[Mum_of_five]

I am 34 weeks and will be induced due to bubs being small and 'high risk' pregnancy... I know that sometimes being induced can end in a c-section, so just want to be prepared incase i need a c-section..
Bubs at the moment is breech,because she is small, bubs can still move around and was head down from 30-34 weeks... hopefully bubs will turn again

This is my 5th and all my others were vaginal births, first 2 with forceps and epidurals, but both were nearlly emergency c-sections, with my second being 8 pounds 15 and he was delivered by forceps in theater...

I beleive that bubs health, wellbeing and safe delivery comes first and if a c-section is the bestand safest option then i will do what is best for bubs, no matter how scared and anxious i am about haveing a caesar...

What is best to pack for hospital and is comfortable after a caesar? On a scale of 1-10 what is the pain level on day of surgery and in the few days after? I know each preson has a different pain experience, but i would like to be prepared mentally for the pain i may feel.. I am going to the Mercy hopsital and will be in for 8 days because there is a history of neonatal epilesly in first 7 days...

At the end of the day, we all hope for a vaginal birth, but we also should be prepared for a caesar and knowing what to expect will for me, make the experience a little more special if that makes sense

[MoonPie]

Everyone is different in regards to pain.

Some anaesthetists will do a spinal anaesthetic and you'll be on oral analgesic when you get back from surgery. Others will leave you with an epidural type set up that you self administer by pushing on a syringe. Make sure you communicate with your midwives about how well controlled your pain is and remember not to try and be a hero, its much easier to STAY on top of the pain rather than try and GET on top of it.

By the next day, you'll be up and walking around.

All the best!

[strawberry blond...]

if you have the epidural then the pain is very minimal and once the epi wears off you have a lovely button to press which releases morphine into your system every 15 mins . If you have an emergency and you are knocked out then the pain is worse when you come around, you are given the magic button straight away. Its almost like a winded pain.
I was up and about the next day with both of my sections and felt fine. You do have to cough and laugh crouched over holding your stomach though.

One great piece of advice I got from a lovely midwife was to cover the cut with a sanitary pad, obviously the side with the smooth strip facing your cut, and to dry it with a hairdryer. I didn't get any infection or clothes sticking to my cut and now you cant even see where i was opened up.

[Beags]

I had an emergency c-sect and really the pain is not that bad at all. Afterwards I was just taking panadol and voltarin and I think they gave endone on the first 2 days too, but it wasnt agonising pain or anything, more discomfit. I was moving around (although only slowly) by the next day. Forceps on the other hand scare the crap out of me, if you handled that, I wouldn't worry about a c-sect.

[chickenpants]

I had an emergency c-section and had a spinal block as I wasn't in labour at all.

It wore off not too long after returning to the ward, I think an hour or two and I could wiggle everything. Every four hours the midwives gave me panadol and some other kind of pain relief (I think ibuprofen?) alternately. I wasn't in any real pain though, and went home after 2 nights. I think I took panadol only once or twice at home afterward.

I was fine fairly soon after though, was moving around and up having a shower that night - to be honest the most uncomfortable thing about the whole shebang was the catheter, which wasn't removed until the day after.

I wore a lot of leggings (pulled up above the incision) and my maternity pants which had the stretchy top. Also I found those mens boxer briefs (like these http://shop.target.com.au/2-pack-of-men-s-trunks-black) are the comfiest underpants for afterward. Nice and stretchy, with a high waistband (to avoid plumbers crack, hee), and plenty of space for those thick maternity pads.

The amount of people that are in the theatre room with you is the most disconcerting thing I found. I wasn't expecting it so it freaked me out a little - just bear that in mind.

[foxgirls]

I have had natural and CS births. Both were about equal in pain. The two things that stick out in my mind were the needle before the CS. And afterwards I was too frightened to touch or look at the cut. After the midwife told me it was fine when she took the staples out, that it was healed perfect etc etc, I'd wished I looked at it sooner so I wasn't worrying about nothing IYKWIM?

Just do as others advise and keep the meds up. Nothing to worry about, it really wasn't that bad for me.

[tibs]

At the end of the day, we all hope for a vaginal birth, but we also should be prepared for a caesar and knowing what to expect will for me, make the experience a little more special if that makes sense

Nope I've never hoped for a vaginal birth

I didn't have much pain after my c-secs, I was up moving around within a couple of hours of the op and was having a shower myself later the same day. I asked for the catheter to be removed in theatre as I had heard having it in can be a PITA as a PP said - they were happy to do it all 3 times for me and not having it allows you to move around which can help speed up recovery. For pain relief I was just on voltaren and panadol, didn't need anything stronger but you can ask for something else if you feel you need it. I stopped taking those around day 3 or 4 so before I went home. I used granny panties which sat high above my scar. Also my scar didn't have stitches or anything that needed taking out, they took the bandage off the day after and that was that although I did rest a maxi pad against it which helped cushion it especially when you have other children who make sudden movements Good luck OP don't stress I'm sure you'll do great whichever way you end up birthing

[kay11]

Nope I've never hoped for a vaginal birth

I said I wanted to go natural prior to birth but was actually very relieved when my obgyn recommended a c-section.

Take a camera if you're allowed. My husband was not at all interested and too squeamish so one of the nurses took photos and got some good ones. I was taken aback by the idea at the time but I'm glad to have them.

[tibs]

I said I wanted to go natural prior to birth but was actually very relieved when my obgyn recommended a c-section.

Take a camera if you're allowed. My husband was not at all interested and too squeamish so one of the nurses took photos and got some good ones. I was taken aback by the idea at the time but I'm glad to have them.

Yes the anaesthetist I had for 2 of my kids took a whole bunch of awesome (and tasteful) photos and movies of the birth and baby and DH and me just after, he gave them to me on a dvd when he came to visit me on the ward. So precious.

[peebs]

I assume you mean The Mercy in Heidelberg, OP? I had an induction and an emergency c-section at The Mercy last year. It was a positive experience for me in spite of the birth not going to way I'd planned - I had been hoping for drug free active birth, was absolutely terrified at the thought of an epi or c-section, but in the end was induced at 39+4 for a number of medical reasons and had to be monitored closely throughout the induction and labour and DS went into distress, resulting in a quick emergency c-section.

Everyone involved on the day were so nice and reassuring and clearly excellent at their jobs and on top of my situation. My anaesthetist in particular was awesome! Friendly, calming, explained everything as he did it, fantastic at his actual job (I was not good at keeping still in the full throws of labour and he still didn't miss with the epi), took amazing photos for us while DS was being born so DH could relax and watch. He didn't miss an angle.

The doctors were great at explaining the procedure, explained that I'd hear a suction and after that they'd pull DS out and hold him up for us, so DH and I knew when the moment was coming. I was stitched up which I personally think is nicer than staples, and my scar is almost invisible a year later. Dh cut the cord (after the initial cut), helped weigh, clean and dress him etc while a midwife sat with me as they stitched me up. It was a lot to take in, there were people everywhere in there, but not scary like I thought it would be. It was seriously bright in the OR compared to my dark, calming birthing suite though.

In terms of pain I felt almost nothing, just discomfort. Very surprising. I told them I had a low pain threshold so they gave me a little extra painkillers the first day when I was really uncomfortable, but the next day I was up bathing DS and walking around as normal and felt great (maybe hormones or excitement?). As a PP said - STAY on top of the pain, don't skip meds then have to GET on top of it. I did that the third day and it was very uncomfortable for a few hours while I waited for the pain relief to kick back in again. Not 'lying there moaning in agony' kind of pain, but very sore and 'not wanting to get up our of my remote control bed' kind of pain. I stuck to their suggested pain relief after that with no issues and minimal discomfort. Felt fine for the next six weeks at home. Didn't drive or do anything 'silly' and wore comfy, loose clothes. Wore really high cut knickers once I got home (hadn't planned for a c-section ahead of time so had none in hospital which was a mistake), got some from Bonds that sat well above the cut and made a big difference when sitting up. You don't want that elastic right at the wrong height, it will sit right on the cut when you sit up and it does hurt.

The only thing that's bothered me post c-section is when DS was younger I couldn't sit him on my lower belly because the pressure would really hurt, and once in a blue moon I feel a bit of discomfort (like if I lean into the kitchen bench right at the wrong height or DS climbs on me and puts his pressure right on that spot), but otherwise I can barely see or feel it.

Good luck! C-sections can be positive too.