Section questions

[Wendyjayb]

Sorry if these have been asked before, but my friend is going in on Thurs and has asked me the following, but never had a section before

Are your legs open or closed

Where does the amniotic fluid go?

Do they put your underwer back on once they've finished

Can the baby still be born straight onto your chest/tummy

You legs are normally closed, the fluid gets sucked out using suction, they do put underwear on you and a pad as you do bleed. They will put the baby on your chest after if everything goes as planned.

I hope everything goes OK for her. She can ask them if she can take a tape in for them to play in theatre.

your legs will be together and numb from the spinal block.

the fluid is suctioned out

you will have a pad put between your legs and you will be on a large pad , like a caremat, to absorb the bleeding . once you have got feeling back in your legs and as long as no catheter, you can put pants on. i would suggest veyr large granny pants, in cotton.

baby can be put straight onto you for skin to skin contact as long as he/she is in a good condition at birth. c.section babies might need a bit more attention and suction at birth as without labour, there can be fluid in there that needs to come out, and labour usually squeezes it out.

she will have post natal bleeding, same as after a vaginal birth.

Legs closed

Amniotic fluid is sucked up a tube a bit like a straw with a vaccum on it and into sterile container

No to underwear they just place a pad between your legs

The baby can be placed on your chest but unless you want to see everything(not pleasent) the cord is cut first and then baby put on chest

Thanks everyone, that really helps

Wish someone had warned me that they were going to put a painkiller up my bum

I was totally stressed about the suppository when I had ds1 and eventually said 'oh please tell me when you're about to do it' and they said "we already have"

Didn't notice with the other two.

Biggest surprise for me (especially if you walk into the op theatre) is how narrow the operating tables are. You feel like you're going to fall off.

after spinal, a nurse will insert the urinary catherter - they arrange your legs in a position similiar to when you have an internal exam. legs then together and surgical drapes covering.

after incision, amniotic fluid sucked out

big pad only. When feeling is back in your legs (usually back on ward) you can step off the bed and the nurse can give you a bit of a clean up and help you get pants and a pad on. The catheter tube can either go straight down or up over the top of your pants. I wore scrub bottoms, but I guess a traditional nightie might be easier.

If the baby is born 39 wks plus, there should be NO respiratory probs. Even if it is uncomfy for the baby to be on her chest in theatre, she'll get him snuggled for skin to skin within 30 mins in the recovery area. take a receiving blanket to wrap around the blood pressure cuff. Make sure the pulse oximeter is transferred to her big toe at this point.

Pain relief every 6 hours, without exception. Volterol for 24 hours then step down to Ibuprofen (800mg). Top up with paracetamol or codeine as required.

As long as she isn't feeling dizzy - get up and get moving within a few hours of the feeling coming back to her toes. Even if it is just standing by the bed for a few mins.