Positive Caesar experience

**icugal** · 12-05-2007 23:17

I'm getting a little tired of people berating c-sections. I had an emergency caesar at the end of January and I had a truly wonderful experience.

I was induced at 37+5 weeks because of cholestasis, but because of an obstructed labour, I ended up with a caesar. I had been told all doom and gloom stories about caesars from a lot of people so I was kind of expecting the worst. But let me tell you... it was an absolutely brilliant experience that I would easily go through again (and hope to for number 2 in the future) and it was no where as bad as I was expecting.

My son was delivered just after midnight, so once I got back to ward, I slept until morning. As soon as I woke up and discovered that my epidural had worn off, I got out of bed, had a shower and walked around the ward. I was on a regime of good pain relief which made all the difference. The midwives were a little suprised by how well I was doing considering I'd only had the caesar 8 hours earlier... but I was determined that I wasn't going to let the c-section slow me down.. and it didn't.

Of course I experienced some post-operative pain.. but as each day passed, my pain decreased more and more and by two weeks, I was off pain medication altogether. Probably the only inconvenience I found with a caesar was the inability to drive for 6 weeks... but other than that... I only have fond memories.

So I guess that what I want to say is that not all caesars are bad. Some of us really liked our caesars so please, enough with the doom and gloom.

This thread is purely intended to share positive caesar stories... because I know they are out there somewhere.

**Moops** · 13-05-2007 03:10

Thankyou so much for posting this, I think I will have to have a cs due to a serious back operation that i had when i was 15. After reading all the posts on it i was really starting to freak out as most of them are really negative and quite honestly, terrifying.

Its good to hear that it can also be a positive experience, so i dont intend to dwell on it anymore!!

**stompy** · 13-05-2007 07:06

hi,

both of my little ones were born via c section, and for me, both births were positive experiences.

Yesterday I spent ages typing up my birth story hoping to show that c section births can be positive, but for some reason when I hit the button to post my story I lost the whole page. I could have cried

I used to get really worked up about all the doom and gloom that people used to spout to me, especially people who had never experienced a c section. Now I just ignore all the comments. While I know that c sections aren't for everyone I know that having c sections was the right choice for me and MY body. My two births are very special to me, and no one can take that away from me!!

**MrsMiggins** · 13-05-2007 14:06

I have had 2 c/s. One elective, the other emergency.

I desperately wanted to have my babies vaginally and was disappointed to have to have c/s each time, however I can honestly say that both of mine were very positive experiences.

I had no complications, recovered very quickly from both (in fact, I was surprised I recovered even more quickly after my second - emergency - c/s than my first!) and the staff were all fantastic!

I never felt pressured into having a c/s - quite the opposite in fact. Everyone associated with my care tried everything to avoid a c/s for my first and fully supported my VBAC attempt with my second.

While I am disappointed that any future babies will have to be delivered via c/s, I am in no way concerned about actually having a c/s. I try to focus on the positives.

My children and I are living proof that even an unwanted c/s has the potential to be a positive expereience.

My biggest concern is that a lot of people read all the c/s "horror stories" and come to believe that all OBs prefer c/s than vaginal births and that a c/s is a terrible thing which is a nightmare to recover from. Of course, there are bad c/s experiences, just as there are bad vaginal birth experiences. But just because you need to have a c/s does not mean you will have a negative experience and just because your OB tells you a c/s is the safest way to go, does not mean s/he is a scalpel-happy doctor intent only on making a quick buck.

**Nowhere** · 13-05-2007 14:31

Mikenzee was born via c section and i have nothing but GOOD to say about it, i had been going in and out of labour from 22 weeks and then a 35 and half weeks i had a c section, which i was happy about to be honest i didnt want natural birth any way and as she had been trying to come out for 13 weeks and i had been given drugs to stop it and then eventualy just to slow it down in the end, by then she wasnt strong enough be born the other way and i was happy with that i knew that with a c section she would be out and safe as quick as posible

As for recovery i was fine walking around verry early the next morning and aven 8 or so hours after my c section i was in the NICU with my kenzee i was in a weel chair but not in pain at all after day 2 i was just taking panadol and nuraphen as i am alergic to panadein forte and the other stuff makes me feel yuk so i felt great i was of all pain killer aftera the first week i never had a problem at all

As fior the scar i seriouosly can barely see it it has healed completely in 14 months i have been using bio oil on it to reduce scaring and i have to look closely to see it

Would i be going back for another c section most definately if i have another baby i wouldnt have it any other way

**shymmer** · 24-05-2007 10:57

What a great thread! I'm seriously considering an elective C and while I am educating myself on both methods of birth . . .the elective C is looking better and better. It's not for everyone, I understand that but I am getting a little tired already of well meant advice to have a VB. Why do people feel the need to talk you out of it? It's like if you said "I want to have another child" and they say "oh, no don't do that!" . . . .what has it got to do with them??
So thanks for such a possitve thread!

**juzzy** · 24-05-2007 11:11

Great thread Penny

I have to say that my emergency c section was a positive experience as well

I was induced and had a 8 hour labour, DD had turned posterior and was going into distress so a c section really was the only end for us.

DD was born at 5.17 pm, i was back on the ward at 8pm where i slept until morning. I was out of bed, showered and walking around by the time my DP came to visit at 9am the next day.

The midwives were great with me as well, helping me with pain relief and things like that. They too were surprised that i was up and walking so soon.

I too was told all the horror stories associated with a c setion but honestly found the whole experience great and really positive.

I will probably be having number 2 by elective c.

***Sparkles*** · 27-05-2007 20:10

Due to a negative VB birth experience last time, I am having an elective C section for my next bub. I am constantly coming accross people who are trying to talk me out of it. But after having to go back into hospital 7 weeks after giving birth to have more surgery, I can't imagine having to go through a similar experience again. I feel very positive about my choice

**Ellembee** · 27-05-2007 20:18

I too had a positive caesar birth in January.

My little one was breech - so my OB recommended an elective casear as the safest method of delivery. At first I was really disappointed I was not going to give birth vaginally, but then I cam on b/h and read the "unwanted caesar" threads. In a strange way, the posts in those threads made me feel a whole lot better about my predicament. It made me realise that what was important to me, was to make sure that my little one arrived safe and sound and that how I gave birth just did not matter. After I came to that realisation, my DH and I threw ourselves into making it a wonderful experience. The last two nights before the birth, we spent some lovely time together, we went to nice restaurants etc etc.

All the doctors and nurses in the theatre were lovely. I got to hold DD as soon as she came out and my recovery was fine.

**robinson** · 27-05-2007 20:58

Good Idea for a thread!

I also had a positive emergency csection..

I was 5days overdue, went to hospital to be induced, labour (well contractions) progressed for the next 10 hours however nothing happened dialation wise... ob couldnt break my waters.. basically nothing was gonna happen dd wasnt gonna come out that way!

So off i go to the theatre room and it was a very quick and well pain free experience... It was beautiful..

within 30mins or so i was holding dd (well i was laying down with her on my chest.. and it was night (618pm) when she was born so they didnt recommend i get up that night but i was up first thing the next morning having a shower and taking slow walks around the ward... i have the necessary drugs and at times didnt need them so declined them, and i was home 5days later (first baby) and within 2 weeks i was quite fine and after 4 weeks i was ok to drive and got the ok from my ob.. It was a lovely experience!..

I'm having an elective or well ob recommended one this time too!

While its not for every one it was fine for me..