C-Section Expectations

I don’t know much, but what I do know is that you can still have some form of control in the theatre.
Your birth partner can be with you (only 1 person), you can ask for the drape to be lowered, monitors can be attached to the back and sides to enable skin-to-skin contact straight after. You can still decide how quickly you want the cord to be cut and who will cut it as well as decide on the placenta - do you want to see it ? Do you want to keep it?

Recovery takes longer than with vaginal birth and you need to be very careful.

There are some good videos available on you tube about the whole process and recovery.
Sorry couldn’t be of more help x

Same here! I’m reaching 37weeks, booked c-section at week 39. First time mom too, don’t know much about everything and the procedure.
I knew we can still do skin to skin with our baby as soon as they are born, we can also breastfeed them.

Some c section moms said they were discharged the next day, they did struggles with the wound recovery, caring of newborn, and felt a bit traumatised.

It usually takes about 6 weeks for recovery, I do wonder what to do and care of the 10cm wound.

I’m in the UK and ended up with an emergency c section Monday morning. I’m not too sure if it’s the same procedure as an elective. I was so scared and nervous at the thought of being able to feel things but I had no need to worry. My husband was scrubbed and ready to go within a matter of minutes. My epidural was topped up and checks were made and double checked to make sure I couldn’t feel a thing. My husband was at the side of me at all times. Baby was lifted up to see me before being taken for checks and my husband went to be by his side. My little boy was then placed on my chest before being taken to nicu as he was early. Don’t let anyone tell you they’re doing something you don’t agree with or are not happy with. Overall my experience, although scary and an emergency, ended up being a positive one. Recovery isn’t too bad. Up and walking 6 hours after the section, regular pain meds. Be prepared for the swollen ankles and feet! X

thanks for all of this information. Hoping the more I’m active, the faster I’ll heal but I know I’ve got to do this if I want my baby to be healthy so I appreciate your knowledge🩵

I’ve been looking at TikTok’s and videos and it’s scared me so much. I’m a single parent so I was just scared of the healing process while being alone but my mom said she would stay with me for a little bit so we will definitely see soon!!

happy to answer any questions you might have. I’ve found keeping mobile is key to a quick recovery. Don’t get me wrong I can feel pretty sore with burning feelings around the cut but that’s nerves repairing themselves. Midwives haven’t been too happy with how much I was up and about in the first few days 😂 x

hoping yours goes smoothly and my doctor told me I would be in the hospital 4 days so I’m hoping my skin wont keloid because lord that’s a huge scar. But good luck and thanks for commenting with information🩵

Good luck to you too! My doctor says the same, 4-5 days for my stay, perhaps different hospitals have different guidelines!
I think it’s fair to have few days in hospital after such operation!
Now I’m hoping baby will stay until the planned date at week 39, otherwise it would just be an unplanned (emergency) c section for the birth suite if baby decides to come earlier than that.
Xxx

I’ve had an emergency and an elected and oh my goodness the difference is incredible, it was lovely, really calm, music was playing, people were chatting , you get told exactly what is happening when it’s happening and why they are doing certain things ,
I loved it to be honest

C-Section mama here👋, I had my c in December 2022 as a first time mom. I was absolutely terrified for all the unknowns. I thought it was going to feel like an operation but it didn't. There was singing and laughing. The anesthesiologist was wiping my tears, pulling my hair out of my face and getting me warming blankets in the time my husband was focused on our son. I went home 24 hours later, avoided stairs for about a week and my incision was completely healed in 2 weeks. Just lay low and take it slow. It will be a beautiful experience.

Sounds like a great experience! I hope mine will be as calm and pleasant.
You had such fast recovery with 2 weeks, Apart from avoiding stair and lifting heavy, anything else did you do or was mindful of during the recovery ? Xx

I think it doesn’t matter how many people say it’ll be okay, that anxiety is still there! At least that was the case for me 🤣 I got to the hospital and taken to the ward and got told when I’d be going in for my section. I met with the surgeon and they explained the process. I went through and got taken in, I was sat on the bed while they did the spinal. They then slowly lay you down & they kept spraying me with a cold spray on my arm and belly until I couldn’t feel it on my belly, they then did the section whilst I had my partner next two me and two midwifes behind me. We had music playing which was a good distraction.

The recovery after when you’re numb is weird imo, but once you get feeling back and start caring for LO it makes it better. Everyone’s recovery is different, I was uncomfortable but kept on top of pain meds for 3 weeks before I felt comfortable to do some moving around/lifting LO without help