Pro-C/Section Support / Chat / Tips

My lower belly tends to ache when I'm pregnant (had c-sect x5), bit like af cramps. I'm a regular shaver (i.e every shower) down there & keep it all off, nurse commented it made it easier to do catheter, which is a bonus when you have an OB like mine who likes everything done before the spinal goes in . I've found the scar still itches like crazy around that 8-10day mark though, not from the shaving, just the healing.

salz
ignore what MW said about not to worry you can try for vbac next time. I just had a MW who works on the maternity ward, speak to me at the school gate yesterday and we were talking and she said so you be having another c/s? YUP its just different days different thoughts, that mw has had a emergency c/s then a vbac to.

like someone said its your body and you are the one that needs to get your head around what way you want to birth your baby, its your choice, dont let the pressures of a vbac get to you.

Im so over all the "OH SIGH" you have to have another C/s from every one especially a friend who had a vbac. I just like to say that electives are births too!

Girls Rock wrote: salz like someone said its your body and you are the one that needs to get your head around what way you want to birth your baby, its your choice, dont let the pressures of a vbac get to you. Im so over all the "OH SIGH" you have to have another C/s from every one especially a friend who had a vbac. I just like to say that electives are births too!

Totally agree. When I've talked about possibly having an elective next time, I get some odd looks or funny comments.

Wow tictacjunkie, 5 CS's? I want a CS for my next baby (not pregnant and wont be trying for a while.), but am worried that with every baby the scar gets more and more painful. Have you found that? And does it make it harder to recover each CS? We want at least 3 kids.

Hi ladies. I have a few more weeks until I have to decide whether I want a natural birth or CS. Reading these stories has helped a lot as I'm leaning towards a CS.
I was induced with DD due to high BP, contractions were very intense, had epidural, I developed a racing heartbeat and fever. DD got stuck, so it was an episiotomy and 3rd degree tear with forceps delivery.
Recovery from tear took months and even now BD'ing is very uncomfortable.

Am feeling the pressure to have a VB, but I've heard so many positive stories around elective CS's (mostly from those who have had them). All those who haven't had one are generally pressuring for a VB.

If I knew the VB would go well I would chose that in a heartbeat, however I don't know what my BP will do this time round and I certainly don't want to be induced again.

So I have a decision to make very soon. This will be my last baby. Everyone says your second is so much easier and quicker, but there is that risk of tearing worse.

If I chose a CS I intend to just tell very close family, as I can't stand the comments you get from people too.

jaxnz1
my gp/mw/ob all were recommending the c/s right from 1st positive preg test with my 2nd. They all said it would be my best outcome, in this way i feel lucky as I felt 3 medical professionals were helping me choose.

It was also my thoughts too. like you I was worried how is this GIANT episiotomy cut ever guna stretch/rip/scar again for another vb, am I guna be worse off in the va ja ja / bottom region after another vb,

I c/s you get over in a matter of weeks not years like an episiotomy.

Think about the baby too, my dh didnt ever want to see another baby of ours dragged into this world by ventouse & forceps, it was horrendous to experience that. only those that have do.

even those in my close family were negative about it especially my mother (whom wanted to come to DD1 VB but I didnt want her there) she thought just cos she wasnt at DD1 Vb thats why I had such a difficult time. WHATEVER!! I had 2 midwifes and a OB with me during my labour what would my mother know whom gave birth in 5mins a hundred years ago. She still goes on about it now and I still "rub it in her face" im guna c/s AGAIN OHHHHH!!!! YEAH!!!!

Lillybetts, yep 5 c-sects, I've just got the one scar & I haven't found it more painful each time, have found it depends on baby's position though. I've found the recovery far quicker with my electives than the emergencies, this time round I felt "normal" a lot sooner than the others.

just thought of a new "word"

CSAVB = C/Section after Vaginal Birth

milliemama
its just how trendz change I guess aye. 10-20 years ago if you had a c/s you properly were looked at strange if you have a vbac, now you are looked at strange if you are happy / had a great experience and want another c/s or c/s after traumatic vb.

Thank you for putting this up!! I'm so sick of people judging me because I am going down the elective road when it comes to having #2. I went into labour a few hours before I was due to be induced (14 days over) and contractions were painful and close together right from the get go. After 16hrs I was still only at 4cm so got my waters ruptured and decided on an epidural cause I was so knackered and in a lot of pain. Still, nothing was happening so got the drip put in (syntosinon or however it's spelt lol) and that did nothing either. Epi wore off in the middle of the night, but no one around to top it up for me. So was right back into painful contractions, but only at 6cm by this stage. Kept getting put off and put off by anaesthatist cause he was too busy so I just lay there in agony, waiting waiting waiting. Then finally, 18hrs after I had my waters broken, they decided 'sh*t, better get this baby out' and was rushed into theatre. I was absolutely terrified as I'd never had surgery before, let alone even been in hospital so I had no idea what to expect. Antenatal classes made C/Sec sounds so negative and terrifying. I was shaking like a mad thing and crying my heart out cause it wasn't the birth I had wanted (planned a drug free water birth) but when I heard Isla cry for the first time after only being in theatre all of 5mins I was like 'oh, is that it?!' and I was happy as anything and completely forgot what was going on around me.
I absolutely hated my labour experience, it was hideous and no way do I want to go through that again. So I'm definitely putting my hand up for an elective next time round.
My recovery was a piece of p*ss to be honest. People I know who have had VB's complained about being in pain more than I did after having my stomach cut open! I was going for walks and doing everything as normal straight out of hospital (other than the things you aren't meant to do ie vacuuming/driving) but other than that I was my normal self! I personally couldn't drive until the full 6wks as DD was 11lb 8oz and I'm only small so my ab muscles actually tore apart.
16 months on and my scar is barely visible. C/Sec all the way!!!!! lol

I agree about the antinatal classes, not so much negative as no info at all, and even though I did huge research before birth, didn't really read up hugely on CS, so only info I remember reading was that feeding was difficult the normal way and had to be attempted in a football hold! Well funny, but I never had an issue with feeding at all in the std way.