elective caesarian worries

[alisonjane]

Hi everyone,
I am 36 weeks pregnant and have an elective caesarian booked for 13/06/07 - as my baby is still breech and I dont want them to try and turn it. I am really scared about the needles, complications and pain after!!! Has anyone recently had an Elective Caesarian that can give me a bit of info please

Thanks

Is it your first baby alisonjane?

I had an elective c-section with my dd although it was three years ago. For me it was a totally positive experience and my main worry was whether the spinal would work or not (of course it did!). Compared to my other c-section it was totally relaxed and even enjoyable. I was just trying to remember when they inserted the canula into my hand but really can't, I was just so excited to be just about to give birth.

As for pain afterwards, I had very little and I recovered much quicker from the elective than the non-elective as I didn't have all the labouring i'd had with my ds so was totally refreshed. Do remember that I had really painful trapped wind with the elective and the lovely midwife kept giving me peppermint water

Hope everything goes well for you.

Hi Rosealbie
Yes this is my first baby - I am very scared of the spinal block injection, the drip and cathetar etc - i have also read a few horror stories on this site which have more or less scared me to death.

As I am only 36 weeks and my placenta is noe back in the position it should be do you thinks its possible the baby will turn?

Just to add, they got me to sit on the side of the bed to insert the spinal anaesthetic and so I couldn't see anything and didn't feel it either. The whole delivery was very quick, about 10-15 minutes (bit longer than for a first c-section as I had some scar tissue to remove) and then about 30 minutes stitching up which I wasn't really aware of at all.

hi alison,im having an elective this time round and am worried about the same things as you!!

this is my 6th baby,and with my 4th i had an emergency cs,so that experience is playing on my mind.my last delivery was vbac and because of the scar pain i ahd whilst in labour that is why im having an elective this time.

im terrified of needles and worried that i'll feel everything they do (although in my head i know i wont be able to!!)the pain after my other cs wasnt too bad tbh,so im hoping this time will be the same.

good luck with yours and i'll be watching this thread for other advice aswell!!

I guess there is time for the baby to turn yet although I am no expert on this subject. For me, my ds was not engaged when I went into labout at full term and so I had a long labour ending in c-section which was quite scary. My dd kept changing poisition and so even up until just before the elective they kept scanning me to see if she had turned head down.

It is good to be informed but try not to read too many horror stories, I know a lot of mums who for one reason or another have had c-sections and everything was fine. Can you speak to your consultant again about your fears and the likelihood of your baby turning?

As for the catheter, you really won't notice a thing. After the birth, they will leave it in for a while. My best advice is to try and get up and moving around as quickly as you can, it will really make you feel so much better.

C-sections are fine, i actually prefer them to giving birth normally (induced ones)...

your back is numbed before the spinal block goes in and they put the catheter in once the spinal has worked so you don't feel anything.

No pain what so ever during the op, just tugging.

You will be fine afterwards too, just remember to do things slowly. Anything that has to be taken out drip etc is done within seconds and not painful just a kind of ohhh feeling but it'sa weird feeling rather than painful.
They get you up and about quite quick after too, its for the best.

Baby might turn, my twins were still turning at 40 weeks and they were big!!

Alisonjane come and join us on the due in June thread here. A couple of the girls are having elective c secs (actually I think one is having one right about now! I know some of them will have info for you, but you can join the rest of us heavily pg fed up moany women! (Ooh I'm tempting you now aren't I? )

Hi AlisonJane,
Sorry to be nosy but why are you so set against having it turned?
I'm in same position as you but am 37+2 wks. I was offered an ECV on 22/5 but I would have been less than 37 wks so rejected it because DH & I felt it was too early (baby could still turn back; could have other complications such as cord entanglement which would result in emergency C-S anyway). When I asked about having ECV later I was told the next available appt was 4 June which would be too late.
However, saw a different consultant yesterday who I thought was going to give me a date for C-S but he actually asked me if I still wanted to try turning it. He checked with the Dr who performs the ECV's and she said 4 June would be ok, not too late, so I've booked in for that as it's then only 9 days before my due date.
I must admit I was initially worried about the procedure...I think it will be uncomfortable and it carries some risks but I think in a bid to NOT have a C-section it is worth it. Consultant said the chances of the risks occurring are really slim, and anyway would be dealt with easily by emergency C-S if necessary....baby shouldn't be in danger.
Do you not think it's worth a try if you are really scared about a C-section?
Also I have started a course of Moxibustion today, a form of acupuncture which you can do at home (it involves burning your little toe with chinese herbs!!!) The acupuncturist gave me a session first, then I have to carry on at home for 10 days. It's an accepted alternative therapy to try & turn breech babies.
I really do want to have a natural birth if possible so am willing to try anything as long as it's safe!

AlisonJane I had an elective c section on Monday and like you I had read/heard a lot of horror stories and was petrified.

Before the op you will meet the anethatist who will tell you everything that will happen. Mine was lovely so talk about anything you are scared about. Could not eat after midnight the day of the section and had to take a couple of pills I was given.

Basically I walked into theatre and sat on the bed. I had to curl forwards and the spinal block went in (could not see this and it did not hurt). This was the worst bit not because it hurt but as I was very frightened - after this I was helped to lay down and they tested everything was numb with a cold spray. They screened off my body so I could not see past my chest and the surgeon came in.

About 7 mins later my baby was born - I didn't really feel anything just the noise of a vacumn which I think took away the waters.

Baby given to husband to hold and I was presumably sewn up. Again didn't feel or see anything.

Taken to recovery where I was monitored for blood pressure and on a drip. Held baby as soon as in recovery and had tea and toast.

About 6 hours later taken to ward. Legs had feeling back but not allowed to get up yet.

Next morning catheter and drip taken out - walked around immediately and had a shower where took off dressing and scar was checked after.

Went home that afternoon - 24 hours later!

Feel as if a horse has trampled on my tummy (very bruised) but given pain killers so not a problem. A bit tired but certainly prefereable to a third degree tear.

Personally although I was frightened before the reality was fine and I would not worry - xxx

sorry alisonjane - forgot to - add ask any questions if you have specific worries x

alisonjane... I had a elective (well was actually earlier as i did go into labour) in Aug last year.

I was a little worried about the drip...but i have to say it was fab! i had one when i had a natural birth with my dd and they made a right cock up, i am not afraid of needles but was just dreading it. They put in a local first and i swear to god i didnt feel a thing, infact i felt like kissing the guy who did it.

The spinal i have had 2 (i had one after my natural del as i had to be repaired, had a 3rd degree tear)the one i had for my section was fine, really it was, you just feel alot of pushing in your back, similar to someone pushing hard with their thumb...thats all, no pain as they give you a local first.

The pain afterwards, i am not going to lie to you, it is very sore for a day or too, but remember keep your back straight when when walking, dont hunch, walk through the pain this helps you heal ime, the first time you get up out of bed is the worst but it gets better quite quickly. Keep moving if you can, go for little walks around the ward to build up a bit, but obviously do not over do it, take your pain killers regularly...dont think oh i think i will wait till i get some pain, they need to build up so take them on time even if you feel you dont need them..believe me!! lol.

hth

Oh forgot the catheter....

They put this in while you are numb, so you dont feel anything (having it in is the worst bit i had one again in my natural del), they leave it in and you dont even know its there tbh, when they take it out, it is literally 2 seconds, stings a tiny bit and thats it.

dd1 was breech and had planned section at 39+4 was fine, although weird to 'know' that was the day we got to meet our baby, had slight trouble understanding ow anthesiaist (sp) wanted me to sit to do spinal block but we got there, didnt feel any of the tugging etc an was shocked when they announced she was here (shocked at the speed of it and that she was a girl convinced I was aving a boy) recovery time was great up and walking next day (slightly hobbling) but walked out of hospital 72 hours after having her and drove 2 weeks later.

I chose to have section with dd2 didnt even know the spinal had been done (antheistist was fab!!) and again the whole thing was done in 45 minutes back on ward (dd2 went to scbu as she had some fluid on lungs and this can be quite common with section babies so dont panic) she had some monitoring and then back with me few hours later under a heat lamp. Again home on the 3rd day and all was great (except the tummy overhang that 20 weks later I still havent actually done anything about !!)

Make sure you have big pants that will sit over your cut, maternity pads as bled alot with dd1 not as much with dd2, peppermint water great as can feel trapped wind after operation and make sure you have big towel for drying yourself after shower as you'll be slightly hunched till you get used to walking (they'll keep your cathether/canula in for approx 24 hours) and I took my own pillows so I could sit up in bed comfortably. I bottle fed both of mine and nursery nurses were great at handing her to me and putting her back in her cot and first night bith times they took them and did the feeds so I could rest after operation. Finally when pain relief after operation wears off ask for more if you need it I tried to be brave after dd2 but had a shot of morphine after 7 hours and it was great and let me relax and get some sleep.

Good luck look forward to hearing birth announcement (excuse typos dd2 aged 20 weeks on my lap and dd1 2.9 is sitting next to me)

do the daily injections you have to have into your stomach ( to stop clotting) after the operation hurt?

DW had elective, was a lot less painful than emergency CS. When the medics take their time they can do a lot to make it less unpleasant and risky.
Not least being scheduled means that all the medics you need are there, when you need them.

ive had 3 csections.1 emergency 2 elective.i am also pertrified of needles!but the spinal block was fine,your numbed first so dont feel it,i was shaking lots from thought of it but each time was fine!during csection you dont feel pain just tugging,odd sensation!lots of odd noises too but all fine.after just go careful and youll be fine,ask for help if you need it .laughing hurt me so i hated relatives that visited and tried to be funny!and i was scared of pooing!but its all ok.the catherter with first one i didnt even know i had one!until i felt soaked in bed and they said oh yes we need to empty that!i was soon walking down corriders carrying my wee bag!

AlisonJane, I had an elective c/s 4 years ago and am having another one in September. I was terrified before but having been through it once, am not bothered at all as I promise it's not that scary! As others have said, the catheter is inserted after the spinal so not only will you not feel anything but I wasn't even aware that they'd done it. The only thing I'd say about that is to make sure you write down in your notes that you want it after the spinal, as I've heard a few people say it was done before as they didn't think to ask for it afterwards. As for it coming out, it is nothing at all, I swear. I am the biggest wimp around (the midwife even commented on what a baby I was - charming) but I swear I didn't even notice. When the m/w went to remove it, I was clenching my fists, eyes shut tight, waiting for it to happen when she said she'd already done it and I literally hadn't even noticed! The spinal and cannula was nothing at all - I am the world's biggest coward with needles, but they numb your back/hand first with a tiny little jab and the 'pain' (you can't really even call it that) of that lasts about 2 seconds which I figured was a hell of a lot better than hours of pain with a vaginal labour! Also if you went for an epidural with a vaginal labour then you'd probably have the same amount of needles for that anyway. As for the pain afterwards, yes it hurts but it's not that bad. The good thing about post C-section pain as opposed to labour pains is that it is within your control. It doesn't hurt whilst you are still, only when you try to move - so if you're trying to sit up and it hurts then if you just sit still the pain will stop. You can't make labour pains stop, so I'd take controllable pain over non-controllable pain any day. Also, on my C-section ward, I never heard anybody make even as much as an audible groan of pain, compared to the horrible noises women in labour make, so that shows you how much easier it must be! I think with sections versus vaginal labours, it's a case of much less pain but for a longer time so it's swings and roundabouts, really... as for complications, the vast majority of women have none at all - and there's always the chance of complications with a vaginal labour anyway.

AJ...I had the injections in the top of my leg, and no they dont hurt, they do sting a little but nothing to worry about.

Tinkjon
Thanks that has really made me feel a lot better - I now feel excited about the whole thing instead of worried!!! i know it probably sounds like Im being a complete wimp but I cant help it - I have only just got over the fear of having blood tests!!

Pucca
How many times do you have to have the injections?

"Also, on my C-section ward, I never heard anybody make even as much as an audible groan of pain, compared to the horrible noises women in labour make, so that shows you how much easier it must be! "

tinkjon-- yes, a c,s birth is easier,the mother does not have to push the baby out ! although there are pros and cons ,and as you said it is swings and roundabout....BUT the 'horrible' noises are part and parcel of a natural physiological birth..vocalising and making noises actually helps ! opening the throat and being uninhibited makes labour work better....
labour is hard work, there is pain, and with pain comes the need to express the pain, whether with grunts, groans or shouts....

AJ...Cant remember exactly but was something like 3 times a day for 4 days.

hth

Lulumama, I know that vocalising is a necessary part of vaginal labour but what I meant was that with a section, there is no pain bad enough that you need to vocalise it. Sorry, 'horrible' was probably a badly chosen word, I hope I didn't offend anybody with that!