When I was pregnant I searched so much for planned ga csection experiences as I was so scared and nervous and I just couldn’t find a lot as it was mostly about emergency csections so thought I would write this for anyone in a similar position to me.
i needed to have my csection under general due to the fact that I have a unclassified bleeding disorder and a spinal would not be safe for me. I had also had some pretty shocking experiences with childbirth that included long pushing and instrumental births that I now wasn’t allowed. I was very anxious due to the fact that I was had a high chance of bleeding and didn’t know how everything was gonna go
we got to the hospital for 7am. They put us into a delivery room to wait. I got into my gown and had basic obs done and was giving omeperozole. They also put compression stockings on me. The anethesist then came in who was absolutely lovely and talked to me. She could see how anxious I was so went to talk to ob and then came back in and said that dp could come in whilst they were getting me ready and stay until I was put under general. I was very grateful for this. Ob then came in and i signed form. I asked what order I was in for the day and she said I was first and that they would be calling me in very shortly this was just before 8. At 8.20 the midwife comes in and tells me that even though we had been given the option for dp to have baby as soon as he was born she prefers for baby to stay in the theatre while I am being stitched up and then woken so that when I wake up I see baby straight away and he is not in another room as this can cause stress to the mother and cause issues. Dp was fine with this. i also her if she could take photos as I had read that was possible and she said yes so I gave her my phone.
we got into theatre just before 9. They got me to lie down and first put two cannulas in me. These were rather laege but were fine The anethesist was chatting to me and absolutely lovely and dp was holding my hand. She then put some medicine in me relating to my blood condition.another lady started to prep me by catheter in (they do all this prep work whist you are awake to reduce the time you are under before baby is here so that they don’t get so much ga). The catheter really wasn’t that bad and was very quick. She also shaved me a little bit more and put stuff on my belly.
the anethesist then got me to take another liquid medication and then put an oxygen mask over my face, this was when I started to get very anxious and tearful which is when the anethesist again reassured me and I could hear dp talking to me. I then remember them saying they were given me medication. I know at that point they pressed lightly on my neck but I cannot remember this. I was then out and dp left. The next thing I remember is waking up to being told it was all over and that baby was here and was 8lb 11. They also told me I had lost some blood (a litre and a half) even though they had given me the medication but were able to give me some back through a recycling system (not sure the ins and outs of this) The rest of the day is honestly a complete blur that I can’t remember other than snippets of him. I know they gave me a patient controller morphine thing and I remember being in a considerable amount of pain but they were fantastic at controlling my pain. Dp stayed with me the whole time and I was able to breastfeeding within a few hours. I have a load of pictures of his first hour which is lovely including him being weighed and the midwife holding him.
honestly although the experience of waking up with a baby was strange I can honestly say that the whole experience was not awful and it brought my baby here safe (found out after he was in an oblique position like my others were and was over a lb bigger then my others. As I had pushed for hours with them and had massive pph we made the right decision). I really hope this helps someone in a similar position.