Birth. The sequence of events from the day of surgery (with epidural anesthesia)
Generally, the most essential steps from the day of surgery are as follows:
1. First, you will go to the hospital reception, where you have to fill in the necessary documents for hospitalization.
2. Then you go to the guard room of the maternity, to perform the non-stress fetal test.
3. Your nurse will ask from your pregnancy' dossier only some blood tests that are most relevant to your anesthetic doctor:
• The latest blood tests:
- complete blood count,
- coagulation,
- blood type,
- blood glucose,
• the last ultrasound performed,
• the last electrocardiogram (ECG) performed.
4. If you do not have an analytical report that includes your blood group, a nurse will take your blood. It's vital to find out your blood group (needed in case of transfusion).
5. Before surgery, glucose should be given intravenously.
6. The gynecologist will ask you a series of questions and will fill with you a record of your health.
7. The anesthesiologist will ask you to sit down on the operating table. He will tell you to put your head at your chest and put your hands over your ears. Then, the doctor will introduce the catheter, and you will feel a sting in the back. Also, you will feel something cold along the spine.
8. Afterward, you will stretch on your back, and you will not feel your legs and half of your stomach anymore. After a few seconds, you will not feel at all anymore your legs.
9. The surgery will begin.
10. You may feel maneuvers during surgery (doctors manipulate your body and lift you from the operating table because they "walk" through your body).
11. Because of the lamp lights, you can see how your body is projecting in the glossy material of the ceiling. You can see the blood and how the doctor cleans and sews the operation.
12. Possible experienced sensations:
- fear,
- the feeling of trembling,
- agitation,
- restlessness,
- the feeling of crying at the sound of the child's voice,
- joy,
- despair,
- loss of patience.
13. At the end of the operation, the thirst appears.
14. After the surgery, the doctor will put two heavy ice packs on your operation.
15. Nurses will carry you on a stretcher to the intensive care room.
Read also about total anesthesia.
