C-section - will I feel them make the cut??

[Lunamoon23]

I'm 3 and a half weeks away from my ELCS, baby is also footling breech.

I've gone down abit of a rabbit hole googling delivery of a footling breech baby with a csection but upon googling I've come across some Reddit threads where people are saying they felt the incision being made?!? Like no pain - but they feel the sensation of something running across there skin and knew that was the cut being made. It's freaked me out slightly!! Actually, a lot...

I was aware I made feel some pressure, tugging when they're taking baby out. But I was under the impression that besides that. I'd feel nothing else at all, sensation or pain wise. Have I been wrong? Need to mentally prepare myself.

Op, my first c-section was a casual emergency if that’s a thing. They asked if I could feel anything, I said erm, not sure, they asked agian, erm not sure, they then all had a good chuckle with me saying it was fine to be scared, and then proceeded..I assume they were so used to women saying this they could tell when you actually were feeling something.
honestly didn’t feel a thing
nor the second time either
I could feel my body being being moved around, maybe that’s the rummaging and pressure some describe, but it was more that I knew they were doing something..but I’d not have been able to tell you if they were pulling my legs off or getting a baby out 🤷🏼‍♀️🙄🤣

things you do get during and immediately after in recovery ….

Possibly some pain whilst they’re injecting in local in your back before the spinal block…but I have an odd shaped spine and they had some issues, so they must have given me 4-6 shots, so maybe not everyone has this. But you won’t even feel the spinal block going in.

your blood pressure and heart rate can drop, so if you start to feel woozy after having the block, tell them and they’ll pop a drug into the drip and you’ll be back to normal in seconds. I think they told me actually, presumably the anaesthetist could tell I was having a wobble.

You will almost certainly start shaking once in recover, really powerful shivers and feel cold. Just tell them and they’ll make you feel all snuggly with extra blankets . It doesn’t last long…and by then you have baby!

It’s fine to be scared. We all are first time round , it’s a bloody scary thought that you’ll be awake for such radical surgery. Tell them you’re scared. Generally anaesthetist are just lovely , as our theatre nurse/midwives, they will hold your hand and reassure you.

mine was a long time ago, so maybe things have changed. I started to feel sensation part way through (I think baby was out and they were stitching up)

I told them it was uncomfortable (not really painful) and they paused while some more drugs were pumped in, before they carried on. The anaesthetist was brilliant.

Didn’t feel a single thing! I just felt thirsty, I remember asking for water and they said no 😅 and I felt a pressure on my shoulders, which on reflection could have been the trapped gas symptoms starting.

No you do not feel it. Same as birth with epidural. Nada.

Oh yes there are loads of people in the room but they’re just going about their day, casually chatting etc, it really put me at ease. The surgeon was talking to me about speeding fines as they were getting started!

If it adds any further reassurance, my mum had a hip replacement whilst awake using the same anaesthetic system as they do for c sections. Didn't feel a thing other than being rolled around the table!
I don't have any section experience to add, but I was really nervous before surgery and I can't explain how incredible every member of staff was and that seems to be common for most people going through surgery. They'll get you through safely, and with a bundle of reassurance and humour. Enjoy your new baby ❤

It's all fine. I had an elective c section for a breech baby 32 years ago. They'll give you something to relax you. You'll have a spinal block and you'll be meeting your baby a few minutes after they start. After that you'll have morphine which is the sane as a triple gin. It really is okay and the end result is so worth it .

Mine was an emergency as DS had a knotted cord and was in distress. He was out 19 minutes from the moment that they called the decision to do a section and that included getting me from the delivery suite into theatre, getting everything ready, doing the spinal and then opening me up. I felt all the sensations but no pain.

I felt slight pressure when the incision was being made, though not a line being drawn, and then lots of pulling and tugging when baby was being taken out. Mostly the one of the surgeons manoeuvring from the outside. Also a washing up feeling. Didn’t feel any pain whatsoever and although it was intense, it wasn’t unpleasant.

Can’t even remember the stitches - was focused on baby by then!

Didn't feel a thing. I didn't feel the rummaging either, but I did feel like I was being moved around the bed - it was a bit odd but I wasn't really with it enough to care. They had to use forceps to get him out so I probably was being moved around!

It went so quickly, I barely remember anything tbh. My anaesthetist was really chatty and lovely, I was extremely nervous and he really went out of his way to put me at ease.

The wierdest part for me was when it felt like they were painting me with a roller! Which apparently they sort of were! It wasn’t painful though, just an odd experience!

No it’s not noticeable but the tugging was for me. They make a shallow incision and then the surgeons use their hands to rip through several layers of fat and muscle - it can be forceful and cause your body to rock.

Apparently it’s better to rip than cut for bleeding/ healing purposes. But you can’t feel a thing. Takes 2-3 minutes to get baby out. The anaesthetic takes much longer (can’t remember now).

Then the 7 layers are sewn up one by one. This bit takes the most time about 40 minutes from memory.

They checked I could feel nothing by spraying something cold I think and I couldn't feel anything below my shoulders. I couldn't feel the incision at all. I liken the sensation I did feel to having a tooth removed. No acute feeling or pain at all but a sense that they were tugging or sort of manhandling me. He was hard to get out though so I was maybe being moved around a bit more. I felt nothing after he was out other than relief.

I've had 2 sections, first was for a footling breech. Rest assured, you won't feel the cut. Good luck!

I had an elective c section due to breech baby. No pain during but if you've ever had a tooth out, it was a similar sensation - you can feel tugging but no pain

This was how I felt.

Its worth it for the safe delivery of your precious baby!

I felt really warm, and toasty, especially my feet. My chest felt a bit heavy. I was sick a few times, but as soon as they gave me anti nausea I was fine. I also got the shakes pretty bad but apparently it’s normal. It’s a very weird sensation!

They made sure I was totally numb before they started, and all I felt was a bit of rummaging when they cleaned me out, and stitched me up. The strangest part was being manhandled when they moved me off the operating table, into my recovery bed.

I did feel the rummaging about and feels like lots of tugging and pulling but most importantly, no pain. Just a weird sensation. I can liken it to the sensation of having a filling? Once they numb you up you're not quite sure what's going on or where exactly but you know there is some tugging and moving around going on. You'll be fine. Good luck

I’ve had 2 sections (1x emergency, 1 x planned), i didn’t feel much of anything either time. Might have felt a bit of pressure as they were getting them out but it was painful just an odd sensation. Honestly the youngest is 20 months old now and i can’t really remember much about it at all.

No didn’t feel any pain - they test you beforehand

I was aware that they were pulling baby out but not a bad sensation - and it’s so quick

the recovery was tough though

and I do still feel tingles and numbness years later in parts

No but you will hear the first slip! Have music on! I had mine on quietly so the surgeon could concentrate as soon as I heard the snip I had it turned up!

It feels like someone is jumping on you and you get winded but it's not painful

They continue to prod but you don't notice as you just cuddle your lovely new baby

Never felt the cut. Felt slight tugging sensation after baby was out but it wasn’t uncomfortable. To be honest I was so distracted by the fact I’d just had a baby that I wasn’t bothered by any tugging feelings.
Most surreal moment ever was when someone lifted my screaming baby above the screen for me to see and said to me that they were mine. Sort of forgot the purpose of the operation by that point (long, long induction ending in a very quick emergency c-section- was rather delusional). C-section itself was lovely and calm though and any future children will be born by c-section.

I've had two sections and no way you feel it

That's what anaesthetic is for

I just felt cold and shaky (all the drugs) and tired (but I’d laboured and not progressed so when they got the spinal block in and there was no pain at all I just wanted to sleep)

In fact I remember thinking- Shrimpy you must stay awake - this is an important moment in your life 😂

As pp have said there are loads of people in the room which is a bit strange and it’s really bright and they had the radio on.

They are talking to you throughout and looking after you - the anaesthetist is literally by your head checking you aren’t in pain, feel ok etc.

Mine was a good experience, the strangest thing afterwards is having a numb tummy, even 9 years on I’ve got numbness near the cut spot.
Well worth it for becoming a mum which is the best thing I’ve ever done.