DS 1 and DS 3 were both unplanned C-sections. This one is planned due to VBAC "bans" at all area hospitals, and traveling 3+ hours to the hospital that does allow them just isn't feasible for my family.
I'm interested to know how things go when it is a non-emergent situation. I had general anesthesia with DS 1 and a spinal with DS 3; I'm assuming this one will also be a spinal, so I know what to expect there.
Tami ~ 41 Steve ~ 42 Est. 3/19/94 Ryker ~ 14.2 (C/S) Hudson ~ 11 (VBAC!) Cameron ~ 9.5 (C/S) & Shepard ~ 5/6/10 (C/S)
My first was an emergency C -- but I never fully dilated, no fetal distress, so it was pretty low key. They upped the epidural and wheeled me in.
My second was a scheduled C -- *very* relaxed. Showed up two hours ahead, spinal, baby, off to recovery.
My third was a non-scheduled C -- I had one scheduled, then had reduced fetal movement which resulted in an immediate delivery. Other than not knowing the date in advance, it was pretty much like my second.
The biggest difference I think is your state of mind (and body) going into the surgery. With a scheduled c-section you aren't exhausted from hours of labor, but instead just walk into the OR and hop on to the table. That is a little nerve wracking actually. But once in there all three of mine were more or less the same.
I had some bad nausea with my first and second, so I managed to opt out of morphine for my third c-section. I was in a bit more pain, but 100% with it for the delivery and post partum which was great.
My third baby did end up in the NICU for 8 days because he was delivered too early (38w 5d). There were good reasons to deliver early in my case, but if there is no reason for you then I would strongly suggest scheduling the c-section as late as possible.
Yes, the 6th of May I think is as late as he will let me go. Due date is the 10th, and the 2 dates he presented me with were the 3rd & the 6th. I have decided on the 6th since it's just 4 days from the due date. I don't know if he would "let" me pick the actual date of the 10th, which would be the next surgery day he has. In any case, I think a Thursday birth would be best timing-wise for the other boys in school and DH/work. I am almost certain he would not go for scheduling it *after* the due date, so looks like the 6th, unless there's a reason to go earlier.
Thanks for replying.
Double post
I never had an unplanned CS to compare it to but my planned CS was awesome!!! I arrived at the hospital at 6am - me and DH got changed and they took me into the operating room - they did the spinal and my DS was born at 8:18am.
I dont "miss" the fact that I didnt have labor at all......
DS was perfectly healthy and we went home 48 hrs later.
me: 34 DH: 44
Sept 2008
March 2011
My first two c-sections were not planned (first was an emergency, second was planned but I went into labor 2 days before my planned c-section and so it wound up being chaotic because of that) but my third was planned. I *loved* it, it was fantastic!
I had to have general anesthesia for the first two, and so finally for the third I was awake to hear him and see him. I had the spinal. It was very relaxed, very different than the first two c-sections. The nurses proclaimed it a BeeGees today and they were playing Disco music and dancing around the room. My OBGYN was telling all of us about how his son had crashed his car while he did the c-section. We were all having a great time. Then he was born and I cried and cried. I got to see him right away and snuggle him. No problems breastfeeding, no problems healing, no problems with the surgery. It was a really wonderful experience and I am here to tell you that c-sections can be beautiful and empowering, mine sure was. I can't stress enough how great of an experience it was, probably one of the best days of my life.
I feel the same way as the PP above me, my experience with him was so great that I don't feel that I have missed anything by not having a VB. I've been through labor, with my middle son, got all the way to transition - eh. I'm so glad that my last birth was great, since it's looking more and more like my last experience ever.
Good luck, Tami!!!
TTC (this time ) since February 2008. Long history of Secondary Infertility
chart: http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/16c283
Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is permanent.
ThreePrinces: I was awake to hear him and see him. I had the spinal. It was very relaxed, The nurses proclaimed it a BeeGees today and they were playing Disco music and dancing around the room. My OBGYN was telling all of us about how his son had crashed his car while he did the c-section. We were all having a great time. Then he was born and I cried and cried. I got to see him right away and snuggle him. No problems breastfeeding, no problems healing, no problems with the surgery. It was a really wonderful experience and I am here to tell you that c-sections can be beautiful and empowering, mine sure was. I can't stress enough how great of an experience it was, probably one of the best days of my life.
Haven't posted in here because my c-section was not planned. But am checking back in here from time to time, because I am also currently trying to work out whether to have a planned section now. Couldn't help replying because the above post made me smile - it was exactly like my experience!
Good Luck!
I'm one of those rarities where my planned C-section was NOT a good experience... Don't read on if you're not interested in hearing that....
I held out until after dates because I wanted to give her as much time as possible and because I kept hoping she'd turn... I finally scheduled at 40+3 because it got me out of the hospital the Wednesday before a 4-day weekend (my DH had no time off work except for the day of surgery).
Anyway, we attempted a spinal, but I had a "hot spot" that didn't take fully when they were checking my belly. Something about the way the put it in HURT like the dickens too - it must've been all the locals they jabbed me with first. Each one was like a horrible stinging nettle in my back. I ended up getting nauseated from that but they put something in my IV that helped.
Next we attempted the epidural with the same effect. I was given the option of letting it all wear off and trying again that afternoon or just going under general anesthesia. I felt I couldn't take the disappointment of doing it all again just to fail again, so I went under.
So... I missed the birth of my daughter and so did my husband. Recovery wasn't that bad - I was awake 2 hours later and shortly after they brought her to me to breastfeed. We had no unusual issues breastfeeding. It was really really upsetting for me to wake up and have my baby gone though. :(
I thought I was doing really well with recovery - up and moving right away, etc, etc. But about a week after the surgery, my wound was still not closed on one side and got infected. Took me until a few days later to get a doctor to agree it was infected. Then we began packing it twice a day and I had to go on antibiotics for it. It finally closed somewhere around 6-7 weeks I think. Anyway, I was dragging HARD until a few days into the antibiotics, so essentially the first 2 weeks.
The GA and the infection are my two biggest fears of having a repeat c/s and definitely contribute to my desire for a natural VBAC.
Susan - 29 and Chris - 30
Catherine Anne -born via c-section on June 30, 2008
Rebecca Marie - born naturally on April 18, 2010
---------------
I schedule my c/s to be done at 39.4 weeks due to PIH. I didn't want to risk to keep going another week just incase it got too crazy (it was already at a dangerous level) and I'd have to have an emergency c/s.
Anyway, we went in at 6am, did all the paperwork and I was on Pit for 2 days (had contrctactions in the 124's or was it 145's I think it was and it didn't even phase me with pain. SO strange!) and on the 3rd day, they checked me and I was only a tight 2cm. She just did NOT want to come out. So I agreed to have my water broken and the next morning with no progression, I decided to have a c/s and I had the epi in my spine. I had a very good experience and recovered very nicely.
Deanna + Phillip + TTC since 8.2002=Madison
born 10.15.2008 @ 39.4 wks 8lbs 9oz
Thanks- these stories are very helpful. I have to have scheduled Csection due to a prior myomectomy.
Did any of you complete a birth plan with a scheduled Csection? I'd like to hear if the hospital abided by it.
TIA
TTC #1 for 4+ yrs with multiple fibroids & endometriosis
I intend to make a birth plan for my scheduled C-section. Things like who I want present (last time they let my DH & my Mom in, and my Mom stayed with my while DH went with DS), no circ, no vaccinations (Vit. K is okay), no ointment in the eyes, etc etc.
Yes, I had a birth plan with my second and third c-sections. My hospital *does* have a high intervention and c-section rate, but they bent over backwards to meet my needs. However mine were pretty simple:
I wanted to watch the c-section with a mirror. I wanted to nurse in recovery and keep the baby with me. Everything else was pretty much standard (catheter after spinal), getting to see/touch/hold baby on OR table, DH gets to trim cord, etc. With my third, I also wanted to tweak my anesthesia, since I discovered that the duramorph made me vomit. So I added that.
My plan was followed 100% for my second delivery. With my third, they took him to the nursery. I was very upset on the table when they told me this and was convinced the bad guys were conspiring to take my baby away. The nurse was extremely apologetic but I wasn't hearing it. My baby ended up in the NICU for 8 days, so it *was* serious. He is fine now, and if they had told me how serious it was at the time, I would have not been upset about them taking him away.
At my hospital with a scheduled c-section, they have you come in a day or two early for all of the pre-admission testing (bloodwork, etc.). It is a great opportunity to review your birth plan with delivery nurses.
I did but it wasn't too crazy BUT my DD came out not breathing so a lot of it went out the window because getting her to take a breath was the most important.A lot of my requests were done as things went along from that moment on. For instance, I told the nurse as soon as I got into the room I wanted her to stay with me the entire time by my side and she did.
I had a planned, elective c-section w/ DD. It was a great experience for me. I did have a birth plan, but had talked things over with my dr beforehand anyway (one of the reasons I had an elective c-section was because I could just see one dr for my prenatal care). Between talking to the OB and then the pre-surgery consult where I met the anasthesologist I was very prepared.
They pumped me full of fluids and would have shaved me in pre-op (I went and got waxed the day before). Wheeled me to the OR. I had a spinal and DH was allowed in after it was in (wouldn't have been allowed in if they had needed General). Once the baby was out DH was able to stand up and see her and then accompany her out to be cleaned up, have APGARS etc... My birth plan basically said I didn't want to eye drops or Hep B - and I verbally told all the nurses that as well. (I did have to sign a waiver later on the Hep B, but no big deal).I got to see DD before they left - not sure if they would have let me hold her, but frankly I wanted her to be cleaned up anyway - goopy, bloody baby was not my thing!
Once I was put back together (maybe 20-25 minutes after they left) I met up w/ DH & DD in the recovery room. We had let them know I wanted to BF so DD was given to me pretty quickly. We were in recovery maybe an hr - they kept checking to see if they spinal had worn off and then moved to a permanent room.
The only thing I didn't like was that I wasn't allowed to eat all day and then waited until 3am to remove my catheter (despite the fact that I had peed a ton!!). I'll know this time to request it come out earlier in the evening and will have some easy to eat/digest snacks.
I've had 4 c/s's so far.
#1 ~ I was on meds for PTL. Got up & took meds @ 3am (had to take them EVERY 3 hrs), water broke. She was breech, so c/s was done at 35 weeks & 4 days. They also discovered she had a prolapsed cord, so c/s was a very good thing! I had a spinal, didn't feel a thing!
#2 ~ Stood up & water broke. A quick u/s confirmed he was still transverse, so we did a repeat c/s (rather than go through the pain of attempting to turn him). He was born at 39 weeks and 3 days. Had an epidural this time and had extreme pain/pressure around my pubic bone. No epidurals ever again!
#3 ~ Even though it was 8 years later, having had 2 prior c/s's (and now an artifical hip), VBAC was not an option. We scheduled the c/s for sometime in the 39th week. I really wanted to watch it, so DH opted to stay outside with the older 2 (he didn't want to see it) & a friend came in. After the incision was made, they put the mirror into position and I watched the whole thing (until time to close, then they put the sheet up). I had a spinal & just like the first, didn't feel a thing!
#4 ~ Again, c/s scheduled for sometime in the 39th week. But I was having severe (unexplained) abdominal pain & ended up having her 6 days before the scheduled date. Took me all these years to realize that 4 previous spinal taps done in 1999 caused scarring, so they did the spinal in the space above the usual spinal/epidural site. Spinal took well & no pain during insertion (this time). However, the higher location led to a drop in vitals (I think my BP, but can't remember), but it was quickly taken care of. I also had a reaction to the Duramorph & will NOT be having it this time. It made me itch so badly that I looked like I had a head to toe sunburn (from scratching) for about a week! I also had slight anemia this time around, but that was most likely due to a s/e of having gastric bypass in 2004. **I've always been a poor healer. So when my incision opened 6 days after the c/s (in the middle of the night), I wasn't surprised. I just cleaned up, covered it with a sterile pad & went to the office when they opened. We got it closed up in about 6 weeks, or so. Again, this is not uncommon for me (I've had 2 other incisions open up & not from a c/s).
I'm pretty much a "go with the flow" kind of person. However, the one thing I will NOT budge on is the cathedar. I will not allow them to leave it in the full 12 hours after the c/s. The nurses won't remove it early w/out orders, so I make sure to get those orders before the OB even does the c/s. If I can't pee on my own, then they can recath me. I've never had to be recathed.