planned vs unplanned ?

cg0112358 · September 2011

Ok, so I read a lot about people saying that planned c/s are an easier recovery than unplanned. Most people state that this is because those who have planned c/s do not have to go through a lengthy, difficult labor prior to their c/s. I guess my question is would those who have an unplanned c/s with no labor be grouped with those who had planned c/s in terms of recovery?

For DS's birth, I went into the hospital on a Monday night and was monitored due to elevated BP and protein in my urine. The next day my doctor convinced me to let him break my water to get labor started so I didn't develop preeclampsia. When he broke my water he realized DS was breech and I was in the OR two hours later. I never experienced a single contraction (not even BH) yet my c/s recovery was hellish. I was in incredible pain for weeks and it hurt to hold my son for months after. I think it was finally around the 9-month mark when I finally felt mostly normal. I still experience pain if I have any sharp impacts on my abdomen (such as my cat's jumping on my lap or DS accidentally kicking me). At an appointment in July, my new OB did say I had much more scar tissue than he would have expected for someone one year out from their c/s. Anyway, the difficult recovery definitely wasn't b/c my body had been put under any undo strain beforehand so what gives?

I will definitely be attempting a VBAC with my next LO but am nervous b/c I know things don't always turn out the way we plan. How can I improve my next experience if I have to have another c/s? I don't want my next LO's birth to affect me as negatively as DS's did.

afry2001 · September 2011

I was in labor all day then had to have an unplanned c section. I don't have anything to compare it to but I dint think my recovery was that difficult. I never took anything stronger than Ibuprofen. I was up walking around as soon as they let me.

ambs21 · September 2011

That sounds far worse than my recovery from an unplanned c-s after 21+ hrs of labor. I don't think you had a "normal" experience at all. I don't know if your body just didn't/doesn't handle surgery well (hence the extra scar tissue) or if your surgery was poorly done. I'm not sure how you'd prepare for a better outcome since it doesn't sound like you did anything wrong the first time (no added strain or stress, etc.) Good news is that it sounds like you'd be a good candidate for a VBAC.

disbride061103 · September 2011

According to my OB, a planned c/s is easiest for everyone involved. Mom doesn't labor, easy for doctors, etc. Next would be an unplanned where the mother labors but doesn't push and the worst recovery is laboring and pushing and then having a c/s.

Now, all that being said, he did acknowledge that ever patient and every surgery is different. Personally for me, I had a planned c/s with DS1 as he was breech. My c/s with DS2 was a VBAC attempt that ended in a c/s after 20 hours of labor. For me, the recovery from my 2nd c/s was far easier than the first one. I was 98% back to normal within 5 days of my c/s. With DS1 it took about 4 weeks to feel that good.

It's hard to give advice on how to make the recovery better, I know for me, part of it was just getting up and moving around a lot more than I had the first time around, but that is just me.

Jessicaanne_1@yahoo.com · September 2011

I had both a planned c-section and an unplanned c-section. The first time I had labored for 25 hours. My water was broken for about 17 of those hours. I go an infection in my amniotic fluid. Developed a fever of 104.9. I became septic. I had been given a epidural already. So my c-section lasted only a few min. After I heard her cry I fell asleep. I did not wake up until 12 hours later when they brought her to me. I was so sick I remember only bits and pieces. I do not remember the first time I saw her or held her.

With my first baby I was able to get 6 weeks of rest. My sister stayed to help out around the house for 2 weeks which was great. I just laid around and looked at my baby. I did not think the recovery was to bad.

The second time, it was a planned c-section. Nothing ever goes quite according to plan. They were unable to give me a spinal due to a previous back surgery. I was up under general. My husband was not allowed to stay. I also do not remember much of anything. Bits and pieces but not until the next day do I remember holding her.

Although my family did come to help out this time. I had a lot more responsibilities. I was not able to lay around and heal. I had to make a road trip 12 hours each way. Host a bridal shower, be in a wedding. Take care of my 6 year old. So my recovery the second time was more painful.

matzke227 · September 2011

I have an emergency c-section (it was literally like what you would see in the movies- nurses yelling and throwing things to each other, my bed with me confused and crying being ran down the hall) because my son had the cord around his neck 3 times. I recovered really well and was walking around later that night. It could have been because I felt I had to because DH had to go back to work in two days and I would be on my own at home. The only thing that was horiible was trying to go to the bathroom! That was worse than any pain I ever felt and yes, I was in labor for 4 hours before the c-section. Just make sure you get something to take to help go to the bathroom after leaving!!!

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