what was it like?
i had an emergency c/s after 24 hours of labouring (although they tell me it wasn't labour because my contractions weren't close enough, well it bloody hurt anyway!)
i was out of it on general anasth. but i can tell you it was a million times better than the pain i'd been in, with only gas as pain 'relief'
i had no problem that I didn't have a vaginal birth, as long as the baby was safe and healthy, which he was. in fact he was perfect!

good aspects of the surgery?
happened pretty fast and i was out of it beforehand on gas so didn't know much of what was going on.

not-so-good aspects of the surgery?
not being awake when the baby was born, dh not being there, being sent straight off to dreamland and not seeing my baby until the next morning, cutting off the iv painkillers after 24 hours!

involvement of your partner/DH?
he was waiting in the waiting room, he saw and held the baby before he went home for the night

amount of time between the surgery and holding your baby?
when i came out of recovery, they placed him on my chest, he looked at me and we said hello

recovery issues?
none, i was up and around in two days and healed quickly. i was driving the first week out of hospital. you're so tired and busy with the baby you don't have time to think about surgery or scars anyway.

tips for good recovery?
get up asap after the surgery, it will hurt but best get it over and done with. i think arnica tablets are good for healing too, i didnt' take them but i've had them for other surgery.

any issues with breastfeeding?
took a few extra days for my milk to come in properly, probably due more to the trauma of labour and fatigue than the actual operation. i hated it but that's not related to the operation!

tips for getting yourself psychologically ready for a c-section?
going through that now (getting ready for possible second elective c/s) but i think not to worry, at least you won't have hours of agony to have your baby in your arms!!