Ok, would love ....

Dear Helen,

C-section is fine don't worry I had one with Jake, it was a eme c-section but I had a feeling towards the end that I would end up with one. BF was ok to, milk came in quickly but after 8 weeks I stopped as I was getting stressed and so was Jake.
As for pain it was really only the first few days. I am still a little numb now but otherwise all is normal. When I have my next baby I will be opt for a c-section.
maybe the only down side is that you can't get out of bed stright away and you will have a cathater put in for about 18 hours.
x x

Don't know how I missed this post Helen.

Anyway I had an emergency c-section with Theo, I had a spinal block which I didn't feel go in at all now this may have been cos I was having extremely painful contractions and as you know nothing quite compares to a contraction so anything else painwise just doesn't feel painful.

They used this little cold spray every few seconds to check where I was numb and where I wasn't, as soon as I confirmed I couldn't feel the spray anymore they got to work....I didn't feel anything other than them pulling and tugging, it is a strange sensation but not painful at all.

It took them about 10 minutes to cut me open and deliver Theo, then about 20-30 minutes to sew me back up, my scar is tiny and easily hidden under my knickers.

I was numb from the waist down for hours and hours but like Giggles has said you have a cathater so don't have to worry about getting up and peeing.

Recovery wise, I was up that evening and taking a shower on my own.......the pain killers worked wonders

No problems breast feeding and my milk came in on day 3 as I was advised it didn't hurt to breastfeed, although the afterpains were a bit painful but then you get them if you give birth naturally so......

It took about 6 weeks for the scar not to feel sensitive to touch, and the funny pouch that I was left with (swollen skin) to settle down.

I would opt for a c-section again if I was advised it would be best for baby and me.

I put my story with the emergency c-section under that topic. It is not something to fear. The reason you have the doctors is for their medical knowledge, and if they feel it gets to the point where it is neccessary for the baby's health then it was just meant to be. It doesn't make your experience anything more or less, just different. You still get to take that sweet baby home in the end!

I did not think the epidural was bad going in at all, I was honestly expecting it to hurt alot more than it did. I think he over medicated me though (I am very sensitive to pain meds) cause after about an hour I was totally numb, and it was probably about 5 hours before my c-section (probably 4 before they decided I was getting the c-section). In the operating room I absolutely did not feel a single thing they were doing, not even pressure. nothing.

That was at 9 p.m. I really didn't have alot of pain, they kept trying to get me to take the pain pills way more often than I did, I just didn't need them so much. They had me up walking around by the next afternoon. They kept me on pitocin a whole day afterwards, so I had to drag the iv and catheter bag around with me for a day or two afterwards. Once I got home I was pretty good, I would get a little worn out late in the afternoons. It really only hurt when I pushed myself too much, and ibuprofen really took care of it. I had a little problem where some of my staples came out, so I had to go to my drs office every 3 days for a month or so to have it redressed, but it all healed fine, and I too have a very small scar.

I wouldn't recommend it honey, I vomited about 10 times throughout the procedure, I lost 1.5 litres of blood during my c-section and bled heavily for 12 weeks after. I really regret having made the decision to have one and even though Molly was big, I think if the pregnancy had have been different and it wasn't all such a mad rush to decide, I would have tried to have her naturally. Also, if you have a c-section, you can't opt to have an elective one the next time unless there is a medical indication. Although a vbac is a risk, it is still less risky than a repeat c-section. Sorry to give you a negative story, but I would hate you to be in a situation like me and feel really depressed about having had one. I really am mad at myself for making that decision as I am so pro natural birth. I will be looking into hypno birthing next time around.