No eating or drinking day of c-section

[Positivity2020]

Hi
It sounds a daft thing to worry about ... but if I don’t eat much and especially if I don’t eat at all for a few hours I start feeling very very sick and would be sick.
I’m just wondering how anyone else managed in this situation ?
I did have morning sickness but now it has gone apart from if I don’t eat much x

[Fatted]

Talking from experience, if you eat too soon before the anesthetic, then you will be sick after your c-section. So unfortunately, whichever way you look at it, you will be feeling sick.

[peachypetals]

Not really a lot you can do without meaning to sound harsh, you’ll have to just manage.

[Itsalwayssunnyupnorth]

Speak to your midwife/dr about it. I had a pre assessment the day before mine by which point they had an idea where I was on the list. I was first on the morning list I could eat up until midnight (stayed up and had tea and toast) the. I could have a glass of water at 6 and had to be in hospital for 7. I was then in theatre for 8.30 so didn’t really have time to think about. General rule is 4-6 hours before so if they have an idea on timings they could advise around that.

[Marmite27]

I had to fast from 8pm the night before. We timed dinner to end at 8pm, then I went to bed after a bit of pottering / a shower.

Ended up waiting all day due to not having a neonatal cot available. Wasn’t allowed any food / drink. They came to put a cannula in to give me in fluids at 3:30pm. They got news there was a cot, so got rushed to theatre before the could hook it up and before they lost the cot.

I finally got food / drink about 5pm. I was fine, as I was in hospital I didn’t worry as they were doing hourly obs on me. I wouldn’t want to do that length of time at home.

[KihoBebiluPute]

speak to the doctor about it, they may be able to prescribe something to suppress the nausea if it becomes a problem. having an empty stomach reduces the probability of complications so its worth putting up with if you possibly can.

[Letmegetthisrightasawoman]

I'm pretty certain I was given anti sickness meds to take at 7am on the day, along with other pre-op meds. You will not be the to only pregnant woman in this situation, just ask at the pre-op appointment.

[Positivity2020]

Thank you appreciate the kind comments x

[Darkstar4855]

They usually give you an acid suppressing medication (ranitidine) just before and can give you antisickness drugs in theatre. If you have food and drink in your stomach there’s more risk of you vomiting during the section as you are lying flat and there’s pressure on your stomach.

[ShyTown]

They let me drink whilst I was waiting as long it was sips. No food was fine as I was first on the list although got bumped for an emergency, I was still done in time to have lunch.

[Snailsetssail]

What do they do in emergency sections when women have been eating and drinking all through their labour?

[unimaginativeusernamehere]

@Snailsetssail women in labour don't tend to want to eat anything in my experience

[Snailsetssail]

@unimaginativeusernamehere I was encouraged to drink lucazade and eat sweets through mine to keep my energy up.

[Foggymist]

I had breakfast at 9am and csection was then scheduled for 1pm with them knowing I had it. They had to do the csection and I had only had a small breakfast so they weren't going to postpone it for that. I was fine afterwards, no sickness, ate a sandwich and had tea about an hour after because my husband had it and I didn't know I wasn't supposed to!

[Squiffany]

@Snailsetssail

What do they do in emergency sections when women have been eating and drinking all through their labour?

If they needed a general anaesthetic they would be at high risk of aspirating if they vomited. They would perform what is called an RSI, which means rapid sequence induction. They give fast acting drugs to send you to sleep and their assistant will apply cricoid pressure which is pressing on the front of your neck (they do it in a specific place so it doesn’t obstruct your breathing) as you go to sleep.

No food including boiled sweets and chewing gum is allowed for this reason. Sips of water may be taken. No drinks with milk as it solidifies in your stomach.

Try not to worry OP, the anaesthetist will give you medication to reduce the nausea.

[SephrinaX]

They give you some anti-sickness meds to lower your stomach acid and reduce the likelihood of sickness. You get them the night before I think so you might be okay.

[Pinkflipflop85]

I had an emergency section. Up until that point the midwives had been encouraging me to eat and drink because I was dehydrated and my veins were collapsing.

The cesarean was grim because I kept vomiting through it.

Believe me....you want to go nil by mouth!

[cautiouscovidity]

They will most likely give you anti sickness meds before you go to theatre so you'll be fine.

[Pipandmum]

I wasnt given any drugs before. The anesthesia they give you makes you feel sick (your blood pressure can plummet).
I'm type 1 diabetic so need to eat regularly but it wasn't an issue. My mind was rather preoccupied!

[LittleBrownBaby]

I vomited a lot (for days) after both of my c-sections. I'd definitely go with the advice your given and keep an empty belly! Good luck x

[orangejuicer]

Don't rush to eat after your c section either - it dufnt work out well for me

[Mumtumwobble]

There isn’t much you can do and it’s rubbish. I had a glass of water around 6:30am got to hospital for 7:30 as instructed, but didn’t end up having my c-section until about 3pm because there were so many emergencies. After much asking I was finally allowed a tiny sip of water at around 12:30pm as I’d had literally nothing since 6:30am. I was also very sick thoughout pregnancy and I’m always sick after anaesthetic anyway. Just be prepared for it.

[trixiebelden77]

Snailsetsail: the same as any other emergency surgery. We accept that there is a risk of aspiration of gastric contents into the lungs if we need to intubate the patient, but that this risk is outweighed by the risks of waiting to perform the surgery.

[SwanShaped]

I have to say that this was the worst thing about c section. I was soooooo hungry. I also start to feel sick when I’m hungry. But seeing as I was so scared before the section, I was quite pleased that feeling hungry ended up being the worst thing about it. I thought the whole process was going to be so much worse. Just time your last meal to be as late as possible.

[ImFree2doasiwant]

I vomited with the spinal , a lot, before I'd even got as far as the c section. I was given sonething to stop it but had several looooong minutes of misery. And was grateful I hadn't eaten