General anaesthesia and C-Section

Posted by Babeez (236 days ago)

Hi all,

I am 30 weeks along and because of a spinal injury, cannot have an epidural or give birth naturally. Has anyone had the experience of being completely out and having a C-section. I was really looking forward to holding our baby straight after the birth and had planned on that route all along but not found out the procedure will be different. I am a little scared about being completely out and have been told i might lose more blood than the average woman due to the position of my placenta. Anyone shed and light on any of this or given birth this way? Was it really scary?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by cara (235 days ago)

i had major back and hip problems with my second pregnancy. i was in a wheelchair for the last 4 months of an 8 month pregnancy, so i know where you're coming from.

i was VERY scared to undergo the general rather than an epi or spinal. actually, i was TERRIFIED! but in all honesty, i'd take my second birth experience over my first(c-section with epi! it didn't take and i could feel it) any day of the week.

i was amazed at how quickly i went under. my last thoughts before i went unconscious were,
"God, that stuff acts fast!" and then i was out!

when i awoke i was more thirsty than i can ever remember being. now i know what they mean when they say "dying of thirst". i could only persuade them to wet some paper towel and hold it to my lips.

i remember thinking that the time in recovery didn't take very long, but when they wheeled me past a clock, i saw that i was actually there for 1.5 hours! i thought i'd been awake the whole time, but obviously i was in and out and just not aware of it.

i couldn't see the baby, she was in special care, for about 24 hours. that was a drag. at QMH, they won't bring the baby down to you, you have to go to it, so i had to wait for hubby to come during visiting hours so that he could take me up to her. he was able to take some photos of her for me though on the first day, right after she was born.

the day after i gave birth, i was EXTREMELY tired. i remember having an conversation with hubby with my eyes closed, because i just could not keep them open.

the only formula that the baby had until 6 months was a few feedings in hospital. she must have been fed formula the first day as i couldn't see her. but from day 2-6 months, she only had 2 formula feeds. so, even though i wasn't able to do it immediately, it DID NOT hamper breastfeeding at all.

i know it's easy to say relax, everything will be fine.... but it really will be. and you will have the loveliest little creature you could ever imagine.

good luck!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Babeez (235 days ago)

Thanks Cara,

You have done SO much to ease my mind. I have been having sleepless nights as i read the baby will be sedated too and i was worrying about how long i would be under etc. We seem to be in the same boat, thank God someone else is like me because everyone else is having an epidural.

So how long were you under anaesthetic for? 1.5 hours?

I think our baby will be born early too as my back is getting worse. Were there any side effects on the baby? As for the C-section...how long till you could walk? Were you able/ allowed to shower? Did your backache go after the baby was born?

Sorry, many questions but you have eased my mind so much and our cases are so similar. I can't find a person who has had the same!

Thanks so much x

One more thing..did you stay for 5 days in the hospital or was the stay prolonged by you back pain?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Babeez (235 days ago)

Thanks Cara,

You have done SO much to ease my mind. I have been having sleepless nights as i read the baby will be sedated too and i was worrying about how long i would be under etc. We seem to be in the same boat, thank God someone else is like me because everyone else is having an epidural.

So how long were you under anaesthetic for? 1.5 hours?

I think our baby will be born early too as my back is getting worse. Were there any side effects on the baby? As for the C-section...how long till you could walk? Were you able/ allowed to shower? Did your backache go after the baby was born?

Sorry, many questions but you have eased my mind so much and our cases are so similar. I can't find a person who has had the same!

Thanks so much x

One more thing..did you stay for 5 days in the hospital or was the stay prolonged by you back pain?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by cara (235 days ago)

Glad I could help...

If i remember correctly, I was wheeled into the operating room around 11-11:15am. I delivered at 11:42am. I remember being wheeled out around 12:30pm and asking what time it was. They will tell you the info about your baby and then ask you again a little later to see if you can remember. I was wheeled out of recovery at 2pm. I didn't get to see her until the next day at 12noon, when hubby came for visiting hours. I delivered on Tuesday and was out by Friday. As for showering, I showered as soon as I could possibly handle the pain. I think that it was on Thursday. I know that they want you to walk as soon as possible and I was up and walking the next day, although it was VERY painful. My back and hips have eased somewhat, but i think i'm going to need surgery early next year.

The baby was a little slow at birth. She scored 6 on the Apgar scale at one minute but by 5 minutes she was a 10. My son, born under epi, scored 10 on both.

If you want to chat on the phone, send me PM and I'll be happy to give you my number.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Sarah99 (234 days ago)

Hi babeez

I had a c-section at the QMH - not by choice - it was emergency But I had an epi. my son was born at around 9.30pm I was moved down to the ward around 11pm, the first time I got to see the baby was the next day after they wake all the patients up around 7am. Not sure if this is normal or just because it was night time, but to be honest I was so groggy and out of it throughout the night (although aware of being poked awake every couple of hours for the vitals monitoring! Fun! fun! fun!) that I'm not sure if they had bought him to me earlier I would have been with it enough to hold and feed etc.

I had wanted to do the hold him straight away etc. but as far as I understand whatever pain relief method you have with a c-section they whip the baby away to be checked whilst the see to you. So don't stress too much that you are having a general, the not holding and seeing the baby straight away seems to be part and parcel of having a c-section.

If you do lose a lot of blood during the operation you are likely to be anaemic post op so you'll be given iron fortifier tables (i was) and you may need to stay a couple of days longer than others until they are happy that your iron levels are okay. I ended up being in for a week (what hell all I wanted to do was get home) but that was due to other complications, other people have been discharged as fast as a couple of days after a c-section.

Good luck and try not to stress

Sarah

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Lena HK (234 days ago)

Hi Babeez

There are more of us out there! :) I had an emergency c-section and because of fetal distress there was no time for an epidural so had to go under too. I must admit I was extremely stressed and disappointed about it (after 25 hours of labour) - but I am sure it helps you know about the procedure beforehand.

As for the rest, I can also help ease your mind! I delivered in Matilda and the first thing I remember after waking up, was feeling the baby breastfeed :) I was very sleepy for a few hours but so was the baby - we did not 'meet properly' until a few hours after the birth. The c-section has not hampered BF in any way - he nursed until he was 10 months old.

I was out of bed later that day and showered the next day. Pain was absolutely manageable, especially with some painkillers. It took me a few weeks to get my energy back, but I guess that also happens with a normal birth.

Our baby had a bit of a slow start (7 on Apgar at one minute, 9 after 5 minutes), but that was more a result of being exhausted from the long labour than from the c-section. He is now a very healthy and active 16-month old! :)

Good luck, I am sure you will do fine and so will your baby!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Tinky (234 days ago)

Can't speak for the public system or a general,but my babies were with me from time they were delivered.I would have a very hard time not to see them until the next day(if they were healthy and stable) which is precisely why I choose to go private.

I would think at the private hospitals here that you would see your baby within a couple of hours even with a general.

Good Luck

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Babeez (234 days ago)

Thanks everyone for all the reassuring info. I am feeling much less anxious now. Reading your experiences have really helped and i hope that i can finally get a good night's sleep tonight! :)

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by lmcf (233 days ago)

I had one baby in private (Matilda), and another at public since he was a preemie. The baby at Matilda was an emergency C, and though I did see him briefly (perhaps seconds rather than minutes).... he was whisked away for the placenta could be removed and to finish the C. It was a complicated birth at 6:30 pm, and the baby wasn't even brought to me later that night... since neither of us were in good shape. If I could have gotten out of bed, I would have been able to see him in the nursery. I don't think this is an issue of public or private hospitals, but rather the procedures with complicated births and emergency C (not planned).

Since you will have a planned C, it will usually occur in the AM or early afternoon. With my second one (at public hospital), I was able to be wheeled to the nursery/ preemie unit by late afternoon (you don't have to walk; just be able to get out of bed and into the wheel chair ... but this is not easy the first day). IF the baby had not been in the preemie unit, they would have brought him to me. This was several years ago, but my friend who had a morning C with general about 4 months ago at QMH, saw her baby the same day (morning C), about 4 hours after the operation.

Baby will be fine.... you may be a bit sluggish, but ok by the next day. If baby comes early.... QMH preemie unit is absolutely fantastic.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Babeez (233 days ago)

Thanks Imfc for the info. That helps with me planning my C-section. Maybe i could have mine in the morning too so that i stand a chance of seeing our little girl later on in the day. How far along were you when you gave birth? I am hoping my back holds out to week 36/37 as i read that's what they term 'medically mature'. Can't tell what's round the corner though, but the doc told me to be prepared for an early birth as my back should get worse as muscles begin to loosen more and i carry more weight. Just worried about her lungs and brain development.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by cara (233 days ago)

my girl was born at 36 weeks and spent one night in the special care ward. then she was brought to me (QMH). she's absolutely fine now, you'd never know that she was technically a preemie

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by lmcf (230 days ago)

my preemie boy was born at just 28 weeks to the day; just a bit more than 1 kg. He was given an injection about 2 days before to help mature the lungs. It did help, but he still needed assistance to breath.... but was indepedent by 31 weeks. Fantastic one-on-one care for 2 months in the nicu, ensured that he thrived. He came home at what would have been 36+ weeks. Some bumps along the way, and a bit of time to catch up... but he is 100% fine both physically and mentally.

Usually by 33/ 34 weeks, most babies can breathe independently and will thrive. Baby will just need some extra care, and will reside in the nicu. I think at QMH, if a baby is 35 weeks+, they are just observed for a day and can go to the ward if all is stable.

(I am based in Hong Kong)