Feeling I'll with a C Section tomorrow

[NancyBlacket]

I'm booked in to have a c-section tomorrow, at 38 weeks due to a couple of ongoing complications. I woke up on Christmas day with a cold, just a cold but congested and coughing and feeling unwell. I have got really painful sinuses my jaw and cheeks hurt.

I'm really nervous about the c section anyway and am worried how I'll cope when feeling so rough. Do you think I should try and see my gp or just brave it and hope tomorrow is a better day?

Hmm reading that back I do feel a bit of a woose!

Phone the maternity ward and see what they say. The GP can't do anything to help, but it is important that the Anaethatist (sp?) knows that you are having respiratory issues.

Good luck

I agree, you should contact the maternity unit so that they know. Was there any discretion in the timing of the CS, or is it imperative that it is done tomorrow?

Just wanted to say good luck Nancy, i'm having a c section tomorrow too! Hope you are feeling better.

Thanks for your replies, am feeling a bit better and much less sorry for myself having had some fresh air this morning. Will call the maternity ward later depending on how things go.
The c section should have been (at 38 weeks) on the 25th but the hospital try's not to book planned sections on bank holidays! I don't think they would want to put it off due to several different complications (diabetes, OC, and too much fluid -forgotten technical word! To name a few). I guess if I'm not having a GA but an epidural not being able to breathe to well won't be the end of the world.

It was having to care for a newborn when feeling ill that I was thinking about. Hopefully if your cold is going you will be well by the time the baby is born.

Definitely ring, they might want to give you some antibiotics before you go in. Cold bugs can cause nasty infections.

I second you calling the maternity ward to make sure they are aware of your cold.

I hope you don't mind me offering another wee piece of advice - if you still have our cough after the c-section it might be worth getting hold of a cough syrup if you can, or something else to suppress it. Either that or make sure you have a cushion/pillow to hand at all times. I had my DD2 in September by elcs and had a horrible cough at the same time, it was really painful to cough for about a week afterwards. I found it helped to lean over and press a pillow into my tummy area when I had to cough. Hope this helps

I agree with Pounamu. Great advice about the pillow. Make sure th cough syrup you get is OK with breast feeding and any medications you are given. Boots do simple linctus, and also glycerine honey + lemon, both of which are OK. There is a good chance you will be on morphine or similar for a few hours at least after the CS for pain relief, it does supress a cough quite well! Coughing straight after a c-section will be uncomfortable, though in itself not a reason to delay the CS if their are significant medical reasons that it needs to go ahead. the cough can last for weeks after an URTI, so I can't see that they will delay until you are better. I would definitely call them to let them know. I don't know what happens in your area, but I would call my Labour ward with this kind of concern, they are open 24/7 and extremely knowledgable.

If this were an EMCS rather than elective, they would be going ahead regardless of your illness (like if you were in labour and not progressing for example). So of course call them, just in case, though hopefully things will go ahead as planned.

Not sure if you have had a CS before, but mine was truly wonderful. Good luck and enjoy your new baby!