[duck-o-lah]

Hi EB,

I'm currently 28 weeks pg and soon will be having an appointment with an OB to discuss my elective CS. This will be the last opportunity I have to talk to the OB directly, so I was wondering if you could help me come up with a list of questions, to make sure I haven't forgotten anything. I'm sure there are so many questions that I will think of... after I have the appointment
Help me oh wise ones

Edited to update the list...
...and add the answers I received. I'm sure every hospital is different, but thought answers might be helpful to anyone in the same situation.

Can I have immediate skin to skin contact with bub?
Ideally, yes. Providing there are no immediate issues, skin to skin contact is encouraged ASAP. A support person/partner is required to help you hold baby.

CanI attempt BFing immediately?
As above. The goal is to get baby on the breast ASAP.

Will bub be taken away from me for a prolonged period of time after the op?
No, providing there are no health issues with baby or mum. If a MW is not available to accompany me to recovery, baby will stay with DH for this time.

Whether cameras are allowed in operating room?
Yes, providing I have a support person that is responisble for it.

Can you partner / husband stay with you the entire time? From surgery through to recovery, then up to the ward.
Once the epi/spinal is administered and the surgeons are ready, the support person is allowed into theatre, providing a general anaesthetic is not required, in which case they will not be permitted into theatre. I can't remember if they are permitted in recovery.

Is your partner allowed in with you in the anaesthetic room when you have your spinal/epi put in? No.

where will incision be made? If repeat CS, will old scar be removed during surgery?
In my case, the incision will be made directly through my old scar.

What type of stitches used?
Depends on the surgeon, most likely non-disolvable ones.

what is policy on eating in 1st 24hrs after operation (my first OB only allows clear liquids)
Eating and drinking is permitted soon after being back on the ward.

how long before he/she permits driving - some allow after 2-3wks, others say 6wks.
The recommendation is to wait for 6 weeks, however I was advised to contact my insurance company.

shave/wax the area or not before?
Whatever takes your fancy. They may or may not shave before surgery (personally I'm going for a wax, I have vivid memories of pulling the dressing off my previous scar, having not shaved, and omg the pain!)

Is there a midwife available on the day to go to recovery with you?
I am in an assigned midwife program, assuming there are no problems she will be there to come to recovery. However, if I go into labour before the scheduled CS, there is the possibility that there may not be enough MW's on staff to accompany me to recovery, in which case baby stays with DH while I go to recovery.

discuss what type of anaesthetic will be used and what will the post op pain relief be
A spinal is used for scheduled CS's. I was advised to pursue these details further at a consult with an anaesthetist which I'm supposedly having but need to confirm.

any type of compression wear required/recommended for post op?
Compression stockings are provided. I can choose to invest in something fancier if I wish, but nothing is specifically recommended, other than the stockings.

can I organise music? Radio, ipad etc
There are no facilities provided in theatre, but I can organise an i-pad/pod or similar so long as I have a support person that is responsible for it.

what is a normal sort of timeframe to expect to hear bubs cry after they are pulled out? (I know that every second until I hear that cry will feel like a century)
Babies usually make some sort of noise fairly soon after they are pulled out of their comfy hidey-hole

what type of stitches/dressings are used? How do I care for the wound after the op?
Depends on the surgeon, most likely non-dissolvable stitched which will be removed by a MW, most likely at a home visit. I forgot to ask about post-op care.

Hope this thread is helpful to others

This post has been edited by duck-o-lah: 13/02/2013, 05:28 PM

[Sassy Dingo]

Whether cameras are allowed in operating room?

[~Rach~]

Can you partner / husband stay with you the entire time? From surgery through to recovery, then up to the ward.

Can't think of anything else sorry

[caterpillar~girl]

Can you partner / husband stay with you the entire time? From surgery through to recovery, then up to the ward.

Can't think of anything else sorry

Is your partner allowed in with you in the anaesthetic room when you have your spinal/epi put in?

The public hospital I had an elective c/s in didn't allow this. Took a long time for the spinal/epi to work and meanwhile, my DH was in limbo for one hour and didn't know what was going on.



This post has been edited by caterpillar~girl: 16/01/2013, 02:08 AM

[caterpillar~girl]

- Can I have immediate skin to skin contact with bub?
- Can I attempt BFing immediately?

If allowed, this can be improved by taking your arms out of the gown before you go into the OT when the anaesthetist will hook you up to the cannula in your arm/wrist. Having your arms out of your gown will also assist with your first BF.

This post has been edited by caterpillar~girl: 16/01/2013, 01:27 AM

[kittycat01]

- where will incision be made? If repeat CS, will old scar be removed during surgery? Type of stitches used?

- what is policy on eating in 1st 24hrs after operation (my first OB only allows clear liquids)

- how long before he/she permits driving - some allow after 2-3wks, others say 6wks.

- shave/wax the area or not before? My 2nd OB specifically asked not to as they do it on the spot so there is no inflammation (obviously seen a lot of botch jobs ... Lol)

[caterpillar~girl]

- how long before he/she permits driving - some allow after 2-3wks, others say 6wks.

This is a question for the insurance company which insures your car.

[Pssst...]

This is a question for the insurance company which insures your car.

My insurance company told me that I could drive whenever my OB said it was OK to drive. So in my case it was a question for both

[lsolaBella]

How long you are separated from baby or if you are will depend in many things.

Is there a midwife available on the day to go to recovery with you? They may be super bust and the midwif is needed on the ward (have had this happen).

How are you going post op? My third I had troubles maintaining BP and body temp so I was in recovery longer.

Both of the above could not be foreseen.

Eta like PP my insurance company was fine with me driving if my OB was.



This post has been edited by lsolaBella: 16/01/2013, 08:22 AM

[soontobegran]

This is a question for the insurance company which insures your car.

Insurance companies don't care whether you are driving or not to pay out as long as you have not been banned specifically by a doctor. If you are in an accident and your doctor is called by the insurer and he tells them that he has said "under no circumstances should you drive" then you could be in trouble claiming.
I know 6 weeks is bandied around as being the right time to drive but every Obstetrician I have known has said that their patients may drive when they can comfortably get in and out of the car and press their foot to the pedal and brake without pain.
I think the average is about 3 weeks but some sooner and some later with it being impossible for mums with other children to not drive....I am sure some women drive a bit too soon because of this and some leave it way too long because they think they can't drive.

Sorry OP, I digressed.

I think it is important to ask whether your baby is able to go to recovery with you and your partner if you are both well and I also think you should discuss what type of anaesthetic will be used and what will the post op pain relief be. He may suggest you talk to the anasthetist beforehand, some are very helpful during your operation in terms of taking photos, helping you free your arms and visualising parts of the delivery if you want....some are not.