Questions & Answers

You can certainly request it. Just don't be surprised if you don't get the answer you are looking for.

It is not commonplace to be completely put under unless it is an absolute emergency or you have other risk factors. There is a much larger risk to the baby undergoing that level of anesthetics, despite your desires to not be awake for it. That is generally why they only numb you using the epidural or spinal block.

I'd suggest talking to the doc or an anesthesiologist about all of your options. When I had my DD, they gave me something that made me a little woozy in order to get the epidural in after a couple failed attempts. Guess what...I fell asleep. LOL but, I was breathing on my own and was awake when I needed to be, when my baby was born. And, as others have mentioned SOMEONE else was able to be in the room with me. Under general anesthesia, that isn't happening. They have all kinds of drugs at their disposal, so maybe a sedative would suffice for you over general.

I know they put a curtain up and you can't see anything, but I'd still rather not be awake for it. It's fine with me if other people get to see it first. I get to carry it and bond with it for the first nine months, there's no reason it's dad can't get the first hour or two with it. I hear it takes longer to recover if you're put under too, but if I can wait nine months I can wait a few more hours. I'm a pretty patient woman so if waiting an extra two hours to see my baby doesn't sound so horrible to me. I think I'd honestly be more upset seeing and hearing baby and not being able to touch and hold it, like people putting it in front of me knowing I can't have it yet is just plain mean, where as if you're put under by the time you wake up you're all stitched up and people can actually hold baby. I think it'd kill me to have people hold it up and show me and then promptly take it away and say no you have to wait to hold it. Like once I see it I better actually get to hold it!

totally understand that nwelch nothing worse than being the last to see your baby, and I cant take that back its heart wrenching

I have had 3, 1 emergency and 2 I had to have but not emergencies of that makes . I was asleep for first my baby was born at 6.20 am and I never seen him till 9,30 I woke up not knowing if he was alive or dead boy or girl. and couldn't hold him till 11 cos I was to weak. 2nd and 3rd I was awake and it was fab you don't see anything cos the screen and soon as its born u hear it cry u see its face. plus in the hospital where I go no one is allowed in if you are put to sleep, not sure about other hospitals though.

Yeah there is a curtain put up you can not see what's going on unless you stand up and watch. My husband did he had to watch the whole thing :) still talks about it to this day lol.

I have not had a c-section but believe that when it takes place you and your husband do not see anything going on. They hang a divider so you cannot see anything below your chest but can hear the doctors and they can look over to check on you. So your husband wouldn't really notice anything (much less than a natural birth).

Anyways thought I'd post this incase you were expecting to watch them cut in and take baby out...might make you feel a bit more relaxed? Others that have had one may be able to provide more reassurance IF you want to consider that option.

I would say if you are positive you want to be fully put under you should likely start voicing that now. So that everyone knows the day of...because when things get rolling and busy it is harder for you to voice it and for them to hear it.

I am aware that things don't always go as planned, especially with child birth but I really have made up my mind that if a c section is nessicary I absolutely do not want to be awake for it at all. I don't know why but I am very against it. I haven't talked to my fiance about it but I know he would not like seeing me cut open and am already betting that vaginal labor will be enough to make him uncomfortable. He has been with when they have checked my cervix and even that has scared him (he got light headed, and freaked out a little) so I'm not too worried about 'sharing' the c section with him. I'm just worried if I bring it up to my doctor she would laugh in my face and try to talk me out of it or just say no.

My sister had a c-section years ago and they put her under. She was not able to see her baby or hold her baby until hours later and everyone got to see him before she did. I had a c-section 5 years ago and was not put under. I was able to hear"it's a boy" and his first cry. My sister to this day wishes she had that opportunity. My husband was with me the entire time holding my hand and my sister's husband wasn't even allowed in the delivery room. I have to have another c-section this time and would not want to be put under. That is just my experience and wouldn't change it. There's nothing like hearing your babies first cry.

The only thing about being put under is that I am pretty sure no birthing partner would be allowed in with you and it might take you a good few hours to wake up that you would miss out on having with your new baby if you choose that option :/, I was totally against having forceps before I gave birth to my lb and lo and behold guess what needed forceps. In the end I didn't care as I had my baby safe and in my arms.

Good luck on everything going naturally xxx

This shouldn't be a problem. It is also not uncommon to be put fully under for an emergency c-section; if time is of the essence, it's faster to give a general anaesthetic via in IV in your arm than it is to mess around with trying to get an epidural inserted properly.

Here's hoping that you can do all natural! <3