Opting for a scheduled c-section.

[BrandiCanucks]

Aside from being put to sleep and pure chaos, how will it differ from my emergency one? (Cord prolapse)

 

[Septie]

Well, haven't experienced an emergency one...but have had two scheduled ones. The worst bit for me was the needle in the back placed by a resident or student nurse for my first section...Baby comes out pretty quickly into the procedure, and while you can feel shoving and pushing while the doctor finishes your op, you are very focused on baby (I cried when I heard my second's cry!), so it really isn't bad at all. I did briefly feel nausea at the beginning, but told them and they gave me something and it went away.
Hoping for just such a calm experience with my third section next week!!

 

[Kalabear]

I've not had an emergency either but I have had two planned ones. Very calm and easy going. The Drs and nurses were so kind and reassuring. Both times I just enjoyed listening to the Drs talk. They would let me know when baby was about to be born....they would show him to me. They take him away for a couple minutes then straight to my chest for skin to skin.
Hopefully this experience will be calm for you! Congrats on your pregnancy!

 

[Shanslee]

I have had two c-sections, years ago (my two kids are teenagers now). I am currently pregnant with twins and will definitely have another c-section.

One was a scheduled operation, very leisurely and actually fun. The doctors and nurses were joking around, they were telling me everything that was happening. It was so easy and great!

The second one was a bit of an emergency, as I started bleeding heavily during an attempted VBAC. So it was faster, and the doctor and nurses were a little tense. But again, they told me what was happening and that calmed me down.

The worst part for me was the nausea at the start, which was really overwhelming. But the anesthesiologist injected something into my IV and it went away. When they were pushing on my belly and pulling my son out, I suddenly felt as though my blood pressure had gone up...my head was pounding. Again, something in my IV took that edge away. No problems after that at all.

The best part was hearing my babies cry. Each time it was the sweetest sound in the world.

Hopefully your c-section will be calm and leisurely. If so, may you enjoy every last second of it!

 

[lisa1980]

I've had an emergency and a planned section.

The planned one was calmer, leisurely even. No rushing around, no chaos, no fear. Worst bit is the local anaesthetic for the spinal and the cannula but these are both no worse than a blood test imo. They told me what was happening the whole way through, and baby was on my chest for skin to skin less than a minute after birth. Took around 20 mins to be stitched up and then was breastfeeding in recovery within half an hour. I was discharged home the next day.

I really enjoyed the experience. It felt very serene and stress-free in comparison to the emergency section. Plus I had a chance to rest and prepare before the day rather than being in slow, agonising labour for 24 hours beforehand!

 

[minties]

Do you need to be put to sleep for some reason? Or do you mean you were last time and won't be this time?

I had an emergency followed by an elective and can't say that they were really all that different to be honest! The emergency was more of a "this isn't working, you aren't dilating, baby is a bit unhappy" sorta thing. Staff were lovely both times and everyone was smiling and calm. I did get immediate skin to skin with Sophie that I didn't get with Thomas. I think you'll feel much better if you are awake for this one, for sure! It's actually quite a lovely experience I think, I don't feel bad about my sections.

 

[BrandiCanucks]

My son's cord prolapsed so there was no time to get an epidural. They had no choice but to put me to sleep to do the section. I'm opting for a scheduled section this time so I won't be put to sleep.