However long you're in, be it 2 or 3 (or whatever) days - make the most of it. Normal births you are pushed out of the ward as soon as they can manage it. After my caesarean I wasn't able to do anything for LO apart from hold her for feeding - the midwives brought her to me, changed her, dressed her, did everything. WATCH and LEARN! I picked up so many tips and different techniques, by the time I had to change her nappy myself I was like a pro These are medical professionals who deal with hundreds or thousands of babies every year, absorb all the hints and tips you possibly can. And don't be worried, and never be scared to use the call button if you need to. I didn't use it enough I don't think!

Driving - call your insurance company, they will explain what their rule is for driving. And as for what you can do when you get home - I had 2 quick recoveries, take it easy at first but basically with ds1 I was out walking and pushing the buggy the first day home and with ds2 I think I was prrtty much lifting ds1, (who was by then 2) on about day 5. I think both times I recovered as quickly as some of my friends who tore after a vaginal delivery. One of my friends had a bad tear and she was in pain for longer than I was after either of my sections. HTH. xx

Thanks everyone for your advice, it's starting to put my mind at rest! xx

hope i can have such a positive outlook on it after the event - just can't wait to get my hands on my baby now! I don't want to wait anymore!

aw hun!! try not to worry too much.....

ur partner can go in with you as long as ur not under general. ive had 2 c/s and had a rubbish experiance with both lol

but its the holding ur baby bit that makes it all worth it hun...keep ur mind on the goal.

the operation is over really quickly although its actually an hour it flies by

good luck hun xxxx

dont worry hun all will be a positive time for you when you meet your baby! i had 2 vaginal births, then this baby number 3 was breech and so i had a c section i was really scared, and worried how i would cop with 2 other kidz at home but it was all fine, i was sore after but nothing that couldent be sorted with painkillers.

it takes longer to recover of course but its not as bad as i thought it would be at all, my hubby went back to work after 2 weeks and by then i was doing most things and going for short walks etc just couldent lift heavy things, i phoned my insurance company and they said its fine to drive when im ready, but you do have to check with them.

good luck (although you wont need it) look forward to your birth story xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

dont worry hun all will be a positive time for you when you meet your baby! i had 2 vaginal births, then this baby number 3 was breech and so i had a c section i was really scared, and worried how i would cop with 2 other kidz at home but it was all fine, i was sore after but nothing that couldent be sorted with painkillers.

it takes longer to recover of course but its not as bad as i thought it would be at all, my hubby went back to work after 2 weeks and by then i was doing most things and going for short walks etc just couldent lift heavy things, i phoned my insurance company and they said its fine to drive when im ready, but you do have to check with them.

good luck (although you wont need it) look forward to your birth story xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

hi,

i have had 3 csections and my partener has been there with me on each one,also u get to c the baby just after, then they take little one to weigh and bring back for you to hold and have skin to skin if you want that.

On the driving i was able to drive after 2weeks on the first 2 as i healed very well, but on my little 1 this time im still not driving he is 6week now as i got infection of stomch and prob wont be able to drive for few more weeks.

I was in hospital 2 night on this one,and was up and about after 24 hours but everyone is differant as long as you take your time then  u should be ok.

xx

Hi, first of all don't worry, I'm sure it will be fine.  I had my Ds by C Section, my blood pressure was a little high, and my induction had failed so I was booked in for the Section on the Friday 0830hrs, didn't go down until 12.00hrs as they had an emergency to deal with first.  I can honestly say everything went really well.  I'll take you through what happened for me, my husband and I were taken down into a small room and had to wait a few minutes whilst the theatre was prepared, they then came and got me and I had the epidural put in.  This took a few minutes, but really wasn't unpleasant at all, every one kept telling me exactly what was going on and were really reassuring.  They then went and got my hubby and he came and stood beside me.  There were several people in the room (not sure how many but I think around 8 or so), one of the team held my hand throughout and told me exactly what was happening, it is exactly like they say, you feel tugging in your tummy but I didn't experience any pain at all.  As soon as my Ds was born he was put beside me for me to hold, and for pictures to be taken, he was then taken off to be weighed, cleaned up etc.  My husband was able to snap away with the camera no problems at all.  Meanwhile, I was being stitched up, and tidied up myself, I was then taken out of theatre to a recovery room, with baby and husband with me.  After about an hour and the really attractive white socks being put on (to protect against DVT) we all went back up to the ward. 

I was able to hold my son and breast feed him, but I could not lift him into or out of his cot.  I had to sit up in the bed for the remainder of the first day.  The next day, they got me out of bed early, short trip to the bathroom and toilet, they like it if you can do a bowel movement (sorry if tmi) and just try and keep moving which I did.  I was able to pick up my son and walk around with him.  By the next day (op on Friday, up on Saturday, home on Sunday) we were ready to go home.  I felt fine, I was walking normally, not in any pain, and was ready to go home to be honest and to get on with being a mum!  On the Monday I was able to drive the car (although I know you shouldn't do) it was an automatic and had power steering so it wasn't hard work!

Hope this helps to curb your concerns, and I wish you the very best of luck!

Hi Emma,

I am just lurking here nosying at the threads but didn't want to read and run.  Please do not worry too much about the section...the ultimate goal is a beautiful healthy baby and that's what you'll have at the end of it...apologies for this being a bit long - I might get carried away with details!

I had an emergency section last year and until they told me I would need it the thought of a section hadn't even entered my head.  And you know something...I couldn't have hoped for a better experience.

My emergency section was quite calm, not rushed in a panic as it wasn't yet at that stage.  As soon as my ds was born they held him up so I could see him, wrapped him up tight and passed him to my dh (I already had an epidural which they just topped up so dh could stay with me).  Whilst I was stitched my dh and ds were there all the time, and when they wheeled me into recovery they weighed my ds so that I could see the weight (9lb 1oz) and wasn't told everything 2nd hand.

My ds was born at 7.43pm (to be precise) and once he had been weighed/measured etc they snuggled him down the front of my gown for skin to skin contact and wheeled us up to the ward like that - it was lovely.  I got to the ward at 9pm and the mw helped me with his first bf.

The staff were great and helped me throughout the night with him, but even so I dressed him myself and handled him no problem.  The next morning they removed the catheter and I was able to walk to the shower by 12 noon.  Once up and about I felt much better. 

The pain was nowhere near as bad as I had anticipated and I was offered pain killers regularly to keep on top of things.  I came home on day 3 and had no problems at all.  I just had to remember to take things easy - no hoovering etc intially, but tbh your body will tell you if you have done too much.

Just spend your time bonding with your baby and make the most of the precious early days together.  I felt fit enough to drive after 3 weeks and contacted my insurance company.  They said it was my decision and so long as I didn't feel any pain and could safely perform an emergency stop then I was fine to drive.

In all honesty I really thought I would have felt cheated having a section, but I know it was the best outcome for my baby boy, he was happy and healthy and I don't regret a thing.

Please try not to worry too much, I know it is hard but at the end of the day if this is best option for you and your baby then go with it.  There is no reason that you would be refused a VBAC in future, they will keep a much closer eye on you, but that's not a bad thing right?

Good luck with bubs, I hope all goes well.  Oh, yeah, I took Arnica after my c section, I don't know whether that did have any effect but it can't help.  One other tip, take some wind-relief tablets in with you....I would say that was the worst part of it for me the trapped wind afterwards lol. Not causing the problems you might think...it gave me a pain in my right shoulder which was far more irritating than anything to do with my scar/epidural site.

Sorry this has been so long-winded, I hope it has been of some help to you.

xx

Hi everyone

I'm 38+1 with my first baby, who has been breech since 32weeks.  Had a failed attempt at an ECV on Friday and have now been booked for an elective section on 17th Sept.

I'm absolutely terrified - I have been desperate to do anything to avoid the section since the possibilty was first mentioned and I desperatly don't want to have one but my hospital won't allow a first time mum to attempt a natural delivery with a breech baby.

I'm worried about all the silly things, like recovery, my partner not being able to be there, not being able to hold the baby straight away and the stay in hospital afterwards - how long is it usuallly!?

Also, I've been told I'll be unable to drive for 6weeks and do very little when I get home - can anyone, especially first time mums, let me know what they could manage.

I know this is the safest thing for my baby which is the important thing - it's just not the way I wanted it to go and am worried about whether i'll be able to have a VBAC if I have more children or if i'll need a section each time?

Sorry to rant - i just need a little reassurance.  My partner is being great, but doesn't seem to get how upset I am about it - silly though I know that is - I suppose I feel like I've already failed at the first hurdle in a way, which he doesn't get .  He's right that it makes no difference how our baby arrives, I'm just struggling to get my head around it I think