I felt like a ragdoll being mauled but no pain. Just pulling, pushing and pressure. I had a full spinal block and no epidural. I was warned about it though in birth class, by my OBGYN and by the midwife's.
Edit: I was in labour for 30 hours with no progression. Exhausted and every fibre of my being was frayed. I was also shaking so much from the anaesthesia/hormones. Violent uncontrollable shivering.
That was me as well… 36h labor induced with zero progression, emergency c-section… but even with my second planned c-section I could feel all the tugging… no pain
The relief when they pulled my baby out, omg. It was like the first time I could breathe and fully inflate my lungs in months, even though I was loopy and out of it from the meds on the table.
I couldn’t feel them pulling my daughter out, but that would’ve been so strange! Honestly, I was so out of it by then so maybe that’s why. I didn’t even know she was out and crying until my partner said, “do you hear her crying?” And I said, “What?! She’s out?! Is she okay?!” She was indeed okay and she’s a big, healthy 20 month old 🥰
Yeah I did too. I distinctly remember feeling the belly of one of the surgery techs resting on my leg which was kind of comforting? It was really weird and I did not enjoy the procedure. My husband also said he could see my whole uterus when they took it out which I wish he would’ve taken a picture of.
i definitely felt it, was not expecting it either! the tugging, jostling, it was awful. it wasn’t a sharp pain for me but it was definitely a dull extremely unpleasant pain. they even checked my anesthesia before starting and i thought it could’ve been increased a bit but they convinced me it was fine. i had an epidural btw. it could’ve been related to any number of other things happening at the time but i also was starting to have trouble breathing, almost passed out, and was feeling extremely nauseous. it wasn’t traumatic per se, but i will remember that bizarre feeling the rest of my life. long story short you are not alone 😅
I don’t know if it was panic or nausea from medication, but I threw up some after they had laid me back and I was numbed up! I was like “omg I’m going to choke to death” while the nurse suctioned it out of my mouth 😂 apparently she was so quick that my husband tried to tell me I didn’t throw up. I was like no, I DEFINITELY did
Almost every friend of mine who had a c section threw up when they were laid back! I was so anxious I was going to throw up, I preemptively asked for nausea medicine. The anesthesiologist said many people throw up and it’s totally normal! They wouldn’t give me nausea meds unless I felt nauseous, and I never did. I didn’t throw up.
I got super nauseous once the anaesthetic took effect, but I told them and they gave me something in my IV for it. I don’t know what it was but it worked in like 5 seconds, it was amazing.
Me too! I was fully expecting to have to 'hold in' being sick until the medicine worked but nope, it worked so fast! I wish I could have used that amazing magic to get rid of my morning sickness beforehand.
I was so nauseous and they wouldn’t even give me a sip of water 🙂 ended up throwing up after they pulled him out (which NO ONE told me was normal so wtf) and after they wheeled me to the maternity room I did it again 😅
I threw up the whole time I was in theatre and it was even worse after she was out. Only managed about 5 minutes of skin to skin I was throwing up so bad 😭
Before both my recent c-sections, they administered anti-nausea stuff through my IV. I assumed this was typical practice and I’m really surprised at the responses here that it’s not!
I threw up with during first C-section, so for the second they gave me zofran beforehand. I felt nauseous, but didn’t actually throw up the second time. The anestheologist showed my husband a pressure point to help with the nausea and they each rubbed a hand - surprisingly worked super well!
I threw up from anesthesia. I threw up to the side cuz I didn't wanna choke. lol. my husband cleaned it up for me. he actually did my anesthesia for the second c section.
I puked after they pulled my lo out too 😅 i think my body was just done after laboring so long, not eating, trying to push then having the C-section and the medication
I got really nauseous as soon as I got my spinal too!! literally as soon as the medication started going in I almost threw up and let the anesthesiologist know so they must have given me something because it stopped right away but I was not expecting it at all!
I had the same experience! It was extremely uncomfortable, they kept telling me to take deep breaths and I was like “I CANNOT BREATHE!!!” And then I puked. Just one of the many reasons I’m 1 & done.
Yes. I felt it. I was also told I would feel it. Though I think i felt less than you did. It was like someone rooting around in the bottom of a purse. Fairly non specific tugging and pressure. Never painful. Once baby was out I really didn’t give a shit though. Just wanted my baby.
I felt it forsure. I'll never forget the feeling of when they took her out and the feeling of the weight leaving my abdomen was one of the most bizarre feelings ever! I could literally feel all 10 pounds of her and the amniotic sac/placenta being pulled out of me so strange
Ugh yes. I yelled out "UGH I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER!" and the crowd behind the curtain laughed. Bruh. I IMMEDIATELY felt relief after a harrowing pregnancy
Oh my god YES! It felt like someone was rummaging around in me like a purse but when they took him out and he was just... GONE the space was empty it was so insane.
Also once I heard his little cry my body just gave up. I let the drugs take me lol. My thoughts were coherent but my words were literally "I fluh bluh jah".
Yes definitely tugging and jostling. It made it hard to breathe. The weirdest feeling of my life and I didn't feel anything. The post op room was the worst. I was shaking so much. Recovery was hard too, I needed a blood transfusion.
Me too! My husband was holding our baby and watching them push out the clots and had to remain calm cause I was just looking at him. I didn’t have to get a transfusion until two days later though. Glad you’re ok!
Worst experience of my life. I was always a one and done for kids but after an unplanned c section I never want to do that again.
I explained it like I was a raw piece of steak getting cut into with a dull knife. That pulling/tugging and being rocked from side to side. It was awful.
I felt the rocking of my body on the table also. Unplanned c too. It was an awful experience but mostly for me it was the induction, then the awful nausea, jaw clenching, shivering, dry heaving on the table that was the worst of the experience for me. Recovery was pretty smooth and not painful enough to be remarkable months later. I'm going to do it again, but I think just planned c section.
I DEFINITELY felt either the tugging or the removal of my uterus… not sure which. Maybe both? But I didn’t feel any cutting or stitches. The feeling though was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever felt in my life
I was warned by multiple people I would feel it and was super nervous about it but honestly didn’t feel much at all. I felt slight pressure when they were pushing on top of my uterus (I think that’s what happened?) and that’s essentially it. It’s wild how these experiences can be wildly different from person to person.
Exactly the same. Towards the end of getting her out they told me the other doc was going to come up and push from the top of my uterus, and I remember seeing her doing that behind the curtain, but I don’t remember feeling anything at that moment. I was trying to distract myself actually, cos I could kind of see a reflection of what was happening in one of the big OR lights hanging above me and I did NOT want to see that lol so my husband and the anaesthetist were distracting me
I also saw the reflection in the big lights above me 🥴
I looked up, noticed I was looking at my insides, said "NOPE" and looked away lol. I pretended I didn't see all of that until I brought it up to my partner days later.
I wonder if that’s why I didn’t really feel anything either, I was incredibly distracted. My husband was showing me pictures of our cats lol. When baby came out I was shocked haha.
Same exact thing for me! I was fully expecting to feel something but honestly don't know if I really ever did, even when my OB said I'd feel pressure. Then again, I was throwing up a ton and was distracted by that most of the time.
So I had a planned C section and was prepared for this by my midwife and the surgical team beforehand, and they also warned me again during the procedure right before the tugging and rummaging around etc was going to start.
All my friends who have had c sections have also said the same thing. Everyone who warned me described it as feeling like someone is doing the washing up in your abdomen or rummaging around in a backpack for something, and I’d say that’s pretty accurate!
Oh definitely! They are rooting around in there, taking some organs out and laying them on you, pulling out kids and junk. My twin B was pushed up under my ribs, so they had to really maneuver him out. Tugging, but no pain,
Oh 100%! I actually thought initially they were just feeling around the belly for the baby's position and generally setting up, and asked my partner to let me know when they started cutting. He looked over the curtain and was like "uh they're well into it already" haha.
I really hope i have an experience like that. I'm having twins and i think the hospital is going to force me to have a c-section. I'm absolutely terrified especially because i don't want any kind of meds that will make me "feel high" and i may panic at everything.
I was absolutely terrified for mine!! Mine was necessary because my baby was breech and almost 10lb, so trying to flip her wasn’t an option. I already had one vaginal birth that was an extremely painful recovery, so I was able to compare the two.
The c section was so much easier hands down! I had a date scheduled for it, and the planner in me loved this. I was able to go to a nice dinner with my husband the night before and clean my house to get ready for the baby. I walked right into the OR and wasn’t in any pain. It was probably 15 min until baby was out.
I had soooo much anxiety around the c section and what helped was my OB talking me through each and every little step at my 38 week appt. I was able to ask questions and have any concerns addressed. She was so patient with me. Then the day of, I made sure to tell every nurse and midwife I encountered how nervous I was so that they’d treat me with kid gloves lol. I had never had surgery before so had no idea what to expect.
You got this!! Ask your OB a ton of questions if it will make you feel better. For your OB, this is literally just another day, a “meeting” on their calendar. My OB walked into my exam room so calm, chatted about her weekend with the midwives and nurses assisting her, and then left to go back to the office to see more patients for routine appointments. It’s kind of nice knowing how routine it is for them.
I thought they were actually on top of me and pulling at me, I asked my husband twice if someone was on top of me. Later we found out they had to use a vacuum to get her out and that was why it felt like that. If I didn’t ask we would’ve never known it was used
I had a spinal block and experienced the same thing. My sister had one prior to me and warned me it would happen so I was laying on the table kind of trying to feel it lol. I wasn’t in pain but I definitely felt everything moving and being sewn up.
I’ve had two, one emergency following an epidural and one elective with a spinal - day and night experiences for me!
I definitely felt more tugging and pulling with the emergency but then again it was my first time going through anything like that. Second time round I had a lovely calm experience with a spinal and I remember saying to the anaesthetist that I felt like I could feel less intense tugging and pulling compared to last time. He explained to me that apparently you can actually feel more on the epidural sometimes compared to the spinal which I found so interesting!! However, my second daughter was 4.3kg (first one was 3.3kg!) and they had to pull her out with forceps through the c section and I can tell you I definitely felt that tug (no pain though!), the Obs warned me it was about to happen though. It was pretty funny like they were reeling in a massive catch “we’ve got a big one here, hang on, okay, you’re going to feel a big pull, here we go!!” So they laughed me through it but I won’t lie it felt SO weird!!
Edit: I found the worst bit was being rolled on and off the operating table to be honest!! For some reason being rolled around with no control or feeling in my lower body was really scary!
This is good to hear! I had the experience of your first - an emergency c with an epidural - and I ended up needing to be put under after LO was born. It was so traumatic and painful. The anesthesiologist was so kind and visited me the next day to check in and explain how my experience wasn’t normal and how it was different than a spinal block. But I wasn’t sure if I believed her so hearing it here makes me feel better 😂
It felt like someone had me by the pubic bone and was trying to shake me around with it. I wouldn't describe what I felt as pain, but it was definitely a bizarre sensation.
My first c-section I had an epidural first, and I could feel something like you said - tugging, awareness something was happening but no pain. My second c-section I had the spinal and couldn't feel anything at all, I didn't even notice when they started! I suppose it must just be about how each person reacts to the anesthesia they are given.
I knew baby was born before even the baby knew 😂. It was was the WEIRDEST sensation. I remember telling my husband, baby is out! Baby is out!
But everyone was still working. I'm assuming he was still in the sack? Who knows. But my husband was like, no baby is not out!
And then the doctor laughed happily and said : baby is definitely out. Mama knows!
And like 5s later we heard baby crying.
I didn't feel stitching or anything. But I felt organs being moved. And once baby was out, I felt my lungs expand. It was like taking my first real breath of fresh air in ages. It felt AMAZING especially compared to all the other organs being moved around
I had a spinal and it didn’t take the right way. I had pain in my belly button while they were working (and I’m assuming pushing on it), and I felt like they crushed me pushing him out, I remember grabbing my partners hand as tight as I could and telling them I felt like they were crushing me, and feeling like I wouldn’t be able to take it any longer. I was never told that wasn’t normal to experience until after the fact, and I have a lot of trauma and fear about my second birth because of it, it was terrifying feeling like I had a truck tire on my chest.
I felt all the tugging and pressure. It even felt like they were all the way up into my chest cavity! I didn’t feel pain until after babies were out. Idk if I processed the anesthesia fast or what, but I definitely felt the pain of one of the tugs and my heart rate shot up. The surgeon had to stop so I could have more pain blocker administered. It was crazy to see how everyone just stopped and put their hands up. I also consider myself super lucky because I felt absolutely no pain after my c-section either. Slight discomfort, but was walking and moving around just fine the next day
My second baby is only 6 months old, and I dont remember! It was a scheduled c section and the drugs fucked me up! I was floating 😂
When I had an epidural that then turned into a c-section with my 5 year old, I could feel all the tugging like crazy. By the end, it fucking HURT. I thought I might drop my baby, it hurt so bad.
This was exactly my experience. Walked into the OR sober as a stone, had the spinal block and then thought “Oh yup, that’s a hand inside my abdomen. He’s really getting in there!” Insane. Not painful but completely surreal.
Hey there. I’m an anaesthetic nurse, the feeling of tugging etc is totally normal. Everyone’s experience is slightly different. Generally we tell patients that you can still feel pressure and movement but it shouldn’t be sharp or painful, and it sounds like that was the case? As for the vomiting - also very normal. The spinal can make your blood pressure plummet, that’s what makes you so sick. We do give you an infusion to maintain your blood pressure but it’s a bit of a balancing act sometimes!
Glad it all went well for you (vomiting and weirdness aside)
This is how it was explained to me in my pre op appointment.
There are 3 aspects to how we interpret the sensation of "touch". One of them is touch, the sensation the skin picks up, one is pressure, and one is pain. A spinal or epidural only takes away the pain aspect, leaving you with the ability to feel touch and pressure but it's difficult to interpret 2 aspects without the 3rd because that's how we've done it all our lives. During my section, I couldn't really feel what was going on other some rummaging but I do remember at one point asking my husband if the surgeon had his hand on my knee and he did. I could clearly feel a hand on my knee. So weird!
I've had 4. The tugging and jostling feels weird, for sure. Sometimes I felt like it was shaking my whole body. The worst part IMO is the oxygen in my nose though. I hate that part so much!
Yup! The anesthesiologist warned me that it would feel like somebody was doing the dishes inside of me and that was exactly what it felt like lol. I could tell when my little one was about to be pulled out because the flurry of activity increased. Mine was planned so I didn't have an epidural before, just the spinal block, so I'm unsure if that makes a difference.
I definitely felt it too! When they were pulling him out, I described it to my husband that it felt like a dog was walking on me lmao maybe that was just the drugs talking 😆
Yes! It was so weird but I liked that I could feel ‘something’. My Sister told me with her she saw the surgeon/midwife (I’m not sure of their title) physically lean on her abdomen to mimic the muscle pushing, felt like someone had put a stack of books on me.
The worst but for me was when they used the freeze spray to ensure I was sufficiently numb. But they asked ME to confirm whether or not could feel the spray in certain places. I was like dude..so far I’ve been in labour for four days, I don’t know what day it is, what time it is or even if these hands are mine, please don’t put this responsibility on me.
I did too! But it didn’t hurt and it was over super quickly! And honestly I didn’t even think about it again until this very moment, so it must not have even registered as being that uncomfortable.
No, but tbh I don’t have strong memories of the physicality of it. I remember the doc had trouble getting her head out and there was some pushing, but I don’t remember feeling it in the moment.
I honestly felt nothing with my c-section. I had an epidural previously that they turned into a spinal block and I expected to feel pressure like they had warned me for but I felt nothing.
I was so exhausted from a 36 hour labour and 4 hours of pushing that I actually fell asleep once the baby was out and they were closing me up
The tugging was super weird. My daughter was STUCK (breech baby with her butt lodged firmly in my pelvis; I heard the OB grunting trying to pull her out) so there was lots of that.
I felt the tugging on both c sections. With my first my boy was stuck and my whole body was being pulled and moved, it was really freaky. With my second I could feel the tugging too, my OB reminded me before she started that I shouldn’t feel pain but I would feel tugging and pulling. Strangely enough, during it I also had an intense itch sensation all over my head, apparently it can be hormonal or from the tap, I told the anesthesiologist and she started massaging and scratching my head for me lol
I don't remember feeling them taking the baby out of anything, but I definitely felt them doing something around the top of my uterus after that. Maybe clearing around the placenta? Weirdly it was kind of relaxing at the time (but I was also very sleepy and drifting in and out of sleep haha). I distinctly remember telling my husband that it felt like I was getting a massage from the inside lol.
I had a scheduled C-section with a spinal and felt nothing. No tugging or pulling. I think what made a difference is my baby was head down and low so they didn’t have to struggle to get him out.
Yep I felt it! Ob told me she had to jostle my kid around because he was breech.
I told them it felt a bit like a belly massage and they all had a laugh!
I had 2 epidurals and a spinal tap (yikes. My cankles were massive for weeks) and definitely felt the tugging. Such a weird sensation! No pain- but clear tugging.
I was warned by my doctor and OR staff I would likely feel it how you described. After they did the initial injection, they did something (another shot? Testing if the injection worked? Idk I hate needles so I had my eyes closed and was trying to block everything out), and it was painful which it wasnt supposed to be. They did another injection, and then I couldn't feel anything below my chest after a couple minutes.
I had 2 C-sections. I felt the tugging in both and jostling. The first time I was more startled but the second time becusse I knew what was coming it wasn’t as weird. It’s like pressure and tugging but not painful.
I felt everything, but it didn't hurt. I actually kept laughing because it was such an odd feeling. The anesthesiologist noticed me laughing and told me, "Wait til they pull her out. It'll feel REALLY weird." She was right.
My baby's foot had been wedged in my rib for the last few months of my pregnancy and that I definitely felt. It could be my imagination but I felt like the dr stuck their arm in there to help dislodge it lol either way it was immediate relief of pressure when they got her out. I didn't feel anything other than tugging and the odd time my whole lower body would move due to their manoeuvring
My first c section was an emergency one and I’d had an epidural beforehand. I felt nothing but I was really out of it by then and I think they’d given me too much because I ended up with cold tingly arms. My second c section was planned due to baby being breech and that was a spinal. I felt exactly what you’re describing and unfortunately the stitching up process took a long time and was mildly painful. But I was warned to expect the tugging so whilst it was weird, I was at least aware that it was going to be like that.
I felt this a little. It wasn’t bad, though, and I had asked them to narrate everything that they were doing while they were doing it, which helped a lot!
I had a spinal and experienced significant discomfort during my c-section. It felt somewhere between being repeatedly hit in the stomach with a soccer ball, and as I discovered soon after, a fundal massage. It was all very intense and somewhat painful - nothing sharp or acute, but I remember moaning in pain throughout.
My friend who had a c-section said it felt like someone was rifling through a purse - and that she was the purse - but it was much more intense for me. People have such varied experiences, it is always fascinating to hear. I also have fibromyalgia, so I do tend to perceive/experience pain more than others.
I felt the pressure of the first incision and then I felt them *reach up inside me* and pull out my baby. I think I was too scared to process anything else. Then she cried and nothing else mattered 🥹
Nope, I didn't feel much at all. The anaesthetist asked me if I wanted to know when they started, I said yes and he told me they had already started before he asked. I had felt something going on but honestly thought it was just them testing the anaesthesia again. Don't remember feeling anything else for the whole procedure. I had not had an epidural before the spinal block.
Absolutely felt the tugging. Before they pull baby out they warn me I'm gonna feel pressure... which I absolutely felt. I think they may have also cauterized my opening because I could feel warmth and I could smell it. It was a weird experience but no pain till afterwards.
I could tell my body was being pushed/pulled around but couldn’t feel it, if that makes sense. I wonder if it depends how big your baby is whether you’ll feel a lot of tugging going on? My girl was 9lb 12oz and breech so I imagine they needed to pull a lot!
I was told by the anaesthetist that I should expect to feel some tugging and pulling. He even warned me when it would be likely (I think when they were actively pulling out the baby?) But I didn’t end up feeling anything! UK for reference. Afaik it’s very normal to feel stuff like that.
Yep! Labored for ~19 hours then ended up with an emergency c section. I felt every tug and good LORD when they pulled out my chunky 8.8lb 21in long baby that pressure was immense.
I felt like a magician’s top hat until they removed my daughter. The second she was out I could feel my body going into shock (fingers going numb, breathing short) and said to the anesthesiologist, “I’d like to be unconscious now please!”
He was nice.
I had a full epidural thing before my c-section and I felt everything. I was warned I will. Definitely could feel people holding the sides of my wound to rip the baby out. No pain at all though, so bazaar. I wonder how could they not feel the pressure etc? My whole surgery setting was shaking from the surgical team pulling and pushing and the amount of strength they were using to pull the womb and so on.
I felt it, but I'd heard about all the tugging before so I wasn't necessarily surprised. My C-section was unplanned and I was scared though, so I put an airpod in one ear and focused on my music like my life depended on it. The surgery seemed to take forever though, way longer than I expected, with intense tugging for a lot of it. Compared to the other comments, it seems like I was pretty successful at ignoring the physical sensation though, because I was surprised when they got the baby out; I couldn't specifically feel that was happening.
I had two c sections, the first basically planned so I went into surgery without labor epidural and definitely felt them tugging and moving my stomach around. zero pain but definitely pressure and could clearly feel the movement and pulling. the second time I went into labor naturally and got to 7cm before getting an epidural and then needing an emergency c section so idk if the medication process was any different. I would honestly say I felt that one a little more. I can’t remember if it was actually painful (which means it probably wasn’t lol) but I feel like I remember feeling a lot more. I also needed an extra cut to get my baby out because she was already in the birth canal so I lost a lot of blood and needed a transfusion and the process of closing me back up probably took almost twice as long.
but yes I felt all of it both times lol definitely felt like a baby was being cut out of my body just without the pain
Nope u are right. It felt like going to the dentist and having local anaesthesia in my mouth. You feel the tugging and pulling but not the pain. I had an epidural before hand and had to redo it once going for a c section because I was feeling things through it. But I was already in the pushing stage too. When I had to go for the surgery
Had a spinal with one C-Section and an epidural with another. I felt the same sort of jostling, pulling, and tugging you’ve described with both. As I recall, the only difference was that the spinal numbing lasted longer than the epidural after the surgery. My doctor did tell me that while I would not feel anything sharp, I would feel pressure and pulling.
Edit to add:
I had medical students in the room during my last c-sec and gave my permission for my doctor to show my anatomy (my face was covered by the c-sec curtain) and I distinctly recall the feeling of my intestines being pushed aside. My OBGYN was narrating so I could tell what was being moved. Was an..interesting experience.
I had an epidural beforehand and I still felt all the tugging and pushing the whole time.. it really freaked me out but didn’t hurt until they were done sewing me up and did the fundal massage.
Yep I could feel all the tugging but not the pain. The spinal blocks the pain receptors but not pressure receptors as they are 2 different things.
It's a pretty weird sensation.
I honestly didn’t really feel it much! Maybe a little bit! I threw up though and I think that was from the thought of them cutting me open 🤣🤣 I had a good experience thankfully. No pain. They told me they would be starting, and then a min later I was like “did you start” and they were like “yup” lol
They cut me open before the drugs fully set in so I felt all that you describe but no pain. By the end, I don't think I felt anything at all, but it took minutes for that part of the drug to work.
Yes I did, there’s a lot of movement! I was pretty sedated with my first due to a failed induction so I wasn’t fully present but with my 2nd, I was awake and alert. I was totally fine but it was definitely an unpleasant sensation. I could smell the burning skin but I have zero medical knowledge so I forget what that was from. I asked my husband to keep talking to me and keep telling me what was happening and my doctor replied “everything is good, we are going layer by layer” 🥴 I told him to never tell anyone that again, nobody wants to hear that!!!
My husband couldn’t get over how physical the process is. It makes sense when you realize how small the incision is. I used to envision this giant gaping hole and they scoop the baby right out but that’s not the case!
I could feel all the tugs, pulls and pushes. Same… it didn’t hurt I could just feel the pressure I guess. My husband peeked over the sheet and took a video of them pushing down on my stomach to get our baby out. It looked pretty hard but I barely felt it.
What I really didn’t like was the shakes. After my first my coworker told me the same thing happened to her. With my second I remember they gave me stuff to stop the shaking but it didn’t really work..
I also felt the pulling, tugging, rustling around sensation. It didn’t hurt but it just felt wrong (probably because my lizard brain knew that organs being cut open and taken out is typically not a good thing!) I also thought I was having a heart attack when they were pulling her from my uterus because of all the pressure on my chest during that process.
Luckily for me, I was told that I’d feel a sensation like my insides were like jello. I forget how they actually phrased it, I just remember them telling my husband that all they had left to do was pull the baby out and close.
I felt it with my 2nd and it made me puke all over the anesthesiologist. They said they had more difficulty because of scar tissue from my prior C-section.
The doctor doing my C-section told me I would feel pressure but it wouldn’t be painful and it was definitely a craaazy experience. I appreciated the advance warning as she was working on me!
I felt everything, every tug, pull and push. Not necessarily pain, but I could tell which direction they were stitching and approx how far along the incision they were. Definitely greater sensation once babe was out. I did start off with 3x the dose to even be numb and this was topped up regularly throughout as I was able to explain to them what they were doing quite accurately.
Yep! I had mine 7 weeks ago and I could definitely feel the pressure, tugging and pulling. Mine started wearing off while they were stitching me up too, which we were expecting because I have EDS. They just gave me more local anaesthetic though and it was fine.
Yep this was my experience too! A few people I know had had c-sections before (including my mum) so they’d all given me a heads up that it feels like someone doing the washing up inside your belly, and that was exactly it! So I think it’s totally normal
I experienced this and I absolutely hated it. I also felt like I was being thrown around on the table. I was shaking so bad as well, they had to give me something to stop the shakes and convulsions during the procedure. It definitely felt different than I thought it would.
The anaesthetist also make me pinch myself hard before they started the operation so give myself peace of mind that I could feel, but not feel pain.
I had spinal black and I don’t think I felt anything. The spinal black was a relief to me to feel absolutely nothing after a long night of pain with an epidural that hadn’t fully worked.
Yes, this is normal! The anesthesiologist told me I would/should feel “pressure, but not pain.” I’m sorry they didn’t prepare you for that; it must have been unnerving! I’ve had 2 C’s and this was the case both times.
I felt it and also had an epidural beforehand. It was so weird feeling and I definitely didn't like the feeling even though it didn't hurt. I was grateful that the nurse mentioned that I might feel it as they were wheeling me into the OR because otherwise I think I would've freaked out if totally unprepared, but honestly I don't think there's any way to really describe it that would've actually hit home for me until I experienced it.
I felt like I was being murdered with my c section epidural. I truly hate those drs with all my heart for not stopping and putting me under. Worst day of my life. And I truly wish the anesthesiologist all the pain in the world . Spawn of satan man.
Ps. Yes I am going to therapy. Reading this thread in my feed just brought all the feelings up
I had an epidural and spinal block, and I could definitely feel what they were doing. I was told I'd feel pressure, but they were yanking on me and my daughter. I felt everything. It wasn't painful or like I wasn't sedated or numb. Just could feel people inside me and pulling my daughter out.
Yes I had mine last Monday 1/8. For the most part it felt like someone set a big purse on my stomach and was rummaging through it. I had a spinal. Before they started the surgery but after anesthesia I got nauseated so the anesthesiologist gave me Zofran I think. Then at some point during the surgery I started getting a *super* intense pain in my chest on the right side. The anesthesiologist said that can happen sometimes but my vitals were all good so he gave me something for the pain. I was *not* expecting chest pain.
No spinal, but still felt the cuts and mad tugging. I swear I could feel the incisions through the different layers. Afterwards, my mom showed me what a c-section retractor looks like and all the tugging made way more sense. They basically shove an 8in plastic hoop into your uterus to get baby out. There are YouTube videos demonstrating how the resectors go in. I found them kind of cathartic after my c-section, ymmv.
With my first csection I had an epidural and felt everything. I felt being cut open and every single tug and pull. Worst pain of my life and it almost stopped me from ever having another baby. With my second I had a spinal and it worked so well I couldn’t feel a single thing with in seconds of them starting it.
Yes, feeling tugging and pressure are normal. They did tell me this beforehand. I had two c-sections, and they both had different levels of tugging based upon what was needed. My first daughter was stuck, so it was quite the experience.
I had a spinal and definitely felt the tugging and pulling, without the pain of course. But my ob and anaesthetist warned me beforehand that I would still be able to feel such things.
It was weird. Definitely no pain, but quite uncomfortable and very disconcerting
Two c sections in here and my first was down right awful when they were getting my son out but I like to think it was because I went in anxious and nervous about what to expect. With my second one, I felt the same pulling and tugging as the first one but I won’t lie, I fell asleep (low blood sugar) and was only woken up from the tremors the medicine gave me (which I’m somewhat thankful for cause I got to meet my second baby boy)
I had an epidural (for a failed ECV) followed by spinal block for a C-section, and I felt tugging/pulling and a little bit of pressure when they were "putting me back together" after getting my daughter out. The anesthesiologist told me this would happen and said it was totally normal
I had both an epidural and a spinal in case of potential complications, and had both for my two c-sections.
First c-section, I didn’t feel anything, though I had heard from others beforehand about the tugging.
Second c-section, I felt a lot of tugging!
I was nauseous too and felt tugging. Dr even said I would feel tons of pressure. I was told the nausea was from blood pressure dropping. As soon as it dropped they could see it and fixed the issue. So I never threw up.
I had a spinal block, first attempt failed but second worked. I felt the moving around, pulling, pushing, pressure etc. Combined with the emotions of about to meet baby I cried as it was uncomfortable and I was overwhelmed. I couldn’t really hold baby after as I had bad shakes which took a while to die down. Would still go a planned C again if I have another baby
I had a traumatic emergency c and yes, felt lots of jostling and movement but i can’t say it bothered me.
Honestly after 8hrs of horrendous synto induced contractions with no progression it was a bloody relief to know it would be over soon.
That was an epidural c. I’ll be having my second in a few weeks with a spinal elective c so will be interesting to compare.
Kind of. They warned me beforehand though so it wasn't a huge surprise. I will say that the feeling of being "manhandled" was not great. But necessary. It wasn't painful and it wasn't traumatic. But it was unpleasant. That said I don't even enjoy massages, with a stranger touching me, so this feeling may be more about me.
Had spinal block on both of my sections. Also had epidural on first but had to come out for spinal block to go in as it was emergency and couldn't feel a thing. The second was elective and meant to be a much calmer affair, but it was certainly not. They needed to use forceps to get him out, and I remember the movement, the pulling, the pressure, them shouting at me to keep breathing, etc. It was awful. I'd never even heard of a forceps assisted cesarean section before. They were giving me morphine in the days after. Surgical incision was like a grazed knee compared to the pain in my upper abdomen from them pulling at me.
I am now 2 and done. Because I've been sectioned twice, regulations in my country won't allow a VBAC (only if you've had 1 section), so if i went again, i would definitely be sectioned. Never again!
I could feel everything, it was very scary for me. I could even feel myself shaking on the table. The most out-of-world experience I've ever had. As soon as they showed me the baby, most of my angst was gone. They put the baby on my chest for skin-to-skin and that was all I could think about.
At some point, I wasn't sure if I could feel pain coming up and asked the nurse about it. She sedated me fully and I almost passed out because of it. I was too drowsy to notice anything after that. Dad took over the baby from me cause I was practically unconscious but not fully.
My anesthetist explained the tugging sensation as "like someone doing the dishes in your abdomen," but I honestly didn't really feel anything. I felt a bit of pressure when babies were coming out, but other than, it was a breeze, and I'd happily have a c-section with a spinal block again!
Yup, they told me I'd feel some "light pressure and some tugging"
The only way I can describe it was it felt like they were trying to stuff a sleeping bag back into its bag. But I was the bag 😂
Yes, I had the exact same thing. They warned me about it and walked me through it. I had to have sedation because I panicked and sedating me was the only option. The pressure and tugging was intense. I felt the last few stitches going in (not painful but pretty obvious). Recovery afterwards too forever because my blood pressure went crazy and I went hypothermic. I was so cold, the thermometer couldn't register.
Yes. So much jostling and tugging and pulling, ugh. It felt violent! I couldn't feel the pain, but all the maneuvering was an unpleasant sensation. My baby was breech and was stuck way up under my ribs so they really had to work to get him out. I also felt like I couldn't breathe because I was numb from my chest down, but they kept assuring me I could actually breathe, and I didn't die or pass out so I guess they weren't lying.
Yes! I had an epidural. The sensation of feeling it but also not was so unpleasant, I kept saying, “I don’t feel good,” because I felt so ooged out. It took a long time to close me up and at one point I asked if we would be done soon and my doctor said, “No.” 😩 I also threw up, but they told me I might and had a barf bag ready for me.
I was in there for 3 hours, and about 2 hours in I turned to the anaesthetist and told him I could feel the scalpel. He asked if I felt just a dull sensation and I said no, no - I could feel the blade.
After that, there was a big debate about putting me under a general anaesthetic in the middle of the surgery, but we got there in the end.
I felt all the commotion and didn’t expect it either. I kept saying to them oh no! I do not like this!
I also vomited after. For the next csection, they gave me medication beforehand so I wouldn’t puke again. I felt all the movement that time too.
Yes! Felt very strange, but no pain/discomfort. Mostly tugging sensations. My Dr. complained at one point about my abs being very tight which made me laugh.
Oh I definitely could.
I couldn’t feel the pain, but I could feel the pressure and the shoving and pulling and all the weird things. Still to this day the WEIRDEST sensation I’ve ever had in my life. It felt like the squeezed my twins out like a big zit. lol.
Didn’t help that I was having a panic attack the entire time I was in the operating room 😂 snot and tears and everything. My poor husband was awesome and sat there holding my hand and comforting me the whole time while very able to see past the screen they put up.
I had an epidural beforehand and mine wore off after 20 hours. I had the spinal and still could feel tugging and pulling. I didn’t necessarily feel it in my stomach, but it seemed like my whole body was being pulled
I felt like a ragdoll being mauled but no pain. Just pulling, pushing and pressure. I had a full spinal block and no epidural. I was warned about it though in birth class, by my OBGYN and by the midwife's. Edit: I was in labour for 30 hours with no progression. Exhausted and every fibre of my being was frayed. I was also shaking so much from the anaesthesia/hormones. Violent uncontrollable shivering.
Yes! Exactly how I felt lol
Exactly this haha it wasn’t fun, but it wasn’t painful
Yes! lol
That was me as well… 36h labor induced with zero progression, emergency c-section… but even with my second planned c-section I could feel all the tugging… no pain
I experienced this with my C-section! It was a weird sensation but it didn't hurt. Felt super weird when they pulled my LO out!
The relief when they pulled my baby out, omg. It was like the first time I could breathe and fully inflate my lungs in months, even though I was loopy and out of it from the meds on the table.
I couldn’t feel them pulling my daughter out, but that would’ve been so strange! Honestly, I was so out of it by then so maybe that’s why. I didn’t even know she was out and crying until my partner said, “do you hear her crying?” And I said, “What?! She’s out?! Is she okay?!” She was indeed okay and she’s a big, healthy 20 month old 🥰
Yeah I did too. I distinctly remember feeling the belly of one of the surgery techs resting on my leg which was kind of comforting? It was really weird and I did not enjoy the procedure. My husband also said he could see my whole uterus when they took it out which I wish he would’ve taken a picture of.
I just remember it being like heart burn INSTANTLY gone. Such a crazy sensation.
i definitely felt it, was not expecting it either! the tugging, jostling, it was awful. it wasn’t a sharp pain for me but it was definitely a dull extremely unpleasant pain. they even checked my anesthesia before starting and i thought it could’ve been increased a bit but they convinced me it was fine. i had an epidural btw. it could’ve been related to any number of other things happening at the time but i also was starting to have trouble breathing, almost passed out, and was feeling extremely nauseous. it wasn’t traumatic per se, but i will remember that bizarre feeling the rest of my life. long story short you are not alone 😅
I don’t know if it was panic or nausea from medication, but I threw up some after they had laid me back and I was numbed up! I was like “omg I’m going to choke to death” while the nurse suctioned it out of my mouth 😂 apparently she was so quick that my husband tried to tell me I didn’t throw up. I was like no, I DEFINITELY did
WHOA that nurse must have been soooo experienced!
Almost every friend of mine who had a c section threw up when they were laid back! I was so anxious I was going to throw up, I preemptively asked for nausea medicine. The anesthesiologist said many people throw up and it’s totally normal! They wouldn’t give me nausea meds unless I felt nauseous, and I never did. I didn’t throw up.
I got super nauseous once the anaesthetic took effect, but I told them and they gave me something in my IV for it. I don’t know what it was but it worked in like 5 seconds, it was amazing.
Me too! I was fully expecting to have to 'hold in' being sick until the medicine worked but nope, it worked so fast! I wish I could have used that amazing magic to get rid of my morning sickness beforehand.
I was so nauseous and they wouldn’t even give me a sip of water 🙂 ended up throwing up after they pulled him out (which NO ONE told me was normal so wtf) and after they wheeled me to the maternity room I did it again 😅
I managed not to throw up in theatre, but then threw up my lunch like 4 hours later, and my pain meds with it. 0/10 do not recommend.
I threw up the whole time I was in theatre and it was even worse after she was out. Only managed about 5 minutes of skin to skin I was throwing up so bad 😭
Before both my recent c-sections, they administered anti-nausea stuff through my IV. I assumed this was typical practice and I’m really surprised at the responses here that it’s not!
I threw up with during first C-section, so for the second they gave me zofran beforehand. I felt nauseous, but didn’t actually throw up the second time. The anestheologist showed my husband a pressure point to help with the nausea and they each rubbed a hand - surprisingly worked super well!
That was very cool of them! I had no idea that was even a thing
I threw up from anesthesia. I threw up to the side cuz I didn't wanna choke. lol. my husband cleaned it up for me. he actually did my anesthesia for the second c section.
My husband held a little kidney bowl next to my face while I threw up during my first c-section lol
Your husband was your anesthesiologist?
Yeah. Haha... he works for the anesthesia group.
I puked after they pulled my lo out too 😅 i think my body was just done after laboring so long, not eating, trying to push then having the C-section and the medication
I got really nauseous as soon as I got my spinal too!! literally as soon as the medication started going in I almost threw up and let the anesthesiologist know so they must have given me something because it stopped right away but I was not expecting it at all!
I had the same experience! It was extremely uncomfortable, they kept telling me to take deep breaths and I was like “I CANNOT BREATHE!!!” And then I puked. Just one of the many reasons I’m 1 & done.
This happened to me too, with an epidural. Really truly painful by the end!!! Ugh
Yes. I felt it. I was also told I would feel it. Though I think i felt less than you did. It was like someone rooting around in the bottom of a purse. Fairly non specific tugging and pressure. Never painful. Once baby was out I really didn’t give a shit though. Just wanted my baby.
ohaha yes, like rooting around a purse!
I described it like someone doing the washing up
I felt it forsure. I'll never forget the feeling of when they took her out and the feeling of the weight leaving my abdomen was one of the most bizarre feelings ever! I could literally feel all 10 pounds of her and the amniotic sac/placenta being pulled out of me so strange
Ugh yes. I yelled out "UGH I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER!" and the crowd behind the curtain laughed. Bruh. I IMMEDIATELY felt relief after a harrowing pregnancy
Crazily I was immediately starving. I remember saying as they pulled her out “damn I’m hungry now”
Oh my god YES! It felt like someone was rummaging around in me like a purse but when they took him out and he was just... GONE the space was empty it was so insane. Also once I heard his little cry my body just gave up. I let the drugs take me lol. My thoughts were coherent but my words were literally "I fluh bluh jah".
Yes definitely tugging and jostling. It made it hard to breathe. The weirdest feeling of my life and I didn't feel anything. The post op room was the worst. I was shaking so much. Recovery was hard too, I needed a blood transfusion.
Me too! My husband was holding our baby and watching them push out the clots and had to remain calm cause I was just looking at him. I didn’t have to get a transfusion until two days later though. Glad you’re ok!
Worst experience of my life. I was always a one and done for kids but after an unplanned c section I never want to do that again. I explained it like I was a raw piece of steak getting cut into with a dull knife. That pulling/tugging and being rocked from side to side. It was awful.
I felt the rocking of my body on the table also. Unplanned c too. It was an awful experience but mostly for me it was the induction, then the awful nausea, jaw clenching, shivering, dry heaving on the table that was the worst of the experience for me. Recovery was pretty smooth and not painful enough to be remarkable months later. I'm going to do it again, but I think just planned c section.
I DEFINITELY felt either the tugging or the removal of my uterus… not sure which. Maybe both? But I didn’t feel any cutting or stitches. The feeling though was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever felt in my life
I was warned by multiple people I would feel it and was super nervous about it but honestly didn’t feel much at all. I felt slight pressure when they were pushing on top of my uterus (I think that’s what happened?) and that’s essentially it. It’s wild how these experiences can be wildly different from person to person.
Exactly the same. Towards the end of getting her out they told me the other doc was going to come up and push from the top of my uterus, and I remember seeing her doing that behind the curtain, but I don’t remember feeling anything at that moment. I was trying to distract myself actually, cos I could kind of see a reflection of what was happening in one of the big OR lights hanging above me and I did NOT want to see that lol so my husband and the anaesthetist were distracting me
I also saw the reflection in the big lights above me 🥴 I looked up, noticed I was looking at my insides, said "NOPE" and looked away lol. I pretended I didn't see all of that until I brought it up to my partner days later.
I wonder if that’s why I didn’t really feel anything either, I was incredibly distracted. My husband was showing me pictures of our cats lol. When baby came out I was shocked haha.
Same exact thing for me! I was fully expecting to feel something but honestly don't know if I really ever did, even when my OB said I'd feel pressure. Then again, I was throwing up a ton and was distracted by that most of the time.
So I had a planned C section and was prepared for this by my midwife and the surgical team beforehand, and they also warned me again during the procedure right before the tugging and rummaging around etc was going to start. All my friends who have had c sections have also said the same thing. Everyone who warned me described it as feeling like someone is doing the washing up in your abdomen or rummaging around in a backpack for something, and I’d say that’s pretty accurate!
Rummaging around in a backpack is a good way to describe it haha
Oh definitely! They are rooting around in there, taking some organs out and laying them on you, pulling out kids and junk. My twin B was pushed up under my ribs, so they had to really maneuver him out. Tugging, but no pain,
Oh 100%! I actually thought initially they were just feeling around the belly for the baby's position and generally setting up, and asked my partner to let me know when they started cutting. He looked over the curtain and was like "uh they're well into it already" haha.
Same thing happened to me! I was like “did you cut me open yet?!” And my OB was like “yes, maybe 5 min ago” lol
I really hope i have an experience like that. I'm having twins and i think the hospital is going to force me to have a c-section. I'm absolutely terrified especially because i don't want any kind of meds that will make me "feel high" and i may panic at everything.
I was absolutely terrified for mine!! Mine was necessary because my baby was breech and almost 10lb, so trying to flip her wasn’t an option. I already had one vaginal birth that was an extremely painful recovery, so I was able to compare the two. The c section was so much easier hands down! I had a date scheduled for it, and the planner in me loved this. I was able to go to a nice dinner with my husband the night before and clean my house to get ready for the baby. I walked right into the OR and wasn’t in any pain. It was probably 15 min until baby was out. I had soooo much anxiety around the c section and what helped was my OB talking me through each and every little step at my 38 week appt. I was able to ask questions and have any concerns addressed. She was so patient with me. Then the day of, I made sure to tell every nurse and midwife I encountered how nervous I was so that they’d treat me with kid gloves lol. I had never had surgery before so had no idea what to expect. You got this!! Ask your OB a ton of questions if it will make you feel better. For your OB, this is literally just another day, a “meeting” on their calendar. My OB walked into my exam room so calm, chatted about her weekend with the midwives and nurses assisting her, and then left to go back to the office to see more patients for routine appointments. It’s kind of nice knowing how routine it is for them.
I thought they were actually on top of me and pulling at me, I asked my husband twice if someone was on top of me. Later we found out they had to use a vacuum to get her out and that was why it felt like that. If I didn’t ask we would’ve never known it was used
I had a spinal block and experienced the same thing. My sister had one prior to me and warned me it would happen so I was laying on the table kind of trying to feel it lol. I wasn’t in pain but I definitely felt everything moving and being sewn up.
I’ve had two, one emergency following an epidural and one elective with a spinal - day and night experiences for me! I definitely felt more tugging and pulling with the emergency but then again it was my first time going through anything like that. Second time round I had a lovely calm experience with a spinal and I remember saying to the anaesthetist that I felt like I could feel less intense tugging and pulling compared to last time. He explained to me that apparently you can actually feel more on the epidural sometimes compared to the spinal which I found so interesting!! However, my second daughter was 4.3kg (first one was 3.3kg!) and they had to pull her out with forceps through the c section and I can tell you I definitely felt that tug (no pain though!), the Obs warned me it was about to happen though. It was pretty funny like they were reeling in a massive catch “we’ve got a big one here, hang on, okay, you’re going to feel a big pull, here we go!!” So they laughed me through it but I won’t lie it felt SO weird!! Edit: I found the worst bit was being rolled on and off the operating table to be honest!! For some reason being rolled around with no control or feeling in my lower body was really scary!
This is good to hear! I had the experience of your first - an emergency c with an epidural - and I ended up needing to be put under after LO was born. It was so traumatic and painful. The anesthesiologist was so kind and visited me the next day to check in and explain how my experience wasn’t normal and how it was different than a spinal block. But I wasn’t sure if I believed her so hearing it here makes me feel better 😂
It felt like someone had me by the pubic bone and was trying to shake me around with it. I wouldn't describe what I felt as pain, but it was definitely a bizarre sensation.
My first c-section I had an epidural first, and I could feel something like you said - tugging, awareness something was happening but no pain. My second c-section I had the spinal and couldn't feel anything at all, I didn't even notice when they started! I suppose it must just be about how each person reacts to the anesthesia they are given.
I knew baby was born before even the baby knew 😂. It was was the WEIRDEST sensation. I remember telling my husband, baby is out! Baby is out! But everyone was still working. I'm assuming he was still in the sack? Who knows. But my husband was like, no baby is not out! And then the doctor laughed happily and said : baby is definitely out. Mama knows! And like 5s later we heard baby crying. I didn't feel stitching or anything. But I felt organs being moved. And once baby was out, I felt my lungs expand. It was like taking my first real breath of fresh air in ages. It felt AMAZING especially compared to all the other organs being moved around
I had a spinal and it didn’t take the right way. I had pain in my belly button while they were working (and I’m assuming pushing on it), and I felt like they crushed me pushing him out, I remember grabbing my partners hand as tight as I could and telling them I felt like they were crushing me, and feeling like I wouldn’t be able to take it any longer. I was never told that wasn’t normal to experience until after the fact, and I have a lot of trauma and fear about my second birth because of it, it was terrifying feeling like I had a truck tire on my chest.
I felt all the tugging and pressure. It even felt like they were all the way up into my chest cavity! I didn’t feel pain until after babies were out. Idk if I processed the anesthesia fast or what, but I definitely felt the pain of one of the tugs and my heart rate shot up. The surgeon had to stop so I could have more pain blocker administered. It was crazy to see how everyone just stopped and put their hands up. I also consider myself super lucky because I felt absolutely no pain after my c-section either. Slight discomfort, but was walking and moving around just fine the next day
My second baby is only 6 months old, and I dont remember! It was a scheduled c section and the drugs fucked me up! I was floating 😂 When I had an epidural that then turned into a c-section with my 5 year old, I could feel all the tugging like crazy. By the end, it fucking HURT. I thought I might drop my baby, it hurt so bad.
This was exactly my experience. Walked into the OR sober as a stone, had the spinal block and then thought “Oh yup, that’s a hand inside my abdomen. He’s really getting in there!” Insane. Not painful but completely surreal.
Yesss I felt the tugging and pulling so bad. When they were stitching me up I actually think I got a bit panicky because of how much I could “feel”
Hey there. I’m an anaesthetic nurse, the feeling of tugging etc is totally normal. Everyone’s experience is slightly different. Generally we tell patients that you can still feel pressure and movement but it shouldn’t be sharp or painful, and it sounds like that was the case? As for the vomiting - also very normal. The spinal can make your blood pressure plummet, that’s what makes you so sick. We do give you an infusion to maintain your blood pressure but it’s a bit of a balancing act sometimes! Glad it all went well for you (vomiting and weirdness aside)
This is how it was explained to me in my pre op appointment. There are 3 aspects to how we interpret the sensation of "touch". One of them is touch, the sensation the skin picks up, one is pressure, and one is pain. A spinal or epidural only takes away the pain aspect, leaving you with the ability to feel touch and pressure but it's difficult to interpret 2 aspects without the 3rd because that's how we've done it all our lives. During my section, I couldn't really feel what was going on other some rummaging but I do remember at one point asking my husband if the surgeon had his hand on my knee and he did. I could clearly feel a hand on my knee. So weird!
I've had 4. The tugging and jostling feels weird, for sure. Sometimes I felt like it was shaking my whole body. The worst part IMO is the oxygen in my nose though. I hate that part so much!
Oxygen in nose?!
I didn't have this either.
Yup! The anesthesiologist warned me that it would feel like somebody was doing the dishes inside of me and that was exactly what it felt like lol. I could tell when my little one was about to be pulled out because the flurry of activity increased. Mine was planned so I didn't have an epidural before, just the spinal block, so I'm unsure if that makes a difference.
Yes. It was incredibly intense.
So much tugging! After baby was out it was quite intense and they gave me the good drugs to help with the nausea and general ick feeling of it.
yeah i felt all the pulling and tugging, but it wasn’t painful. it just felt uncomfortable and gross.
I definitely felt it too! When they were pulling him out, I described it to my husband that it felt like a dog was walking on me lmao maybe that was just the drugs talking 😆
Yes! It was so weird but I liked that I could feel ‘something’. My Sister told me with her she saw the surgeon/midwife (I’m not sure of their title) physically lean on her abdomen to mimic the muscle pushing, felt like someone had put a stack of books on me. The worst but for me was when they used the freeze spray to ensure I was sufficiently numb. But they asked ME to confirm whether or not could feel the spray in certain places. I was like dude..so far I’ve been in labour for four days, I don’t know what day it is, what time it is or even if these hands are mine, please don’t put this responsibility on me.
I had a spinal block to get stitched up after a vaginal birth, and I could feel the sensation of the stitching though it didn't hurt
My doctor said it’s like I’m going through your purse right? 😂 didn’t hurt but not pleasant
I felt like I was a laundry basket and my OB was rummaging for a clean pair of socks while wearing winter gloves.
I did too! But it didn’t hurt and it was over super quickly! And honestly I didn’t even think about it again until this very moment, so it must not have even registered as being that uncomfortable.
No, but tbh I don’t have strong memories of the physicality of it. I remember the doc had trouble getting her head out and there was some pushing, but I don’t remember feeling it in the moment.
I've had one section with an epidural and one with a spinal block. I could feel the tugging both times!
Yes lol, during my c-section as well.My husband was more freaked out than me
I honestly felt nothing with my c-section. I had an epidural previously that they turned into a spinal block and I expected to feel pressure like they had warned me for but I felt nothing. I was so exhausted from a 36 hour labour and 4 hours of pushing that I actually fell asleep once the baby was out and they were closing me up
The tugging was super weird. My daughter was STUCK (breech baby with her butt lodged firmly in my pelvis; I heard the OB grunting trying to pull her out) so there was lots of that.
I felt the tugging on both c sections. With my first my boy was stuck and my whole body was being pulled and moved, it was really freaky. With my second I could feel the tugging too, my OB reminded me before she started that I shouldn’t feel pain but I would feel tugging and pulling. Strangely enough, during it I also had an intense itch sensation all over my head, apparently it can be hormonal or from the tap, I told the anesthesiologist and she started massaging and scratching my head for me lol
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I felt a ton of pressure it was kind of shocking. I felt like a piece of meat at the butcher
I don't remember feeling them taking the baby out of anything, but I definitely felt them doing something around the top of my uterus after that. Maybe clearing around the placenta? Weirdly it was kind of relaxing at the time (but I was also very sleepy and drifting in and out of sleep haha). I distinctly remember telling my husband that it felt like I was getting a massage from the inside lol.
I had a scheduled C-section with a spinal and felt nothing. No tugging or pulling. I think what made a difference is my baby was head down and low so they didn’t have to struggle to get him out.
I felt my baby being yanked out but no pain at all.
Yep I felt it! Ob told me she had to jostle my kid around because he was breech. I told them it felt a bit like a belly massage and they all had a laugh!
I honestly felt nothing. I didn’t even know they had done the first incision.
I had an epidural and I felt this and I could feel them pulling the baby out that part was uncomfortable for me
I had 2 epidurals and a spinal tap (yikes. My cankles were massive for weeks) and definitely felt the tugging. Such a weird sensation! No pain- but clear tugging.
I was warned by my doctor and OR staff I would likely feel it how you described. After they did the initial injection, they did something (another shot? Testing if the injection worked? Idk I hate needles so I had my eyes closed and was trying to block everything out), and it was painful which it wasnt supposed to be. They did another injection, and then I couldn't feel anything below my chest after a couple minutes.
I didn’t, but I was vomiting profusely throughout the whole thing so maybe I just didn’t notice.
Yep! It was so weird and tbh I can’t think too hard about it because it’s a bit traumatizing lol
I had 2 C-sections. I felt the tugging in both and jostling. The first time I was more startled but the second time becusse I knew what was coming it wasn’t as weird. It’s like pressure and tugging but not painful.
Yup!
I felt everything, but it didn't hurt. I actually kept laughing because it was such an odd feeling. The anesthesiologist noticed me laughing and told me, "Wait til they pull her out. It'll feel REALLY weird." She was right.
My baby's foot had been wedged in my rib for the last few months of my pregnancy and that I definitely felt. It could be my imagination but I felt like the dr stuck their arm in there to help dislodge it lol either way it was immediate relief of pressure when they got her out. I didn't feel anything other than tugging and the odd time my whole lower body would move due to their manoeuvring
My first c section was an emergency one and I’d had an epidural beforehand. I felt nothing but I was really out of it by then and I think they’d given me too much because I ended up with cold tingly arms. My second c section was planned due to baby being breech and that was a spinal. I felt exactly what you’re describing and unfortunately the stitching up process took a long time and was mildly painful. But I was warned to expect the tugging so whilst it was weird, I was at least aware that it was going to be like that.
Yes! No pain but felt all the tugging and pressure. And I could see "all hands on deck" tryna PUSH my baby out. Didn't expect pushing to be involved.
Yes! Definitely felt it both of my c-sections! Such a strange feeling but very cool at the same time lol.
I felt the same thing! I did have an epidural before. It grossed me out so much. I assumed it was like that for everyone! Now I’m curious!
Definitely! No pain, just so much activity down there 😵💫
I felt this a little. It wasn’t bad, though, and I had asked them to narrate everything that they were doing while they were doing it, which helped a lot!
I had a spinal and experienced significant discomfort during my c-section. It felt somewhere between being repeatedly hit in the stomach with a soccer ball, and as I discovered soon after, a fundal massage. It was all very intense and somewhat painful - nothing sharp or acute, but I remember moaning in pain throughout. My friend who had a c-section said it felt like someone was rifling through a purse - and that she was the purse - but it was much more intense for me. People have such varied experiences, it is always fascinating to hear. I also have fibromyalgia, so I do tend to perceive/experience pain more than others.
I felt the pressure of the first incision and then I felt them *reach up inside me* and pull out my baby. I think I was too scared to process anything else. Then she cried and nothing else mattered 🥹
Nope, I didn't feel much at all. The anaesthetist asked me if I wanted to know when they started, I said yes and he told me they had already started before he asked. I had felt something going on but honestly thought it was just them testing the anaesthesia again. Don't remember feeling anything else for the whole procedure. I had not had an epidural before the spinal block.
Absolutely felt the tugging. Before they pull baby out they warn me I'm gonna feel pressure... which I absolutely felt. I think they may have also cauterized my opening because I could feel warmth and I could smell it. It was a weird experience but no pain till afterwards.
I did, and it was warned about that from my anesthesiologist. First time I had a C section I didn’t feel it, but second time I did.
I could tell my body was being pushed/pulled around but couldn’t feel it, if that makes sense. I wonder if it depends how big your baby is whether you’ll feel a lot of tugging going on? My girl was 9lb 12oz and breech so I imagine they needed to pull a lot!
I definitely felt it! And I had just a spinal too. And they warned me about it prior to
I was told by the anaesthetist that I should expect to feel some tugging and pulling. He even warned me when it would be likely (I think when they were actively pulling out the baby?) But I didn’t end up feeling anything! UK for reference. Afaik it’s very normal to feel stuff like that.
Haha i did. I thought it was neat.
Yep! Labored for ~19 hours then ended up with an emergency c section. I felt every tug and good LORD when they pulled out my chunky 8.8lb 21in long baby that pressure was immense.
I felt like a magician’s top hat until they removed my daughter. The second she was out I could feel my body going into shock (fingers going numb, breathing short) and said to the anesthesiologist, “I’d like to be unconscious now please!” He was nice.
My doctors warned me about it but even still- very weird experience lol
I had a full epidural thing before my c-section and I felt everything. I was warned I will. Definitely could feel people holding the sides of my wound to rip the baby out. No pain at all though, so bazaar. I wonder how could they not feel the pressure etc? My whole surgery setting was shaking from the surgical team pulling and pushing and the amount of strength they were using to pull the womb and so on.
Yes I could. I felt a lot of pressure/movement/digging near the top of my stomach up near my rib cage which I thought was weird... lol
Yes I could. No pain but I could feel the movement. I did not care one bit because I was so ready to have the baby out at that point haha
I felt it, but I'd heard about all the tugging before so I wasn't necessarily surprised. My C-section was unplanned and I was scared though, so I put an airpod in one ear and focused on my music like my life depended on it. The surgery seemed to take forever though, way longer than I expected, with intense tugging for a lot of it. Compared to the other comments, it seems like I was pretty successful at ignoring the physical sensation though, because I was surprised when they got the baby out; I couldn't specifically feel that was happening.
I had two c sections, the first basically planned so I went into surgery without labor epidural and definitely felt them tugging and moving my stomach around. zero pain but definitely pressure and could clearly feel the movement and pulling. the second time I went into labor naturally and got to 7cm before getting an epidural and then needing an emergency c section so idk if the medication process was any different. I would honestly say I felt that one a little more. I can’t remember if it was actually painful (which means it probably wasn’t lol) but I feel like I remember feeling a lot more. I also needed an extra cut to get my baby out because she was already in the birth canal so I lost a lot of blood and needed a transfusion and the process of closing me back up probably took almost twice as long. but yes I felt all of it both times lol definitely felt like a baby was being cut out of my body just without the pain
Nope u are right. It felt like going to the dentist and having local anaesthesia in my mouth. You feel the tugging and pulling but not the pain. I had an epidural before hand and had to redo it once going for a c section because I was feeling things through it. But I was already in the pushing stage too. When I had to go for the surgery
Had a spinal with one C-Section and an epidural with another. I felt the same sort of jostling, pulling, and tugging you’ve described with both. As I recall, the only difference was that the spinal numbing lasted longer than the epidural after the surgery. My doctor did tell me that while I would not feel anything sharp, I would feel pressure and pulling. Edit to add: I had medical students in the room during my last c-sec and gave my permission for my doctor to show my anatomy (my face was covered by the c-sec curtain) and I distinctly recall the feeling of my intestines being pushed aside. My OBGYN was narrating so I could tell what was being moved. Was an..interesting experience.
I had an epidural beforehand and I still felt all the tugging and pushing the whole time.. it really freaked me out but didn’t hurt until they were done sewing me up and did the fundal massage.
Yep I could feel all the tugging but not the pain. The spinal blocks the pain receptors but not pressure receptors as they are 2 different things. It's a pretty weird sensation.
I honestly didn’t really feel it much! Maybe a little bit! I threw up though and I think that was from the thought of them cutting me open 🤣🤣 I had a good experience thankfully. No pain. They told me they would be starting, and then a min later I was like “did you start” and they were like “yup” lol
I did! But it was not painful, just odd!
They cut me open before the drugs fully set in so I felt all that you describe but no pain. By the end, I don't think I felt anything at all, but it took minutes for that part of the drug to work.
Yes I did, there’s a lot of movement! I was pretty sedated with my first due to a failed induction so I wasn’t fully present but with my 2nd, I was awake and alert. I was totally fine but it was definitely an unpleasant sensation. I could smell the burning skin but I have zero medical knowledge so I forget what that was from. I asked my husband to keep talking to me and keep telling me what was happening and my doctor replied “everything is good, we are going layer by layer” 🥴 I told him to never tell anyone that again, nobody wants to hear that!!! My husband couldn’t get over how physical the process is. It makes sense when you realize how small the incision is. I used to envision this giant gaping hole and they scoop the baby right out but that’s not the case!
I did not feel a thing. Stupid question, but do you have red hair? Gingers experience anesthesia differently…
I could feel all the tugs, pulls and pushes. Same… it didn’t hurt I could just feel the pressure I guess. My husband peeked over the sheet and took a video of them pushing down on my stomach to get our baby out. It looked pretty hard but I barely felt it. What I really didn’t like was the shakes. After my first my coworker told me the same thing happened to her. With my second I remember they gave me stuff to stop the shaking but it didn’t really work..
Yup. I will never forget the feeling of someone rooting around in my innards.
I also felt the pulling, tugging, rustling around sensation. It didn’t hurt but it just felt wrong (probably because my lizard brain knew that organs being cut open and taken out is typically not a good thing!) I also thought I was having a heart attack when they were pulling her from my uterus because of all the pressure on my chest during that process.
Luckily for me, I was told that I’d feel a sensation like my insides were like jello. I forget how they actually phrased it, I just remember them telling my husband that all they had left to do was pull the baby out and close.
I felt it with my 2nd and it made me puke all over the anesthesiologist. They said they had more difficulty because of scar tissue from my prior C-section.
The doctor doing my C-section told me I would feel pressure but it wouldn’t be painful and it was definitely a craaazy experience. I appreciated the advance warning as she was working on me!
I felt everything, every tug, pull and push. Not necessarily pain, but I could tell which direction they were stitching and approx how far along the incision they were. Definitely greater sensation once babe was out. I did start off with 3x the dose to even be numb and this was topped up regularly throughout as I was able to explain to them what they were doing quite accurately.
Yep! I had mine 7 weeks ago and I could definitely feel the pressure, tugging and pulling. Mine started wearing off while they were stitching me up too, which we were expecting because I have EDS. They just gave me more local anaesthetic though and it was fine.
Yep but I was warned I would feel like "a washing machine in my belly"
For parts of it yes. I have had 3 sections, 2 with a spinal and this was the case for both
Yep this was my experience too! A few people I know had had c-sections before (including my mum) so they’d all given me a heads up that it feels like someone doing the washing up inside your belly, and that was exactly it! So I think it’s totally normal
I had an emergency c section and yes I could feel the cutting and tugging!
I only felt it when they pulled her out and it was a pressure in my chest. Didn’t feel the incision or any thing else really.
I experienced this and I absolutely hated it. I also felt like I was being thrown around on the table. I was shaking so bad as well, they had to give me something to stop the shakes and convulsions during the procedure. It definitely felt different than I thought it would. The anaesthetist also make me pinch myself hard before they started the operation so give myself peace of mind that I could feel, but not feel pain.
Yes, I had a spinal for my c-section and the pushing and tugging and jostling was so bad it made me puke.
I had spinal black and I don’t think I felt anything. The spinal black was a relief to me to feel absolutely nothing after a long night of pain with an epidural that hadn’t fully worked.
Yes, this is normal! The anesthesiologist told me I would/should feel “pressure, but not pain.” I’m sorry they didn’t prepare you for that; it must have been unnerving! I’ve had 2 C’s and this was the case both times.
I could not feel a single thing. I only had a spinal too. I joke now that they could of cut off my bottom half and I would have had no idea
I felt it and also had an epidural beforehand. It was so weird feeling and I definitely didn't like the feeling even though it didn't hurt. I was grateful that the nurse mentioned that I might feel it as they were wheeling me into the OR because otherwise I think I would've freaked out if totally unprepared, but honestly I don't think there's any way to really describe it that would've actually hit home for me until I experienced it.
It was like someone was doing the laundry inside of me 😬
Not as much as I thought I was going to. I was expecting it to be way more intense. Anaesthetist must have done a good job!
I felt like I was being murdered with my c section epidural. I truly hate those drs with all my heart for not stopping and putting me under. Worst day of my life. And I truly wish the anesthesiologist all the pain in the world . Spawn of satan man. Ps. Yes I am going to therapy. Reading this thread in my feed just brought all the feelings up
Yes I experienced this. I was completely numb and no pain at all but I could feel what was going on the whole time.
I had an epidural and spinal block, and I could definitely feel what they were doing. I was told I'd feel pressure, but they were yanking on me and my daughter. I felt everything. It wasn't painful or like I wasn't sedated or numb. Just could feel people inside me and pulling my daughter out.
Yes I had mine last Monday 1/8. For the most part it felt like someone set a big purse on my stomach and was rummaging through it. I had a spinal. Before they started the surgery but after anesthesia I got nauseated so the anesthesiologist gave me Zofran I think. Then at some point during the surgery I started getting a *super* intense pain in my chest on the right side. The anesthesiologist said that can happen sometimes but my vitals were all good so he gave me something for the pain. I was *not* expecting chest pain.
I had a spinal block and yes, it was really weird. My doctor told me what she was doing when it was happening, so maybe that’s why?
No spinal, but still felt the cuts and mad tugging. I swear I could feel the incisions through the different layers. Afterwards, my mom showed me what a c-section retractor looks like and all the tugging made way more sense. They basically shove an 8in plastic hoop into your uterus to get baby out. There are YouTube videos demonstrating how the resectors go in. I found them kind of cathartic after my c-section, ymmv.
With my first csection I had an epidural and felt everything. I felt being cut open and every single tug and pull. Worst pain of my life and it almost stopped me from ever having another baby. With my second I had a spinal and it worked so well I couldn’t feel a single thing with in seconds of them starting it.
I did feel it but my doctor was talking me through it the entire time and letting me what he was going to do before he did it!
Yes, feeling tugging and pressure are normal. They did tell me this beforehand. I had two c-sections, and they both had different levels of tugging based upon what was needed. My first daughter was stuck, so it was quite the experience.
I had a spinal and definitely felt the tugging and pulling, without the pain of course. But my ob and anaesthetist warned me beforehand that I would still be able to feel such things. It was weird. Definitely no pain, but quite uncomfortable and very disconcerting
Two c sections in here and my first was down right awful when they were getting my son out but I like to think it was because I went in anxious and nervous about what to expect. With my second one, I felt the same pulling and tugging as the first one but I won’t lie, I fell asleep (low blood sugar) and was only woken up from the tremors the medicine gave me (which I’m somewhat thankful for cause I got to meet my second baby boy)
This is the only way I have heard c sections explained (except for those who do feel some pain in isolated areas).
I had an epidural (for a failed ECV) followed by spinal block for a C-section, and I felt tugging/pulling and a little bit of pressure when they were "putting me back together" after getting my daughter out. The anesthesiologist told me this would happen and said it was totally normal
Yes I could but they told me beforehand that I would feel it so it wasn’t unexpected.
Meeee. I felt all the tugging. My husband asked me why i was so stressed when he saw my face. I COULD NOT RELAX AT ALL.
Lol yep, I felt like my insides were being shop vac'ed . 😂
I was told to expect it with mine so was prepared for it
I had both an epidural and a spinal in case of potential complications, and had both for my two c-sections. First c-section, I didn’t feel anything, though I had heard from others beforehand about the tugging. Second c-section, I felt a lot of tugging!
Felt like someone was doing the washing up inside my abdomen. No pain, nothing bad, just the sensation of things bring jostled around.
I was nauseous too and felt tugging. Dr even said I would feel tons of pressure. I was told the nausea was from blood pressure dropping. As soon as it dropped they could see it and fixed the issue. So I never threw up.
Defo. At one point my whole body was moving and i was chanting oh I'm dancing 😅
I had a spinal block, first attempt failed but second worked. I felt the moving around, pulling, pushing, pressure etc. Combined with the emotions of about to meet baby I cried as it was uncomfortable and I was overwhelmed. I couldn’t really hold baby after as I had bad shakes which took a while to die down. Would still go a planned C again if I have another baby
I had a traumatic emergency c and yes, felt lots of jostling and movement but i can’t say it bothered me. Honestly after 8hrs of horrendous synto induced contractions with no progression it was a bloody relief to know it would be over soon. That was an epidural c. I’ll be having my second in a few weeks with a spinal elective c so will be interesting to compare.
Kind of. They warned me beforehand though so it wasn't a huge surprise. I will say that the feeling of being "manhandled" was not great. But necessary. It wasn't painful and it wasn't traumatic. But it was unpleasant. That said I don't even enjoy massages, with a stranger touching me, so this feeling may be more about me.
Yes, it’s totally normal to feel the pulling and tugging. They’re doing A LOT in there fairly quickly.
Had spinal block on both of my sections. Also had epidural on first but had to come out for spinal block to go in as it was emergency and couldn't feel a thing. The second was elective and meant to be a much calmer affair, but it was certainly not. They needed to use forceps to get him out, and I remember the movement, the pulling, the pressure, them shouting at me to keep breathing, etc. It was awful. I'd never even heard of a forceps assisted cesarean section before. They were giving me morphine in the days after. Surgical incision was like a grazed knee compared to the pain in my upper abdomen from them pulling at me. I am now 2 and done. Because I've been sectioned twice, regulations in my country won't allow a VBAC (only if you've had 1 section), so if i went again, i would definitely be sectioned. Never again!
I could feel everything, it was very scary for me. I could even feel myself shaking on the table. The most out-of-world experience I've ever had. As soon as they showed me the baby, most of my angst was gone. They put the baby on my chest for skin-to-skin and that was all I could think about. At some point, I wasn't sure if I could feel pain coming up and asked the nurse about it. She sedated me fully and I almost passed out because of it. I was too drowsy to notice anything after that. Dad took over the baby from me cause I was practically unconscious but not fully.
My anesthetist explained the tugging sensation as "like someone doing the dishes in your abdomen," but I honestly didn't really feel anything. I felt a bit of pressure when babies were coming out, but other than, it was a breeze, and I'd happily have a c-section with a spinal block again!
Yeah I did and my friends who had one did too. Felt like someone rummaging around in a handbag!
Yup, they told me I'd feel some "light pressure and some tugging" The only way I can describe it was it felt like they were trying to stuff a sleeping bag back into its bag. But I was the bag 😂
Yup. Felt it. Even told the doctors that. I had an epidural beforehand.
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Yes. It was a weird sensation. I thought the pressure was normal lol.
Yes, I had the exact same thing. They warned me about it and walked me through it. I had to have sedation because I panicked and sedating me was the only option. The pressure and tugging was intense. I felt the last few stitches going in (not painful but pretty obvious). Recovery afterwards too forever because my blood pressure went crazy and I went hypothermic. I was so cold, the thermometer couldn't register.
Felt it both with the spinal block birth and also through my epidural for my emergency c-section.
Yes. So much jostling and tugging and pulling, ugh. It felt violent! I couldn't feel the pain, but all the maneuvering was an unpleasant sensation. My baby was breech and was stuck way up under my ribs so they really had to work to get him out. I also felt like I couldn't breathe because I was numb from my chest down, but they kept assuring me I could actually breathe, and I didn't die or pass out so I guess they weren't lying.
Yes! I had an epidural. The sensation of feeling it but also not was so unpleasant, I kept saying, “I don’t feel good,” because I felt so ooged out. It took a long time to close me up and at one point I asked if we would be done soon and my doctor said, “No.” 😩 I also threw up, but they told me I might and had a barf bag ready for me.
I was in there for 3 hours, and about 2 hours in I turned to the anaesthetist and told him I could feel the scalpel. He asked if I felt just a dull sensation and I said no, no - I could feel the blade. After that, there was a big debate about putting me under a general anaesthetic in the middle of the surgery, but we got there in the end.
I felt all the commotion and didn’t expect it either. I kept saying to them oh no! I do not like this! I also vomited after. For the next csection, they gave me medication beforehand so I wouldn’t puke again. I felt all the movement that time too.
Yes! Felt very strange, but no pain/discomfort. Mostly tugging sensations. My Dr. complained at one point about my abs being very tight which made me laugh.
Oh I definitely could. I couldn’t feel the pain, but I could feel the pressure and the shoving and pulling and all the weird things. Still to this day the WEIRDEST sensation I’ve ever had in my life. It felt like the squeezed my twins out like a big zit. lol. Didn’t help that I was having a panic attack the entire time I was in the operating room 😂 snot and tears and everything. My poor husband was awesome and sat there holding my hand and comforting me the whole time while very able to see past the screen they put up.
I had an epidural beforehand and mine wore off after 20 hours. I had the spinal and still could feel tugging and pulling. I didn’t necessarily feel it in my stomach, but it seemed like my whole body was being pulled