Emergency vs Planned?

AandC2009 · October 2014

What's the difference in procedure for an emergency vs planned csection?

nunzchucks · October 2014

An L&D nurse on my BMB said it best:
In my experience the type of c-section you have is classified by how the doc documents it on your delivery progress note. But here are my definitions:

Unplanned: You come in in labor or are being induced & you have failure to progress, baby ends up not in correct position, mom's platelets are too low for an epidural & she requests a c-section (with general anesthesia) instead of a med free vag delivery, Mom has a fever & baby isn't having issues with it yet, but there isn't adequate progress, or there have been some questionable dips in baby's heartbeat & a decision has been made that the safest way to deliver is by c-section. These are the types that the doc/nurse has time to explain everything, pass out scrubs to Daddy, take some pictures, get Mom an spinal if she doesn't have an epidural already. These are the majority of c-sections that aren't scheduled.

Urgent: Usually baby's heart rate is having dips that are repetitive. They come back to normal for a short time, but overall there is concern that the baby isn't handling labor well. Also can be for other reasons: mom isn't doing well, bleeding, etc. These are the types that the nurse is explaining things quickly while getting ready to roll to the OR, tossing Dad some scrubs to put on & getting to the OR as quickly as possible. In 5 years of L&D nursing, I probably had 30-40 of these.

Emergency/Stat/Crash C-section: A placental abruption, prolapsed cord, uterine rupture, patient seizing, bleeding placenta previa or baby's heart times are down and are not coming back up to name a few. Your nurse & many other nurses are in the room, yanking cords out of the wall, talking with loud, direct orders. There isn't time to explain anything except say "We need to get your baby out ASAP to save his life. I'll take good care of you and promise I'll be with you the whole time." Usually someone has called the doc & told them to meet us in the OR, here's what's happening, we need to do a stat section." Nurses are running you as fast as they can to the OR. There probably isn't time to count instruments for your surgery so you'll need an X-RAY before leaving the OR to ensure there aren't any instruments remaining. And if you don't already have an epidural, you are put to sleep with general anesthesia. In 5 years, I had 3 STAT sections that were my patients, but probably helped with 10-15 of them.

Planned would obviously be scheduled by your doctor a few weeks ahead of time.

RayRay007 · October 2014

I'm glad pp explained the different between emergency and unplanned c/s. I had a stat c/s and think it's misleading when people say they had an emergency c/s when really they had an unplanned c/s. I think OP is probably asking about unplanned v planned. The difference between them will obviously depend on why you are having an unplanned c/s. I can't say how either goes exactly as I've never had them.

ashaw512 · October 2014

My experience, I had an emergency CS due to fetal distress, low blood pressure, after 16 hours after being induced and two epidurals. My RCS required me to go in two hours early for urine sample, blood work, and NST while I waited for my OB to arrive. After OB arrived I was wheeled back to the get my spinal and a baby from there.
Recovery for me was harder with the first one bc my body labored for so long.

byrne15 · November 2014

RayRay007 said:

I'm glad pp explained the different between emergency and unplanned c/s. I had a stat c/s and think it's misleading when people say they had an emergency c/s when really they had an unplanned c/s. I think OP is probably asking about unplanned v planned. The difference between them will obviously depend on why you are having an unplanned c/s. I can't say how either goes exactly as I've never had them.

agreed. I also had an emergency C-section with #1. (under general anesthesia, dh not allowed in, etc.)

mmooki · November 2014

I had an urgent c/s with dd. It was urgent because the monitor on me had shifted and they didn't realize how far I has progressed... Dd was breech but I was in labor at 33.3w and finally they checked me and I was fully dilated, baby ready to come out foot first. It was a bit hectic, but not emergency. I do remember a dr telling me under no circumstances do I push... As they were wheeling me into surgery.

ave1012 · February 2015

I had two emergency C/S. With my first daughter, at my 40 week appointment my blood pressure was slightly elevated. I was sent to the hospital for observation when it was discovered that my platelets were really low. My blood work was repeated immediately and my platelets were even lower. I had to have a C/S under general anesthesia because it was too risky to do an epidural because of my low platelets. For my second daughter, at 35 weeks my MD did blood work to avoid what happened then first time (blood work taken on Friday). Monday evening I was admitted to the hospital and Tuesday morning I had another C/S under anesthesia because my platelets were so low this time that it had to be confirmed by two pathologist. Both times I was not expecting to have my children.

Emergency vs Planned?

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