My method of delivery for my first child (baby boy)will be via a c-section?

Question

Due to the fact that my cervix will be too small and my baby too big, i've been told that i won't be having a vaginal birth but that I would be delivering my baby via a c-section in two weeks. My fiancee and I will be meeting with an aenesthesist in 1 weeks time to discuss the procedure. What i would like to know is if it's safer to be put totally asleep for the c-section or only half way? I have a general idea of how it's going to be from searching the web, i would also like to know about the recovery from a c-section and read from couples or moms who have had c-section

Answer 1

I've had three C-Sections.  As far as the recovery-everyone is different.  It depends on circumstances related to your body and where you were cut (not just vertical vs horizontal...but if horizontal-how far up or down your tummy).  I actually have three scars because each baby was in a different position-although all were breech.  

I had my first c-section under general anesthesia because of my nerves.  This was my second baby.  The first baby I had vaginally and none of the epidurals worked.  I didn't trust them.  Drawbacks to a general are when you wake up you get all the pain at once before the pain meds kick in and also you're not awake when the baby is born(husband can't be with you either).  The last two I had epidurals (again didn't work) and a spinal block.  It took and I could actually feel my legs just enough to transfer onto the table plus it was less painful-for me at least.  Like the other person said you are numb from under your b*****s and down.  I wasn't in as much post-op with the two spinal blocks as well but that could have been just me.  With the general it took me five days before I could move and even then it was very carefully.  A bit of advice that someone told me after I had my first c-section is start moving your legs as soon as you can.  You can start after the delivery but they will fuss for you to be still.  Between moving as soon as I could and the spinal block the last two were a piece of cake.

I was up and about moving normally after two days.  My last c-section was 12 years ago so I'm sure there are ways they know now to make it easier for you.  Try not to worry-everything will be OK for you and your little one.

Congratulations and best wishes

Answer 2

I have had three c-sections.  I had a spinal (all of them) to numb my pelvic area so that I couldn't feel anything, but I was awake.  I could feel pressure, but no pain.  The anesthesia did make me itch afterward for which I was given benadryl, and I was also given a medicine to stop me from getting sick.  The recovery wasn't bad.  My stomach muscles were sore, so it was a little hard to move for a few days.  THe best advise I can give you is to make sure that you get up out of the bed as soon as you can.  The longer you wait, the harder it is to get up (because of the muscle soreness).  That was really the only bad thing about it.  As far as the rest of the recovery it was just like with any other illness or surgery.  You will be sore, tired, and weak.  I remember not being able to lift a gallon of milk.  It all comes back with time (4wks?). Good Luck

Answer 3

well when i had this operation my whole body was asleep except my  head and arms it was a weird sensation and a tad embarrassing but that's over with. but it was good as i got to see my bubs before i was sent back to the ward. but as they whisked the baby away with my partner i  cant remember the rest being stapled up as i probably went back to sleep i cant remember that bit it was ages ago now anyway. i slept at least half the day away then the nurses expect you to get out of bed straight away, but i decided to take my time as i hate pain. and then it wasn't as bad as i had thought but there is a 6 week order of light duties as it is an operation and it is the only real holiday you will get for at least 16 years so enjoy it. i hope i helped you out. take care as then your partner learns to bathe bubs for the first time yay. oh and if you have any issues with midwives speak up as some of them are very negative.and always keep bubs in your room as that is the bonding timedintt send bubs to the nursery as you cant sleep and you pine for them as new mums tend not to trust anyone.

Answer 4

Unless you have a specific medical issue, it's much safer not to have a general anaesthetic. Most C-sections (at least here) are done under epidural. The needle in your back is scary, but it doesn't hurt and it works well. And of course if you are awake you can see your baby quickly afterwards, and your partner can hold him right away.

Recovery - well, in the UK you can't drive for 6 weeks. I do remember that even when I started to drive again I was still a bit stiff and sore and weak. It is a major operation and looking after a new baby is far from ideal recovery from a major operation. Don't expect to be fine quickly afterwards. But you will be fine eventually.

Answer 5

My first child was born via emergency c-section because after 36 hours, labor failed to progress and baby was in distress.  They gave me a spinal, which numbed me from the neck down.  Thus, I was cognizant during the surgery, but of course, couldn't feel anything.  This was back in 1982 and they kept me in the hospital for 8 days!!  Recovery is much slower than a regular vaginal delivery, but they get you up and moving much sooner these days and that really helps in the recovery process.  Happily, I was able to deliver my subsequent children vaginally.  In comparison, those were some speedy recoveries!  :)

Best wishes to you and congrats on the baby boy!

Answer 6

I have not had a cesarean but had to consider one very carefully when I was pregnant with my son.

It is safer for the baby for you to have the epidural or spinal block. They reserve putting you out completely if it is going to be an emergency or you aren't coping.

Recovery time can differ greatly, some are fine within 2 weeks other say it is months before they feel right again. You will have driving and lifting restrictions and will be on pain meds for a while after the op.

Hope that helps.

Answer 7

I am a mother of 3 and i have had 3 c-sections. I would have them do the anestesia that only numbs the lower half of your body. It is much more risky to but put totally under and not only that but when that baby boy is born, you won't be able to even see him if you are totally out! Recovery from a first c section can be h**l, i'm not going to lie to you. I walked around like a hunch back for about a week before feeling comfortable enough to walk totally erect. The good thing is you won't be feeling labor pains. Many people envy this.lol. Going to the bathroom will be kinda painful at first too. I suggest you talking with your doctor about removal of catheter as soon as you can get up to use the restroom. Also if you are breast feeding and are drinking alot of fluids your iv should be removed too or you may swell up really bad like i did with my second child. I would recommend NOT having them put morphene in with the medication they use to numb the lower half of you. Again with my second one they did this and i was itching for a day and a half from it. If you are breast feeding try putting a pillow over your stomach while nursing that always helps, and while laying in the hospital bed, sit upright, it releaves the pressure and makes it easier to get up. On a good note... Second and third c-sections are cake walks compared to the first. They don't hurt nearly as bad and you seem to recover alot sooner. My last one i was walking up and down steps and doing laundry the day i came home! Good Luck!

Answer 8

I answered a question very similar the other day and I had a very similar experience to you. Here's the answer I gave sorry it is long... I tried to include EVERYTHING that happened

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I don't know what variation there is in the procedure from place to place but here is my experience:

I found out the day before I had the caeser that bubs was still breech and was booked in the following morning as I was already full term. They gave me the paper work to fill in the night before (lots of questions about your medical history basically and a consent form). When I got to the hospita, I was taken into a small room to have a monitor placed over my belly to check bub's heart rate and monitor and contractions (It was really interesting. I'd had a few mild braxton hicks to this point but once I had that monitor on I could see the contractions even when I could not feel them but after about half an hour I could feel them. I don't know if they were getting stronger or whether it was because I knew they were happening but they actually started to get a bit painful). Anyways, in the small room, a nurse went over my paperwork, I had to take off any jewellery, had the IV (drip) inserted, put on a hospital gown (so attractive) and waited for about 2 hours (all while the monitor was keeping an eye on bubs. They gave me a brief run-down of what would happen too. In this room, hubby stayed with me the whole time and various family members were allowed to pop in a few at a time.

Finally, they came and got me in wheelchair... I think more to protect my modesty while I was in the hospital gown. Hubby left at this point to go put on his scrubs and I was given a hair net.

I walked from outside the operating theatre to the table ... everyone was trying to help me cover up which I thought was funny,... it was just all the hospital staff who were going to see me half naked anyways. So into the operating theatre and up on to the table. Had to sit on the side and hunch over a pillow to open up the spaces in between the vertebrae of my lower back. They gave me a local anesthetic which kind of stung. (I almost started crying at this point cos I was sososososo scared of the epidural... I had always said I didn't want one). Once the local anesthetic kicked in I had to hunch over again and stay relaxed (the sting from the local made me tense a bit but it is very important to stay relaxed when the do the spinal block). THey did the spinal and it did not hurt at all. Just felt like someone poking me quite firmly in the back. They then helped me turn around and lay on the bed as I was already losing the use of my legs. They shaved the top of my pubic hair (yay fun LOL) and I think it was around this time that hubby came back in all prepped. THey used a clamp thing to show me that I wouldn't feel any pain... they clamped in to my upper body where is stung a tiny bit (not bad though) then clamped it lower and lower to make sure the epidural kicked in in the right place.. I couldn't feel anything from just under my b*****s down. THey then inserted a catheter (actually they did that before hubby came back).

The whole time I had an aneasthesist next to me telling me exactly what they were doing.... he said... ok your just going to feel a bit of pressure on your lower abdomen then about 2 minutes later he said "how does that feel" I said "fine" he said "good cos they cut you open like a minute ago!!"

About 30 seconds later I heard a big gushing sound as they sucked the amniotic fluid out then they pushed around a bit to get bubs out and then... we had a little girl less than 5 minutes after they started cutting. They lowered the curtain a little bit to show us then whisked her to the table to make she was ok and wrap her up warm and cut the cord (which hubby was able to do). THey wrapped her and bought her over for our first cuddle. I had her for about 5 seconds when I had to throw up so hubby took her while I did that and they gave me some meds to stop the vomiting. We had about 5 minutes of cuddle time while they stitched me up (but I was totally unaware that that was happening as my attention was elsewhere)_ and hubby took little Lucy while I was taken to recovery where I stayed for about 45 mins to have my temperature, blood pressure constantly checked and whether the epidural was wearing off .Finally they wheeled my up to my room and hubby came with bubs and we had our first feed and then we were left alone for a while.

I had regular checks over the course of the day and the next day they removed the catheter and was able to get up and have a shower. I was ok on my legs and the pain wasn't too bad.

as soon as the epidural wore off I was encouraged to sit up in bed. I was surprised at how hard this was as you have NO core strength.

I was given regular pain meds and never really felt too sore. The morphene made my mouth itchy and often woke myself up scratching the roof of my mouth.

I suggest having an idea

Answer 9

they normally don't put you totally to sleep for any reasons, one if something happens during the operation and two for bonding as they want to put baby on your chest straight away for bonding for you both. as for recover well that's a very individual thing, normally though your fully recovered from it after 10 weeks, that's when you can go back to exercising and s*x.lol...

for about 4 weeks after the opp tho you will be very sore and wont be able to bend over, lift or even pick your own baby up as your muscles will be hurting too much, a few friends of mine have had c sections due to complications and have told me this, there husbands had to take unpaid leave off work to stay home with them and do everything, as your basically bed/sofa ridden for a good week.

Answer 10

Before doing ANY more research on the c-section, I would get a second opinion as to whether or not you actually need one.

Your cervix is 'too small?'  I've never heard of such a thing. Your cervix, at present, is closed, and ALL cervixes open to about 10 cm. over the course of labor.

  And there is NO way to know if a baby is 'too big' to be delilvered vaginally without actually trying.  Your pelvis expands during labor, and baby's head can get squeezed quite a bit.

Unless baby is in immediate and dire distress, you ALWAYS have a choice as to whether or not to have surgery -- and with two weeks to go, you have plenty of time to investigate your options and decide IF a planned c-section is the best route.  (If you try to deliver vaginally and it doesn't work out, you can and will have a c-section at that point -- and the labor will have been good for your baby.)

(And no, they don't use general anesthesia for c-sections unless it's an emergency and there is no time to do a spinal.  Locals are safer for you and for baby.)

But please get a second opinion before subjecting yourself and your baby to probably  unnecessary surgery.

Answer 11

I had a c/section with my first. It was an emergency after 36 hours labour. I had an epidural in place already which was good. I was awake for his birth and wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Any general anaesthetic carries risks to your health and there are instances where it doesn't work properly and you can feel pain.  I would go with an epidural if you can.  

You should be able to walk about as soon as the numbness wears off although you may have a catheter in for a while. I had a diclofenac suppository for pain relief as it really hits you after the epidural wears off.  

Actual recovery from a c/section takes a few weeks. You will be sore for a week until the stitch(es) come out. I had one long sort of metal clip. You have to rest a lot, my midwife told me off for taking the baby upstairs to change his nappy, made me bring a duplicate set of nappies etc into the living room.

Hope everything goes OK for you and the baby.

Answer 12

hi,

i had csections with both my lo , & i will admit its a really daunting process but wot u need 2 remember ur in good hands at all times.

i was awake during both & had a spinal epidural which meant i was numb frm my chest to my toes!! but it wore off within 4hrs!!

the docs & nurses in theatre will talk u through everything thats happening as your going thru the procedure!!

the recovery can take anything from 2days to 6weeks but i was on my feet the day after each section .

good luck n try not 2 stress xx

Answer 13

Truthfully, I think it was GREAT to be able to be fully awake when I had a c-section.  Since I had an epidural, it had made me completely numb and they didn't have to do anything else.  It was one of the greatest experiences in my life being able to see my baby right after they took him out.

I don't really think it's safer either way.  As long as you are numb enough, it shouldn't be a problem.  I would suggest, if you want to be awake during it, to get an epidural.  

The recovery, it seems, is longer than a vaginal birth.  My c-section was my first child, so I wouldn't know that for a fact, but my sister told me c-section is longer (she had 1 vaginal and 1 c-section).  I had a hard time especially the first week I was home.  After that it got a little easier to be able to do things.  But it still took a while before I was able to do heavy lifting and even vacuuming.

C-sections are wonderful because my baby and/or I would have died if they weren't available.

Good luck and hope your c-section, the healing and everything goes great!