C-section under general anaestgetic

[user1479720214]

I'm expecting my second child in a few weeks and I'm having a consultant-led pregnancy.
It has been mentioned that I may need a c-sec, but I'm unable to have an epidural/spinal, for medical reasons.
I'd appreciate any advice from anyone who has been through an elective section under GA on what to expect before/during/after, what you wish you'd known, any questions to ask beforehand, please?
I'm seeing the consultant this week, so would appreciate any suggestions of things that would be helpful to know, so I have the chance to ask when I see her.
Thanks.xx

[Littlelegs19]

I had an emergency caesarean under GA in the very early hours of Tuesday morning. I don't know if my experience will help you as mine was emergency but didn't want to read and run. I know the team were fantastic and upon waking up I was giving a lot of information in what to expect after wards.

Please feel free to ask me any questions and I'll do my best to help

[moobeana]

My fiend had this, she had other complications which made it more to
Ricky after birth, but he actual planned cs was great. She was taken in calm and orderly, she said goodbye to husband who waited right out the door. As soon as baby was born it was taken out to her DH who had skin to skin. She woke in recovery with her DH and baby next to her waiting. She said it was calm and very family oriented.

Hth

[user1479720214]

Thank you both so much for your responses, really glad you both had positive experiences and were well informed. Can't shake the worry and possible disappointment at both DH and I missing the birth, as I was so exhausted after first birth that I could barely open my eyes and couldn't hold my son straight away. He had a big head, got stuck and into distress, so ended up with forceps (he was 50th centile through pregnancy and I'm currently 90th with this pregnancy, so worried it might be worse!)
I'm so glad that you had good experiences, although realise yours was emergency, LittleLegs.
Last time I saw my consultant, she said there were aspiration risks to me with elective c-sec under GA, but would rather do anything than avoid possibility of emergency c-sec, if this one gets stuck and into distress again.

[TooMinty]

I had an emergency one so not quite the same. Preparation was the same as usual - gown on, drip in, shaved top of bikini line. Husband did skin to skin with baby while they finished stitching me up. Took me ages to come round properly afterwards but I am very small so they may have overestimated the amount of anaesthetic I needed! I threw up afterwards but I always do after GA (have had a few dental procedures under it too). Once you get over the wooziness then recovery time is probably the same as a normal caesarean. It's funny going to sleep pregnant and waking up to be handed a baby

Good luck

[TheTantrumCometh]

My DM had an emergency one with my brother, and if it helps she only looks back with fond memories of her son being born. In fact, when she first came around my DF said that she spoke to him briefly to say;

Her: What did we have?

Him: A boy

Her: That's nice

It became the running joke/amusing story about his birth. So although I can see why you would be concerned about missing out on your DC's birth, it will be something you still look back fondly on.

[SpookyPotato]

I loved having a section with GA! Literally go to sleep then wake up with a baby! I didn't see him until the morning but it didn't ruin bonding. I hope you have a good experience!

[user1479720214]

Thanks all for your positive comments, feeling much better about the experience of ELCS under GA, although hoping labour starts soon (once I've had a few days to put my feet up !xx

[ConvincingLiar]

EMCS under GA for me. GA was better than it had been for shoulder surgery in the past. It was magic, I went to sleep and woke up to a baby. No regrets at all.

If I'd had time for questions I'd have asked about pain relief once the anaesthetic had worn off (not a problem for me I don't think). We weren't sufficiently clear about what should happen once baby was out. There was some limbo where baby was still in OR and I was unconscious, eventually the paediatrician rescued him and gave him to DH.

[Mattandlou22]

I am expecting my 5th child and will most likely have to have a c section under GA due to medical reasons
After 4 vaginal deliveries I'm very anxious, especially about the breastfeeding
Iv always had my babies put straight to the breast - what will happen this time if I'm out if it for hours
Will they insist on a bottle??

[SockQueen]

Mattandlou you can discuss this with your midwife, obstetrician and anaesthetist. You won't be asleep for hours - the wake-up is usually pretty quick these days unless there's complications with the op - but you may feel groggy for some time. You can breastfeed as soon as you're awake enough to hold your baby - the amount of anaesthetic left in your body once you're awake is not enough to harm the baby, though combined with any opioid (morphine or similar) painkillers may make him/her drowsy. It's unlikely they'd insist on a bottle unless there were other problems too.

[JohnLapsleyParlabane]

I had an EMCS with general anaesthetic. I am not physically able to have spinals or epidurals due to the volume of metal in my back. We knew this from very early on and investigated options but it was simply impossible to give me the pain relief required for a section in any other way. My birth plan was quite detailed to allow for this to be managed in as gently a way as possible. I expressed a lot of colostrum beforehand, ensured my birth partner knew to only put our baby in a nappy and towel until I came back, clarified with all staff that baby was only to be washed if medically necessary (basically if she pooed in the womb, which she did) . Anyway. I went into labour naturally, she did a poo, it all got pretty scary and the next intervention offered was the Syntocin drip. I declined this as I knew the likelihood of a section was getting greater and I wanted to minimise the drugs in our systems. I also declined continuous fetal monitoring as I had infection concerns regarding faeces/cutting baby's skin. I first held her 85 mins after she was born. Our 'bonding' was unaffected, breastfeeding came very easily to us and she is still breastfeeding at over a year old. Sorry for the epic response, but please know that for those of us who birth our babies this way still have great relationships with our little ones.

[FaFoutis]

I had one. It was lovely. I didn't get the impression that there were options, but what happened was all fine.
My baby got taken straight out to be with his father. I woke up in recovery next to my baby, feeling marvellous because of the morphine. The baby had some formula from a cup while I was unconscious, then I started bf as soon as I was awake.
I probably wish I'd known how pleasant and easy it was.