Analgesic options appointment before C Section

[dramallamakarma]

Had a letter today inviting me for the above with a consultant anaesthetist.

Could anyone tell me why please? It's 3 weeks before my CS. Is it for tests or will we be discussing whether I have it under GA?

I assumed I would be having a spinal block but I'm high risk (major placenta previa amongst other things). Can someone enlighten me please?

Thanks

[ladybunnikins]

Hi, it could be related to your caesarean but it is more likely to be a standard anaesthetic review in pregnancy for women with certain risk factors. If the letter has a secretary number on it you could phone up to find out.
Copied and posted from my previous reply to a similar post:
Potential reasons: low platelets, clexane injections, BMI>40, severe asthma, needlephobia, rheumatoid arthritis, previous jaw surgery, scoliosis, spine surgery, requesting a GA, previous problems or family history of problems with anaesthetics, heart problems, brain/nerve problems, intravenous drug user, difficult veins. Probably others too, ideally your midwife/obstetrician should have told you why you are being referred.

[dramallamakarma]

Thanks @ladybunnikins. I did ring but it was just an answerphone telling me to leave a msg if I needed to change my appt.

I don't have any of those conditions so I guess I'll just have to wait & see or like you suggest ring my midwife to see if she knows (the letter says I was referred by the consultant who I won't see again).

[SockQueen]

Major placenta previa is probably why they want to see you!

At some hospitals all women having ELCS see the anaesthetist in clinic before the day of their surgery, at others you see them on the day. But in both cases there will be a separate anaesthetic clinic for higher risk patients to discuss options of anaesthetic plus things that could potentially happen during/following the op.

[Rockandrollwithit]

I had a straightforward ELCS and saw the anaesthetist a few weeks before. She just talked me through how the spinal block would work and the procedure as a whole. It's nothing to worry about

[Nan0second]

They will want to talk to you because of the placenta praevia.
(Plus if you have any other health conditions or high bmi or are jehovah's witness).
They may want to do a combined spinal / epidural so the block lasts longer if the surgery is complicated, or discuss the higher chance of needing a general anaesthetic.
Ours would also talk about strategies for reducing blood transfusion like cell salvage (collects your own blood to give it back to you) and how they would manage if you have a bigger bleed.
It's a good thing! It means they are planning your care carefully and trying to keep you in the loop so you can make informed choices.