C-Sec - whats it supposed to feel like?

[ameliesmumvic]

I had an emergency C-Sec last year with a topped-up epidural. It didnt work, I felt quite a lot and was throwing up on the operating table.
I'm going for an elective C-Sec this time round and am obviously concerned. What should you feel?
Is there any miracle chance you're not supposed to feel it and the cutting and clamping sensations I had the last time wont be repeated?
I'd actually rather be knocked out completely but I understand this means DH cant be there...?

(I did ask on the preg thread but this seems a better place to ask!!)

[snickersnack]

I think they avoid generals unless it's an emergency...so you will be awake, chances are.

I had an epidural in labour with dd, which didn't work, so they gave me a spinal block before they took me to theatre for an emergency c-section and there was absolutely no pain. I could feel tugging and pulling, but certainly no cutting sensation, and no stitching afterwards. I think some sensation is unavoidable - you're only numb below a certain point in your spine, and the muscles they're tugging are attached to the rest of you, iykwim.

You should ask to speak to an anaesthetist in advance if you're worried, and see what they recommend.

I'm not really sure what the difference is between the two, something to do with speed and ability to top up (you can top up an epidural, not a spinal block)

[Sawyer64]

I didn't "feel" anything.Lots of pushing and "pressure" which eventually became uncomfortable enough for me to start pulling faces,so the kind Anaesthetist offered me some Gas and Air which did the trick,didnt even feel the Catheter they put in afterwards.

If you did feel anything painful this time,you would be awake,and it wouldn't be an Emergency,so they'd put you out.The Anaesthetist offered to give me GA during my C Section,but I plumped for Gas and Air.

[Moomin]

The spinal is cold and pinchy but then you feel nothing pain-wise. I felt a lot of 'rummaging' and heard the sound of the water being sucked away but it was a very calm, if weird, sensation. Have had 2 elec c-s and was the same for both. Over very quickly too and those two afternoons on morphine were the happiest of my life !

[Moomin]

and also when i felt sick during the 2nd one I told the anaesthetist straight away and she gave me oxygen and it passed.

[pucca]

I had an elective section 2 yrs ago, i had a spinal and i did feel alot of pulling and tugging and inside sensation (if that makes sense) but of course no pain. I do remember feeling quite sickly mainly due to the sensations i was feeling.

I did however feel very faint at one point (after they had got ds out) and was very close to passing out, this was because my BP had gone through the floor, this was quite scary for me as i could feel myself going and took me all my energy to speak out, something was put through my drip and then i was fine.

Iirc you are numb from just under your boobs...down.

[Ripeberry]

Did not have a section. But needed serious stitching up after DD2 decided to be born with both her fists under her chin.
Had massive 3rd degree tear and had to have an epiduaral and a surgeon was called in at 4am!
Spent the whole time shivering like a wreck!
Did not feel cold but just could not stop shivering violently.
And the feeling afterwards when your legs are "gone".
I touched my leg and actually screamed because i did not recognise that it was my leg
TOTALLY weird!

[kid]

I had an epidural for my emergency c-section and a spinal for my elective c-section. With the spinal block, they checked and double checked that I was completrly numb before they started.

I could feel 'something', but definitely not any pain at all. Sort of like being prodded I suppose when you have a numb foot from pins and needles.

Explain your fears before they even start, they will be able to talk to you and reassure you all the way.

Also, as its a planned c-section, it will be much calmer. It literally took 2 minutes for DS to appear after the first incision and I was allowed to hold once he had been weighed and wrapped up. So, hopefully you will be able to focus just on your baby and forget what they are doing on the other side of the screen!

[pucca]

I also had a spinal block for a 3rd degree tear repair, i was told this spinal block was weaker than a section one, as with a repair spinal they only had to numb your "bits" but with a section they had to numb much more of course.

[mumhadenough]

Didn't feel anything at all really, only what I could describe as feeling like someone "rummaging in my handbag on my lap" lol.

[pucca]

Yes i echo what Kid has said, they do comlpetely check you are numb before doing anything if i remember rightly they spray cold water on different parts to see if you feel anything, infact i hadn't even realised they had started until someone mentioned they had already made the incision!

[llynnnn]

i had a planned c-section and didnt feel a thing! i wasnt actually even aware they had started, until i heard water rushing and was told they'd broken the waters (then i was sick!), no pain at all though at the time, didnt feel the catheter, stiching, pulling, clamping or anything.
v v v strange feeling not been able to feel legs etc. i can remember trying to shuffle about on the bed (dont know why!) but i couldnt feel my bum, that freaked me out, but the feeling comes back afterwards within a few hours, thats when the actual pain kicked in for me but they kept giving the meds!!!

good luck, hope all goes well for you x

[AbstractMouse]

I had an emcs with an epidural and an elcs with a spinal. Both times felt rummaging etc but no pain. Felt really sick with the spinal, anesthetist didn't believe me until I was actually retching and then gave me anti-sickness stuff which worked quickly.

I also had a syntocinon?? drip because my uterus was not contracting, that was horrible, made my heart race and my head pound. Added to this I also had a cold which was fun, they put (9lb10) ds on my chest, and I was like get him off lol I can't breathe.

Having a bad cough and a c-section wound is not good idea btw, I had to hug my legs to my chest to be able to cough having no muscle tone and scared that my insides would shoot across the floor eek.

[bellabelly]

I didn't feel anything either - told the anaesthetist to tell me when they started cutting and he looked at me strangely and said "I think baby number one will be out any second" and then my first twin was held aloft! I honestly had NO idea they'd already started.

[bellabelly]

PS Meant to say, hope yours goes as smoothly!

[kid]

I remember the feeling of being convinced my stomach would pop back open if I stood up straight! Of course it never did though

[AbstractMouse]

Also with the spinal it wore off pretty quickly, was able to hoist myself about in bed less than an hour after I got to recovery. Being able to sit up is nice. (With morphine obviously mmm spacey lol)

[kid]

I had the morphine drip with DD (nearly 10 years ago) but they didn't give me that with DS (over 6 years ago)
Instead they came round with tablets at various times. I am sure it was at regular intervals but I was convinced I needed more. They never would give me them though and I am a big wimp and don't do pain well.

[findtheriver]

I was pulled about all over the place, felt all the rummaging about inside me, a lot of pressure - very weird sensations. Not very nice. I also felt very sick, though didnt quite throw up.

It is a strange and in some ways scary experience, but tbh was a picnic compared to vaginal birth without epidural, so I had no complaints.

[Poledra]

Can't say how it should feel, as I had a GA with my emergency c-section, and I have to say I would not recommend it. On top of 14 hours labour and a major op, I also had to recover from the GA which made me quite depressed ( a common effect) and nauseous. And you're right, your DH would not be in the room if you had a GA, though they did take DD1 out to my dh immediately (so he tells me )

[KristinaM]

same as find the river

[PortAndLemon]

It felt ratherlike the baby having a good old kick around in there (particularly odd once he was out and I could see DH holding him. I.e. a lot of pressure/movement, but no pain.

[idontbelieveit]

pressure, tugging and rummaging but no pain, i also couldn't stop shaking and I found it a horrid experience, no pain though, just weirdness.

[Sawyer64]

I didn't have any morphine,just a Voltarol Suppository.

I had DD2 at 10.35am,and by 4pm I was ready to walk out and get myself into a bath and out of it,without any assistance.

The shaking is a side effect from one of the drugs they give you,and Oxygen usually helps get rid of the shaking.