C-section due to heart condition.

[baby9]

I am due to have a csection during the middle of May at 38 weeks. I have told my consultant I would like to stay awake for the procedure so he has offered me an epidural. However, he only works on a Tuesday and if the section is booked for any other day yhen I will be put to sleep.
Just wanting to hear experiences from people (whether awake or asleep during the procedure). How did you find it? Was it painful? How was recovery? And for those who were askeep, do you feel that you missed out at all?

 

[LDC]

I am due to have a csection during the middle of May at 38 weeks. I have told my consultant I would like to stay awake for the procedure so he has offered me an epidural. However, he only works on a Tuesday and if the section is booked for any other day yhen I will be put to sleep.
Just wanting to hear experiences from people (whether awake or asleep during the procedure). How did you find it? Was it painful? How was recovery? And for those who were askeep, do you feel that you missed out at all?

Hey,

I had an epidural and found the experience very positive. I couldn't hold LO straight away but I was tired and couldn't move much and it was nice for OH to have the time to hold her.

The operation wasn't painful, I could feel them pulling but that was all and it wasn't horrible. LO was in the pelvis so they had to pull a bit harder to get her out, but again still not painful.

My recovery was great, painful for the first three weeks then I picked up quickly after that . I still get some pulling now though if I lift something very heavy. It's the bending and getting up off the bed/sofa that's hard. Oh and coughing hurts!!

Good luck, you'll be great xx

 

[darkriver]

Hey I am having a csection due to a heart problem, but not until september. I hope that I dont get put to sleep as I dont want to miss the birth.

 

[CertainTurton]

Hi,

I had an elective c section due to health issues and had to be put to sleep. I had no choice in the matter as i wasnt allowed a spinal. However it was a positive experience.
I had a canuala put in and went into the prep room, I had lots of people fussing around which was strange and the catheter wasnt much fun i will admit but not too bad. Then I felt the anasthetic go in (cold up your arm) and someone pressed on my throat (felt odd but its to stop you being sick). Then the next thing I knew i could hear my LO crying
I was able to hold her within half hr of her being born. Although I do have to admit, I dont really remember the first bit...apparently I was saying 'dont cry baby' before i held her but dont remember it. My DH was having skin to skin with her when she was just 10mins old...he loves that, although she did try to latch on to him
I was groggy for a while and had more pain relief (IV) than you would if you had a spinal because the pain comes back much quicker so you dont have time to adjust, but I found that good...I could control it. Recovery seems to have been the same as any one elses c sec bit painful but manaable if you rest.

I will admit that occasionally when people are talking about their contractions I feel a little sad, and a little sad that i didnt hear the'1st cry' but tbh you wouldnt get contractions any way with a c sec (and it always was going to be that) and tbh some of my friends had awful vag births and had to go to theatre so didnt see their LOs for hours...and were too spaced out to be aware of the birth so really it doesnt make any difference. In the long run, you have your baby safely for you and them and thats the main thing
Good luck and I would say, just go with what happens with your date...my date changed 5 times due to problems near the end so you never know