Patient name:___________________________
Your cesarean section has been
scheduled for:___________________ (date).
When you and your health care provider decide that it
is best for your baby to be born by cesarean
section (also called c-section),a date for the surgery
will be set in advance. The following information will
help you plan for the day before and day of the surgery.
Cesarean sections are generally done in the mornings between
8 am and noon in the Women's Hospital Birth Center operating
room. The hospital staff and your doctor determines the
scheduled time of your surgery 24 hours in advance. You
will receive a phone call from one of the Birth Center
nurses the night before your surgery to confirm the time
and to give you final instructions.
Your doctor and nurses make every effort to start your
surgery at your scheduled time. However, sometimes there
are unexpected delays if emergent, unscheduled surgeries
must be performed. The nurse will call you after talking
with your doctor if there is a delay so that you will know
what the plan for your surgery is. You may decide that
you will be more comfortable waiting at home rather than
in the Birth Center waiting room if the delay will be more
than an hour.
The Night Before Surgery
1. Do not eat or drink anything
(including gum, hard candy, water, etc) after midnight.
2. Do not smoke tobacco
products or drink alcohol for at least 24 hours before
your surgery.
3. Take any medications
you usually take unless your doctor tells you not to take
them.
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The Morning of Your Surgery
1. Take a shower or bathe
with an antibacterial soap such as Dial before you come
in to the hospital.
2. You may brush your teeth
but do not swallow any water.
3. Do not wear cosmetics,
nail polish, or any jewelry including your wedding band.
Please leave all valuables at home.
4. You may wear your eyeglasses. If
you wear contact lenses, let us know since they may need
to be removed before going into the operating room.
5. If your doctor told you
to take a medication on the morning of your surgery, take
it with only a small sip of water.
6. Call the Birth Center
Triage at (734) 764-8134 at 6 am. You will be updated
on what time to arrive in the Birth Center Triage. The
time you are given may be different than the time you expected
to arrive, if we need to adjust the surgery schedule because
of emergency surgeries.
7. Bring a copy of your
Advance Directive with you if you have one.
Park in the Taubman Visitor Parking and come to the Birth
Center Triage desk on the 4th floor of C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. Use Elevator B located
in the lobby next to the admitting desk.
In the Triage Pre-operative Area
1. You may have one person
only come with you to the pre-op area and into surgery.
2. Space is limited in the
Birth Center waiting areas. Whenever possible, please
have other family members plan to wait at home until at
least 3 hours after your scheduled surgery time before
coming in to the hospital to visit you.
3. Please leave your suitcase
and infant car seat in your car until after you are transferred
to your postpartum room.
4. After you are settled
in, your nurse will place an identification band on your
wrist and will check you vital signs and the baby's heart
rate.
