Thinking about having a C-section @ KEMH (Perth)

[OmgRhi]

Hi guys! I'm new to the forum, just some q's I'd like a'd. :D

I'm 20 years old, diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, and am currently 22 weeks pregnant with my first. I asked my GP to refer me to King Edward, as I was born there and my mum said they were very good, and although they're a high-risk hospital my various health thingies meant my GP had no problem getting me in there. Lucky me.

Anyway, I've started thinking about the whole...giving birth thing over the past couple weeks. I'm leaning towards a c-section at the moment because of my health problems (according to my doctors, my body might not be able to handle a normal labour as well as a normal woman's would, and that could put the baby at risk.) So, I'm wondering about other women's experiences with c-sections - if anyone could tell me specifically what the procedure is like at King Edward hospital, that would be great, but any general input would also be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[Pulp Fiction]

I had an elective c-section. Everyone told me that I would regret it and that the recovery would be awful and whatnot. But I must have been really lucky because I have no regrets whatsoever. I was a bit nervous about the procedure and asked them to tell me when they had begun cutting, and they were already in! 5 minutes later they put my baby boy on my chest. I was really lucky with recovery too. I was a little bit sore for a couple of days but nothing too major. I didn't even feel like I really needed the pain medication they kept offering me. So yeah, its different for everyone but for me a c-section was definately the way to go.

[Opinionated]

I personally am against elective c/s, but I am pro-choice, pro fully informed choice.

What I will add to the discussion is make sure that your doctor outlines not just risks of the procedure, but possible risks to future pregnancies. Granted, risks are very small, but my girlfriend cannot have anymore children due to c/section complications and she wishes that she had of been informed of that very very small possibility.

Good luck with your pregnancy and the birth (however it occurs) of your baby.

[OmgRhi]

Thanks for the replies!

I definitely intend to fully research the risks. Of course I know it's not the easy option, but from the sounds of it some women do have good experiences. I have heard a couple of horror stories - my next door neighbour recently had a c-section and is having all sorts of complications, but her health circumstances are a lot different to mine.

Anyway, it's good to hear that it's not always like that! Lol. I'm going to talk to my midwife next checkup...the last one I spoke to really shouted me down about it, which confused me a little since my doc does think it might be the best option for me. I'll find out more as time goes on!

Thanks again. :)

[Hooves]

I had an elective c-section. Everyone told me that I would regret it and that the recovery would be awful and whatnot. But I must have been really lucky because I have no regrets whatsoever. I was a bit nervous about the procedure and asked them to tell me when they had begun cutting, and they were already in! 5 minutes later they put my baby boy on my chest. I was really lucky with recovery too. I was a little bit sore for a couple of days but nothing too major. I didn't even feel like I really needed the pain medication they kept offering me. So yeah, its different for everyone but for me a c-section was definately the way to go.

OMG I could have written this post. My cs was much the same.

Even right down to the little boy at the end.


I kept taking the pain medication I was offered, because everyone kept telling me, not to let my pain get on top of me. BUT I didn't really have any pain.

I just felt a little bruised. I put this down, to being on the pain meds. SO I kept on taking what they were offering me out of fear, that I would be in terrible pain.

I weaned myself off the pain meds, and it wasn't much different, so I think I was lucky too.

I had disolvable stitches not staples or anything. Different hospitals do different things.

Also I had a spinal.


Be warned though cs is not the same for everyone. AND some have had some truly horrendous experiences.