C-Section under General Anaesthetic - Positive Birth Story
For Gabriella, a planned C-Section under general anaesthetic was her only option, but it was a very positive one from start to finish. Despite being asleep for her son’s birth, she doesn’t feel like she has missed out on anything.
Aged 18 I had bone cancer, which left my lower spine badly damaged, meaning a planned C-Section under general anaesthetic (GA) was always going to be my birth plan.
At first I felt really overwhelmed at the idea of not being awake for my little boy’s birth. What about skin-to-skin? How long would I be asleep for? How long would it take me to come round and meet him? Would I still feel a bond with my baby?
On the day, I was first down. That morning was the calmest, happiest morning of my life. I felt in control, relaxed and so excited! My husband was allowed into theatre with me, right up until the moment I was given the GA, then he had to leave and wait in a side room (which is standard for C-Sections under GA). I fell asleep listening to Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love With You - which was also my wedding song!
Within 15 minutes of my husband leaving theatre, our gorgeous little boy Memphis Silvio was born, and 10 minutes after that, he was in my husband’s arms. My husband was able to cut the cord, watch him get weighed, give him his first bottle and have plenty of skin-to-skin. He said the support from the midwifery team was amazing. They stayed with him until he could meet our son, and kept him calm and distracted whilst he waited until he was born and out of theatre.
I came round about 1 hour 20 minutes after my son was born, and when I did, my husband was at my side with our little boy. I cried my eyes out when I saw him (which made me feel bloody fantastic because I was worried the GA would make me feel emotionally numb). He was passed to me for skin-to-skin straight away. They kept us in recovery for around 30 mins and then we headed back up to the ward.
I love that my birth story is a really positive one. I love talking to other mums about my happy experiences of a C-Section under GA. And I love that I didn’t feel I missed out on anything. I don’t feel that being asleep for the birth has impacted my relationship with my son in any way, and my husband has an amazing bond with our little boy, which I attest to the fact he was so involved immediately post birth.
Hopefully this helps other mamas out there to embrace the idea of GA with open arms and a more open mind. Remind yourself that no matter the process, you get the greatest gift at the end, meeting your baby.