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Childbirth

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

Original poster

C section under general anaesthetic

53 replies

Firsttimemumma01 · 31/10/2024 05:28

Hi,
Just wondering if there’s any mummas out there that had a c section under general anaesthetic instead of a spinal for medical reasons?
I’m unable to have a spinal but I’m so stressed and sad I won’t be awake to see baby girl born/have that first skin to skin etc.
Has anyone had the same and if so was it all okay? When do you get to hold baby? Does it affect bonding?

OP posts:
romdowa · 31/10/2024 05:58

I had my section under ga for medical reasons. Ds had his skin to skin with his father straight away and he was brought to be about an hour later when I woke up but I was still pretty out of it. There's been no affect on bonding at all , ds is very close to both of us.

Applebumblebee · 31/10/2024 06:15

I had c-section under GA, lost so much blood I barely remember some moments like meeting my baby (the next day).

I was completely distressed the whole night because I'd been growing and sleeping with her inside me, then suddenly they cut her out, took her away and expected me to sleep before even seeing her? Bonding has been totally distroyed (now nearly 6 months and I call her my hudbands baby, not mine - I also can't breast feed - I can't produce milk).

It seems there's some ways around this that work:

1, photo's so you can see her be removed from your body.

  1. If you can, breastfeed.
  1. Make sure baby is given to you moment you wake - not 24 hours later. I'll never forgive anyone for what they've done to me and her.
Brandnewskytohangyourstarsupon · 31/10/2024 06:23

For me it was fine, but very traumatic as it was done as an emergency so not pre planned like yours.

I breast fed pretty quickly, baby was given to my partner straight after birth in the recovery room while sitting next to me.
I wasn’t aware of anything until later that night.

Was ok afterwards.

For perspective, it HAD to happen therefore you make the best of it and actually just crack on, baby is born, you are a mum, you have work to to do so you do it.

Good luck.

Mindyourfunkybusiness · 31/10/2024 06:28

Yeah it's all good. Everything was okay, baby and I were bonded immediately once I was able to take her.

Destiny123 · 31/10/2024 06:42

Obs anaesthetist. We will take v good care of you, you drink an antiacid drink before we start (unfortunately tastes yuck but small volume so I just recommend people neck it like a shot), the bed is tilted slightly to get bump off your tummy vessels. Oxygen to breathe before we start. They'll put a tube in your bladder to empty it before you go to sleep, paint your tummy with the antiseptic cleaning fluid and put the drapes on so they're absolutely ready to start before you go to sleep (we do this so baby gets the absolute minimum anaesthetic exposure but I promise you they won't start till we give permission and we are happy you're asleep)

The anaesthetic drip that gets you to sleep is cold can be a little achey in the arm, normal nothing to worry about. As you go to sleep our assistant puts a tiny bit of pressure on your neck to minimise acid coming up as you go off to sleep to protect your lungs, we warn people as don't want you to think we are strangling you, but most have no memory at all as its in the sleepy phase of anaesthetic

Keep you asleep give you pain killers and antisickness whilst you're asleep and wake you up when it's finished. As with any GA can get a sore throat afrerwards for a few days, v small risk of damaging lips or teeth but it's rare. GA sections are more painful so we put numbing injections in the tummy before we wake you and give you a clicky button pain relief device which u can click as much as you need post op but can't overdose on as it's locked out

We take you hundreds of photos of baby being born and the time of birth etc. Baby can go to dad with the midwives until you're awake, as soon as you're awake baby will be back on your chest in recovery

From going into theatre to being in recovery is probably just under an hour

All the drugs are breast feeding safe if you wish to do so, dad will have skin to skin when you're asleep, you can do so as soon as awake. Some people say it can affect feeding, I'm not convinced from the amount of GA sections I've done over the years. We routinely check all pts the following day and all those that wanted to, were when I've checked them

We write you up lots of painkillers, take them regularly even if no pain as much better to stay on top of pain than catch up with it later, take your laxatives you don't want to be constipated

Think that's all, feel free to ask qs if I've missed anything

Destiny123 · 31/10/2024 06:53

Applebumblebee · 31/10/2024 06:15

I had c-section under GA, lost so much blood I barely remember some moments like meeting my baby (the next day).

I was completely distressed the whole night because I'd been growing and sleeping with her inside me, then suddenly they cut her out, took her away and expected me to sleep before even seeing her? Bonding has been totally distroyed (now nearly 6 months and I call her my hudbands baby, not mine - I also can't breast feed - I can't produce milk).

It seems there's some ways around this that work:

1, photo's so you can see her be removed from your body.

  1. If you can, breastfeed.
  1. Make sure baby is given to you moment you wake - not 24 hours later. I'll never forgive anyone for what they've done to me and her.
Edited

Sorry for your experience, I can only assume you bled to the point of needing ICU, but even so I can't say I've ever heard of mum and baby ever being separated in 10yrs of labour ward anaesthetics whilst mum is awake, if mum is awake and in icu baby normally goes in a cot with mum and midwife to ICU of that's the case.

The only patients that have been separated are those where I've had to keep mum in an artificial coma on icu due to the blood loss (and that's only been 4 patients in total ever) or baby has had to go to nicu as unwell themselves

all others baby is on mums chest within an hour of mum going to sleep, if that's what she wants, if not dad cuddles tell mum's ready

Applebumblebee · 31/10/2024 06:59

Destiny123 · 31/10/2024 06:53

Sorry for your experience, I can only assume you bled to the point of needing ICU, but even so I can't say I've ever heard of mum and baby ever being separated in 10yrs of labour ward anaesthetics whilst mum is awake, if mum is awake and in icu baby normally goes in a cot with mum and midwife to ICU of that's the case.

The only patients that have been separated are those where I've had to keep mum in an artificial coma on icu due to the blood loss (and that's only been 4 patients in total ever) or baby has had to go to nicu as unwell themselves

all others baby is on mums chest within an hour of mum going to sleep, if that's what she wants, if not dad cuddles tell mum's ready

Show quote history

You're in the NHS? I'm in Japan. Sadly women matter less here, so we have a 3.5 higher fold rate of suicide because of these things.

OP will be fine: but those photos and kindness when she wakes will make all the difference. Plus she can breastfeed.

If you've done work in this area, thank you for your service, it's necessary

cryinglaughing · 31/10/2024 07:04

Great post there @Destiny123, my child rearing days are over but that is a really reassuring.

Original poster
Firsttimemumma01 · 31/10/2024 07:05

This is really reassuring thank you so much. I really appreciate it and all the detail

OP posts:
Destiny123 · 31/10/2024 07:05

Applebumblebee · 31/10/2024 06:59

You're in the NHS? I'm in Japan. Sadly women matter less here, so we have a 3.5 higher fold rate of suicide because of these things.

OP will be fine: but those photos and kindness when she wakes will make all the difference. Plus she can breastfeed.

If you've done work in this area, thank you for your service, it's necessary

Edited
Show quote history

Aww that's awful, I'm sorry! Do they justify why? Seems awfully cruel and not good for anyone

I try my best, the midwives always take the mickey out of me saying I should have a new career in photography as I get the parents at least 100 photos during every section I do, photos of cord being cut, the board with time of birth, just baby, mum and baby, all 3 together. We let the parents choose the playlist in theatre via our Bluetooth speakers, just try to make it as pleasant as we can as we appreciate that it's super scary for the patients, even if it is our most favourite surgical speciality to be allocated to for the day

Original poster
Firsttimemumma01 · 31/10/2024 07:06

Destiny123 · 31/10/2024 06:42

Obs anaesthetist. We will take v good care of you, you drink an antiacid drink before we start (unfortunately tastes yuck but small volume so I just recommend people neck it like a shot), the bed is tilted slightly to get bump off your tummy vessels. Oxygen to breathe before we start. They'll put a tube in your bladder to empty it before you go to sleep, paint your tummy with the antiseptic cleaning fluid and put the drapes on so they're absolutely ready to start before you go to sleep (we do this so baby gets the absolute minimum anaesthetic exposure but I promise you they won't start till we give permission and we are happy you're asleep)

The anaesthetic drip that gets you to sleep is cold can be a little achey in the arm, normal nothing to worry about. As you go to sleep our assistant puts a tiny bit of pressure on your neck to minimise acid coming up as you go off to sleep to protect your lungs, we warn people as don't want you to think we are strangling you, but most have no memory at all as its in the sleepy phase of anaesthetic

Keep you asleep give you pain killers and antisickness whilst you're asleep and wake you up when it's finished. As with any GA can get a sore throat afrerwards for a few days, v small risk of damaging lips or teeth but it's rare. GA sections are more painful so we put numbing injections in the tummy before we wake you and give you a clicky button pain relief device which u can click as much as you need post op but can't overdose on as it's locked out

We take you hundreds of photos of baby being born and the time of birth etc. Baby can go to dad with the midwives until you're awake, as soon as you're awake baby will be back on your chest in recovery

From going into theatre to being in recovery is probably just under an hour

All the drugs are breast feeding safe if you wish to do so, dad will have skin to skin when you're asleep, you can do so as soon as awake. Some people say it can affect feeding, I'm not convinced from the amount of GA sections I've done over the years. We routinely check all pts the following day and all those that wanted to, were when I've checked them

We write you up lots of painkillers, take them regularly even if no pain as much better to stay on top of pain than catch up with it later, take your laxatives you don't want to be constipated

Think that's all, feel free to ask qs if I've missed anything

Edited

This is really reassuring thank you so much. I really appreciate it and all the detail

OP posts:
Destiny123 · 31/10/2024 07:08

These are a ton of videos I've made as part of a university project for autistic mums, but the info is very little different to my chitchat to all mums. One of the links is GA sections and one for spinals so will show you what theatres look like roughly. Sorry my train to work lands in 3mins so can't open them all to work out which is which x

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https://youtu.be/qfFybwuh_YA?si=QtHO105PzzKAI7Fg

Applebumblebee · 31/10/2024 07:09

Destiny123 · 31/10/2024 07:05

Aww that's awful, I'm sorry! Do they justify why? Seems awfully cruel and not good for anyone

I try my best, the midwives always take the mickey out of me saying I should have a new career in photography as I get the parents at least 100 photos during every section I do, photos of cord being cut, the board with time of birth, just baby, mum and baby, all 3 together. We let the parents choose the playlist in theatre via our Bluetooth speakers, just try to make it as pleasant as we can as we appreciate that it's super scary for the patients, even if it is our most favourite surgical speciality to be allocated to for the day

Show quote history

@Destiny123 just started crying to know there's people like you. its the OPs thread not mine - so lets keep it there. Any question's I'll happily answer personally

CyclingAddict · 31/10/2024 07:09

I had an emergency C section because both mine and my baby’s heart rates went down to 23 bpm. When I came round I was told I’d had a baby girl and that she was in Special Care. I managed to see her a few hours after that but my husband had witnessed the doctors working with her to keep her breathing - she was on a ventilator for two days but was well enough to come home after a week (weighing less than 6lb).

That was 19 years ago and we have a very healthy daughter who is thriving.

FfsBrian · 31/10/2024 07:14

Mine was done through an emergency and it was fine. I actually had a panic attack during the c-section as I could feel them so they gave me a GA.

Didn’t have any issues bonding in fact I clung to dd - but I did have trauma over the initial C - section as it was awful.

Second planned c-section went fine.

Applebumblebee · 31/10/2024 07:16

Point is, this could be a 10/10 pregnancy ending. Order the food you want, the photo's etc. I think it could be great

YouveGotAFastCar · 31/10/2024 07:19

Talk to your hospital about photos. Mine refused for my section; although a nurse got a couple on my husbands phone. We definitely don’t have hundreds.

I was almost GA after nine failed epidurals and two failed spinal attempts but the final spinal placed. I was really glad, mostly because DH really wanted to be with me after a traumatic birth so far. Baby would have gone straight out to him if I had been under GA, though, and it hasn’t affected our bonding that I couldn’t hold him straight away - I was awake but had very bad shakes so it wasn’t safe. Dad did the golden hour. Breastfeeding got off to a rough start but he fed successfully to just before 3.

backinthebox · 31/10/2024 07:24

@Destiny123 you sound a lovely doctor. Without wishing to derail the thread or worry the OP, not everyone is like you and I was one of those mothers who was separated from baby, they were some of the worst days of my life and much of it as as a result of iatrogenic damage.

I felt at the time I bonded well with my baby as I had to come out fighting harder than the average new mother. The anaesthetist and SCBU staff were great, but everyone else I encountered, from midwives to obstetrician to post labour ward staff were awful, and seemingly clueless about how damaging they were being in those early days.

My c section was an emergency one. With a planned section making sure you have discussed all of the details that Destiny123 mentions with you doctor and midwife, and have briefed your birth companion well so they can advocate for you when you are not able to are all worth doing.

It’s never fun having such major surgery, but it shouldn’t affect your bonding with your baby. I breastfed mine until 10 months, despite being told a c section would mean I couldn’t.

fashionqueen0123 · 31/10/2024 07:31

backinthebox · 31/10/2024 07:24

@Destiny123 you sound a lovely doctor. Without wishing to derail the thread or worry the OP, not everyone is like you and I was one of those mothers who was separated from baby, they were some of the worst days of my life and much of it as as a result of iatrogenic damage.

I felt at the time I bonded well with my baby as I had to come out fighting harder than the average new mother. The anaesthetist and SCBU staff were great, but everyone else I encountered, from midwives to obstetrician to post labour ward staff were awful, and seemingly clueless about how damaging they were being in those early days.

My c section was an emergency one. With a planned section making sure you have discussed all of the details that Destiny123 mentions with you doctor and midwife, and have briefed your birth companion well so they can advocate for you when you are not able to are all worth doing.

It’s never fun having such major surgery, but it shouldn’t affect your bonding with your baby. I breastfed mine until 10 months, despite being told a c section would mean I couldn’t.

I hope this wasn’t recently. They should never have said that! C section as you said absolutely does not mean you can’t bf. The removal of the placenta is what kick starts the milk production.

backinthebox · 31/10/2024 07:36

@fashionqueen0123 it was 17 years ago.

linelgreen · 31/10/2024 07:51

I had all three of mine by elective C-section and all with GA as I am not good with any sort of medical procedure and had no issues at all with bonding with them.

GingerKombucha · 31/10/2024 07:53

I didn't have a c-section under general anaesthetic but had a traumatic c-section at 29 weeks when I was covid positive. I didn't see her for 8 days but had no problem bonding at all and we're super close. I wouldn't worry about the birth too much, it's only a small part of motherhood and doesn't define your relationship with your child.

Milkmani8 · 31/10/2024 07:57

@Firsttimemumma01 I had an awful emergency c-sec. Saw baby for 30 seconds but was unable to hold him and then immediately put under GA. Was in an induced coma for two days, he was then sent to NICU and as I was bed bound I couldn’t see him for 8 days. It put me in a really bad place mentally not being able to see him. But you should be fine and baby should be fine so once you wake up you will be reunited. All this had a very bad impact on mental health, awful PPD and PTSD from everything that happened but my son is 2 now and it has had no impact on bonding, our relationship. Every day now I live the dream with him, it’s so wonderful. Don’t let all this ‘golden hour’ blah blah stress you out, it doesn’t make a difference. Best of luck to you and your new bundle of joy 🥰

Shoobidowhop · 31/10/2024 08:02

What an amazing and helpful post @Destiny123 mumsnet at its best

Good luck OP

fashionqueen0123 · 31/10/2024 09:20

backinthebox · 31/10/2024 07:36

@fashionqueen0123 it was 17 years ago.

That’s still not good :( but glad you found out for yourself it wasn’t true!

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