GA C-section next week

[zeena83]

Hey all,

I’m having a GA section next Wednesday 5th Jan for medical reasons and was wondering if anyone had any experiences of this? If so, how long did you have to stay in and how was it looking after your newborn afterwards? I’ve had a GA before when I was a kid, and it was fine, but obviously I didn’t have to then look after anyone else and it was on my eye not abdo so quite different recovery!!

TIA

Z

I had one in august as an emergency, so a little different to a planned one. I’m not sure if it’s the same when it’s pre planned but hisnad wasn’t allowed in the room and I was unconscious for around 3 hours after the birth. I had been being induced for 3 days though and had had a lot of pain relief prior to it so I did get the impression most people wake up sooner than that. Baby was brought to me as soon as I woke up and husband was obviously with her as soon as she was born (albeit in special care unit as she needed a bit of oxygen and a heat lamp which I believe is quite common when you have GA).
In terms of going home I went home the next day as with a standard c section so all was good there. I recovered pretty well so I don’t think it necessarily will affect recovery.
Sorry of this sounds a bit scary - I wanted to tell you all the facts as I’d had 3 vagina births previously so it was all quite traumatic and I didn’t know any of this beforehand. Hopefully with yours being pre planned it will be far better and you can ask plenty of questions.

Sorry should say husband wasn’t allowed in the room

Thank you for your reply! Yes I hope it will all run smoothly as it is planned, fingers crossed. Really great to hear that you were able to go home the next day and that recovery wasn’t too bad, although I am mentally preparing myself for two nights in the hospital, just in case. Would really love to go home after one. They said they would expect me to be awake within an hour so we’ll see I guess…

Good luck - I’m sure it will all go nice and smoothly for you, it was really only the emergency aspect of it all for me that was difficult and knowing nothing about it as everyone was expecting me to deliver my 4th child with no problems as I did with my previous 3!

Had an emergency c-section under GA in 2017 after failed induction and was only put to sleep after my daughter was born because anaesthetic wore off.
Recovery was absolutely fine! Felt groggy and took a while to come around but was able to hold baby as soon as i felt well enough to do so. Was also able to to skin to skin asap and had no issues with breastfeeding. Both discharged exactly 24 hours after birth.
Have since had another c-section in April on this year (not under GA) and recovery was very similar. No issues at all.
Good luck

I've had two under GA. Both mine were emergency ones but I think I was only under for 30-45 minutes. DH had to wait outside. Pain relief afterwards was really well managed and I was up and walking fine within a couple of hours and although I was offered help to shower I'm a prude and did it by myself. I stayed one night and went home the next day with diclofenac for pain relief and clexane injections to prevent post op clots. You will be fine!