C/S & Placenta Question.

Hi. I had an 'emergency' C/S for Hailey and was given an epidural after a 12hr failed induction and am finding I have gaps of knowledge in all the why & how of procedures that were done throughout the labour & c/s (if you don't know, you don't know to ask but I'm certainly becoming more informed for the next time round). Anyway, I was just reading another thread about syntocin and using it to deliver the placenta when I suddenly thought I wonder how they treat removing the placenta in a C/S? I know it might sound like a dumb question but do they just pull it out or wait for it to come away from the wall of your uterus? Why don't OB's de-brief you on all this stuff? :(

That is something I have wondered about as well .

Amygirl - your birth sounds nearly the same as mine - Induction - epidural after 30 hours from first gel, and then c/s 7 hours later! It was amazing to me too that before the c/s I met the recovery nurse, the anaesthetic (sp?) nurse, the anaesthetist, and a about a billion other peoplewho explained what they would be doing - but not the Dr's who did the actual procedure!! Its crazy - but to answer your question - in my case I remember Izzy was out and then I felt pressure at the top of my stomach and it felt like they were being pretty rough and I asked the anaesthetist what they were doing and he said they were massaging my stomach to help the placenta move down and out. I guess they give it a helping hand to come out and I dont think they wait as such because once bub is out they would want to close up as quickly as possible. If Im wrong any Dr's or midwives out there feel free to correct!!

Yeah I remember feeling a bit of weird pressure around my stomach but it was all so fast I didn't ask. I didn't get much explaining at all really. I've certainly learnt to ask more questions now from lots of reading on this site - wish I'd found it beforehand. I was all prepared for a go at a natural birth until the week I was due and the OB told me she was a big baby and due to not having not moved down at all it was 50% I'd need a c/s. I was induced about 5 days later so not much time to let it sink in or read anything - I so regret it but, ah well you live n learn don't you.

I can't believe how much I don't know & need to find out I think. The OB told me he used forceps & Hailey had a bump on her head and bruise on her chin but I was so overwhelmed with everything at the time that I didn't ask about it.................why would they use forceps in a c/s?

Amy girl
YEs your placenta is removed through the incision in your belly.
THe anaesthetist usually gives you synto through your IV - you can discuss this with the anaesthest at your pre-anaethetic meeting with them.
They will need to close you up as soon as they can to avoid infection.
There will still be a little blood built up in your uterus after your belly is sewed up but they will apply gentle pressure to your abdomen to push this out vaginally, it doesnt hurt as you are numb.

hth

Give oxytocin 20 units in 1 L IV fluids (normal saline or Ringer’s lactate) at 60 drops per minute for 2 hours.

Clamp and cut the umbilical cord.

Hand the baby to the assistant for initial care.

Give a single dose of prophylactic antibiotics after the cord is clamped and cut:

- ampicillin 2 g IV;

- OR cefazolin 1 g IV.

Keep gentle traction on the cord and massage (rub) the uterus through the abdomen.

Deliver the placenta and membranes

i googled just then as i was wondering the same thing! and found a web site on how they do c/sections!!

AmyGirl
Sometimes if the baby is in a funny position or is far down in the birth canal they need to be pulled back up into the uterus to get them out? But generally forceps arent used in c/s. Might need to ask your ob why?

This often happens with people that are in labour for hours and pushing pushing but not fitting through the cervix for one reason or another. Also explains why some bubs are born with strangly shaped heads (cones etc).

Maddysmum is correct - sorry it is oxytocin they administer via IV.
Oxytocin helps to contract your uterus.

Oh ok - it was Syntocin they'd referred to in another thread.
Thanks for that Maddysmummy - can't belive they'd have that so detailed on the net.
I feel so stupid for having gone through the whole thing and 2yrs later I'm only just realising all this stuff. I was very poorly informed I think & had no idea what I should've been asking etc.
Yeh, I'll have to ask for my birth notes I think....can you get them this long afterwards? We're wanting to start trying for a second in a couple of months so want to be more informed for next time....hopefully a VBAC but not sure.

It's funny about the forceps because I was told she never engaged even through all the labour.....it makes me wonder how far I'd got by the time they did the c/s because it was an hour waiting for the friggin anaethestist (sp?) & I was under epidural. You gotta wonder when you're told it's an 'emergency c/s' when you wait an 1hr for it to be done. I was in total panic about it and told them to turn the heart monitor off because her heart rate kept disappearing and it stressed me out big time! After 12hrs it I wasn't even 3cm...she was slightly prosterior I was told after the c/s but don't think it was the sole cause of failed induction.

You can get access to your notes at anytime, but you may to fill in forms to gain access to them.
Ask your hospitals admin about freedom of information act and how to gain copies of your notes.

amygirl its amazing what you can find on the internet!!

TELL me about it Maddysmummy!!

PrincessMya - so I would approach the hospital & not the OB's surgery for the notes? I went to a p/hospital. Thanks so much for your input - you sound like someone that is in the industry.

Amy, I recently requested my notes for the birth of my DD, but I was in a public hospital. I went to our local hospital (if you coudl call it that) and they gave me a form to fill out. I took it back, and they verified I was me, signed it and sent it off. Took a couple of weeks though, and the writing is rather hard to understand, but I have them.
I would ring the hospital, and ask them if they have some records. You would think they would have details of what drugs you had, how you progressed, your recovery.

Nic

Amy
The ob and the hospital will keep seperate and different notes depending on your treatment.
However the hospital should have all theatre notes, anaesthetic notes (which will show what drugs in what dosages were given) and correspondence regarding your stay whilst in hospital .
All outpatient documentation would be through your ob if you saw them outside this admission.

Like Nic said, call the hospital and yes you will need to summit forms and it can take a while to get the information but you have a right to see it all. It is all legal documentation that needs to be written and kept in your file.

Hope all goes well..

PM