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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Elective c section is booked! Just have a couple of questions:)

21 replies

Elmo311 · 26/02/2019 09:22

Hi all! I'm now booked in to have a c section in April. They have said i need to arrive at the hospial at 6:45am, I'm just wondering what time the surgery is 'likely' to start as my son is usually still asleep then 😅 and we will need to drop him to our friends so she can babysit. Wondering if my OH can just wait until he wakes up and then meet me at the hospital?
(I know that the surgery could be delayed due to emergencies- I'm just wanting to get a general idea of the order of things)

Also, will my SO be allowed to take any pics?
With our first son who was an emergency c section it was all so rushed and after 3 days in labour we were just exhausted! I didn't get that overwhelming feeling of love when i first held my son so I'd really like to have a nicer experience with this c section and seeing my daughter for the first time!

Any other tips you'd like to give please do!

OP posts:

Stinkytoe · 26/02/2019 09:25

My twins were born by ELCS but a little early so they had to be thoroughly checked over before we got to see them. The anaesthetist took pictures of them for us at first and then DH was allowed to take as many as he wanted once they were given the ok.

The timing of your surgery will probably depend on how busy they are on the day. Any EMCS will go through first so it’s hard to judge

SoYo · 26/02/2019 09:27

You'll need to ask your hospital about timings as it changes between units how they organise their elective sections. Some do them on labour ward between emergency cases in which case it could be anytime. Some do them on a separate elective list in which case it would usually be between 8 and 12.30 for a morning list.

OhJustElfOff · 26/02/2019 09:29

You can call the hospital the night before and see where you might be on the list or even in the morning and let your DH know. Chances are even if you were first you won't be in before 8am depending on shift change for midwives/drs etc. DH will probably be allowed a camera but always worth checking with each hospital for their policy. Good luck

Babdoc · 26/02/2019 09:30

If you phone the ward the afternoon before your surgery, they will have the running order of the list.
This is not cast in stone, as emergencies may delay booked cases, but it will at least tell you if you’re scheduled for first on the list in the morning, or later on in the day, and you can plan accordingly.

Ohhgreat · 26/02/2019 09:30

In our Trust the electives are in a different theatre to emergencies so unless there are multiple emergencies it's unlikely to delay anything. The order is decided by the staff, normally first at 9am, second at 11am, third at 1pm. If you're first you would be going down to theatre just after 8. Hope that gives you some idea!

Yakadee · 26/02/2019 09:32

It depends on timing I'm afraid. I was the only one having a planned section that day so went in for 7am and went to theatre at 9am (baby born at 9:36am).

We were told to take our phones for pics however my husband felt unwell and had to leave pretty much had to leave the room after baby was born so we didn't get one right away.

Baby was shown to be straight away but they took her off just to put her nappy and hat on etc but brought her straight back. I couldn't hold her until we went to recovery though as needed to keep my arms high for the procedure. I got tonnes of snuggles on the way to recovery though, for a good hour or so which was fab as totally missed out on that with my son.

Littlebelina · 26/02/2019 09:32

I had to be in at a similar time. Docs came round about 8, I went to theatre at 9 ish and dd was born at 9.40 ( first on list). I had a previous elective at a different hospital and the timelines seemed similar for the lady first on the list.

Our local hospital does electives in the main theatre rather than delivery theatres so there is less chance of getting bumped.

You should have a pre op or clerking appointment the day before which should give you more details and might be able to tell you where you might be on the list (although they probably won't be able to tell you for certain).

Photos have been allowed at all 3 of my sections

Yakadee · 26/02/2019 09:32

(Sorry for typos)

tried20names · 26/02/2019 09:47

I have had 2 elective sections, both times I was told to be in at 7am and they didn't sort the order out until around 9am. First time I was 4th, so last on the list, and went down at 4pm because they also had an emergency section. The second time I was first - they brought me my gown and stockings and told me to be ready in 10 mins; so in that scenario there wouldn't be time for your husband to get to you.
My DH was allowed to take photos both times.

Original poster

Elmo311 · 26/02/2019 09:57

Thanks for the replies everyone!
So what do they do when you come in at 7am? Do they place an IV catheter etc? Or are you just waiting?
I will definitely speak to them the day before as i have a pre surgery appointment.
Fingers crossed i don't have to wait until 4pm! 😩 i bet you were starving by then!!

OP posts:

Yakadee · 26/02/2019 10:31

I had visits from a few different people, the surgeon, anethnatist, midwives etc. My midwife stayed with me pretty much the whole time.

They did stuff like blood pressure, temp etc. They didn't do the catheter until I was in the theatre as I walked there. X

Littlebelina · 26/02/2019 13:03

They introduce themselves (most recent section I had surgeon, then anesthetist). Do a brief medical history to discuss reasons for section (with surgeon so they can decide running order) and allergies, problems with anesthetics etc (with anesthetist). You get changed into town, surgeries socks etc and quite a bit of waiting around!

Littlebelina · 26/02/2019 13:06

Gown not town!

starfishmummy · 26/02/2019 13:17

I guess it's different for everyone. I had to call about 7am on the morning of the planned day and we were told to go in late morning. DH and I were shown to a room and saw a midwife and the anaesthetist while we waited. Unfortunately an emergency occurred so we were bumped by a couple of hours. Husband was offered coffee and went off to have lunch (grrr).

I was eventually told it was "go" so changed into my robe and was taken to the anaesthetic room where they put the IV access in. I was having a general anaesthetic due to complications - the catheter was put in while I was asleep and the socks must have been too!!

Obviously husband wasn't allowed in, and he got to see ds first and they were both there when I came round.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 26/02/2019 14:17

I didn't make my elective but I was told I was going to be first at my pre op the Friday before so they might let you know a bit in advance. They might also be up for putting you later on the list if there is no immediate need for baby to come out. Although I was going first for mental health reasons (I think they thought I'd run away if I had to wait too long).

Dh was told that the scrubs have a perfect pocket for phones and to take as many photos as he wanted.

As for making it nicer, my first was awful but my second was amazing. I absolutely recommend watching. They dropped the screen for me just before she came out and it was fabulous, like watching a butterfly emerge from a cocoon but you are the cocoon if that makes sense. At one point, her head and one shoulder were out and you could see the other shoulder moving under my skin. For various reasons, it took me a while to bond with ds but with her, it was instant and I think watching her emerge was a big part of that.

Original poster

Elmo311 · 26/02/2019 15:49

@Dinosauratemydaffodils wow that sounds amazing!
Did you just request for them to put the screen down or was it in your birth plan? I'd really like the same experience! When you say we can take pics, does that include pics of the operation? I wanna see! Haha

OP posts:

Original poster

Elmo311 · 26/02/2019 15:51

@Littlebelina thanks for the info! Does sound like a lot of waiting around!

OP posts:

Lauren83 · 26/02/2019 16:00

First time I was waiting from 6am and got cancelled at 7pm after being gowned up and NBM all day, day after got back at 7am and had it at 2pm, it was semi elective mine. The midwife in theatre took lots of photos and videos which I'm grateful for

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 26/02/2019 16:12

@Elmo311 My birth plan was actually a general anesthetic due to what happened with my first and my feelings towards surgery in general, c-sections in particular however the consultant who delivered dd had other ideas. I ended with what they thought the perfect c-section birth should be and with hindsight they were absolutely correct and I'd glad I let them basically "bully" me. Based on that, I can only assume that they would happily let anyone who asked watch.

I think photos of the operation depends on the staff, we were told yes but dh without discussing it decided he wasn't comfortable taking pictures me like that so the first we have is when she was about 4 minutes old being popped on my chest for skin to skin in just a knitted nipple hat. If we had another, I would like a picture of them being born.

birdybirdbird · 26/02/2019 17:56

I had to be at the hospital for 8am, was bumped for an emergency and then had my LO around 11.30. One of the nurses offered to take photos for us and she got some amazing shots! They dropped the screen just after they lifted him out as I didn’t want to see him actually emerge. Took him for a quick check and my husband got to cut the remaining cord but he was with me for skin to skin in well under 5 minutes andcstayed there whilst I was stitched up.

newmommytobe · 01/03/2019 00:18

How far gone are you when they booked you in for your section? Have they literally gave you at date?
I'm due growth scan on Tuesday and they said they will decide if section or not but as I'm only 32 weeks thought it would be too early to decide.

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