The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

DD was not an elective or planned c-section. There was a situation which deemed it necessary. Due to similar complications, it's best for baby and me to have another section.

With that said, I got a letter confirming my date at NSUH. I noticed I have to do pre-op testing???? What are they doing? Will they not be poking me with enough needles the next day during the section?

Overall, how does this work? Last time I got an epidural a few hours into the induction. This time do they give an epidural as soon as you get there? Are there other anesthesia options? (epidurals still skeeve me out!), when do they place the catheter? I got the cath after the epidural was placed the last time so I had minimal discomfort. Is it the same? If people who have had both unplanned followed by a planned section and can help me understand how this will be different and maybe even how I can prepare myself best for this surgery - it would be greatly appreciated. I've been dreading the section for a long time now, and now I'm just almost panicked!

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

i haven't had a c-section (still pregnant with first baby) but i've had pre-op testing for another surgery. all it is is a check-up to make sure your body is ready for surgery. they check urine and blood, your blood pressure, heart rate, check your lungs for breathing well, etc. it's a basic check-up to make sure your body can physically handle surgery and anethesia.

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

Like you, I was TERRIFIED of my 2nd c-section. I hated the first one, but I have to say, the experience was much better overall. You can read my 2nd birth story in my profile.

At the pre-op, they do all the things Donegal described.

I had a spinal as opposed to the first time which was an epidural. The spinal block is just a series of shots in your lower back; the epidural uses a catheter in your back. The Foley catheter should be inserted after you're numb on the table.

Otherwise, as I said, check out my birth story!

Oh yeah, and definitely bring a small photo album of your older DC. My DH flipped through it during the operation and it REALLY calmed me down and made me realize what the whole thing is about, after all!

Message edited 7/3/2009 2:28:03 PM.

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

My pre-op was the same day as my c-section at NSUH (Manhasset) on 4/20, they didn't ask me to come in prior....maybe it's a busy day and they want you all ready to go, they actually bumped my time up the day of I was scheduled in the late afternoon and they called around 10:00 am and said get here asap since they had an opening

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

My first c-section was an emergency and in 3 weeks I'm having my second c-section. I'm also having it at NSUH and have to be there 2 hours prior to my scheduled section. They told me that I'll be checked out and have my blood taken. It's considered major abdominal surgery so they have to do pre-op when it's scheduled.

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

I had a scheduled c-section and I had to go a couple of days prior to the scheduled date to fill out the paperwork, bloodwork, etc. Since it's a scheduled surgery it's like any other surgery. They do that for ALL surgeries not just c-sections. I asked for the earliest appt. I arrived there 15 minutes early because they actually schedule SEVERAL people for the same time frame. So I was first in line and I did not have to wait for other patients.

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

Posted by Eireann

Like you, I was TERRIFIED of my 2nd c-section. I hated the first one, but I have to say, the experience was much better overall. You can read my 2nd birth story in my profile.

At the pre-op, they do all the things Donegal described.

I had a spinal as opposed to the first time which was an epidural. The spinal block is just a series of shots in your lower back; the epidural uses a catheter in your back. The Foley catheter should be inserted after you're numb on the table.

Otherwise, as I said, check out my birth story!

Oh yeah, and definitely bring a small photo album of your older DC. My DH flipped through it during the operation and it REALLY calmed me down and made me realize what the whole thing is about, after all!

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

Posted by dm24angel

Posted by Eireann

Like you, I was TERRIFIED of my 2nd c-section. I hated the first one, but I have to say, the experience was much better overall. You can read my 2nd birth story in my profile.

At the pre-op, they do all the things Donegal described.

I had a spinal as opposed to the first time which was an epidural. The spinal block is just a series of shots in your lower back; the epidural uses a catheter in your back. The Foley catheter should be inserted after you're numb on the table.

Otherwise, as I said, check out my birth story!

Oh yeah, and definitely bring a small photo album of your older DC. My DH flipped through it during the operation and it REALLY calmed me down and made me realize what the whole thing is about, after all!

Thanks...I am too a bit anxious about a scheduled C/S ( my first was an emergency one)..reading your story helped.

Message edited 7/3/2009 9:42:00 PM.

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

Can I also just make mention - I was trying to research my anesthesia question when I came accross some disturbing info regarding planned c-sections. Has anyone read posts on other sites, like WebMD about reasons NOT to elect a c-section? I hate when some (who may even not have ever had children or who were lucky enough not to have any medical complications in their lives) say people do it b/c it's "convenient". Convenient??? 3 weeks (or more for a lot of us) of horrible pain, 4 days in a hospital - are they kidding? Sorry, I just read some of the pro- VBAC stuff on there and it made me upset. I've questioned what to do for months now. DH just tells me it's what is best for me and the baby and I can't be induced again b/c of the previous c-section, so it's really taking some unnecessary risks on my life and the baby's. One poster on WebMD made the comment that if you can't deal with the "inconvenience of L&D" then maybe you shouldn't have a child. Sorry, it made me want to cry to read that. Does it really matter to people how babies are born? I took painful injections to my stomach for 9 months both pregancies... to now say someone who does that is looking for an "easy way out" is just pathetic! I feel so blessed to even be pregnant. To rely on "nature" would have meant for me - probably 2 miscarriages or maybe I just would have had a Pulmonary Embolism during my first and both the baby and I could have died... instead b/c of synthetic drugs (the unnatural) I'll have 2 beautiful babies. I have 3 genetic blood clotting mutations that I did nothing to cause. It was "nature". Sorry, sometimes the "all natural" revolution just goes too far.

Sorry for sounding off, I hope I'm not offending anyone, it wasn't my intention on this thread, but figured since I posted about the topic, it may be something other's find sad, irritating, etc. If I'm out of line, please accept my apology in advance. Maybe I'm just a hormonal mess who is freaking out about an upcoming c-section .

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

Answers posted after the questions...........

With that said, I got a letter confirming my date at NSUH. I noticed I have to do pre-op testing???? What are they doing? Will they not be poking me with enough needles the next day during the section? I no longer even remember what they did during pre-op testing, except that I needed an amnio because I was delivering at 36 weeks. There were medical reasons that I could not go beyond 36 weeks. You would only need an anmio if your scheduled C-section has to be fairly early (before about 37 weeks, depending on hosp. policy).

This time do they give an epidural as soon as you get there? When I got there they did a few things in a triage room. I had one last sonogram and they checked the baby's heart rate. That may not be normal but my baby had been having a slow heart rate on previous tests. They took me to an OR when the OR was ready, which was quick. Only then did I get the spinal. They would not have given it if they thought there was a chance that I would be waiting around a while for the doctor or for an OR.


Are there other anesthesia options? when do they place the catheter? They did not place my catheter at a time when I could feel it.

I only had one C-section and it was planned so I can't fully compare unplanned to planned. One very important piece of advice is to pay no mind to anyone who comments about your need for a C-section. Going into labor could have killed me and the baby and I did not want to talk abut it with every person who felt that they knew better than the team of doctors who had been telling me that for years even before I got pregnant.

I have heard that the recovery from a planned C-section is so much easier than recovering from a C-section that you have after having been in labor.

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

With any kind of planned surgery they have to take your blood to see if you have a clotting disorder.

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

ok, i had one unplanned and one mostly planned. second was scheduled, but the date was moved up because i was having other problems, so i went from the doctor's office to the hospital. but i wasn't in labor at the time and knew the c-section was a guarantee.

with that being said... i went to the hospital and checked in. waited a while to do that. then was taken to L&D. got into the hospital garb and was put on the monitors. hung out for a while. (my doc wasn't schedule for surgery that day, one of the others was, but since i was going in kind of last minute and it was late, they kind of slowed things down so she could finish seeing people in the office and come over.) anyway once she was there and they were ready for me, i walked from the room into the OR... which was right next door. i sat on the table, and the gave me the epidural. (i believe its still a catheter into your back, not shots) but its more drugs so you get numb higher up. they had me lie down, and got me ready for the procedure. i know the anasthesiologist told me to let him know if i got nauseous or anything. they did the c-section (had my tubes tied at the same time) and when they were closing everytihng back up i started throwing up, no warning. i had an iv, so the doc put something into the iv to stop that. seems its a side effect of the epidural (i think) i just didn't have any warning that it was coming.

afterward, went to recovery for a while. trying to remember if i had the shakes with this or not. (i've had them before after other surgery and general anasthesia) i honestly don't remember one way or the other. i think i slept for a while. then got moved to a regular room.

i had a catheter at some point, but not sure when i got it. i don't remember carrying anything into the OR, so i am pretty sure i had it after i was already on the table, and the first thing they did in the OR was the epidural.

i hope this helps. honestly, the scheduled c-section was so much better. no labor pains to start with, no contractions, so i was much more relaxed when i went in. i hadn't been up for 36 hours either. the first time it was labor, pushing and then the c-section, so i was worn out by the time we got to it.

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

I had a scheduled c-section. The day before I went to the hospital for the pre-op testing. They asked me a bunch of questions, took some blood, and made me pee in a cup. Later that day I got a call telling me the time to come in the next day.
We went to the hospital at the given time, went to admitting, filled out some paperwork and I got my ID bracelet.
Then we walked to L&D where they were waiting for me. I got into a gown, got strapped to the monitors and then waited. And waited and waited. We arrived at the hospital at 1pm, but they were running behind, and there were two c-secs in front of me, then there was an emergency. So we watched TV and talked. I was having contractions while I was waiting, so the dr. came and checked me.
Then finally it was my turn. I walked to the OR, put on a cap, and then sat on the table for the epi. After the epi was in, they helped me to lay down on the table, put in the foley, prepped my belly, and then DH came in and sat by my head. Then the surgery started.

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

I had an emergency c-section with DD. With Ds, it was scheduled. Let me tell you, it was a breeze.

The pre-surgical testing was a breeze. I think there was a blood test. Weight, heart rate, etc... like a physical.

The epi, they insert it after you WALK into the O.R. I hardly felt it. As far as the catheter, it was inserted after I was numb from Epi. Didn't even know it was done.

The entire procedure and recovery was a million times better the 2nd time. don't worry!

Message edited 7/4/2009 11:51:31 PM.

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

I went in the day before my c-section and did the pre-op testing. they just took a couple of vials of blood, gave me the instructions for the next day.

They told me what time to show up the next morning and I went to admissions and checked in. Then they sent me up to Labor and Delivery.

I changed into a gown and the anesthesiologist came in and started an IV (the nurses couldn't find a good vein). I had to get a bag and a half of fluids before they would bring me into surgery.

I walked myself into surgery and they gave me the epidural then. Then they put the catheter so I wouldn't feel anything.

All in all the surgery took about 45 mins from start to finish.

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type

I had a scheduled C-section at NSUH. You will go for pre-op testing the day before. It's a quick physical and your blood will be drawn. On the day of surgery you will go to L&D. You change into a gown and then a nurse will start you on an IV. An anesthesiologist will meet with you and explain what he will use (epidural or spinal). Once the OR is ready, you will walk down the hall and things happen pretty quickly. Your DH waits outside until they are just about ready to start. You will be able to hold your baby in the OR while they close things up. Best of luck!

Re: The scheduled C-section: tell me how the experience differs from the unelective type