what do they give you immediately after the c-section while they stitch you up?

My first c-section was under general, so I don't know how it goes with a spinal/epidural. I'm actually glad I had the general because I was absolutely freaking out about being cut open whilst being awake. Now I've just been reading the thread about routine separation of mother and baby post c-section... and I'm worried about my second C-section.

I just know I'm going to totally freak out lying there for 45 minutes wide awake, fully conscious out while they stitch me up, and on top of that, without being able to hold my little baby OR have my hubby there for support/distraction. That would be like torture to me. I know you can't feel the actual pain, but I don't think I'll mentally cope with what's going on, lying there totally helpless and totally conscious and totally alone (at least emotionally).

Do they give you anything after the baby is out to help calm you down/sedate you?

Thanks to anyone who responds.

The aneastetist's nurse gave me a shoulder massage while they stitched me up and DH and Imran stayed in the room with me.
I found the recovery room worse than the stitching up - I was rather difficult and nagged them to let me out and send me to the normal ward.
It didn't feel like it was 45 minutes to stitch me up but they used the superglue so maybe that's quicker.

I got reassuring smiles and my head rubbed from my hubby :lol: ours was done in emergency situation though so I spose its a bit different.

TBH it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be after NIki was born the rest of the time seemed to fly but I really wasn't "there" anyway. Maybe you'll get to hold your bubbie when they start stitching you up and you will be so in awe of your new baby that you will not notice the time passing.

Nae x

The stitching up bit isnt bad. But man, for me it felt like it dragged a little. But as bron said, i think in recovery was much worse. I was just laying there... Mia was born at 8:08pm and i didnt get back to my room till 10:30pm. Honestly u dont think about what they are doing too much.

Ours was an emergency too with a very sick bub that went to NICU without me being able to hold him.

I was well medicated and not actually aware of the time. My anesthetist just kept asking how i was feeling and topping up various drugs. My OB chatted to me, so did the nurses. DH was with me for some of the time until i sent him off to be with DS.

I seriously wasnt worried about myself as my heart was with my baby.

If you tell the anesthetist how you are feeling going into the procedure and keep then aware of your anxiety etc they will look after you. I felt that they were more than happy to keep dosing me up with a ****tail of drugs. Very attentive to my needs. I didnt once ask for more pain or sedation - they just kept offering or dosing me up.

I was terrified of having an epidural and that was a very smooth and effective thing in the end. Its funny what preoccupies us before hand that doesnt really matter at the time.

Good luck.

Rachel

With a CS they put upo a screen so you can't see what is happening (unless you want to) and you will most likely have an epidural or spinal block which numbs all the pain. You don't really need anything as far as pain relief goes, by that stage you most likely will have your bubs in your arms and your focus will be on bubs, not what is happening down there! It all happens very quickly....

Good luck!

It sounds like it wasn't too bad for you guys...

I feel like I'll be fine if I get to hold baby as I won't be thinking about what they're doing - the hormones that holding baby induces should take care of any anxiety. My main concern was lying there ALONE and fully conscious, with nothing to do but freak out and miss my baby and my hubby (if they kick him out). But from the experiences you've shared it sounds like when they take baby away it's only really while you're in recovery, not while you're being stitched up? Is that right?

Thanks heaps :)

Hi

Im not sure where you are going to get your C-section done. Both times for me, I got to hold my baby the whole time they were stitching me up. My first was emergency c/s and the stitching up for that one was faster than the 2nd one. They had issues with my uterus not contracting properly for my 2nd c/s which was elective, even then I got to hold my baby the whole time. They didnt send my DH or my mum away until I was taken to recovery. DH then took our baby upstairs to be weighed etc and then waited for me in my room.

In my experience, they take took DS straight away after birth (after showing me and DP over the screen) for a few minutes while they checked his airways and cleaned him up a bit and then we got to hold him. DP went with DS while he was being checked. DS was with us in recovery and thats when we had our first breastfeed.

I wasn't really aware of the time but I had laboured for a long time so probably wasn't completely 'with it'. Just let the staff know what you want when you get in there. Unless there is a medical problem with you or your baby, you shouldn't be separated for long and they would have no need to 'kick' your partner out either.

Good luck!

With both of my emergency c/s I have held the baby while they stitched me up with DP sitting next to me. The spinal has blocked out any feeling so you don't need anything else while they stitch you up. It went really quickly - being alone in recovery waiting to get feeling back is longer!

If you are awake for your c/s then your partner should be allowed to be with you. I didn't hold my baby while I was stitched up, but I was kind of groggy from the pethadine I had not long before the emergency c/s so I wasn't too bothered by that.

Did you find you had issues with feeding and bonding after your first c/s? If not then you probably won't this time around. Tell the hospital that you would like to hold your baby straight away though, hopefully they will be able to accommodate your request. Also let them know about your anxieties, I'm sure there is something they can give you to calm you down if you feel you need it.

Also, is another c/s necessary for this birth? I don't know when you are due but if you are really anxious about the surgery and possible separation maybe a natural delivery is an option.

Berrme, I had no problem bonding with baby after the first C-section, we were reunited as soon as the general wore off, and had our first breastfeed with no problems (about 2 hours after he was born). From my perspective, it didn't affect my bonding experience because I was unconscious during the time we were apart, rather than being awake and feeling negative emotions about being separated. I don't know how it affected him but he's certainly fine now - he fed great from day one and he's now 2 years old and we have a great bond.

I think I will cope ok if I do get to hold him/feed him before they take him away, and I'll certainly fight not to be separated at all. I tried to call the hospital's maternity ward today to ask them what the policy is and see what I can do about it, but their line was engaged all morning.

I could try for a VBAC but I've settled on another c-section (the hosp. I'm going to only has a 40% VBAC success rate so I'd just rather cut to the chase). I'm not fussed how he's born, as long as we both survive.

Thanks for replying :)

Fair enough. There is just so much to think about, isn't there?

I hope the hospital comes to the party for you as far as immediate bonding. Even though I don't think my first son has been negatively effected by the c/s and the separation, it was really amazing to hold DS2 straight away. Such a rush of emotions.

Good luck with everything. :goodluck:

I had an emergency c/section and I was on such a high when they were stitching me up, I couldn't take the smile off my face (not sure if it was the epi as it was the first pain relief I had had while labouring or the thought of meeting DS :lol: ) while in recovery I just kept thinking of DS and I got the shakes really bad so was glad DS wasn't there as I probably couldn't have held him.

A friend of mine also had a c/section and freaked out cause she couldn't feel her legs, She knew she wouldn't feel any pain but I think she expected to still be able to feel her legs and was confused that no-one told her she wouldn't feel them.

I haven't revisited this thread for a while... at the time I was very reassured that everyone seemed to have an OK experience and had hubby & baby there for distraction.

However, I have just had my 'preparing for birth' appt with the middy at the hospital and found out that Hubby and baby won't be able to stay with me while I'm being stitched up - they'll be sent upstairs after a 5 minute cuddle and I'll be left alone on the table :(

oops!

Maybe ask her specifically about that - DF and our newborn were with me while I was getting stitched up!

On an aside note, when i had my c/s only 12 days ago while I was laying on the table and looking at the ceiling I noticed a light, similar to that of an emergency exit light you see over doorways on the ceiling, although it had a clear diffuser on it.

The surgeon said "ok, you should just be able to feel something wet on your stomach now, thats just us putting the iodine on it"....i said "um, yeah, I can see that through the reflection on the ceiling" at which point everyone in the room stopped and looked up at the ceiling!

It was quite funny. After all the op's they've had in that room it seemed no one was aware the patient could see exactly what was going on! :lol:

Hi Leesa, yeah I did ask about having the my hubby and baby stay while I'm getting stitched up and the midwife said they don't have enough staff, so hubby and baby have to go upstairs after a quick cuddle. In fact she was trying to get me to agree that it is ok, after I objected a bit. I don't have any further contact with anyone from the hospital until the actual day of my c-section, so I don't have an opportunity to ask if any of this is negotiable... unless I can find a way to get another appointment with someone from the hospital. It certainly sounded like it's not. I've tried calling the midwifery ward but the hospital operator won't put me through.

Does the midwife you spoke to work in theatre? Unfortunately, you can get different stories from different midwifes, even those working in the same hospital. And a midwife who usually works in the ward may not be aware of what happens in the theatre.

Is there a patient advocate at the hospital, or social worker, who may be get info for you on hospital policy, so then you can work out your preferences?

take care

Hi Kate, the midwife I spoke to has worked in theatre but I don't know if she regularly works there....
I wish I'd asked more questions when I was there, dammit.

Maybe write up some notes on what is your best case scenario, what you really don't want to give up, and what you are a bit flexible on. It might help to remember when you get to chat to the anaesthetic dude, ob, midwifes etc who will be helping you out on the day.

hope it all goes well,

k

Hi Kate, I just saw your suggestion about talking to the patient advocate or social worker.. I'll do that. Thanks a bunch, that's a great idea.

I told my obstetrician that I wanted my husband and daughter present in recovery afterwards, and so that's what happened. This was at Frances Perry in Melbourne. I was told that generally their presence would be conditional upon number of available midwives.

Have you determined exactly what hospital policy is? I guess it would vary from place to place. I was quite assertive about wanting them with me...you may have to be, too!