@chailife34 - I don't know the answer to most of your questions, first-timer. But was wondering if you thought about watching some c-section videos on Youtube. (Warning: some are more graphic than others.) I don't know if it would help you, but it helped to take some of the mystery out it for me. Seeing other women go through the process made it feel more "normal" (lack of a better word). Just a thought.
I also found a Cesarean Birth Class video. My hospital didn't offer one. It's a slide show, nothing graphic. Some of what they teach is specific to that hospital but I found a lot of it helpful.
1) they will "pop" the back of water with a pair of scissora or scalpel or something. There are bags that hang off the side of the drape that coveres your belly to collect any fluids (amniotic or blood) and then we suck it up with suction tubing into a canister to get rid of.
2. The two IVs for you is probably more a precaution because of your placenta (you have a previa that was recently diagnosed right? Sorry if I'm confusing you with someone else!) Placental dysfunctions can lead to more bleeding so a second IV is just a precaution. I've seen lots of cs (well into the hundreds) for previas or other placenta issues (and just normal cs as well) and can count on one hand the number of times someone needed blood after/during.
3. The spinal is very easy, easier than an epidural in my opinion. They will numb the skin in your back with lidocaine (by far the worst part for a spinal or an epidural). We tell people it feels like a big bee sting in the middle of your back and then some burning. Then they insert a needle into that numb area, into the spinal space, push some medicine in, and then pull the needle out. It's a very fast procedure. I think we have an anesthesiologist or CRNA here who might be able to give more detailed descriptions.
4. Some people get nauseous after the spinal. Typically, like someone said, because the spinal can lower your blood pressure some. Don't be afraid to ask for something for nausea. Some doctors will give it to you before the procedure too. The anesthesiologists have all kinds of good drugs to make you feel better.
Hopefully that answers some of your questions. I have never had a cs but participate in them almost daily so let me know if you have any other questions!!
@MrsFreeman2010: Your insight is super helpful, thank you! I may end up in this camp if I can't get this one turned around, so I am trying to learn as much as I can. FX & Thx!
@MrsFreeman2010 gave a great description of a spinal. It's usually really quick. If you've ever had numbing medicine (like for dental work or stitches) that medicine does burn in your skin. That should be the only painful part of the spinal. The rest should be a pressure sensation in the middle of your back. Once the needle is in place the medicine goes in quickly and the needle is totally removed . Nothing is left in place. The people in the room will help you swing your legs around (bc the spinal is usually done in the sitting position) and help you lay down. The warm/tingly feeling comes on pretty quickly in your lower extremities. Once the spinal is in it takes a few minutes to get to an appropriate level for anesthesia for a surgery so you will be laying down while someone preps your belly (cleans it off with alcohol solution) then they will put drapes up. The spinal will be "checked" before they start the surgery. This means that they will make sure it's working appropriately before they make an incision. So there is no need to worry that any operating will be done without appropriate anesthesia level.
Nausea and vomiting is really common in a c-section and as mrsfreeman also mentioned likely due to lowered BP. They will be closely watching your BP but you can usually feel the nausea sensation before the BP reads lower so just let your friendly anesthesia provider know you're feeling a little sick and they can increase your BP and give nausea medication as well. If you vomit don't worry about it. It's really common and they will be ready for it.
The two IVs for @chailife34 are likely due to the previa. It is not super common to get blood during a c-section as most parturients are healthier young people who can tolerate low blood levels and your blood volume is increased secondary to the pregnancy. If you need blood or other fluids it is nice to have that second IV available and that's a hallmark of a cautious team. I would be glad everyone is thinking ahead and planning ahead so everything can go as smoothly as possible.
I havent had a c/section or a spinal but I do spinals daily and they are often for c/s. I am at risk for c/s too as we are still breech so I'm trying to come to terms for that myself so I understand your worries! I have them too and I've been there done that a billion times. As @LilMissCrafty suggested there are lots of videos of c/s out there (as well as many videos of spinals and epidurals happening). I would only watch it if you think that will help you. I often encounter patients who thought watching a you tube video of a total joint replacement or whatever surgery they are having would help them but it only made them more nervous. So do that cautiously!
@MrsFreeman2010@rkstro2 thank you very much for sharing your experience and knowledge. Even though I'm terrified, knowing what is coming seems to help quell some anxiety. I definitely am not at a place where I can watch a video of it, maybe after to see what I went through, but not before, it'll psych me out, but thanks for the suggestion @LilMissCrafty I can see how that could be helpful for some.
It makes a lot of sense why I'd need the second IV. Turns out this is the perfect storm: complete previa, baby is transverse, and the placenta is anterior so they'll likely have to cut right through it to free the baby. Because of cutting through the placenta, it puts me at a higher risk for needing blood.
This very well could be the scariest thing I've had to deal with in my life to date. I just keep telling myself that we are going to end up with the most beautiful gift on the other side and I have to be brave for my baby. No other way out, right?
@chailife34 you have already been given great advice. I was not prepared for my unplanned CS with DD, so I'm glad you're taking the time to prepare yourself. One thing that I wish someone would have told me, was that CS babies don't always cry right away. I had a mild freak out when I didn't hear her crying.
@chailife34 what helped me when I was super anxious was all the OR small talk. It's hardly a bunch of silent stone faced folks in there. I talked about baby names and what we all wanted for dinner while I was getting prepped and my CRNA was great and walked me through everything that was going on so it wasn't so mysterious on the other side of the curtain.
@chailife34 Amniotic fluid gets suctioned out. The spinal does feel like a big bee sting but then everything gets tingly and warm and numb and you won't feel a thing. It can cause your BP to drop as @slowmo said, so they will watch you carefully. I got a little lightheaded and the anesthesiologist gave me meds twice to bring my BP back up but otherwise it was no big deal. I didn't need blood and only had one IV.
@chailife34 - All of the advice above is awesome. I just wanted to add that I will be having two IVs to have one for blood, which I think the team is doing more for my anxiety as I'm not necessarily at risk for anything happening again. I hemorrhaged during my unplanned CS, but we didn't quite realize how much it was until my blood tests came back. And I'm stubborn and insisted I was fine and ended up not getting transfusions until day six when a lovely nurse told me she was surprised I was able to walk around, and if I passed out at home and had to come back and get a transfusion, I would be without my baby. I got the two transfusions and felt like a million bucks!!
So bottom line - I wish I would have gotten it immediately, and yea for extra precautions with your team!
With baby in a breech position we now have a c section on the table as an option and I am 100% not onboard with that - I'm so glad to read that I'm not alone in feeling that!
My major concerns/questions are around recovery (obviously much more difficult and longer than vaginal delivery) and about the lack of skin to skin time and horrific time I'm sure to have trying to nurse after having been sliced open.
Did any of our scheduled C moms have skin to skin immediately after they yank out baby or were actually able to nurse especially with the narcotics they give is it even advisable to try?
@MTB16 I think skin to skin after a c-section depends on each case and if your doctor/hospital is willing. At my hospital, they say you can do immediately skin to skin after a c-section if everything is alright with both mom and baby. However, if they need to take the baby to the nicu or the mom ends up needing an emergency c-section (and thus gets put completely under), they don't do immediate skin to skin. I'd just talk to your doctors about their rules.
@MTB16 we didn't do immediate skin to skin after my first but I was able to nurse. I know some hospitals offer skin to skin though but it's certainly not the end of the world.
I ended up not taking any narcotics and stayed on top of my Motrin and got by alright. Don't stress the meds before anything even happens!I definitely benfitted from using a nursing pillow at first since it was a little extra uncomfortable trying to get positioned but really establishing breastfeeding is a bit of a blur anyway so I wouldn't consider it a major hurdle, you just maybe do things differently at first.
I met with the hospital LC and a private one we hired and neither ever said anything along the lines that a cesarean contraindicated breastfeeding. It certainly is not a stance taken by my doctor or ACOG either so I wouldn't stress.
It is still very possible and very common, you just find what works for you.
Re: the immediate skin-to-skin thing: Maybe float the idea to your SO about him doing it if you are unable/groggy? Is that something you'd both be comfy with?
@MTB16 after my first, who was an unplanned CS, I did not get immediate skin-to-skin. I have been very vocal with my doctor that I want the baby as soon as it is out this time. His only concern is the risk of infection because I will still be open on the table and once the baby is out they have been "contaminated". As long as the sheet is up there shouldn't be a problem.
As for recovery, I may be a SS, but my recovery so was so easy and pain free. I only took Tylenol once after surgery and was up walking as soon as I could. Walking quickly definitely helped I think. But everyone is different, so don't push yourself too hard.
Nursing was fine. I just put a couple of pillows in my lap to protect my incision and prop baby up.
@MTB16 - I pushed for 1.5 hours before heading for a C with my first, and I was so exhausted there's no way I could have held him! I have asked about skin-to-skin this time and was told that - at my hospital - it really depends who you have on the 'baby team' in the operating room. They made it sound like some are much more likely to facilitate that, while some are more 'by the book' and just want to get their boxes checked off. I would definitely make my wishes known so you'll have the best chance of getting what you want.
It was very late at night when I was in the recovery area, and I couldn't tell you how long it had been since DS was born when I got the chance to try breastfeeding. However, it went pretty well! He latched right on, and we didn't have many issues with that while we were in the hospital. Two lactation consultants visited with us, and they were FULL of information. I WILL SAY, the biggest problem we had with nursing is that it took a LONG time for my milk to come in. He was born on a Tuesday, and I don't even know if it was in by the end of the weekend. I did have to supplement with with formula for a few days (honestly, I wish I'd done it sooner), but once it came in we were off to the races!
Re: the immediate skin-to-skin thing: Maybe float the idea to your SO about him doing it if you are unable/groggy? Is that something you'd both be comfy with?
I've never had a csection but I've been following this thread because you never know what will happen! But my immediate concern/question with DH doing skin to skin in the operating room is that I would assume the staff would not be ok with it because the operating room is sterile and the dad's have to be in a gown. Again, I could be completely wrong!
Married 03.09.09 Sweet Baby H 12.21.11 Sassy Baby P 03.26.14 Little Brother Due 05.22.17
Re: the immediate skin-to-skin thing: Maybe float the idea to your SO about him doing it if you are unable/groggy? Is that something you'd both be comfy with?
My husband did it after our son was born. I took some time in the OR because I was bleedy and full of heavy sedatives and once they weighed baby and took him out of the OR he went with him and they snuggled skin to skin in the recovery room. I'd say it was only a 5-10 minute lag? I on the other hand didn't hold him for hours after so it was nice for the two of them.
@MTB16 - My CS wasn't planned with DS (SO looking forward to a nice calm planned one this time ), but despite that, DH did skin-to-skin with DS right away (until I had some complications and then they left the room for a bit) as I was getting sick and couldn't have him on me. But as soon as I was in the recovery room, we tried nursing right away. I have nothing to compare recovery to, but even despite complications, I was expecting it to be way worse than it ended up being! As long as I stayed up on my meds, I don't remember any pain - just a little discomfort and some weakness in my core.
Re: The cesarean section thread
I also found a Cesarean Birth Class video. My hospital didn't offer one. It's a slide show, nothing graphic. Some of what they teach is specific to that hospital but I found a lot of it helpful.
1) they will "pop" the back of water with a pair of scissora or scalpel or something. There are bags that hang off the side of the drape that coveres your belly to collect any fluids (amniotic or blood) and then we suck it up with suction tubing into a canister to get rid of.
2. The two IVs for you is probably more a precaution because of your placenta (you have a previa that was recently diagnosed right? Sorry if I'm confusing you with someone else!) Placental dysfunctions can lead to more bleeding so a second IV is just a precaution. I've seen lots of cs (well into the hundreds) for previas or other placenta issues (and just normal cs as well) and can count on one hand the number of times someone needed blood after/during.
3. The spinal is very easy, easier than an epidural in my opinion. They will numb the skin in your back with lidocaine (by far the worst part for a spinal or an epidural). We tell people it feels like a big bee sting in the middle of your back and then some burning. Then they insert a needle into that numb area, into the spinal space, push some medicine in, and then pull the needle out. It's a very fast procedure. I think we have an anesthesiologist or CRNA here who might be able to give more detailed descriptions.
4. Some people get nauseous after the spinal. Typically, like someone said, because the spinal can lower your blood pressure some. Don't be afraid to ask for something for nausea. Some doctors will give it to you before the procedure too. The anesthesiologists have all kinds of good drugs to make you feel better.
Hopefully that answers some of your questions. I have never had a cs but participate in them almost daily so let me know if you have any other questions!!
Nausea and vomiting is really common in a c-section and as mrsfreeman also mentioned likely due to lowered BP. They will be closely watching your BP but you can usually feel the nausea sensation before the BP reads lower so just let your friendly anesthesia provider know you're feeling a little sick and they can increase your BP and give nausea medication as well. If you vomit don't worry about it. It's really common and they will be ready for it.
The two IVs for @chailife34 are likely due to the previa. It is not super common to get blood during a c-section as most parturients are healthier young people who can tolerate low blood levels and your blood volume is increased secondary to the pregnancy. If you need blood or other fluids it is nice to have that second IV available and that's a hallmark of a cautious team. I would be glad everyone is thinking ahead and planning ahead so everything can go as smoothly as possible.
I havent had a c/section or a spinal but I do spinals daily and they are often for c/s. I am at risk for c/s too as we are still breech so I'm trying to come to terms for that myself so I understand your worries! I have them too and I've been there done that a billion times. As @LilMissCrafty suggested there are lots of videos of c/s out there (as well as many videos of spinals and epidurals happening). I would only watch it if you think that will help you. I often encounter patients who thought watching a you tube video of a total joint replacement or whatever surgery they are having would help them but it only made them more nervous. So do that cautiously!
It makes a lot of sense why I'd need the second IV. Turns out this is the perfect storm: complete previa, baby is transverse, and the placenta is anterior so they'll likely have to cut right through it to free the baby. Because of cutting through the placenta, it puts me at a higher risk for needing blood.
This very well could be the scariest thing I've had to deal with in my life to date. I just keep telling myself that we are going to end up with the most beautiful gift on the other side and I have to be brave for my baby. No other way out, right?
May '17 labor memes
Amniotic fluid gets suctioned out. The spinal does feel like a big bee sting but then everything gets tingly and warm and numb and you won't feel a thing. It can cause your BP to drop as @slowmo said, so they will watch you carefully. I got a little lightheaded and the anesthesiologist gave me meds twice to bring my BP back up but otherwise it was no big deal. I didn't need blood and only had one IV.
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So bottom line - I wish I would have gotten it immediately, and yea for extra precautions with your team!
My major concerns/questions are around recovery (obviously much more difficult and longer than vaginal delivery) and about the lack of skin to skin time and horrific time I'm sure to have trying to nurse after having been sliced open.
Did any of our scheduled C moms have skin to skin immediately after they yank out baby or were actually able to nurse especially with the narcotics they give is it even advisable to try?
I ended up not taking any narcotics and stayed on top of my Motrin and got by alright. Don't stress the meds before anything even happens!I definitely benfitted from using a nursing pillow at first since it was a little extra uncomfortable trying to get positioned but really establishing breastfeeding is a bit of a blur anyway so I wouldn't consider it a major hurdle, you just maybe do things differently at first.
I met with the hospital LC and a private one we hired and neither ever said anything along the lines that a cesarean contraindicated breastfeeding. It certainly is not a stance taken by my doctor or ACOG either so I wouldn't stress.
It is still very possible and very common, you just find what works for you.
May '17 labor memes
As for recovery, I may be a SS, but my recovery so was so easy and pain free. I only took Tylenol once after surgery and was up walking as soon as I could. Walking quickly definitely helped I think. But everyone is different, so don't push yourself too hard.
Nursing was fine. I just put a couple of pillows in my lap to protect my incision and prop baby up.
It was very late at night when I was in the recovery area, and I couldn't tell you how long it had been since DS was born when I got the chance to try breastfeeding. However, it went pretty well! He latched right on, and we didn't have many issues with that while we were in the hospital. Two lactation consultants visited with us, and they were FULL of information. I WILL SAY, the biggest problem we had with nursing is that it took a LONG time for my milk to come in. He was born on a Tuesday, and I don't even know if it was in by the end of the weekend. I did have to supplement with with formula for a few days (honestly, I wish I'd done it sooner), but once it came in we were off to the races!
I've never had a csection but I've been following this thread because you never know what will happen!
But my immediate concern/question with DH doing skin to skin in the operating room is that I would assume the staff would not be ok with it because the operating room is sterile and the dad's have to be in a gown. Again, I could be completely wrong!
Sweet Baby H 12.21.11
Sassy Baby P 03.26.14
Little Brother Due 05.22.17
May '17 labor memes