C-section unde general anesthesia

AmandaWorth1979 · November 2011

I am looking to have my first child and I want it to be delivered via c-section under general anesthesia. For several personal reasons, natural delivery is not something I will consider. I talked to my doctor about my concerns and he agreed to offer me an elective C-section. However, he said the anesthesiologist would refuse to give me general anesthesia and would resort to an epidural. I am extremely afraid of needles and I already have some back problems. On top of that I am a real red head which are notorious for anesthesia not working too well. Also, the thought of being cut open while I am wake scares me! Another reason for wanting general anesthesia is that my sister had an epidural where they had a hard time administering it. Now, several years later she has chronic back pain as a result of the epidural.

Last year, I had an ectopic pregnancy which resulted in emergency surgery. I was put under general anesthesia and received 2 incisions about 3" each. I cannot imagine a c-section under general anesthesia being much worse.

I have not talked to the anesthesiologist, but my doctor said he is pretty sure he/she would not do a general anesthesia C-Section. I wonder why and how can I convince him/her to do it? Do I have to find another hospital?

magdalina.h · November 2011

I would never have a general unless I had medical reasons why I couldn't have a spinal block. Your sister's epidural reaction doesn't mean that you will have the same reaction. Definitely let your dr know and call the hospital to discuss your desire to be put under.

EveryNameIWantIsTaken · November 2011

Ok, I replied to your other post before reading this. Now, I hope you aren't being serious in either and are just trying to stir up drama. Why on earth would you want a c-section when not necessary, and more than that, why would you want it under GA? The anestesiologist wouldn't do it under GA because it isn't medically necessary, and getting put completely under can be risky. Also, if you are expecting insurance to pay for all these not medically necessary interventions, you probably will have quite a shock coming when they tell you they won't.

mamastich · November 2011

With out sounding too upset... I understand your fears, I labored for 30hrs and 2 epidurals failed i ended up w general and a csection and you will SO regret not being awake for that when you had the choice. They are not going to cut you open unless you are numb so just go for it and see what happens... I would of given anything to be awake to see my DD come into this world.

iristony · November 2011

I was put under because of an emergency- when they rolled me over for the needle at my already emergency c section, my cord dropped and water broke and they had to put mask on my face right away. I am still sad that neither myself or my husband got to witness the birth of my son. It was not my decision or fault, and I still feel guilty I missed out.

LCB34 · November 2011

I had a c-section under general and am at peace with it now. The only reason I am at peace is b/c due to blood issues I was having, it was not safe for me to receive an epidural or spinal. I just had to tell myself better to be under then to not be able to walk to from a bleed in my spinal cord.

The biggest thing that shocks me about your desire to go under is that you are failing to realize how it can impact your baby. I had to deliver with a NICU team ready b/c the chance of anesthesia getting to the baby is high - and that brings on tons of issues.

If the c-section takes even one minute longer than necessary, your baby will get the meds in their system. You don't want this to happen as then they will require additional medication to reverse the anesthesia, have possible lung issues/ sluggish breathing due to the meds, and at my hospital would require a minimum 24 hour NICU stay. What is you have scar tissue from your prior surgery? That could add time. What if baby is in an odd position? That could add time. And, what if they have to do a classic vertical incision because they are running out of time and the baby needs to get out? That means a much longer, harder recovery.

Add in the emotional aspect of not hearing the first cries, not seeing your baby for hours, etc. It seems insane to ask for this when it is not needed.

I'm all for people being able to birth how they prefer but this seems way extreme and excessive in my book. Becoming a parent means putting your child first and unless medically necessary, having a c-section under general is not putting your child first - it is putting your "fear" of needles above their health.

magdalina.h · November 2011

EveryNameIWantIsTaken:
Ok, I replied to your other post before reading this. Now, I hope you aren't being serious in either and are just trying to stir up drama. Why on earth would you want a c-section when not necessary, and more than that, why would you want it under GA? The anestesiologist wouldn't do it under GA because it isn't medically necessary, and getting put completely under can be risky. Also, if you are expecting insurance to pay for all these not medically necessary interventions, you probably will have quite a shock coming when they tell you they won't.

People can choose to have an elective c-section. It's usually not covered by insurance unless there is a medical reason.

EveryNameIWantIsTaken · November 2011

magdalina.h:

EveryNameIWantIsTaken:
Ok, I replied to your other post before reading this. Now, I hope you aren't being serious in either and are just trying to stir up drama. Why on earth would you want a c-section when not necessary, and more than that, why would you want it under GA? The anestesiologist wouldn't do it under GA because it isn't medically necessary, and getting put completely under can be risky. Also, if you are expecting insurance to pay for all these not medically necessary interventions, you probably will have quite a shock coming when they tell you they won't.

People can choose to have an elective c-section. It's usually not covered by insurance unless there is a medical reason.

Yes, I get people can choose to. There is always a choice in everything. I just don't know why someone would want to go through the pain of recovery from a c-section, get cut open, get put under GA, and put themself at risk for an complications just to avoid a fear of needles, which is what the origional poster wants. People can do what they want, doesn't mean it has to make sense to me. I'm not trying to be rude here, I just am trying to understand. It almost seems like the thinks this is the easy way out, when in fact it really isn't.

magdalina.h · November 2011

EveryNameIWantIsTaken:
magdalina.h:

EveryNameIWantIsTaken:
Ok, I replied to your other post before reading this. Now, I hope you aren't being serious in either and are just trying to stir up drama. Why on earth would you want a c-section when not necessary, and more than that, why would you want it under GA? The anestesiologist wouldn't do it under GA because it isn't medically necessary, and getting put completely under can be risky. Also, if you are expecting insurance to pay for all these not medically necessary interventions, you probably will have quite a shock coming when they tell you they won't.

People can choose to have an elective c-section. It's usually not covered by insurance unless there is a medical reason.

Yes, I get people can choose to. There is always a choice in everything. I just don't know why someone would want to go through the pain of recovery from a c-section, get cut open, get put under GA, and put themself at risk for an complications just to avoid a fear of needles, which is what the origional poster wants. People can do what they want, doesn't mean it has to make sense to me. I'm not trying to be rude here, I just am trying to understand. It almost seems like the thinks this is the easy way out, when in fact it really isn't.

I was going to reply how we don't have to understand other people's decisions, but she just ended up as a twat in her other post. lol

jmcdionne · November 2011

LCB34:
I had a c-section under general and am at peace with it now. The only reason I am at peace is b/c due to blood issues I was having, it was not safe for me to receive an epidural or spinal. I just had to tell myself better to be under then to not be able to walk to from a bleed in my spinal cord.

The biggest thing that shocks me about your desire to go under is that you are failing to realize how it can impact your baby. I had to deliver with a NICU team ready b/c the chance of anesthesia getting to the baby is high - and that brings on tons of issues.

If the c-section takes even one minute longer than necessary, your baby will get the meds in their system. You don't want this to happen as then they will require additional medication to reverse the anesthesia, have possible lung issues/ sluggish breathing due to the meds, and at my hospital would require a minimum 24 hour NICU stay. What is you have scar tissue from your prior surgery? That could add time. What if baby is in an odd position? That could add time. And, what if they have to do a classic vertical incision because they are running out of time and the baby needs to get out? That means a much longer, harder recovery.

Add in the emotional aspect of not hearing the first cries, not seeing your baby for hours, etc. It seems insane to ask for this when it is not needed.

I'm all for people being able to birth how they prefer but this seems way extreme and excessive in my book. Becoming a parent means putting your child first and unless medically necessary, having a c-section under general is not putting your child first - it is putting your "fear" of needles above their health.

So well said. Really, this whole thing blows my mind.

I would have given anything to avoid c-sections both times- and I had a spinal!! Unless me or baby were dying, I NEVER would have consented to going under. I can't understand trying to justify all these risks when not medically necessary.

My first baby had to be intubated right after the delivery- nothing to do with c-section, but still. She was taken away to NICU before I could even see her face. I was devastated and I only got to see her 24h later.

I don't understand why someone would willingly want to put themselves and the baby through this.

holly321 · November 2011

First thing, I was cut open while not numb with my c section, my right body had full sensation, the pain wasn't that frickin bad.

I just saw the dr. last week, due to the nerve damage from my misplaced spinal. It sucks, yeah, but who cares?

I missed the first few hours of my daughters life, she was born in a room with no one who loved her. She cried until I first held her. I would give anything for things to have gone differently. You don't know what you are giving up. So many people saw her before I did. No one will ever remember her birth, because the people in the room didn't care about her. I cling to my surgical records, I keep them by my bed and read the medical notes of her birth, because that is the closed I will ever get to experiencing it.

The g/a made breast feeding nearly impossible. DD wouldn't stay awake to eat. Her jaundice was getting worse, she wasn't going to the bathroom.

Now onto why you should not just have a csection just to have one. I was in soooo much pain after having DD, since the had to TUG her out of me, there was some muscle damage. I am still sore some days.

Your next pregnancies will carry high risks.

holly321 · November 2011

And I love the ingrown hairs in my staple scars.

RumbleLina · November 2011

My son was born via GA c/s. I missed his birth and the first 3 hours of his life. Not only that but he ended up with an APGAR score of 4, CPAP mask and time in NICU because of what they contribute to that GA c-section. There is no reason he should have come out pale and slow to respond like he did besides the fact that I was put under which directly affected him.

Do your research.

Being a parent means putting yourself second and I personally wouldn't be able to support someone going for a GA c/s just for shiits and giggles. You have genuine concerns that are not uncommon but there are alternatives to those concerns(people stated them above already) that do not put your newborn in possible poor situation.

MrsChamp11 · November 2011

I would have given anything to have a vaginal delivery. I don't know why anyone would elect a c section, especially under general anesthesia.

I had an emergency c section with a failed epidural. They took the epidural out to do the spinal. i ended up with a total spinal where I stopped breathing and had to be intubated. My husband came into the OR to see his wife strapped to the operating table with tubes down my throat and a machine breathing for me all while they were hurrying to get my baby out safely. It was the worst experience of my life. 11 weeks later and I am still struggling with it.

I didn't see DD for about 2 hours. She struggled with breastfeeding, staying awake, became severely jaundice, and lost a lot of weight. Not saying this all came on from the c section, but she would have had a much better shot at not having all of this if we didn't have the c section.

I ended up with a c section because I was induced for pre-elampsia. I dilated to a 10 and pushed for 2-3 hours. DD's heart rate wasn't recovering well and she had an inch of fluid on her head. She was stuck in my pelvis and my pelvis wouldn't open up for her to come out. It was way to risky for me to keep pushing.

My labor is not something I would wish on anyone. I have a beautiful daughter who is my pride and joy, but if I had it my way, I would have never had the delivery I did.

Think long and hard if that is really want to do electively.

monicalsangie · September 2012

Hi,

I am soooooo glad that someone expressed my preference of having a general anesthetic with my c-section. I am so afraid of a needle going in my back and also fear of knowing that I am the one being cut open! Please tell me that you were allowed to have the general anesthetic and also please tell me how you convinced them to do it. I am having a c-section on 9-6-2012....in 5 days and I so petrified!!!!!!!

Please email me back before then, if you would be so kind,

Thank you,

Monica Sanguinetti

monicalsangie@hotmail.com

Want a personalized experience?

C-section unde general anesthesia

Re: C-section unde general anesthesia

Choose Another Board

Search Boards