Hi there!

I had my 2nd C section now 13 days ago my bubba was a big boy of 10 lbs 13 oz and 40 cm head, so I was advised to have an elective c sect due to not knowing the outcome of trying to birth such a big baby when I am not a big person. And elective c sect's are much safer than emergency c sect's as they are planned for.

With the spinal and epi, my anethisist this time gave me the spinal which worked right away this time, and incase it didnt (didnt 1st time had 3 go's), he still inserted the catheter tube in my back and connected the epidural tube thingy up and hung the thing to put the medication in over my shoulder, he says that alot of hospitals are using this method now so that if the spinal doesnt work, they can always resort to the epi instead of general straight away. I did not need my epidural at all though.

Also during the surgery its very common to have nausea, shaking and passing out and breaking out in hot and cold sweats, My anethesist now says that he gives all women suitable for the medication, some medication to bring blood pressure back up to stop the shaking and passing out and hot and cold sweats, and he also gives most women anti-nausea drugs through IV immidiately when surgery begins, cause apparently too many women get sick and have these symptoms during surgery, and he said its just a horrible way to bring a baby into the worl lying on your back vomiting or passing out, which I thought was very fair. I felt really good after the medication he gave me during the operation cause I was passing out and sweating and shaking. Just if they do go to give you blood pressure medications make sure that your fit and healthy to have it, I started having heart palpatations and needed adrenalin to stay conscious, but after that I was brilliant throughout the whole operation better than with my 1st cause I never received that medication with my 1st one.

So be sure to discuss the effects of the procedure at your pre-op appointment and make it clear you would medications to help you through it if you begin to feel under the weather.

My 2nd c section was a wonderful experience once i had the meds, my 1st was horrible without them, I am successfully breast feeding its not that long from when they pull them out to when they put you in recovery and they put bub straight on the boob, my little boy took to it right away he didnt stop screaming in surgery until we got out and got him on the booby.

Recovery is slow and got to remember to take it easy even on the days you do feel a little better - the day after is the worst getting out of bed to walk takes the wind out of you, but you get pain killers and in the end you do get there!

The main thing is that the surgery was safest for you and your baby!

I wish you all the best with your c section let us know how you went!