Recovery after section

[rach91]

 

[Ella1979]

A c-section is major abdominal surgery, so comes with more risks than a vaginal birth (in general, but depends on what your health problems are).

I had an emergency section with my first and recovered really quickly - pretty much up on my feet and walking properly within a week and minimal bleeding. Some women aren't so lucky. But I've chosen to have a planned section this time rather than risk an induction. For me, there were more risks with an induction as last time they tried it I didn't dilate and my baby's heart rate dropped each time I contracted. I can't put myself or my baby through that. I'm hoping the recovery will be just as good as before, but the more sections you have the greater the risk.

Hope that's of some use xx

 

[Toria111]

I had a natural birth first time which caused quite a few problems which meant any subsequent births had to be c-sections.

My recovery from the c-section was much faster and less painful than the recovery from my natural birth, so it really depends on complications your health problems could create.

I'm having another section this time too, and my only worry is not being able to drive straight away to get kids too and from school. Oh, and also keep in mind that your milk may take longer to come in after a c-section. Other than that, I can't think of anything.

I've heard other people say that sometimes baby needs help breathing straight after delivery as they don't get the natural squeeze to clear their lungs that the get during a natural birth. My baby came out crying so wasn't an issue for her. Also found the c-section was a lot less stress on her compared to what my son went through during and after the natural birth.

Good luck making your decision.

 

[cosmicgirl]

I'd take a natural birth over a section any day, plus I need to be able to try ASAP after the birth!

 

[Ella1979]

Unfortunately it's not always that simple. I would have liked to have a natural birth but the risks are just too great for me, so no real choice: induction with high chance of an emergency section or planned section.

 

[cosmicgirl]

In that case I'd take the induction, at least then you'll have the chance of a natural birth and if it ends in a section, well the only other option was a section anyway.

 

[Ella1979]

That's a different way of looking at it, I guess. I've actually opted for the planned section because I don't want to run the risk of putting my baby through distress like my first baby went through - added to the fact that I'll be hooked up to goodness knows what because of my previous pre-eclampsia and now the diabetes, so won't be able to move around (not particularly conducive to labour.

It was a tough choice though and has taken me pretty much my whole pregnancy to come to that decision.

 

[Toria111]

I think it all depends on the circumstances. My natural birth almost killed me and my son, so a c-section was a walk in the park in comparison. Ella, sounds like you had a rough time last time too.

 

[cosmicgirl]

I think it all depends on the circumstances. My natural birth almost killed me and my son, so a c-section was a walk in the park in comparison. Ella, sounds like you had a rough time last time too.

Oh yes, goes without saying. Obviously there are going to be examples of good and bad for both options but on the whole, a natural delivery is deemed safer for both mum and baby

 

[cosmicgirl]

That's a different way of looking at it, I guess. I've actually opted for the planned section because I don't want to run the risk of putting my baby through distress like my first baby went through - added to the fact that I'll be hooked up to goodness knows what because of my previous pre-eclampsia and now the diabetes, so won't be able to move around (not particularly conducive to labour.

It was a tough choice though and has taken me pretty much my whole pregnancy to come to that decision.

Oh right, didn't realise you had made a decision, from your first post I gathered that you were asking which to choose if you had a choice

 

[Laura_C]

I'm just about to have my 4th c sec in March, I did labour with my first child but that resulted in an emergency c sec - which actually was fine.

All my sections have been uncomplicated luckily but I would have loved to have had a natural birth. I do feel I've missed out on that experience and I would have loved to have been able to have moved more freely and drive etc after my babies births. That said, c secs were the safer option for me overall so that's the way I had to go. With my first two babies births the decision was out of my hands completely as they were both emergencies (1 Cat 1 delivery and 1 Cat 2 delivery). After that they wouldn't consider a VBAC and if I had done me and my 3rd baby would not be here now. I had a small uterine rupture which was spotted at the time of my 3rd C sec. Naturally I am petrified about the prospect of my 4th but my consultant has said I must not labour under any circumstances now. He is hoping I can last until 39 weeks but could be looking at a 38 week delivery this time. Just going to see how things go, we all aim to get to 39 weeks.

I can honestly say that my recoveries have all been fine, out of hospital in 2 days and this one will possibly be a 24 hour discharge all being well. Personally I think that's a bit early and 2 days has always been about right for me and baby.

It does take a good couple of weeks to get fully moving again but I never found that much of a bother. I've managed to breast feed too, although my milk did take a while to come in. I highly recommend expressing as soon as you can after delivery, this really helped me. As soon as baby was off the boob I was expressing as well to stimulate my supply and get thins going as soon as possible.

Sometimes a c sec is a more measured risk as my consultant put it and sometimes certain medical conditions can pose too many unknown risks that could cause significant complications. They can be in control of the situation and have things ready for those risks yet the unknowns cannot be managed so easily. Every birth whether it be natural or otherwise carries risks and unknowns.

I really do wish I had experienced a natural birth and do feel I have missed out on that but tbh I don't care how my babies made it into the world. They are my everything x

 

[rach91]

thanks for the replies i think i will go ahead with the elective section!

 

[Laura_C]

I will say the first 24 hours you will probably be relatively pain free, I found the following day to be the difficult one. Keep up with your pain meds, even if you feel OK as it can set you back. They will want to get you moving fairly soon after as its actually better for you and as soon as your catheter is out you can get up and have a shower and what not. The gas pain can be very uncomfortable, so I recommend either peppermint water/tea or lactulose can be great to help keep things moving. I have sometimes got a little itchy on my skin from the morphine, its a normal reaction and they can give you antihistamine if you find it is annoying you. They let me hold baby right away even in theatre, so if all is well this can happen too. Big knickers are a must and just don't have any clothes or underwear the rest on your scar for a little while. Generally ive had very little bleeding after my c secs, except for my last one. Because it was a little more complicated I had retained products and so bled more for a longer period of time. Overall though I have usually only bled lightly for a couple of weeks. My first periods are always very heavy though - and I mean HEAVY!!

Any thing you want to know, just ask x

 

[titch]

I would love love love to have a vbac but knowing the high risk of emergency c section if they find a good reason to induce me this time I will gofor a planned section.

Avoiding an emergency section is the highest priority for me. Although I am just hoping and praying I have a problem free pregnancy so that I can go full term and go into labour at home naturally

 

[cosmicgirl]

There is an excellent article called "vbac - on whose terms?" That dispels a lot of myths regarding vbacs, a must read for anyone who is in that position. I'm so so glad I read it, it enabled me to have a wonderful vbac experience

 

[titch]

Thanks cos. Will definitely Google that! My midwife assumed I would want a section and told me that the consultant would most likely "let me"

 

[Dotty_woman]

I've just had my first section after a two vaginal deliveries (1 vaginal breech & 1 normal). The procedure itself was a lot less scary than I was expecting. I was expecting the spinal/epidural to be a lot more painful than it was and I was a bit scared but mostly because I didn't know what to expect. I was up and about at the end of the same day but think the painkillers they give you helped with that and being catheterised meant I wasn't needing to make constant trips to the loo. However, as recovery progresses and initial painkillers wore off, I was feeling very sore and getting up from bed/sitting was very uncomfortable. I'm taking everyone's advice to rest up. I still don't think the decision to have a section should be taken likely and I would still have tried for a vaginal delivery had a section not been recommended on the grounds of growth slow down. xxx