Those who’ve had a planned c section

[CathyandHeathcliff]

Can you please go through step by step what happens on the day?

Following

Mine was in 2015 so I will go through what I remember.
I was given a time to turn up, but some of the earlier sections were cancelled so I was called and asked to come in as soon as I could. It was me and one other woman, both with breech babies. We were taken into cubicles and scanned. Her baby was now head down but mine wasn't so it was down to just me.
Somebody came and gave me a gown and after i had put it on, they came back and put a cannula in each hand. My partner was told to stay in the cubicle and I was walked through to the operating theatre. I sat up on the bed and was given a spinal block which wasn't very painful at all. They waited a few minutes for it to take hold and then poked me with a stick to make sure I couldn't feel anything. A screen was erected around my chest. The surgeon and several nurses came in at this point, I had the anaesthetic person (sorry can't spell the word) and an assistant by my head. Only then when we were ready to go was my partner brought in. I couldn't feel anything of the op except being pulled around, I thought they were going to yank me off the table! Then baby was held up, the nurse took some pictures for us. She was cleaned up and dressed while I was stitched up which was the long part. Then I was washed by the nurses (the surgeon left) transferred onto another bed, sat up and given my baby to hold and wheeled back to the cubicle. The spinal wore off not long after, an hour or 2 maybe and I was given some morphine for the pain before it did.

I was given the option for skin to skin but I was nervous so I declined. Also I did feel some disomfort in my shoulders during the op, apparently this is due to the diagprham being stimulated but it wasn't too bad.

For mine I had a general letter saying turn up at 7am. So sat in a reception room at 7am with four other couples then we were all taken upstairs to an empty ward and placed in sep cubicles. Then a midwife came round and gave me the gown and socks to put on. Had to answer loads of questions and did some checks. Doctor came around to confirm everything. We were then told the order we were going in, some scheduled for morning and some afternoon. I was in second so waited alone in that room with partner for them to come and get me, the others were moved somewhere else not sure where. Had to make sure that the first outfit was ready - babygro, hat etc. Then was taken to theatre, had the epidural put in, everything was explained and put the screen up. Everyone lovely and radio was on, so not scary at all. Baby came out 15 mind later but in my case he was a bit poorly so was taken to special care. Normally you would get skin to skin then. I was transferred to the recovery room next door and had obs taken (alone :() but again this would be the time for you and baby to do skin to skin and first feed. Was then wheeled up to the ward about 30 mins later (not the same one as earlier). I had to then wait by myself for hours for news of my baby but you would normally be both together.

Was encouraged to move as soon as possible and my catheter was taken out that night, had tonwee in a bowl to prove that everything was ok. Baby came to me later that day and he was fine. Mine and babies obs were taken fairly regularly and given pain relief regularly too.

Does that help or did you need any other details?

I was in from the night before due to complications. I had a cannula fitted on the ward as they were just about to put me on a drip for fluids before I was rushed to theatre.

I’d been fasting since 8pm the night before and was supposed to be first on the surgical list the next day, but we were waiting for a neonatal cot, so this probably isn’t typical. Once I was having my spinal no one could take the cot, hence the rush.

In an ante room I was given a local in my back, then the spinal block. DH was taken off to get into scrubs and was allowed with me in that room. He got there before the block was done. I was swivelled round and laid down on the table after they checked the block had taken effect.

Once in theatre I was hooked up to some drips and a blood pressure cup. The screen was erected. The rest of the team came in and introduced themselves. The anesthetic team did verbal checks and handed over to the scrub team.

Then they started. Baby was taken to neonatal and I was sewn up and taken to recovery.

I had diamorphine in theatre and an anti histamine in recovery due to itching.

Where your partner is when varies by hospital. Mine should have been with me from the ward to the ward - I'd been admitted 10 days earlier. On the morning I was moved to the top of the list (from third) so DH needed a bit of time to get to the hospital. He arrived as I was being scanned for DD's position (she'd been transverse, but moving around), after which I had a cannula put in for the anaesthetic. That was the bit I found hardest, and I was grateful to have DH with me. I'd changed into a gown on the ward; to preserve my dignity, I wore a second gown backwards to walk to the prep room (adjacent to theatre) where I was scanned, and had the cannula then spinal block.

Then the spinal block was put in (much more pleasant than the cannula!) and I was laid down on the operating table and wheeled into theatre. The anaesthetist checked I was numb, then the surgeon took over. I did feel sick during surgery, which was dealt with quickly. I wasn't in any pain at any point. DD was born about 20 mins later (20 mins is long, but I'm slightly complicated). She was cleaned up before I saw her, then DH held her during the rest of surgery. We spent about 2 hours in recovery before returning to the ward. Anything else you'd like to know, do ask!

Mine was essentially what others describe but I'll add a few things. I had a pre-op meeting about a week before scheduled date. I was given an antibacterial wash to use night before and morning of op (supposed to refused mrsa) and Ranitidine to take the morning of. I also had compression socks to wear on the day. I was told you are not allowed to eat after your usual dinner, or drink after midnight. You can brush your teeth. And you are not allowed any makeup or nail varnish and will have to remove it at hospital if you are.

Anyway after all that preparation information my waters broke 2 days before my scheduled elective, so it all went out the window! I still had a section, although it technically was an emergency, or 'semi-planned' as the midwifes liked to call it. I arrived at hospital at 4.30am and was in surgery at 10am. It might have been quicker but I wasn't in established labour, and there was a proper emergency in another room.

The procedure was like others describe, was very calm, and over quite quickly. Like a PP, my baby was struggling and had to be taken down to special care. I only briefly saw her, and didn't get to hold/touch her. It's quite common for c-section babies to have fluid on lungs as it's not squeezed out the same way as vaginal birth, and can need some extra help breathing. There was no panic, and it was just explained why they were taking her and what to expect. I did hear her cry. I was taken to recovery, and my husband was able to go see baby and take some photos for me. I went up to Ward after about half an hour, and was given a private room - most likely as I still wasn't able to have my baby with me rather than because I'd had a section. She was eventually bought up to me 4 hours later, so it was a bit surreal and not ideal obviously, but ultimately there were no further issues.

I was mobile later that evening, albeit very slowly. And as I was struggling with my mobility (other health issues) my catheter was left in until the following morning, and cannula the day after. In all I was in for 2 nights,

I was told to arrive at 7am having not eaten since 2am (do wake yourself up and eat - you don’t know when you’ll get the op). There were 5 of us and we are placed In order of risk - I was last so had mine at 1600 hours. The wait was absolutely awful as you can’t eat and drink and have to be in a waiting room. Also, if emergency happens obviously (and rightly) you get bumped further down the list.
The actual section was very controlled, everyone introduces themselves, the aneathnatist is very much your right hand man/woman and talk you through it, mine was fab.
Pushing pulling and baby arrives, I wanted skin to skin but couldn’t do it for long as my arms wouldn’t work and I was scared of dropping baby! Breast fed within the hour and the rest is history.
I had to stay on labour suit that night as I lost lots of blood but then went to ward. The staff were all fabulous but over worked and literally couldn’t look after me we’ll do make sure you have lots of support. Good luck.

I hate this idea that you have to arrive at 7am, no matter what time your slot is. The not eating part is a huge trigger for me. Mine is all anxiety based (the reason I’m hsving the ELCS) so my mental health Midwife has said she’s going to try and get me first on the theatre list. I know it goes on priority. But the more I sit there, the more likelihood I’ll end up having a panic attack and walking out.

I’m also really scared of losing too much blood.

Had mine 9 days ago!
Pre-op the day before - a health care assistant went through various forms with me, took some medical history and went through when I could eat/drink until. I was given some tablets to take that evening and in the morning. Then an anaesthetist came down and spoke to me about side effects etc.
I went into hospital at 8am the next day. Taken straight to a 2 cubicle room and my partner and I were given gowns/scrubs to wear. Midwife cane and introduced herself. We went through my birth plan, I had requested skin-to-skin ASAP, delayed cord clamping and to listen to my own music. She explained that I would have a bit of a wait as an emergency was currently in theatre (he was born just before 11 in the end). That days anaesthetist came (who re-went over risk factors, fact I might feel sick during etc). About 20 mins before, the surgical team came to introduce themselves. Everyone was really friendly and reassuring.
When I first went into theatre, it was just the anaesthetist, his assistant and some nurses. They did my spinal, then got me to test how far up it went by people pinching myself. This is one of the weirdest things I’ve ever experienced!! I remember thinking that my thigh felt like a joint of pork!! When I was numb they inserted my catheter. I could vaguely feel like something was happening but not sure what. At this point everyone had appeared and they did a roll call of everyone present.
The procedure started. My blood pressure did drop and I felt very sick and started wretching. They were very quick to cool me down, get a sick bowl and administer something to counteract it. Lasted about 2 mins tops and then I was fine.
I could feel ‘something’ during but no pain and couldn’t work out what specifically was happening. It felt like someone was drumming their fingers on my belly. They dropped the curtain to show me him and I burst into tears! He went straight to an incubator (they do this for all sections as it’s a convenient place to put them) to be weighed and briefly checked. My parter went over to him and cut down the remaining cord. They brought him to me ASAP for skin to skin and I held him as they stitched me up. My partner carried him to recovery and we went back to skin to skin and a midwife supported me to latch him on and breast feed.
It was such a chilled out, up beat experience and was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made as I would have never coped with a vaginal birth. I have only positive memories of the whole experience.

Can I ask a bit about the catheter part? Where does it go? Sorry but sometimes u see people with holes in their bodies or does it go ‘up there’? It I just a tube or is t a more complicated thing?
Tia

Hi OP, I had an ELCS 2 weeks ago after a EMCS years ago. I'm in Scotland though so might be wildly different. We went in the day before for a pre-op assesment where they took bloods and measured us for our socks. Arrived the next morning at 7.45, they only do 2 electives in the am and pm so I was luckily first on the list. The midwife listened to baby, took my bp and temp and gave me the lovely socks. The surgeon came to see me and explained everything, I walked into the theatre and was such a weird experience compared to the first. Was introduced to everyone and then they gave me the spinal. Didn't feel anything, just like someone tugging and pulling me. I did lose more blood than they'd like so was aneamic, but the midwives really looked after me so well. Back on the ward with baby at 10am. The care is really amazing and please try and not be anxious - you'll meet your baby soon.

The cathether goes up in and is kept there by a balloon.

I had my elcs for anxiety reasons and was so glad to be second. I think for ours they did low risk first so you might be lucky. Also if you have an afternoon slot I think you are allowed to eat something small but don't quote me on that! I was so nervous the whole time leading up to and during but everyone you meet will reassure you and hold your hand if you need. If you start feeling anxious like you want to walk out just take deep breaths and think that you will be meeting your baby today and you'll be surrounded and looked after by professionals the entire time. The surgery itself is over so quickly it's the anticipation that's the worst!

I was first on the list because I have a latex allergy so they like to get you out of the way.
Prepped and ready to go by 9, didn't go down till 1.
Babies happen 😂
Anyway.
OH came into theatre with me for the spinal and all the pre section stuff, and didn't leave my side.
The weirdest thing I didn't expect was the appointment of the suppository after the section in theatre 😂

m.youtube.com/watch?v=-2qr6E2Es6o

Hi OP the above is a great video about what to expect. There will be some variations between hospitals but I hope this helps.