ELCS - what if I feel it?!

[eandz13]

Backstory to my worry - I had a maximum dose epidural for an MROP after the birth of my last. I could feel absolutely everything, I could feel the surgeons fingernails scraping against my uterus, not just the pressure of it... I could feel real pain. I mean, the pain was definitely dimmed, I can imagine it would have been excruciating without the epidural, but I did feel like a 7/10 pain score.
I don't think they believed me and thought I was being a softy! They sort of laughed it off and said "ohhh it's only 5 more minutes" (it was 20 ish more minutes ), and they told me my only other option was GA. I gritted my teeth and breathed through it as I just wanted to get back to my son, but had to keep telling them I needed a minutes break to breathe.

I'm having an ELCS this time round for medical reasons, and what the bloody hell do I do if I feel it?! Is a spinal more effective?!

Could I perhaps feel it so much because the surgeon was actually touching my innards? Perhaps I won't feel the incision on the surface? I'm terrified! I don't want GA!

Any advice at all is appreciated!

You really shouldn't feel anything at all. I had a failed epidural and was in a lot of pain (in labour), then had a spinal and didn't feel a single thing for the c-section

I've had two ELCS and while you can feel pressure and tugging etc as they pull the baby out, it's not painful. I couldn't feel a thing for hours afterwards. They aren't in any rush to get going once they have given you the spinal and do a few checks to make sure you can't feel anything.

I’m sorry you had a bad time during your MROP. Please tell your anaesthetist on the day about your previous experience. Spinals are very effective and it will be tested thoroughly before surgery starts. As previous poster says, it is normal to feel tugging/pulling/pressure sensations but not pain. If you feel pain during your caesarean then tell your anaesthetist immediately, they would likely offer you gas and air, intravenous pain relief and a general anaesthetic is always available if required, but there are other things you can try first dependent on what was happening surgically.

I had this with my second EMCS, the first was absolutely fine, just the strange feeling like someone doing the washing up inside me.

The second, well as soon as the started the incision it hurt like hell. They were horrified and I suppose gave me a shot of local anaesthetic. I can't really remember now as it was back in 1995.

I think my advice would be keep telling the anaesthetist what happened last time, and there should be things they can do to try and stop it happening again.

Are you allowed someone in with you in covid times who you can be sure advocates for you and doesn't allow them to just carry on without at least trying to reduce the pain. I think worst case is they'd have to put you under (GA) there and then if it came to it.

Hopefully this time will be much better than the last time, I think it may be to do with when the epidural is done, and if it's not done quite right then it doesn't work as it should.

You won't feel it. With an ELCS the anaesthetist will take their time and ensure you are completely numbed before they do anything.

I remember them doing quite a few tests to before starting the op to check I couldn't feel anything.

The beauty of an ELCS is there is no rush or emergency.

DOI: anaesthetist

Sounds like you have a failed/partially working epidural from the sensations you're describing. I'm so sorry this happened to you and you felt you weren't believed.

For a LSCS you will feel touch/pressure. A bit of pushing pulling but there shouldn't be pain. These are generally done with a spinal anaesthetic as opposed to an epidural so should have a very heavy block.

Definitely mention now to your midwife and as to speak to a consultant anaesthetist in the anaesthetic clinic.

I had my first emcs with an epidural and the pain was awful. Far more than discomfort.
Since had 2 elcs and was terrified of the same again. Both times had spinals and honestly did not feel a thing. Much more effective.

It's reassuring that spinals seem to do the trick! Will have a really worried DP there with me who will definitely speak up if I feel anything this time, so that's a bonus too. Dreading it a bit less now. Plus, I suppose GA isn't the worst thing as a last resort if it means I get a healthy, happy baby out of it.

I've just had a quick google and really shocked to see how often this happens with emergency c sections let's hope I make it to the date so it remains elective!

I've had 5 electives, and because they knew the last one was likely to take much longer than normal due to scarring, they did the spinal block, and then put an epidural in, or something along those lines, so I had the full block, but towards the end I started feeling burning, which turned into discomfort, told them and they used the epidural to top me up, nice and numb again, I was very glad of it, maybe you could speak to the anaesthetists about this?

I felt my 3 csections, the last one in particular, my god the pulling and tugging inside my abdomen was unbelievable, so much pressure and pain for the last 20 mins. I kept thinking it would end any minute now based on my other two but they took ages! I'd say if you max out awake pain relief options they'd have to do GA but hopefully it wouldn't come to that.