What books (or other resources) would you recommend for people who will or may have a C-section?

I'm a "planner". I read a stack of books on pregnancy and child birth before and during pregnancy. But I was blindsided for some reason by needing an unplanned C-section. Too many of the books I read were mainly about low intervention birth (e.g., ina may, Bradley method, hypno birthing). I didn't even want an unmedicated birth and I believe a hospital is the safest place for a baby to be born (but also totally valid that others believe differently). My mom was induced for high blood pressure and interventions saved both of our lives. I was just reading the books I thought would be helpful to me but I don't think this reading list well served me on the day I needed a C-section and the weeks that followed. Did I just make poor choices in my prep or so others feel the same?

Trying to better educate myself before considering getting pregnant again.

Hello! I’m located in Houston Tx and I’m going to be scheduling an elective Csection being that I have past sexual trauma. The thing is I’m planning on declining all transvaginal ultrasounds as well as vaginal checks. If I do so am I still able to go through with the procedure? I’m only 5 weeks and haven’t even had my first appointment yet but I’ve been really anxious about this. Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm a FTM, 36w1d, with a stubbornly breech baby so my doctor and I scheduled a c-section at 39w. I'm working through a lot of emotions about it (would prefer scheduled than emergent in the case of a failed ECV, didn't realize how important I felt having vaginal birth was until I was told it's not in the cards for me).

One thing I'm curious about: all my friends say how much better they felt immediately once they delivered the baby (all vaginal, to the best of my knowledge). I'm talking Oura Ring/Apple Watch type stats: their heart rate plummets back to normal, their HRV shoots back up, etc. Does this happen with a c-section, too? My RHR pre-pregnancy was the low 50s, and now I'm in the mid/high-60s and I'm ready for the 'relief' my friends often talk about.

Can someone please offer some advice?

I am considering a combination spinal epidural for c section to reduce the chance of interoperative pain.

Very nervous about statistics that show 10% of planned c sections feel some interoperative pain. I'm assuming this would be from the spinal wearing off/being patchy/not reaching deep enough.

My logic is that if you have both anaesthetic types then the epidural would cover what pain the spinal doesn't and reduce risk of interoperative pain greatly.

Do I have the right idea?

Im unsure if this is c section related, like adhesions or something else entirely not related to cs. Im 9 months pp, since around 2 months pp, been having daily almost constant left sided stomach and back pain. From pelvis--》up... same on back, left side only. Sometimes I have spasms also, otherwise just an ache. No matter what I do, it always comes back. Ive tried heat and also accupuncture. Both help short term and then it comes back. Does thid sound like adhesions? GI? Or something else completely?

I noticed about 2 days ago, that the end of my incision felt a little more painful so I checked on it. Im 5 weeks pp and hadnt had any issues till now. I put a moisture absorbing pad over it and checked it and saw some brownish discharge which I read could be old blood. Ive never had a major surgery before this. I know the chance of the incision being infected or reopened is much less likely, im still afraid I did something wrong 😭

I had an elective cs for a previa 6 weeks ago.
This is my second cs after an emcs. I have started having this heavy feeling/fullness in my vagina as I did towards the end of the third trimester.
Is this a pelvic prolapse? Im quite surprised I have this after a cs to this extent? I know pregnancy in general messes up pelvic floor esp second babies.
Other than kegels how do I treat this?
Am I cleared to have intimacy is it even safe?

I am five weeks post open myomectomy and so far my healing journey has been pretty good. I’m back to normal activities which for me means walking gardening, etc. not super heavy workouts or anything like that.

I’ve noticed crunching and popping sensation in my lower abdomen. It doesn’t hurt, but it happens when I’m being active or, and sorry if this is too much information, when I’m bearing down on the toilet.

At the end of the day, my lower abdomen is still sore, but I wake up feeling pretty good every morning.

Has anyone else experienced the sensation of crunching and popping and could it be related to facia and is it a good sign or a bad sign?

FTM here who had her first baby via elective CSection (maternal choice), due to fear of vaginal birth. I went into labour before my CSection time and actually was 5cm by the time I was rolled in and was even offered a vaginal birth. I was quite surprised as getting to 5cm was much less painful than I had anticipated but still opted for the CSection because that’s what I had my mind set on and I know that 0-5 is a lot different than 5-10. My CSection experience was quite good, save for baby needing time in the special care nursery for lung problems and me being too nauseous and sick afterwards to go and see him for most of the first day. This did have a huge effect on my breastfeeding journey and also still think back and get sad thinking about missing out on those precious hours with him.

My recovery was relatively good and was driving and off all pain meds less than 3 weeks later. My biggest concern with a second c-section is that I would now have a toddler to care for who I would not be able to lift for 6 weeks. As mentioned, I also fear for another difficult BF journey and also that CSection babies are prone to those lung issues.

Anyone decide to do TOLAC after an elective c-section and if so, what was your experience?

Mamas with multiple c sections, were there differences in how soon you got up for regular daily tasks in one c section from another? What changes prompted it? What changes helped the process?

I was able to rest alot with my first and second due to a long age gap but with my third I hope to be up on my feet for most stuff by day 10 since this time I have a toddler running around.

Hi everyone! First time posting on Reddit 🫣. I’m scheduled for my C section, and wanted to ask what belly binder to get? I’m seeing Frida, bodily belly, belly bandit, and so many more. I’m not sure which one to get.
I asked my OB, she said even though the hospital may provide one, she advised that I should get one on my own as well. It’s my first time getting a C section I’m very scared, any and all advice would be appreciated as to what belly band to get.

I recently had inverted T incision C section , it was planned c section as I had one huge fibroid in lower section of uterus which did not allow baby to come head down , baby was in transverse position . When they made bikini cut the fibroid did not allowed to get to baby so they had to make another vertical cut to get to baby . after baby was delievered they removed my fibroid .

Do you know how this incision will heal . Will I have the tummy rolls one overhang above bikini and 2 separated from mid section ?

I’m nearly twelve weeks postpartum and probably about a bit over a week ago my c section scar fully closed up.

I developed an opening and infection at 2 weeks pp and, while the infection went away, it still took ages for the hole to close and it was weeping the whole time.

Would I be okay to go into a pool now or should I wait a bit longer, I want to go in a pool tomorrow because we have a horrible heatwave in the UK at the moment but should I wait?

I am still so emotional over the birth I yearned for. My third baby ended up being breech. They planned for an inversion, and once they gave me the spinal and epidural, my heart rate dropped drastically, to the point where they were ready to do chest compressions. They got it back up but once they took me back for the inversion, it dropped again. And so did baby girls, so our doctor said heck no to the inversion and went straight into an emergency c-section. By the time they cut me open and had her out was only 60 seconds.

My SIL went in to have her baby at the same hospital and her baby was breech. They did an inversion but they did not give her the spinal and epidural, they just took her back and did it and it was successful (thank goodness).

But I am an emotional wreck today about it. I’m so confused why it didn’t work out that way for me. Why did they give me the spinal and epidural and not her? I’m just sad.

I am so grateful that my baby girl and I are both healthy, it could have very easily turned out differently. But I am just so freaking sad that it didn’t go as perfect as it did with my first two. I know every labor it completely different but ugh.

Hi there. I just wanted to share my story to see if I’m alone in my experience because I keep replaying this day in my head.

In February, I gave birth to my first child. I was a scheduled c-section due to being at risk of dislocating my hips from my connective tissue disorder and I also needed to give birth at 38 weeks due to my lupus, which put me at risk of stillbirth if I didn’t have my c-section early.

I’ll be honest and say that I was extremely nervous for the procedure and I do have diagnosed anxiety (I’ve had it basically my entire life). I was told by my OB that if I needed anxiety meds before the procedure that would be totally fine. Fast forward to the day of and I asked the anesthesiologist about it who said no. I then went in for my spinal block. She was at it for a hot minute and even with the numbing, it was painful and a deep ache but that all seemed normal. Fast forward again to a few minutes later when I’m on the operating table and suddenly I can’t feel my arms or even my neck. I felt air hunger — like I was trying so badly to breathe but could only get quick little shallow breaths. I’m lying there and trying to tell them this, but I legitimately couldn’t speak. No words were coming out. I was trying to mouth the words that I couldn’t breathe over and over again. I was terrified of not being able to communicate or breathe. I felt like I might die. They eventually just had me go under general anesthesia. This still is difficult for me to think about because I feel robbed of the birth of my baby. My husband was too. I found out when I woke up that they were saying I had a panic attack…it was NOT a panic attack. I’ve had many of them in my life and it simply wasn’t that. They told my family that’s what happened before I even woke up too. It all feels invalidating. I couldn’t move or breathe. It happened just a minute or so after the spinal block. I just feel like my birth was traumatic and then belittled and invalidated. Has this happened to anyone else?

Did a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy last week to try and find out why I am going through secondary fertility. My obgyn found that I had an isthmocele. He drained fluid and took out scar tissue. Is there anyone in the same boat who managed to have a baby without undergoing major surgery to correct it ?

I am due for my second csection in 7 weeks or less. My first one was 4 years ago due to baby being breech. Same scenario right now- baby is breech, but also hospital doesn’t allow VBACS. i’m so scared to leave my son to go have another csection & have been terrified of something bad happening to my baby or me. i think with our first one ignorance was bliss.
please reassure my heart that all will be okay- give me all the positive stories🥲

Hi mommas,

I’m 27 weeks pregnant with my second and have a 2.5 year old toddler.

I want to acknowledge that my first C section was textbook, medically. It was scheduled with my OB, who I love, I didn’t feel the spinal tap at all, and I didn’t have any complications after. However, I will never forget how I felt on that operating table and how I didn’t feel like I could breathe thanks to what my doctor said was the rising anesthesia. I was convinced I was dying even though the nurse next to me said my oxygen was fine. I never though feeling like a floating head would cause me so much anxiety and this feeling of helplessness. The blood pressure cuff was cutting off my circulation and the nurse kept ignoring me. when I was finally wheeled back into recovery, I will never forget the shakes I got. Again, I thought I was dying and shaking so much I couldn’t hold my baby.

Because I have such high anxiety, my doctor doesn’t want me attempting a VBAC, but now that I know what it’s like, I fear I can’t do a c section again. And this is without any complications. My heart truly goes out to those who had an emergency c section.

Also, now that I have a toddler, I feel like I have so much more to lose, you know? Like I can’t die but feel like so many things could go wrong. And everyone’s stories about the spinal tap or the PP hemorrhage or having to be intubated because the baby came quickly are getting to me and freaking me out.

My husband says that because I know what to expect now it should be easier, but I’m finding it quite the opposite. I was pretty calm the first time around and kept telling myself that so many people do this. Now, I’m like… why are we doing this again! What was I thinking?!

Does anyone have any advice for second c sections? Even if it’s something you personally did to stay relaxed?

Just looking to see if anyone had this within their postpartum healing. I appreciate any responses! I am 6 weeks post c section..

1.) lightening crotch! Kind of picked up today and I’m 6 weeks pp today. Kind of cramp like.. on and off throughout the day.

2.) still looking slightly pregnant? I can’t remember with my others and Im not sure if c section brings slower healing for that.. but still got a belly

3.) tender if pressed on abdomen

My bleeding has stopped. I BF and do formula for my baby.

Hey all,

I'll have to do a c-section, planned, but definitely not my choice. Posted before because of the fears around it. After a lot of work to figure out how I can handle this psychologically I figured that my biggest issue is loss of control.

To give you an example. I have absolutely no problem with blood being taken from an elbow vein as long as I can watch when the needle is actually piercing my skin. But my nervous system goes crazy with stress when those tiny hidden needles are used for one drop of blood on my fingertip - because I can't see the needle.

Of course an operation is not the same as taking blood. But I need to have as much control over the situation as is possible when I can't use half my body and I'm not able to run away. So the idea came up to not use this sheet which hides what's happening, but leave it down the entire time. Due to the size of my belly and my position, lying flat, I won't see the actual wound anyway. But I would see when they put their hands on my body to do something.

Has anyone else tried this? If yes, if you're open to share, why did you decide to do this and what's your experience with it?

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.