what to expect post csection with ga?

[summerdreams]

got my c section in 2 weeks 5 days will be put to sleep and been told babys going straight to scbu as he's only 34 weeks what can i expect i know you go into recovery dp will be with baby what happens when i come round can dp come to recovery to see me i have bad history with ga so they said if this happens this time i might have to go to icu for a while but if all goes to plan how long after i come round can i see baby? im honestly scared its gonna be like a horror film im gonna wake up not pregnant in pain no baby no phone cant even phone dp and its gonna be traumatic to say the least can any one tell me there experiences?

I has a section under GA I can remember being groggy when I woke up but after about 30 mins I was feeling normal. Hubby and baby were sitting next to me when I woke I was pain free. As soon as your able to transfer into a chair I'm sure they will take you to see your baby. Good luck!

I think most people who have a CS under GA have it in an emergency situation (I certainly did) so it's hard to say. Generally recovery from emcs is harder than elcs, but presumably you have reason you're having a 34wk delivery under ga so your circs are probably different to most.

I think you probably need to talk to your consultant, ideally get a tour of NICU so you know what to expect there etc. but you certiainly shouldn't waking in pain, and should be able to see your baby as soon as you and they are stable - be that in a wheeled bed or wheelchair, on the first day for example before you can stand up.

Good luck! Ask lots of questions beforehand if you get a chance. And if you need pain relief afterwards ask for it too!

I had an emergency section with GA at 36 weeks. When I woke up in recovery, my baby wasn't there as he had been taken to SCBU. I was given a photo of him straight away though (the nurse in SCBU had taken one).

My DH was in the room with me when I woke up, he had already been with our baby & he carried on going between my room and SCBU for a few hours as I was woozy & didn't really know he was there anyway.

I did wake up in pain (attached to a morphine drip where you press a button that releases the morphine every few minutes) BUT it turned out that the staff had forgotten to give me a pain-killer pessary in theatre (it is one that is put up your bum ). Once I was given that, the pain disappeared quite quickly.

I woke up from the GA around 11pm I think. By the time I was able to get up and go to see my baby, it was about 11.30am the next day. It might not be that long for you though, I take a long time to come around after a GA and I'd also had a transfusion so that might have added to the time it took for me to feel better.

I was taken up in the wheelchair because I wasn't able to walk yet (again, you might be able to get up sooner). The pain was okay by that time, with regular co-codamol.

I agree with the suggestion that you have a tour of NICU in advance if you can. Then at least you will be prepared & will have met the staff in advance and had a chance to find out about the different rooms, area for expressing if you want to express milk, that kind of thing.

Good luck. The staff in SCBU do such a good job. Also, if you wake and your DH isn't there, you can ask one of the nurses to call SCBU to say that you are awake & then he can come and sit with you.

OP I haven't given birth yet but I've had a bunch of GAs.

You wake up in recovery room tucked into a bed, with nurses around you. They are waiting for you to come to. So you don't wake up alone and they ought to be able to give you info on your LO. They normally say right away "you have had the op and it went fine" so you know where you are and don't feel disoriented.

You should not be in pain. You may have a mild reaction like shivering or feeling weepy but these are very normal and the nurses will help you manage. You will also have scratchy eyes as your eyes are taped shut during GA, to stop damage to them, and a sore throat from the tube they put down. This goes away quickly though, and you can have some water.

If you are worried, say to the theatre nurses before they put you under that you want to see your baby as soon as poss after. I'm sure they will understand and sort something out.