C section pre op tomorrow- what to ask?

[sundaysunday]

I'm off to the hospital tomorrow for my c section pre op, my mind has gone completely blank and I can't think of any questions to ask! Can anyone think of anything l might need to know about the whole thing? I've done some research online but obviously things vary between hospitals.

This is my second baby, DC1 was an emergency forceps delivery in theatre + 3rd degree tear so I've had spinal anaesthesia before but never had a CS or any other surgery before. I know I'll be meeting with an anesthetist and will be given some ranitadine pre meds to take home but I've already been consented by the obs consultant so I'm not sure what else to expect from the appointment?

When I had mine, I took along my birth plan and asked about:
Having skin-to-skin
If they could do delayed cord clamping
If/how we could play music in theatre

@sundaysunday How was your pre-op today? We have ours tomorrow and also not sure what to expect. Baby is still breech as confirmed by the midwife on Monday.

As I thought, it was a meeting with the anaesthetist to discuss the spinal anaesthesia mainly so things like when to starve from the night before, what time to be there on the morning and when to take the pre meds.

I got to ask a few questions about what happened on the day of the section like what I need to take to theatre, where my hospital bag goes and what sort of time to expect it to be done. Practical stuff really. I'd already been consented for the surgery by the obstetric consultant at another appointment last week so it was annoying that it couldn't all have been done at the same time as that. Hope it goes ok for you tomorrow Bee4s have you been given a date for yours yet or will you find out tomorrow?

@sundaysunday Thanks for the heads-up, that's really helpful. Yes, we are expecting to go in on Feb 5th but hopefully will be given a time today at the pre-op. I'm glad they can answer some practical questions too as I was wondering the same things you mentioned.

We were told when booking the pre-op that they'd have to take bloods as well but we would potentially have to go back for that over the weekend as they have to be taken close to the surgery date. Is this something you have experienced also?

Yes I've got to go back the day before the op for bloods taking which is annoying but l can see why they need doing as close as possible to the day. Hoping the snow and ice isn't too bad for traveling back and forth to the hospital!

Yes, fingers crossed for no ice! And I hope all goes well for your C-section

Your birth with DC1 sounds exactly the same as mine. I also had a section with DC2 and was a dream come true compared to first birth. Hope everything goes really well for you

Thanks, I've been having a few last minute wobbles about whether I've made the right choice in taking them up on their offer of ELCS so it's reassuring when people say how much better it can be!

My dc was breech so I had a planned section.

Just a thought but ask if they do that thing (I'm sure there must be a name for it) where they wipe over your vagina and wipe over the baby's face. My daughter has a milk allergy and I always wonder if she'd had that done then maybe she wouldn't have the allergy now. To be honest they might have done it anyway and I just didn't know!

Request skin to skin - although I'm pretty sure that's standard practice now. Also ask about delayed cord clamping.

I know you've already had your pre op but I had a mini meeting with each member of staff just before going in to theatre. I wasn't expecting it but I guess it's to check medicines and conditions haven't changed since you last saw them etc. So there is a chance to request things like the above then.

My elective was great! It was such a positive experience compared to my first. Hope it goes smoothly for you ladies. x

@Seven I’m sorry but wtf?! I’ve had 4 kids, one a section and have never heard of that?!

Actually I've heard of the wiping baby with vaginal fluids thing before, I think it's called ' vaginal seeding' ?! Not my sort of thing I'm afraid but I understand the theory behind it.

Skin to skin is a good suggestion, I'm gonna try and do it in theatre but I felt a bit unsafe holding DC1 while laid flat last time. Delayed cord clamping seems to be standard practice according to the paperwork I've been given so I'm pleased about that- it wasn't possible with my first baby as they had to cut the cord from round his neck in order to deliver the rest of his body.

Wellfuckmeinbothears the theory is that the baby picks up important microbes from passing through the birth canal, which can contribute to their immunity and allergy resistance. It seems to be becoming more and more of a thing lately - I know a couple of women who requested it as part of scheduled NHS C-sections. Not a scooby whether it really works, but I guess we are figuring out that microbes and general fauna are pretty important to our health.

Oh phew! I thought I'd made up the vaginal seeding thing accidentally when I saw wellfuckme's reply. Glad others have heard of it and I'm not having really weird dreams!

If I were to have a second c-section I'd ask for it. But like I said my daughter has a milk allergy (it's a bloody nightmare) and if there's a small chance it could stop that then it's definitely worth a try! They shove a suppository up your bum, so dignity is already gone.

Skin to skin is a good suggestion, I'm gonna try and do it in theatre but I felt a bit unsafe holding DC1 while laid flat last time.

Ask if they will put the screen thing as far down as possible because more space really helps. I couldn't hold ds but they made me (long story) hold dd and they gave us plenty of space so she could lie between my breasts so with my hands plus chest, I don't see how she could fall if that makes sense.

Also ask if they'll drop the screen when he/she comes out. It's oddly beautiful, like watching a butterfly emerge bit by bit from it's cocoon and you can't see that much blood/your insides because of the bump.

@sundaysunday

do you have a date for your ELCS?

Would be very interested in you updating this thread up until you have your baby and afterwards with your experience?

I had a forcep delivery with my DD, episiotomy and then 3rd degree tear too. All in all bloody horrendous and recovery took me months as I’m sure you can totally relate. Things will never be 100% okay down there ever again I don’t think...

Really keen to NOT have a massive age gap with my children and want to think about ttc maybe soon ish when my DD is 18 months old. BUT terrified also actually if pregnancy and labour. Has your pregnancy affected your scar tissue at all?

Very interested in how you came to your decision on ELCS? and also how your experience goes with the actual op and recovery afterward. Hope you don’t mind me asking all this.

Wishing you lots of luck!

anna2006 yes we are having a valentine's day baby!

Fortunately I healed very well after the tear and part of wanting a CS this time is because l feel lucky to have got away without any major continence problems after last time. I did have a haemorrhage as well though and I'm still having on off anaemia as a result of that 2.5yrs later.

Scar has been totally fine during pregnancy but l think my pelvic floor has given up! My advice would be to get doing pelvic floor exercises ASAP in preparation for another pregnancy.

I did some research, l think I found some statistics on RCOG guidelines about second births after 3/4 degree tears. Something like a 3 to 5x greater risk of another bad tear and more chance of problems with incontinence after. I don't feel that there is much that can be done to predict or prevent another severe tear (my hospital said they could press a warm compress against the scar during delivery but I'm sceptical that this would be much use!) so it's a trade off between the known risks of a CS versus the unknown risks of another vaginal delivery. I could have a easy, straight forward vaginal delivery this time there's no way of knowing. I'm just keen to have a different experience this time without all the drama of last time but the aftercare and recovery side of things is my big worry.

Btw I was lucky that my hospital offered me the choice of CS or vaginal based purely on my having had a tear. Some hospitals don't so might be worth looking into how likely you are to have to argue your case for an ELCS. Birth rights website was useful.

www.birthrights.org.uk/maternal-request-caesarean/

but the aftercare and recovery side of things is my big worry.

It varies massively. I'm an outlier as far as I can see but both my emergency section recoveries have been so easy to the point of not needing any pain killers. Get up as soon as you can and get moving.

@sundaysunday thanks very much for this. Aww valentines baby how lovely! My little girl will be one just a few days before that!

After my delivery it was mentioend to me in theatre I had the choose of ELCS for next delivery if I so wished and was also told this by consultant at my 3 month perineal clinic appointment to check on my healing. so thankfully it appears my hospital is in the modern age with understanding how these severe tears affect us physically and also our mental health!

Good too know your scar has been fine in this pregnancy. Mine can occasionally twinge so believe a pregnancy would maybe irritate but whose to know until you come to it as all our cases are so individual aswell.

I really hope you get a much more positive experience this time round. I totally understand. Being rushed off straight away for a repair an missing hours with your new baby whilst ppl telling you scary facts about incontinence etc and percentages and future c sections. It’s pretty scary and overwhelming and not what you imagine.

I’m sure this ELCS will be a different experience. An try not to worry about the recovery. I’d like to hope it’s not harder than what you’ve already done the first time round. But least Vjay will still be in tact!

Hi Sunday, just wanted to say that I hope your section goes well! I had a 3rd degree tear with DS1 and had an ELCS with DS2 6 weeks ago. No brainer for me and the recovery was soooo much better!