Scheduled C-Section Moms

Please tell me your experience. I had a crash c when Mason. This time I decided for a scheduled c after speaking with my OB and DH. THe OB said he'd do a VBAC and I know all the risks and all... I just want a healthy baby. I don't care how it comes out.

Anyway, since my first c-section I was under I'd like to know what I should expect. The OB said it shouldn't be so bad. I'm small and probably thinking 25 mins - half hour.
Is it painful? Is the spinal tap bad, do I feel anything? will I throw up?

All I remember was waking up shaking, freezing, could barely breathe and they say... "Congrats, it's a boy"
At least this time I'll be awake
thanks

Re: Scheduled C-Section Moms

I am on my 3rd scheduled c-section

My first 2 were great (I will be having my 3rd on 3/18) , no issues with the spinal, completely awake and alert , no vomiting and felt nothing but some tugging and pulling as they were taking the baby out...

With my 1st, the only issue I had was that I had the sensation of not being able to swallow during the latter part of the c-section (while being stitched I believe)...I told the anesthesiologist when I went in to have my 2nd and he did something ( lowered the anesthesia I guess) so I didn't have that issue the second time...

As for the spinal, mine was a little pinch and that was all

Re: Scheduled C-Section Moms

I had a scheduled C the first time around, and it wasn't really that great of an experience, if you want the truth...

They had a really hard time getting in the spinal/epidural, it took over an hour and I was stuck at least 5 times. I know this is not the norm, but it made my recovery even more difficult because my back was so sore.
The surgery itself was fine, I got a little nauseous when they were putting me back together, but I got some meds in my IV and it went away quickly.
I was shaking like crazy in recovery and then got very, very itchy. I maxed out on the amount of benadryl they could give me, so they took out the epidural early.

This time I am trying for a vbac. I really don't want another c-section.

Re: Scheduled C-Section Moms

My c-sec was a breeze I think. My bestfriend made me well aware of everything that was going to take place so I wasn't worried or to scared when it all went down. This is how it went for me:

Arrived at the hospital about 2 hours be4 the surgery was admitted n hooked up to some ivs and had a heart monitor on for the baby. Dh and I just laid around the anastelogist came in and introduced himself, my ob came in and said hello and then we just waited for the time being then once the OR was ready for me they took me DH stayed behind (cant be in the room when u get the epi) I entered the white room very white and cold but the staff was friendly so that helped ease me a little. The anastelogist came in and numbed the area around my spine (imo that hurt more then the epi. It felt like little bee stings but only hurt for a second.) once the epi was in you could feel the coldness running down ur spine a weird feeling but doesn't hurt. Then they lay you down on the bed the doctor came in poked my legs n belly to see if I could feel it *I couldn't* then they cleaned the area and got to work honestly at this point I was so numb I just remember lessening to the docs talkn to each other. You will feel pulling and tugging a little uncomfy but no pain at all , at one point I said I wasn't feeling good almost like I wanted to puke the anastelogist adjusted my meds and the feeling went away. Then before u know it ur baby is there at this point u are soo focused on the baby that u don't even realize the doc stapling u back up.
After I got back to recovery I could not stop shirviing and my temp was around 71 but they put some heating blankets on me and within 15mins I was feeling good.
Its really not that bad try not to stress urself out to much about it its so fast I went into the or at 9:50 and was in recovery by 10:50.

Message edited 2/21/2011 10:50:03 AM.

Re: Scheduled C-Section Moms

I had a scheduled c-section at Winthrop.

I went for my pre-surgery visit at the hospital a couple of days before my c-section.

I signed all the paperwork first.

On the day of my c-section I arrived around 1.5 hour before the scheduled time for the c-section. To go over paperwork and get set up in triage.

I had the baby monitor set up. They set up my IV.

Then waiting for my turn. I got bumped 2 times because of emergency c-section. I waited 2 hours.

Then I walked to the OR. The room was freezing but the nurse was so nice and wrapped me in heated blankets.

The anesthesiologist came. We talked for a few minutes. DH was asked to leave the room and go change. I never looked at the needle. It went fine. They put that heating blowing blanket (think Michelin tire) and it felt amazing. I am always freezing.

DH came back in. They put the shield. OB told DH about not looking over the shield.

The whole procedure usually takes 1 hour. Baby only takes about 15 minutes to come. The rest is to stich you back up.

Once DS was born. They took him to the heated prep table to clean him up. Weigh him. It did feel a bit awckward because I could not see him. I was fully aware of everything. Talked to the Dr. while I was being stiched up. They asked DH if he want to cut the rest of the cord. He did.... then realized how is it NOT going to see what is going on when he comes back to me wih the baby. To this day, I still pry on DH to give me the gorry details on my insides. He said it was like the Discovery channel.

I could not hold DS because I only realized then that I was strapped the side arms of the table.

I went into recovery when I was done. DH followed me by my side with DS in his arms.

I asked to breastfeed DS right away. I was shaking. They all looked at me like I had 5 heads but I insisted. It was very important to me. And I did.

Then I puked for 7 hours in the recovery room...

The love the actual c-section. Recovery was different!!!

Re: Scheduled C-Section Moms

I was a scheduled c section for #1 and will be for #2.

Heading in was the same as everyone else. I didn't like the first needle in the back, and they hit a nerve when the spinal went in which set my right leg on fire for about 10 seconds. I spoke up right away and they adjusted something. My legs went dead and they had to lift them onto the table for me.

I think my anesthesia level was a bit high, because I had the sensation that I couldn't breathe. I mentioned it right away and they brought me oxygen to put under my nose to make me feel better. They said my body was breathing just fine, but mentally I couldn't feel my chest working. To be honest, I consider myself a very strong person, but this scared me for a bit. The oxygen helped me relax and I just kept looking at DH and making him talk to me about a vacation we went on. It probably sounded strange, but I had to get my mind off my breathing. My panic subsided and I kept the oxygen on until the very end. I hope to not have this issue again this time around.

I felt pulling while I was stitched up, but it was very minor pain wise.

Recovery was great...until I got to my room. Out of the blue I got very nauseous from the anesthesia and proceeded to vomit for the next 12 hours. I was given back to back doses of zofran in my iv, which did not help at all. Was on a liquid diet for two days - which didn't matter, I had no appetite anyway.

Evenutually, the vomiting stopped and I was able to keep regular food down.

As a side note - my son had to have tubes put in this summer and I asked his anesthesiologist about my vomiting after my c section. I was worried my son might get sick as well. He told me that some people are pre disposed to getting sick from anesthesia and that some of it is genetic. He led me to believe that I will more than likely have the same reaction again...regardless of how much anti nausea meds I get in my iv.

Re: Scheduled C-Section Moms

The planned C/S was a much better experience.

You go in, meet with the anestesiologist. Tell them ANY concerns you may have and what you think went "wrong" during your first experience. I had a great one who promised to try and take care of the issues before they started (he gave me something for that BAD pressure when they take the baby out, and gave me something right in the IV for the nauseau, etc.)

Takes about 40 minutes from the minute you go in OR to you get wheeled to recovery. The epi is not bad - feels like they hit a funny bone for me - all three times.

I, for some strange reason, felt a little panicked during my third, and told the anestesiologist right away. He gave me a slight sedative and it kicked in within seconds, while they were stitching me up. Just be very vocal and tell them what you're feeling and they will fix it!

Re: Scheduled C-Section Moms

I had a very pleasant C-Section experience!
I was 1 week late and my DS was not planning on coming out on his own, so we went ahead and scheduled my C-Section for 41 weeks. I went to the hospital (Winthrop) about 2 hours early and had all the pre-testing done the same day. After that was done, they took me back to Recovery for about a 1/2 hour before my scheduled surgery. We watched some TV back there and just hung out. When the time came, they had me drink this AWFUL drink... just a little shot to stabilize my stomach acid and took me back for the spinal. The spinal did not hurt at all... I was more nervous about this than the actual surgery. You just have to stay very still and the next thing you know, you won't be able to feel anything! They put my cathedar in at that time (didn't feel a thing) and started the surgery. They called DH in at that time. All in all, it took about 30 minutes. I felt no pain, but did feel a little nauseous during the surgery, but you can just tell them and they will give you some meds via IV to stop the nausea. It worked instantly!!! After DS was born, they brought him right over as they were stiching me up. I got to hold him as they wheeled me back to recovery and I BF right away. It was so wonderful and the nurses were great!! I stayed in recovery for about an hour before I went up to my room. I did throw up for the rest of the day from the spinal, but that doesn't mean that you will too. Everyone is different. GOOD LUCK and Congrats!!!!

ETA:

My recovery was AMAZING!!! I felt 0 pain... NONE! I didn't even take any Motrin/Pain Meds at all! I couldn't believe it. I was up and walking around the same day and by the time I got home (3 days later), I was going about my day normally.

ALSO, DO NOT LOOK UP AT THE LAMP OVERHEAD! LOL DH watched my entire surgery through it and I could have too if I wanted to. Not pretty...

Message edited 2/21/2011 11:23:42 AM.

Re: Scheduled C-Section Moms

I've had 3 c-sections. My first was after laboring all night any my recovery was horrible. My 2nd was scheduled and my recovery was a breeze. I felt better the day after my scheduled section than 2 weeks after my 1st. My 3rd section was also easy but the recovery was a drop harder then my second (i.e. i was taking pain meds longer) but still was pretty easy compared to the first.

Re: Scheduled C-Section Moms

I had two fantastic scheduled c-sections.
You would think that I would have been scared and what not, but I wasn't at all.
I made the decision to just go with the flow and that was the best thing I did.
I felt faint both times they put the spinal in, but that was only because I was thinking too much about what they were doing. Once the spinal was in, it was fine from there.
You lay on the table, they prep you and stuff then cover you up, bring your hubby in and it's smooth sailing from there.
The whole process, bother times was probably about an hour and a half from the moment I waked into the OR until the moment I was put in recovery.
The prep takes the longest. Ava was born 45 minutes after I walked into the OR and Chase was born 44 minutes after I walked into the OR.
I felt nothing during the procedure.

Re: Scheduled C-Section Moms

I had the same situation- a crash section with DD and was under, and a scheduled C with my DS...

The scheduled CS was such a calm experience. The day before you go in for pre-op testing- they do all your bloods and vitals..

You usually check in to the hospital 2 hours before your section time. I was scheduled for 11am and checked in at 9am.

They set you up in a shared room before you go into surgery- there they put in the IV, take vitals, ask some questions, and that is where the anesthesiologist came in to speak with me and introduced himself.

Then you are rolled down to the OR- you walk in to the OR.

I won't like- the spinal wasn't my favorite thing in the world- way more annoying than getting an epidural during labor.. but it is over relatively fast (and i think my doc had to try twice?)

Numbing is very fast- I didn't have any problems breathing like some people (people say cause you are numb you feel like you can't breath even though you can...)

Once you are numb they insert the foley and prep you- I think I was in there from when I walked in to when they delivered DS about 20-30 minutes? Not long at all.

Once DS was delivered they brought him over and I kissed him- and then they took him out- DH went with.. then the anesthesiologist put something in my IV and I was in lala land- totally out of it for the rest of the c/s. I vaguely remember them talking about Tiger Woods (when the whole story broke) and then counting instruments to make sure nothing was left in me (gross)..

Then I was in recovery... I think I was there for a few hours- but again, I was sort of out of it and in and out of sleep..

Just remembered from reading everyone else's posts and I threw up once in my room. It came out of the blue and it was over.

Message edited 2/21/2011 12:30:01 PM.