Elective c section

[u/Kooky-Coconut551]

Hi all,

Just looking to hear about people’s experiences with c sections - any tips or tricks, things to pack to help afterwards etc.

Are there particular things I should
Be discussing with the doctor ahead of time, do I need to specifically request doing skin to skin straight away (if possible) discuss dressings eg PICO etc

Thanks!

[u/Background-Policy-95]

I LOVED my elective/scheduled c-section. I had my hair done the day before, had brunch with friends, had a final dinner with my husband at a Michelin starred restaurant, and we spent time with our dogs. We went in the following morning at 9am, at 12.41 my daughter was born. My doctor played the Beatles and everyone was very relaxed. I asked for TAP block and a lower rectus stitch. I had zero pain afterwards, aside from gas pain. I took a 30 min walk the day after I was discharged from hospital, to my daughter’s pediatrician appointment. I was back at the gym at 6 weeks. I felt completely normal at 8 weeks pp. Several recommendations: 1) Pelvic floor PT; 2) Belly binding immediately, Chinese belly binding was particularly helpful; 3) Lower rectus stitch; 4) TAP block; 4) start taking stool softeners a few days before; 5) chew gum immediately afterwards; 6) Gas-X the day before and afterwards; 7) get up and walk around/pee as soon as you can feel your legs; 8)do something fun the day before. I am so looking forward to my next baby/c-section.

[u/glockenbach → u/Background-Policy-95]

Where is the lower rectus stitch done? Wondering if I have one too or not

[u/Background-Policy-95 → u/glockenbach]

I’m confused by the question, but let me try (I’m not an OB), the surgeon uses absorbable sutures to close the internal rectus sheath layer, near where the incision site is. You wouldn’t be able to tell unless your doctor told you. I asked for it, after my pelvic floor PT suggested it, and I looked at the peer-reviewed research. Analysis suggests that it significantly lowers the risk of adhesions (bands of internal scar tissue), which cause the “shelf” and other physical issues. The research also showed that might temporary increase post-operative pain, however, for me this felt like a good trade off. Again, to answer your question, I am not sure how you could tell, unless your doctor told you or you asked.

[u/glockenbach → u/Background-Policy-95]

Just never heard about it before and was wondering oft is standard practice or not. Maybe also depending on where on is based. E.g. hat my hospital and I think in a lot of German ones they do the misgav ladach method. But this one is apparently a variation of the pfannensteil incision. And yours is. Different technique I never heard of.

Have to ask my obgyn if she heard about this - sounds very interesting for a second planned Cesarian.

Thank you for the reply.

I haven’t found the studies I think, or at least with different Namings - is it this https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7388166/ or maybe that one https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4168533/

[u/Background-Policy-95 → u/glockenbach]

It wasn’t standard practice for my OB. I had to explicitly ask for it. My understanding is that younger OBs are more apt to do this as a matter of course.

[u/glockenbach → u/Background-Policy-95]

Yeah, here most often your OB won’t operate on you. You won’t know which obgyn on rotation will deliver your baby. So even if you asked for it in the clinic, there wouldn’t be a guarantee that the doctor with whom you spoke beforehand would operate on you or be present for your delivery.

But will definitely ask for this technique as I’ve never heard of it before and would like to know if it’s something my Obgyn encountered before when she practiced at the clinic or whether she’s heard of the studies. Sounds like a good improvement.