Anything different with C-Section #2?

Wow, it does sound like you had quite a hectic first experience & I can completely relate with wanting to reducing the unknowns - even though my experience was completely opposite. I think that is why I am happy with having an elective when I reach my due date and nothing has happened. I am not playing that waiting game again just for it to end up in an emergency cesarean. Plus it is also what my husband is most comfortable with, he is very concerned over me with regards to forcing a VBAC and he has as much of a say as I do.

Yes from what other women have told me I guess I was very lucky with regards to the little pain I had. What Joybaby said about the coughing and sneezing rang a bell....I clearly remember saying to my husband he must please not make me laugh because it is sore when I laugh! I do also remember the stitches pulling and being uncomfortable.

Cleo I can't imagine being put under general anesthetics for birth!

The spinal was painful when they put the big needle in first to feed the little pipe that goes into the spine. They asked me to sit on the bed hunched over forward with my head down, and as he put it in I jerked upright and gasped, it burned and it was so sore! Sorry I don't want to scare you at all! I was also crying at the time & my husband wasn't there because he was getting 'scrubbed up'. From then on I didn't feel anything further & they just told me to lie down quickly.

But, I mean Joybaby said she had no problems with the spinal...so I don't know if it was just me and the fact that I didn't know what to expect or if it was the anesthetist. You might find it a breeze

Just been catching up on some of the interesting posts.

I also had the same thoughts that I would definitely try for a VBAC for my second but then my gynae put the fear go God in me so there is absolutely no way I will risk it – not cool I know but we’ve been through a lot together and I understand where he is coming from. I had a seriously stressful birth the first time round and just want to reduce the “unknowns” as much as I can. I went into premature labour, had a footling breach baby and dilated within two hours so had to have an emergency Caesar. I also experienced full blown – totally out of control labour. I know it is highly unlikely that anything like it will happen again but for me it is all about degree of control I have over the process.

Widget you are so lucky that you didn’t have a lot of pain. I was very sore for the first week and the nerves in the area have never quite recovered Thanks for your detailed account on what a c-section involves. I actually don’t know as they had to get in immediately and I was put under general. How was the spinal tap painful?

Suhaila yes I did but not all the time only when driving. I wore it for about a week for driving then stopped as I healed pretty quickly.

What is the reason for you having an elective cesarean this time Punchysmum?

Is there no way that you can at least have a trial of labour - especially because you have given normal birth before?

hi Joybaby
i have been having a holywood wax but the last one i had about 3months ago was painful especially on my previous scar so i decided to leave it out and shave at home. Very difficult indeed coz everything down there is squashed.
is it normal not to be having any sexual feelings for you partner.
i have been wanted to ask this personal q but very i have stopped having ..x with my partner from 4 mnths when i was pg and at time feel that i am offending him badly. any wrong that i'm doing?
shooo this spinal block issue is driving me crazy. for i really wanted to have a normal birth but because of this and that it wont happen.

Hi Punchysmom.
For me the actual csec was fine. The 'timed' procedure makes things very convenient in when and where you must be etc.
I had a brazillian wax last week, which lasts 4-5 weeks so I dont have to worry about shaving once baby is here.

The spinal block I had no problems with. And you're quite oblivious to what meds they are giving as you have a drip that it goes into.
If baby is breach she will come out bum first, so dont be surprised about that.
The first day after surgery, it takes a good few hours for the block to wear off. You get pain killers prescribed, some docs will give you a pethidine pump which you can push every 7 minutes to manage your pain. I always say take your meds whenever you can, as if you don't, by the time you start feeling sore its still gonna take 20mins for the meds to kick in. (Make sure they dont try give suppositories orally please - that happened to me!
Day 2 and 3 afterwards is the hardest. You need to get on your feet as soon as possible but it's really very sore. Ask the nurses for help with picking up your baby for feeds, and lifting your bed or adding more pillows so you can get comfy. Coughing and laughing are very sore. The stitches didnt worry me too much, except when pain meds wore off. Just take it easy while you're in hospital. As once you're at home and hubby back at work, you're expected to come right on your own. Even so, forget about house work and cleaning and cooking and groceries for the first few weeks.

Hi Punchysmum, I can totally understand why having a c-section must feel scary to you, but at least you have time to read up, talk to people & prepare yourself for what is to come.

I think every doctor and hospital may do it a bit differently, but my c-section experience (although I was disappointed with having one) was really not terrible, my beautiful baby girl was born healthy and I could hold her within minutes & they let me breastfeed even before I left the theater and have skin to skin contact. It really was a beautiful and special experience even though it was not what I had planned.

The spinal block to me was quite painful, but you go numb almost immediately from the waist down. They check to see if you can feel anything & then you will probably only feel some tugging and pushing on your belly. You won't see anything because there will be a screen up between your head and your lower half. They did tell me to lift up my head before she came out so I could see her come out, but you don't have to do that - I was reluctant but I looked anyway & just saw my baby and nothing else. She didn't ever cry when she came out, she was so peaceful (and always was a peaceful baby - now as a toddler not so much! ). I asked the doctor 'why isn't she crying!?' and the doctor said she doesn't have to cry she is perfect and she is fine. Dad cut the cord, the pediatrician checked her with dad standing there all the time and she was handed back to me within minutes.

They then inject you with something that makes your uterus contract strongly so the placenta can be released - but you won't feel this at all, in fact because they push down on your tummy to get everything out you will bleed a lot less afterwards than when you have normal delivery. You won't even be aware of them stitching you up or anything. A lot of people say that breastfeeding is harder to establish after a c-section but I found this to be a complete myth.

As for pain, everyone is different. I took my meds as prescribed, never said no to the medication and injections in hospital and never felt anything more than discomfort. I was up on my feet the morning at 4am, took a shower and from there on never once battled to get up from lying down or sitting and never felt it was sore to pick up my baby.

From the time of the operation to the time that the spinal block works out so you can stand up again is quite frustrating because all you want to do is hold and tend to your little one. But it helps so much if you have family or your husband there all the time! I had a private room and the one night they let my husband stay until 12 at night to help me - the staff at the hospital were absolutely fantastic!

I was driving again from 3 weeks and back at the gym at 5 weeks. I felt great and still do, never had any complications or problems. The scar does itch though as it heals.... And make sure you shave/ wax yourself before you go to hospital so they don't do it for you! That also itches worse than anything!

Your body will guide you, everyone heals differently and has a different pain threshold. Being fit and healthy also helps a lot.

Good luck Punchysmum & please don't stress so much about the procedure. Within a month you will have a beautiful new blessing in your life!! I am so excited to meet and hold my new little one that how he/she decides to come into the world is secondary.

Again, talk to as many people as you can and get their experiences and advise to help you prepare & then after next month you will have your own story to share. Let us know how it goes.

Hi missesmom

I'm so freak out about having a c section
It will be the first after I had an ectopic
What do they do? Am I going to see everything? And the pain how long does it last?


My first born was born natural. Help for I am due next month