Elective c section (worried about fasting)

[CathyandHeathcliff]

I know it seems a minor thing, but I’m due in at 7am and not supposed to eat from the night before (12am) then only clear fluids until 6am.
I know there are three of us on the day (next Wednesday) and possible emergencies. I think they’ll be going first because they’ve had previous surgeries and that seems to be their policy. So I may not be going down until after lunch technically.
I wake up every morning feeling sick to my stomach with hunger and I’ve aleays been like this. Not just in pregnancy. If I don’t eat or drink I come over feeling faint and dizzy.
Coupled with the anxiety and panic Ill already be feeling.

What is the solution here? I’m really concerned about this. I know it seems silly, but I suffer with GAD anyway.

Have a big dinner as late as possible, that should stop you feeling hungry when you wake up. Then on the day you'll likely feel a bundle of nerves mixed with excitement that will mean you won’t miss food. My main issue would be thirst if you’re not allowed any liquids at all after 6am, is that definitely correct? I was sipping water whilst waiting, no one told me I couldn’t. But you’ll just have to deal with it, the hospital staff will look after you if you feel faint or dizzy and you’ll get to eat again afterwards!

Sorry to say but I don’t think there is a solution. Try to just see it as a one off to get you through.

I felt exactly the same, but more about the water. I was so worried about it. (This was three months ago). As it happened, on the day it was fine. I ate something as late as I could comfortably and had a big drink at 6 am. I told myself I could wash my mouth out if I needed to which helped. You'll be OK, good luck. Oh, and I got to the hospital early; I wasn't first as someone was higher priority, but I went second as I was there first.

I was too nervous to be hungry the next morning. You'll be fine - just big meal the night before, whatever you can get in - the yummiest, best foods you could want, treat yourself!

The fasting rules are there for your safety, so it's important to stick with it. If you're worried about feeling unwell, clear apple juice and clear isotonic sports-type drinks can all be drunk up till 2 hours before, it's not just water. When you go in in the morning, ask the surgeon/anaesthetist what number you are on the list, and if you are likely to have to wait, ask the anaesthetist if you can have something to drink and until what time - most are willing to be flexible if there's likely to be more than a 2 hour wait before you go down.

Honesty you will be so nervous you won't think about it. And if you do well you just have to put up with it for a few hours. As soon as you are in recovery you get tea and toast.

Better to feel sick to your stomach because you feel hungry than be sick in theatre or afterwards with a fresh c section incision!

Hopefully you don’t get bumped and it’s just the one fasting you have to do.

Eat as late as possible the night before. If it’s going to be a long wait then they can always give you IV fluid to rehydrate you. Or as PP suggested take some clear sports drink and ask the anaesthetist if you can have some if there’s a wait.

When I worked in obstetrics we could get an elective section finished and the theatre cleaned and turned around in an hour so even if you are third on the list it may not be too long a wait.

Hmm I had tea and toast at 9 and a section at 2pm, then I ate a sandwich at 4pm (I didn't know I wasn't supposed to!), I was fine and all medical staff agreed just the toast and tea would probably be fine. Half a slice of toast early in the morning would be my choice...

Just whatever you don't eat anything too salty! The night before an IVF procedure where I had to fast we ate a Chinese and the salt made me so dehydrated, not good.
On a c-section note I think you'll feel so excited it will be ok, I know I was but I think in the absence of any other complications in other patients ( obviously no guarantees) your anxiety might be a reason to be put first. It would be worth asking.

You'll be in hospital, so if you do feel sick and dizzy you can just rest in bed.

My friend was like this in pregnancy - for her GTT she set an alarm to wake up and eat at 1130pm which is what I plan to do before my section.

@Allthebubbles I have been told I may be able to go first because of my anxiety. But the other two ladies on the list have had previous sections, so they prefer to do those first

I am EXACTLY the same re eating first thing.
Even if we are going out for breakfast with friends I have to eat something first or I feel sick and dizzy.
With my c section I had a big bowl of porridge at midnight.
I was allowed lucozade in the morning until 7am.
I can honestly say I was so nervous and anxious that I wasn’t hungry.
I’ve also got a phobia of being sick and they pumped me full of anti sickness drugs with helped.
I demolished a sandwich and cup of tea an hour after my c section and the nurses seemed surprised that I wanted to eat so soon after!

You are given anti sickness drugs for starters. Secondly, you may well not feel like eating as you’ll be so pumped full of adrenaline.

Just eat a huge meal at midnight, you will get through it.

As well as the good suggestions of eating as late as possible I would also think about making sure you have lots of easy to eat snacks and drinks that you know you will want to eat afterwards. With my first c-section I was not prepared. I did not have the c-section until mid afternoon and was too nervous to repeatedly ask for the tea and toast offered afterwards. The midwives were so busy they forgot so I never got any and then fainted in the shower the next day. I learnt my lesson with ds2 and 3 and had loads of goodies and straws in my hospital bag.

@lorisparkle I’ve got snacks in my bag, chocolate, mini cheddars, fibre one bars, capri suns, chocolate fingers! And I’m going to ask my DP to get me food from the shop downstairs.

I had my c section 2weeks ago and didn’t get taken down to theatre till 6pm and I last ate at 8pm the night before! Honestly you’l be so excited to meet your baby hopefully food will be the last thing on your mind. I was able to sip a lucozade sport through the day, take one with you and ask if it’s possible? All the best!

When are you having it done? Good luck 🙂

Clear liquids - you can have a sports drink. I had an emergency c section and was drinking lucizade sport up until an hour before

Foggymist That’s really irresponsible advice. What was true for you won’t necessary be true for everyone, you can’t tell someone to go against medical advice because it was ok in your situation.

OP I’m sure on the day you’ll be fine. Third on the list isn’t bad, and yy to snacks for afterwards.

Spurioser calm yourself, that is why I specifically said what I did and what I would do, I didn't tell her what to do. And even if I did she has the capability of ignoring strangers on the Internet.

I’m perfectly calm thank you, I just think suggesting to someone that it’ll be ok to ignore medical advice because you did and it was fine is irresponsible.

I had my c section last week. I was given 2 carbohydrate drinks at my pre op appointment and told to drink them first thing in the morning, before 6am. Apparently this is pretty much standard practice for any hospital who do advanced recovery.

So I had a large evening meal, a snack at 11.30pm and then set an alarm for 5.30am so I could have a black coffee and my 2 carb drinks before the 6am cut off.

I was third on the list and there was an emergency added in too. I was called for theatre at 1pm and I honestly wasn't hungry whereas usually I feel faint with hunger by midmorning if I don't eat. I think the pre op drinks and the adrenaline really helped.

Best of luck OP. The toast in recovery will be the best you've ever had! 😊

My husband made me a ham sandwich and set an alarm for 2am so I could eat it last minute As it was on the day I was too nervous to eat and luckily was first in theatre so was scoffing toast by 11am