Husband accompany wife during C-section in public hospital?

A

appleseed

New member
Hi,

my wife is due soon and we are registered under Princess Margaret Hospital.

Due to her condition (placenta previa) she is informed that she will likely need to go through an elective C-section instead of natural birth.

My wife is very anxious as we suspect husband is not allowed inside the operation room during the operation, and she wants me to be with her during this period.

Question: are husbands allowed inside the operation room during C-section in PMH? Any exceptions?

thanks
 
It is usual to exclude partners in the operating room if general anaesthesia is used. No exceptions. If spinal anesthesia is administered, then I presume that the policies vary between hospitals.
In Europe and the US, the partner can be at the C/S birth as long as the mother is conscious.
Has your wife discussed whether she will be able to choose spinal anaesthesia or general anesthesia?
I will try to find out the answer to your specific question and write back.
 
MommieMid said:
It is usual to exclude partners in the operating room if general anaesthesia is used. No exceptions. If spinal anesthesia is administered, then I presume that the policies vary between hospitals.
In Europe and the US, the partner can be at the C/S birth as long as the mother is conscious.
Has your wife discussed whether she will be able to choose spinal anaesthesia or general anesthesia?
I will try to find out the answer to your specific question and write back.
Click to expand...

Thanks MommieMid. We have no idea if it will be spinal anaesthesia or general anesthesia. We are scheduled for a visit later this week and hopefully will have a better idea by then.
 
My husband was present in the room when I had my c-section at the Prince of Wales.

As I understand it, from the anaesthetist that I had, administering a general anaesthetic is not common and is usually done for emergencies rather than planned c-sections, in cases where there is not enough time for a spinal block or epidural to take effect. So, with a planned c-section, you should be fine.
 
My husband was with me as well in Prince of Wales. I also was very insistent that he be with me, I was incredibly nervous and anxious about it. They didn't argue. :)
 
Not sure how it works here, but in the US, in most hospitals husbands are not allowed in the room while the spinal is administered, so you may have to leave but allowed back in afterwards. I would think general anaesthetic is only done during emergencies, not planned sections.
 
i had a planned c-section for my second. i had general anesthesia. i had been in a wheelchair for the 4 months prior to delivery due to severe back and hip pain (could not walk AT ALL it hurt so much). they were afraid if they gave me anything in the spine the pain might be permanent. therefore, it was deemed better to give me general.... personally, i MUCH, MUCH MUCH preferred the GA than the epi i had during my first. however, i know it is not the best way to go and if i had to choose it, i would not choose GA unless absolutely necessary.

forgot to say:
#1: emergency c-section~~~ no hubby
#2: planned c-section under GA~~~ no hubby....
 
I delivered at Tuen Mun, and planned ahead, getting special permission and filling out forms to have my husband allowed inside. Despite having a written permission form, on the D-day, he was not allowed in after all, so a fat lot of good all that did (can you tell I'm still a bit upset about that?)!

I think every hospital is different in how hubby-friendly they are in the delivery suite, and beware they can change their mind at the last minute and there is little you can do about it. But it's worth it to try to go through the hoops anyway. It's really nice to have someone there to hold your hand.
 
Appleseed,
I am pleased that Carang has reported her positive experience with the general anaesthetic that she had, when she delivered her baby.

This evening I spoke to a consultant obstetrician at a public hospital about your question. She was very clear that in all public hospitals in Hong Kong, a mother with a placenta praevia would always have a general anaesthetic for delivery by caesarian section. I do not believe that there would be exceptions to this.

Placenta praevia is a serious situation and the caesarian section will be performed by the most senior obstetrician on duty, in the unit. Your wife will be cared for especially carefully and with significant skill and expertise.

It is a significant event in both of your lives and I know that you don't take this prospect easily, but you need to be very supportive and strong towards your wife. You are her 'brick' and she will listen and look to you for stability. You need to explain to your wife that she will be looked after carefully, with you in the nearby vicinity, and that you will care for the baby as soon after the birth as possible.

This time before her delivery, she should rest as much as possible, and be in as low stress state as possible. Her work caring for her baby will begin very soon and if it is after a C/S, then she needs to be as rested and relaxed as possible, now. Try to reassure her to not be anxious.

I personally consented to a general anaesthetic had I needed a C/S during the VBAC birth of my twins. I gave the method of anaesthesia great consideration, and this is what I considered most beneficial, if the situation had required this.
I have had a previous C/S.

Please keep us updated, I will be waiting to hear your progress.
Best wishes!
 
Last edited:
i didn't mention that i would take the GA over the epidural because the epidural i had in my first delivery didn't work and I could feel what was happening, every single thing. it was the most excruciating thing i have ever endured.....;)
 
MommieMid said:
Appleseed,
This evening I spoke to a consultant obstetrician at a public hospital about your question. She was very clear that in all public hospitals in Hong Kong, a mother with a placenta praevia would always have a general anaesthetic for delivery by caesarian section. I do not believe that there would be exceptions to this.

Placenta praevia is a serious situation and the caesarian section will be performed by the most senior obstetrician on duty, in the unit. Your wife will be cared for especially carefully and with significant skill and expertise.

It is a significant event in both of your lives and I know that you don't take this prospect easily, but you need to be very supportive and strong towards your wife. You are her 'brick' and she will listen and look to you for stability. You need to explain to your wife that she will be looked after carefully, with you in the nearby vicinity, and that you will care for the baby as soon after the birth as possible.

This time before her delivery, she should rest as much as possible, and be in as low stress state as possible. Her work caring for her baby will begin very soon and if it is after a C/S, then she needs to be as rested and relaxed as possible, now. Try to reassure her to not be anxious.

I personally consented to a general anaesthetic had I needed a C/S during the VBAC birth of my twins. I gave the method of anaesthesia great consideration, and this is what I considered most beneficial, if the situation had required this.
I have had a previous C/S.

Please keep us updated, I will be waiting to hear your progress.
Best wishes!
Click to expand...

Firstly, thanks for all the wishes and taking the trouble to finding out the info for me, MommieMid and Carang.

We just visited the clinic today and we are told there is still a small chance the womb moves up and there is no need for c-section, but the doctor advised that we should be mentally prepared for it. I believe my wife has gradually accepted that, and that I may not be allowed inside the operation room with her during operation.

Thanks and appreciate all the sharings and advice. You all here are really helpful and kind. thanks.
 
Hello,

I am French, I had an elective c-section last November at Princess Margaret. Husbands are not allowed inside the operation room. We even had to deal with them so that my husband could spend a few minutes with our baby after the delivery which was not that easy, we had to insist. I had my c-section at noon and we had to wait until 5:30 (vivisting hour) to be together. There is absolutely no flexibility there. Nurses do not allow fathers to carry their babies during visiting hours (for hygiene reasons I guess) which is unbelievable but we did it, we simply pulled the curtains not to be disturbed.
 
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