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August 2012 Moms
triagain2
member
A tip for during your c-section
triagain2
member
I was just reading someone's birth story on the July board and she was talking about how during her c-section she felt like she couldn't breathe and it reminded me how often this used to happen to women and so I thought I would explain it for anyone who was interested.
When you lay down on the OR table after receiving spinal anesthesia sometimes you will feel as though your lungs are affected by the anesthesia and you cannot breathe. This is merely a feeling and not reality, you will breathe just fine but you might have a sensation that you cannot. I have found if you educate mom's about this lovely side effect before they go into surgery, they tolerate it much more. If you experience it, you will undoubtedly tell the anesthesiologist that you "cannot breathe" and they will tell you that you are talking, therefore you are breathing. Remember this as it will help you to relax.
In my experience if you go into the OR with an epidural and they just dose it up for surgery (meaning no more needles in the OR) you won't really experience it. Its more common for those who recieve a spinal in the OR.
Hope this helps you calm down. I will also say that if you are nervous and you are out of control, many anesthesia providers will give you ativan IV after the baby is out. If you don't want it, then appear calm or tell them you don't. I personally wouldn't want it because it makes you a bit loopy and I'd rather remember as much as I could.
TTC #3 since Feb 2014
DS 1: 2010
DS 2: 2012
This discussion has been closed.
Re: A tip for during your c-section
No this is not standard procedure and not every anesthesia provider will do it, but frequently if a mom is very anxious they will give it after the baby is out (so as to not pass it to the baby). The dose is not so high that mom falls asleep or anything, but they relax dramatically. They will tell you before they do it/ask you. Also its not really considered post op anxiety, its given during the surgery while uterus, facia and skin are sutured shut. Really its hard for some women to get over being awake during surgery, it is rather unique when you think about it.
I have seen Ketamine used on a few occasions too. Ketamine is an AWFUL drug. I've only seen it used when mom is out of control and/or complaining of feeling pain.
Thank you! I was under general for DD b/c my epi wasn't working and they needed to get her out, so I really don't know what to expect for my rcs. This has been the biggest thing Im worried about, but I want to appear to be calm and be all there when baby comes. I don't really remember seeing DD for the frist time b/c I was still out of it from surgery. I would like to remember at least one of my kids
O, one question for you. Do they cath you before or after your spinal?
That depends on the facility. Most don't like to do it in the OR because the OR's are a commodity and they don't want to waste time in the OR doing it. However, if you make a big stink about it, they will probably do it. Generally (and unfortunately) the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I know I've worked in hospitals that don't routinely do it in the OR (after the spinal) but a big VIP would come through and suddenly we did it in the OR for them. Kinda sad but true.
I will tell you I got some nice perks working in obstetrics when I had my son. Got a private room blocked off, my husband is a physician so he got to stay in the room during my epi (dad's were kicked out at my hospital). There was no baby nurse to bathe and assess our baby that day so my hubby did it and I charted it all. I have a picture of my husband listening to my son's heart with a stethoscope and it warms my heart.
I had the sensation of my lungs being affected when I had my second c-section, a scheduled spinal block as opposed to the emergency cs for my first.
If I remember correctly, the anesthesiologist reassured me and propped me up a bit more. This is a great PSA, I had never known it was a normal sensation.
My daughter had ketamine in the ER when she was getting her broken arm set. It was horrid. But it kicks your consciousness out super quick, so I can see why they would use it in the OR for rare occasions.
Like Scout, I never knew when my cath went in either. Coming out was a different story.
The first c-section I had they put that darn catheter in before I had any anesthesia. It was seriously awful & I remember saying that I was never doing this again! Well, second time I made sure they didn't insert the cath until I had had a spinal. Much better. Third time was given anesthesia first, no issue.
BFP #2 12/31/2010 (EDD 9/1/11) -- Natrual m/c 1/9/10
BFP #3 12/20/2011 - EDD 8/25/12
u/s 1/6/12 - HB & beautiful bean
A/S 4/2 - It's a Girl!!!
RCS on 8/20/12