Walk me through your ELCS

[LadyHalesBroach]

I’m having an elcs for DC2 owing to (the car crash that was) complications in first delivery.

I don’t have a date yet but my due date is 31/12… so I assume sometime on or just after Xmas day (bugger).

If anyone has had a recent elcs, could you give me a blow by blow picture of how it went? Arrive in the morning? Check yourself in? Wheel you in, zip open, out again next day? Anyone get done pre 39w?

Mine was in 2020 but yes that's pretty much how it went. It was a very good experience. It only took about 10 minutes to deliver the baby after they got started. I was 38+6.

Mine wasn't quite so recent (2018) and I was admitted for a few weeks beforehand due to pre eclampsia. On the day we went down to the delivery suite first thing in the morning, got gown on and then waited for them to call us through. I've had two c sections and both were delayed due to other emergencies so there was a lot of hanging about!

I think I was in the delivery room about 45 mins in total - it was all very relaxed and I actually quite enjoyed it I held DD while they stitched me up, then we went through to recovery for a little bit to get DD dressed and first feed, then back up to the ward.

I was on the ward longer than most again due pregnancy complications but was out 3 days after the op. I was 37 weeks when I had her.

I loved my ELCS with my DS after 2 stressful labours and births with DD1 and DD2.
Went in for 8am, sat in the waiting room. Called through to a bed in the ward where the anaesthetist came and explained what she would do, I signed a form and gowned up. Only waited about 10 mins before they came to get me. Walked into theatre and up onto the table. Midwife with us. Spinal administered and anaesthetist stayed head end and told me to tell her if anything felt off at all. Drip thing in hand put in to administer anything I may need. Bit of a wait for spinal to take effect, we all chatted. I was nervous as hell but this helped. Everyone was so nice. Blew air at me and asked if I could feel it. Started at feet and said let me know when you can feel it. Couldn't. So they started. I started to feel a little sick so told anaesthetist and she quickly administered anti sickness via the drip and I felt better very quickly. After a while I asked if they'd started cutting and she said 'oh yes, they're in'. Minutes later, they held DS up over the curtain! It was amazing. Off he went to be wrapped up then in DH's arms, who put him on my chest for kisses. Spent the majority of time in the theatre being stitched afterwards but barely noticed as had fresh baby to sniff. Wheeled back out to ward where DM was waiting - 45 minutes we'd been gone. It was such a positive, calm, happy experience. Recovery was straightforward too. Good luck!!

Oh, and I came out the following afternoon. Op at 10am on day 1 and out at 4pm on day 2

39w, nil by mouth that morning. Went in, waited. Several emergencies came in so they eventually gave me a thimbleful of water to keep me going. Brought me lunch which i wasn't allowed to eat. Waited some more. Into theatre, lots of bright chatter and joking around, baby arrived, anaesthetist took a photo. In recovery with DP for a few hours, toast and water!!!, then to the ward and DP went home. Not much sleep, plenty of help from midwives. Meals brought to you. Check-ups and things, painkillers, dozing. Catheter out, shower. Discharged late evening the day after but that was especially quick because of covid.

I had the most chilled out ELCS! I really enjoyed the whole process! I went in at 7am, at 10:30 I was called to theatre, by 11:20am my son was born and then at 2pm the following day we were allowed to go home! I healed really well and by 6 weeks I'd say I was completely back to normal! I know not all go like this but I feel very grateful!

Also forgot to mention I was 38 weeks and it was 2019 so before covid. If you can have a wee on your own once catheter out, they will discharge you - that's what they're looking for if baby is well, obvs

Will follow with interest as I'm considering ELCS due to the complete shitshow that was my first birth.

OP, did you have any issues when you requested ELCS? Did they try to talk you out of it?

I've had 2 elcs (and one emergency one). Pretty much as you describe. You're booked in for a certain date and time, you go in, they prepare you, get your medical socks on etc, And in my experience you then just wait for your slot which will be deprioritised if any emergency cs cases come up during that time. I had about a 3 hour wait with one of mine. Then you're in getting your epidural and then it's show time . I had my first elcs at 39 weeks then my second was due to also be at 39 weeks but I went into labour the week before but even then as I wasn't in active labour it was still a case of all of the above, just a week earlier.

@PissedOffNeighbour22 first birth was awful, disbelieved that I was in labour and refused to examine me, only for them to reluctantly do it and realise I was 10cm. Had to push for three hours without assistance beyond an episiotomy. Been left with bladder weakened and rectocele. I physically can’t go through labour again as it will lead to full prolapse. Going to need surgery to sort out but can only do it after finished making babies. So yeah, shit show.

Any tips or hacks for an elcs? Sounds like an iPad of box sets for the inevitable delays would be good.

And thank you everyone - sounds really reassuring that it’s a nice (though undeniably major) experience. Now if I could persuade them to let me do it the week before Xmas so I can be out in time that’s be grand!

Hey! I am chosing between ELCS and induction for 4 weeks time and was watching a video which was helpful about what to expect. Worth checking out

I’m having an ELCS In a fortnight due to a breech baby. So following with interest!

The things that worry me are

• no water while you wait- hospitals are so hot and I’ll get so bloody thirsty!
• potential lack of pain relief after- considering I’ll have just had my abdomen sliced into- the NCT woman told me that if I want to breastfeed (I want to try) it’ll be paracetamol only

@SmidgenofaPigeon

I’m having an ELCS In a fortnight due to a breech baby. So following with interest!

The things that worry me are

• no water while you wait- hospitals are so hot and I’ll get so bloody thirsty!
• potential lack of pain relief after- considering I’ll have just had my abdomen sliced into- the NCT woman told me that if I want to breastfeed (I want to try) it’ll be paracetamol only

@SmidgenofaPigeon I had elcs for breech baby last year. I was told it was OK to sip water sparingly - I just took a bottle with me. I bf after - I had definitely been given di-morphine because I was lala! Then was repeatedly offered codeine for pain. Your NCT lady is wrong. Personally I don't like the fog of codeine so I just had paracetamol and actually it was absolutely fine. Really not particularly painful but you do need to take it very very easy. Don't lift anything more than baby. Walk very slowly etc etc. @LadyHalesBroach good luck. I'd echo all the nice things others have said. This was my third baby and others vaginal. My elcs was a breeze. Husband had to have a wrist band but was there all the way through. Delays happen because they prioritize emergencies, diabetics / other complications and then "standard" elcs. I was lucky and was in within an hour of my "slot" so you may be OK. We arrived, shown to bed to change, did consents, walked into theatre (take flip flops), sat in bed for the epidural (this was the worst part for me - hated the pushing feeling) then cold water sprays until completely numb - this bit took me a while so don't be shy in saying you feel stuff - my friend was and suddenly felt something 😬. Then off they went. It was 6min to delivery. In that time it's important to tel the anaethetist if you feel odd eg sick, woozy, etc. They will just adjust the drugs and in seconds you should feel normal again. Baby came out and was shown to me (you can't touch at this point but can take photos) then back behind the screen to cut cord before being handed over for a cuddle. We cuddled then hubby got a cuddle whilst stitches done. Then they move you using a board onto a wheely bed and pop you back into the recovery area. The feeling of your legs being totally dead is utterly weird. At this point you get to eat and drink. I'd recommend you have some food in your bag rather than waiting for hospital rounds. After a few hours I was on the post natal ward. I stayed two days but I paid for a private room which was amazing.

@Tickly thank you!! That’s really good to know x

@SmidgenofaPigeon I breastfed straight after coming out of theatre & only had paracetamol or ibuprofen post op. I was discharged the next morning & the first few days were tough.

Mine was 2016 and it was a great experience, very relaxed. Top tip - buy slippers you can shuffle your feet into without bending over and using your hands!

@SmidgenofaPigeon that NCT woman is talking bollocks. We routinely prescribe regular paracetamol and ibuprofen (unless any reason someone can’t take it) and at the end of a section offer rectal diclofenac unless things like a big bleed (if you are offered it I would say take it!!).

We don’t prescribe codeine as there are concerns over it and breastfeeding but dihydrocodeine is often used as is oral morphine.

There are always more painkillers to have and as the anaesthetist I prescribe them after a section and always inform the women I am caring for what their options are.

@countbackfromten that’s really great to know and thank you- I feel armed with that knowledge! NCT woman was adamant that you would only have paracetamol and you’d just have to choose to grit your teeth and get on with it if you wanted to breastfeed and you were in pain, because being able to breastfeed was more important. I might drop this into my feedback form…

@countbackfromten I wasn't offered anything other then paracetamol & ibuprofen so perhaps it varies? I found bf easy though, we just did it lying down initially.

Reading with interest as I'm booked in for a section 4th October and I'm so looking forward to it!
@LadyHalesBroach so sorry about your shitty first birth, I also came away with rectocele after my first birth and dont want to risk it getting worse with a subsequent VB.

It was so easy at my trust to request a section, they said mine was a maternal request but were more than happy to accomodate it and my consultant even agreed she couldn't guarantee my rectocele wouldn't get worse with another vaginal.
Also, at my last midwife appointment they said they can give you oramorph for pain relief if you're breast feeding. Apparently codeine turns into morphine if your breast feeding so they will avoid that. But she said I could be up and about within as little as 6 hours. I'm very stubborn though and will want discharging as soon as I'm well enough. X

@SmidgenofaPigeon I breastfed after my c section (breech baby) and had paracetamol and stronger pain relief tablets (forgot the name of them they're little thin blue tablets so I'm sure they'll be able to tell you the name).

Only reason I didn't have ibuprofen was due to having asthma, double check with the midwives at the hospital. Best of luck!

Thank you @2021expecting!

And to you OP!! Sorry to hijack your thread with my questions hope you don’t mind. There’s been a lot of useful info.

In terms of your section @LadyHalesBroach - when you arrive you will be seen by the obstetricians and the anaesthetists and we will ask about your pregnancy and any issues, your medical history and any medications you are on or allergies you have. We will then talk about the spinal anaesthetic and explain it and the risks involved. This website by the Obstetric Anaesthetists Association has some videos and information leaflets that are excellent www.labourpains.com/Resources_Expectant_Parents.

When you come to theatre we check your wristband and consent form, put in a cannula and do the spinal anaesthetic. We spray your back with some really cold stuff to clean it, have a feel of the bones in your back and then it is some local anaesthetic which is like a bee sting. You will feel pushing and when we are in the right place we inject the local anaesthetic and painkiller.

We then lie you flat. The bed will be tilted over slightly to take the weight of baby off your big blood vessels but don’t worry, you will not fall. We ask you to lift your legs and you won’t be able to, that is a good sign the spinal is working well. We use cold spray to test the block as cold and pain fibres are in the same part of the spinal cord so if you can’t feel cold you can’t feel pain.

We want you to not be able to feel cold from about your nipples down.

Once you and we are happy you will have a catheter put in and then your stomach cleaned and drapes put up. Then the surgeons start and very quickly baby will be born!

We will be there monitoring you all the time and after baby is born we give a medication to help your uterus contract. Some women feel a bit sick as their blood pressure goes down but we measure it frequently and can give medication to bring it up and other anti-sickness medications.

You will feel touch, pressure and pushing during the section but you won’t feel pain and if you do feel anything tell us! That is what we are there for.

After baby is born (we always try to drop the drapes if you would like to see this) baby can be brought over for cuddles. And usually we take the first family photo!

It takes longer to stitch you back up than it does to deliver the baby so don’t worry. Once it is all done we move you onto your bed and give you a clean up. We move you as you won’t have any feeling or power in your legs for a while.

Then you go to our recovery area with baby while we monitor you after to check everything is ok. Firstly you start with some sips of water as common to feel a bit sick but then a cup of tea and toast later works miracles.

There will be painkillers prescribed by us regularly and if you need them and we give medications that are safe in breastfeeding so if you need them please ask!!!

Hope that covers most things and good luck, hope it goes smoothly.

@monogoo most hospitals have a protocol for what they use after a section but there is always stronger stuff that can be given and I make sure I tell my patients that!