Things they don't tell u about c-sections - Dont read if ur already scared!

[flippityflop]

The worst thing about my EMCS is my scar, its not very neat. I don't know if its because is was an EMCS, or because I'm overweight or because the staff are messy! I'd call my scar frilly but I am hoping in time it will neaten up.

I only had pain for about 4 days, I was a little weak but I think that was also tiredness. I did have problems breastfeeding but that was because of LO's mouth and he wouldn't open it!

The other things I didn't like were being washed by the MW after the procedure, I was completely numb and I saw my legs being flung in the air! Very odd.

 

[SillyMoo1983]

I had an emcs due to undetected breech baby.

I got terrible constipation! 5 days of not going is very abnormal for me (I have ulcerative colitis!). They gave me the meds without checking my notes obviously.

I had the blood thinning injection daily too, but in my arm (stung!) and only while in hospital.

Yep, the cankles too!

I had anaemia due to blood loss during surgery.

Nobody tells you how if you happen to drop your knickers on the floor in the shower room in hospital you then have to ask a member of staff to pick them up for you! That happened a couple of times. Oh the shame!

It was very hard to sit up, get out of bed and get to my baby. I found that so heartbreaking.

The trapped gas in my abdomen had me in tears.

I HATED staying in hospital (was my first time) and couldn't go home for 5 days as baby wouldn't breastfeed. We left hospital exclusively expressing. We then FF from about 3 wks old.

In those first few days I thought I'd never feel "normal" again. But I was amazed when I came out of hospital how every day was an improvement. Being able to get down to stroke the cat was a major achievement!

 

[Hopeful42nd]

Some of your experiences seem horrible. Okay, mine was no piece of cake either, emerg c section due to fetal distress and lack of labour progression. So after 23 hours, they wheel me off, drug me up even more, and let me witness all the bloody towel from the surgery by accident (which actually didn't bug me).
Afterward, I was up and walking by day two mind you like the hunchback of Norte dame for fear I was splitting open. Getting out of bed was the worst! I had pill painkillers so no shots. I had dissolving stitches so no problems there. My wound was very clean and well stitched with no draining. I was soooo gassy it hurt and it took four days to finally have a bowel movement.
So I would not volunteer for this again, but I may have no choice they day wait till your child is 15 months to conceive again, mine is 12 months, so we shall see.

 

[Lil_Pixie]

Lol I dropped my knickers on the floor too - mistake!! But I didn't ask for help, I pushed them to the wall with my foot, then slid them up the wall till they were high enough to reach.

 

[SillyMoo1983]

Lol I dropped my knickers on the floor too - mistake!! But I didn't ask for help, I pushed them to the wall with my foot, then slid them up the wall till they were high enough to reach.

I never thought to do that! I just stood there flapping them round with my foot desperately trying to get them!

Another thing I remembered was losing breast pads all over the ward. I couldn't pick them up so I pretended I hadn't noticed.

 

[Whisper]

My first EMCS was exactly as the OP described except i had to have 2 blood transfusions, i had 2 of those awful drains in my stomach. My legs were soooo swollen i actually couldn't bend my knees!!

I wasn't allowed out of bed for 2days and when i was i could barely walk without nearly passing out from the pain and severe anemia.

However my second planned c-section was fine, i had slight swelling in my legs but was sitting up in bed and walking around ok the following day. Didn't have any drains in my stomach (thankgod!).

I did have the fragmin while i was in hospital to prevent blood clots and the 2nd time around they gave me some to do at home.

I think that an EMCS is usually 100x worse than a planned c-section (from my experience anyway). I am sure there will be exceptions but in most cases they seem to be harder to recover from.

 

[crazylilth1ng]

The worst thing for me was the recovery. I had NO IDEA how painful it was going to be the first time I got out of bed after the section. If it weren't for the wonderful midwife on that day I would have refused.

I was eager to try, but as soon as I stood up and all the blood that had pooled in my vagina over the previous 24 hours fell out and then the pain in my wound hit, I sat straight back down. I tried again 2 hours later and managed to get into the shower with the help of the midwife and husband. It was AGONY!!! The worst thing about it. The actual op was easy tho.

And yea I had to do fragmin injections for a week, which I did myself. That didn't bothe me.

 

[miaplus2]

this isnt true with all situations i have had two c sections. no drains needed no injections no problems with number twos and i ate light food just cuz i didnt feel i could stomach anything heavy. i was quite lucky with second one i was up and about 14 hours later and home with in 24hours. my pregnancy info told me my stiches would be removed on the 5 day post op.

 

[tu123]

this isnt true with all situations i have had two c sections. no drains needed no injections no problems with number twos and i ate light food just cuz i didnt feel i could stomach anything heavy. i was quite lucky with second one i was up and about 14 hours later and home with in 24hours. my pregnancy info told me my stiches would be removed on the 5 day post op.

Good to know!

I will ilikely have a C Sec this time round due to complications from my 3rd degree tear.

I actually had all of the OPs problems (apart from the drain) and some after my 3rd degree tear with a vaginal delivery!

Sounds like i could handle a c sec after what i went through with my vaginal delivery

NOT that i am taking it lightly. I am worried about it.

 

[miaplus2]

birth isnt easy either way so i hear! lol i just urge women not to panic about sections as i know that did hinder my mental healing with my first, my second although not the birth i wanted was amazing and i really loved it.

 

[Lil_Pixie]

try not to worry. Physically it wasnt painful for me at all. Its not like you get any dignity either way lol!

 

[Milliesun]

The injection is just to thin your blood and is often given to people in hospital to prevent blood clots. It's such a tiny needle that you don't even feel it!

My midwife gave me the injections for 5 days when she came to visit. Honestly it nothing and is done to prevent thrombosis!

My wound healed fine and, yes it was very painful, but it is abdominal surgery....

I had wanted a natural delivery but after 16 hours of hard labour and a baby who was 'sunny side up' after reaching nearly 9cm I had to have an emergency section.

It was not that bad and I was able to breastfeeding my 9lb 9oz daughter straight away. I was able to carry her and was walking round within 8 hours ( although a little woozy!).

It's more likely the iron tablets that make you constipated!

I would do it again a million times over for my gorgeous daughter!

Please don't be scared x

I

 

[JadeBaby75]

One thing I wish I would have known is that they keep you on pitocin after you deliver which keeps your uterus contracting. I laid thier in pain a whole night after the epidural wore off!

 

[queenlavera]

One thing I wish I would have known is that they keep you on pitocin after you deliver which keeps your uterus contracting. I laid thier in pain a whole night after the epidural wore off!

They didn't give you any meds? I had the pitocin after delivery to help the uterus contract also, but they gave me 400 mg of percocet. Didn't feel anything!

 

[Maman]

lol the opening post on this thread is all down to personal experience- its not the same for everyone!!!

 

[Smudgelicious]

Definitely personal experience. I had none of those experiences in my 3 csections. I had a far more painful and miserable recovery after vaginal birth than csections.
Probably not a good idea to scare people unnecessarily.

 

[queenlavera]

Definitely personal experience. I had none of those experiences in my 3 csections. I had a far more painful and miserable recovery after vaginal birth than csections.
Probably not a good idea to scare people unnecessarily.

Definitely personal experience - This is why I posted my own, the unknown is scary and I know for me it helped to see a variety of experiences. Even though you know that yours is not guaranteed to be the same.

 

[AlbaAngel24]

i also didnt have any of the OP experiences... I think it verys from person to person, doctors/hospitals.

Everyone was telling me that natural is so much better bla bla .... I had such a great c-section! The worst part of it all, was the needle to freeze you that they put in your back. That was it. I recovered extremely quickly and obviously i had a bit of pain/numbness but thats what usually happens when you have a surgery. I can honestly say i was up and running 2 weeks later, with a lil soreness, but I felt great.

 

[spiceeb]

I was taken by supprise after I had my emergency c-sec by all the things that happend to me that I'd never heard of or read about, so just wanted to share.....

1st and most supprising thing was that I had to have an injection in my belly a few hours after the c-sec and that I had to have one a day for 7 days, which meant doing them your self at home for someone who doesn't like needles this was a scary thought! Luckily I got someone to do it for me.

2nd The painkillers they give you cause constipation!!!!!! Constipation whilst your stomach is being held together by a few stiches is Not the one!!!! I'd never had constipation befor and actually thought I was dying

3 c-sec messes up your digestion and your not supposed to eat normally straight away! They give you all this info whilst your looking at your new born and it goes in one ear, out the other.....end result worse constipation!!!

4 your ankles and feet can swell up! I literally looked like the guy out of nutty professor when he balloons up, cankles were an understatement! Couldn't walk or bend or go upstairs for about 3 weeks!!!! Does make looking after a new baby quite difficult, especially if you keep dropping things and can't pick them up

5 I had a drain in my wound afterwards which they remove the next day...... VERY painfull, they only told me about the drain when they came to remove it "this will probably be quite painfull" oh thanks!!!!

6 day 5 midwife comes to visit, "I'm going to remove your bead stich now" wtf! Another painfull process I had no idea about!

Midwife books you an appointment, to come to the clinic! Erm I can't drive for 6 weeks and how am I supposed to walk with balloon feet

Finally start to feel better and venture out for a stroll with your new baby/pram! Your stomach muscles don't allow you to get the pram up kerbs you get half way down the road and actually a realise you feel very ill, and now have to try and survive the walk back!

SO! Anyone who thinks having a c-section is an easy option, ha think again!
But why don't they tell you any of this in the books

i absolutely had all of these lol and i had one other little suprise after my 3rd csection (4 hours post op my scar ruptured and i almost died) i must add though this is extremely rare and less than 1% and that wasjust me. believe me its unlikely to happen to any of you. doctors are only going to slightly monitor me more this time and deliver me early then do a tubal after the csection

 

[Snuffy]

I always feel compelled to post my two experiences when I see a c section horror story thread because they aren't necessarily as bad as people who haven't had one seem to think. Its a shame that so many people are scared that they may end up with one because they think it WILL mean 6 months of pain when in fact both times the worst was over in 3 days for me, and even then it was stiffness rather than pain.

Hand on heart, I suffered more and for longer with my infected wisdom tooth last year.

So yes, it is major surgery, yes it can be an awful recovery, but it's not a given. There are positive and negative stories to section and vaginal births.