hi

i just wondered if anyone else has had an emergency c section before? if so what should i expect?

i may have to have one if my placenta goes funny again like it did with my daughter and i dont know what to expect as i have only given birth vaginally before

xx

I had an emergency section. I was being induced with Kaysie Blossom because of my history (pre-eclampsia in all my pregnancies and Honey being stillborn at 36+6 in my previous pregnancy), and after about an hour or two she was getting distressed, a lot of doctors and consultants came and saw and c-section was decided on. I had to get changed into a gown (and hubby got changed in to scrubs), and then walked down to theatre, they sat me on the bed and numbed my back then did the epidural. I then laid down and had the bp machine on (it was going off every ten minutes), they put up the blue screen and spray me a few times with cold water until I couldnt feel them doing it any more, the mw and the the epidural person were talking to me and reassuring me. Within 5 minutes my baby was out and screaming. They wrapped her up (theatre is quite cold) and handed her straight to me I was crying away, and then her dady had a cuddle, the mw took some photos of us all. Then the mw did what she needed to (weigh Kaysie, check her etc), by now it was about 20/25 minutes after Kaysie was born and so I was all stitched up. I was moved to the high dependency unit (there was no recovery room at the hospital so every one goes to the HDU in the mat unit after a section). We got there and we breastfed straight away. Within six hours I was up, washed and walking around so they took my catheta out and moved me to a normal side room.

It wasnt at all traumatic hun, quite calm in fact.

One thing to be aware of is if you need an emergency section, they may dry shave your bikini area so the consultant has a sterile area to work in. Be prepared and take your bikini line right down so you dont have that horrible itchy regrowth to deal with!

They will need all your jewellery off, nail varnish off, and will probably need to ask you silly questions about whether you have false limbs or teeth. This is all normal pre-op stuff. They may give you an injection of Ranitidine just in case you have to have a general anaesthetic (this neutralises your stomach acid)

In theatre, your OH will be sent to change in to scrubs, and will be kept out of the room until you are all set up and ready to go. He can then come in and sit behind the screen set up over your belly.

It can all happen very quickly, but a good midwife will let you know whats happening at each stage

x

My experience was slightly different as my E C-section was under a general anaesthetic. I have no idea what went on in there, but they explained the procedure to me a couple of days prior (as a precaution - I'm glad they did!!)

All the prep was the normal pre theatre stuff and the recovery was brutal! But I believe that can be the case for the ones under a general. I fell in love with the morphine pump!

I wish! They shaved nothing for me and they really should have!

I spent alot of time reading up on what to expect for the birth when i was pregnant.I had heard a lot of bad things about c sections for example the recovery period and how sore etc. So i really was hoping for a normal birth. When i was in labour my little girl became very distressed,when my waters broke they discovered she had poo'd inside me(yuk)They were worried she would swallow it,her heartbeat was difficult to find and kept rising and dropping.It was very scary,and loads of doctors/nurses/Midwives rushed in and decided i had to have an emergency c section.I had loads of people around me,two people removing my nail polish on my toes(they had a foot each) one asking me routine questions,and a few others doing god knows what as it's all a bit of a blur to be honest.When we got into theatre,my OH had to change into scrubs,i had to sit on the bed with my legs dangling off the bed,and hunch my back while they injected the epidural.I was so scared as i'd heard it was a massive needle but i didn't see it and it didn't even hurt!I remember feeling a warm rush shoot down my back,bum legs and then i couldnt move my legs back onto the bed. I laid down,the screen went up and by now my OH was changed and sitting by my side.It didn't hurt one bit,but i could feel something,like tugging but completely painless and at some points it felt like someone washing up inside my belly,but again didn't hurt. I was really calm by this point,and was lying there talking to my OH excitedly waiting for our baby girl.When she was out they cleaned her airways,cleaned her up a bit and wrapped her up,then gave her to my OH.I didn't get to hold her in theatre But my OH held her for the whole time, and it was beautiful to watch how he was staring at her completely amazed and lovingly,like i was too.I was so eager to hold her though so this was the worst part for me,but i know other people who got to hold their babies straight away-i have no idea why i didnt get to.Anyway to cut a long story short,my little girl was born at 12.17pm.At 6pm the same day i was ready to get out of bed,so the midwife removed my catheter and was gobsmacked that i could walk to the bathroom fine.The first night i had a lot of pain,but the midwives gave me pain relief(i'm not sure if this was c section related or just due to having a baby)My stomach was very tender for a few days,but i was able to do everything normally just taking a little care and being a bit slower at moving.After the first 5 days i was pretty much back to normal with a tiny bit of tenderness lasting for a couple of weeks.I enjoyed my c section overall and will opt for one next time.Hope this gives you a little idea of what could be expected,any more questions feel free to ask

I had an emergency c-section with my son. Unfortunately, the epidural only took on one side, so when they saw that my son's heartrate had dropped to 40 bpm, they pulled all the equipment out of the wall, and had me in an OR. From the time they pulled us from the wall and pulled him out it was 8 minutes! I unfortunately never got to hear his first cries because they had to put me under due to the epi not taking on one side, but he's a beautiful, thriving almost 2 year old! The healing process kinda sucked, but I don't even remember what that felt like now!

I had to have an emergency section as i was in hours of labour and didnt dilate and my sons heart rate dropped. I had an epidural before hand so they topped me up and off to the theatre i went.... Im not scaring you but i also felt pain whilst they were inside my stomach my toes were curling and the nurse noticed so i had to be given morphine and gas and air as i was freaking out. Other than that it wasnt too bad!

I had to have a general anaesthetic for my "crash c section"

I had vasae previa with velementous insertion - undiagnosed before my waters broke.
This meant when my waters burst the very thin umbilical cord broke and i started haemorraging and my sons heart rate dropped to 30.THIS IS A VERY RARE CONDITION!!!

The experience was frightening at the time however was the right thing to happen.
I was 9cm dilated and having strong regular contractions when my waters burst in hospital at the same time there was a huge blood loss. within 10 mins i was in theatre having a general anaesthetic. My husband could not come in and sat and waited on his own for news. 10 mins later he had Alex in his arms but could not see me until i had recovered from the anaesthetic.

I had surgery at 0600 on Mon am. Out of bed 0800 the next morning and showering and self sufficient. Home by 1400 on the weds. Recovery from the op was fine and does not put me off having another baby. I have to have a c section every time i have more babies as Alex was intertwined in the umbilical cord and they had to cut my uterus in a weird way to get him out.

Emotionally it has taken me alot longer to get over as I realised how close to losing him I had become after looking more into it.


I cant stress enough as i dont want to frighten anyone this is very rare but just to let you know about my experience of a crash section
You will be well monitored and cared for.
Best of luck

thank you for letting me know.

i am also in a very rare catagory as to the resons why my daughter died. history could repeat itself and thats why i might need a crash c section. its all very scary. i dont think we ever realise before we fall pregnant just how scary it is. i know all too well just how much can go wrong. i guess all we can do is pray for a screaming baby and for it to be healthy

thanks for sharing x

no problem at all - this is the first time i have discussed it on here as do not want to frighten anyone (especially you)

please ask me if you have any questions either on ths thread or via pm
x