Sorry this is a bit late - lack of sleep and all that!!
Euan arrived loudly at 8:46am Canada time (4pm UK) on Monday 13th Sep, weighing 7lb 2oz. For those that don't know - the medical system here is pretty much the same as the UK - ie not private. Unbelievable that a public system gave me such a wonderful experince.........
Planned CS which was an amazingly lovely experience; not at all what I expected. My birth plan was followed to the letter mostly; where it wasn't I was warned well in advance, explained why and what the staff would do to reassure me. Their level of compassion was unbelievable.
Anyway, gory details.......
Arrived on maternity at 6:30am, foetal monitoring. Baby kicking like mad at this point! Walked to theatre in my own gear, changed into a gown and was wheeled into the OR. Met the team - everyone introduced themselves. The OR was much smaller than I expected - looked just like a normal hospital room. I volunteered to be a teaching case so the 2 junior doctors were accompanied by 2 consultant. Everyone very excited, as (coincidence) the team was all girls and the consultant anaesthetist was 5 months preggers herself! Her first baby was CS so she was able to explain from her own perspective, as well as a medical view, what was happening. Moved onto the OR table and a lovely warm saline drip started. Wait for this - I was then covered in toasty warm flannel blankets (including my head) as the OR was cool. After 20 mins I sat up and the spinal anaesthetic was attempted. I say attempted as the poor junior anaesthetist had a really hard time getting into my spine. It didn't hurt at all, just felt 'nervy'. I tried to chat and be blase with everyone as she must have felt a bit under pressure to perform! Poor thing, she had to give up and the consultant did it. Wow, the feeling of the spinal was amazing. A warm fuzzy feeling spread down my pelvis and legs and I every so gradually lost feeling. As it took effect I lay down (more of those warm blankets!!) and they inserted my catheter. It wasn't at all 'degrading' as I though it might. More tests to see if I was numb and then it all kicked off! God, was I excited at this point. I felt wonderful - no sickness (they were really pumping in the saline to keep my BP up) and my breathing felt totally normal. I found the screen in front of me a wee bit claustrophobic, but I was so excited it wasn't a big deal.
Surgery then started - poo, the smell of the diathermy cutter! I felt nothing at all, but I could feel the OB guys 'rummaging' which was actually very nice and 'real. Euan's head was very big so they had to vacuum him out - I actually felt 'lighter' as they tugged him out - wow! . After an eternal silence (actually 1 min) he totally screamed the place down, and continued to scream until they got him wrapped up. No oxygen required and he got APGARs of 9 and 10 (that's my boy!). I could see everything, as the warmer was right next to me and DH brought him to me straight away. What a cutie he was/is. He stayed for about 15 mins but my neck was getting sore looking at him so I said to the paediatrician that it was OK to take him off to the nursery. DH went too. He said he's never felt as proud in his life walking down the corrider, pushing the baby warmer with his son safe and sound.
In no time I was wheeled into recovery and I could already feel the spinal wearing off. More lovely warm blankets and they slowly sat me up and encouraged me to move my hips and legs. The spinal totally wore off within an hour. They had injected some long-lasting morphine into my spine as well and gave me paracetamol and diclofenac suppositories in theatre (not degrading, they were very respectful) so I felt no pain whatsoever. I was sitting up fully within an hour, sipping water and chatting to the recovery nurses. It was a 10 bed recovery area so there was lots going on and not at all boring. A bit of a headache and very slight nausea each time I sat up further but it disappeared almost straight away. The only downer was that I was absolutely STARVING (even on the OR table), which the nurses thought was hilarious (I didn't!).
DH kept popping in with loads of pics on the digital camera of our son - that was fabby. I didn't feel traumatised at all at being separated. To be honest, I loved the personal attention and what with the warm blankets - it felt like a day out at the spa!!!!!
Then, 2 hours after I arrived at the OR, I was on my way back to maternity with a big grin on my face and holding Euan straight away. At 3pm, I got out of bed and moved around - no pain thanks to all the yummy drugs. The drugs were all in my spine so my brain felt as clear as a bell. I was able to completely stand up straight. I had an IV and catheter whcih limited my distance - probably a good thing as I was galloping around maternity the next day and gave myself a bit of a bruise around the wound from over-exertion. As the OB said, "which part of 'rest' do you not understand?!"
Sometime that afternoon I started feeding. Euan needed a bit of encouragement to latch but he pretty much took to things straight away.
So - a success
I'm glad it was such a positive experience. I know a CS isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I really feel I 'gave birth', which I didn't expect. I think making the birth plan and admitting on it that I was terrified and that I wanted a running commentry in theatre helped a lot. Everyone went out of their way to be really nice and as such I felt totally relaxed, happy and enthusiastic at every stage. I don't know if it's a coincidence, but my milk came in on Wednesday, which is apparently really unusual for a CS. I'm convinced it's beacause the hospital staff went that extra mile to reassure me and give me the birth I wanted.
I feel very lucky and privaleged that everything went so well. I chose a CS for totally selfish reasons, it all went well and I immediately (and still do) felt that emotionally I could give everything of myself to my son.
I hope this is of help to anyone else facing a CS.
MAKE A BIRTH PLAN!!!!!!!!!!!