Talk me through section day

[sunshineonmyshoulder]

Hi all,

We’ve just been booked in for our section for the 2nd of February.

Can anybody who has had an elective c-section talk me through what goes on the day of it?

We’re due to see our midwife a few days before the section and she said someone from the hospital will be in touch a few days before with a time to come into the hospital etc. It’s just after we’re in I’m wondering what happens.

Thanks

I’m not sure how hospitals differ so this was one of my experiences, the better one 🙂

Nil by mouth from night before, get there get changed into gown and compression socks, wait around until they can operate. Mine was delayed (7 hours) due to emergencies before so might be hard to say how long you will wait. It was really hot when I was in so after 15 hours without food and water I convinced them to give me water through drip but god my mouth was still so dry.

You go to theatre waiting room and each member of team introduces themselves, go into theatre alone whilst partner gets scrubbed up, epidural, laid down, curtain up, partner brought in, area shaved, incision made, baby popped out, airways cleared, given to you, you’re stitched up, wheeled to recovery room, there until you can move your legs (baby was left with me and suckled but didn’t happen with first as he was sick), moved to ward, painkillers brought by midwives regularly and checked my vitals, catheter taken out following day and had to pee within specified time, encouraged to get up and walk to baby changing room then shower. Scar checked, dressing changed. Baby checked and possible tests, all going well can be released anywhere from 24 hours. There may be more but that’s all I can think of.

I went in at 8am.

Sat in a small side room with husband. Was checked (not internally) by midwife and then consultant (just a few questions about how I was feeling, baby movements etc).

Quite a bit of sitting around. I was first scheduled section of the day but then they had to attend to a few emergencies.

Changed into gown at about 10.30am. Taken through to small side room outside operating theatre and had heart and blood pressure checks then given pre-meds. Two or three anaethatists in the room who were excellent - chatty, calming and reassuring. Dh didn't come with me as he is terrible with needles.

Once spinal block starting to take effect I was wheeled into operating theatre, husband joined me, midwife was there waiting. Screen went up, two surgeons came into the room (didn't even say hello to me in my memory or perhaps that's wrong, but the anaethetists were the ones really taking care of me and talking to me).

During section my bp dropped and I felt faint and nauseous, but they gave me an injection right away and I felt better almost immediately.

Operation took 10 - 15 minutes. Baby born at 11.15am. Don't remember stitches or surgeons saying goodbye because too focused on baby. Midwife looked after him, two nurses cleaned me up and gave me a pain relief suppository.

Then I was wheeled outside to another small side room. Baby and husband came with. Another midwife took over and monitored my blood loss and helped get baby latched on for feeding.

Was about an hour or two under watchful eye of just 1 midwife before I went up to the general ward.

Couldn't fault my experience, I was so well looked after! The midwives in particular were so caring and lovely. The anaethetists were quite outstanding. It was a joyous and very happy experience.

Mine was in a north east hospital and was such a stress free experience.

Went in for two lots of steroid injections prior to CS date, and then nil by mouth the night before.

Arrived at the hospital just after 7am with DP. Like Inappropriate we had to wait for all emergency procedures to go in. We were then scheduled for 12noon. DP was given scrubs and wellies to change into and I was given a gown. We were all taken to the theatre and DP was asked to wait outside. The theatre team introduced themselves and explained the procedure to me and then I was given the spinal block.

DP was called in and the incision was made (I had shaved the night before after reading a few threads on MN), curtain was lowered slightly so we could see our DS and then DP and DS were taken to the recovery room while I was cleaned up. I then joined them for the first feed and skin-to-skin.

We were then taken to a 4 bed ward, where I waited a few hours before the catheter was removed and I had a shower.

The whole experience was comfortable and I felt so safe and looked after. Every member of the hospital team we met was kind and caring, and helped me during the first night when I needed to use the bathroom and also when I was struggling to feed DS.

I didn't have any painkillers following the op but I was offered them and told to ask if I needed them.

I would recommend taking a few snacks for you for after the op. I was given tea and toast but missed the tea time slot and didn't want DP to leave me so didn't have much to eat on the first day.

I’ve had 4 sections. One emergency and three elective.
With the electives where I went in the same day it was check in, taken to a room and changed into gown.
Checks done bp etc. Waiting around till theatre ready then cannula in, spinal done. Felt nauseous due to low bp but they sorted that quick. Baby was out quite quick I do t remember the rest really as was concentrating on baby!
Wheeled to recovery where I stayed for a few hours till a bed was available on the ward. Stayed in 3 nights each time