Positive c section stories?

[Scuba]

Just had my date booked.. And would love to hear some positive tales please ladies xx

 

[daisydoo]

Glad you got your section hun xx Ive just booked for mine too - first baby was big and I had 3rd degree tears and few complications. Really wanted natural delivery but no-one is on my side over it so resigned myself to section. Im booked in for 15th Oct whens yours?
I do love how 'organised' the whole thing is - knowing an exact date/time baby will be delivered is a real plus. Especially in terms of having house ready/shopping done etc. Im upset about leaving my LO for 3 nights though are you? xx

 

[sammynashley]

I had a elcs 7months ago. I went for a normal check up at the hospital on valentines day expected to be sent home told to wait a few more days as I was a week overdue and trying to vbac,

After spending 2hours up the hospital being told I wasn't dilated and would had to come back at 7am the next day for a csection scared the hell out of me ( I had a very very bad emcs first time round) so me & oh spent our valentines day packing hospital bags!

Well I took the tablets that you meant to take that night barely slept from being so nervous got up and we set off for the hospital.

When we got there we got shown to our room the midwife came round with a gown and something for oh to wear in theatre, we both got changed and waited for the doctor to come round with the forms, after a hour she came round persuaded me into a spinal ( epidural failed first time) and then we walked to theatre I had the spinal put in I was numb almost instantly! I was laid down and the best part was having oh talking to me constantly and they didn't tell me they'd started so was a lovely surprise when we heard the surgeon say what do we have here then and our little girl was born and all you could hear was her crying he showed her to us she was cleaned up and given to my oh to hold and she was perfect. I was stitched up and had my dressing on in no time a elcs is so organised in a way very calming. My munchkin was on the Breast within a hour after being born and I could of asked for a better birth the staff were amazing! Very supportive!!

 

[KJM2]

I had an elective section after finding out that my baby was breech I was 40+4 as they didnt discover he was breech until day after he was due. I was a bit upset as really wasnt expecting or wanting a csection. But it was absolutley fine. The only very minor problem was we had toi wait ages to go into theatre. We were at the hospital at 8am and didnt go into theatre until 3.30pm. Emergency sections kept pushing me back. But really it was fine justa long nervous wait take books/magazines etc to kepp you busy just incase you have to wait.But I said to my hubby I could have been in labour for double or 3 times the length of time we waited.

I was in hospital 3 days but could have gone home day2 I asked to stay as Bf wasnt going that well nothing to do with section more my lo didnt really get the hang of latching on at first(I have since successfully EBF for 6 months). My recovery was excellent no problems with wound and I was back jogging at 3 months.

All the best hope things go well

 

[Scuba]

Thank you all - so nice to hear positive stories
Daisydoo mine is booked for 8th October - 12 days time - eeeeeeeeeeek!! Yeah I'm not looking forward to leaving my LO for however many nights I'm in either, but she'll be with my in laws who she adores so I'm not as worried as I would be if she had to stay anywhere else! They spoil her rotten and she loves going to theirs for sleep overs lol!

It feels so strange knowing the date doesn't it? When is yours booked?

I'm on a countdown now to get all the bits finished around the house in time - gonna be working my hubby into the ground lol xx

 

[Flutterly]

Hey hun, I'm still in hospital recovering from mine on Wednesday! I say recovering, what I mean is waiting for them to send me home!! Both me and OH can't believe how well I am considering the negativity towards csection recovery! Yes I'm a bit sore but nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be! In fact I said to OH today that when we go home today I need to remember that I do still need to be careful as I've had major surgery!

The only negative thing I have is that my stomach feels like a washing machine at the moment with it all gurgling around and I guess settling back down into place. I go from not needing the loo to needing to go desperately and TMI but my farts are massive and stink!!

But really, I've found it all very positive! Even when I was throwing up after surgery!!

 

[Ersurgeongirl]

Massive stinky farts are normal, lol

I had my scheduled section on Monday. Due to my type 1 diabetes and gestational hypertension, they figured it would be safer sectioning me at 37 weeks and 2 days. They also estimated him to be 8 pounds 11 ounces by then too. He ended up being 7 pounds 11 ounces...

I arrived at 530am to be prepped for my section, scheduled for 730am. I was pretty dehydrated and scared, so it took them 4 times to find a place to put the iv. Once that was done and the antacid was drank, they wheeled me into the OR. My sister put on her scrubs and waited to be brought in. I sat on the OR table looking around while they finished scrubbing up and prepping. It looked like a set from a hospital tv show, I was like whoa this is kinda cool! They gave me my spinal and asked me to let them know when I felt a warm feeling in my butt, I did immediately. In a second they grabbed my shoulders and laid me down on the table, it was soooo fast. The oxygen tube went into my nostrils and my arms laid out to my side, like a t shape. The drapes went up and they brought my sister in to sit by my head. They told me they were starting, but I didn't feel a thing... I was numb from the armpits down. I do remember before they started I tried to move my feet and I couldn't and I would start laughing... Lol. A few minutes later I felt them tugging and moving me around, it freaked my sister out as they were really trying to get the baby out. I remember my pint sized doc asking if the table could be lowered and they said no, so she hopped up on the table to get better leverage lol. Once he was out they asked me if I wanted to see, I did, so they held up a mirror. The angle was off so at first all my sister and I saw was a big circle filled with blood (my uterus basically) and "intestines" aka the long umbilical cord. I said I see my insides and they moved the mirror but then all I saw was the baby's butt and scrotum before they took the mirror away. Shortly after I heard him cry for the first time, such a little but strong cry and my sister and I started bawling. Hard to believe he was here and he was alive. 10 minutes later or so my sister was holding him and about 15-20 minutes after that the section was done and I was being wheeled into recovery.

I was in recovery for about an hour. They monitored baby for any potential health issues, including a blood sugar check due to my diabetes. We attempted to breastfeed, but I think I was so out of it that just seeing him laying on my chest was surreal. I kept laughing because I still couldn't move my feet... Idk why but it was a weird and funny sensation. My sisters and parents and fob came in to see us one by one, then we were taken to our hospital room.

The hospital room was kinda hazy due to still being out of it (out of it being numb from the arm pits down, exhausted, and just a general lack of energy from undergoing surgery). They kept checking the vitals of me and baby, the nurse gave baby a bath while everyone took pictures. An hour later I was feeling better and the nurse encouraged me to eat something off the clear liquid diet menu. I go to order food, but they tell me that they have me on a regular diet... So I order normal food. I spent the entire day puking because of the pain medications (I barely tolerate Tylenol).

The next 3 days were much better. I decided to be discharged on Thursday as the doc gave me that option and my insurance covers it. I wanted more time to bond with my baby and make sure he was okay before going home and getting overwhelmed with the adjustment of home. The pain was minimal, they gave me vicodin and motrin for pain, I only took the vicodin for the first 2 days and even then I only took it when I first woke up to help with the discomfort. I'm still only taking motrin and that's in the morning or when I do something big, like taking the baby to the doctors office yesterday.

I've been going up and down stairs with no issue, today the pain is gone. Recovery was really easy compared to what I read online and what the doctor told me. I think what helped was staying on top of the pain with meds as needed and getting up as soon as possible. Hours after the surgery the nurse asked me to try getting up and going to the bathroom, I got out of bed but fell back due to being dizzy. I got up 2 more times and took one step on the third try before getting back into bed. Just trying to get up helps. By day 2 I was up walking the room and the halls.

So take the pain meds and get up lol

 

[Scuba]

Thanks ladies is vomiting after surgery normal?? If so I'll keep taking my antiemetics, as am sick - excuse the pun - of throwing up! I've had hyperemesis throughout this pregnancy and for someone witha phobia of vomit that's not good news at all!xx

 

[Gbobs]

I had a section after going into labour and then finding out my LO was breech. The last thing I wanted throughout my pregnancy was to end up having a c-section but it really wasn't that bad at all.

Once they established my LO was breech, I was in theatre in just a couple of hours. It was fairly quick really. The only thing I really felt was a lot of shaking around whilst they were doing their stuff (makes me squeamish to think about that bit!) and shivering a lot which apparently is to do with the anaesthetic. I literally barely moved for the next 12 hours as I had a catheter in which in a way was nice if frustrating as I could spend all my time being waited on and cuddling LO. The only bad bit for me was when left alone at night and not being able to easily get to LO when he was crying or needed feeding/changing etc and having to rely on calling the midwives - I guess also having to stay in hospital so long too.

My recovery was fine - I was up and walking within a week and the HV actually told me I shouldn't be doing anywhere near as much as I was doing but I felt fine taking a short walk to the local high street which is less than 5 mins walk away! It did take me twice as long but in the long run I think getting up and about as soon as I felt I could did help my recovery. Like someone else said I had to remind myself to take it easy as I had had major surgery. I did have a few back issues for a while as my back was taking all the strain because my stomach muscles and core were in recovery and repairing themselves but I have always suffered with my back anyway.

For a good few months afterwards my scar ached and I had a few pains if I overexerted myself but 15 months on I am completely fully recovered, my scar has faded and I forget it's there and I managed to get rid of the "mummy apron" overhang within a few months. Sometimes I feel the odd twinge but nothing much else.

If we have another child then I would really like a VBAC but if I have to have another caesarian, I wouldn't be too bothered about it physically but for me, I do get feelings that I haven't experienced giving birth which I guess is the emotional downside of a caesarian - but if yours is elective and you know about it then you probably have more time to prepare.

 

[notpregnant]

Massive stinky farts are normal, lol

I had my scheduled section on Monday. Due to my type 1 diabetes and gestational hypertension, they figured it would be safer sectioning me at 37 weeks and 2 days. They also estimated him to be 8 pounds 11 ounces by then too. He ended up being 7 pounds 11 ounces...

I arrived at 530am to be prepped for my section, scheduled for 730am. I was pretty dehydrated and scared, so it took them 4 times to find a place to put the iv. Once that was done and the antacid was drank, they wheeled me into the OR. My sister put on her scrubs and waited to be brought in. I sat on the OR table looking around while they finished scrubbing up and prepping. It looked like a set from a hospital tv show, I was like whoa this is kinda cool! They gave me my spinal and asked me to let them know when I felt a warm feeling in my butt, I did immediately. In a second they grabbed my shoulders and laid me down on the table, it was soooo fast. The oxygen tube went into my nostrils and my arms laid out to my side, like a t shape. The drapes went up and they brought my sister in to sit by my head. They told me they were starting, but I didn't feel a thing... I was numb from the armpits down. I do remember before they started I tried to move my feet and I couldn't and I would start laughing... Lol. A few minutes later I felt them tugging and moving me around, it freaked my sister out as they were really trying to get the baby out. I remember my pint sized doc asking if the table could be lowered and they said no, so she hopped up on the table to get better leverage lol. Once he was out they asked me if I wanted to see, I did, so they held up a mirror. The angle was off so at first all my sister and I saw was a big circle filled with blood (my uterus basically) and "intestines" aka the long umbilical cord. I said I see my insides and they moved the mirror but then all I saw was the baby's butt and scrotum before they took the mirror away. Shortly after I heard him cry for the first time, such a little but strong cry and my sister and I started bawling. Hard to believe he was here and he was alive. 10 minutes later or so my sister was holding him and about 15-20 minutes after that the section was done and I was being wheeled into recovery.

I was in recovery for about an hour. They monitored baby for any potential health issues, including a blood sugar check due to my diabetes. We attempted to breastfeed, but I think I was so out of it that just seeing him laying on my chest was surreal. I kept laughing because I still couldn't move my feet... Idk why but it was a weird and funny sensation. My sisters and parents and fob came in to see us one by one, then we were taken to our hospital room.

The hospital room was kinda hazy due to still being out of it (out of it being numb from the arm pits down, exhausted, and just a general lack of energy from undergoing surgery). They kept checking the vitals of me and baby, the nurse gave baby a bath while everyone took pictures. An hour later I was feeling better and the nurse encouraged me to eat something off the clear liquid diet menu. I go to order food, but they tell me that they have me on a regular diet... So I order normal food. I spent the entire day puking because of the pain medications (I barely tolerate Tylenol).

The next 3 days were much better. I decided to be discharged on Thursday as the doc gave me that option and my insurance covers it. I wanted more time to bond with my baby and make sure he was okay before going home and getting overwhelmed with the adjustment of home. The pain was minimal, they gave me vicodin and motrin for pain, I only took the vicodin for the first 2 days and even then I only took it when I first woke up to help with the discomfort. I'm still only taking motrin and that's in the morning or when I do something big, like taking the baby to the doctors office yesterday.

I've been going up and down stairs with no issue, today the pain is gone. Recovery was really easy compared to what I read online and what the doctor told me. I think what helped was staying on top of the pain with meds as needed and getting up as soon as possible. Hours after the surgery the nurse asked me to try getting up and going to the bathroom, I got out of bed but fell back due to being dizzy. I got up 2 more times and took one step on the third try before getting back into bed. Just trying to get up helps. By day 2 I was up walking the room and the halls.

So take the pain meds and get up lol

wow what a fab and detailed story! lovely..i too have had 2 sections and thankgod, it wasnt as bad as you read on the net! oh and congratulations

 

[rory83coyotes]

I had my thrid and final c section in july. It was great. Walked into the operating room and had all of my things in order. It was pretty standard. Spinal, surgery, then off to recovery. I had some vomiting right after my section in the recovery room and they were quick to give me some medications in my iv to stop it. This last c section was the best out of the three. The first two were emergency sections due to preeclampsia so by comparison it was nice to actually get to walk into the or. I was up and about the same day. Surgery was at 0730 and up by 5pm that night so not too bad. Don't try and be a hero. Take the pain medications when offered as it is major surgery and it does hurt but it is much easier to control if you stay on top of the pain.

The only thing that we forgot to plan for was child care. We had my sister keep the kids the night of the surgery as we had to be at hospital early in the morning but didn't think about anyone keeping the kids the first night I was in the hospital so my husband could stay with me and help out. I was a little sore with all of the getting up and down for the baby but the nurses were great to give me some meds. You may want to arrange for a two to three day sleep over for your daughter until you get home with new baby.

 

[Ersurgeongirl]

Thanks ladies is vomiting after surgery normal?? If so I'll keep taking my antiemetics, as am sick - excuse the pun - of throwing up! I've had hyperemesis throughout this pregnancy and for someone witha phobia of vomit that's not good news at all!xx

They may not want you to take anything, ask your doc first.

Honestly, the more I puked the better I felt and the post surgery/anesthesia haze wore off.

 

[notpregnant]

I had my thrid and final c section in july. It was great. Walked into the operating room and had all of my things in order. It was pretty standard. Spinal, surgery, then off to recovery. I had some vomiting right after my section in the recovery room and they were quick to give me some medications in my iv to stop it. This last c section was the best out of the three. The first two were emergency sections due to preeclampsia so by comparison it was nice to actually get to walk into the or. I was up and about the same day. Surgery was at 0730 and up by 5pm that night so not too bad. Don't try and be a hero. Take the pain medications when offered as it is major surgery and it does hurt but it is much easier to control if you stay on top of the pain.

The only thing that we forgot to plan for was child care. We had my sister keep the kids the night of the surgery as we had to be at hospital early in the morning but didn't think about anyone keeping the kids the first night I was in the hospital so my husband could stay with me and help out. I was a little sore with all of the getting up and down for the baby but the nurses were great to give me some meds. You may want to arrange for a two to three day sleep over for your daughter until you get home with new baby.

hi what a fab story, and congratulations..ive had 2 sections, both good recoveries.i want a 3rd baby but am terified at the thought of a 3rd section.so nice to hear such encouraging stories..i too walked into OR on both occassions, crying my eyes out at the same time hahahahah! iam a softie... how was your 3rd pregnancy, i also worry about poss complications during a 3rd preg

 

[rory83coyotes]

Third pregnancy was much better. I have high blood pressure with pregnancy but it was controled. I did have horrible heartburn that I was on medication for. As for any problems due to previous sections there were none. My scar never hurt or anything. That was our last pregnancy though as I had tubes tied during section. Three is our limit. If you want another I don't see a reason why you couldn't.

 

[Luzelle]

Honestly, its not that bad. With vaginal birth, some people have tearing and stitches and all kinds of problems afterwards. C section, the same thing. There is no way to predict it.
That said, I had an emcs...I am so glad that they helped me out of the pain from hell that I was locked in! After that experience, the c section and recovery seemed like a breeze, lol. My son was in a deflexed posterior position and was stuck for hours, the back labour and nerve pain was out of this world.
Next time round I will have a c section again, and prepare myself for it, even try to enjoy parts of it. I had a very easy recovery with my son, I had the operation at 8am, and was up walking by 5 pm, and off the heavy pain meds by the next day, since they made me feel neverminded about the baby and too groggy to breastfeed. My advice is to relax, and try to get up as soon as possible, and to leave your wound alone unless told different. I wore a nice supportive granny style panty, that helps a bit with the 'loose' intestines and organ feeling.
Also, get someone to help you in the shower the first two or three times at least.
Pooping might be hard too, lol, but it might have been either harder if you tore from a natural birth. I had to use glycerin suppositories because my muscles forgot how to strain.
You are gonna meet your baby soon!