Preparing for a planned section...

[LissyGlitter]

OK, so I'm 33 weeks and pretty certain I have to have a section. Is there anything I can do to prepare for it? People planning a vaginal birth are having raspberry leaf and listening to hypnotherapy cds, what do I do?

I have had 3 kids ( 2 sections - 1 emergency, 1 planned). I responded to the planned section much better than the emergency my body went into shock.

Read and speak to everyone who has had one so you know exactly what to expect from the op.

Life will be very very draining for a while afterwards and even simple duties like cooking will be tough. Cook and freeze as much as posssible That is probably not want you want to hear!!!!!!!

Most of all spend your last few weeks taking time to relax and try to avoid putting stress on yourself.

You cant 'plan' this type of delivery just go with it. Dont expect too much from yourself to early and you will be fine.

Wishing you lost of luck x

Try to get your house into as good order as you can (if possible at 33 weeks )

I found it really difficult to walk about a lot afterwards, so I found it helped to have living room set up for baby, so that I didnt have to carry them upstairs to change a nappy or put down for a nap.

Make sure that you have comfy trousers and big pants!

I found that bending over was really tough, so maybe arrange things like changing mat to minimise that?

Good luck.

I had an emergency one first time, although tbh after the horrendous labour I was just glad to get pain relief and a rest! I seem to have blocked an awful lot from my memory though, I think because of the trauma, so I am kind of looking forward to the planned aspect of this one.

The end of pregnancy is dragging a bit now, so just wanting to do something practical. I had to have a transfusion last time, so I think I will try and have plenty of iron to build up my reserves. I'm also considering trying to find a video of a section online somewhere, so I know what is going on. I'm a lot less squeamish if I know what is happening.

What actually goes on with a planned section? Do I just sit in a waiting room until the theatre is free, walk in, strip off and lie down? Or do I get a bed beforehand? Do I eat breakfast that day or fast? What about if I start labour early? Do I go to hospital like normal and get straight into theatre or will they leave me in labour for a bit?

Oh, and will they think me odd if I ask someone to take pictures? Not sure if I could cope with no screen, but I feel kind of left out that DP gets to see the birth and I just get to listen! Also I'm curious as to what my insides look like.

BIG cotton knickers

Sounds silly but...

My elcs was put off as obviously they put emergencies in front.

I had got to the stage where I had been there all day with no food/drink, shaved and in theatre gown, in pre-op room, and had new baby clothes out of bag and ready...

Then we were told they couldn;t fit us in and to come back next day

So be prepared for that, don't get too excited.

Procedure itself is dead easy, really brilliant and quick and great (for me anyway).

Post OP get up and about as soon as they say, equally take all the drugs.

At home, get people to help, and remember you can't drive for a while. Get a big shop in now of obvious things/freezables.

I see you have a 2yo (as do I) try and get her used to not having mummy carries so much, you def shouldn't be picking up a toddler any more than you can help it.

Personally I find CS procedure and recovery easy (one EMCS, then ELCS), really good luck, you will be fine honest

I was taken to a cubicle, got changed into the gown, and then I walked to the theatre for the section, and then after they wheeled me back to mu cubicle again.
I couldnt have breakfast that day, and I was given something like ranitadine to take the night before.

If you need a section for medical reasons then they will want to know ASAP if you go into labour, so that the section can be done. If there is an element of choice then I suppose that is a bit more up to you if you prefer to try for a VBAC at that point, or if you still want the section (which will be done if you want it).

Get up as soon as you can, if only to walk ten steps to toilet and back.

Make sure you have a glass of water handy after operation. There is little more painful than having to cough with stitches in your tummy, and a sip of water can suppress a little cough that comes from out of nowhere.

I am already refusing to carry poor little DD so much, my back can't take it and she wriggles so much and climbs on the bump! I think she thinks all babies come by section, I suppose it is the logical way if you are two and have seen the scar on your mummy where you came out. I have made sure to tell her I will be given medicine so it doesn't hurt me.

Just saw your questions.

You turn up at hosp first thing, 8am for us. They get you all in at same time. My friend was in a different trust area and they got her in the night before.

You have a tablet to take the night before and in the morn, these are antacids.

You have to fast food from night before, drink you can have sip of water for morning antacid. Can drink up til midnight IIRC.

If you go into labour - it depends why you're having the section what they will do I guess.

And yes mamg is right yuo want high waist cotton pants so they won't rub where the cut goes.

BTW if you want to see your insides, if you look up at the big metal light in the theatre, you will be able to see a pretty good reflection of what is going on!

Tips from my friend who had one:

Get a changing table. You will not be able to change nappies on the floor.

Get your breastfeeding support sorted now, if you want to breastfeed, as a section can cause the baby to be extra sleepy and you may need more support in the early days.

Set up your bed for safe co-sleeping. You may not need it but it's a useful option to have, especially if you are breastfeeding.

Also found this link

tiger, I had read about that before my first, and was trying to look, but they took my glasses off me so I was as blind as a bat!

My DD who was very nearly two said "mummy hurty" - I had shown her the cut and explained and she seemed happy with that

I had emergency section first time, all very rushed and stressful as baby in distress but after 25 hour labour was just happy it was all over.

Elective 2nd time round, went in day before for monitoring of baby and bloods taken. Then day of delivery went in 7am, no food from midnight. Waited in a little room with a bed, monitored baby for a bit. Smelt everyone else having breakfast and wanted to savage nearest person to give me food

Changed into gown and gorgeous navy surgical stockings with help of dh as could not bend down that far!

Walked down to theatre at about 11am. Sat in anaesthetic side room, put antiseptic spray on my back and had spinal block put in, dh turned green as watching then they laid me down. Dh went to get into his scrubs, midwife came in, washed between my legs (couldn't feel anything by this stage) inserted catheta.

Heard baby crying for person in theatre ahead of me.

Wheeled into theatre and did not feel anything unlike first time round when I could feel rumaging. Son born 5 mins later, dh took photos both times from sitting position of our boys being taken out of my tummy! You cannot see anything horrid, just green sheet and a baby emerging from said green sheet.

Hope that gives you an idea of what may happen. The main difference to me was that the first time it was very rushed because of the distress and I can't remember large chunks of time because I was exhausted and full of adrenaline (no drugs - oh you'll give birth any minute Fizzy )

Elective, very calm, slow, I felt in control, had conversations in the theatre rather than shaking and gibbering rubbish

Best of luck.

Fizzy - thanks! Your first time sounds very like mine. I remember when they said i needed a section all I wanted to know was if I would get pain relief - I think my brain was addled at that point, as why would they not give me any for a section?

It is really good to know that your second time was so much better.

It was the whole "what do you mean I am leaving the gas and air behind?" panic as they wheeled me away from the only pain relief I had.

That was after the humiliation of being shaved by the midwife at the same time as my dh taking my toe nail varnish off and I remember the stupid thoughts going through my head like, OMG she is using a bic disposable razor, I am going to be itching like mad. Err Hello? you will have a huge painful scar in 5 minutes actually have tiny neat scar both times.

I remember the sheer relief when that spinal went in but couldn't stop shaking and the noise of my legs banging on the table

Re elective they give you the option of shaving yourself dh did mine, couldn't see my fanjo and certainly wasn't going to put a razor near me bits looking in a mirror.

Recovery wise you have been through it before but I got BIG white knickers from Asda, 3 for £1 so I could chuck them if they got skanky. Breastfeeding pillow was fab. Stocked up on paracetamol and ibuprofen. Baggy nice PJ bottoms/tracksuit bottoms to wear in the house.

Bought separate kettle for bottle feeding and washing up bowl on side filled with hot soapy water to throw bottles into once he had finished them. (that isn't c section related but hey, might be useful)

Get someone to take your eldest out to park/play date.

I agree re the whole cook and freeze, we chose something that could just go in the oven, no fannying around at the hob needing you/dh/helper to be there.

lol, I did the same with the gas and air, they had to wrestle it off me even after the spinal had kicked in!