Has anyone requested GA for ELCS?

[eandz13]

My c section is 3 weeks away and I'm just querying my options. I'm shitting myself so would like to know I could fall back on GA should I panic about everything on the day? Has anyone done this? Can they even just do it on request?

I’ve only had spinals for C-sections, but I’d recommend it. Being awake is a lovely experience when the baby is delivered and then you snuggle him/her while the surgeon sews up the scar. Then sitting in recovery feeding the baby is also a special time that I remember really fondly. Don’t rule out being awake! It’s actually really special. And it means that your birth partner/baby’s Dad gets the experience of her/him being born too. The section itself is fine under spinal anaesthetic.

Sorry that you are so anxious. Maybe your midwife can help.

I had a ELCS 7 months ago. It hit me in the theatre just before I was given my spinal but the staff were amazing & settled me. It went so quickly as your baby is out within minutes and then you're so engrossed in newborn cuddles before you know it, they're wheeling you out! I think part of the staffs job is to keep you distracted so you don't think about what's going on in terms of the operation & just focus on the baby.

I'm afraid I don't know the answer to your question. However, there are hypnotherapy practices available which I believe can be really helpful for this. Could you also perhaps bring a compilation of music, happy, feel good, or relaxing songs? And have your birth partner primed to distract you the best they can too. All the best OP.

@CherryMaple and won't let me tag others but thank you for your reassurances. My main fear is being numb! Which I know is a bit daft as the alternative childbirth option is excruciating pain which isn't much more appealing. I've had vaginal deliveries prior which caused issues after birth (hence the section) and I just can't get over the fear of being completely numb and unable to move for hours. The fear is actually outweighing the desire of being awake to see my child be born! I do keep telling myself to stop being a soft arse and it will pass but the anxiety keeps creeping back in as I get closer to the date.

Hi OP. I've had 3 C-sections. The numbness wears off fairly quickly, and in my experience you can sit up and move around in bed straight away while you are still numb. I was sitting up in bed changing nappies a couple of hours after DS was born I remember. The staff are very keen to get you up and moving as soon as possible. The midwives woke me up at 4am to shower - I was not impressed... They wrote 'refused to shower' in my notes Before you can get out of bed, it's quite nice having other people do things for you for a bit Best of luck OP!

Hello
I had an elective 7 years ago. It wasn't elective as such but necessary due to DD being breech. She is my 4th child. I had vaginal births for the first 3. I was as anxious as you sound about the op. And due to health complications my DP ( a medic) felt that a GA was the best option for me.
The anaesthetist wouldn't allow it- feeling a spinal was much more suitable. This went back and forth till I had the spinal.
Honestly the whole situation was as far removed from what I imagined. A calm and lovely atmosphere with chat etc.
My spinal wire off about 4-5 hours later and I had my catheter removed and all was good. I'd recommend it any day!

Wore

My spinal failed for both of mine and I had to have a GA mid procedure. If I have another one I have been told I can, and should request, a GA rather than try spinal again. My case is different because there is a clear medical reason. I would think they will be very reluctant to give a GA unless it is absolutely medically necessary as it’s risky. It’s much better to have it with a spinal, the recovery from a GA is hard and getting to grips with breastfeeding/being a new mum is hard enough without having the delay in holding your baby and feeling woozy for much of the first day together.

What I meant to add is there will be an anaesthetist there to put you under if needed as they will be the ones monitoring the spinal.

I am sure you wouldn't be able to have a general anaesthetic on request. Have you read up on what is involved? You would have to be nil by mouth for at least 12 hours beforehand for starters.

I had to have a GA to give birth to my first child as it was a life or death situation. I didn't see her until I woke up and then it was only briefly. My husband wasn't allowed to be in the room so she came into the world to a room full of (wonderful) strangers but it was as far removed from what birth should be as you can imagine.

The birth of my second child by elective c/s was absolutely wonderful by comparison. Calm, joyous, beautiful. The hospital staff are so kind and experienced with dealing with anxiety.

I've actually had two ELCS due to incredibly severe tokophobia and they also allowed me to have them under GA.

The first time, the wonderful consultant who agreed to the ELCS wrote 'ELCS under GA' all over my maternity notes. On the day of the op, the anaesthetist wasn't that happy with the consultant that I'd not been sent to the anaesthetist beforehand, but although he would have preferred me to have a spinal/epidural, he agreed to the GA. Physically, I was very low risk- mid 20s, healthy BMI, no medical problems. It's rare for a GA to be given without a physical medical condition but they agreed it was the best thing for my mental health.

The second ELCS was at a different hospital 2 years later, and they agreed to what I had had before.

This was 7 and 5 years ago. Sadly from what I read on here, things seemed to have gone backwards and it seems harder to be listened to these days.

@strawberryandlimes that reassures me endlessly. Just knowing it is a thing, it can be done and should I panic like fuck prior I can really push for it. Just knowing it's a possibility makes me feel miles better. Thank you for your comment!

@eandz13 I don't know exactly how rare I was, but I had the worst case of tokophobia the first consultant had ever seen apparently! I joked I'd end up in textbooks somewhere 😂 I wish I had, it might make more hospitals think about this stuff a bit more!

FWIW, I had my first baby in Ipswich, and my second in Swindon. Very outing but I NC specifically for a couple of threads in this section.

Hi OP I had an emergency section with a failed spinal resulting in a GA. It was actually fine, it needed to be done as we were both in difficulty but the bit I struggled with was that it was a good couple of hours before I came round after my DD had been born.

She was already dressed, had a nappy on and had lovely cuddles with dad. It’s not an issue for me now (she’s 3.5 years) but we are considering TTC DC2 and id prefer a spinal so I don’t lose those few hours and so my husband could be present (they can’t for GA) and I say this as a huge needle-phobe.

Worth considering.

I should say, they did undress her as soon as I was awake and put her on my chest for skin to skin and those first feeds and we didn’t have any bonding issues so no negativity there - I would just prefer to have been the first to have held her etc.

I asked (well, begged actually) for a GA while in theatre with my emcs but was told I couldn't. They might have agreed if I'd asked in advance though.

I am having a ELSC under GA due to health reasons I cannot have a spinal.
If on the day you struggle with the spinal or they do a spinal but your still in lots of pain they can give you a GA if needed x

I've had GAs for c sections for medical reasons. Absolutely fine. You have to fast before any ELCS. You are under for such a short time. The pain after is supposed to be worse because a spinal gives longer lasting pain relief, but if you've never known any different then it's irrelevant.