ELCS birth plan/experiences

[CountryGirl189]

Hi all,

I’m having my birth plan meeting tomorrow for my ELCS in August and just looking to see how people found the ELCS in general.

On the whole, I’m feeling quite excited and positive about it, however I am DREADING having the cannula out in my hand! Knowing I’m about to be cut open and the cannula is all I can think about!

I had a tiny pink one put in last year for a GA and it really hurt going in (I’m not bothered about them once they’re in), but I know they use a much bigger one for a section - anyone any advice? Should I ask them to numb my hand first?

I’m generally not needle phobic, but that experience has made me nervous about getting it and I want to be able to be as calm as possible on the day!

You can have your hand numbed but that’s a needle too, I’d buy Elma cream yourself and come prepared with a numb hand. Just ask for a warning that you’re next from the staff caring for you on the day. Good luck with the birth though, the vast majority of the op is once the baby’s out so I hope that they are a complete distraction for you!

@SwayingInTime a local would be fine! I think the size of the cannula is freaking me out because surely the bigger the needle the worse the pain?! So even if they jabbed me with a small needle first then the big-cajones one, I’d be fine 😂

Most anaesthetists use local as routine for the big drips.

@Greybeardy I’ll definitely ask them to do so then!

Hi OP,

I'm not needle phobic but I really don't like them - usually ask to lie down for blood tests and injections. I asked for Emla cream on my hand and back before the cannula and the spinal block. Worked really well (but had to keep reminding them they were going to do it for me to make sure I got it done with enough time). Then the anaesthetist said 'it's going through a valve is that ok?' as he put in the cannula... Please don't tell me information that might make me keel over 🫣.

I didn't feel the spinal go in, but did get a bit shaky and upset when they went to do it - I think that was the gravity of what was about to happen. My DH gave me a hug and made me feel better as they did it which really helped.

By the time you're on the operating table you'll be being distracted by your birth partner and the anaesthetist (who stays at the head end). The baby will be out relatively quickly so you'll then have the baby to think about while they finish the rest of the procedure.

Honestly I can't remember the cannula so no thoughts on that but I had planned an elective section for mental health reasons which turned into a necessary one as she was breach which turned into a serious emergency situation 3 weeks earlier than planned.
However I found the whole thing great- even in the emergency situation (I narrowly missed having to have a general anaesthetic it was that serious) the staff were fab, I had a midwife by me explaining what was going on, all the people in theatre introduced themselves and I was even offered a choice of music (can't say I cared by that point!). The anaesthetic person was particularly good- kept checking in with me and responded really quickly when I started to feel sick. Only bad thing was the situation was too serious to wait for my partner (he had gone home as it was the middle of the night- 30mins away) but even there the staff were great, as soon as he arrived on the ward he was whisked straight into scrubs and into theatre- he was able to do skin to skin with baby immediately as I was too shaky. My recovery was really smooth- I think it helped that I had planned a c-section so was prepared and ready for it. Several people I know had emergency sections after planning natural births which they found mentally harder to deal with or after having some natural labour in which case the physical recovery seems much harder.
I was off regular (4x a day) pain killers after about 5 days and only taking the very occasional dose mostly at bedtime after 2 weeks. Moving fairly normally after 10 days and had to keep reminding myself not to do too much!

I am needle phobic (well was before the prodding of pregnancy started 😂) I had a elective section 2 weeks ago and can honestly tell you that once your in hospital on that morning you won’t care at all about the needles and the op your only concern will be to get that baby here safely. I was having section due to breech presentation so I just kept telling myself this is the safest way for baby to be born and these people perform this op multiple times a day. Don’t get me wrong it’s major surgery whilst your awake which is always going to be scary but 10 minutes into that operation when your baby is born every worry or fear just melts.

I've had a cannula put in for both vaginal births. It stings for a minute but it's not too bad!