as not im much pain but just no lifting etc!! xx

 

[babyblog]

Thankyou. Im just weighing up my options atm.
This really isn't my main priority but is it harder to lose the weight after a c-sec? Like will my belly stay wobbly for longer?
Also how big are the scars or does it vary?
Im really not a vein person & none of this bothers me just Q's i have lol x

You can hold your baby in theatre if you like, then I bf in recovery within 20 minutes. Yes it does hurt to sit up for a while- your stomach has been sliced through, it's got to sting a bt but the pain after a planned was much less than after an emergency. Haven't found it hard to lee weight and my stomach went down immediately. Scar is as bg as the baby's head, very low down so you can still wear a bikini

 

[BethHx]

Thankyou the only thing that worrirs me is tge recovery as ill be moving house 8 weeks after c

 

[babyblog]

Thankyou the only thing that worrirs me is tge recovery as ill be moving house 8 weeks after c

That's funny, I'm 8 weeks pp and were moving house !

 

[petitpas]

Beth, that's a perfect excuse to be the moving director rather than lifter or packer upperer

 

[TTCinBC]

If your wondering about lifting your baby up and down, I didn't have any issues with it right from the get go. They tell you just to not lift anything heavier then your newborn for a few weeks. No vacuuming or laundry for 6 weeks. I was fine within 3-4 weeks and back to pretty well everything normal by then. Getting in and out of bed was the hardest for the first 2 weeks. Once my sutures were out it got A LOT easier. And I held LO in the OR as well. Most places are really good about it if it's possible.

 

[Arisa]

well mine was an emergency well semi due to my pre eclampsia getting worse and although the procedure was rather rushed, unplanned and traumatic, I would opt for an elective section in a heartbeat, I am two weeks on and can walk, hold and feed baby and even drive, not that I am supposed too. Now I am a bit different since I did have pre eclampsia and now have midl eclampsia which is rough, as my lochia is all over the place where it usually passes within a week or two but mine is one and off, I am still swollen and seeing flashing pink lights, but that is not normal, a normal uneventful pregnancy where you are able to wait until 39 weeks would be fantastic and if I had, had that which is what I originally wanted then I would be fine two weeks down the track. Also being three weeks early my little girl is in hosptial and my Eclampsia means my husband is in there with her but yeah given a normal pregnancy as yours seems to be a section is really good and the recovery is great, the scar is not nearly as noticeable as my stretch marks and I am fine on paracetamol and walking is easy, I just get dizzy from low iron and my eclampsia but most women are fine and psychologically I have not damage from the section, its four days of hardness then its easy you have no vaginal damage or prolapse issues and walking and sitting is actually easier as your lady bits have not been torn and lets face it everyone's ladies bits have a wee graze at the least or feel a bit tender, I had none of that

 

[Arisa]

Oh and as far as lifting your baby goes, I could lift her straight out of surgery but I had to wait two hours due to her being early and it being an emcs but the morphine and pain relief means you can hold her, I was lifting her out of her hosptial crib the second day and showering the second day, you will be fine

 

[BethHx]

Thanks everyone. What would you all rate the paub put of ten? I will be getting the daye of mine on tuesday , its kind of elective but advised to me by my gp,.consultant & mudwife. I will be having it at 37/38 weeks x

 

[petitpas]

Beth, I just took all the pain meds they offered me and that worked very nicely. I stayed in bed the first day with my catheter in but the next morning I was up and from then on had sole charge of my baby. Yes, it is achey and every so often you turn the wrong way and go ouch but it is easily bearable.
The worst pains I had were the afterpains - the uterus contracting whilst I was feeding my baby. They were seriously ouchy but they can't have been worse than a contraction and you get them after vaginal deliveries, too.

I have self-dissolving stitches so no worries there. I took a shower on day two just before heading home.

Now at 3 weeks after the op I feel fine. I hope to ask my GP to allow me to drive again (have to ask him formally if I want to drive before the six week mark so my insurance is valid). Yesterday I went for a two-hour walk around town and loved it.

Mine was also a planned c-section and it was very enjoyable and uncomplicated. To be honest, once you have your little one in your arms you won't care much about the odd aches and pains and soreness.

 

[beachlover1]

I held my baby within less than a minute of him being pulled out!! I sat up in recovery and breastfed him in recovery, walking about is a bit painful for a few days, but it would be after a natural birth if you tore or had forcepts etc. Its not as bad as you are thinking. Im having another in about 11 weeks...i didnt have a choice last time, i do this time and im still having a c sec!!