Cesarean under general anaesthetic

[Hopeful98]

Hi there

I have had a spinal fusion to correct scoliosis which goes down as far as L2/L3. I met with consultant gynae and was referred to a consultant anaesthetist to discuss birth plan but the consultant gynae thinks that it is unlikely that the anaesthetist would be able to administer an epidural or spinal block because of the spinal fusion. He said that if, for some reason, I need a cesarean, it would more than likely need to be under general anaesthetic.

Wondering if anyone else has experience of having a cesarean under general anaesthetic?

Thanks

Was just about to say about colostrum harvesting if breastfeeding was the route you wanted to go (or if not and just wanted to do colostrum). It’s quite common now I think. I had my section with a spinal so no GA but a few of the girls I was in at the same time as had all brought bags of colostrum for the freezer. I slightly underestimated what my baby would take though and only brought 10 syringes initially thinking that would do a good few hours but my baby was so hungry she ended up with a bit of formula too until I had the rest

Thank you very much @Greybeardy that is very informative. Yes I'll definitely hold off until I speak to the anaesthist before jumping to any conclusions. I got the impression from the gynae that I probably wouldn't get an appointment with he/she until later in the pregnancy so just curious at this stage. If I am in a position to give birth vaginally I will absolutely be going with that option and in that scenario I'd probably prefer to hold off on the epidural for pain relief given the circumstances, but if it turns out that an cesarean is necessary, hopefully the epidural turns out to still be an option!

@Hopeful98 How far along are you? My midwife booked my appointment for consultation as soon as I told her about my spine at my booking in appointment. It’s so busy I don’t have my appointment until I’m about 33 weeks. Midwife said based on her knowledge of how epidurals and spinels work an L4 injury will prevent me from having either so we’re planning for a vaginal birth but still going ahead with the appointment in case of emergencies so the hospital are prepared. I’ve also requested a c section rather than induction as I absolutely do not want to be induced.

I refused to sign the advance consent forms (USA) for an epidural as I didn't like the idea of a needle in my back so they made me consent to a ga just in case - I didn't need it or any pain relief as it happens but no way were they touching my back

I was very out of it afterwards so the midwife actually hand pumped colostrum and fed it to baby via syringe as I couldn’t feed myself. But baby had lots of time with dad, skin to skin with him and then with me as soon as I could which was after a couple of hours.

@SarahB88 im just 14 weeks now and had my booking apt last week when the referral was made by the consultant gynae for the anaesthetist appointment but they mentioned to me that I wouldn't be getting the appointment until a lot later in the pregnancy (not sure exactly what they meant by that!)

I did for my first but that was only because they didn't have time to administer a spinal as it was an emergency as my son had no heart rate detectable. Physically I had no complications after and was actually able to walk quicker than after my section with a spinal as the general wore off quicker than the spinal, however I did feel incredibly groggy for the first 24 hours. I found it took my milk longer to come in but still managed to breast feed, my son was in NICU and had a feeding tube for a short while but was eventually able to latch. When I was planning for my second section, I made it clear if I needed to be under GA I wanted my husband to have skin to skin and I wanted photos taken in theatre and of him being weighed and cord cut etc as I had none from the first birth but ended up being able to be awake for the section.

I would have a plan of things you would like to happen such as what outfit you want you baby in, any photos you'd like taken, if wanting to breastfeed, if you can harvest colostrum before the birth then this could be given to baby via a syringe or spoon until you come around

I’ve had two.

The first was for failure to progress, I’d been in labour for 72 hours, having contractions every 4 minutes but only dilated 1/2 cm a day. 😢

When the lovely anaesthetist came in to discuss options I just snapped “whats
going to be quickest?” 😂

I was exhausted and couldn’t take any more.

I woke up to find myself nose to nose with DS, in bed with me, it was lovely.😍

I had previous spinal surgery T12 to S2. I had one emergency cs and one planned, both under GA, both fine. I did ask the second time if a carefully planned epidural was possible but the anaesthetist said no. I was able to breastfeed both babies - no issues. The only downside is that an epidural gives you a bit of residual pain relief for a day or so. A GA is all and then nothing. But they give good pain relief.

And I came round with #2 in a euphoric state. I said to the midwife 'oh is this post-birth euphoria?' And she said no it was the morphine.

I was told I would need to be knocked out when having my first. I started off induction but it failed so I had to have an emergency section. The reason I was told to be under a general is because I have a spinal disorder I was born with.

After the c section I was in a lot of pain and was quite out of it when I woke up but the staff were amazing and immediately got painkillers. I did lose a lot of blood and they said I needed a blood transfusion but I was on blood thinners for a blood clot the week before so it might have been related to that. I can honestly say with the morphine pump etc I was looked after very well. I would recommend asking family to take plenty of pictures because you are initially quite out of it when coming around from the general and it's nice to have pictures when it's hard to remember what exactly happened at the beginning of that makes sense ?

With my second I begged them not to knock me out. They compromised and gave me a spinal but they were correct to want to knock me out because the spinal only partially worked and I was in agony on the surgical table.

My advice would be take the general if they recommend it. You will be looked after after having a general (well in my experience). Ask them about having adequate pain relief prescribed before hand if possible for some reassurance. And ask family/friends to take pics as keepsakes incase you struggle to remember certain bits. It means you will always be able to cherish that moment.

Mumoftwo has put it so nicely. People get obsessed about things and then it ruins their birth when they look back. Dont let that happen.

I am a T1 diabetic too, and too took a while to come around, by which time Dh had fed ds1, gone through the whole of spurs history of football, and having been born to Marvin gaye let's get it on, also taught ds1 the whole history of soul music. I still breastfeed both my ds's and it didn't ruin anything for me. Good luck.

@Hopeful98 ah ok that makes sense, it took a few weeks for my appointment letter to come through so look out for it but as I say my appointment is quite late on. I’m not sure if there’s an air of waiting til later in the pregnancy too so they know all the facts like if baby is breach or if you’ve got placenta previa, they might just book us in for sections rather than let us go naturally.