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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Hand hold going into hospital

13 replies

Rainbowbub22 · 12/03/2023 19:30

Hi all,

I'm going into hospital tomorrow for my pre op, before elective c section on Tuesday morning. Just wanting some positive stories please, I'm really anxious today, the reality has kicked in. For a little back ground this is my 3rd birth. My eldest was born 20 years ago by spontaneous natural labour. 18 years ago I had twins, emergency c section due to pre eclampsia, I was put to sleep for this one but was very ill, lost a lot of blood and ended up in hospital for over a week, all babies were fine. This time I'm 40, single baby, I have been very well looked after by my hospital and we agreed a planned c section at 37+5 was the safest option for baby and me. Had no problems, other than GD so far in this pregnancy, blood pressure has been perfect. I'm just really scared. This time I will be awake during the section, which terrifies me, I'm an anxious person anyway and I have no real idea what it's like to have a section, although all the hospital staff have assured me it's very calm and relaxed and won't be anything like my last one. If anyone would like to take the time to share their experiences I would be hugely grateful. Thank you

OP posts:
Kimberz · 12/03/2023 22:13

Our elective was very calm - all the doctors and nurses were lovely and talked to me the whole time.

Didnt feel a thing.

Congrats and best wishes

Thedogscollar · 12/03/2023 22:35

@Rainbowbub22
Hi there. I've not had a section but I am a midwife.
Completely understand your feelings of anxiety re having another section.
The reasons for this section are so different to your previous emergency. This will honestly be so much more relaxed.

Our ladies are brought to the delivery suite with their birth partner where some routine checks are carried out like your b/p, checking of baby's heart, paperwork all correct and in place. They are then escorted to theatre with their midwife whilst your birth partner stays on the room.

In theatre more checks made checking your ID band allergies etc ensuring you know why you are there. You will then be positioned for spinal anaesthetic and procedure will be undertaken by the anaesthetist and their (ODP) operating department practitioner. The spinal usually takes only a few minutes to carry out and works immediately. You will then be laid flat on bed with a slight tilt to stop you feeling faint. The block level will be checked using a cold spray once anaesthetist is happy with the level of the block your midwife will then catheterise you. This stays in for duration of op and a few hours after. Your birth partner will then be brought into theatre and sat right beside you.

The operation will begin. Music can be played you could even bring a CD of your choice. The anaesthetist will be chatting to you too. There will be a lot of people in theatre, all necessary. The doctor and their assistant doing the op, anaesthetist and ODP, your midwife, scrub nurse handing instruments to doctor, an HCA who helps everyone else if they need anything and a paediatric doctor for when baby arrives.

The actual op takes approx 50-60 mins from start to finish. Getting the baby out takes 10 mins approx. If baby comes out screaming as they normally do they will leave the cord to pulsate for over a minute as good for the baby. The cord will then be cut and you or your partner can have skin to skin contact with your baby.

When op is completed you will transfer to recovery room where you will be looked after by a nurse and your midwife will be on hand to help with feeding, weigh baby and give vitamin K. Once obs are completed you will then transfer to the postnatal ward. Please ensure you ask for analgesia regularly you may feel comfy but you will be up the next day or later on same say depending on when you had your op.

It's easy to say don't be anxious but I think you will be pleasantly surprised as elective sections are usually very relaxed and you will be awake and meet your beautiful baby immediately.

Good luck and if there is anything else you are unsure of I'm happy to help. X

Original poster
Rainbowbub22 · 13/03/2023 17:06

@Kimberz
Thank you so much, I hope ours will be the same x

OP posts:
Original poster
Rainbowbub22 · 13/03/2023 17:08

@Thedogscollar
Thank you so much for taking the time to write so much detail. Your reply has really helped me. We are so lucky to have lovely midwifes like you that care about people.
I had my pre op today, have to be at hospital at 7am tomorrow morning. Section is booked for 9.30.
Thank you once again it was very kind of you and has helped me so much x

OP posts:
SummerHouse · 13/03/2023 17:18

My sister had an emergency c section and went on to have a planned section. The experiences could not have been more different.

I can't wait for an update that your baby is here and you are doing well. You will be so very proud of yourself and rightly so. Anyone would be anxious but I think having had an emergency c section will give you a biased view.

All the best. Rest up and get ready to enjoy that baby.

Thedogscollar · 13/03/2023 18:25

Thedogscollar · 12/03/2023 22:35

@Rainbowbub22
Hi there. I've not had a section but I am a midwife.
Completely understand your feelings of anxiety re having another section.
The reasons for this section are so different to your previous emergency. This will honestly be so much more relaxed.

Our ladies are brought to the delivery suite with their birth partner where some routine checks are carried out like your b/p, checking of baby's heart, paperwork all correct and in place. They are then escorted to theatre with their midwife whilst your birth partner stays on the room.

In theatre more checks made checking your ID band allergies etc ensuring you know why you are there. You will then be positioned for spinal anaesthetic and procedure will be undertaken by the anaesthetist and their (ODP) operating department practitioner. The spinal usually takes only a few minutes to carry out and works immediately. You will then be laid flat on bed with a slight tilt to stop you feeling faint. The block level will be checked using a cold spray once anaesthetist is happy with the level of the block your midwife will then catheterise you. This stays in for duration of op and a few hours after. Your birth partner will then be brought into theatre and sat right beside you.

The operation will begin. Music can be played you could even bring a CD of your choice. The anaesthetist will be chatting to you too. There will be a lot of people in theatre, all necessary. The doctor and their assistant doing the op, anaesthetist and ODP, your midwife, scrub nurse handing instruments to doctor, an HCA who helps everyone else if they need anything and a paediatric doctor for when baby arrives.

The actual op takes approx 50-60 mins from start to finish. Getting the baby out takes 10 mins approx. If baby comes out screaming as they normally do they will leave the cord to pulsate for over a minute as good for the baby. The cord will then be cut and you or your partner can have skin to skin contact with your baby.

When op is completed you will transfer to recovery room where you will be looked after by a nurse and your midwife will be on hand to help with feeding, weigh baby and give vitamin K. Once obs are completed you will then transfer to the postnatal ward. Please ensure you ask for analgesia regularly you may feel comfy but you will be up the next day or later on same say depending on when you had your op.

It's easy to say don't be anxious but I think you will be pleasantly surprised as elective sections are usually very relaxed and you will be awake and meet your beautiful baby immediately.

Good luck and if there is anything else you are unsure of I'm happy to help. X

Hi I'm glad it helped. I always look at it that I do this most days so it's the norm for me but you don't and that's why it can be scary, it's the unknown.
Good luck for tomorrow I'm sure it will all go well. This time tomorrow you will be cuddling your little one, so much to look forward to. X

iloveburmese3 · 14/03/2023 14:24

How are you OP! I hope it went really well and smoothly which I'm sure it did. The advice from the midwife was so super - thank you! I'm having my second elected C in 2 week and this advice has been so helpful. X

Pammy28 · 28/01/2024 03:14

Did you have your darling baby? Hope it went OK. Sending you a hug.xx

PeopleAreWeird · 28/01/2024 03:23

@Pammy28 This thread is 9 months old

Original poster
Rainbowbub22 · 16/08/2024 01:15

Hi everyone, sorry I was so wrapped up
In my baby bubble I rudely forgot to come back and update, I'm so sorry
I did have my little girl by planned c section in March 2023, she is an absolute dream and I'm so in love with her.
My C section was amazing, I would highly recommend it if consultants advise. Everyone in theatre was so lovely and although I was terrified when they took me down, my nerves soon passed, it was very fast from going into theatre to holding my little girl in my arms and after that I didn't pay much attention to the surgeons stitching me back together. It was actually a very peaceful, calm, wonderful experience. If I were to describe it I would say, yes they numb your nerves so you can't feel any pain, but you can feel what they are doing, in terms of pulling, tugging you, it feels like someone is rummaging around inside your stomach, which I guess is pretty much what they are doing but there is no pain. For me personally even the spinal epidural I didn't find painful, they give you a local anestesia so you can't feel the spinal going in, pain wise, it just feels a bit like someone is hammering your lower back but without pain. I was also very lucky that my lovely community midwife came along to support me too, which was amazing and so kind of her, she was brilliant throughout my pregnancy, birth and aftercare.
This was my last baby but I have now given birth vía natural vaginal birth, emergency c section and planned c section, my natural vaginal birth was the best, it went very smoothly with no problems and a quick recovery. My planned section was also very good and recovery for me personally was fairly easy. I was up and walking about within 10 hours of coming out of theatre, I was home 35 hours after arriving in hospital, I was climbing 2 flights of stairs to our 3rd floor bedroom a week post op.
I would like to thank everyone who came on here to give me advise and reassurance, especially the lovely midwife, you really put my mind at ease and everything you said was correct. Also thank you to all that came to check back in, so sorry I left it so long to update you
And to anyone who is due to have a c section or needs to have one in the future who sees this thread, I would like to say please don't worry, it really isn't as bad as you think it will be, I'm a massive baby with medical stuff and I coped fine. Love to all xx

OP posts:
Original poster
Rainbowbub22 · 16/08/2024 01:19

Thedogscollar · 12/03/2023 22:35

@Rainbowbub22
Hi there. I've not had a section but I am a midwife.
Completely understand your feelings of anxiety re having another section.
The reasons for this section are so different to your previous emergency. This will honestly be so much more relaxed.

Our ladies are brought to the delivery suite with their birth partner where some routine checks are carried out like your b/p, checking of baby's heart, paperwork all correct and in place. They are then escorted to theatre with their midwife whilst your birth partner stays on the room.

In theatre more checks made checking your ID band allergies etc ensuring you know why you are there. You will then be positioned for spinal anaesthetic and procedure will be undertaken by the anaesthetist and their (ODP) operating department practitioner. The spinal usually takes only a few minutes to carry out and works immediately. You will then be laid flat on bed with a slight tilt to stop you feeling faint. The block level will be checked using a cold spray once anaesthetist is happy with the level of the block your midwife will then catheterise you. This stays in for duration of op and a few hours after. Your birth partner will then be brought into theatre and sat right beside you.

The operation will begin. Music can be played you could even bring a CD of your choice. The anaesthetist will be chatting to you too. There will be a lot of people in theatre, all necessary. The doctor and their assistant doing the op, anaesthetist and ODP, your midwife, scrub nurse handing instruments to doctor, an HCA who helps everyone else if they need anything and a paediatric doctor for when baby arrives.

The actual op takes approx 50-60 mins from start to finish. Getting the baby out takes 10 mins approx. If baby comes out screaming as they normally do they will leave the cord to pulsate for over a minute as good for the baby. The cord will then be cut and you or your partner can have skin to skin contact with your baby.

When op is completed you will transfer to recovery room where you will be looked after by a nurse and your midwife will be on hand to help with feeding, weigh baby and give vitamin K. Once obs are completed you will then transfer to the postnatal ward. Please ensure you ask for analgesia regularly you may feel comfy but you will be up the next day or later on same say depending on when you had your op.

It's easy to say don't be anxious but I think you will be pleasantly surprised as elective sections are usually very relaxed and you will be awake and meet your beautiful baby immediately.

Good luck and if there is anything else you are unsure of I'm happy to help. X

Everything you said was spot on. Thank you for taking the time to help me. I'm so grateful, midwifes are amazing and do a wonderful job, I am in awe of you all. Thank you so much ☺️

OP posts:
Pammy28 · 16/08/2024 09:53

My daughter in law went in on Wed to hospital. Still waiting for news of birth. The staff are brilliant at Kingston Hosp it seems, and monitoring her well. Can't wait for our new Grand daughter to be born! Just hope she doesn't go through too much pain!!

Thedogscollar · 16/08/2024 15:29

@Rainbowbub22 Oh my goodness hello!!!
So lovely to hear it all went well. Congratulations to you and your family.
Thankyou for letting us all know it went so smoothly, your post will help so many other mums planning for a CS . 💛

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