Planned C-section vs emergency C-section

I had an emergency C-section

I had an emergency c-section and I don't know if I was lucky or if I just have a very high pain threshold but honestly from the stories people have told me about giving birth naturally and being cut and having stitches down there, I think c-section recovery is actually easier. Because the area needing to heal is out of the way of toileting making it easier to keep clean and less prone to infection. I was walking around 8 hours after (as soon as my spinal block wore off) with just some stinging. Obviously bending, sneezing, laughing, coughing are all painful but I imagine they are with a vaginal birth too. I'm pregnant again and I would like to give birth naturally this time but

If for whatever reason I have to be induced I'm opting straight for a c-section. Being induced was horrendous and put me and my baby at risk and we both ended up with infections hence the emergency section. Good luck with whatever you decide. Everyone's experience is different so it's good your getting some advice before making your decision x

@Chelsea it’s actually really nice to hear a positive story so thank you so much xx

I recovered really quickly

I was booked in for a planned c-ection, but ended up having an emergency because little one came early and I was labouring so fast. It can be tough recovering, and I had to take it easy, but I would choose it every time. All of the comparisons are given for an emergency c-section against a straightforward uncomplicated vaginal birth. So don't take into account the major difference between a calm planned c-section and a complicated assisted birth, with an episiotomy for example. In those cases, the c-section is the better recovery period.

Try to remember that most of the horror stories come from people who ended up with an emergency c-section after encountering complications. Some of those at a late stage of labour. So it is not the norm!

What medication do they put you on after a c section? X

I was walking up the massive hill in Greenwich park day 5 post c section, just keep on top of your meds and you will be fine! Don’t get me wrong the first few days are tough but just rest up x

@Chloe may I’ve also wondered this, I’ve seen people having to inject themselves for blood clots I think x

I have an emergency c section and yes I had 7 days of anti clotting injections and then was sent home with a combination of dihydrocodeine, paracetamol and ibuprofen

@Chloe may I had an emergency section 2 years ago after a 24 hour failed induction and in hospital for 4 days after it due to being ill. For the first day it was morphine and dihydrocodeine then went down to dihydrocodiene, paracetamol and ibuprofen. By the time I left the hospital it was just paracetamol and ibuprofen which I took for a few weeks. I also had 6 weeks worth of blood thinner injections to prevent clots (some people get a 7-10 day course, it depends on what happened during your section). For the original poster, for what it’s worth, despite having a hard recovery with my emergency, I’m having an elective section a week today and was set on this since the beginning of my pregnancy!

@Bec the injections is the only thing putting me off

@Chloe may im gonna get backlash for this but i didnt even do the injections x

@Chloe may it’s only one per day and takes less than a minute. I won’t say they were enjoyable, because I hated them but they’re necessary to ensure you don’t clot and end up really ill. I made my husband do them for me which did help, and did them in my thighs rather than my stomach!

@Chloe may they really aren't that bad at all. The needles are so small you can't even feel them. It's just the phycology, once you've over come that they're fine. Let's face it that baby is coming out one way or the other and let's be honest no matter which way you decide to go those little tiny injections are going to be nothing compared to childbirth 🤣 you'll realise your own strength when you've had that baby 💪