I had a EMCS with my first and an elective with my second. I can detail how my second birth went if anyone finds it helpful. Pre op was half an hour maybe, friday before the section which was on a Monday, don’t really remember what they did but I think blood pressure, swab etc.
I was on the morning list so had to get there at 6am or something and stop eating at around 8pm the night before I think. you’re allowed to drink water obviously. I seem to remember if you’re in the afternoon you have to fast from midnight.
I arrived and got into my gown and lovely compression socks, stowed my gear and my birth partner (husband) got into his scrubs. I went to the loo a million times as I didn’t want a full bladder for the catheter.
The anaesthetist and surgeon had their morning meeting and the came round to the patients. There was 3 of us on the morning list. I answered some questions from docs and then waited. I was second on list. The theatre was just next door and it was lovely to see the first lady being wheeled back in with her baby.
Then it was my turn so I went into the operating theatre and they put a cannula in the back of my hand and the anaesthetist numbed my lower back and did the epidural whilst I sat on the trolley. Took a while for it to be high enough. Then they put my catheter in once i was numbed.
meanwhile they had discussed music with me and they put my playlist on. Then a million people came in and I realised when I attempted to “tidy up” my lady garden whilst 9 months pregnant, I did a bad job and they had to shave me in the relevant area anyway. I felt very exposed waist down 😂
Then they put the drape thing up so you can’t see what they’re doing and made the incision . The co surgeon (assistant surgeon?) had to really lean on my tummy to get the baby in the right position, felt very uncomfortable and like it was taking ages. And I thought I was going to vomit a few times so they get me iv anti sickness drugs which worked fairly quickly. I felt them rummaging about and lots of pressure from them leaning on me/pushing which made me feel it was difficult to breathe. It was quite unpleasant at the time. No pain though. It took a while but then the baby arrived around 11:30 and a nurse took lots of brilliant, fairly bloody photos on my husbands phone for us as my son emerged.
They did some quick checks on the baby and then put him on my chest for skin to skin under a towel whilst they were sewing me up. That bit took a while but obviously you don’t mind as you have your baby there!
Then they wheeled me back into where I was before (they lift the trolley so you’re sitting) and I did skin to skin/ breastfed for ages. If they’re happy with the feeding then they take you down to post natal ward. Which was hotter than the sun and really noisy. And I was realllllly itchy from the morphine. So they gave me anti histamines and then they left me to it for a while. Health assistants and or midwives come around and checked my iv and catheter etc. And they brought me some food.
Eventually the catheter gets taken out (I think mine was next morning). I was grateful not to have to get up for the loo to be honest!!
you’re sort of left to your own devices then. The grandparents came in to visit, then at 8pm my husband had to go home. I made sure he put everything I wanted within reach- phone charger, snacks, lucozade, water, buzzer, nappy change things and spare baby outfits etc.
And I was then left with baby overnight- just feeding, changing nappy when baby did his first charming black tar poo (portable change mat on bed in front of me). They came round and checked on me a few times.
Then in morning i had catheter removed, I had to pee into one of those cardboard bowls over the loo before they let me be discharged so I did that. That was fun. Bled quite a lot (lochia, nothing sinister) and the health assistant helped me with my pads and the bed pads when they needed changing.
Then they came around and did the checks on the baby the next morning eventually and gave me the red book. I think I got out early afternoon the day after he was born. they needed the bed but they did say I could stay longer. I didn’t want to!
They told me about wound care and sent me on my way. They don’t really give you any decent pain relief to take with you as opioids and breastfeeding aren’t the best mix. The wound wasn’t too bad, although speed bumps on the way home were painful! The worst bit is getting up from sitting or getting up from bed. Oh and I took lactulose so that the first poo wasn’t too traumatic and the op slows down your digestive system.
The midwife checks your wound on their day 1 visit, and then I got mine checked on the day 5 appointment too. I need antibiotics as it got a bit infected AND I got a urine infection from the catheter. But recovery was generally fairly swift and fine really. Healed up well.
Hope that helps!