My Caesarean Delivery

This is my third elective caesarean section (C-section). This type of delivery may seem very daunting and scary but I can honestly say it isn’t. I have captured my journey below on what it was like to go through this delivery.

Why I had to have a caesarean

When I was pregnant with my first daughter Holly, who is now 11 years old. I had a 32 week scan which confirmed Holly was breach, bum down and head up position. I booked in to see if the consultant could turn her to the correct position i.e. head down position.

The consultant tried to turn Holly which was an unpleasant experience and I wouldn’t recommend it. Holly was ‘extended breach’. Her bum was by the birth canal, her hips were flexed, legs extended out at the knee joint with her feet near her head. Therefore, I had no option other than to have a caesarean.

When I was pregnant with Mia, she was in the correct position, head down. However, I decided to have another caesarean. Already having the scar from delivering Holly I didn’t want to chance having any more scaring. And there is no guarantee I will deliver naturally. There is always a chance of complications. I could be rushed into theatre for an emergency caesarean.

So, here I am, third pregnancy in. I’m having another planned caesarean. This time its not by choice, it’s because I have been opened up twice and I’m at risk of my scar tissue rupturing if I was to deliver the baby naturally.

My third planned caesarean delivery

In My Third Trimester blog I talk about my pre-op on 22 May 2021. At this appointment they took blood, monitored the baby’s heartbeat and movements.

Rob and I had to take Covid tests. And I was given my pre-op medicine. It contained 3 sachets of energy drinks and an acid tablet. I drank 2 energy sachets the night before, one at 6pm and one at 10pm. On the morning of my surgery I drank another energy drink at 6am and took my acid tablet.

I didn’t sleep well that night as so much was rushing through my head. But eventually I did drift off and before I knew it I was staring into the mirror taking my last ever bump picture (see below).

My caesarean delivery day

Ok, in the above picture I look chilled, happy, excited and cool as a cucumber! But, inside I was nervous, anxious and scared because I know what to expect having this delivery. I cant wait to meet this little person who has been living and kicking inside me for 39 weeks. But I just want my baby to be ok and nothing serious to happen.

In hospital I had lower back pains and strong Braxton Hicks (explained in My Third Trimester blog) quite regularly. The midwife looked a little concerned and connected me to the machine to monitor baby’s heartbeat and movements. She checked the results from the monitoring machine and I was taken to a waiting room with 2 other couples who were having planned caesareans too.

The midwife said to me “Hayley your first down so get gowned up right away!” Although the midwife didn’t tell me my results from the machine monitoring baby. I think I was in really early stages of labour, hence why I was first to go into surgery – I could be wrong!

Theatre

Rob and I walked into theatre together, I squeezed his hand really tight before letting it go. I walked over to the theatre bed. I thought to myself ‘come on you can do this. It’s just a few minutes of discomfort whilst being prepared for surgery and soon enough I will be meeting our third baby!

I sat on the edge of the operating theatre bed whilst the anaesthetist prepared me for the spinal. I was shaking a little with nerves. One of the nurses stood in front of me and said “do you want to hold my hand while the needle goes in?” I said “yes please!”.

My gown was untied at the back and I was sprayed with this really cold numbing spray. The anaesthetist injected me with the spinal. I felt pressure in my lower back and a little discomfort but no pain at all. After the anaesthetist was done, I lay down whilst the spinal took effect. I felt this really warm sensation running down my legs, like someone had put a warm blanket over me, it was really nice!

The anaesthetist spayed a very cold spray on my arm and said “can you feel this? I said “yes it’s freezing”. He then spayed down the sides of my body and I felt the cold up until just below my boobs and then all I could feel was the sensation of the spray but no cold, it was really strange! The anaesthetist gave the go ahead to the surgeon and the blue screen went up. This was so me and Rob couldn’t see the operation taking place.

Baby’s out

After a few minutes, Rob and I heard a lot of squelching and suction. I could feel the surgeon press really hard on my bump and all of a sudden I felt the baby being taken out. I said to Rob, “the baby is out I felt it”. Then we heard our baby cry and the surgeons pulled down the screen to show us the baby. It was a girl weighing 7Ib 13oz!!!

The best way I can describe the operation as, is it’s like having your tooth out, u can feel pressure and movement but no pain at all!

Hello Baby Girl

Meeting our daughter for the first time is so emotional. I just wanted to hold her close as I know she won’t remember this day, I kept thinking she was all happy living in my bump and to be disturbed and pulled out of me must have been scary for her! I wanted to get up off the operating theatre bed and console her with the biggest cuddle.

The operating staff and midwife were fantastic. Rob held her for the first time while the surgeon started to stitch me back up. When the surgeon was almost done, the midwife tucked her inside my gown to start skin to skin, which was amazing and I highly recommend it. It was calming for me and the baby to have that moment together in theatre.

Our skin to skin continued until I got to the ward. Skin to skin contact is optional but highly recommended. For me, having our baby on my chest made me feel calm and in ways protecting her as a mum. Skin to skin regulates baby’s heartbeat, breathing and temperature. It’s an amazing experience which I continued at home.

Caesarean Recovery

I was taken to a recovery room where I was heavily monitored by doctors, nurses and midwives. I stayed in this room for about 40 minutes. Rob gave our baby girl her first bottle feed. I decided not to breast feed and my blog on this is coming soon.
Due to covid, I was not allowed any visitors and Rob couldn’t even come straight to the ward with me after the delivery. He had to leave. The hospital had a booking system were only 2 birthing partners are allowed onto the ward at a time. He managed to get a slot that evening.

Alone in hospital

Being a mum to two daughters already, I am still feeling scared and worried about caring for this new tiny baby. I forgot how floppy newborn babies are and how much they need feeding. Oh and their first poo (yuk – it’s a greenish/black gooey substance)!

So not having Rob with me to help for those first few hours did concern me. But, the midwives were on hand to help me and make sure me and the baby were ok.

The catering staff brought me a cup of tea and a chicken sandwich. ‘Oh my word, it was the best cup of tea and sandwich ever. I enjoyed every sip and bite. I’ve asked loads of my friends who’ve had babies and they say the first brew and bite to eat after delivery is the best ever lol. It would be good to hear from you, if this is true, so please comment below 🙂

Daddy’s back

I felt so happy when Rob arrived on the ward and he got to spend some time with our baby and me!

I ate some dinner (which I enjoyed too, it was a chicken roast dinner). Then the midwife came into me and said “it’s time to get up and sit in a chair as its been 6 hours since your operation”. I felt scared when she said that, but I did want to get out of the hospital gown and get my pyjamas on!

The midwife took my catheter out, then helped me shift my legs to one side of the bed, I put my feet into my slippers. The midwife told me to put all my weight onto my legs rather than my stomach muscles to stand up. I did it, but I felt so fragile. The midwife helped me put my padded knickers and pyjamas on, and sat me on a chair, I was so thrilled with myself. I was clean and comfy in my pyjamas 🥰 I was ready for for my hospital sleepover lol!!

My time in hospital

My first night at hospital went ok overall. I did get some sleep even though I was being woken up every 2-3 hours for our baby to have a feed. She was taking 10 millilitres, which the midwife was happy with.

What I did struggle with is going for a wee. When the midwife took out my catheter she told me to “drink plenty of water” as I need to have a wee within 6-7 hours to avoid a lazy bladder. If I didn’t wee I would need the catheter back in! I went to the toilet about 3 times, I felt like I had wee in my bladder but nothing was coming. Then I remembered a friend telling me to run your hand under warm water while sat on the toilet as the sound and warmth triggers the need to wee. So I tried it, and it worked lol!

Walking to the toilet and caring for my baby through the night was hard. Although I was dosed up on painkillers I did feel in discomfort and pain. But looking at my baby girl I think she is so worth it. The pain is manageable and over time will ease while I heal.

I can honestly say the birth of my daughter and care I received from the midwives, doctors and nurses was brilliant, they were caring, helpful and supportive.

Going Home after a caesarean

The surgeon checked my wound. The paediatrician checked the baby and an audiology nurse checked baby’s hearing. Me and our baby were all good, so we were discharged. As Rob was packing the suitcase to leave I thought how am I going to get to the car? I can just about walk to the toilet and that is only at the end of the corridor 😱.

I don’t know how I did i it, but I walked all the way to our car. Every little step I took hurt even though I had my pain relief just before leaving the ward. Rob was so impressed he said “you go girl” haha!!

My reflection and advice for anyone going through a caesarean.

I have only experienced planned caesarean so can’t comment on the emotional journey of an emergency section.

For me, having a planned caesarean is a lovely and calming birth experience. It’s nice to be able to pick a birth date and prepare mentally and physically.

Even though I’ve had 3 caesareans I still felt worried, anxious and scared walking into theatre and knowing the discomfort I will go through during my recovery.

I will talk about my 6 week recovery in another blog. But the care and support from midwives I received was brilliant. It would be lovely to hear about other birth stories and how you felt. So please use the comment box below :-).