I just had a C section 15 days ago and as much as I was anxious going into it, in hindsight it was the best experience. I had the best team as in anaethetist, obstetrician and paediatrician and to be perfectly honest if we were to go for number two I would lean heavily towards another c-section as my birthing method of choice. the recovery has been remarkably easy, pain relief included morphine by tablets for the first two days but it was a form of morphine that is slow release over twelve hours and I found it didnt make me as fluffy in the head as standard endone does. I was able to express straight away (my little man had to spend a couple of days in special care for unrelated issues and was unable to be put to the breast straight away).

I was able to get out of bed as soon as the catheter came out about 16 hours after the op.....that first day movement was limited to assisted visits to the toilet and wheelchair visits to my little man in the SCN but the next day I had pretty much full mobility back.....I was even able to cut my toenails the day after which was awesome cos thay had been driving me insane for a couple of weeks before...LOL.
I came home on day 6 taking only nurofen plus and panadol for pain relief and have only needed that maybe once a day as you get a bit tired as the day wears on type thing...now 15 days on the wound just looks like a scar and the pain is just twinges if I move too quickly in a certain direction type of thing....

I certainly do not feel like I missed out on anything but not going through labour....for me it was definitely an empowered c-section birth....hope that helps hun.....