Hi Cara.
I'm in for my 5th Elective C-Section next week.
My first was due to my baby being in extended breech position, and she could not be budged. I was booked in for exactly 39 weeks.
We arrived at hospital at around 7.30am, we were shown to a room where we would return once baby had been born (My hospital no longer puts c sec ladies in private rooms, wards now, but it was private rooms at the time). We dropped our bags off etc and sat down waiting around.....a few emergencies went in first, so out of all 4 (so far!) this was the longest we waited.
I was visited by people who would be looking after me that day, including the Midwife, she was lovely, did the usual pregnancy observations and checks, chatted with me and made me feel at ease. The anesthetist came to see me, and talked me through his role, he was great and I felt much better after I spoke to him. The surgeon scheduled to perform my c-section also came to see me, and again, I felt much better.
At 11.20ish am I was told they were ready for me. I was in a hospital gown at this point, with dressing gown on and I walked down to theater with my husband, the midwife I had already met, and a student midwife, we laughed and joked in the lift on the way down, my baby had hiccups and I rested my hand on top of her head which could easily be felt from the outside, right under my ribs!!! and thought how this would be the last time I would feel her hiccupping inside me....
In theater it was all systems go, there were a lot of people, which was probably the only thing that unnerved me, but the local radio was on (I was asked if this was OK) and every member of the team had a job to do, despite it being so busy, it was so organised and so smooth, if that makes sense?
My husband got into scrubs and I had a blood pressure cuff put on my left arm, along with a cannula into my hand, left too, and a finally a pulse monitor on my finger, again left side. This is the side the anesthetist sat.
Next was the spinal, this was probably the most uncomfortable bit, you had to sit, heavily pregnant on the edge of the bed and attempt to lean forwards! It took a few minutes to site correctly but once in, was fine. You are then layed down, and they test thoroughly to make sure you are numb. For me, from the boobs down! Someone puts a catheter in once you are numb, super glam! But you feel nothing. Then the procedure starts. My situation as previously mentioned, was planned, not emergency, and after knife to skin, baby was out in 3 minutes! She was held up for me to see, wrapped and warmed up, and passed straight to husband who was sat on my right. We stared at her, cried, and kissed her whilst I was stitched up. This bit took about 30 mins but you are so engrossed in your baby it doesn't feel it.
During the whole procedure the anesthetist is very vocal and supportive, if you feel sick, they can add something to your cannula and you instantly feel better. The Midwife was brilliant, held my hand and answered my questions, I asked have they started etc, and she told me what I needed to know.
After all stitched up I was in recovery room for all of 20 mins, and then back to to my room to spend some time with hubby and baby.
Yes there was scary moments, and lots of tears, but good ones! But the whole "planned" experience was fabulous and the team around me were a huge part of that.
I hope this helps you to feel a little better.
Lise x
