Talk me through the elective C-section process

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Just that, really. I'm sure there is variation between hospitals but it would be nice to know a few things like do the anaesthetist and surgeon meet you on the ward before the procedure?
Do you walk to theatre?
Where does the midwife prep you (do they all use electric clippers in hospital now as I don't want a dry disposable Bic near me! I was considering arranging some waxing about 2-3 weeks before my date but how far should I do this- is does the sticky dressing cover the hair?). Or do they do this in theatre with all the staff present?
When do they pull your gown up to expose you? I assume this is only done briefly so they can shave and clean the area before they drape your legs.
Do they place the catheter after the spinal anaesthetic?
What things do you take to theatre: slippers, dressing gown, baby's first clothes, nappy and hat, lip balm (hospitals are so dry), maternity pads?
Can I wear contact lenses and earrings or do I have to remove them? I can't see without glasses or lenses but I'd assume they'd take your glasses away, hence the question about lenses.
Do you have to use Hibiscrub or something when you shower at home?

How long are you in a recovery bay/room?
When does the dressing come off?
How long can you stay in the side room - until catheter comes out?
When do they kick you out of hospital?

I've a while to go yet, but I don't want to hold out in case they don't give a lot of information beforehand.
Thanks in advance.

Ask your midwife to talk this all through with you so that you know exactly what will happen in the hospital you will have your section in. If you feel your midwife appointments are rushed, ask for an extra appointment specifically to talk this through.

Do the anaesthetist and surgeon meet you on the ward before the procedure?
Yes. They both came round to meet me before I went down to theatre and talked me through their role and the risks of the procedure.

Do you walk to theatre?
Yes

Where does the midwife prep you (do they all use electric clippers in hospital now as I don't want a dry disposable Bic near me! I was considering arranging some waxing about 2-3 weeks before my date but how far should I do this- is does the sticky dressing cover the hair?). Or do they do this in theatre with all the staff present?
They had electric clippers which they used when I was anaesthetised. They had specifically instructed me not to wax beforehand as apparently this makes you more prone to infection. Although everyone was in theatre it was fine. Everyone was very discreet and they were all busy with their own jobs anyway.

When do they pull your gown up to expose you? I assume this is only done briefly so they can shave and clean the area before they drape your legs.
Yes, they got me settled on the table and then pulled up my gown. They shaved me and inserted the catheter, then draped my legs.

Do they place the catheter after the spinal anaesthetic?
Yes

What things do you take to theatre: slippers, dressing gown, baby's first clothes, nappy and hat, lip balm (hospitals are so dry), maternity pads?
I was wearing my gown plus an extra gown to hide my bum. I also had pants on and flip flops. I took them off and left them with the midwife who then made sure that they came up to the ward with me afterwards. My husband had the camera and a nappy and hat for our dd. She was wrapped in a blanket until we were in recovery. I wouldn't have been able to take lip balm etc.

Can I wear contact lenses and earrings or do I have to remove them? I can't see without glasses or lenses but I'd assume they'd take your glasses away, hence the question about lenses.
I don't know about contacts I'm afraid. They made me take my earrings and rings off. They warned me about this in advance so I just didn't wear them into hospital.

Do you have to use Hibiscrub or something when you shower at home?

No. I just had to have a normal shower on the morning of my c section before going into hospital.

How long are you in a recovery bay/room?

I was in recovery for about 2 hours, then they moved me to the hdu bay on the postnatal ward which is where I spent my first night.

When does the dressing come off?

I was told to take my dressing off in the shower 3 days after the operation. It was fine and didn't hurt even though I was nervous about doing it!

How long can you stay in the side room - until catheter comes out?

I was in a side room for my second night in hospital. They had taken the catheter out the day after my op so I was mobile by that point. At my hospital they don't let you use a side room unless you are mobile. (I.e. No catheter and spinal anaesthesia has worn off. )

When do they kick you out of hospital?

I left about 48 hours after dd was born.

Good luck! It really was fine. I actually enjoyed it.

Had to be in hospital night before and met anaesthetist then, but did not meet the surgeon until outside the theatre.
Wheeled down to theatre area and was shaved and had catheter put in before going into theatre - this was in a room with just me and a nurse.
Didn't take anything for the baby to theatre - all povided by hospital including maternity pads and some rather attractive net knickers!
Dh met me in theatre
In recovery room for a couple of hours before going back to ward.
Catheter out the next day, but encouraged to walk around a little the same day and up and down the corridor the same day.
Also had some white tights to wear to prevent blood clots and an injection in my thigh every day too.
It's surprising how quickly your body recovers - take it easy at first, but getting up helps.

Hello, currently sat on a hospital bed waiting to be taken for me elective so I can answer that majority of your questions(obvs specific to my hospital but from what I've read, all inline with the NICE guidance.

Ok, I was given anti acid pills and an anti sickness to take before, i took one Anti acid I'd last night, have fasted since midnight, been nil by mouth since 7 when I took my other anti acid and antisickness.

Had to arrive for 7:30, there's three of us on the list.
Asked to shave before but they clipper you if you don't.
No jewellery allowed on(will cover wedding ring but my sausage fingers rejected that weeks ago)
Saw the anaesnatis yesterday and midwife for bloods and preop checks. Have seen surgeon and anaesnatis again this morning with everything checked again and consents given.

The first lady went on the bed the second one walked. Each wore a gown, dressing gown and socks/slippers, partner was in scrubs.
You don't take anything g for baby to theatre other than a hat, encouraged to take a camera and you can choose your own music. You equally don't take anything for you I.e pads, they have them there. You're stuff is taken to the recovery room for you.
I have shaved so no experience of what they do if clippered but they do the spinal block then insert cathetar.
No contacts or glasses allowed although that's just what my paperwork says I don't have personal experience.
You'll be on the ward whilst still with catheter and on hourly OBS (approx 12hrs) but then can be moved if there's a room available.
No hipascrub but advised to have a good wash before.

For my emergency(very straight forward) I was in recovery an hour.
I was discharged 48hrs afterwards which is standard here.

Here we have disposable stitches and a manuka honey dressing which is removed after 24hrs unless there's an issue.

What I would say is, I was given a hell of a lot of info both verbally and in a pamphlet at my 34 wk consultant appointment. I have since written questions which I've asked my midwife at my 36 and 38 what appointments as well as the midwife and anaesnatist at my preop. Ive also read the NICE guidance(bit of a geek)

I feel very well informed and relaxed. Just hungry and bored now!! Hope this helps.

Thanks for starting this thread OP, I'm watching and reading with interest as my elcs booked for 3rd Jan at 34+4. First pregnancy and twins and I'm verrrrry nervous!

A lot of this stuff varies between hospitals so you'd be better off asking them. Where I work we do 'enhanced recovery' which basically means getting you up and about as quickly as possible.

Midwife will prep you on the ward. Take as minimal stuff with you to theatre - clothes for baby, camera, formula if you want to formula feed, slippers to walk in and that's it. I wouldn't bother with a dressing gown and definitely no need for pads then as they'll use their own in theatre/recovery. Don't need any special cream to shower in unless you're MRSA positive.

This is what happens where I work:
Recovery is about 30-45 mins. Never longer than an hour unless there are problems.

We use glue instead of stitches so don't put on dressings routinely unless the surgeon feels it's required. If a dressing is put on, generally it comes off the next day.

Catheter comes out as soon as your legs are back. Can be as early as 6 hours if you feel well enough to walk. We try not to leave it in longer than 12 hours unless there were problems in the surgery. Don't know what you mean about a side room, think that must be specific to your hospital.

Unless there are problems or you're in a great deal of pain/struggling to walk, we discharge the next day. Very rarely are c-sections in for longer than 48hrs these days and most places are starting to encourage electives to go home the next day. But ask your midwife about all this because some things will be different between hospitals like I said - e.g. they might use staples (unusual though), a stitch that comes out on day 5, disposable stitches or glue for your wound.

Thanks for the responses. I worry from the dignity point of view and just want to be reassured that nobody inadvertently makes some silly comment before getting the clippers out etc. I genuinely feel lost if I can't see so I hope they can have my glasses nearby so I can see my baby at least.

I'll ask my midwife and hope they give me some info at the hospital. It's just that I feel is better to have a verbal discussion not just a leaflet.

Had an absolutely abysmal experience with my first baby (not a c section). The whole thing was horrible and I'm still a bit sceptical given that at that time there was a relative lack of communication and reassurance, probably because everyone was just so busy.

Best of luck Growingbeanno2! Hope it all goes really well for you!

From a dignity perspective, when you are on the table you don't feel very dignified, but Ime everyone was very professional and I felt comfortable with the process.

That's fair enough, of course they have to expose that area. As long as it is all professional then it doesn't matter. I really wish I wasn't so apprehensive, the thought of surgery really scares me. I'm not a very good patient!

I was allowed to wear my glasses, although I had to have the oxygen mask on and off and had to remove them then.

I was asked to shave myself before going in, managed a surprisingly neat job with the aid of a massive mirror! Just about an inch off the top edge of my muff, ie where they cut.

Anaesthetist came and saw me in pre-op, I gowned up, bp and pulse monitored every so often, gave them the music we wanted to play, compression stockings on. I was second on the list, so when the first lady returned with her baby I walked down to the theatre. Left all bags etc in the pre/post op room.

Completely oblivious to what they did once the epidural had gone in, but that's when they do the catheter. Took maybe half an hour to stitch me back up, another hour and a half or so in post op, then up to the ward about 7pm.

Catheter out first thing the next morning, then had a shower. Had a clear sticky dressing on the wound (stitches) came off after a day or so I think.

My experience - arrive 7am and see a doc to check notes.
Get changed into gown and have BP taken.
Meet anaesthetist who puts cannula in
Walk down to operating room after what feels like the wait of a lifetime!
No shaving of the pubic area - mine was bushy and it was fine. I was allowed to keep my glasses on as well
Sit on table and get spinal, rigged up to fluids etc
Lie down and get covered with a sheet
Anaesthetist talks to you and someone pokes you with stuff to check the spinal is working
Catheter is inserted and suppository for pain relief is inserted - you won't even know about it
Cut open, baby emerges within just a minute or 2
You feel a lot - no pain but a lot of tugging and pulling.
Baby weighed, wrapped up and given to you or your partner for cuddles. Some places allow skin to skin straight away - depends on reason for ELcS etc.
While placenta is removed etc you can cuddle baby
When you're being stitched your partner takes baby to recovery and waits for you. So maybe 10-20mins
Then you're wheeled into recovery baby and partner are waiting and you can immediately do skin to skin and feeding while the nurse checks you over.
In recovery the nurse will come and check your pad for bleeding - not dignified but she will do it under the covers discreetly as possible.

All in all it is as dignified as possible.

I was very apprehensive too (had an emergency section under GA with my son and a planned section with my daughter) - but once the process starts you don't really have time to dwell on what's happening and it's all over pretty quickly :)

I didn't have a section but I had a spinal after birth for manual removal of the placenta and I definitely didn't have to remove my glasses. This may not be the same for sections but I can't see why it would be different.

I had to have surgery after my first baby but wore contacts during labour and the birth. I had a spinal and I don't recall removing them. That's reassuring that I can at least have my glasses handy. I don't mind the midwife and doctornchecking but it's just the thought of lying there exposed in theatre with all those people present.
Greedyduck I don't think I'd trust myself with a razor with a bump! You must have been confident.
Yes, the tugging, that must feel weird. No pain is good though.

It's very reassuring hearing some positive experiences. I just remember all the horrible parts!

Definitely wax, the last things you want is itchy stubbly regrowth coming through the day after.

I see. Do you need to take much off the top or just an inch? I'm prone to getting ingrown hairs too so can't imagine an incision will help.

I walked to theatre. They did the catheter after the spinal but when I had a ga with ds1 they did it beforehand. It doesn't hurt having it put in anyway.
Once you are in they give you the spinal anaesthetic. My dh wasn't allowed in until after that. They tilt you in the bed which isn't pleasant as without your faculties you feel like you're going to roll right off. In my op they lifted the gown right up over a frame to form the screen that you see if you've ever seen a c-s on tv, so you are completely exposed from the waist for the whole procedure. I wasn't prepared for this but obviously it makes sense! The incision is very close to the pubic line, they shaved me with clippers beforehand.

The dressing came off the next day so I could shower. Make sure you gently pat dry and expose to the air.

My advice is really to get up and moving as quickly as possible but not too much at a time. Little walk round the bed or to the toilet. Support your scar with a pillow when you stand or cough. I had the most horrific backache afterwards from sitting oddly and I used an extra pillow over my hips under the covers to generate some warmth which really helped sooth it.

My other tip- take a China mug in your hospital bag! Those piddly little plastic cups of tea are awful. (Not cs related, just general!)
Also earplugs. There's always a snorer!

Good luck op.

I had an emergency cs with ds1 and an elective cs with ds2 and my elective was by far the more pleasurable, I recovered much quicker.

Some of this varies from hospital to hospital. Although I had an elcs, I was moved from third to first on the morning (because the relevant surgeon was available, and there are some perks to being hospitalised for 10 days beforehand). DH nearly didn't make it, and brought absolutely nothing to theatre (no nappy, hat or camera). The hospital provided all of these.

I walked to theatre wearing two gowns, front and back. I was scanned (DD was doing loops, so they weren't sure where she'd be), then DH arrived. He was with me while the cannula was put in (the bit I found most difficult) and anaesthetised - I was really grateful for this, but at some hospitals, partners aren't present for this bit.

I was wheeled in, shaved with trimmers, and catheterised. No music. It took about 40 mins for DD to come out - I've had a lot of abdominal surgery in the past (one registrar expressed somewhat unprofessional surprise at the state of my abdomen), and they were going in very slowly and carefully - not possible in an emergency when you or the baby are in distress.

I had the catheter in until the following morning, though at least partly because things were very busy on the ward. I was discharged that afternoon, and took the dressing off the following day. I had a really good recovery compared to friends who'd had emergency sections, partly because of the careful entry I'm sure.

I don't wear glasses/contacts, so can't help there. DH was allowed to wear his (glasses). You'll probably be told absolutely no nail varnish/acrylics - your blood oxygen is measured through a nail!

I was in recovery a couple of hours I think, then onto the ward.

Any other questions, ask away!

Do you walk to theatre? - yes

Where does the midwife prep you (do they all use electric clippers in hospital now as I don't want a dry disposable Bic near me! I was considering arranging some waxing about 2-3 weeks before my date but how far should I do this- is does the sticky dressing cover the hair?). Or do they do this in theatre with all the staff present? - they did it in theatre with me. I was in hospital for 2 weeks prior, otherwise I would have done it myself in the bath

When do they pull your gown up to expose you? I assume this is only done briefly so they can shave and clean the area before they drape your legs. - don't really remember. I can't say I cared.

Do they place the catheter after the spinal anaesthetic? - yes

What things do you take to theatre: slippers, dressing gown, baby's first clothes, nappy and hat, lip balm (hospitals are so dry), maternity pads? - none of that, we had it waiting in the recovery room when we came out.

Can I wear contact lenses and earrings or do I have to remove them? I can't see without glasses or lenses but I'd assume they'd take your glasses away, hence the question about lenses. - you can probably have your glasses

Do you have to use Hibiscrub or something when you shower at home? - no I just used Sanex zero

How long are you in a recovery bay/room? - not long enough in our case! It was about an hour.

When does the dressing come off? - I think shortly before I left hospital

How long can you stay in the side room - until catheter comes out? - no I was on the ward within an hour and the catheter came out the next day.

When do they kick you out of hospital? - 48 hours is standard I think.

My tips - take some peppermint tea to hospital to help with the trapped wind pains post section. Very comfy yoga pants are your friend. Take a couple of your own pillows as you won't be comfy with the hospital ones. Make sure everything is reach-able on your wheely table as you won't be able to move at first. Don't be scared of being a pain in the bum, ring your bell when you need anything. Insist on some help and support with breastfeeding. Keep up with your painkillers even if you don't think you need them as it can really sneak up on you, when you start to move again. Good luck!!

Oh actually you do take the baby's hat but that's it.

This may sound stupid but if you take earplugs can you still hear the baby crying? I had no sleep with my first!

Sorry to hear some of you were in hospital for so long before the baby's arrival. I've just had some awful back problems and was hospitalised myself; I was on the ward with several ladies who were in for reduced movements etc and some who were about to be induced. I really felt for them!

Yes you can hear the baby. I actually only used one earplug and had my other ear on the pillow. I could hear the woman in the bed next to me breathing, hadn't slept for 24 hours, baby was in neonatal and I could hear was her snuffly breathing!

Babies' cries are designed to be heard through anything - I definitely had earplugs for being in hospital before giving birth, along with an eye mask. I'd take them if I were you; you can always take them out if told to!

Yes just an inch or so off top.

I was allowed to keep my contact lenses in.