I would like to hear

[OopsieDaisy]

Some positive csection stories!
Hearing all the scary ones leaves me feeling even more upset. Has anyone out here had a great birth experience. were you scared? How did you overcome it, pain management etc.
Please share!:)

[oleander]

I had a very positive c-section 6 weeks ago. Before they put the spinal block in they put a local anestetic (sp?) and that was the only pain I felt the whole time. When they put the spinal block in I just felt some pressure/pushing on my back but no pain. Then I was scared as I knew they were about to cut my guts open so they gave me some oxycodone into my drip which immediately made me feel a bit drunk and relaxed. Everything after that was a blur but with no pain at all. Just take all the pain relief that you get offered and if in pain ask for more. I was up and walking around after a few hours. I would (and hope to) do it again.

BTW I had an elective c-section so I knew what to expect. An emergency one might be different/more painful/scary.

Good Luck & you will be fine! :yes:

[bekkyboo]

I had an awesome c/section.

I was booked in for it, but went into spontanous labour and due to some fetal and maternal complications we were sent in for an emergancy c/section. While they were setting me up for it - it hurt alittle - but not as much as my contractions. The local was by far the worst! I remember the anetheist telling me it would be working when i felt a tingling in my butt. It was great... All the pain went away and i was high as a kite. I giggled and carried on and kept laughing at them all. They were tugging away and i giggled!! No pain whatsoever.

I was in recovery for alittle long, only because they left me on my left side for alittle too long while putting drips and stuff in, so the left side took alittle longer to go back to normal - but was all normal within an hour or so.

I felt great - we even had visitors about 4 hours after the birth. I was happy and comfy - not in any real pain. I was up walking around with in 6-8 hours unassisted. I was home within 72 hours and pain free within 2 weeks.

I have a perfect scar - it looks like a fold in the skin. My dr was a bit of a perfectionist im told. Every single health care professional that has seen it says that it is the cleanest insinson they have ever seen.

They told me to keep taking my pain medication at the 4 hour intervals, but the day after i got home i didnt need it.

I didnt have any trouble picking G up or bending really. I was moving fine and fancy free concidering!!!

[mylittleangel]

Hello.

My C-sect was great.

I had gestational diabetes during my pregnancy so I had to be induced on the day before my 40week mark.

I was induced but it didn't work, after 24 hours of labour they decided to do a C-sect.

It was great, I was shaking like mad because I was so scared. After I had the Epi, I was so calm and the dr's were fantastic. They spoke to me and DH the whole time and it felt like it was over in a snap.

Only thing was I kind of overdosed on the morphine. After all the pain I had gone though the previous 24 hours, I just couldn't hackit anymore, so when they asked me if I could feel anything after they put the epi in, I said I could still feel it when I couldn't. :o BAD IDEA haha. I was so sick, I threw up most of the next day. But as soon as I was recovered I was great.

I was up late the next day and I didn't sit down since lol. I kept getting told to relax but I just didn't want to get inactive. The wound hurt a bit but it wasn't unbearable, I still picked up Annabella just fine and I could even hang out the washing and such. It takes about 4 months to fully heal. If I did too much during the day it would hurt a little.

All in all, when I was pregnant, I said I wouldn't EVER have another baby. But after my C-sect I would do it over and over it was that good! :laughing:

Mara xxx

[tkp02]

I had a positive C-Section (elective) still dont know how they work out electives - cause if I had a natural labour I would still be there???

My little girl is now 14 months old and my scar is all but gone - use bio-oil (it is great stuff)

My husband and I both enjoyed the experience - DH was so excited and was there taking pics of this special event for us to remember. The shett was up until they were ready to 'pull' her out and they asked if I would like to see the delivery.

The thearte staff were fanastic and spoke to me the whole way thorugh and explained everything and what the next feeling would feel like etc.

I was like very nervous as this was my first 'surgery' and to be awake for it was a little overwhelming, but I actually enjoyed it.

Think of the positives is all that I can say and a lot of people have since said hurtful things, but my comeback now is simply 'You don't have to have a natural birth to be a MUM' and I think that I am a better mum for taking to dr's advise and having a c-section straight up as i would have ended up in emergency anyway...

The pain is well controlled by 'drugs' and I was out of bed after about 7 hours and walking and having a shower.

If you have anyother ??'s please don't be affraid to ask. You can even PM me if you prefer.

Kylie

[annb]

I had a positive elective c/s 2yrs ago and am due for another one in 4 weeks. The first, I knew what time I was having the baby and what day, we went out fora nice meal the night before, got up in the morning took a leisurely drive to the hospital to check in. Got ourselve all ready, I was a bit nervous by now but the staff were so reassuring. Had the epidural put in which didnt hurt a bit, did make me feel a bit sick but at least it wasnt painful. Our baby was born within 10mins so whilst we looked on adoringly at him I was stitched up, in recovery and back on the ward with DP and DS. That afternoon I was cleaned up etc etc. The next day out of bed, shower and that was it.....all nice and casual and relaxed. I was up and moving around very easily, picking up DS, plenty of pain killers to help me! WIthin 3wks of being home I was driving and feeling almost back to normal. Yes maybe recovery is quicker after a VB but I had no issues with my c/s and am not worried what people think of me!

[bambikins]

I had my elective c-section nearly 3 weeks ago and it was everything I wanted it to be plus more. It's amazing how your well your body can heal once you put your mind into it.
I had planned my c-sect even before I became pregnant and having the choice to have this procedure done is the reason why I have a baby today. Without the choice I don't think I would ever have kids.

Was I scared?........funnily enough no. But the thought of a vaginal birth scared the living day lights out of me. As I said before, once you make the decision.........the mind and body go according to plan. Although things don't always go according to plan.........but in my case they did.

Was there pain?.........my braxton hicks contractions that I had 3 weeks prior to the delivery gave me more grief than anything. Oh, and when they pulled the dressing off my wound (like a big band aid).
But if there is a sensitivity with your wound you can always take panadine, and a glass of wine (after you breast feed of course) always does wonders.

How did I overcome it?..........overcome what? After a 10 minute procedure I am blessed to have a wonderfull baby that I bonded with instantly, breastfed instantly, and am totally in love and in awe of what DH and I created.

What did come out of this experience (besides my baby girl) was the closure that my mother and I went through after 31 years of her trauma and torment due to her "natural birth". It was an amazing sight to behold when my daughter was born and my mother with tears in her eyes looked at my OB and said, I wish you had delivered my little girl this way.

[poodysmum]

I had an emergency c section after going through a whole day of induced labour. It was a bit scary at first with everybody rushing around (Isaac was showing signs of distress). But once he was born it was the biggest relief to see that we had a beautiful, healthy baby boy. He ended up being 9lb 3oz, so Im glad that I didnt end up having to push that out on my own.:laughing: I will definately be having an elective c section when we have our second child.;)

Alli

[RTCsMum]

I had a wonderful cs (elective after an emergency cs for dd#1) for dd#2. The mood and atmosphere in the room was wonderful with everyone talking and laughing with us through the procedure. Because I wanted to see as much as possible two nurses held me up and we dropped the sheet as soon as my ob had made the incission and my dh and I watched the whole thing. It was amazing! There were tears of joy from all including two of the nurses!!

I was up and in the shower within hours of the surgery and walking around only using panadine forte by the next morning. I had early release after four days and was happily back to my old life including all duties with my then 2yr old within 10 days. My scar is 1 1/2 inches below my bikini line and I couldnt tell you the last time I even noticed it.

I am due with dd#3 in March and cannot wait for the day of the cs to witness the birth of my new baby. We went into the cs excited and happy which I believe rubbed off on all the team in there who I hope also enjoyed the experience with us. Was there some nervousness of course but we decided to just go for it and tried to turn the whole day into one of love and happiness.

Good luck and just look at the whole day as a wonderful count down to seeing your gorgeous bundle of joy!

[OopsieDaisy]

Thanks so much for sharing your stories guys! :)

[becca74]

My first c/sec experience was a positive experience (necessity a grey area, but the experience was beautiful). I wrote this up for another thread, but I'll copy it here for you:

This was with my 1st son, who was posterior, and the Ob only allowed me 2 hours and 45 mins to try and get him out, after I'd fully dilated.

The lights were dimmed, except for the area they were operating on, and they put on a cd of romantic music which was specifically designed for births via c/sec....they had no idle chat, I was still the 'birthing mother' and was respected as such. They gently told me about everything that was happening, and my son was pulled from my body to the sounds of "Perfect Moment" by Martine McCutcheon. He yelled in protest straight away

He was quickly cleaned and wrapped and placed straight back into my arms. All I could say over and over was 'precious....precious....precious....'

We cooed for a while, and then my husband took him into the recovery room to wait for me, and took off his shirt and had skin to skin cuddles for 20 minutes, whilst I was sutured.

I was wheeled into recovery and he was handed straight to me....I asked the recovery nurse "can I feed him yet"....."he's your baby, you can feed him when ever you want" she replied....

From the word go he was a boob-a-holic! like he was a pro.

He never left my side from that point onward, he was wheeled down to the maternity ward in my arms on the trolley bed, and we co-slept from that day forward till he was 12 months old......

I wont mention the recovery bit.....pretty typical for a c/sec, but the actual experience of the operation was a positive one.

I just wish my 2nd c/sec had been as good......

If anyone wants/needs to look at ideas about planning a positive caesarean experience, there is a wealth of ideas here: http://www.birthrites.org/caesarean.html

check out the link, there are some great ideas I was going to use had my HBA2C turned into an EBA2C.....(e meaning 'empowered')....

A c/sec can still be a sacred experience.....just takes a bit of wangling and finding an agreeable Ob, iykwim.

[OopsieDaisy]

How lovely that sounds Becca.

[Lissbee]

Hi -

It's great you are hearing some positive stories!

If you would like to read an Empowered Caesarean Birth Plan :

go to www.canaustralia.net/csbirthplan

It was written by a woman who had a traumatic cs first time, and chose an elective cs next time and desperately wanted a better experience. She researched a great deal, and wrote up her birth plan to set up the optimum situation to emerge feeling positive and strong.

All the best,
Melissa
Birthtalk Brisbane : education, support and celebration of birth

[Minke]

Thought this thread might help...

http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=42161

[becstar]

I had an emergency ceaser with a terrible recovery a few years ago. I was terrified of having a bad recovery after my elective ceaser but so far so good......day 16 and all is well. I am recovering much better, still in pain, but 100% better than last time. I was terrified of going through the same thing again but its been a totally different expreience and I am very happy with my decision (which was hard to make) to have an elective c/s. Don;t get me wrong, it still HURTS but compared to last time its sooooooooooooooooo much better.

Good luck to all - elective c/s are MUCH easier than emergency ones. I wish I had known, it would have meant a lot less stress!

Bec