My c-section: how long it all took

[minties]

I see lots of ladies asking how long a c-section takes on here. I've got my hospital notes and thought I'd write up my own experience.

I had a c-section 1st December 2010, for fetal distress and fetal intollerance to augmented labour. It was labled an emergency c-section, though there were no life-threatening cicumstances and I wasn't rushed off. It was a couple of hours from deciding to have one and when it actually happened.

I already had an epidural placed at 10:30am.

Here is how it reads on my notes:

13:50 - Regional block placed (this was something added to my epidural line in a small room outside the theater)
13:51 -Patient in room (they transfered me to the operating table a few minutes later)
14:03 - Anaesthesia ready
14:03 - Block height TS bilateral to ice. T4 bilateral to touch, bilateral motor block (they rubbed me all over with bits of ice to see how the block was working)
Other: Warmed fluid
Other: Urinary catheter checked
Position: Supine
Position: 15 degrees lateral tilt
Position: Arms on board (they attached a constant BP cuff and I had to keep my arms relaxed and on the table)
Cannulation: IV 16g/5Fr right arm (fluids as I was dehydrated)
Airway: natural
Ventilation: Spontaneous
14:12 - Surgery start
14:21 - Delivery
14:40 - Surgery end
14:47 - Complete (had checked me for pain, and given pain meds through the IV in that 7 minutes).

So the surgery part was really fast! It felt like hours while I was lying there though.

There were 9 people in the room including my midwife and my partner. They were all fantastic lovely people.

I was in recovery by 14:52 and breastfed right away (was latching him as I was wheeled off), so only just over 30 minutes from when he was delivered.

In recovery I had my blood pressure, temperature, oxygen saturation and respitory rate checked A LOT. That was annoying. I felt really shivery and cold. They also kept running ice over me to see how the spinal was wearing off.

So I think that's all the technical stuff covered, I didn't list the drugs used but can do if anyone wants.

I think I had a pretty normal and straight forward c-section. If anyone else wants to add from their notes or experince, that would be cool!

 

[Cupcake19]

I had my notes and a debrief today. Needed emcs due to failure to progress past 8cm, fetal and maternal distress and id also developed a 'severe infection.' I laboured 87 hours in total before having the c section. Mine reads as follows:

3:00am decision for an emergency c section
3:20am arrived in theatre
3:27am. knife to skin
3:28am. knife to uterus
3:28am. baby delivered
3:29am. placenta delivered
4:05am. out of theatre into recovery room
5:10am. admitted to ward

 

[minties]

Thanks for adding your experience as well. They really are a fast procedure. While I was having mine I was sure it took an hour to get stitched, obviously not!

 

[mrsraggle]

I don't have my notes but I did look at the board whilst I was being wheeled to recovery. I got into the theatre at 11am.

Knife to skin: 11.41am
Delivery: 11.51am

I was then wheeled to recovery at 12.30pm.

The actual surgery is crazy quick but I was in the theatre for 1.5 hours.

Mine was elective.

 

[mtemptress]

im not sure about my notes but went in about half 12ish i think im not sure but he was born at 01.23 and best minutes of my life,, they said because baby is emergency section dont be alarmed if it doesnt cry,, i wasnt worried but he screamed his head off lol, my little man was welcomed into the world by the midwife then i managed to touch him wih my fingers due to way i was laid on bed,, got a photo of that in livng room its our 1st family pic,, all the stress was worth it xxx