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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

C-section, what does it involve?

18 replies

diane77 · 22/08/2005 11:31

I am 38 weeks pregnant baby is breech so have opted for a C-section can anyone tell me what it involves prep and procedure?

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MarsLady · 22/08/2005 11:53

I can tell you what I remember about my elective.

The anaethetist came and asked me various questions, incl stuff about dental work lol. I was wheeled down to theatre, where GORGEOUS anaethetist gave me an epi/spinal block. There was a curtain in front of me so that I couldn't see the procedure (though when DT1 was born I instinctively tried to pull it down, but Mr Gorgeous wouldn't let me). They check that the epi has taken affect, then they cut, you feel some tugging but without pain... very strange sensation. Baby comes out. They stitch you back up.

Very clean and clinical feeling (unless you are lusting whilst hubby is watching the birth). They bring the baby round the curtain to you and your partner.

hth

jampots · 22/08/2005 12:00

pretty similar to Mars but without the lust factor.

Tugging sensation is very strange and I swear my back left the table with my first (em c/s). All very controlled and clinical. Word of warning: even though they advise if you're nervous that you should focus on something DO NOT focus on the lights above the table - they are MIRRORED! Unless of course you want to have a look

Good luck - let us know how you get on !

swiperfox · 22/08/2005 12:25

t!! AARRGGHHH!!!!

Seriously, i've had 2 and they are a piece of cake. It's all very calm and friendly. The sensation is very strange when they are pulling little one out - it's a very cshard sensation to describe but don't be horrified, you don't 'feel' anything.

It took half an hour for ds to be born with my planned cs and the time it takes for them to do you back up you don't notice because you are busy watching them with little one.

You will be fine

swiperfox · 22/08/2005 12:27

oops sorry ds deleted the top of my message!! It should have said with my first cs I focused on the light too - not nice!

nutcracker · 22/08/2005 12:27

The sensation is best described I feel, as if someone is washing up in your stomach.

WigWamBam · 22/08/2005 12:35

I had an emergency cs rather than a planned one, but it was pretty much as others have described (but rather more rushed!)

The anaesthetist ran his hands up my tummy to make sure that the epidural had worked, the screen was put up, I had a heart monitor attached to my finger then my hands were strapped up into the top of the screen. I didn't actually feel any kind of sensation at all - no tugging or rummaging, although I had been told that it feels a bit like someone is doing the washing-up inside your tummy! It only took a minute or two to do the cutting and delivery.

Once dd was lifted out they held her over the screen for us to see (although I couldn't see her - but dh could), took her away to check her over and clean her up, then brought her over for dh to hold, although I wasn't allowed to hold her at that point. My dh then took her away to dress her while I was stitched up, and I was then wheeled into the recovery room where dd was given to me and I fed her (I can't remember that at all). I was hooked up to bp monitors, oxygen, a drip and a blood transfusion, so I was monitored for a couple of hours before going back up to the ward.

I would say that the worst thing for me was not being allowed to hold dd until I was taken out of the theatre, and the fact that although I can remember seeing her when she was given to dh, I can't remember the first time I held her and fed her. If I had to have a section again, I would try and ensure that the baby was given to me as soon as possible, and not taken away while I was being stitched. Looking at other people's stories that's not standard procedure, but it might be worth you checking whether that's what your hospital do.

swiperfox · 22/08/2005 12:44

forgot to say you get a drip in the back of your hand.

lol @ nutcracker washing up It really does!! I found it quite ticklish!! I think i was allowed to hold them both times while they stitched me up. With my emergency they took dd away to sort her out so i couldn't see her but with ds he wasn't in distress so they cleaned him up next to me where i could see (and take lots of yukky photos!!)

Mum2girls · 22/08/2005 12:46

Mine was elective on the advice of the paed as DD1 was breech.

It was all very calm, lots of chit-chat. They inserted a catheter (never felt it) then there was lots of tugging. They took her away v.briefly, then gave her to DP whilst they stitched me.

It was a blissful experience tbh.

trefusis · 22/08/2005 12:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

eidsvold · 23/08/2005 07:24

all of the below but I was lucky enough to hold dd2 as soon as they had checked her over( ( i could see her whilst they weighed and checked her out - done to the side of where I was on the operating table - whilst they were stitching me up.

The only thing I would say is be prepared for a wait - I was scheduled for a 10.30am op and ended up going in around 3pm. Simply because electives have to make way for emergencies... Have had both an emergency and an elective and both were fab... I think first time round I did not believe it was happening - had gone in for a scan at 9.30am and dd1 was born at 11.08am!!

The washing up description is the most accurate - you will feel the tugging but no pain. Both times they have been very careful to make sure the block/epidural is working before anything happens. It was a little surreal to be chatting away to a doc as he cut my stomach open and got the dd's out - strange - you know - chit chatty sort of conversations....

Second time - they let dh stand up and see dd2 being born - I saw a bit in the lights!! In fact I wish I had asked for the curtain to be lowered so I could also see dd2 being born properly.

hockeymum · 23/08/2005 08:45

Agree with all of the below, and am sure that an elective would be much calmer than an emergency, plus you will also feel fresher yourself going in there.

Just thought I'd add a bit about the prep before the op. They get you to take a tablet the night before and another in the morning that is a kind of antacid. To reduce the risk of reflux when you are flat on your back having your insides wriggled with. Then a midwife shaves the area at the top of the bikini line. Now, for some reason and I know this has happened to other people too, she does this with a bic razor and dry with no cream or water, a bit grazing if you ask me, then and actually my dh reminded me of this, instead of brushing your little hairs off they blow on you to get rid of them, very obscure. Actually my midwife who I had literally just met, even went so far as to comment on my relative lack of hair, so not the kind of chit chat you want.

They also put pressure stockings on you, not a sexy look with your backless gown and slippers (dont forget to take a dressing gown if you dont want to flash your rear as you walk to the operating room). You have to keep these stockings on for a week or so to avoid DVT and similar but they're not too uncomfortable, just not that attractive.

Some surgeons will let you choose your own music so you might like to ask about that and take a cd or tape with you. They will probably have their own music on otherwise which you may or may not want to be what reminds you of your dbs birth.

Good luck though, look forward to hearing how it all goes. x

hub2dee · 23/08/2005 09:45

Hiya, my post here might be useful background reading.

diane77 · 23/08/2005 10:12

hi all thanks for all the advice. im booked for monday 29th, i am now getting a little scared!! Also worried what happens if the baby turns, is everything cancelled? I was going to ask about shaving down below, I wasnt looking forward to that as due to belly cannot see a blinking thing!!!

OP posts:
lulabelle · 23/08/2005 10:39

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hockeymum · 23/08/2005 12:20

Oh I forgot to add, the baby is actually born very quickly, in the first 5 mins or so, the rest of the 30 - 60 mins is spent cleaning you up and sewing up the different layers (6 of them apparently - uterus, muscles, etc etc). So the nervous bit before the baby arrives is actually so very short and you relax a bit after that and dont notice them doing the rest.

NorfolkTurkey · 23/08/2005 12:22

I had an emergency caesarean as my baby decided to come at 29+5. I was really scared at first because I was about to have major surgery and was going to be awake! People were very nice though and soon put me at my ease. They had music playing in the background which was very relaxing! I remember rambling alot and asking them whilst they were down to a bit of liposuction (I'm sure they've heard that one loads!).

Baby comes out very very quickly and it's the stitching up that takes the most time. I had two side effects from the spinal block though - my arms wouldn't stop shaking and I had the most horrendous itching all over my body. An anti-histamine soon cured that!

Anyway good luck - you'll be fine!

laligo · 23/08/2005 19:01

Agree with all the descriptions here but i would add - when you are allowed home, get as much rest as possible and look after your scar, keep it very clean and don't strain it. Mine became infected which was horrible, painful and yukky and delayed recovery.

CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 23/08/2005 21:27

As soon as your out of operating room start taking arnica as it helps you heal.I was up and about in less than 24 hours and recovered v v quickly

good luck
xx

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