Awake or Unconscious during C-section?

Question

It just occurred to me that if I have to have a C-section I have the option to watch/be awake. But the idea of being awake while someone cuts me open makes me nauseous. But I can see how it would be jarring to go to sleep pregnant and wake up not. SO, any mamas who had a C-section want to weigh in? Were you conscious or not? Is it super weird to be awake during the surgery? Was seeing your baby come out worth it?

Answer

My first they tried to do the spinal on me so they can keep me awake but they couldn't get it to work on me. So they had to put me to sleep. When that happens your all alone no one can be with you. I was scared they was giving me the meds to put me to sleep it's like a tube with a glass mask on it and when they was trying to put it on my face I freaked out trying to push them away but it was to late that stuff works fast I was gone. After waking up from the meds I was in recovery room and I was was screaming because I had no meds and I was in pain. It went better with my second one I was able to be awake and then they had a sheet up so I don't see anything. Feeling the numbness from your stomach down feels very werid and can say that. It's fast once they cut you to get out baby. I asked if they can lower the sheet when he comes out and they did it for me. Then they cleaned him up and weighed him and then they released my arms so I could hold him and have skin to skin and then they snapped a family photo for us. The only down fall is that I was so sick after going to the recovery room I was itchy all over and throwing up. So me going into this again in one weeks today I will make sure they know to give me something ahead of time so I don't get sick again. But over all better being awake to see it all cuz you will never get this back again.

Answer

I was awake for both of mine. I was told my boyfriend couldn’t be in the operating room if they put me to sleep and I wanted him to see his kids be born. Not feeling most of my body kinda freaked me out but I just talked through it

Answer

I was conscious during mine, just pretty drowsy. They have a curtain up over your chest so you don’t see anything. It’s nice to know what’s going on each step of the way and to hear and see your baby when they are born :)

Answer

I would just make sure you know the procedure well for both options. From what I’ve been told, although I’ve not had one myself and maybe it’ll be different in different hospitals, if you’re awake your partner can be with you in the room, baby will be given to you both, and they can assist with immediate skin to skin and all that jazz. If you’re totally under you go in alone and partner has to wait outside, and they will bring baby to your partner after the procedure. It may be a while until you are wake enough to meet your baby in that situation. 
You can request what makes you comfortable even if you are awake. You can request they tell you what’s going on or not , or that they don’t lower the sheet, that they play music, etc. medically speaking general anesthesia carries more risks to your health. But mentally speaking, you gotta do what’s best for you! Another thing to note is the procedure is pretty quick, usually around 30 mins or so. So it doesn’t last long 😊

Answer

Strongly recommend being awake. I had a general for mine due to complications with the epi as it was an emergency C-section. I regret it so much in a way because you don’t get to hear that first cry, see their first moments in this world, be the first to hold them. My girl was born 10:51am and by the time I woke up in recovery it was 1:30pm.

Answer

My first I was under general anesthesia and my second I had a spinal. I wasn’t given an option. My first I wasn’t medically eligible for a spinal, so the only option was GA (breech baby). My second, I was medically eligible, so the spinal it was (elected repeat section). GA has a higher risk of anesthesia related complications than a spinal. 
It was bizarre to go to sleep pregnant and wake up not pregnant. By the time I met our son, he was wiped clean, fed, diapered, and snuggled. My husband stayed with him while I was in recovery. Nurse told me the gender even though it was announced before surgery that no one was to tell me except my husband. It took many months for me to accept that missing his birth did not make me a failure. 
Our second I went in expecting GA and was shocked when my blood work was high enough for a spinal. I was terrified but also excited. I didn’t watch it (nor was I offered the chance to watch). There’s no pain just some discomfort of pulling/tugging. Hearing her cry and having my husband tell me the gender was incredible. I held her as soon as I got to recovery. 
I was beyond sick from the spinal for about 12 hours or so, but in far less pain than with GA. I didn’t even need pain meds of any type until nearly 36 hours after surgery - it took that long for the spinal to fully wear off. There were pros and cons to both, but I’m really happy I was able to meet our daughter right away. I knew the moment I first looked at her what her name would be (not the one we had planned!).

Answer

I was conscious, I also fell asleep after I made sure my baby was fine.

Awake or Unconscious during C-section?

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