How to discuss CS with MW.

tealowl

My first appt with my MW is in a few weeks, and IDK if this is something I should bring up now or later.

Personally, I'd like to have the hippiest crunchiest birth I can possibly have in the hospital BUT anything could happen.

If I needed to have an emergency CS for whatever reason, can I be completly knocked out w/anesthesia, or do I have to remain awake during it?

I am so fearful of being awake during a CS I can barely stand the thought of it. I do not be awake to hear them cutting me open and 'feeling' it happen.

I actually brought up this question to the nurse when I met with her earlier this year with the previous pregnancy, and she looked at me like I was crazy, and just kind of stammered about how they try not to do CS. Duh, I know that. I don't WANT one, but I want to know what can happen if I DO need one.

Is this a crazy question?

I feel like I should more because I already have a child, but she's almost 13. I don't remember anything, wahhhhh!

pantherRN

You don't want to be knocked out during a CS, but it can happen.

They top off the epidural or spinal to the point that you will not feel anything. Pressure, yes. But no pain. You shouldn't be able to hear it either. There are so many other things and people in there.

tealowl

Is there reasons why I shouldn't be knocked out during a CS? Medical reasons?

God, I hate anxiety. Everything in the world sends me into a quivering mess!

pantherRN

@tealowl

There are always risks with anesthesia. It's not (usually) some pregnant-lady special anesthesia. They put you under general just like they would for any other surgery, so there are side effects to worry about as well as additional possible complications. You also likely won't be able to hold your baby for a while after surgery if you under general. Think about it this way. It's not the first choice for CS anesthesia for a reason. I would talk to your doctor about your anxiety and fears if it comes to that.

I think @BPaws had general for her CS. She would have more to say from a patient perspective.

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RayRay007

*lurking*

I'm pretty sure they don't generally do elective GA. The risks are too high, plus, it screws up (what's left of) the initial bonding/hormone dance b/w you and baby. Dude, coming out of GA is not always a walk in the park, and you don't want to miss your baby's first 4,5,6+ hours of life unless you have to. You will not hear or feel them cutting, and the whole thing is such a whirlwind you will not even notice them pushing and pulling. Unless you have complications, it is like nothing is going on to your body at all. 

RayRay007

SweetC80 said:

I wouldn't have wanted to be asleep for my c/s. You seriously will feel no pain, if you even need a c/s. When they brought DH into the OR he said they were already cutting and working on me, but I didn't know at all. The only thing I felt was the pressure and jerking to work DD out, but it didn't hurt at all!! The first moment when I heard her cry was the single greatest moment of my life and couldn't imagine if I missed it. Good luck, and hope you don't need a c/s and it's nothing to worry about. Maybe if you talk to your MW she can ease your mind.

This, too. I think it is the only time in my life I have cried out of pure joy. 

@BPaws ((hugs)) Thanks for sharing your story. 

tealowl

BPaws said:

Teal..... The single greatest regret I have about our birth is not being awake for it. Honesty. It has taken me almost 2 years to be able to actually even think about my birth without crying. I can't even look at pictures without feeling like I was punched in the stomach. Literally. The pain takes my breath away. I didn't get to meet my son until he was almost a day old. I missed his first cry, his first breath, the first time he opened his eyes. I missed every second of it. I wasn't there. At all. Because I was under general, Mike couldn't be in the room. Nobody could aside from medical personel. When Henry was born, he literally entered the world surrounded by complete strangers. He needed me, he needed Mike and neither of us were there. He was taken to the NICU immediately. We didn't get to hold him for almost a week. We didn't get to touch him for days. We didn't even get to see him until the next day. If I had been awake I could have at least held him for a moment, I could have told him he would be ok and that we love him. I can't adequately describe how much it hurts me to have not been awake. The emotional scar it has left behind is much, much worse than I can explain. It's a hopeless, awful feeling. I understand being afraid. I understand anxiety. I have gone through therapy for needle phobia- actual phobia- not just a fear. I'm talking life debilitating phobia. I've been on medication for it. I get the fear. I understand. But I promise you, it's not worth the sacrifice.

This is what I needed, is another perspective on the issue. I'm not scared of pain, I'm scared to hear the actual sounds of what is happening. I have no idea why this scares me, I think because of watching it on TV, and you could hear the 'surgery' being performed. And the fact that I'll be awake but I can't move, and that's something that terrifies me also. Hence wanting to not be awake for any of it.

Obviously this might not happen, but it's in the back of my head.

I didn't even think about Rob not being able to be there. I thought if he was there, at least HE could get all the 'firsts' and that could be okay, but now if he couldn't be in there, that changes alot of things I'm thinking of.

I always fear the worst of everything.

I'm sorry @bpaws that you had to go through all of that. You and your Mike didn't deserve that.

bunkgirl

When I had my C/S I did not hear anything, I remember the nurse and me chatting (about what I couldn't say) and hearing DS cry for the first time.  I didn't feel a thing (not even pressure) and didn't hear a thing.  Having this fear is totally understandable, but if it comes down to having a C/S you can always tell the nurses ahead of time about your fears and they will keep you plenty distracted from any potential noise.

MeggoWaffles

nothing to add except ((HUGS)) to @bpaws for having to go through that, & @tealowl for dealing with your fear & anxiety. That's never easy. You're both so strong.

pantherRN

Teal, I don't guarantee many things. But I can almost guarantee you won't hear the surgery itself. When I was in c-sections for nursing school, there were literally 20 people in the room. And everyone is talking to each other.

I don't think they use a bovie during sections, but that's the only thing I can imagine you might hear if they use it. It's a cautery tool.

I can understand your fear and anxiety, but I really think that in reality you have little to worry about.

bumpuser1282882

cruelsound said:

I thought you were going to talk to your MW about me.

I know I did.

jschwind22

I obviously have no experience with this, but I'd go ahead and explain your fears to your MW. I wonder if there would be things they could put into place (relaxation techniques, listening to music through headphones, etc) that would ease your mind.