Ok - preparation. I have to go in tomorrow and Tuesday for steroid jabs to help develop the baby's lungs (will be 38 weeks on section day). This is standard for babies born by ELCS before 39 weeks, but if you're going to be more than 39 weeks then I don't suppose you'll have them.
Tuesday's appt will also include my pre-op checks. From memory, the last time (2 years ago) they took a blood sample to check if I was anaemic, they weighed me (to see how much anaesthetic would be needed) and they carried out the normal ante-natal checks (blood pressure, baby's heartbeat, fundal height and palpated to see where the baby was lying). They explained the risks to me then and I had to sign a form saying that I understood and accepted the risks. The consultant did my form with me this time, 2 weeks ago - she said there were risks to me from the spinal, that there was a chance that my bladder or bowel could be ruptured, but don't worry, they'll fix it if it is (!!), and that there was a chance that the baby could be cut when the incision is made, but if so it would be a very slight cut and babies heal fast. Honestly, those were her exact words! I can't say I was massively reassured.
I will be given antacids on Tuesday as well - one to be taken when going to bed and one to be taken first thing in the morning of the section. You have to fast from midnight before the section. The antacids were bliss - first time in weeks I had been free from acid reflux! These are because there's a syndrome associated with all operations where stomach acid can back up into your lungs, so the antacids reduce the risk. I forget the name of the syndrome but they'll probably explain it to you at your pre-op check.
I've to be at St John's at 8am on Wednesday. Last time we were told to go straight to the ward, where they allocated a bed. I had asked if I could have a single room if at all possible (was told it is luck of the draw) and I got lucky and one was free. I was asked to change into two hospital gowns, one forward and one backwards to preserve my modesty, and then walked down to the delivery suite. They had a room there where they run through the risks of the operation again, and I think they put a cannula into my wrist at that point too. DH was taken off to change into scrubs and his clothes and my flipflops were put into a sterile bag.
There will be a dedicated midwife for you during the operation, and s/he will introduce themselves at this point. The consultant will probably also come in to meet you.
In the theatre there will be a lot of people. I think there were at least 6 or 7 medical staff there - midwife for you, one for the baby, anaesthetist, surgeon, assistant, theatre nurse...They were all very careful to introduce themselves, but tbh that could have been to do with my previous history and the complaint we had running against NHS Lothian at the time.
They sit you on the bed and ask you to bend forward to insert the spinal, then get you to lie down sharpish before it can take effect. Then the anaesthetist will check whether it has worked or not - she was really thorough. It is weird because you can feel sensation but not pain or hot/cold. She sprayed something on my side and asked me if I could feel it, and I said yes, and then she sprayed it on my shoulder and it was icy cold, which I hadn't been able to feel at all on my side. She then asked me what she was doing, and I said she was touching me on the tummy, and she asked DH to look and tell me what she was doing and he said she was pinching me hard, but I couldn't tell that at all - no pain! Then they did the catheter as well.
Then it's all a bit of a blur - I know it really didn't take long from them starting to DD2 being delivered. Maybe 5 or 10 minutes. I remember hearing her cry, and DH cut the cord, and they showed her to me and let me stroke her head, and then took her into a side room to weigh her, wrap her in a towel and do the APGAR check. I could hear her crying at the cold scales and then DH laughing because she'd peed on the MW. Then they brought her back and tucked her onto my chest. I'd asked for skin to skin if at all possible and the MW had made sure she'd tied my gown loosely so DD would fit. I don't remember anything much else at all - I think it took another half hour or so for them to sew me back up and then we were wheeled into the recovery room, but honestly, it's all jumbled up in my head. I think it was the sheer relief that DD2 was there and okay and obviously alive. I think at some point they gave her to DH to hold instead and he had skin to skin with her.
I was in the recovery room for about an hour and then they took me back up to the ward. We basically just sat there in blissed out silence until visiting hours started at 2.30 and everyone piled in.
Aftercare: you aren't allowed to eat until they can hear bowel sounds from you again, which took quite a long time - 5 hours or so. The spinal wears off gradually - at one point I could suddenly feel my knees again! Because DD was delivered at about 12.30, they left me in bed with catheter until the next morning, but I think sometimes they get you up the same evening. You lie on incontinence pads for the bleeding and they come round and check on them to make sure they don't soak through. Because I was still bed-bound, they had to hand me DD at night. When DH left she was asleep in her fishbowl, but I had to ring and get a MW to hand her to me when she woke up. The MWs came in a few times to check us during the night as well, and advised me on breastfeeding - I wound up just sleeping with her on me because it was too much to have to ask the MWs to keep putting her back and fetching her for me.
In the morning they got me up and they tell you to go into the shower, soak the edge of the dressing and then pull it off! I was petrified. It's like a big clear plaster. I did as I was told and it was okay and my guts didn't fall out. You'll still be bleeding heaps vaginally at this point and the shower floor may well get messy. I think they must have taken the catheter out before they got me up. You'll be stiff and sore but it isn't horrendous. I was more scared than actually sore, I think. You have to pee in a jug so they can measure your urine output after the catheter! Then they helped me get dressed again in proper pants with maternity pads, and my own nightie, and got me back onto the bed. After that you have to get up to pee, so you're forced to move about a bit.
I was in for 2 nights and then on the third afternoon they suddenly asked if I wanted to go home that evening, so I said yes and was discharged at about 5pm.
Sorry this has been such a long rambling post - there's heaps more I could say about it all as well! Is there anything else you'd specifically like to know?