anyone else feel like they couldnt breath during c section

darrahmccall

My c section was unplanned. 35 hrs of labor 5 hrs pushing. Had an epi then a spinal for c section,  surgery part was cake. Didnt feel a thing, but I also couldn't feel by lungs and I literally thought I was dying, I gasped for air and had to have oxygen. Ugh. Now were thinking of number 2. Honestly everything about my pregnancy and surgery was so easy...except the whole not feeling like I could breath, will that happen again? That's the thing holding me back. It was so scary. I honestly thought my son won't get to meet me. One doc in passing said to my brother whom was in waiting room said to him they ran the spinal a bit high and I had residual lepi left...or something like that. But of course I get no answers from hospital, just bills. Ugh. Anyone else have that feeling first time, did it happen again?

MAprincess

When I was given the spinal during my c/s they did warn me that one of the side effects is feeling like you aren't breathing (because of how the anesthetic spreads).  They assured me that even if it felt that way, I was still getting air.

Luckily, I didn't have that issue- the thought of it was anxiety inducing!  So, I don't think that just because it happened once, that it will happen again, but it could.  Perhaps your doctor can give you the stats next time you see him.

thehauffamily

I didn't feel like this with my first (emergency, I was given to much meds b/c it was emergency and I slept through the whole thing except maybe 3-4 mins to see my little man), but for my second one I did.  The  anesthesiologist was right by my head the whole time, so when I felt like that they fixed it.  Mine felt like there was a 1000 bricks on my chest and I couldn't breath so he messed with something and 5-10 seconds later I felt tons better.  Did you tell the anesthesiologist?  They should have been able to fix it.  

I didn't get a spinal though, I got epidural with both of mine and will get one this time also.  I'm not sure what the difference is, but I've had epi's with all mine.

cmytutu

It happens sometimes.  The intention is for you to be numb from the nipples down.

If you feel like you can't breathe just put your hand infront of your mouth; you'll be able to feel your own breath coming out of your body.  If your hands are tied down, have your DH put his hand infront of your mouth. Breathing is involuntary.  Your body will do it. 

It's a strange feeling, but keep telling yourself that you ARE breathing, because you are.

nosoup4u

darrahmccall:

One doc in passing said to my brother whom was in waiting room said to him they ran the spinal a bit high and I had residual lepi left...or something like that. But of course I get no answers from hospital, just bills. Ugh. Anyone else have that feeling first time, did it happen again?

Was it recently? If it was, have you had your six-week check up yet? That would be a good time to ask for details about what happened. But yes, if the epidural is too high it can feel like you can't breathe - the same thing happened to me during my c/s with my second son. I told the anesthesiologist and he gave me something to calm me down.

Also, just because you had a c/s with your first baby doesn't necessarily rule out VBAC, you might want to look into your options for it. hth!

tevagirl

I was told by the nurse who prepped me that this can be a side effect of the spinal.  She told me that if I felt like I couldn't tell if I was breathing, I should tell them and they would put my arms on my chest so I could feel it moving. 

Personally, it didn't happen to me.  I was on oxygen for the whole procedure as standard protocol.  

SarahRae85

I found this an interesting thread to read! I was rushed in for an emergency cesarean (cord prolapse) and my last thought before the general anesthesia took effect, and actually my last words before I went under, was "I can't breathe". They had an oxygen mask on me. Now I wonder if it was just a rush of anesthesia causing the sensation before I actually went under and not an actual inability to breathe. They were in a serious hurry, so it's possible they just used a larger amount than absolutely necessary. (Last thing I heard before going under was a doctor calling for resuscitation equipment and to get NICU in there)

~Kat~

I felt the same way, but for some reason it didn't bother me. I closed my eyes and concentrated on breathing really slowly, more to focus on something other then the sheer panic of knowing my abdomen was sliced open. I had oxygen as part of the hospital's protocol and I wonder if the extra oxygen helped me stay relaxed. It was super weird to not feel myself breathing, but not scary. 

rica21483

I did! I kept saying I couldn't breathe and they kept telling me that if I could move my fingers, I was alright. It was really scary, though.

kpearse99

rica21483:

I did! I kept saying I couldn't breathe and they kept telling me that if I could move my fingers, I was alright. It was really scary, though.

I can't believe that's all they told you!

I would totally ask your dr. about it next time you go, make it one of the questions to ask before you get preggo again or even one of the first questions you ask after you get preg.  Tell them it's one of your concerns.

I didn't feel like this after my c/s but I did feel like this after I had my appendix removed.  Actually, I think it was worse, because I remember the nurses coming over to my bedside in recovery and waking me up every few minutes because I was stopping breathing.  THAT was scary!!  I don't do well with general anesthesia but I did pretty good with the epi. The only horrible thing I had was the shakes!  They were so bad and so uncontrollable that my jaw was in so much pain from my teeth chattering!!

I agree with what the PP's were saying, that it will probably be different with a planned c/s because they have the time to really prep you!  Good luck

kdg31684

 i had this with my first but not my second.  The dr warned me right before tho< she said it would feel like I couldn't breathe for a few seconds and I think they were pushing on my diaphragm to get baby out. 

JnA12

I also had a long labor that ended in a c/s. I had the same issue and started hyperventalting. They said it was because I had the epi and then had it removed and the spinal placed. I was assured that if I have another and have a planned c/s that it should not happen with just the epi or the spinal.