Anyone had to have a caesarian under general anesthetic?

[Leigh26]

Hi Girls,

I am due to have my 3rd c/s next Wednesday. With DD1 I ended up having an emergency c/s with her at 37 wks after a long labour and because she was majorly stuck they had to cut my uterus in an upside down T shape. I was told I'd only be able to have a c/s from then on due to fear of rupture.

With DD2 my c/s was booked for 38 wks but like DD1 I went into labour naturally at 37 wks. The hospital was short staffed and I laboured for 6hrs before having my c/s which also resulted in my uterus tearing in a + shape.

So now I am due for my 3rd c/s on Wednesday at 35wks 6 days, they want it done sooner rather than later to avoid me labouring again. I had my final appointment at the hospital today and was told I would be operated on by the Director of Obstetrics (he did my c/s with DD2 as well). Because I have major scar tissue inside they have told me I have to have my c/s under general anesthetic as it will be a long and difficult c/s and they don't want to risk the epidural wearing off.

I am totally freaked out by this. I've been put under GA before for 2 D&C's but never for a c/s. I am absolutely terrified that something bad will happen, like me dying or something. I keep looking at my two DD's and crying and praying I don't die. They are expecting a lot of blood loss which may result in a blood transfusion or a hysterectomy if the bleeding can't be stopped. DH can't come in during the operation either.

Have any of you ever had a c/s under GA? Were you nervous etc? I guess I am just after hearing about other peoples experiences too.

Thanks

[maz]

All 4 c/s were under a GA cause my back is so stuffed that the needle cant get between the disc's, we tried and nerve were hit.

I woke in recovery and was given my baby to bf straight away . Ii felt good afterwards and was able to get up and shower straight away.

Only down side is you dont hear their first cry or have DH in with you to cut the cord but hey its a little kick to nothave to go through all the yucky bits

[Arimeh]

Mama Spice had hers under a GA as well

[Astrid]

My second was under GA, both my c-sections were emergency Going in I was in tears, I had not prepared for it and my poor midwife was not either, she had not been to a c-section under GA for 17 years. We had been prepping DH to go into theatre and all of a sudden he was not allowed in. I had some unknown infection and they were not going to stick a needle in my spine due to it.

I have to say waking up from the GA was much better than the c-section with an epi. Once bubs was handed to me, she stayed with me. She was snuck into recovery for me so we could get breastfeeding asap and I held her on the trolley whilst they wheeled me to my room.

I hated the one with an epi, I got bubs for a moment, then she was gone whilst they stitched, I felt so neglected just laying there alone having the shakes and not knowing why. The I did not get to see her again till I was in my room. It was a long wait in recovery.

[~mamaspice~]

Leigh,
Yup I had my CS under a general too. Although I didn't get much time to think about it beforehand as they tried an epi/spinal but kept hitting bone, then they got it in, but couldn't get it to work properly, hence putting me under.

I can understand why you must be feeling afraid with the increased risks of excessive bleeding etc, but just remember you are in great hands with the Director of Obstetrics doing the surgery. And the anaesthietist will be taking extra special care of you also.

Personally, I did feel REALLY ripped off with the fact that I missed bubs birth and first cries etc but should I ever end up needing another CS under a General I would be requesting the following:
* to have bubs birth filmed so I could watch it later
* to have bub with DH at all times
* to have bub bought to me for skin-to-skin and feeding as soon as I woke up in recovery
* to have the placenta kept so it could be shown to me later.
I think all of the above would help me to deal with the emotional aspects better ITMS.

Hopewfully your little ones lungs will be strong enough that she can have skin to skin with you asap when you wake up.

Wishing you all the best. x

[shazzi]

Dear Leigh,

I had an emergency c-section under general when i was 29 weeks with no preparation and it was scary. I understand your fears. I did not go in to labour. I was bleeding, part of my placenta had just come out and my poor little DD's heart was beating at less than half of what it should be. So when they put me under i did not know if DD would make it. I was also scared i would not make it, especially as the doctors did not know if the blood was from me or the placenta. Everything turned out fine, I awoke (yay for being alive) and my DD was as well as could be expected and in NICU (yay again). I did not need a blood transfusion, and I was sewn up nice and neatly. You sound like you are going to have a top team of surgeons on hand that have time to prepare. Try not to worry too much. Easier said than done though I know.

Sending you positive vibes.

[Leigh26]

Thanks for your replies girls, hearing your stories have made me feel a bit better. I am looking forward to not feeling the yucky things you normally feel during a c/s.

MamaSpice - I will definitely ask if it can be filmed so I can watch it afterwards. Even just the part of bub being born. They said DH will be waiting outside and go straight upto special care with bub and stay with it until Im ready. Hopefully they'll bring bub to recovery but if not straight to my room as soon as I get there.

I'm bummed about the whole thing coz this is my last baby and this is the only baby that we haven't found out the sex. I was looking forward to having bub coming out the dr saying its a...... but now I will wake up in recovery still none the wiser.

I told my sister that Im having it under GA and she asked if DH will be telling everyone what we had or if I wanted to hear first. I'm thinking maybe I'd like to find out first, after all its my bub. My mum will be here at my place looking after my girls & I know she'll be dying to know how it all went. She is a massive worrier so maybe DH could ring and tell her, that way the girls will know if bub is a boy or girl.


Thanks again girls, talking to you all on here does make me feel better!!!

[Astrid]

I did not know the sex either, so there were strict instructions about keeping it quiet and it was DH who told me as I woke up. I also had the rule that bubs was not to be put down, she was to be held by either DH or my midwife.

I don't know why, but I was not fussed about missing the first cry etc, I was just glad that both of us were alive and well. There were major concerns for DD. In one way it was good that I was out, as she had to have a drip in her arm and lots of blood taken, along with a heap of IV antibiotics. DH was there and he said it was not pleasant

Good luck with it all. At least with prior knowledge you can prepare for it.

[maz]

Leigh - dont get to excited about having the birth filmed....the operating theatre is run by the anethatist so he/she has the say about photo's and taking footage. I waant permitted to do so as 2 of mine were emergencies and my last was tramatic so there was no 'time' for pics let alone video photoage. Ive also been told that video photoage isnt favourable with many surgeons because it can be used as evidence if something goes wrong KWIM
J man was permitted to come intro theatre with mario after I had been placed under....have a chat beforehand with the anethatist and ask if he can come in.
When I had my 3rd c/s I woke up and had no pain what so ever....it felt like I had gone for a sleep and woke up to a baby with no pain nothing. Was fantastic. And be prepared that bub might end up in special care nursary as they also recieve some of the GA and arent as actively awake as a normal c/s

hon

[Leigh26]

Thanks Maz, I'm not getting my hopes up about the video and photos. I honestly don't think they will let me. They've told me how complicated the c/s will be so I doubt there will be time, but no harm in asking. Bub is being born at 35wks 6days so I am predicting he/she will be in special care for some time regardless of the birth, I just hope I get to see bub soon after I wake up. I breast fed DD1, bottle fed DD2 but really want to give breast feeding a go again with this baby so hopefully we can give it a go not long after its born. As long as bub and I are healthy that's all I really care about!!!

[Leigh26]

Astrid - I missed your post. I'm a major worrier and after hearing what a hard time they had with my c/s with DD2 and what they were talking about it will probably be best that I am knocked out too. At least then I wont see or hear what is going on. If my baby is in poor condition when born then its best that I don't see all that. I am trying to look at the GA as being a positive thing in some way or another.

Plus I keep thinking to myself that its a bit of extra sleep that i will get before the bub is born and my life turns hectic

[shazzi]

Dear Leigh,
If your bubs needs to be in special care and cannot go straight to you after you wake up they will take a photo or two. Whenever the babies go to NICU or special care they get the baby stabilized and then take some photo's with a polaroid. So when I woke up i was able to see two photo's of my little girl before drifting back off to sleep. As soon as you and baby are both able you will be able to try breast contact. At that gestation your bubs should have a suckling reflex unless there are other complications i reckon you will be fine. I was able to get my DD home fully breast feeding after 6.5 weeks in hospital without ever using a bottle or formula and DD was 10 weeks early.

[RoyaUK]

Hi Leigh,

I'm sorry to hear you've had difficult experiences of giving birth so far. I also had an inverted t incision after my 2nd c-section. I have ended up with having 3 (emergency) c-sections and knowing that the 3rd baby would be my last it really helped to be able to have as much control as possible in the situation. I believe this helped me to deal with the disappointment and grief that i'd never have a normal birth.

So perhaps have a think about breastfeeding, as you said it's important to you, and how you can prepare in case there is a delay in getting to bubs. If there is going to be a delay you may want to think about being prepared to express as soon as you are able to after birth and every couple of hours after that to stimulate milk supply and provide colostrum to your baby. And make sure the medical team know your intentions too so they can be prepared to support you. You can contact the ABA for some more information i'm sure.

After my last c-section i had DD3 in bed with me the whole time after the first few hrs so i was able to do lots of skin to skin and feed her often. I know this really helped with my feeding plus i didn't have to ask for someone to lift DD3 out of the crib for me, i was a little more independent.

I personally also was really interested to see my placenta having never seen it before so it was brought to me the next day for us to have a look at.

I guess there are some things you can control and we have to let go of the things we can't. So much easier said than done.

Best of luck for the birth of your little one and a speedy recovery.

[Glamourcide]

I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for the awful experiences you've had before, and that I wish you all the best this time around - I really hope that you can achieve the best birth you can get under the circumstances *hugs*.
My brother and I were both born via c/s under g/a, me because of 'too-small hips' (mum's barely 4' tall and I was born 8lb 1oz, but then this was 24 years ago and I guess the Drs were just doing what they thought was right), and my brother was an emergency c/s as he was premature and born with fluid on the lungs (and was transported by plane from Cairns to Brisbane within hours of birth, mum didn't get to see him until a few days later when they sent her down to Brisbane as well). She doesn't talk much about her births (like getting blood out of a stone when I was pg with my girls and wanted to know about her experiences) so I guess maybe she was traumatised by our deliveries, unfortunately, but in the long run it all turned out okay... I think it's great that you're looking for as much leeway as you can get in order to have a desirable birth experience, I really hope that it all goes well for you Good luck!!

[rhyb]

My girls were a c/s under GA. They knew I was going to hemorage and that possibly a hysterectomy was how it would end. I was very lucky in how it went and afterwards my girls went straight to SCBU/NICU. Im a different case though as I didnt get to visit my 3 for a day and a half due to I lost 2.5L of blood and them being unsure if I was up to visiting my DDs (they couldnt leave SCBU/NICU).