Considering cancelling csection

[OTTMummA]

Hi, much more of a wwyd really, am booked in for my 2nd elective section on wednesday, I have just got over a chest infection but still have a blocked nose and don't feel my best. Ds has woken up with conjunctivitis this morning, doesn't seem I'll apart from the eyes, he also had a cold last week. I am wondering wether or not to ask for the section to be put off until later but I'm not sure if I'm overreacting or not. Also would love shy tips on how to home treat the eyes, am using cooled salt water which is getting the gunk off, just really don't need this atm.

I think you should phone and ask for advice. They won't do it unless you're considered medically fit and the risk with asking for it to be postponed is that you go into labour spontaneously and need an 'emergency' cesarean which is less safe.

How far into your pregnancy are you booked for your section? (I was 39+3). I agree that you should contact your hospital and find out where you stand on this.

Another factor is the reason why you're having the section - is it a good idea for you to risk labour and/or delivery?

And here's a link for treating your LOs conjunctivitis:

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Conjunctivitis-infective/Pages/Introduction.aspx

I sincerely hope all works out! Get well soon (both) and good luck x

Probably an irrelevant post, but I had an operation cancelled because of a cold. I would have had a GA and they said I would feel terrible after if I didn't cancel. It's probably different with a section - do you get an epidural normally? Hope you feel better soon. I've been so ill this pregnancy, I'm sick of it!

I always found breast milk a magical cure for conjunctivitis. Can you squeeze any colostrum out onto clean cotton wool?

It's not necessarily different with an elective cesarean compared with another operation, because a spinal might be planned, it's possible that GA might be needed during the operation - hence women being starved pre-op as for a GA.

Thank you for the replies, I will be 39 weeks on Wednesday and I have to have a GA because of previous back and pelvic surgery so not an option for spinal/epi unfortunately :( although I have never had horrid experiences with GA before, but I do not feel my best atm. Ds seems fine apart from his eyes, no more gunk since this morning just red eyes, one more than the other, not sure if that means anything? I just feel so stressed out and don't need the extra worry, DH thinks I should just go ahead on Wednesday but Im still not sure, think I will phone the hospital on Monday.

Oh and I was wondering about using colostrum, I have plenty at the moment, do I just squeeze it onto a cotton wool pad and wipe his eye, or dab some into the corner of his eye? I will to anything to get his eyes better, even considered expressing some for him to have!

Wait and see how you are. They won't give you a GA with an active chest infection, however, the antibiotics should have done the trick by then, certainly by Wednesday they will.

The problem will be in trying to get rebooked if you cancel, and spontaneously going into labour, which obviously you don't want to do with your spinal/pelvic issues. You certainly don't want an EMCS in the middle of the night.

Look after yourself this weekend. Am sure all will be well by next week. Good luck, x

I hope you feel better soon - I should speak to your consultant on Monday either way. They will be able to help you understand your choices better than we can. If you responded well to GA in the past that's got to be a good sign.

For the colustrum and conjunctivitis, what I've done is hand express straight onto cotton wool until its damp then wipe the eyes with it. I think I cleaned them out first with cooled boiled water. It's better than any antibiotic drops in my experience (admittedly limited to one baby!) and I plan to freeze some BM for medicinal purposes when my supply is plentiful with dd2 (I'm 35 weeks). If you have lots you could express into a container and then dip the cotton wool in?

Let us know how you get on

FWIW dd2 caught conjunctivitis from dd1 when she was 2 weeks old. I dont think its a big deal at all, was just given the antibiotic drops and told they are used in NICU. I think it is only a problem if they catch it from some virus mum has when being born.

Hi just updating, DS conjunctivitis has cleared up, he is fine, and I've been resting as much as possible, consultant said they would check my chest on the morning of the op, so long as I have normal respiratory responses they will go ahead with the section because the risk of going into labour is a far worse risk apparently, and I will be given a course of anti biotics aswell, so that's that, baby will be here tomorrow, just nervous and emotional today but it will be over soon.

good luck OTT so excited for you - do update us....