The Day before and morning of Surgery

Picture inserted; my 1st Picture of Thomas - 1 hour old.

Day before surgery…

My surgery was booked in for a Monday and I was up early on the Sunday as I was always (as you can imagine at 39 weeks) needing to use the lav.

NESTING! NESTING! NESTING! When my partner got out of bed he was like “ok stop now and relax, you’re not doing any more!” I had another look through my suitcase made sure I had put all the washing away and got the other half help me change the bedding so I had clean bedding to come home to and I relaxed… finally.

Morning of the Elective C-Section

We arrived at the hospital at 0730, I had been up since 5am though ensuring the house was still in order and I had a nice shower, a shave washed my hair etc. I always feel better after a nice shower.

Stood in the car park, watching the other half calmly walk to pay for a whole day of parking, I started to panic and cry. It still wasn’t real, after everything I had to go through. In a matter of hours, with myself almost in complete control of the situation, I was having a baby whether I was ready for him to come or not. Simple as that! Life changing stuff by lunch time! After a good cuddle and a kiss, my lovely other half took me into the hospital and sat by my side the whole time. I aren’t going to lie, I cried, a lot but I had the support I needed right by my side.

The only problems going through my mind now were “Am I going to be able to cope with the feelings etc during surgery?” “Is it going to be worse than I thought?” “What if I die?” You know… regular thoughts (sigh)

So down I went. (I was obviously wearing the correct attire for the surgery at this point)

Everyone in the operating theatre was lovely. Very friendly, supportive and had a smile on their faces. I was sat on the side of the operating theatre, with my legs dangling down and one of the team put a stool under them as they were about to go very, very dead.

Now, I don’t like needles. I cannot watch someone take my blood, but I can cope with the ‘sharp scratch’ as once it is in, it is over before you know it anyway. So, there I am, sat awaiting the cannula to be put in my hand and the spinal injected into my spine, other half holding my right hand as tears crawled down my face, as I whimpered, still very scared of the outcome.

**Prepare yourself for what is typed next as I am going to be very honest**

The Cannula was very large, and they injected a local anaesthetic into my hand before they inserted the cannula, because it must really, really hurt if not.

Then the anaesthetist prepared me for the spinal. You have 2 injections for the spinal. The first one is a small local anaesthetic to numb the area where the spinal in going into and then all you can feel after that I guess is the slight scratch then all I can explain is like if you close your fist and use the folded bones of your fingers and put it, quite hard against your spine. (Because it is numb) you just feel pressure, I guess, is what you would call it and that was it hey presto… I was numb from the breasts downwards.

The doctor did a little test with a little sharp instrument, I could feel it very very slightly then not at all. The feelings in my legs was like I had passed out. He asked me to try and lift my legs… I couldn’t! WOW! No control of my legs at this point at! In went the catheter too, didn’t feel a thing.

And they started… I honestly could just feel slight tugging. It was quite comfortable (no really) and then the doctor came over and checked if I was ok. I was ok, I felt good considering I was awake during major abdominal surgery.

I then felt like I couldn’t breathe and that someone was sat on my chest, my blood pressure dropped and they passed me an oxygen mask.

Then he said “your baby’s head is out!”

WOW! (This is definitely it now!) Then he said “you should start feeling like they are washing up inside you now” and I kind of jumped, only slightly though! Then they were like, “Congratulations, your son has been born!”

My lovely other half toddled off with the midwife to cut his cord and help get him cleaned etc, while the surgeons fixed me back together. Then before I knew it I was in recovery with a new born baby boy – We call him Thomas Alexander.

My other half brought him over to me and all I remember is a feeling of overwhelming love. If this is something you’re worried about, don’t! I was so worried I wouldn’t love him and I do so much! If anyone tried to hurt him, they would have to cross me first!

I got sewn back up and down to recovery I went, all in all expect to be in surgery about an hour, it really doesn’t feel like it though! Especially as you do feel very ‘drugged’. When I got to recovery, I made phone calls to people and I don’t even remember them! So just bare that in mind.

Overall, I would say the experience is mixed. At the end of the day you’re having MAJOR surgery. The weeks after the surgery haven’t been a walk in the park but you do manage if you follow instructions and let people help you. Do not say no to any help around the house, moving stuff, making drinks etc. At the end of the day, you have a new born baby, people don’t mind.

 Twitter @hayley_lou3686