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C-sections
jlml2008
member
CSection Under General Anesthesia
jlml2008
member
in C-sections
Hi ladies! I haven't ever posted on this board as I primarily post on the June 2013 moms board. So quick intro...I am a STM pregnant with a boy and DD is 2.5. WIth my first I had an extremely uncomplicated vaginal birth with no epidural. This baby however has decided to be more difficult! I am just short of 34 weeks right now and he is still breech. Although he still has time to turn I was informed at my last appointment that they will likely do a c-section regardless of his position due to a heart issue he has developed.
In 2008 I had a spinal fusion with rods placed on both sides of my spine from T4 to L2. Because of this I did not even attempt the epidural with my first because they weren't positive it would take. I talked to my doctor and am currently working on getting an anesthesiology consult but was told if they can't do the epidural or it doesn't work I will be going under general anesthesia.
Couple questions for those that have had c-sections under general anesthesia...
1. WIll my DH be allowed in the room with me? And if not how soon will he get baby to start skin to skin?
2. How long will it take me to wake up and actually understand what's going on around me? (I know this is different for everyone so estimates are totally fine)
3. I read that the baby will be sedadted when he comes out because of the medications I am given...how will this affect him?
4. How will it affect breastfeeding. I EBF my 2.5 year old until she was 18 months and my goal is to do the same with this LO. I'm just curious what obstacles I should prepare myself for
5. Finally, pain medicine...I just took the IBprofen after I had my first as the pain wasn't too bad and pain meds make me so sick. But, from what I have heard you NEED them after a section. for how long would you say you needed the meds?
Thank you for any input/advice/suggestions!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: CSection Under General Anesthesia
I didn't end up having general anesthesia during my c-section, but it was discussed because I have low platelets. Thankfully, the anesthesiologist felt comfortable doing the spinal despite my count being less than 100,000.
1. I was told that no one would be allowed in the operating room for a c-section under general anesthesia. Once the baby was determined to be healthy, weighed, measured, cleaned up, etc., the baby would have been brought to DH (and possibly me) in the recovery room. If the baby low APGARS (sometimes the anesthesia can have an impact), the baby would be taken to the NICU.
2. It completely depends. When I've been under general anesthesia for other surgeries, it has taken less than 30 minutes for me to understand what was going on around me. Of course, that was timing from the end of the surgery. After LO is delivered, it still takes a little while to get stitched back up. It took my OB 20-30 minutes to deliver the placenta and get me stitched up.
3. See #1
4. It shouldn't affect breastfeeding at all long-term. LO might be extra sleepy and require stimulation to feed.
5. I alternated between ibuprofen and hydrocodone/acetaminophen for 4 days. They controlled the pain well. After that I just took them as needed. After a week, I didn't need to take anything.
I had an emergency c/s under general. I was alone, so I'm not sure I can answer all your questions...
1. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have allowed any company if I had any.
2. I woke up 3 - 3.5 hours after surgery.
3. I have no idea
He was a sleepy newborn, but I don't know if/how the anesthesia affected him. Because it was an emergency, not much time elapsed between me going under and them pulling the baby out, so not much time for anything to enter his bloodstream.
4. They brought LO to me while I was still in recovery. We attempted breastfeeding immediately, and surprisingly, he latched beautifully. We've had a great BF experience so far at almost 2 months, and we EBF.
5. They started me off on a morphine drip, then switched to Norco. I only took it for 2 days, then just took ibuprofen for a couple weeks, after my milk came in. I didn't NEED anything more than that. Yes, I was in pain, but it was manageable, and better than feeling drugged, IMO
I have a spinal fusion as well (T11-L2) and will likely be having my third section in a couple of weeks. I had an anesthesiology consult with my first and was told that a spinal would be easier to place than an epidural with rods since the spinal is supposed to puncture the dura whereas the epidural isn't. Hopefully you will hear the same news at your consult- both of my previous spirals were done without a hitch!
I did not know they could even do general anesthesia for a c-section
I did have a c-section with #1 though. They did not let him stay in the room with me over night because I was pretty sick. I have heard that the first night they do not- just depends on your hospital I guess.
Pain medicine you will have to take it unless you can take some serious pain. I do not remember what I had, but it was strong stuff. I forgot to take a dose one day and I was bent over in serious pain. I do not think IBprofen would do the trick.
As a former labor and delivery nurse, I would consult with a few different anesthesiolgists. I have seen cases where they would place an epidural a little higher that usual for the mom to have pain relief and avoiding general anesthesia. They won't let your SO in the room and he will follow baby to nursery. Good Luck!
my son was born via c - section under general anastesia due to me feeling the first incision under local.
There was no one allowed in the or with me since it was performed general.
My son was born at 11:25 I wasn't coherent for about 3 hours.
This may have been due to the fact that I had also just endured 31 hours of labor prior.
My son was completely fine when he was born and much less sedated than I was.
I didn't attempt breastfeeding until the next morning about 6 hours later.
No one else will be allowed in the OR. It took me a few minutes after "waking" up to realize what was going on after my appendectomy. DS was not at the hospital with my app but I did pump right after I got back to my room. So I would assume BFing will be the same. My drs said there is not a concern with the meds passing to the baby through the milk, and at that point you'll only have colostrum so you should be safe to bf. I only took ibuprofen after my c/s so there is no NEED for strong drugs. And if you do, they are bf safe.
I had a C-section under general after baby got stuck after 2 hours of pushing and the drugs didn't work so they couldn't do it with me awake.
My husband was kicked out. He had our daughter in his arms within 20 or so minutes and got to stay with her the rest of the time (NICU visit).
I think I woke just after an hour but I was out of it. I remember none of the drugs working and they had to give me 4 different narcotics before I was remotely relieved of the pain. My husband brought the baby to see me after about 30min of being awake and we tried breastfeeding...then baby had to return to NICU for a few more hours (unrelated to C-section, she was 5 weeks early and had to clear all the tests)
Not sure about the baby sedation as mine was 5 weeks preemie and slept a lot for weeks to come.
I breast feed 100% now at 7 weeks...but had to supplement for 3 weeks due to many factors (likely nothing to do with C-section though).
Aside from all the drugs I received in the recovery room I just took advil and Tylenol round the clock for about 2 weeks then a bit here and there. I did not take any other drugs in hospital but was offered. I didn't find I needed anything more than advil and Tylenol. It was uncomfortable but not horribly painful. Though my husband did all diaper changes and everything while in hospital so I didn't have to do much. I was up and walking as needed but not moving around too much the first few days.
The drugs made me wonky. My husband video taped me with the baby in the recovery room. I was out of it. I have zero recollection of the video, my husband being there and pretty much anything except I clearly remember meeting my baby and trying to feed her. It took awhile for the drugs to clear and for me to be functional!
I have not had general anesthesia, but (for different reasons), I was unable to hold either of my babies (DS born vaginally with no meds and DD born via c/s) for a few hours after delivery. The delay did not affect breastfeeding with either baby. DH was able to hold or be with both babies immediately. DD was actually much more interested in BFing than DS was, despite me getting a ton of various medications during my c/s, both IV and through epidural.
As far as pain, I took ibuprofen and percocet for about a week, then just ibuprofen. Actually, I had much less pain from my c/s than from my vaginal delivery w/3rd degree tear.
Having a baby is unpredictable, no matter what. Good luck!
I had to have an emergency c-section under general anesthesia.
Here are some answers for you from my experience.
1. DH will not be allowed if it is general anesthesia. This is due to the fact that you will not be breathing on your own during the c-section and will be on a anesthesia machine. (RN who does a lot of generals for other types of procedures).
2. When I asked DH about my first memory in recovery he said that he thinks that I might have been in recovery for about 10 minutes prior to the first memory.
3. I am FTM so I cannot compare other births but DD seemed fine after. I know in recovery she was exercising her lungs because that is my first memory. I did have to get a catheter put into my bladder before the anesthesia because they wanted to take the baby as soon as I was out so she would not get much.
4. The only issue that I had with BF is initially latching. Lactation nurse could not even get DD to latch (no physical issues just would not do it so she recommended nipple shield) BF with shield for 3 months while intermittently trying to latch DD until one day she just did it. No issues with milk or supply, milk came in two days after C/S. DD is now a year and still BF, no supplements.
5. As far as pain medications go that is individual. After the C/S, I was on a pain pump (never had epidural) for 24 hours after. Took oral medication once when they were taking me off the pump and one other time. I left the hospital with no prescription for pain medication because I did not take it and took Ibuprofen. I do recommend taking it easy, I went hiking four weeks post C/S and did have some nerve pain the day after but still only took Ibuprofen.
My C/S was completely unplanned, went in for 40 week appointment and then a couple hours later I had my DD unexpectedly. I had no idea what to expect and neither did my DH so therefore it was scary for us. I will also say that I was cleared for sex after 4 weeks. I thought that it would be fine because I did not have a vaginal birth, YIKES!! It was very painful for a while, basically MD said it was because of hormones and the breastfeeding. Sorry if that is TMI but I had no idea prior to and would have liked it someone would have told me what to expect.
Hope this helps!!! Sorry if I rambled!!
I'm a FTM who just had this done due to complications with my epidural -- se emy answers below!