Scheduled C/S vs. Unplanned C/S - Any moms have both?

toriwc · September 2011

I am scheduled for my c/s on 9/16 due to uterine issues. I was wondering if there is any truth to what I've been reading about a scheduled c/s being a bit "easier" than one that was unplanned or an emergency (easier mostly in terms of recovery). I figure moms who've had one or more of each type would be able to best answer this. TIA!

eesome · September 2011

I have had both, and yes, the planned c/s was MUCH easier and I healed faster!

However-- with the unplanned c/s I pushed for 3 hours prior, and that really was a workout for my abs.

Of course with the planned c/s I just walked right in and had a surgery. Much better!

disbride061103 · September 2011

Both my c/s recoveries were pretty easy. I had a scheduled c/s with my older son (he was breech). With my younger son, I had an unplanned c/s after 20+ hours of labor. To be perfectly honest, my recovery was much easier with the unplanned c/s. I felt 95% by 5 days pp. With my scheduled c/s it took about 3 weeks for me to feel that good.

juliane2004 · September 2011

I think my planned c/s (#2) was better overall because of my unplanned (#1). I knew what went "wrong" and could "fix" it, like getting out of bed ASAP (instead of waiting 12 hours).

isisbluu · September 2011

My Scheduled c-section (2nd son) was 1000x easier to recover from. I was med & pain free after 6 days. With my first, it took me a good 2-3 weeks to recover.

Good luck!

thomas2013 · September 2011

isisbluu:
My Scheduled c-section (2nd son) was 1000x easier to recover from. I was med & pain free after 6 days. With my first, it took me a good 2-3 weeks to recover.

Good luck!

This! My first was horrible! It took me months to heal and the pain would still come and go 4 years later. With DD it was a cake walk compared to my first and I had reconstructive to fix my first.

novilise · September 2011

The second was a little easier in some ways; and the unplanned was easier in some ways. They were very similar, yet different. Neither one was really that bad in terms of healing. It took less than a week each time. I think it was a little quicker the second time. But I also used a recliner the second time and it helped so very much!

wyldirishrose12 · September 2011

I agree that a planned c/s is easier to recover from since you sort of know how much pain there is going to be afterward. With my unplanned I would wait until I was in so much pain to ask for pain meds but with the second i knew what to expect. See my post called "my c-section birth story" for my description of the c/s if you like.

mrsseguin · September 2011

#1 was unplanned...the c/s itself sucked. The recovery was easy. #2 was scheduled...the c/s was fabulous but the recovery SUCKED. I'm sure it's different for everyone though!

rachbenn2007 · September 2011

Having your first c/s planned or unplanned, is going to crappy, due to the fact that you don't know how your body will recover and you don't know what to except.

My first was emergency and 2 and soon 3 will be planned. Both of my c/s and recoveries were easy, my dr did a great job and was very informative on what i should expect. The biggest thing i can say to get is get a binder of some sort. My Dr. puts one on his c/s patients even before you leave the OR.

toriwc · September 2011

Thanks for all of the insights, and keep them coming!

Re: the binder. My doctor actually doesn't use them because of a certain stitch technique she uses. But I was sure to ask about it.

I've had quite a few surgeries in the past (one perhaps even more invasive than a c/s) and I've always bounced back quickly, so I am hoping for something similar here!

megstarwsu · September 2011

eesome:
I have had both, and yes, the planned c/s was MUCH easier and I healed faster!
However-- with the unplanned c/s I pushed for 3 hours prior, and that really was a workout for my abs.
Of course with the planned c/s I just walked right in and had a surgery. Much better!

This! Exactly this. The atmosphere in a planned c/s is usually much more relaxed. And I loved my spinal. It was better than the epidural.

Mrs_MBed · September 2011

I have had both - both recoveries were pretty easy, although I think I recovered faster the 2nd time around (planned) because I knew what to expect and what to do. Also, DD2 was a preemie with NICU time, so I was walking more. With DD1 (unplanned) I spent more time on the couch.

I am hoping that my 3rd (and final) c/s goes smoothly with a quick recovery as well. I'll be juggling twins and the girls - 4 and 2 y.o. - while preparing to move...

Ready4life · September 2011

Well with # 1 we had planned the c-section since I had previa. But my water broke 2 days before. So it was technically an emergency. I recovered well physically (my OB happened to be on call and did an amazing job), it was more emotionally for me that took awhile.

KatiKM · September 2011

I've had both, first was unplanned. Much harder. Second was scheduled and as easy as pie.

JessiRaye · September 2011

I have had both. Unplanned/emergency c/s the first time. Two scheduled c-sections.

My scheduled c-sections were much smoother because there was no emergent situation and I knew what to expect. My recoveries went well but I was a little more sore the 3rd time around, which is probably normal being that I had more scar tissue etc. (The 3rd took a bit longer.)

The unplanned c-section was fast and rough. My recovery sucked because I was sore from laboring and pushing on top of having surgery. I also had pre-e with my first pregnancy so I was really swollen and had high bp the week following delivery.

stargirlsheart · September 2011

My planned c-section was a great experience. For my unplanned one I was exhausted after being in labor for 24hrs and got sick from different pain killers mixing with the spinal. The planned one was a whole different story. Everything was nice and relaxed. I felt fantastic and talked to DH the whole time. Recovery was much easier too...maybe because I knew what to expect.

J9melissa · September 2011

rachbenn2007:

Having your first c/s planned or unplanned, is going to crappy, due to the fact that you don't know how your body will recover and you don't know what to except.

My first was emergency and 2 and soon 3 will be planned. Both of my c/s and recoveries were easy, my dr did a great job and was very informative on what i should expect. The biggest thing i can say to get is get a binder of some sort. My Dr. puts one on his c/s patients even before you leave the OR.

I disagree. I had a planned one (only one child) and it all went great.

Soon2BMrsN · September 2011

I am hoping my RCS is "easier" than my first c/s... I was in labor for 22 hours and pushing for 2 of those hours, and I was exhausted.

MamatoJackson · September 2011

Yes, easier all around.

A) You have the ability to prep things at home - make sure everything is done, grocery shop, etc.

With my first, I labored 26 hours (and hadn't been able to sleep the night before) by the time they decided to do a c-section. I was exhausted. For the second (scheduled), I was well-rested and feeling good.

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Scheduled C/S vs. Unplanned C/S - Any moms have both?

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