Positive C-Section Experience – Elective

I have hesitated about posting this as I know many people have experienced traumatic births or emergency C-Sections so I’ve worried about people potentially finding this hard to read, after some thought I have decided to post it so that anyone finding them faced with a planned C-Section can read and gain some knowledge about the procedure and day as a whole.

The Build-Up

I was set on a vaginal birth, I’d attended hypno-birthing and did a lot of reading on natural births, I had mentally prepared myself for it and was adamant I could do it. Throughout my pregnancy my baby’s growth was monitored as he was continuously measuring big, he was on the 95th centile the majority of the time. This combined with the fact my maternal grandmother and mother both produced big babies (and experienced shoulder dystocia) should have set some warning bells off in my head but it didn’t, I was still set on the vaginal birth.

The week before my due date I was offered a sweep to see if that would potentially start labour so I could try and deliver naturally. During this sweep the Consultant told me I have a narrow pelvic arch and offered the option of an elective C-section, this wasn’t what I wanted to hear and my mind started to race as I knew I had a decision to make. I talked it all through with my partner and my Mum and knew that it was the safest option, but I found accepting that quite hard initially. On reflection the only reason I was wanting to go ahead with the vaginal birth was to prove to myself and others that I could do it and to have experienced it, but there was no guarantee that it would go well and there’s no medal or award at the end. What there actually was, was huge uncertainty and high risks. So, I made the decision to book in for an elective section at 38w 6d.

Preparation

A few days before the C-Section we went to an evening appointment at the hospital, there was a room full of others in the same position as us and we were all given information on how the day was likely to go, what we needed to do/how to prepare and advice on recovery and the early new-born days.

It was useful and here I was given the medication I needed to take on the morning of the C Section.

The Day

I set my alarm for the crack of dawn to curl my hair and do my makeup, as much as this seems a little pointless I actually don’t regret doing it, it was the nicest I was to look for quite a while haha and it was after all a very special occasion.

I took the tablets I was given, had our dog picked up by my sister-in-law and then worried how I would cope being nil my mouth for a large part of the day. Once we were organised, we got in the car and off we went to hospital. It was such a surreal journey, knowing that next time we were to be in the car we would have an extra special passenger with us.

Once at the hospital we had some time to get settled in and met the midwives/anaesthetists etc who would be looking after us, this really put me at ease as each step was explained and any questions answered. I had compression socks put on and a cannular put in.

I will say here that I have always struggled with injections throughout my life and have regularly fainted at flu injections and even visiting people in hospital and seeing drips etc so I did have a lot if worry around undergoing major surgery. I believe the techniques I learned in hypnobirthing provided me with a good head space to face the day and I also repeatedly reminded myself that the day wasn’t about me there was something bigger at play and I needed to keep level-headed to ensure the safe arrival of my boy. I would say the main emotion I felt throughout the morning was excitement.

Then the time came and we were off to theatre, I was introduced to the whole team in the room and was allowed to put the playlist my husband had made on a speaker. My husband held my hands as the spinal went in, this was nowhere near as scary or as painful as I’d built it up to be in my head. Then I was lay down on the bed and prepared for the operation. I had a catheter inserted (which I didn’t feel at all) and before I knew it my lower torso and legs were numb. This is checked thoroughly by the team to ensure they can start.

I said to my husband to let me know when it starts and one of the team members calmly told me it was already underway, I was so relieved I genuinely could feel nothing. As it went on my body was moving a little when they were working and I started to feel a little overwhelmed, I repeatedly reminded myself that I was absolutely fine, in the right place with the right people and to trust the process.

I was told he was out and asked if we wanted the curtain dropping to see him, that first glimpse of him was amazing. Lifted up like Simba, covered in blood and wailing, the first thing I said was ‘he’s beautiful’. He was taken away for a matter of minutes to be wiped down and my husband cut his cord, then he was wrapped in a towel and placed on my chest his face right next to mine. We just gazed at him in amazement and had a little introduction. My favorite hello to date. He was born to a beautiful song I’d never heard before (Savage Garden – I knew I loved you before I met you).

Once I was stitched up we were moved to the recovery room where I had my first attempt at breastfeeding, the midwives and Tommy were great, I was lucky and didn’t have to do much, before I knew it he was feeding (more on my breastfeeding journey on a separate blog post). It was here in recovery where I got to experience the very much talked about and highly recommended tea and toast, I can confirm it lived up to they hype. I devoured it. Once all the necessary checks and paperwork was done we were wheeled off back to my bed to start a new crazy chapter of life as a family.

The Recovery

Tommy was born at 13:57 and by the evening the midwives wanted me to get up and shower. I managed to get in the shower with Mum & Ian supporting my weight, I started to wash but very quickly felt hot and dizzy, I knew this feeling well and told Mum & Ian I was going to faint. They lowered me to the ground and I woke up on the wet tiles, we all ended up laughing a little at the situation and they got me dry and back in bed ASAP. We all agreed I’d try again tomorrow, my blood pressure is always low and I just wasn’t ready to get up and about yet.

I remember there was a big thing about me having a normal wee on the toilet with no catheter, this didn’t happen for ages I kept trying (in a bed pan) but ziltch, they weren’t allowed to let me home without this happening, in the end I had to have a catheter back in to drain all the wee from my bladder. The next day I did manage a toilet wee (woohoo).

Anyone who has had a C-Section will relate to this, the trapped wind is another level. I think it all gets in when you are in surgery, I had been warned about it and packed peppermint tea but crikey its painful. Then when its ready to come out I thought I was going to lift off the toilet or as Ian put it “you’ve just woken the whole ward up”. Haha!

The day after the birth the hospital were willing to let me home and I think Ian would’ve liked us all home too but I just felt so vulnerable and weak and the thought of going home to fend for ourselves with this tiny human was quite scary, I was allowed to stay another night which I really needed and proved invaluable as I got some amazing breastfeeding support from the midwives during this time.

Day 2 we were discharged and home. This is such a bizarre feeling, taking home your first baby with no instruction manual or user guide. It was a turbulent few days/weeks to say the least but we worked together with the support of our families and navigated it best we could. I took the pain killers given to me and kept on top of taking them to keep any pain at bay. I recommend big knickers that come up past your scar and maternity pants or very loose waistbands. You will need sanitary pads as even though this isn’t a vaginal birth you will still bleed for a period of time.

My scar started to heal and I think within 4 days I was moving quite well without a lot of support, its amazing what our bodies are capable of. I was cautious and was sure not to do too much too soon. My first walk was literally around the block and I was exhausted from it. For a long time the area around my scar was numb and gave me a queasy feeling which is hard to explain and even occasionally now I touch it in a certain way and get the same sensation. I have done some reading and this is quite normal.

I am not usually an emotional person but yet I found myself tearful at the smallest of things in those early days. As I was in the hospital corridor with Tommy in the car seat waiting for Ian to get the car, a lovely lady stopped to admire my brand-new baby and shared some kind words of wisdom, as she walked away the tears began to flow and Ian arrived back to find me a mess haha! Also I think around day 3/4 I remember just staring at Tommy for about 3 hours straight and sobbing about how amazing he was and how lucky I felt, again Ian found me with a mountain of tissues at the side of me wondering what on earth was wrong. All this is completely normal, it’s such an overwhelming/life changing moment so if this is you try not to worry, it will likely pass.

If you are worried about your emotions or mood please speak to a close friend, family member, GP or support service (some are listed on the ‘Support’ page on this website.