can anyone answer this?

Question

i will be having a planned c-section and also being sterilised at the same time in july. i was asleep for my first section and awake for my second ,both sections were due to complications in pregnancy and also my size (very petite, 4ft 10inch).. my second was a spinal block,this was a really bad experience for me due to being able to feel a lot of pain (not just tugging & pulling), the operation had to keep being stopped (around 4-5 times) so i could be topped up with more anethsetic... i am really scared of this happening again and would like to know if anyone could tell me if i have the choice to be asleep this time? i am seeing the consultant in april to talk about being sterilised and arrange my delivery date etc..and would like to ask him about it but dont want to sound like baby... can anyone give any advise? thankyou

by the way ,i am in the uk..

this is for laurajh.... i did not have the c-sections just because i am small (even though i have very narrow hips) the main reason was due to placenta previa.. but my sister is also petite and she had sections with all her 3 due to her size... it's not the same with everyone so i would'nt worry, you may well have your baby naturally... i have 3 children, my first was natural,mind you it was a long labour and she was only a 5lb baby... but a friend of mine is tiny too and she had all her 3 natural (7 lbs + babies)... im sure you'll be fine xx

Answer 1

Explain to your consultant about you experience and your fears.Good Luck.

Answer 2

I think you were not told exactly what you had when you said you had a spinal you made have been told that but they mis-informed this is not to uncommon.
What you probably had was a epidural there is a big difference between this and a spinal. I think you had a epidural for 3 reasons
1 a spinal works or it doesn't work there is no patchy block
2 you can not top up a spinal but you can a epidural
3 you may well have had a epidural in place during labor, you would know this because the epidural would have had a catheter running up your back.
If you go in for a c'section do not be afraid to ask for a Spinal anesthetic but make sure it is a spinal and not a epidural they my offer you a spinal-epidural. The epidural would be for post op pain relief and it does work very well but the main thing is the spinal which would ware of in 2-3hrs.
If you do go asleep you will miss a wonderful magical thing something I have never got tired of seeing so go for the spinal and try not to worry.

Answer 3

Hi, I had a planned section after lots of trouble with the consultant, I was having twins so I wanted a section however the consultant thought otherwise, I felt trapped and very scared I was browsing the Internet and decided to go on the NHS site for my local hospital wrote down names and addresses of the Head Of Midwifery informing her of this, cut a long story short I had a meeting with another consultant, my twins decided to come early and the consultant on duty at that time was extremely professional and nice and normal, I asked her if I could have a c-section she said YES! Immediately I couldn't believe it.
I know this is totally different from your situation I'm just trying to make the point that when you have your next appointment , IF you are refused to be asleep during the section , INFORM them that you would like a second opinion and if you have no joy with that write quickly, check out your local hospitals website, or NHS direct about making complaints. Just ask because if you don't you'll regret it and your not gonna sound like a baby. Good Luck I wish you all the best and your baby/babies and partner.

Answer 4

Make this easy on yourself. Tell the Dr. you want to be put out. They can adjust the meds so that you will only be out for a certain amount of time. I just don't get why women enjoy pain so much. Blah, blahh, bla, it's better for the baby. I've had 5 children. 3 were natural births, (ick, the pain!) 1 I had an emergency c-section with a block, and I could feel all the tugging, etc, and the last one another c-section. On the last I was put out (I was also sterilized) Every one of my babies did just fine. They were all healthy then and are now happy and healthy. There was no difference in any of them. Good luck.

Answer 5

Who's paying the Doctor and Hospital bills? YOU! Therefore you are basically hiring them and paying them for a service! You should be able to have what is most comfortable and best for you. Talk first with your Delivery Doctor and tell them specifically what you do and don't want to have happen. They probably didn't like starting and stopping your surgery much so they would probably want a better solution as well! I had 3 C's too and my 3rd I had the tubaligation as you are having and for some reason I kept getting a burning pain that I had not had for the previous 2 C's so if that is normal then you might want to talk about that as well because that could have been from the Tubaligation and you will want to prepare. I threw up after they took my baby out with the first C so they had to stop surgery. That must have been a sight for them! Good Luck to you!

Answer 6

I am sorry that you had this bad experiance!! The problems you had with your last c-section will be on your medical records. So you will probably find that your consultant will already beware of it.

When you see your consultant just be open with him/her and expalin your fears.....they will understand.

Because of your history i am sure that you could be offered a general. Because at the end of the day you want to be able to enjoy your baby so you need to feel relaxed and in control of the situation.

The other option is that you put your foot down and demand a general. If you refuse a spinal...... there's not alot they can do about it!!!!

Also make sure you write what you want in your birth plan and get your midwife to sign it.

I wish you the best of luck xx

Answer 7

You are allowed to have a choice. My friend chose to be sedated for her 2nd c-section due to bad experience with the first. If you are so worried I would opt for the complete sedation! You won't feel stressed or as scared before hand which is only better for the baby.
I am due in August and still deciding if I should go for a C-section again (last one was an emergency) as I am just as scared as you!
The consultant will be very understanding and won't think you are a baby!
Good Luck

Answer 8

I also have placenta previa and I believe that it is completely normal for you to be nervous about being awake. Especially due to your previous experiences. You do not sound like a baby just because your worried, you have every right to be. Any good doctor would understand your fears and do what they can to comfort you. I totally recommend that you at least ask them to let you sleep during the c- section. The worst they can say is no.

Answer 9

If you have a choice to be asleep then be asleep. I had grade 4 placenta previa they told me it was best for me to be asleep because of the blood flow there is something in the epidural drug that does something to the blood they wanted me asleep for the blood to flow slower as it was i lost 5 litres of blood so thank god i was asleep. If you have a choice then be asleep they don't really like it because it can affect the baby that why they have to work really fast to get the baby out then they will put you into a deeper sleep and finish the job. Good luck with everything

Answer 10

I think u should explain what happened to u last time, hes human remember and I very much doubt he will make u be awake if u would rather be asleep. Maybe though things would be very different this time if u decided to stay awake. I had my baby awake and didnt feel any pain just like someone was washing up inside me, and it was nice to see my baby just after he had been born. Talk to your consultant about ur fears and what u want, hes there to help u.

Answer 11

Have them give you an epidural and you won't feel anything. I would not want to be put asleep for the birth of my baby! But talk to your doctor and the anesthesiologist about this.

I had a spinal while in labor with my twins and when it wore off, I got the epidural just in time to give birth to my son...then had to go to emergency c-section for my daughter ...with the epidural I didn't feel a thing and it is actually what saved me from having to be under general anesthesia for the section.

Good Luck.