[duck-o-lah]

I have been agonising over the decision to VBAC or go elective CS, and I've finally 100% commited to my choice to go CS. Now that the worry of making the decision is behind me, I need to prepare for the next step of going through major surgery.

I was wondering if those of you who have had an elective CS could tell me a bit more about it so I can have an idea of what to prepare for... the good, the bad and the ugly! Of course I will find out more from my care providers, but I'm interested to hear peoples stories, particularly if you can compare your elective experience to a previous emergency CS.

How did you manage the nerves in the lead up to surgery? Did you use any techniques (relaxation, meditation etc) to stay calm? How long did the whole thing take? How was recovery and bonding and BFing with baby? I have so many questions!

[~Jot~]

I had an elective c/s with DD1 and an emergency c/s with DD2.

They were both pretty good. My elective in particular was very calm and relaxed. I was listening to a hypnobirthing CD in the lead up to DD1 being born but ended up having to go with c/s as she was breech. I think the CD really helped keep my calm and relaxed while waiting for my c/s - I even napped on the bed!

I can't quite remember how long it took. My second c/s took a little longer than my first as they have scar tissue to look out for. First time (elective) it took about 5 mins to get her out, second (emergency) it took about 10 mins, and about half an hour to finish up afterwards.

Recovery was fine. I didn't bounce back like some do but it wasn't too bad either. Just make sure you keep up with your pain meds and don't do too much too fast! Bonding and BFing was absolutely no problem at all. DD1 was a little dopey and slow to start BFing, but after 12 hours or so she got right into it.

Any other questions, ask away!

[Charli73]

DS was emergency CS and DD Was elective CS fifteen months later..

Elective was so much less stressful, very organized like day surgery, I guess I was most nervous about the spinal given it took a few goes for the emergency one to kick in but I just sang my favourite song in my head and it was in and done. Made me wonder why I went through all the trauma first time around..

Recovery for me second time around was brilliant, with recovery shorts I felt great after a week like I hadn't had surgery at all and BF was fine. I was very happy with the whole thing..

[adl]

I was 40plus, no engagement etc so "elective " ...it was very calm, we booked in, the nurse came and put me into gown, stockings etc, we all went downt o theatre, DH got dressed in blue scrubs looked like a Smurf, there was lots of laughter and suppressed excitement, so I sat up for a spinal local....it didn't seem to take long once they started, DH cut the cord, he was wrapped and given to me, I had maybe 10-15 mins...then the MW said I ll leave you a bit longer...then DH took him upstairs I went to recovery 30-35 mins back to room .

My GF was with us who has had 3 VB and was a nurse ..she had never seen a CS and still tells people what a happy calm quite normal birth it was...we all talked and laughed through then happy tears etc ....

I was surprised how quickly I was up, not dancing or twisting but able to go to bathroom ...carefully ..., feeding was no problem,
Do keep up meds, as you feel good but am hour later don't be tempted to skip....

And when home, it's easy to forget and start doing more...watch pushing a pram etc...make sure you do rest because you feel quite well and I wasn't in pain, but more tender and of course bending with a twist was out ....

This time was thinking try a VBAC but I don't want to be an emergency which is very different so will see, at least I know what to expect

Really was a positive experience and we took lots of photos.....

[lsolaBella]

I was scheduled for a c/s each time (different reasons) but bubs put me into labour with PG 1 and PG3.

So PG 2 was officially my 'elective' c/s while the other 2 turned into officially 'emerg' c/s (although not really emerg.

DS1 was out within 2 hrs of my waters breaking at home and I had not even noticed any contractions although monitoring showed they were happening. DD I had spent 6hrs at home trying to work out if I was in labour or not, finally got to the hospital (as it was only back pain and a bad case of the runs) was hooked up to show full labour in progress and she was out within 1hr of me arriving at the hospital - at 36wks.

TBH though I found my 1st and 3rd the better c/s. No real waiting around... it all just happened quickly.

With #2 my elective c/s which went as planned it was my worst experience. Lots of waiting around at the hospital (had to be there by 10am but surgery was not until 2.30pm). Anaethetist was terrible (just luck of the draw) so stuffed up putting in spinal block plus put canula in my arm at the elbow so when bubs was born I could not fold my arm up to cuddle bubs. This was the only c/s where bubs went to recovery with me. TBH I wish that had not happened. DH did not have a chair and was not allowed to stand holding bubs. I could not hold bubs due to my Canula, so we were just listening to bubs scream for 30mins while we were in recovery.

With my other two, bubs was put on my chest for a cuddle while they stitched me up and then bubs went with DH to the nursery for some lovely bonding time cuddling chest to chest while I went to recovery for 30-60mins (60 mins as after my 3rd I had issues maintaining BP and body temp).

[Chelara]

My dd was emergency c section my DS (second born) elective, I was wanting a vbac but he was oblique.

The lead up, I was nervous but excited, not nearly as nervy as I thought I'd be (I've a very anxious personality and I was honestly fine) there was a but of waiting around as my surgery was bumped from first up until 10am. I was soooo thirsty by then.

I found the worst part was having the spinal put in. I did get nauseous and my bp dropped, they gave me something for the nausea. I had the same OB for both and it was quick both times though they needed to use forceps the second time I didn't feel any difference. It took longer stitching me up because I had a drain put in. I was very dopey in recovery so took some time before I could go to the ward.

I found the recovery a lot harder and much more painful. I think I had a perfect recovery first time around and a more standard recovery second time.

One of the worst bits was that I got no rest after my elective. My DS just cried non stop from the first minute- I guess we didn't labour and he wasn't tired. My milk took longer to come in even though I had a much tougher time with my dd (pph, uterine infection). This just made everything worse as DS was screaming hungry the whole time in hospital.

I definitely don't regret having a second Caesar though, as far as things go it went as smooth as could be.

Good luck with your elective.

[Mmmcheese]

I've only had the one baby, and that was elective. At the time I was devestated, but I really do think back now and feel absolutely happy and comfortable with it. The ob recommended it, because baby was measuring large ( and she was!). The day before I got busy cleaning the house! The morning of, I was nervous/excited, but my frame of mind was 'right, this baby has to come out, so lets get this done.' I was actually pretty good at not thinking too much about about the spinal, which was the scariest part for me! We were quite fortunate that it was a public holiday, so it was quiet (dunno if that varies between private and public, we went private.) it means we didn't seem to be waiting too long.
We got shown to our room, i got changed into the surgical gown. The midwife who was going to be in surgery and the midwife in recovery came and introduced themselves. I think the aneathasist (sp!) came too and answered questions. I got wheeled to the waiting area, we waited there for a bit, it was very quiet there. Then we went into surgery. The aneathasist asked me if I had a favourite band and put their music on (and I thought sigur ros would be too obscure!) he mentioned they play cheesy songs once the bubs was born. There was lots of happy banter, the spinal was not great, but not as bad as my over active imagination thought it would be. Did feel nauseous, mentioned and that was fixed quickly. Checked I couldn't feel anything, then began. Again, more happy chatting with the paed and aneathatist, then I could feel the pulling, oddest sensation! The ob did have to use forceps to get her out. Then there she was! They held her up over the curtain, then over to the table to be checked. The cheesy music was played! (so cheesy!) Dh went over with her, cut the cord etc. she was wrapped up and in the humidicrib for a bit (i don't remember that bit, but there are photos). Then she came over to me, still wrapped up, while I was put back together. Then she was unwrapped and put on the breast and we were wheeled to recovery together, and because it was quiet dh could come too. There for an hour then back to the room. The surgery part didn't seem to take too long, but my memory is hazy.
That first night, she was actually in the nursery and brought In I think once for a feed? I was quite out of it that first night, but I made dh go get her at about 6 in the morning after I'd woken up. I know it's considered good practice to have them in the room, but I really didn't mind. After that, she was just with us. I showered on the first day after they took the catheter out, I felt quite unsteady. We were in hospital for five days. I can't remember when my milk came in, but it was before we left. My recovery felt slow, I think I kept over doing things once I was home. I can't really remember which drugs I had in hospital, I think tramadol was one of them. I stayed on the voltarin and panadol for a few weeks, but I'm a sook. I didn't drive before the six weeks, I still felt quite weak in the stomach area. Could have been because of the forceps also? My scar is quite small and quite faded.
Bonding, I felt protective of her right away, but I didn't get that rush of love until 3 months, but I think that is more about my reserved personality than the c-section. Breast feeding was hard, but I thinks that was due to cracked nipples, thrush and mastitis. I don't think it was because of the c-section. Dr said we could try for a vbac next time, but she was 4.4kg for my first and I'm 5 foot and petit, so I'm quite happy to take the ob's advice and if he recommends c-section, I'm comfortable with that.
Long reply! Hope some of it is relevant.Congratulations and I hope yours is a happy experience too.

[Moukmouk]

I had an emergency CS for DD after a 10 hour labour, fully dilated etc. Recovery was a lot better than expected, but I was pretty exhausted, and BF was difficult to start with. I decided I didn't want to risk another emergency CS, and DS wound up transverse anyway. So I had a planned CS. It was amazing. DD went to my mum's the night before, and we had a nice dinner out. The nerves weren't too bad, and I slept well. I got to the hospital at 6.30 am, went to the ward and got unpacked. I spoke to the midwife who would look after me when I got back, and we discussed my plans for BFeeding (i had to pump for 4 days with DD, so I had brought my pump attachments.) I went down to theatre at 7.30, the anaesthetist was lovely, spinal went in with no problems. DS was delivered at 8 am in a lovely calm environment. He was cleaned up and put straight on my chest. He stayed with me into recovery, and we had our first BF. He was a hungry little man, and crawled up to feed straight away! Needless to say, BF wasn't a problem. He was a very calm baby and slept well (trust me, after DD I was very grateful). The recovery was painful, but not too bad. I had 5 nights in hospital, was stir crazy after 3. I was driving after 2 weeks. So I guess what I want to say is that although I would have loved to have had a VB, I found my lovely calm elective CS much easier to cope with than my difficult labour and emergency CS. Good luck!

[duck-o-lah]

Thankyou very much for your replies, any information is good information!

I guess most of my curiosity surrounds what happens directly after the CS. With DS I had a GA and remember nothing about the 24 hours afterwards, so thanks for telling me about that.

IsolaBella, that's a really good point regarding taking baby to recovery, I wouldn't have thought of that. Gives me something to think about.

Charli73, what are these recovery shorts you speak of? Were they something the hospital issued you with? I'll have to ask about those.

Mmmcheese, sigur ross, that would've been nice What was the cheeesy music?

I'll do my best to take it slow with recovery and keep up the meds, I don't do endone, but I remember oxycontin being a very pleasant friend to have

I think I'm most nervous about the wait before the surgery, might look into the hypnobirthing CD? Any other tips to stave off the crazies while you wait?

Thanks again for the feedback, I'm very excited now that I've made my decision and I really want to psych myself up for the experience

[~Peaches~]

That's great you're excited about your decision now that you've made it 100%

I had an 'elective' CS with both my girls, as DD1 was breech, then DD2 was born 15 months later, and I just felt 'safer' having a CS rather than try for a VBAC as I could feel how sensitive my scar was throughout my pregnancy.
Just wanted to say that the second time around I had DD in recovery with me, and I absolutely loved it! We didn't get to have that the first time as they were too busy and understaffed, but second time around DD and DH were with me the entire time. We had beautiful skin to skin and she had her first breastfeed up there, then she caught a ride back down to my room snuggled up in my arms on the bed. It was really special getting to have that time with her that I missed out on with DD1

I will just add, if there's anything you want in particular to happen with your second birth, don't be afraid to ask or speak up. The first time I specifically asked for the baby to be lifted up so we could discover the sex for ourselves without anyone telling us first, I wanted dissolvable sutures so I asked specifically for them, and anything else I would like to happen. I figure the worst that can happen is they can say is no, and it can't hurt to ask if there are certain things you'd love to have in your birth experience.
The second time around I just assumed bub would be lifted up for us to see (we hadn't found out the sex), but instead she was taken straight out (she was quite stuck and required forceps to help get her out) and over to the table for a wipe down and check over, and no one had even told us what we had I just heard two nurses behind me somewhere say something about 'she' so I just assumed we'd had a girl It wasn't until after the birth, one of the midwives commented that that particular Ob doesn't automatically lift bub up for the parents to see. So next time I will be specific about everything I would like to happen again if possible, just so they are at least aware of our wishes and can do what they can We did get some amazing photos both times, and I found it to be a really realxed and great birth experience both times.

With DD2 I was actually really calm, it kind of felt like an out of body experience, and the only time I got a little bit worried was when they were putting in the spinal, but it was totally fine. The whole operation went smoothly and just as planned, and I was really happy with it, and will most likely have a c-sect again next time too. I did find recovery much harder the second time, but I put that down to being busy with a 15 month old too, who wasn't walking yet, so I had to carry her everywhere, not great for my scar to try and heal! But the actual op went really well, and I'd happily do it all again.

Good luck, I hope your birth experience is relaxed and wonderful too x

EFS.

This post has been edited by ~Peaches~: 15/12/2012, 09:34 PM