Positive elective c/s stories??

[maz]

Ive had 4 so have had both good and bad.

My best c/s was with Mini me...c/s number 3. I was booked in but went into early labour a week early. 2 hours later a very groggy maz was ringing family in recovery to tel them that a little girl had entered the world

I had a GA as my spine wont allow an epi or spinal needle in. I# hours after her birth I was up, showered and ready to go . I had absolutely NO PAIN!!!! I felt like I had gone to sleep and woken up and all of a sudden there was this baby. I never had any pain in my tummy area at all. No pain relief was needed. I was on a high to say the least.

With my other 3 c/s I have been awake and back up walking around within 3 hours of having my babies. Ive never really needed pain relief after that 3 hour mark and I was fully mobile again. I remember bathing Mario (ds2) 4 hours after having him.

I think a great team and doctors who listen to you help. Not all c/s end up happy ....no even if we go into them thinking the best. Its wondeful to hear such positive stories about fantastic and enpowering c/s's...but please dont think that if yourve had one that your next one will be just as fantastic. As every birth is different so to are c/s and peoples reactions to their c/s is also the same. Ruf said it perfect.....you still need to be sensitive to others births. Dont be affraid to tell your 'team' what you want...even though its a c/s make a birth plan that you'll be happy with.

OH an for the nail polish thing..I ahve gel over the top of my toe nails (like gel finger nails) and I could leave it on as its only an emergency I was told that the beeper thing gets put on your toe's.

Blood tests for any op are done 24 hours prior to surgery so you'll more then likely get your referral soon.

Good luck hon

[Jandals]

aussienic - thanks for the tips for recovery. It's all the little details that can make a big difference aye?

rufalina - I didn't intend any of what I've written to be insensitive to those women that have had a traumatic c/s experience. After a very traumatic VB I do understand that things don't always go to plan and I feel that I have prepared myself (as much as it's possible to) for the fact that this c/s may not be the positive experience I'm hoping for. However, as I stated in my first post the whole purpose of me asking for positive c/s stories was to get some balance as I have read and heard about many negative c/s births. I guess I thought this was the place to discuss such things, and why I was careful to put 'positive c/s stories' as the title. Out of curiosity, what was it I said that you read as being insensitive?

To any ladies out there that have had an unexpected/unwanted/traumatic c/s please don't think I'm not sensitive to your experiences. The truth is in fact the very opposite which is why I requested some positive stories to help me reduce the anxiety factor for me going in to a c/s.

In my humble opinion we need to be very careful not to keep certain topics almost as a 'taboo' because of the risk of upsetting others. I would be horrified to think that someone that had had a wonderful and empowering VB felt she could not share her experience for fear of being insensitive to someone like me that had a very traumatic VB. And in my mind, the same goes for c/s. I know this can be a very controversial topic as emotions are raw for many women surrounding disappointing births. Something I have first-hand experience with.

maz - I hope to be up and moving as quickly afterwards as you were! That's pretty remarkable considering you have to have GAs. And maybe I'll ask about the toenails at my next appt

I'm going through the public system so maybe things are done differently with the blood tests? I'll check with the midwife at my next appt.

Thanks for all your comments. And keep the stories coming!

[maz]

In my humble opinion we need to be very careful not to keep certain topics almost as a 'taboo' because of the risk of upsetting others. I would be horrified to think that someone that had had a wonderful and empowering VB felt she could not share her experience for fear of being insensitive to someone like me that had a very traumatic VB. And in my mind, the same goes for c/s. I know this can be a very controversial topic as emotions are raw for many women surrounding disappointing births. Something I have first-hand experience with.

Im sorry if I come across as saying to keep them taboo, it snot what I ment at all...but you wouldnt go up to a friend who you know had a terrible c/s were her baby /herself almost died and say something like

I dont know what all the fuss is about, my c/s was a piece of cake

Thats what I mean about tact factor hon.

Im all for telling it as it is hon and if someone has had a truely empowering c/s then I want to hear it .

[Jandals]

Ahhhh, ok. So were you mentioning the sensitivity thing for me to keep in mind for after the c/s? Sorry! I have baby brain Just trying to figure out how or if the need to be tactful about our birth stories relates more to a c/s than a VB?

What I'm about to say could get me yelled at but here goes...it seems to me that there can be a bit of an attitude out there (not directing this at any of you that have posted in here) that a traumatic c/s requires more compassion/sympathy/tact etc than a traumatic VB. Shouldn't every birth story be treated with sensitivity and seen as a unique experience for that woman? And the way that the woman feels about her birth be what dictates how we respond to her and her story? I think it's really important for a Mum to feel heard and to have the opportunity to talk/work through her experience and for her to be responded to in a sensitive manner regardless of the 'mode of birth'.

I also think it's important that this is seen as a separate issue to what my original post was about, which was me seeking some balance regarding c/s stories

[maz]

Im in totally agreeance...every one should be able to talk freely about their birth and no I dont see a difference between a tramatic c/s to vaginal birth - their both tramactic no end...but you wanted to know our positive feelings about c/s hon not births in general

There's an appropriate time and place to talk about things...we choose for ourselves when we can speak freely about anything so I would be using this after your great c/s hon

BTW I wanna know how awesome your c/s is afterwards to

[Jandals]

but you wanted to know our positive feelings about c/s hon not births in general

Exactly! I guess what I am trying to get at was I wasn't really sure why the comment about the need to be sensitive to others not-so-positive c/s stories was important in a thread specifically asking for positive c/s stories. There are lots of threads that are out there for women to debrief and to have their stories heard after a traumatic c/s. I wouldn't dream of asking for positive c/s stories in those threads because it would be highly insensitive, which is why I started this one, kwim?

FWIW, there is no part of me that thinks I'm quaranteed to get a wonderful positive c/s experience - I'm very aware of the risks of having a c/s and the possibility for things to go wrong. Up until now that's pretty much all I had heard. And at the risk of repeating myself that is the very reason I was seeking positive c/s stories. Does that make sense?

My rant about traumatic c/s vs traumatic VB was an attempt to show that I feel I am sensitive to others experiences but that that was not what this particular thread was about.

Maybe I misinterpreted the initial comment about the need to be sensitive to others that have had a negative c/s experience. I kinda assumed that something had been said in earlier posts that rufalina had read as being insensitive to prompt her to make that comment?

I'll totally be back to share my birth story - good or bad

[rufalina]

Sorry girls... nothing was said by anyone that i found insensitive... sorry hun... it was more a statement about my thoughts but not well phrased. I am suffering a bit of birth trauma myself, and feel quite sensitive about this topic atm... So sorry if I came across wrong...

of course we should be able to discuss our birthing options, and discus our sections openly and freely. And that is what this section of BB is for... And I am more than happy to do share my experience and help others. So again sorry I took us off topic.

Hun, good on you for educating yourself about your birth, and learning that there are positive section stories out there. I too, look forward to reading your birth story and hearing about your positive experience too.

Oh, another tip, make sure that you buy some big thick maternity pads, i think maybe the stayfree ones, you know HUGE fat surfboards. And big high waisted granny undies... You can then use the surfboards them to pad across the area of your scar by sticking them in your granny undies... It was one of the best tips I had. And make sure that you have some loose clothes for a bit that wont sit on your scar line... Wishing you all the best. xoxo

[Jandals]

rufalina - It's so easy for messages to be mixed when you're not standing in front of the person you're talking to! I was just worried that I had totally unintentionally said the wrong thing. I do have major baby brain atm so there's always a chance my posts are really confusing Your stories were great to read btw

I'm sorry to hear that you're suffering from some birth trauma. It's something I've had to try and get through from last time and I think it's something that will always be with us Mums. I guess it's now a part of who we are. For me, allowing myself to feel the emotions as they came up was a big part of my healing. I hope you are able to find peace soon

I'm all stocked up with super size pads! Might get a few extra thick ones though for the scar. Does the pad just stop the scar being bumped etc? Someone has suggested that firm fitting undies are good to help you feel 'held in'. What are you ladies thoughts on that?

Did any of you have problems with the air in your stomach after surgery? My bowels can be a bit temperamental and I'm a little worried about the abdominal pain after. I also had the horrible shoulder pains after I had my appendix removed as the air moved up. This was key-hole surgery though so not sure if that makes a difference?

[Emma1979]

i wish wish wish wish wish a million times i had of gone for an elective c-section 5 weeks ago instead of a vbac.... if only i could turn back time maybe i wouldn't be where i am now... anyways sorry not really related to your original request, i'm just thinking out loud and feel i was out of control yet again with my labour and can't believe i didn't follow my initial instinct and have a caesar.

[*Belle*]

Here is my elective c/s positive story of Tara's birth :

We got to the hospital at 2pm, I had bloods taken then went up and checked into my room which was to be my room after the birth. Midwifes visited and I signed forms and they asked me what my birthplan was and feeding plans and prepped me for my c-section. I then got a visit from my anethetist he was great and asked me if I decided on the Spinal or Epi, I decided on the Spinal. He said see you in 15 mins at theatre! Im like EEK! already! here we go! so different than Julia's induction, 32 hour labour and emergency c/s.

I got wheeled down to theatre with Jeffrey and he held my hand, we were in the anesthetic room for ages waiting. I then got given the canula and then local in my back and then the spinal. Took a while for spinal to work, felt weird like the Epi did, like it was hitting my funny bone and then my right side would go real numb. After about 15mins of the administering it was all done and I layed on my side for it to take affect. I was wheeled into theatre at 5.05pm or thereabouts. They set the screen up and then topped up my spinal and I could feel the anesthetic go further up. Made me bit hard to breathe and they saw this and gave me oxygen, that scared me as with Julia's c/section I didnt need it. I felt heaps of pressure tugging etc and about 30mins later Tara was born! I thought she would be bigger but she was tiny! she had apgar scores of 9 and 9 which were good. She needed a bit of oxygen at the start but was good after that. She weighed 3.05kgs (6 pounds 11 oz) and 50cm long, head circ of 34.5. I got to hold her straight away which was great, I held her the whole time while they were stitching me up, however they were having issues with my uterus, my OB said and so did the OB's assistant that my uterus wouldnt start to contract so they gave me the drug to get it to contract, there was so much pushing and pressure and it went on forever, I also looked at the ceiling at one stage and eek, the ceiling was silver and I could see a bit of the operation! I told myself not to look.

I was in recovery for about 45mins, but got given oxygen again when I left as they had to give me a PCA for Fenteynl (allergic to morphine) and they dont give you the drugs without oxygen anymore. Got back to my room and BF Tara it went really well then about 45mins later my mum and Jeffrey's parents arrived and Julia! Jeffrey got Julia and took her in the room first to meet Tara and then we asked the grandparents to come in! they didnt stay long which was good as I was quite tired, but not in pain.

My recovery was really good, The PCA drug was taken out of my arm the next morning as was the canula and catheter and I just took Panadine Forte for the pain every 6 hours and then on day 4 I didnt need any pain relief and we went home on day 5.

[Jandals]

Thanks everyone!

Emma - that really sucks that you ended up feeling out of control. And without knowing your personal circumstances I understand how hard it can be to go with your instincts when others are telling you not to

BG - great story! I'm hoping I'll recover well - I usually do but my VB was a bit of a mess. The Ob had a few issues when stitching me up and didn't do a very good job, which led to a whole new set of issues I'm no martyr so I'll be taking any pain relief I need. I figure no-ones' going to give me a medal for suffering I totally agree with you about women that have a good c/s experience not needing to discuss their birth at length. It's probably similar for VBs. Hopefully this thread will be helpful for ladies that are having an elective c/s and want to know about the positive experiences that can happen

[Peg]

it is great to hear so many positive c-s experiences.

I've had 3 c-s and never had any complications with any of them.

the most recent was the only elective c-s and it was a great experience. I must admit though that i had a sudden case of nerves going into theatre, but overall the experience was calm, relaxed, controlled and I felt really well looked after by the medical team - and the midwife who was assigned to me was a great support.

A planned c-s is soooooo much different to being taken in from the labor ward. We turned up to the RWH early in the morning, about 8am, I went up to some prep room, then had a talk with the anethetist and me the surgeon, then I was taken to the theatre where i was waiting just outside for a short while. I could see them preparing the room and i think this is why i got so nervous.

then they preped me for theatre, catheta, ivf tube and the anethetist did the spinal anesetic. Once that had all happened the surgeon did his thing and 10 minutes later the midwife brought emmy over to me all wrapped up and placed her on my chest for a few minutes so I could say hello. Then hubby and emmy went with the midwife while they cleaned her up and checked her out.

40 minutes later i was in my room with hubby and emmy waiting for me. Couldnt have asked for a smoother process.