CS with general anesthesia

Mmkobolak

I am currently about 9 weeks along, and just had a consult with a high risk specialist. Due to the fact that I have a form of spina bifida, they feel it would be best, least risk involved, to have me plan on a scheduled CS. The area that the spina bifida occupies is where they would put any type of spinal tap, leaving only the option of GA to put me out for the CS. Although I was very bitter about this, I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that if we want children, this is how it is going to have to happen.
Just wondering how other moms had coped with this feeling cheated in a way?
And how how the experience was in general?

liz1562

I sympathize with you! I had an unplanned CS after 18 hours of labor and felt cheated  when the Dr gave me the news.  Even though I was awake during the CS, they took my hubby and son to recovery before I got there.  I was so out of it and exhausted that I don't remember much. I was able to hold him and try to nurse after a short while. I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it was after not holding him immediately after birth.  I knew he was mine, and we had plenty of time to bond while recovering.  The important thing is that he is here with us, happy and healthy.  I'm sure that the news is playing with your mind and emotions, but I think that if you make a plan, and are able to ask your Dr questions, you will be much more comfortable. Best wishes to you and your growing family!

MaineMama

When I was pg with my first I had an emergency section with general anesthesia. I was at 8cm when my water broke (unmedicated, with a midwife) and the cord prolapsed. I did feel disappointed, but the most important thing is to remember that you need to be healthy, and do what is best for your baby. For me, having a baby was the end goal, and I got that

greeneyed_bride

I'm so sorry that you're in this situation! 

I didn't have general anesthesia, but when I first realized I'd have to have an unplanned c-section, one thing I was really upset about was that I wouldn't be able to have skin-to-skin contact with my baby right away. I was hell-bent on breastfeeding, and everything I'd read said that skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth was good for your baby and increased the chances of a good breastfeeding relationship.

My husband saw how upset I was about it, so he asked my OB if he could do skin-to-skin contact with our baby instead, and she thought it was a great idea. She had the nurse bring him a hospital gown to wear with the opening in the front so that as soon as he was allowed, he had skin-to-skin contact with our son. It ended up being something really special for him, and it made me feel a lot better, too. My OB now suggests daddy skin-to-skin contact to all of her c-section patients.

I think you're smart to start asking for other moms' experiences now. You have a lot of time to start finding things about your delivery that you CAN control and turn into special moments for you. Since I knew I wouldn't be able to see my son get cleaned off, measured, weighed, etc because I was being sewn up, I asked my husband to video tape all of that so that I could watch it later. Make sure that you have an OB you like and can trust, because he/she can be your biggest advocate in the hospital (and will have the power to overrule the nurses if something that you want to do isn't the "standard procedure" in the hospital.) Have regular discussions with him/her about what you would like to happen in the moments and hours following your c-section. Because your scheduled c-section experience will be more predictable than a vaginal birth, a birth plan for things that you want to happen before, during and after the c-section might be more likely to be able to be followed than with a birth plan for a vaginal birth.

Best of luck, and congratulations on your pregnancy! 

Mmkobolak

Were you able to have anyone with you during the csection? Most of what I've researched said that if you are completely out, your husband likely will not be able to be in there with you. I would love to at least have a video if or something, since I basically will have no memory of it! I go back to the doc in few weeks and will check with him then, but I'm just trying to get a general idea. Thanks for your time!

jenikas

My sister had her 1st under general anesthesia. It was an unplanned C-section...long labor, no progress, heart rate dropping...the normal deal. And then the local anesthesia wouldn't take, so there was no choice.

Since you know ahead of time, you can have a plan...like, no one other that DH gets to see the baby before you do. DH can also take lots of pics right when the baby is born. I know it's not the same, but maybe that will help. 

chelsmcl

jenikas:

My sister had her 1st under general anesthesia. It was an unplanned C-section...long labor, no progress, heart rate dropping...the normal deal. And then the local anesthesia wouldn't take, so there was no choice.

Since you know ahead of time, you can have a plan...like, no one other that DH gets to see the baby before you do. DH can also take lots of pics right when the baby is born. I know it's not the same, but maybe that will help. 

i agree with making a plan! Mine was emergency so DH and I didn't get a chance to discuss it and I was bitter the grandparents got to see my baby before I did. 

Runaway22

Like PPs, mine was an emergency. I was wheeled to the OR and they opted for general because they couldn't keep the heart rate up after stopping contrax. 

The main bummer is the time lapse between the baby being pulled out and waking up. I was alone, so LO was in the care of the nurses for about 3 hours. Many hospitals are accommodating, and you should be able to have YH take pictures, and even do skin-to-skin immediately following birth if that's your thing. You might even be able to delay the bath if you and YH want to do that yourselves.

They put me on a morphine drip immediately, and I wish I'd asked for something else right then. That stuff will make you really loopy. The first day for me was an absolute blur. My main regret was not being prepared for a c/s and all it entails, so definitely read up!

I'm sorry you're not able to have the birth that would be your personal ideal, but I'm glad you're taking this time to come to terms with it. As long as mom and baby are healthy, that's what matters  

ave1012

I had to have an unplanned c/s under general anesthesia. I never even labored. Went to the MD for my 40 week appointment, was not dilated or effaced. BP was spiking and when they checked my blood levels, platelets were extremely low and dropping rapidly (after a recheck because they thought the lab must have messed up), was too dangerous to attempt epidural or spinal block. I did have a hard time with it after, I did not have time to prepare. I was told what was going to happen and less than a hour later it happened. I was upset because obviously it was not in my birth plan. DH could not be in the room and was unable to cut the cord. I did not get immediate skin to skin. I was offered to attempt BF but it was literally right after I woke up and I did not feel I could because I was still groggy. It could have been the hormones too but I grieved about it for a few weeks intermittently. I felt that I failed my daughter and myself when the reality is that I did not. I BF for 13 months, had initial issues with latching but nothing to do with the C/S or anesthesia. DD loves me very much. DH was very helpful and understanding when I was having my crying over the birth. I think you are normal to feel cheated. I think that you are going to have moments when you think about it and you get upset but it will pass as time goes on. I think that since you know now, that you will be able to make peace and enjoy your time better after the birth than I did. I do agree with people about having a plan of maybe just you, DH and the baby before anyone else comes to the room.

The actual experience was not bad. I could not get out of bed for 24 hours after the C/S. I was on a Dilaudid pump for 24 hours and then switched to oral pain medication (which I only took one dose, was fine with Motrin). The only thing that was uncomfortable was that I had to get a catheter placed in my bladder for the surgery however they could not do it while I was out because they wanted to take my DD out ASAP so that she would not be exposed to too much anesthesia.

 I do now joke that I had an old time birth. Husband had to wait in the waiting. I like to tell people that I woke up and there was a baby!!

 Sorry to ramble. 

direy25

Mmkobolak:

Were you able to have anyone with you during the csection? Most of what I've researched said that if you are completely out, your husband likely will not be able to be in there with you. I would love to at least have a video if or something, since I basically will have no memory of it! I go back to the doc in few weeks and will check with him then, but I'm just trying to get a general idea. Thanks for your time!

Hi there. I had to be put under general for my csection and my husband was there for the whole thing. He even took video on his iPad. Maybe it depends on the hospital?

carrotcake06

I was put under general for the delivery of the twins. My ticker's not updated, but I had them at 34w. My water broke and when the dr went to do the initial internal, she found that baby A's cord had prolapsed. All hell broke loose and then Baby A's HR dropped and things got really crazy. MH hasn't even gotten to the hospital yet. The twins went straight to the NICU and MH didnt see them for 4 hours or so and I didnt see them for about 16 hours, let alone hold them.

I'm not even 3 weeks pp, so a lot of this is still really raw. But as I type, I'm tandem BFing both of them at home after a 13 day NICU stay. It may have not been ideal, but I have two growing, thriving take home babies and that's all that matters.