Scheduled C-section

Here too, a planned C-section. I find it pretty exciting and scary. I'm mainly afraid of a blood pressure drop, which apparently already happens.. Must be super scary to suddenly get dizzy and nauseous while you can't get away...
I'm also quite curious how long such a C-section takes

Hi! When is your scheduled C-section planned? Mine is also coming up, and I'm super curious...

Hi ladies, since you haven't had any experiences with planned C-sections yet, I'll jump in. I've had two C-sections; the first was semi-urgent, and the second was more of a postponed-planned one (the C-section was scheduled for that day, but labor started spontaneously the night before, so we gave a vaginal birth a chance, but it ended up being a C-section again).

So I can't help you with everything, since it wasn't fully planned, but I'm happy to share my experiences if you'd like? What are your questions?

Regarding that blood pressure drop: I had it both times after the C-section. I suddenly felt really nauseous and actually had to vomit, but they were prepared for it, so as soon as I said I felt nauseous, they handed me a bowl. They injected something into your IV to counteract the drop, and I felt much better pretty quickly.

How long it takes: from the spinal being administered until your baby is out is about 15 minutes, after which I think it takes another half hour before you're stitched up and moved to the recovery room.

I have good experiences and good memories of my two C-sections; hopefully, your experiences will be good too! And better than the first one for you, Lieke!

If possible, ask for a "gentle C-section"!

I had a planned C-section last week (I'm from Belgium) and with my first baby it was an emergency C-section (after almost 24 hours of contractions).

The C-section wasn't too bad at all. The spinal block didn't hurt at all. Also, getting the IV inserted wasn't that bad, it pricks a bit but then no more discomfort.

They also insert a urinary catheter, but that happens once the anesthesia is already starting to work.

It does take about 15 minutes for the baby to come out. The stitching took a bit longer because this was my second C-section, so more scar tissue.

The anesthesia started wearing off a bit too quickly for me, so I started feeling more. But don't hesitate to say so immediately, which I did, and they gave me more anesthesia right away, and it only took a minute for it to kick in properly!

Then it took about an hour before I got feeling back in my legs.

24 hours after the C-section I was standing up again and took a shower. It was painful though! After 3 days I could sleep on my side, which felt great because my bum hurt from lying still for so long haha.

My blood pressure also stayed low, so the first day I was standing up, I got dizzy a few times. That's normal of course, after such a major surgery. I made sure someone was always nearby when I stood up.

Now it's been 9 days since the C-section and I feel good. Still a bit of pain and an itchy feeling, but the wound looks good! I'm already doing chores around the house (loading the dishwasher, cooking, washing machine) and it goes without problems, aside from some mild pain. If it gets worse, I know I'm doing too much and I rest on the sofa.

So I don't complain about my C-section. Although I'll admit I cried from the pain those first 3 days!

@Suuske, it's nice that you're responding. My question that keeps bothering me is: once the baby is out, do they place them on you for a skin-to-skin moment, or not in this case? Because I'm really scared of missing that click or bond with my baby boy..

So if you ask for a "gentle C-section," they should ideally place your baby with you as soon as possible! In my hospital, this has become standard practice, even in emergency cases if possible. My babies were briefly checked by the pediatrician, with my husband present, and then they were allowed to be held on my arm. As soon as I moved to the postpartum ward, they were placed on my chest, and both already had their first breastfeed there

I found it scary too. The epidural wasn’t fun at all; I felt nauseous after it and had to vomit. My C-section was scheduled for 2 PM, but I wasn’t helped until 5:30 AM, and I had to stop eating at 5 AM. My daughter was placed on me right away. The sheet was pulled down, and then I got to see my daughter—it was a beautiful experience. I didn’t see it as something negative at all. I had a C-section because my daughter was in a breech position.

Hi Lieke..

I have experience with both.
My first child was born via emergency C-section after nearly 3 days of labor (my daughter also had a heart defect). When her heart rate dropped so low, suddenly my room was filled with a whole bunch of doctors and I was taken to the OR. I was very scared and nervous, but an emergency C-section is a very different experience from a gentle C-section. Our son was born in October via a gentle C-section, and I can tell you I experienced it as something very special! Of course, I was also extremely nervous about everything that was going to happen, but the team assigned to you that day is there for you, for the C-section but also during it!
I had to check in at 7 am & at 8 am my C-section was scheduled. After I checked in and got a room, they came to insert my IV and place the urinary catheter (I have to say, both went much better than expected!) After waiting 20 minutes, they came to get me to go to the OR, and a whole team was already waiting for me there.
Once in the OR and transferred to the table for the C-section, I had to sit with both legs stretched out in front of me and a hollow back. One of the nurses came to stand in front of me, and I had to kind of lean against her to keep my back arched. Then she told me they were going to place the spinal block and that I had to keep breathing well (and this really helps enormously if you can do it!). I also found placing the spinal block to go much better than expected afterwards (I was terribly scared of it beforehand). After the spinal block was placed, I was asked to lie back down again, but that obviously wasn't possible because my legs were already numb, but they did this on purpose to see if the spinal block was working, and it was, haha!
After I lay down again, they connected me to the heart monitor, etc., & I asked if they could please turn it down a bit because during the birth of my daughter, I got extremely nauseous hearing my own heart rate in the background. Then they asked me if I could feel what the surgeon was doing, but I felt nothing, so that was fine too! Then they started the C-section. While they were working, my blood pressure also dropped, and yes, that feels bad, but if you report this immediately, they inject something into your IV so it goes away almost immediately!! 
Our son was born within a quarter of an hour! Suturing takes a bit longer, but I naturally already had some scar tissue, so it was a bit more difficult. After the wound was sutured, I was taken to a kind of recovery room, and they monitored my blood pressure, etc., for another quarter of an hour, and when that was good, I was allowed to go back to the maternity ward with our son!
24 hours later, I was already up and about to go shower, and that feels so incredibly good & yes, you might wonder how? But everything happens naturally, step by step, but above all, listen to your body!!!! 

I hope you find this helpful & that it brings you some peace..

P.S.:
The atmosphere in the OR is very different if it's a planned C-section. Everything goes very calmly, they explain everything very well step by step (if you wish) and it also feels a bit warmer in terms of temperature than with an emergency C-section! Again, I can look back on it with an incredibly good feeling

@steetje

We had a baby boy, Senne.
The next part depends on the hospital, but for me it went like this:
Once they brought the baby out, the pediatrician took him aside for a first check-up. It only took 5 minutes. Everything was fine, and then he was placed on my bare chest (right under my chin, since I couldn't go lower because of the surgery).
My arms were untied (they were tied during the first part of the surgery), so I could hold him myself while they stitched me up. He went to the recovery ward with me too, so he was basically never away from me.
On the ward, dad did his diaper etc (since I couldn't get out of bed yet), but I usually did the feeding (we use bottles) myself if I had enough energy (because you're extremely tired those first 24 hours!).

With my first C-section, the procedure in the hospital was actually different!
Dad stayed with me until the baby was taken out, but then he had to take the baby to the room and I was left alone while they stitched me up.
I didn't like that because you're then solely focused on the surgery and have no distraction anymore.
But don't be afraid that you won't bond with your little one because of this.
Once I was allowed back in the room and saw my daughter, it was love at first sight and now, 2 years later, we are extremely attached to each other.
So if your baby is taken away separately, don't worry, the bond will definitely happen!