Don't think I'll make my c-section date

[39Weeks]

Hello,

I'm 39+1 with my second baby. The past 2 days I've been having a lot of pressure low down and lower stomach pain (not tightenings so not BH or contractions) as well as lightening crotch and I'm worried I'm going to go into labour any minute. I have a c-section booked for Friday when I'll be 39+4.

I was scheduled for a section with my first at 39+6 but went into labour at 39+2. I went straight to hospital and was given the section there and then. Thankfully my waters broke spontaneously at 3am so I had inadvertently fasted for the required period pre-op.

What happens if labour starts and I've recently eaten? Was thinking that emergency sections must happen under these circumstances a lot. Will they still be able to operate? Would I have to go under GA or could I still be awake?

Thanks for any info.

If you go into labour before you just need to call the hospital who will tell you to go straight in and will slot you in as an emergency. You can still be awake, they would only normally give a GA if there isn't time to do a spinal or if you can't have one for medical reasons.

Sorry I missed the bit where you said you'd been in this position before so ignore the start of my post!

If you've recently eaten they can give you a drink called sodium citrate to neutralise the acid in your tummy and to prevent regurgitation. This is usually before a GA though, are you expecting to be put under for your C-section?

Generally they will only do a GA if there is threat to life and need to get baby out quickly, or if they've tried for a spinal multiple times and can't place one. Or, if you have a spinal and are still not numb enough to proceed with a section.

If you go into labour or your waters break prior to your section date, you need to phone whatever phone number they have given you, usually a triage or labour ward phone number, explain the situation and they will invite you in.

There's usually time to do a spinal. Labour before a planned section is not usually a reason for a GA

@mummyh2016

If you go into labour before you just need to call the hospital who will tell you to go straight in and will slot you in as an emergency. You can still be awake, they would only normally give a GA if there isn't time to do a spinal or if you can't have one for medical reasons.

Thank you 😊

@USaYwHatNow

If you've recently eaten they can give you a drink called sodium citrate to neutralise the acid in your tummy and to prevent regurgitation. This is usually before a GA though, are you expecting to be put under for your C-section?

Generally they will only do a GA if there is threat to life and need to get baby out quickly, or if they've tried for a spinal multiple times and can't place one. Or, if you have a spinal and are still not numb enough to proceed with a section.

If you go into labour or your waters break prior to your section date, you need to phone whatever phone number they have given you, usually a triage or labour ward phone number, explain the situation and they will invite you in.

There's usually time to do a spinal. Labour before a planned section is not usually a reason for a GA

The anaesthetist had no problem doing the spinal first time round and no reason to be put under GA. I want to be awake but my concern is not having fasted. I'd read that they are concerned about potential aspiration in this case so was just curious as to whether anything can be done to avoid this whilst still carrying out the section as planned.

Hopefully history doesn't repeat itself and baby hangs in there until Friday 🤞🏼 I have omeprazole and the drinks to take and I start fasting tomorrow night in preparation so probably worrying for nothing.

Thank you for replying.

You’ll be fine. I ate at the hospital almost directly before my emergency c section. Obviously not ideal but it’s something the staff will be used to dealing with.

It'll be fine. Some people eat during labour (not much generally but something) and then end up having an emergency section. They'll deal with it. Good luck!

I was in the middle of eating when I started getting rhythmic "tightening" with my second. It was about 8.30pm and by the time I went in and they faffed around I had the section at about 1am. So four and a half hours. I think they might have asked me when I last ate at some point, but nobody seemed concerned and I didn't get any impression they were waiting for any deadline to pass. I don't think it's a huge big deal - just vaguely preferable.

Happened to me, my waters broke 5 days before the scheduled section. I went to the hospital and waited for the section theatre slot to become available and was given gas and air until then. It wasn’t classed as an emergency, the section was relaxing and calm, I played my own music and it was a wonderful experience. I went in around 3pm, baby was born 7pm, I was out by 5pm the next day.

Oh, and I don’t remember anyone asking me what I had eaten/drunk! That’s only for a general I think.

Well, as predicated, my boy couldn't/wouldn't wait until his planned section date (tomorrow - 11th March).

Contractions started at 10pm last night, came into hospital at 1.30am and baby boy was born by category 3 emergency c-section at 11.22am today weighing 8lbs 5oz at 39+3.

As I had to wait so long due to emergencies, I hadn't eaten in a good 14hrs by the time I had the op so that wasn't a worry in the end.

Thanks for the replies ladies x

@BletheringSkate
Congratulations!! Hope you are settling in at home now. ♥️

Aww how strange that you just knew! 39+4 is really quite late, that’s the same date I got. Luckily it was my first and I think an extreme level of stress about the whole thing kept my cervix firmly closed 😂 but it was a Monday and I just kept thinking why couldn’t they have taken me on the Thursday/Friday instead of leaving me over the weekend