just had Elective c-section booked for 39weeks - what now?

[fledtoscotland]

just got back from the consultant appointment and my section is booked for 2nd september (am 34weeks today). but can anyone tell me what actually happens on the day please.

Consultant said MW would go through everything the week before when i have bloods done. apparently at wishaw general (where i am going) they have two teams so one does emergency and one does elective. the doc said that they only book two electives each morning so at least i wont have to wait all day.

my mind is now working overtime as to what will happen!

thanks in advance

ps - will i really have to wear those anti-dvt stockings or can i have the anti-coag injections?

We made up a "bed" on the lounge floor and thats where she had her naps, I also changed nappies on the floor.
In fact I spent most of the first4 weeks on the floor with her playing cuddling etc.

Always had a book with me for DS feed time so she was occupied and not off destroying the house or herself.

She learnt to climb into the buggy by herself and the carseat.
I was driving at 5 weeks with permission of GP and insurance company.

It was hard but I found getting down to her level, she never noticed I couldn't lift her.
She was pretty good on stairs with a little help, and DH was around for bath and bedtime.

The main issue I had was the highchair( bought a second hand childrens plastic table and chairs instead)

I would freeze small portions of meals for DS now so you only have to heat them up as you will no doubt be BF and feeding DS.

good plan soupkitchen - will start freezing food for him now although he is a big fan of scrambled eggs and also crumpets so i suspect he will be living off these for the first couple of weeks! he's still only cruising rather than walking so he wont be able to climb into the pram. my mum is coming back to stay after DH goes back to work (he has 3 weeks off) which is either going to be fab or hell but at least someone will be around 24/7. our highchair lowers right to the ground so maybe like you say, i will sit on the floor and have his chair lowered next to me so i can BF the baby and feed him at the same time. Did you use a special pillow for BFing or just hold your LO?

thanks for the help btw

Lots of good advice - I had two electives and the aftermath wasn't nearly as bad as I'd imagined - agree on the big knickers, and lots of changes - oh and some nice shower gel - makes all the difference to that first shower!!

I was driving after 3 weeks with permission from doctor and insurance, ask yur insurer how they feel about it.

Hope it all goes well!

I had a V pillow, which he became so attatched to he now cannot sllep without it at 2.5

fledtoscotland, you might not be able to avoid the catheter as it usually goes in before the actual c-section.

go and get waxed was much easier than the shaving thing !!

Also only take a small bag of stuff into the delivery with you ie the baby clothes, camera and a book for while you are waiting !!

Leave the rest in the car, till you have gone up to the ward as other wise dh ends up carrying round bags of stuff from place to place !!

take something niceish to wear in hospital comfy nice button down pj's that don't look like pj's if you know what I mean made me feel tons better when people visited and on photo's etc !!!

Driving-wise, I just asked the insurance compnay at 3 weeks if I wss Ok to drive and they said yes. I thought I'd just cover myself by asking.

Re: baby beuing delivered straight on to chest, this is absolutely possible if you wear you gown so that it opens at the front and specify that you want non-urgent assessments to wait whilst you bond. They'll obviously be able to see if (s)he is pink, breathing etc and that's all they need to know at that point.

thanks noseyhelen - i hadnt thought of a front-opening gown but just wanted it to be as "natural" a birth for my baby boy as possible and for his mum to be the first contact

don't think there's any choice about the catheter?

both times, i didn't get up and about until the following morning - there's no rush? although second time, was flexing legs pretty quickly after (bending them, moving from side to side etc) to stop them getting stiff...

driving - check with your insurer, most aer fine with you driving earlier but may want a doctor/midwife to agree to it?

Although I didn't have a c-section with my DD, straight after she was born she was taken to special care for 8 hours without me even touching her (was a HORRIBLE experience but luckily she was ok in the end). I just want to reassure you that as soon as we were "reunited" she went straight on my breast and we bonded really well. I successfully breast fed for months and we are still a very close mummy and DD. I really stressed during those 8 hours that we were apart that we would never bond because of it and that absolutely wasn't the case. So a few extra minutes of your baby being checked out by the doctor won't make too much difference IME.

Hi Fledto, I had my elective section at Ninewells in Dundee.

I turned up first thing in the morning but because of emergencies and then other planned procedures I had to wait until late afternoon before they took me to surgery.

I had been referred there by another hospital so I had never met either of the consultants on duty that day. It was very straightforward though and I was soon back in recovery where midwife helped me to bf.

Good luck, I'm sure they will keep you properly informed.

You shouldn't be offered stockings any more, you'll get heparin for 3-5 days.

Ask for skin-to-skin in theatre. You should be offered it as standard. Your DH should be able to snuggle the baby in theatre until you get back to recovery - 30 mins. Ask for a towel to be wrapped around your BP cuff.

If you're BP is fine, try and get on your feet the same day.

BIG PANTS!!!! (elastic abover your CS line).

BIG PANTS
BIG PANTS
BIG PANTS
BIG PANTS
BIG PANTS
BIG PANTS
BIG PANTS

Think really really big, the waistband wants to sit securely on your waist to avoid it rubbing along the wound.

Get lots of cheap granny pants from matalan or similar cheap store. The bigger the gusset the better and more likely they will hold the maternity towels in place. you will still have copious blood loss p.v. despite baby not coming out that way.

Drink plenty of fluids once you get to the ward and ask for the catheter to be removed as soon as you feel able to toddle off to the loo by yourself.

I drove at 3/4 weeks but had to speak to G.P. before insurance compnay O.K.'d it (G.P. basically asked me if I felt up to driving, so really it was all down to whether I felt safe to drive.)

DO NOT HOOVER as this is particularly bad for delaying healing/causing problems.

wash/dry wound carefully and if necessary dry using a hairdryer wafting air over the wound.

If possible get the earliest slot on the theatre list as then your dh will have more time with you in hospital before they kick him out.

Big Pants which shouldn't sit on your scar

lol at the big pants! had to wear them after a gyn op so unfortunately i know quite how unflattering they are.

yama - thankfully wishaw have two separate teams doing c-sections each day so unless there is a life or death situation i will def have my boy that morning. they only book two electives each day and i have to be first due to making sure the theatre is latex free for me. I also work within the hospital trust so i know some of the consultants and hopefully will already know who is delivering my baby.