Fasting etc. before before c-section?

[BarbaMamma]

I'm booked in for a c-section next week and am just wondering how long in advance I'll need to fast etc. What else happens during the pre-op session before the operation/will I need to do to prepare? Any advice much appreciated, thanks.

When I had my ELCS last Jan I couldn't eat or drink from 8pm the night before (had to be at hospital for 8am) - in the end they didn't take me to theatre til the afternoon so I was starving! The pre-op session was just weigh, bp, check bloods etc talk to aneasthetist and to do the paperwork. You will also need the antacids for he night before and morning of the op depending on when your pre op session is. Only prep I did was shave the top of bikini line the night before so I didn't get butchered with a blunt bic!

I had my elcs in July and had no food or drink from midnight and to the hospital for 7.30am. I had to take a tablet before i went to bed and one the next morning but i can't remember what they were now .

Pre op was mainly just a chat with mw and anaestetist (sp?) and they took some bloods and checked weight i think.

Antacids, there you go. I knew really

dont make the mistake I did, and had a cup of tea in the morning! Tea counts as food with milk in!

Thanks - it's all coming back to me now, sort of (been five years). Forgot about the shaving part - yuk.

8 hours fasting is the normal guidelines for any major surgery. and some consider tea as food even without the milk (only if its just water with the bag, no sugar, and even that- some will consider it as though you've eaten)- if you can, fast completely.

we've had to cancel a surgery once for a lady who sucked down on one (1!!) mentos.

Because electives always take second place to emergencies in the hospital I was done in, my c-section didn't take place till 4.30 - I was getting pretty thirsty and hungry by midday, but then they put me on a glucose drip and I was fine after that.

I wasn't allowed any thing to eat after 8pm the night before, was allowed half a glass of water to take a tablet to calm tummy acids i think at 10pm. My pre op session was really informative, a midwife was with me the whole time and came to theatre with us which was nice, the aneathetist (sp?!) came and explained about the spinal block, the surgeon came and explained what they would do and timescales. Only prep we did was to say that i wanted to hold my son as soon as possible, but that i didn't mind if they passed him to my husband first, and that my husband didn't want to cut the cord (although as soon as Freddie was born he changed his mind and wanted to!). I don't think they put my drip in and hooked me up to bp machine until i was in theatre. They definitely checked bp, temperature and pulse before we went to theatre, also they monitored baby's heartbeat but think that was mainly because of problems the week leading up to the op.

I totally misread this thread. Thought it said 'farting etc before C-section'.

I'd say (but it may differ in your mat unit)but I would be surprised if an anaesthetist kicks up a fuss if you follow this advice.

No food after midnight

Clear fluids 'til 6am (clear fluid = something you can read newsprint through = water, tea/coffee with no milk, diluting squash. NOTHING carbonated and no fruit juice - even apple!).

Pre Op varies from place to place but usually - chat with surgeons/ sign consent, weight/ obs/ bloods/ get given Ranitidine tablets.

Sometimes you see us sometimes you don't.

Good leaflet here:
www.oaa-anaes.ac.uk/content.asp?ContentID=11

PS: The OAA aren't paying me for recommending their leaflets!

Ooo gasman. I haven't seen you in ages.

I'm surprised they didn't tell you this.

I was called a day or so before my section to confirm the date, how long I had to fast for & my 'expected time'. I was first on list due to my latex allergy! Having an allergy pays, sometimes!

Its mainly because I missed out on my pre-op, as c/s was booked the day before, and wasnt told a great deal. All the pre-op stuff was done on the ward that morning. Didnt even get any antacids.