Pregnancy #52

[freddofrog]

I loved my elective c-section! My husband and I went in the morning at 7am and the surgeon came to see us to go through everything and tell us where we were on the list. There were a few emergencies which meant I was delayed so we had a lovely morning in our room watching daytime TV and playing card games They came to get us gowned up and my husband could come into theatre with me whilst they administered the spinal and waited for it to take hold. Everyone was lovely and chatty and we were just so excited to meet our baby. It took about 15 minutes for me to be fully numb, then they put the screen up and less than 10 minutes later I felt a weight on my chest (behind the screen) and heard a cry. As it was an elective, I had delayed cord clamping. We wanted to see for ourselves what we had, so we were just sat behind the curtain listening to the cry wondering who we were about to meet! The surgeon lifted baby up Lion King style and we saw his bits. I had skin to skin with baby while they sewed me back up, and then my husband took him into recovery to wait for me to be transferred. We were in recovery for about half an hour with some lovely midwives who helped me get him latched on and have his first feed.

I also had a pretty good recovery afterwards. I’d just say make sure you keep on top of your painkillers and don’t overdo it. Try not to be anxious, you’ll be absolutely fine and your baby will be here before you know it x

this was so lovely to read thank you! i'm hoping mine goes as smoothly as yours did.

the recovery does worry me as i know it's major surgery.. but ill have help for the first 4/6 weeks which is a godsend.

hoping he stays in til my section date now as its booked for 39+6!!

 

[littlepup]

i'm so confused my this! with my first pregnancy i rang up and they sorted out an appointment straight away (for 8 weeks) this time round i've filled in a form and it's now been 2 weeks and i've not heard anything back?!

On our midwife referral you had to fill out the form then call after to book but it really wasn’t very clear.

Re: C-section, mine was emergency so that bit wasn’t great but the recovery really wasn’t bad at all. My only problem was only being able to but 32 painkillers at a time so family had to go out and do the round of different shops, I suggest getting well stocked up in advance.
The injections were fine, just pinch and go for it, it hurts more if you hesitate.
I used a scar patch from Amazon for about £12 a pack which really helped itching and healing. Scar is pretty much invisible now, which I wasn’t worried about but is nice.

I’m debating now an elective or vbac but swaying toward the former.

 

[kayefeluu20]

Ladies who have had babies before: did any of you take a hot water bottle/wheat bag? I get great comfort from my hot water bottle and honestly it's the only method of pain relief I use I know there's no reason I can't take one, more just will there be facility to fill it up without harassing a midwife or HCA? I'm being induced so presumably will be in my own room.

 

[KitKat2000]

has anybody got any positive c section birth stories? mine's now booked i just worry about everything - which was one of my reasons i wanted an elective!! can't win with anxiety

I haven't had one but so many people that have their first baby by section opt to have the second by section as it was so controlled and calm. Just remember about 40minutes and it's all over and you have your beautiful bundle of joy.

 

[Burrito88]

has anybody got any positive c section birth stories? mine's now booked i just worry about everything - which was one of my reasons i wanted an elective!! can't win with anxiety

I was always against a section but ended up having one as baby was breech. In the end I was so glad it worked out like that - we knew exactly what was going to happen, although it was very strange being numbed we played our own music in theatre, the staff were so lovely and recovery has been fine. I needed a lot of help from my husband for the first week (getting up, arranging my pain relief, fetching meals/drinks for me), but I would do it again 100%.

 

[freddofrog]

I was always against a section but ended up having one as baby was breech. In the end I was so glad it worked out like that - we knew exactly what was going to happen, although it was very strange being numbed we played our own music in theatre, the staff were so lovely and recovery has been fine. I needed a lot of help from my husband for the first week (getting up, arranging my pain relief, fetching meals/drinks for me), but I would do it again 100%.

oo this brings me to a question i forgot to ask - for music how do you bring it in for them to play? in my little pack i was given it says i can bring a CD but who actually uses CDs!

 

[watermelon sugar]

oo this brings me to a question i forgot to ask - for music how do you bring it in for them to play? in my little pack i was given it says i can bring a CD but who actually uses CDs!

my hospital had a radio thing that i could connect to with bluetooth

 

[eppingforestbambi]

I had flutters from 13 weeks but only in the shower and then from 16 weeks I felt them more frequently then from 24 weeks actual kicks.

Yep flutters from 14 weeks, and then clear kicks from 18 weeks on.
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has anybody got any positive c section birth stories? mine's now booked i just worry about everything - which was one of my reasons i wanted an elective!! can't win with anxiety

Honestly - I am SO happy my first pregnancy ended up in an unplanned section. I tried to push for days but didn’t dilate, and eventually I had a section and he was a whopper so it saved me a lifetime of damage. Scar was tiny (can’t even see it now) and I healed quickly. There’s some pain for the first week, but it heals quickly and you get back to normal quickly as long as you don’t overdo it and follow their advice.

Second baby is due in March, and I’ve opted for a section right away. All my friends do to.
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Just to add.. equally I know people who had positive vaginal birth experiences, so it’s honestly a personal thing! At the end of the day - it’s all about getting that bloody baby out and in your arms safely.

 

[DarthMiepies]

It’s so refreshing to read this forum. I live in the Netherlands and only if you have a reason to, you can get a c section. A reason might be that you needed one with your first or baby being breech. But they really encourage vaginal birth. We can also deliver at home if we want to. It’s so different than in the uk. If I would come up to my midwife and tell her I want a section she would say no, because there is no medical reason. So if you can get a section because you’re anxious about birth feels so foreign to me. Or maybe I interpreted it wrong? Please correct me if that’s the case!

 

[opintionatedperson]

It’s so refreshing to read this forum. I live in the Netherlands and only if you have a reason to, you can get a c section. A reason might be that you needed one with your first or baby being breech. But they really encourage vaginal birth. We can also deliver at home if we want to. It’s so different than in the uk. If I would come up to my midwife and tell her I want a section she would say no, because there is no medical reason. So if you can get a section because you’re anxious about birth feels so foreign to me. Or maybe I interpreted it wrong? Please correct me if that’s the case!

In Ireland they encourage vaginal birth especially on number 1 unless medical reason, I know if you had a section 1sr time it's easier to get it again the second especially if the first was emergency. If you go private alright here I think it's easier to get a section. I try to block out negative stories and want to give it a go anyway

 

[Burrito88]

oo this brings me to a question i forgot to ask - for music how do you bring it in for them to play? in my little pack i was given it says i can bring a CD but who actually uses CDs!

We had a Spotify playlist, we had to put our phones on airplane mode but could still use Bluetooth to connect it. I think the midwife sorted it from my husbands phone.
Edited to say I confirmed this with the midwife at our pre-op appointment the day before the section.

 

[littlepup]

It’s so refreshing to read this forum. I live in the Netherlands and only if you have a reason to, you can get a c section. A reason might be that you needed one with your first or baby being breech. But they really encourage vaginal birth. We can also deliver at home if we want to. It’s so different than in the uk. If I would come up to my midwife and tell her I want a section she would say no, because there is no medical reason. So if you can get a section because you’re anxious about birth feels so foreign to me. Or maybe I interpreted it wrong? Please correct me if that’s the case!

In the UK you have the right to the birth you want be it Vaginal, home, c-section unless its medically contradicted.
Being a bit anxious wouldn't really be enough for a c-section but if it was causing you and therefore baby so much anxiety, stress and fear, then it would be medically sound and safer.
Equally you can request a home birth but say last time you had complications, you'd be strongly advised against it.
Vaginal birth is strongly encouraged unless there's a reason against it. I had my breech baby physically turned to avoid a c-section but I had the choice (ended up with one anyway as is often the case).

My hospital posts stats every month. October looked like this.

 

[DarthMiepies]

In the UK you have the right to the birth you want be it Vaginal, home, c-section unless its medically contradicted.
Being a bit anxious wouldn't really be enough for a c-section but if it was causing you and therefore baby so much anxiety, stress and fear, then it would be medically sound and safer.
Equally you can request a home birth but say last time you had complications, you'd be strongly advised against it.
Vaginal birth is strongly encouraged unless there's a reason against it. I had my breech baby physically turned to avoid a c-section but I had the choice (ended up with one anyway as is often the case).

My hospital posts stats every month. October looked like this.
View attachment 2627878

Thanks for explaining!

 

[cmcdb]

Mucus plug definitely came away been kept in for the night now and even tho section is booked for 29th, I’d say I’m here for awhile! Twin A is oblique transverse and twin B is head down with a lot of fluid around him.. plus side no pain, waters haven’t gone and partner is allowed to stay for the night

 

[eppingforestbambi]

Mucus plug definitely came away been kept in for the night now and even tho section is booked for 29th, I’d say I’m here for awhile! Twin A is oblique transverse and twin B is head down with a lot of fluid around him.. plus side no pain, waters haven’t gone and partner is allowed to stay for the night

Thinking of you! So exciting

 

[kayefeluu20]

Heading in for induction shortly 🫣 honestly trying not to think about it - whatever happens, happens! Will probs post quite regularly today whilst I discover all the joys of the labour ward

 

[raspberryjuice]

Good luck to both of you

 

[watermelon sugar]

Heading in for induction shortly 🫣 honestly trying not to think about it - whatever happens, happens! Will probs post quite regularly today whilst I discover all the joys of the labour ward

Good luck! 🤍

 

[LavaFlake]

Best of luck for both of you

 

[Onepotatotwopotato]

Heading in for induction shortly 🫣 honestly trying not to think about it - whatever happens, happens! Will probs post quite regularly today whilst I discover all the joys of the labour ward

Good luck with it . Yeah with my experience of induction it's good to keep an open mind, and don't be surprised if it takes a while!