Need info on procedure of elective c-section

[AlwaysTheMummy]

just to cut a long story short, I needed an emergency section with my son and was given a choice of elective section or vbac for my second, due 26th December.

After thinking about it for the last few months, I've decided to opt for an elective and I would be really grateful if anyone had any info on what to expect, we're booked in on 20th December at 8am, so does that mean we have to come to the hospital at that date or thats when the section will take place. The consultant didn't really say much apart from booking me in at 38 weeks to have bloods done and a prescription given, can anyone shed some light on this aswell. I'm sure they will tell me all I need to know when I'm the in the hospital having my bloods done but I'm quite impatient to know what will go on.

Any info, even if you think it's irrelevant would be most helpful.

Many thanks
ATM

[wardrobemistressakasugarfree]

When I had my electives I was called in the afternoon previously to see the anaesthetist,then went home and came back next day having been nil by mouth since 6am.
The 8am time is when the surgeons list starts,not when you are scheduled.Depending on your hospital,emergency sections will be slotted in ahead of you (if there is no dedicated theatre for them-very likely)
I was 8am for both mine-one was born at 12.15ish and the other was early afternoon,the only reason I wasn't held back til the next day was I got staff perks!

[wardrobemistressakasugarfree]

The prescription could be for your pre-med.For an elective that is usually only an antacid and anti nausea drug.Although the anaesthetist that wrote mine up did offer me a Valium if I wanted it-again,probably a staff perk.They will let you know what time you are to take it if thats the case.
Procedures do vary slightly from trust to trust but don't worry,just ask them what you want to know.

[VictorianSqualor]

With my elective, I was told not to eat from midnight the day before, I saw the consultant about 4/5 days before I had to go in, but this was over the xmas period (I saw doc xmas eve, had cs on 29th).
I was given the prescription for my pre-med, as wardrobe says it was an antacid (something to do with you not being ill during the op).
I had to take the prescription at 6am, then be at the hospital for 8am, no food from midnight, and I thikn I was allowed one glass of water with ym tablet.
I went in at 8am, and had DS at 9:31am. So it all depends where you are on the list and if any emergencies crop up.
By around 10:30am I was in HDU, with baby having skin-to-skin (Are you planning on breastfeeding??if so make sure you mention it, that way they wont give baby a bottle whilst they stitch you up)
I was meant to stay in for 3 days but they allowed me home on the afternoon of 31st, because I had been up and busy and wanted to go home basically!
I had to have a poo, and a wee and something to eat and a little chat with the midwife before I left, otherwise I would've been able to go that morning.

[DaisyNightingale]

I had an appointment a couple of days before hand to discuss any concerns I might have, what the procedure would entail/the risks that were involved and to do a final check on baby's position and BP etc and to sign the consent form.

I had to be at the hospital for 8:00am and after a check by the midwife, I got into my rahter attractive gown and support stockings. A further chat with the anaesthetist and surgeon, and I was given my premed...an antacid and anti emetic as previously mentioned.

I then had to wait a bit while the women ahead of me were done. I was taken up to the recovery ward to drop off my bags at about 10:15, then waddled through to the anaesthetic room where I was given a combined spinal and epidural. It was a bit uncomfortable; more so than with my previous emergency, but maybe because I was alert and aware rather than drugged to the eyeballs and knackered after a 48 hour labour!

I could hear the baby of the woman before me making it's first cries which was odd! After a bit, I was wheeled into the theatre and my DD was delivered at 11:33. After she was checked over, and helped a bit (elective babies often need more help than natural births, so try not to be alarmed (I din't know this and spent a very worried few minutes), then she was handed to my DH for a cuddle and to start getting to know her. I had a bit of a cuddle as well while they were stitching me up, then DH watched her get weighed etc whilst they transferred me to a bed and took me through to recovery. We went straight for some skin to skin contact and she was feeding (and I was having some tea and toast) about 15 minutes after she was born. We were kept in recovery for a couple of hourse before being transferred to the ward.

I was up in my chair having tea at about 5pm, and the catheter was taken out around midnight as I was getting to and from the loo OK.

I stayed in for four days; partly because my recovery was slow, but partly I had some AND/PND issues as well. I paid for a side ward and it was the best thing to have done as we were pretty much left in peace so got our bonding and feeding off to a flying start woithout all the usual noise of the ward. I managed some sleep as well which was invaluable.

I took in my own blanket for wrapping her in on the recovery ward, and could have had music as well. There is nothing to stop you doing a birth plan, and you can choose to find out the sex for yourselves, your DP may be allowed to cut the cord (strong stomach required). you can ask for quiet so the first voice your baby hears is yours, have music etc. Most hospitals are happy to do this.

I have some stuff about C section birth plans that I was sent by the lovely MarsLady. If you e-mail me on daisybump at yahoo dot co dot uk, I can send them to you

good Luck!

[BetsyBoop]

just to add to what's already posted - take things to keep you entertained on the morning of your op - I was third on the list & DS was born at 13:07.....it was a long morning (we had to be there for 7:30) in spite of 2 papers & 3 magazines....

[AlwaysTheMummy]

thank you to everyone for you very informative replies.

Is it normal to be put on a ward after having a section, it's just that when I had my son they put me in my own room so I thought that was standard, little did I know.

[Ellbell]

Hiya. Good luck with your birth. I had my elective after a lengthy period in hospital, so it won't be the same as your experience, as there was no going home and coming back again. However, I did see a doctor the day before and signed a consent form. Then I was nil by mouth from midnight that night. Dd was born at 9.40 the next morning. I did have my own room afterwards, but that was because I'd been in so long (9 weeks by that time) and was already settled there. Where I had my dd they put all the cs mums on one ward which was the one nearest to the midwives' station because they tended to need more help. They actually weren't all that keen on letting me stay in my room, but I wasn't all that demanding (apart from needing someone to come and check dd's ngt every 3 hours, but again that shouldn't be the case for you if you're having your baby at full-term) and I think they felt sorry for me, so they let me stay. I hope it all goes well for you. My elective section was incredibly positive and I have wonderful memories of dd's appearance.

[Ellbell]

That is... of the moment when she appeared, obviously, not of how she looked. (She was beautiful, of course, but wearing quite a bit of her placenta on her head, so slightly ... ummmmm ... placenta-headed ).

[VictorianSqualor]

Alwaysthemummy, I asked for a private room, but there weren't any available, so I was given a room which would normally have two people in for free.
As with EllBell, I was doing pretty much everything myself so they weren't too worried. I think they prefer you on the ward if you're a bit more unsure of what you have to do etc.
Also, as Daisy said you can still have your birth plan and chocies. this is something Klaw linked me about my own birthplan and looks pretty darn good.
Although I'm going for a VBAC, I now know that I can ask for DP to sex the baby, cut the cord etc if I have to have another CS, so it can still be special for us.

[MadLabOwner]

My hospital prefers CS women to be on the ward so they can have a better eye kept on them, as there are more people around. May vary from trust to trust though, worth asking. Private rooms tended to go to those who need it most - long labour etc.

[BetsyBoop]

at our hospital you HAVE to spend the first night after a c/s on the ward (4 bedded bay) so they can keep an eye on you (there was a m/w having an elective the same day as me, so it must apply to everyone, not even any staff perks!) - but for the next two nights (normally a 3 night stay for c/s's) they put you in a single room for free (assuming one is available) - I understand this varies from trust to trust though.

[meglet]

This is a bit irrelevant, but a nice thought.I had an emergency section for my first and will have to have a planned section for any future babys as my cervix is broken. One of the midwives said planned sections are lovely as you you can get organised.

I'd guess that your section will take place on the 20th. However you might have to wait as obviously emergency sections will go to the top of the queue. Apparently you can come home after 2 days too.

[blueshoes]

My hospital had one theatre and surgeon just doing electives, so no risk of being bumped by emergencies.

When it is your turn, you will be taken down to theatre and the anesthetist preps you for the spinal (catheter in hand, urinary catheter, spinal in back, spraying cold stuff on your abdomen to see if you were sufficiently numb). Screen goes up covering your business end. During this time, a health assistant stayed with dh and separately got him to scrub up and gowned.

Once I was prepped, dh joined me. Then the surgeon took over ...

A bit of tugging and ds was on my chest, skin-to-skin about 10 min later. Took about 20 minutes to sew up. THen I go with ds to the high dependency unit and dh goes off (where?). Constant taking of blood pressure etc, bf-ing. Once they have decided all is ok, a few hours later, I am discharged onto the post natal ward. dh there.

All the best, ATM. It is so calm and controlled I have trouble remembering what happened!

[whomovedmychocolate]

In my area you have to check in at 6pm the day before, you go down at 9am for a 20 minute baby monitoring, then you are taken down to the prep room for your epidural and then about 40 mins later you are on the table and your baby is delivered 10 minutes later. Then 40 minutes of sewing and you go to observation.

With our area you get booked at 11 or later in the day though because they do all the overnight emergencies first thing.