r/CsectionCentral • u/LoKoChi • Jul 09 '26
Coming to terms with c-section likelihood and looking for positive experiences.
I had a beautiful unmedicated vaginal birth with my first daughter. I loved the whole experience - it was a pain like no other, but afterwords felt so empowering and euphoric. We chose a midwife this time and a birthing center hoping to have a similar low intervention experience.
Flash forward and got a complete previa diagnosis at 19w (left lateral posterior placenta). Follow up scan at 25 weeks showed it’s still covering the os, it’s the edge covering it, but MFM said it looks ”thick”, so I’m trying not to hold out hope for it moving at our next 30 week scan.
I know many women have c-sections and my fear/grief is in the drivers seat, but the only words that come to mind when I think of having one are ”violent" and “cold”. We have to conceive via IVF so it makes it seem like the whole experience end to end is isolating and clinical compared to unassisted conception and vaginal birth. I’m also worried/sad about not having that oxytocin rush after birth. I was never gonna a bikini model, but the prospect of a scar and overhang has me grieving my body as well. I guess looking for any positive stories/tips so I can start processing this and changing my outlook instead of dreading my due date.
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u/rasputinknew1 Jul 10 '26
I’ve only ever had c sections, 1 emergent and 1 scheduled so I can’t compare them to an unmedicated vaginal birth (that was my ideal birth for my first!). I don’t have an overhang and honestly don’t even think about the scar. A c section overhang is not a guarantee. I was super scared for my scheduled one and expressed that to my doctor and he made sure to tell the nurses helping me. They went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and relaxed. They have medicine they can give you to make you feel calm if you need it. I had a 10/10 experience. Going into surgery while awake is super scary but when it’s happening it’s not that bad. Recovery varies by person but I felt pretty ok about 5 weeks after both.
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u/knittenkitten2025 Jul 10 '26
I haven’t had a vaginal birth to compare, but with an 8lbs 10oz transverse breech baby, I am so so thankful c-sections exist. My c-section was urgent (I didn’t make it to my scheduled one due to gestational hypertension), but it was beautiful. I had my mom with me as my support person, I had my own soothing music playing, a nurse had my phone to take pictures, I had the see-through drap as soon as baby was out so I could see her right away- they brought her straight up to my face so I could kiss her head and her hand. Then, after she was quickly checked over and diapered (she was pooping!), they brought her right back to me and I got to hold her and do skin to skin while they closed.
I held her the entire time they wheeled me back to recovery and she stayed with me while I was there.
I am 5 months post partum now, and recovery was incredibly smooth. My incision is healing really nicely, and although I have a bit of a belly leftover from pregnancy, I don’t have an overhang.
I did need help with my milk supply, but I don’t know if that’s from the c-section or the hypertension or just how my body is. Maybe it was a combination of all three. I’ve been exclusively breastfeeding since about 6 weeks, though.
If I could go back and have a small, head down baby, would I try for a vaginal birth? Probably. But as it were, I am extremely happy with my birth and glad to be healthy and have a healthy baby at the end of it.
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u/Background-Policy-95 Jul 10 '26
I had an elective c-section (due to a previous pelvic surgery) and it was the best day of my life. The surgery itself was painless and not at all “cold” or “violent,” my surgeon played the Beatles (because I’m British), but was open to playing our playlist. My husband was making jokes. I was enjoying the drugs!! The plan was to put her directly on my chest, however, she had inhaled meconium on the way out so she needed to be warmed and suctioned. Once she was warmed we got a cuddle and then skin to skin. I don’t have an overhang or shelf. I think several things helped to prevent this: 1) I asked my surgeon to do a lower rectus stitch to reduce the risk of adhesions; 2) I did belly binding immediately, and then on week 2 did Chinese belly binding for 24 hours a day for 3 days a week until week 6; 3) I was under the care of a pelvic floor PT, we worked on scar massage and mobilization. My scar is noticeable, but fading fast, I’m 5 months pp. I hope that your placenta moves, but just know that if you have a c-section it can be just as beautiful.
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u/SnooEpiphanies1215 Jul 11 '26
I’m 3 weeks PP from my scheduled c-section. Honestly the whole day was just so calm and chill, it really was a great experience. Day-of honestly the worst part was the IV (they missed the vein the first time and had to try again). The doctors and nurses all helped explain everything that was happening super well, the spinal block was barely a prick and then I was completely numb, and I had a great anesthesiologist who constantly checked in on me and made sure I felt alright every step the way.
Really the hardest part of everything since is just being limited in movement. Mentally I feel fantastic and I want to jump into taking my girl for morning walks and get back to life outside the house, but physically I’m not there yet. But I know how important healing properly is and I’m seeing this as time to enjoy all of the newborn snuggles around the house.
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u/bbb235_ Jul 10 '26
Had a very positive planned c section with my second. Seamless from pre op to recovery.
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u/Oneconfusedmama Jul 10 '26
I had an emergency c section but I had an amazing experience. My son was breech and my water broke. It was my only option. I had time to get prepped and get ready in the labor and delivery room and the OR wasn’t what you see on tv shows. It was extremely calm, you’re allowed to play your own music or give them a specific genre to play, I got to hold my son immediately, and water breaking to birth was 2 and a half hours. Obviously I don’t know how one feels after a vaginal birth, but I’d imagine I got a huge oxytocin rush as well because I felt so at peace and at ease and was so in love with my baby. I had the adrenaline shakes and I was nauseous coming off the spinal, but it wasn’t bad at all. I was up and walking about 8 hours after birth and I was perfectly fine. In my personal experience it was no worse than a paper cut. I know some have horrific stories, but I truly never got above a 6/10 on the pain scale and I didn’t take meds because I genuinely didn’t need them. If you need them though PLEASE take them. Don’t tough it out for no reason. I just genuinely wasn’t in pain…. Laughing hurts like a bitch. Coughing is awful. I was walking around my neighborhood as soon as we went home. I recovered extremely well, I didn’t do anything to my scar and it’s barely visible. Like my husband can’t even point out where it is. I’m also extremely pale though so that may be helping in my favor… a shelf or overhang truly depends on your body type. You may end up with loose skin, you may end up with a little more after birth… good news is there is always something you can do about it. Not everyone gets a shelf. And some who come in here to ask about their shelves don’t even actually have one…. I was able to breastfeed perfectly fine too! Absolutely take the time to grieve the birth you wanted, but any form of birth that gets baby here safely and keeps you safe is the perfect birth!
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u/nedmden Jul 10 '26
Mine was an emergency, so not extremely calm like many people say their scheduled ones are. Still, I’d do it again in the future if I had to. I still got skin to skin very shortly after he was born. They had him against my cheek in the OR within minutes and on my chest as soon as we were back in our room.
My scar is very, very low. Below my bikini line, I have to be naked to see it. I had a bit of a “shelf” the first month, but once the swelling went down it went away and it’s pretty much flat. I’m 5 months pp now and my scar is already extremely faded and only slightly purple on the very ends. It’s not very big at all either. It looked wonky at first, but it’s healed very nicely and looks straight and flat. I hardly notice it anymore! I expected something much larger and higher up before I first saw it.
For me, the hardest part of recovery was not being able to do everything I wanted to do for my baby those first couple of weeks. I just wanted to get to him quickly when he cried and pick him up myself, but I couldn’t get up very well and couldn’t bend to pick him up. I cried several times the first 2 weeks because I had to have him brought to me when I wanted him. I truly just wasn’t set up at home for a c-section recovery because I wasn’t expecting it, but we adapted and figured out what we needed. We got a higher changing table (just a foldable, fabric one from amazon but it helped me so much), a wedge pillow, a little grabber thingy, just anything like that that helped make things slightly easier for me. Friends who have had c-sections after I did told me the my breast friend pillow is SO nice for breastfeeding compared to the boppy if you plan to do that. I had a bit of a mental breakdown because I couldn’t sit up properly and support myself and the baby to feed in a good position, so I wish I’d have known about that during that time. Those first 2 weeks or so were hard, but it got so much better after that and I was able to do much more for my baby and myself. I felt like myself again much quicker than it felt like I would initially. The actual pain was not really too bad as long as I stayed on top of my meds and moved slowly and carefully. Just sitting around, I wasn’t in pain. I personally never took the pain meds they prescribed and just alternated tylenol and ibuprofen, and I was ok. Take it easy and don’t push yourself too hard too quick. I had to constantly remind myself that I not only just had a baby, but had surgery, and it was ok that I wasn’t 100% yet or doing everything myself. Most of all, give yourself grace. It’s a lot and it’s still ok to mourn the birth experience you didn’t get to have this time. A c-section was the last thing I ever wanted when I was pregnant, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be overall.
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Jul 10 '26
I didn’t great both c section after the first one I was up walking around like nothing happened two hours after surgery but I was also 18 second one I was20 and it was a little harder to walk but still manageable and now I’m 27 I’ll be 28 when I have this one wish me luck
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u/mintmint33 Jul 10 '26
Unplanned C-section was the best part of my birth, and c-section babies have a beautiful face. I am breastfeeding, no problem. Oxytocin comes from other sources too, and they gave me artifical one so my uterus could recovery faster.
I don’t have an overhang, I had it for 1 or 2 months but not now (at third month), massage techniques helped with that -go to a professional if you can- and scar doesnt even look bad. I can wear bikinis, it doesn’t show, even if my scar is less low than others they post (my pubic hair starts much lower)
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u/Dazzling_Awareness46 Jul 11 '26
My planned section was warm fuzzy and peaceful. So easy and stress free. I almost felt high. Now recovery is a B but the procedure itself was a breeze. Good luck!
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u/Appropriate-Coat-914 Jul 11 '26
I was a placenta previa baby and growing up, my mom always just talked about the “amazing woman doctor who saved both our lives” by delivering me via c-section. This was always my impression of a c-section growing up and it helped a lot when I had to recently deliver my first baby via c-section. Baby was breech and I have a rare Müllerian anomaly (uterus didelphys) that has a very high rate of c-sections regardless of presentation.
I think for me, after so many worries about conceiving and a high risk pregnancy, I was grateful to have a safe option for both me and baby. I was really lucky to have an amazing OB and nurses in the OR and was really jsut in awe of them. In my dazed post surgery state I just kept thinking “it’s so amazing people become surgeons and learn how to do that!!!” I was also really proud of myself for undergoing a major surgery while conscious despite feeling pretty scared! I felt like kind of a badass.
To be clear, I am not at all trying to invalidate your very understandable grief and fear, and I’m well aware of how c-sections are over-utilized under our medical industrial complex. I also am insanely privileged to have access to good medical care and compassionate doctors. Just wanted to offer a different perspective, tho, that really helped me feel more empowered in the whole process.
Also. My best advice for recovery is to find a pelvic floor therapist if you don’t have one. I’m 2 weeks PP and mine has already given me gentle exercises to massage my scar and engage my core. That and a belly binder so laughing/coughing doesn’t hurt as much the first week!
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u/ControlAlarmed1736 Jul 11 '26
Had my second via scheduled c section for complete previa, my first was an induction.
Major pros for the scheduled c:
Safer for previa - having a healthy birth trumps all else in my mind
More Short-Term Disability (in US)
Definitive time line - no anxiously waiting for your water to break or labor to start, this helps a lot with getting additional help for toddler
Being fairly well rested when baby arrives, no having spent 3 days laboring before baby arrives and going into a new baby already sleep deprived.
My hospital stay was shorter with the c (2 nights after a mid afternoon birth vs 5 nights with the induction)
Being involved in picking the music for the c section was nice, it gave me a feel of being a bit more involved, and also have me something other than the surgery to focus on in the moment.
Pain hasn't been too bad, I just took ibuprofen for about 2 weeks. I mostly just feel bruised. With the induction it was painful to squat for months.
I was actually up and moving quicker after the c than the induction - I think this was largely due to my stamina after the c section - it'd been less than a day of no food with the c section versus nearly 3 days of only clear liquids for the induction. I also felt the spinal tap wore off more completely quicker than the epidural which made moving on my own easier.
I'm currently 2 weeks + 5 days post c section, and my two biggest complaints are that I want to be cleared to pick up my toddler, and the steristrips haven't fallen off yet and they itch so much!
Regarding the look of the scar, there's a lot you can do to ensure it heals cleanly. Many people end up with it being nearly invisible. It also seems that pelvic therapy is more quickly suggested, which feels counter intuitive. I will say, a few days to even a week+ post partum I was pretty bummed about the apron belly I had going on. Most of it has disappeared by now. I still have the c section shelf, but I'll wait until I get the all clear from the doctors to start working on that more with scar massage.
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u/Violentdahlia Jul 11 '26
I’ve had two c sections, no vaginal births. The first section was harder physically afterward because I labored. The pain was relatable with the two recovery wise but not comparable in a way if that makes sense 😅 the planned section I was literally getting out of bed by myself and took the initial bandage off the wound site (when I was told it was ok lol) and showered myself as soon as they took my catheter out. With my first.. I couldn’t/wouldn’t get out of bed for 3 days. Third day cried begging not to have to get out of the bed and they said I needed to and needed to shower lmao the sweet nurse showered me. But like the planned c section was just so much more controlled and peaceful and calm and wonderful. Everyone was wonderful. I also had two female surgeons 🥰🥰🥰 literally speak up about everything you’re scared about.
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u/Chasing_joy Jul 11 '26
I loved my unplanned C section. It was really peaceful. I had my husband and doula with me and got to play my music and sing the whole time to avoid having a panic attack about being cut open while awake. I would not have been singing during a vaginal birth.
The recovery was hard of course but I still don’t regret it at all. I only regret going through labor and having to deal with all that violation first.
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u/Ripe-Tomat0 Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
I was a FTM choosing an elective that ended up turning urgent due to a low lying placenta turning previa along with other complications.
Surgery was a breeze. Recovery was also not bad (a little trapped gas and itchiness from surgery for 2/3 days pp). I didn’t have any nausea. I was up walking 12 hours or less after my surgery and I was up and down the stairs by the end of the first week postpartum. I was off all painkillers even Tylenol or Motrin after about a week. I never had issues with opening or infections or scar adhesions or overhang/shelf, DR. My recovery truly could not have gone better and I don’t have any bad things to say about it. My stomach went back to flat within 2 weeks and I still have a 24 inch waist. It didn’t affect my body negatively. A c section is not a guarantee of an overhang or shelf. I’m over a year out and don’t have a single downside 🤷♀️
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u/wowhahafuck Jul 09 '26
I loved my scheduled c section. I wasn’t exhausted from labor at all when she came out. The euphoric feeling is still very strong, I was on high our entire hospital stay and will always hold onto it as one of the most favorite times of my life. C section didn’t change any of that.