what to expect in a c section?

Question

i am due to have a c section in a few more weeks,., my first born was natural birth. i dont know what to expect in this c section and i am really scared...im already afraid of needles so i know im going to be more afriad here... luckly my husband will be there as well for support but he said if he looks he will pass out... will i feel anything? like at all??? if there is someone that has had a c section could you tell me what they do step by step please

Answer 1

I've had two and they were both a bit different from eachother. They'll shave your upper pubic area and tummy to clear a spot to cut. They'll want you to remove all jewelry. I suggest you do this before you show up at the hospital so you don't worry about losing something you really care about. I wasn't told that before I went in and I was a bit upset that they'd lose my wedding ring. You'll wear a cap on your head to keep your hair out of the way. They'll take you to an operating room where you'll be naked and the room will be COLD!! They will bring you warm blankets. As they are getting things ready they will give you the spinal. You'll be asked to arch your back so they can insert the needle. The idea of it is purely terrifiying. The actual event isn't a big deal at all. They'll have you lay down and they'll actually strap you to the table. I was very surprised when I realized I was being strapped down. Honestly, that spooked me more than the needle in the spine. They put up a sheet across your chest. This is funny to me because it gives this illusion that your tummy is way far away. For me it did. It felt like the surgeons were working way at the end of the table but they were right there at my abdomen. Anyway, they'll wait for you to go numb and will do the scratch test to make sure you have no feeling. Your husband can sit up next to your head so he does not have to look beyond the sheet. He doesn't have to look at anything. He can simply be there to talk to you during the procedure. I can tell you that having my husband there was a HUGE deal for me. It was the most comforting thing. He was too curious though and did peak to see beyond the sheet. I won't go into detail as to what he saw. It is pretty gross. Just tell your husband to sit up by your head and talk to you. He'll be fine and more importantly it will help you. When they pull the baby out they'll let you kiss his/her cheek. Well, that is what they did for me. They cleaned him up, did the apgar and all of that.Then brought him to me so I could kiss him before they whisked him away. Then they have to put you back together. During all of this the anestesiologist (sp?) is near you. Mine was awesome and talked with me during the surgery. At one point I felt kind of sick. He put something in my IV and I felt better. He is there to make sure you are doing okay and handling everything okay. The guy I had my first time was funny and I really liked him. After you're sewn up they'll wheel you to recovery. They usually leave you in recovery for hours. For me this is torture because I wanted to see my baby. You won't be able to walk that day. You'll have a catheter. They'll get you up the next day to walk and it will feel funny. You will feel like you can't stand upright for quite some time. You will not be able to eat until you've passed gas. When they remove the catheter and you go to the bathroom be prepared to bleed. For some reason that just never occurred to me. Even though you are having a c-section you still have to pass all that afterbirth. It scared me the first time.

Oh, as for feeling anything during the surgery. You WILL feel pressure. But it doesn't hurt. It just feels like a lot of pressure and tugging as they are doing their thing.

I'm not going to tell you not to be scared. I'm having my third c-section in March and I'm scared!! But really, the actual event isn't as bad as we build it up in our minds. Hopefully you have a good team of people.

Good luck to you!!

Answer 2

You'll have a spinal block to prevent pain during the c-section. You may feel some pressure, but there'll be no pain.

Your abdomen will be swabbed with disinfectant just as you would prepare for any surgery. The doctor will drape your abdomen so you'll not be able to see them make the actual incision.

The doctor will make an incision through your abdomenal wall on the lower portion of your belly close to where your pubic hair begins. Once the uterus is exposed, the doctor will use a special hook to cut through the amniotic sac, the amniotic fluid is sucked up with a vaccume tube, the baby is eased through the opening, and born!

Often a pediatric team will be on hand for the birth to make sure all is well as far as the baby's breathing.

After the birth, the doctor will place the uterus back inside and suture up the incision.

The main issue c-section moms have is incisional pain. The nurses know this and there'll be a doctor's order for pain meds. Try to ask for meds before the pain gets really bad as it's easier to keep pain under control than it is to try to reverse it once it gets severe.

You may have a urinary catherer in you for the first 24 hours after the birth as the anesthetic makes it hard for you to tell when you need to pee. Once the nurse removes the catheter, you'll have to walk to the bathroom yourself. The first time you get up will be the hardest, but each time after that will be easier and less painful.

Answer 3

I've had a c-section but also work in the OR as a surgical tech and have scrubbed in on many of these procedures. I'm the one that hands the instruments to the surgeon so I know exactly what happends since as a surgical tech you are required to know each procedure step by step. Just to clear up a few things I saw in a couple other posts that are incorrect. First off your husband will not be allowed in the room until after you have recieved your epidural as this is the procedure for the OR. Second your stomach is not shaved only your pubic area where the incision will be made. Your entire abdoment is prepped but not shaved. Third you cannot be totally put under just because you want to, this is only done if necessary because it causes an even greater risk to the baby since the baby gets the effects the same as you do from the anesthesia to knock you out. I had to be knocked out because my epidural wore off but they won't do it just because you want to. Next, a cap is put on your head and a drape is put up to maintain sterility in the OR. Everyone in the OR has to wear a cap on their head. You will have on your gown throughout the procedure you will not be stripped naked. The after birth is delivered via c-section immediately after the baby not after you are closed up. The afterbirth is handed off to the surgical tech and kept in a basin so it can be sent to pathology to check it for any abnormalities. As for what goes on in the procedure. After you are given your epidural you are prepped and draped. The surgeon will use a pair of towel clamps to grap a hold of your skin and see if you are numb, they don't use a scratch test. The initial incision is then made in the abdomen using a scapel. The rest of the incisions are mad with a bovie until the surgeon reaches the uterus. Before the incision is made that breaks the water the surgeon will tell you that you will feel pressure. Once the baby is out they will suction his mouth and cut the cord. They will then get cord blood and then the placenta is delivered and handed off. The surgeon will then put your uterus on your abdomen to close it up and then will reposition it inside your abdomen. He will either use staples or absorbable suture to close the skin incision. My surgeon used absorbable suture and stitched from the inside out and now you can't even see the scar. After you are sutured or stapled up the surg tech and the nurses will clean up your abdomen with some sterile water or saline and then push on your tummy a little to expell some excess blood from your vagina. After they do this one of them will wipe you clean and they will take you into recovery. It's a pretty routine procedure and is the same every time unless there are complications. When I was a student I only watched two before I was expected to do it on my own but had no problem since the procedure is pretty routine. You will be fine.

Answer 4

Why are you having a c-section?

Both of mine were born via c-section after I labored. I would try for a vaginal birth if I was to ever be pregnant again! My first recovery was harder b/c I lost lot of blood b/c I labored and pushed for a long time before hand. My 2nd c-section was after only a few hrs of labor, and really it wasn't that bad at all!

They wheel you in the OP room, there's someone talking to you all the time by your head after they give you the spinal and lay you down. That was comforting. After they make an incision, then your husband can come in. It's really not that bad....there's a lot of pressure that made me throw up when they are taking the baby out.

My best advice is take the pain pills as often as you can, and walk and walk as soon as possible. It will hurt but after a few days the most agonizing pain is gone. Make sure your husband stays with you in the hospital. It's hard taking care of the baby by yourself at first b/c you are sore.

No, I didn't feel anything, just a lot of pressure. It's not too bad, but I would have still preferred a vaginal birth. I think drs are too gung-ho c-section nowadays!

Answer 5

Hello and congradulations on your second baby. I've had 2 c-section's, and what will happen is that you will be wheeled in the operating room, and stomach shaved. You will receive a spinal, which is a needle placed in the spine, and medicine shot through to numb you from the neck down. No you will not feel anything you will be completely numb. Don't worry this is done everyday to many women young, and old. They will monitor you carefully, and you and your baby will be alright. After the surgery, get up and walk around the next day. You will be very sore, but get up, and take it slow. Your body will heal much quicker, and you will have to get used to being sore there for a while. God Bless, and Good Luck. Everything will be alright.

Answer 6

Talk to your doctor and ask exactly what they are going to do step by step. That way you can prepare yourself, listening to everyone else's stories will probably just make things worse because you aren't everyone else. Also see if they have a video you can watch that would be more helpful. Getting a c-section is scary I had one with my first and I was scared but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! Once that baby is born you really don't care what you just went through.....

Answer 7

Not really answering the question, but I can tell you from the husband's point of view - hardest thing I've ever done. Not very often you are going to be with your wife as she goes through surgery ...

You don't actually see the needle ... he sees the needle. If you have a good anesthetist, you'll be fine.

My wife for the most part said it felt like a lot of pressure ... like someone was standing on her stomach ... discomfort ... not pain was her description. From the needle to being done was about 30 minutes ...

Easy for me to say, but it was worth it -- twin boys :)

Answer 8

i ve just had a c section 3 months ago. actually i was expecting a vaginal birth but i had to go to the hospital coz i felt like my baby had stopped moving. when we went there the doctor found that the baby was having a very low heart beat(fetal distress) and my c section had to be carried out at the earliest so i just did not hav any time to worry about it.i was taken to the theater where they gave me an injection on my spinal cord i think... Then i dont know what happened to me . i was kind of flyin. then slowly slowly i felt myself gaining consciousness.i could see the doctor standing in front of me doin something. slowly i collected my memory and i asked her about my child. then i was really aware of what was happening around me. but i could not feel the lower part of my body. like i cud see my leg but i cudnt feel it being lifted or anything. i was taken to the post operative unit and they asked me to sleep or else it may cause vomitting or headache. i was shivering and they gave me blankets. i was put on pain killers and slowly slowly i cud feel a pain in my lower areas. i cudnt turn.then i went for a sleep and after that i felt much better.the next day i was taken to room.and i was asked to walk little by little or else it can result in gas. there was heavy bleeing especially when i stand up after lyin for sometime. by the third day i was getting okie. though i had pain for some more days. i was uncomfortable for around 4 weeks and then slowly i am gettin back to normal
looking back i do not regret for havin had to undergo a csection.i dont think theres much deal to worry abou it. i felt it as a very different experience.and i cant believe i went thru a very major operation coz i am still very much afraid of neddles.

Answer 9

Nope, you won't feel a thing. I am probably one of THE biggest chickens on earth when it comes to needles, but once you get the first shot, you won't feel anything after that, (and it is never as bad as I make it out to be in my mind beforehand). They usually make a small incision just above the bikini line, leaves a very small scar, no biggie. You'll do great, and congratulations!

Answer 10

Well when i had my c-section they asked me if i wanted an epidural and i said no because i did not want to be awake knowing they were cutting me open so they put me under like i asked. I had a iv in and they were giving me pain medication because i had been in labor for about 4-5 hours but they knew i could not have my son vaginally because he was breech plus i was flown out from my hometown hospital to a university hospital in my state because i had pre-eclampsia & i was 35 weeks along.
I woke up with 2 nurses pressing down on my stomach to get my uterus back down to size and that hurt so bad. (Oh yea they put a cathedar in you too)<-Ask them to put lidocaine on it first and it will not hurt as bad.
They took me to my room and hooked me up on a pain pump (morphine) but that stuff starting making me talk out of my head and i was taken off of it and then was given 10 milligrams of percocet every 3-4 hours. I stayed in the hospital (both me and my son) for 3 days. They removed my staples the day i got out and put glue like ones on my incision. They will make you walk around so the soreness will get out of you. Expect to be in pain for about 2 weeks. I bled for 6 weeks. They sent me home on lortabs (7.5mg)
Needles will be the last thing on your mind. You better have help after getting out of the hospital cause you will be too sore to be doing things and rest as much as you can.
Good luck