Advice on planned c-sections?

Cassandra - posted on 02/15/2012

I wanted to reply to this post, it may help someone. I had an emergency C-section after 38hours of labour. I had already had too much medicine in my spine and therefore had to be put under general. Recovery was very difficult. My second pregnancy I decided because of the events of my first labour to do a scheduled C-section. I'm so glad I did. The whole experience was calm, and relaxed. The nurses and doctors were more relaxed. Recovery was much easier. I was walking within 6 hours of the surgery. I still wish I could have a baby vaginally, but I am so grateful for the ease of my second c-section in comparison to the emergency section.

Tina - posted on 09/29/2010

i had a section i wouldn like another one to be honest its worth it all the same but if i could have a natural birth i would but i cant

Mellissa - posted on 09/29/2010

Haven a C section the seccond time is not as easy as they say it is. I have had 2 and with my daughter. I had avery hard time moven around and could not do much. Now im on my 3rd child and im a little nervius but what can i do. Haven pain down there wile you are getting biger is normel. I had it with my seccond and im haven it now. You will be just fine just ask the docters if you are worried about it alot. But with my experinces. Everything was fine.Just don't work yourself to hard after getting out of the hospital :) Hope this helped

Casey - posted on 09/29/2010

you ladies are awsome, thank you so much for all your words of wisdom :)

Jenny - posted on 09/28/2010

The recovery time was a lot quicker for my planned c-section. I had 22 hours of labor with my first and it took for ever to recover, with a planned c-section you don't have any labor pains to deal with and you aren't tired...it was awesome! That said I do feel a little cheated at not having a natural childbirth.

Jessica - posted on 09/28/2010

the recovery for my first time seemed all around worse. longer, more painful, and really unable to function. i had really bad ppd too though and couldn't eat. i had ppd after my other 2 c-sections but not for as long and i was able to get around with less pain.

Mary - posted on 09/28/2010

With my twins, I delivered the first naturally, the second by c-section. I felt no pain at all from the natural delivery and was up and walking to the special care unit with my stapled c-section incision about 12 hours later. My second pregnancy was an emergency c-section - 6 cm dilated with no labour pain at all and although the surgeon was able to remove the scar tissue from first which wasn't very nice, I would have preferred a natural birth. I think recovery depends on your age, the pain from the c-section was less than the first but 'recovery' time seemed longer maybe because I was 4 years older??

Jessica - posted on 09/28/2010

The pain is probably more this time because everything down there is loose and already stretched out so it seems like you grow faster. I had an emergency c-section with my first after a long labor and then i wanted to try a vbac with my second but due to complications had to have a scheduled c-section. the recovery was soooooo much easier the second time. i'd have liked to have at least tried a vbac though.

Melissa - posted on 09/28/2010

My second c-section it took longer to get baby out due to the scar tissue. The recover was about the same but i think it was easier the second time because i was physically in better shape . To me it was so much smoother process than before. Do not worry it will be much easier than the drama of the emergency one.

Joelyn - posted on 09/27/2010

I had an emergency c-section at 24 weeks and then a sort of planned one at 26 weeks due to toxemia/hypertension/pre-eclampsyia. I never had issues with my second pregnancy because of my first c-section, and as far as scar tissue, I was checked for it a few months ago because of some pain and I was a-okay (it was a hiatal hernia instead).

CHERYL - posted on 09/27/2010

sorry no plan c-section after an emergency c-section. I was lucky to have natural birth after my emergency one, I rather have the natural birth then the c-section any day. I had no medication with any of my 3 kids. Labor lasted 5hours with the first, 2 !/2 hard labor with the second, and 5 1/2 and back labor with my last one. with my back labor I found out pulling my hair helped with the pain. I didnt not pull it out at all, just pulled on it, it eased the pain alot. With my oldest my water never broke until I started pushing her out, that was the easiest birth ever. Wished my water never broke with the others until I was pushing them out. Good luck with your second c-section.

Casey - posted on 09/26/2010

Thanks heaps Amy for all the info that was great, I am goins through the same doctor as I had last time and she'll be my surgeon too and she is fabulous, I think I have pretty much made my mind up that I will be going with the planned c-section :)

Iridescent - posted on 09/26/2010

http://www.essortment.com/all/uretusbaby... - this is the method overseas surgeons are trained to use. If you read and compare the two articles, you will see some major differences and may realize how they effect recovery and future pregnancies.

Iridescent - posted on 09/26/2010

I've had 2 emergency C-Sections and 1 planned (although the timing was emergency as well). The planned was by far better on me and recovery was easier. I was able to discuss different methods of surgical technique for the third, and a lot of internal damage as a result of the first 2 was fixed. Thanks to that, even though the timing had to be changed, it was the same surgeon and he was aware of how I wanted my C-Section done, down to the letter.

1 - medications used. I'm allergic to morphine and demerol so it was important to discuss this in advance.
2 - method of cleaning out the uterus. My first simply removed (most) of the placenta, none of the lining. This is typical for US trained surgeons, despite the rates of retained placenta as a result and infections caused by it. I wanted my entire uterus cleaned out and wiped dry, basically, and it was done. I had scant bleeding post-op and recovering with my last.
3 - method of closure of the uterus, muscle layers. US trained surgeons generally leave the uterus fairly well open. Overseas, the surgeons are trained to carefully stitch the entire incision closed with dissolving stitches. As a result of the US surgeon with my first, I had bladder and intestine scarred into the uterine wall scar, and it caused a ton of complications with my second C-Section. The second surgeon had to separate all the organs and remove significant scar tissue, and my uterus had ruptured as a result during my second pregnancy as well. This isn't rare. The second and third surgeons removed all scar tissue from previous surgeries and closed each layer completely. Because of the difference in surgical styles, US trained surgeons generally don't recommend more than 2-4 C-Sections in a lifetime (due to scar failure, ruptured uterus, etc). The others can usually say have as many as you want, provided your uterus isn't becoming too thin from the scar tissue removed each time.
4 - external closure. My first was closed with staples, which were removed on day 3 and hence split open my entire abdomen as it wasn't healed. I was told to close it with bandaids! It became infected, scarred terribly and caused nerve damage. This is common! My second was closed with stitches which were removed after healing was evident, and it worked beautifully. My third was closed with a single running stitch which was removed when healing was evident. Again, excellent results. Both the 2nd and 3rd surgeons waited until it was visible healing was in process, and both also removed the scar tissue externally from previous surgeries. My scar is not visible now as a result.

Ask how soon you'll be able to see your baby. Ask about photos, video, friends in delivery. Be comfortable with the procedure where you are.
http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Ce-Fi... - typical US procedure. Speak with your surgeon and ask all the questions you need to be certain you get the care you want. Find out how they were trained, and if they'll change their style if necessary to provide you with the method you want, or find a new surgeon.

Casey - posted on 09/26/2010

Thanks for all you help mummies, I had my first c-section because my babies head wouldn't come through my pelvis and I later found out that is because I have a twisted pelvis so I am thinking our second pregnancy will end in a c-section anyways.
I remember having some cramps with my first child but these ones just seem more frequent but it has been a while since I had my first (his 2 now) so maybe I just forget. I'm so much sicker with this oneI'm sure it's a girl lol.
I am definitley leaning more to having a planned c-section as I did recover reasonably quick with the first one so hopefully this one will be even better.
Thanks everyone :)

Geralyn - posted on 09/26/2010

Hi Casey. I just had a planned c-section for my second after a similar experience as you on my first. The recovery time was significantly better, my body responded better, and I was able to get up and down and move a lot faster. I had also learned from my first experience how to better manage the pain without use of narcotics (they were making me so ill at the hospital the first time) that I was able to stop pain meds after the first several days. I cannot speak to the scar tissue or the pain you are experiencing. Accding to my OB, significant scar tissue issues are quite rare. My OB suggested that I wait at least 12 months to get pregnant with our second to give my body time to heal. Good luck with your decision-making. When we plan our third, I will definitely have a scheduled c-section - no doubt in my mind. It was the way to go for us - and believe me, with a second baby, if I had been laid up with recovery as long as I had for the first, I would have had a much harder time....

Sarah - posted on 09/26/2010

Something to bear in mind is the age and weight of your older child, as you won't be able to lift any thing heavy for a few weeks after a section.

Dawn - posted on 09/26/2010

I have only had one birth, via planned C-section so I can't answer all your questions, but I didn't find the recovery from the cesarean all that difficullt. Yes, there was pain but a few days of painkillers relieved that...I did find it difficult to sleep the first few days because of the pressure I felt but all in all my recovery was less then 2 weeks...maybe I was just lucky! I debate whether to try natural the 2nd time or not though...I think I would like the experience but am scared about complications.

Nicola - posted on 09/26/2010

I had my 1st baby by emergency c-section and my 2nd 3rd 4th n 5th via planned section and the answer to ur question is yes it is an easier recovery the second time round!
As the previous lady has said the aches are quite normal as in any pregnancy but if u r worried ask ur doctor about them

Louise - posted on 09/26/2010

I can only answer a bit of this question. The dull aches down below is normal and is nothing to do witht the c section it is just your ligaments stretching to accommodate the baby. I have had two natural births and an emergency c section and I can tell you you recover from a natural birth in a couple of days and it is nothing like the pain of a c section. It took me several weeks to feel comfortable with a c section yet I was up and about within a few hours with a natural birth slightly sore but nothing I had to take pain killers for. I suppose your decsion should be based on why you had a c section if it was because you were not progressing then this might not be the case this time around. If the babies head was bigger than your pelvis then this is something that you can not change. All I can say is every birth is different. My first labour lasted 17 hours yet my second 6 hours. My daughter however was induced and decided not to come out so I ended up in having a c section. Very scary. If I had the choice I would opt for the natural birth every time. The recovery time is half and is a much nicer experience.