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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Can you keep your glasses on in an ELCS?

26 replies

MyCatDrinksFlatWhites · 20/08/2019 16:17

A slightly random question about c-sections and specifically electives: has anyone here been allowed to keep their glasses on in an ELCS?

I had an EMCS last time and despite much agonising around VBAC, I think I'm probably going to go for an ELCS this time round despite being terrified.

Last time, I found it very scary not being able to see anything (I'm very short-sighted and I find being without my glasses seems to affect my hearing as well, weird as it sounds). I'm trying to think of stuff that could help me feel calmer this time and I think being allowed to keep glasses on this time could make a huge difference. But I wondered whether anyone had been in this position before and had been allowed glasses?

OP posts:
Blastandtroph · 20/08/2019 16:26

Of course you can. Intrigued why you weren't during your EMCS?

Original poster
MyCatDrinksFlatWhites · 20/08/2019 16:34

Really? The surgeon told me I had to take them off - which felt like the final straw at the time (although it wasn't a crash section). I begged to be allowed to keep them on but he just kept saying he would give them to DP for me for in recovery. Didn't seem to understand it was adding to my panic and I quite liked the idea of being able to see my baby but hey ho.

There were a number of things that happened that I'm keen to avoid this time, like baby being taken out of theatre to be weighed while I stayed there alone being stitched up (no medical assistance required, he had great APGARs). So I'm trying to come up with a list of stuff to ask about in my consultant's appointment next week, to try to make myself feel better about it.

OP posts:
Blastandtroph · 20/08/2019 16:42

I'm sorry to hear about your previous experience and I'd have hoped that your midwife would've advocated for your wishes. The only reason to give them up would be in the case of a general anaesthetic.

Original poster
MyCatDrinksFlatWhites · 20/08/2019 16:44

Thank you - the last one wasn't, shall we say, very "woman-centred" and it wasn't because of speed, etc (we were both fine), so I will now add that to my "list of things I'm prepared to be quite pushy about if required".Grin Different hospital this time so hopefully all will be more positive.

OP posts:
Ooohtini · 20/08/2019 16:45

I've never heard of people being asked to take off specs in a CS before, routine or emergency, unless they were out due to GA (therefore negating any point to glasses anyway). I had an EMCS a while back with some complications and kept my glasses on. There's a very fetching picture from afterwards to prove it 😂

Billballbaggins · 20/08/2019 16:47

I kept mine on yes (EMCS and ELCS)

Original poster
MyCatDrinksFlatWhites · 20/08/2019 16:53

Thinking back, it may have been because they had metal frames. But it's clear it's worth asking about!

OP posts:
homemadecommunistrussia · 20/08/2019 16:53

I think it's just standard procedure to remove them for operations i know minecwere removed but it was an emergency one.

I would talk to your midwife about how it added to you anxiety to not be able to keep them on and see if they could accommodate it next time?

SquintEastwood · 20/08/2019 16:55

I had to take mine of for an EMCS in 2006 but was allowed to keep them on for an ELCS in 2013.

inwood · 20/08/2019 17:22

I had mine on, no one said anything, perhaps as it was almost a crash section they weren't bothered. Can't see why not though whenever I've had surgery for other stuff I've worn my glasses until asleep and then they very kindly put them back on when I come around.

TakeMeToYourLiar · 20/08/2019 17:27

I also wore mine for an emcs.

I don't remember discussing it, but could be my doula advocated for me.

LittleTopic · 20/08/2019 17:33

@MyCatDrinksFlatWhites I didn’t have my glasses on either for my EMCS and cannot for the life of me remember why not! Hmm

Jxtina86 · 20/08/2019 18:08

I had an EMCS last month and kept mine on. My DH was in theatre with me and also wears glasses and he kept his on. Thinking about it, I think the surgeon wore glasses too!

SockQueen · 21/08/2019 06:44

Anaesthetist here - I only ask women to remove glasses if giving a GA. If they're having a spinal, whether emergency or elective CS, there's no reason to remove them.

Troels · 21/08/2019 07:04

I kept mine of for my EMCS first time, then second time the anaesthesiologist put them in his pocket when he needed to give me a GA, (failed epi) but he was very nice and gentle and explained it all to me as he got it all ready and told me what he was doing. It's all in the delivery (LOL) I too get very paniced without mine as I can't see past the end of my nose.

BurningGubbins · 21/08/2019 07:18

I had to take mine off for both an EMCS and an ELCS. I guess it’s pretty inconsistent...
For the ELCS I made sure to give them to my husband so he could put them on me before I held the baby. For the EMCS I had to ask them to find my specs so I could see my baby being wheeled off to special care...Hmm

Original poster
MyCatDrinksFlatWhites · 21/08/2019 08:19

Thank you all, this is really reassuring. Makes it clear that it's something worth asking about and potentially being assertive about, as it would make a huge difference to how I feel.

@SockQueen, taking advantage of your professional experience, is it possible for metal frames to interfere with monitors?

OP posts:
Blastandtroph · 21/08/2019 09:27

OP, the metal issue is due to the diathermy machine used during surgery (it cauterises bleeding blood vessels after surgical incision). We ask about metal in/on the body as part of the risk assessment for theatre and jewellery is removed as if it comes into contact with the diathermy it could conduct the heat and cause burning. Glasses are not routinely removed though.

AiryFairy1991 · 21/08/2019 09:51

I had to remove my for my ELCS two years ago. They gave me them back for a couple of minutes after he was born so I could see him properly but other than that I wasn’t allowed them until I left theatre. Not sure why though and seems it isn’t standard from reading this thread. Just wanted to let you know it’s not totally weird to be asked to remove them!

NCBabyBoy · 21/08/2019 09:58

Have just checked the photos and I was definitely wearing mine during my ELCS!

I was also anxious before the birth and I made a birth plan outlining my wishes. I found the staff very receptive to this. Might be an idea to do something similar?

SockQueen · 23/08/2019 23:55

@MyCatDrinksFlatWhites it's not interfering with the monitors that's the problem, it's a theoretical risk of burns if any metal is touching your skin and diathermy is used. But a)any diathermy is far away from your face and b)most of the bits of glasses which touch your face are plastic anyway. So I'm quite happy for women to leave them on!

MoreSlidingDoors · 23/08/2019 23:59

The PTSD I suffered from an assisted birth stems from them removing my glasses from me (I needed changing after my waters broke at 6+cm dilated) and forgetting to give them back. It’s hard for brains to process what they can’t see.

I’d fight tooth and nail not to have that happen again. (Instead DD is an only.)

Original poster
MyCatDrinksFlatWhites · 24/08/2019 11:18

@SockQueen, thank you - I was so terrified I don't think I was processing anything properly but that makes total sense. I appreciate your response!

@MoreSlidingDoors, that is a really interesting point. I suffer from what I believe is known as post-natal PTSD as a result of how the induction was handled and that makes a lot of sense to me - it certainly won't have helped. I also find being without my glasses affects my ability to hear what people are saying but that might be just me!

OP posts:
Mishappening · 24/08/2019 11:23

Ask for this to be birth plan.

I do sympathise with the can't see/can't hear thing - I am just the same!

Allyo19 · 26/08/2019 07:23

I wore mine. They attached a sticker with my details on the side in case they needed to remove them, so they knew they were mine.

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