Caesarian Worries

[alisonjane]

Hi Everyone
I have a few worries I would like to discuss with anyone who can help please

1. How long do you have to stay in hospital for after an elective caesarian?
2. Does it hurt having the drip inserted?
3. Is it best to have an epidural or a spinal? - I am totally petrified of needles (smile)

Hi, not sure if this will help but:

1. You can stay in from anything between 2 - 5 days. They like you to stay in for a few days but both dp and I managed to escape on day 2! If you've got good support at home and want to go home, be insistent and they'll let you.

2. I can't remember the drip going in at all - but I was in labour! Are you having an elective? I don't think it will hurt too much but someone else might correct me!

3. Not sure of the difference - my epidural was wonderful - couldn't feel a thing and went through that weird thing where they said they'd started getting the baby out and I was SURE I'd be in pain, but couldn't feel anything!

Good luck!

Dottydot
I am having an elective caesarian in 12 days time - I am terrified of hospitals and the whole procedure at the moment especially the parts that include having injections and needles!!

I had an elective c section two weeks ago and was very worried but I must say I have recovered much quicker than my first birth when I had a 3rd degree tear.

I left hospital after 24 hours which was very quick but I hate hospitals and there wasn't a private room available - I had my section at 9am Monday and left 4pm Tuesday. However, most people stay in at least 2 days and some up to 5. Depends on the hospital and how you feel.

Can't say the drip hurt more than any other injection (a sharp sting when the needle went in). I also hate needles and normally faint so I just told them before and shut my eyes !

I had a spinal which I also had post tear last time. You have to sit sideways on the bed and bendforwardin asort of prawn position. As it is in your back you can't see anything and again the only pain was the sharp sting of a needle- then nothing.

You have my sympathy - I was petrified before my section and I hate needles but I must say it all went well and two weeks on I feel almost back to normal (apart from no driving !)I would not hesitate to recommend a section if it is necessary.

Good luck x

Spinal only used in emergency. Epidural is usual route as it can be topped up. I had two emergency caesarians - my first I already had an epidural in; my second my DD was born at 29 weeks and so needed spinal as they needed to get her out. Don't worry - you will be fine and the skills of the anaesthetist mean you hardly feel a thing. Good luck.

incy
Thanks that is a big help - I am really excited about meeting my baby but am worried Im gonna get really upset when I go into hospital on the day and look like a complete wimp!!

alisonjane I had a CS 11 weeks ago and I was petrified because I can't stand needles, but it was fine.

1. I had the baby Tues morning and left hospital Thursday afternoon

2. yes it did hurt having the drip inserted but then they couldn't find my vein. The anaethetist was lovely and I told him I was scared and he was very reassuring. Don't be frightened to mention you are scared- they will go out of their way to put you at ease. The banter between the staff was particularly entertaining.

3. I don't know which I had in the end . I think they make the decision about what is best. I was worried sick about that bit but apart from the spray stinging a bit I didn't feel it.

HTH

evenhope
is anyone allowed to stay overnight in the hospital with you?

I was terrified - but I met the anethatist the day before and she was lovely about how frightened I was (seen it all before).

I told her how scared I was and I hated needles ( I also faint when they take blood) and so I just kept my eyes shut the whole time and they warned me when the needle was about to go in.

The girl on the next bed was having her second section and had brought in Dolly Parton to play and was very upbeat so perhaps with number 3 I'll be a bit more relaxed!

alison I would imagine it depends on the hospital. I don't think so, but we have other children so DH needed to go home.

i had a n emergency but was supposed to be having an elected one

i had an epidural which coz of contractions took 4 attempts and an hour to do but was fab

the drip that went in my hand hurt more

and i stayed in for three and half days

my hub was not allowed to stop but they are allowed to stay til 10 10 30 at night

obviously i was induced on the tuesday afternoon and had cj on the wed morning and chris stayed the whole time and went at 545 am and came back at 10 30 with pics

Hi Alisonjane,

I'm having an elective next Tuesday. I had an emergency section with my first baby and it was fine. I didn't feel the spinal going in but I was in labour at the time. The drip isn't painful if I remember correctly, just uncomfortable. After DD I went home after 2 nights as I hate hospitals and couldn't wait to escape. I have already mentioned that I will want to be home quickly again as long as all is well. Am hoping to have the baby on Tuesday pm and be home on Thursday / Friday. Just be persistent if you are ready to go home, you will need lots of support initially though so be prepared to take it easy! Don't forget to pack your big knickers!

1. Depends on the hospital. Usually 2-3 days
2. A little. 3)I had both for my second section. Don't remember the second one I was out cold, and think the meds went in through my wrist.

It's not so bad. If I had another baby it would be via section.

Don't remember the first one I was out cold...

I've had two electives and had spinals each time, they're not just for emergencies. The procedures themselves were absolutely fine; very calm, fairly quick (esp 2nd- only took 25 mins! 1st one took 50 mins). Recovery from 1st was fine (3wks til I was driving, walking about, felt great), 2nd took longer (full 6 wks before I felt human, but I don't know many people who felt like this tbh so I'm in a minority but it did remind me that it's major surgery). Just make sure you take it easy, bring your own painkillers in if poss, as they seemd to have scaled down the painkillers by the time I had my 2nd so I bought in my own co-codymol and that was much better than the paracetemol they gave me in hosp.

Didn't mind the spinal at all, just had to concentrate in keeping still and I had a bizarre thought that I'd suddenly leap up at the point the needle went in (rather like the weird feeling that you're going to jump in front of the train off the platform! or is this just me?!)Once that was in I was fine. The worst part in my opinion is the horrible venflon they put in your hand. I was so bothered about this that the spinal and op itself didn't even register much!

and I must say that the morphine is the most lovely lovely pain relief EVER. I felt so blissed out for the whole morning and into the afternoon after both c-sections - can highly recommend it (spose I'm not sposed to say that... but still!)

good luck - you'll be fine I bet xx

Hi, my caesarian was the BEST experience of my life!

My little boy was breech so had an emergency section but it was fabulous and I totally recommend it.

I stayed in for 3 days and that was only because Ben had jaundice. The spinal was fine- I was very nervous about it but all midwives are fantastic!! It was such a bizzare feeling being numb but awake.

There really is nothing to worry about and just enjoy it all as it is far nicer than having to push the baby out!!!

Good luck

I had an emergency cs with no labour (planned from the day before but apparently still classed as em) and stayed in for 5 days. Was quite glad of this as I was still having the wonderful lovely morphine on day 4! The drip hurt a little, and was quite uncomfortable all the time it was in, but nothing too bad. They tried to give me an epidural but it wouldn't go in for some reason so I had a spinal. All I felt was the numbing injection which was just a little scratch. I had to lie on my side for it, did feel some pushing but no pain at all. You don't see the needle!

You're not alone Moomin, I didn't (couldn't) drive for over 5 weeks, was very jealous of everyone who had a quick recovery.

Like everyone else I was terrified, but it was nowhere near as bad as I was imagining, and the anaesthetist and her assistant were really great. Let them know how you're feeling all the way through and they'll look after you.

my elective also a very positive experience, can't really remember the drip being inserted, and had a spinal which was brilliant and not painful at all.

I stayed in for 4 days but probably could have gone home earlier.

alisonjane, the same as any medical procedure, because they do it all the time they tend to forget to tell you the most basic things. do they know about your worries?

(i had an emergency cs and was in for a week in total, but half that was induction. if i were giving birth again i would either have an elective or a home birth)

what do you want? how long do you want to stay in for? perhaps you might be able to pay for a private room (really wish i'd thought of doing that). ask them about things like painkillers, i had paracetamol, other hospitals give morphine. do you plan to breastfeed, will there be support with that in the hospital?

I had emergency cs first time and elective the second - not through choice - first time got to 42 weeks and was induced. Second time, planned vbac but nothing was happening after 40+10 and they won't let you go any longer with the second. However, I had a positive experience with both.

The drip and the epidural can be a little uncomfortable when they're going in but I wouldn't say painful and it's quick. Strange as it sounds, overall the whole experience was relatively pain free - on both occasions I turned down painkillers numerous times in the days after the births and I have a VERY low pain threshold!

The one thing I can say is that you shouldn't come out of hospital before you're ready - as much as all the different aspects of the hospital can drive you bonkers - sometimes being at home puts an awful lot of pressure on you (particularly second time around with your first child running around!). My hospital has a new policy of discharging after 1-2 days and this is too short. Probably saves them lots of money overall but I thought I was ok to go home and then had difficulty making it to the car park and was shattered when I got home.

Think about your home environment and make sure there are adequate facilities for you to rest as much as possible, particularly if you're breast feeding as this will take over your life for the first couple of weeks. at my ante-natal classes, one of the main points our teacher made was that you should stay in bed for the first 10 days. This sounded totally ridiculous and is hard to do but her point was that you should not be available for cooking, running errands, etc and devote time to yourself and your baby.