What is pretesting before having a c-section consist of?

I am having a scheduled cesarean and my Dr's office just called me and left a message on my phone telling me the time and date of the procedure and she said I would need to go to the hospital a day before to have some pretesting done. I am healthy and have had no problems during this pregnancy. This will be my fourth c-section and I have never had to do any pretesting before, so I have no idea what that means.





Also my Doctor said before my surgery she will have me sign a paper saying that if she can't control bleeding i will consent to having a hysterectomy. Is this normal? I really don't want to have one. How common is this?

What is pretesting before having a c-section consist of?
Planning surgery can be scary, even if it is a cesarean section for the birth of your baby. Much has been written about the actual surgery, but very little can be found about the days prior to the cesarean section.





After deciding on a surgical date, you will probably be asked to preregister at the hospital where your baby will be born. This may include information on your insurance card and your prenatal records. You may be asked to precertify your stay with your insurance company.





Your doctor may give you prescription medications to be taken before your surgery. Though you may have nothing by mouth, not even water for eight hours prior to your surgery. If you are overly concerned you may be given a prescription sleep aid for the evening prior to your surgery. Be sure to talk to your doctor about this if you are concerned.





You may be asked to have a special consult with either your anesthesiologist or with your baby's doctor or specialist. These may take place the morning of your surgery or weeks prior to the surgery depending on the timing of your cesarean birth.











There are several types of hysterectomies:





* Complete or total. Removes the cervix as well as the uterus. (This is the most common type of hysterectomy.)


* Partial or subtotal. Removes the upper part of the uterus and leaves the cervix in place.


* Radical. Removes the uterus, the cervix, the upper part of the vagina, and supporting tissues. (This is done in some cases of cancer.)





Often one or both ovaries and fallopian tubes are removed at the same time a hysterectomy is done.





If you haven't reached menopause (when you haven't had a period for 12 months in a row), a hysterectomy will stop your monthly bleeding (periods). You also won't be able to get pregnant. And you may have menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. If both ovaries are removed as well, you will suddenly enter menopause.


How common are hysterectomies?





A hysterectomy is the second most common surgery among women in the United States. (The most common is cesarean section delivery.) Each year, more than 600,000 are done. One in three women in the United States has had a hysterectomy by age 60.





How is a hysterectomy performed?


Hysterectomies are done through a cut in the abdomen (abdominal hysterectomy) or the vagina (vaginal hysterectomy). Sometimes an instrument called a laparoscope is used to help see inside the abdomen during vaginal hysterectomy. The type of surgery that is done depends on the reason for the surgery. Abdominal hysterectomies are more common and usually require a longer recovery time.





How long does it take to recover from a hysterectomy?


Recovering from a hysterectomy takes time. You will stay in the hospital from one to two days for postsurgery care. Some women may stay in the hospital up to four days.





* Abdominal. Complete recovery usually takes four to eight weeks. You will gradually be able to increase your activities.


* Vaginal or laparoscopic. Most women are able to return to normal activity in one to two weeks.





For both, by the sixth week, you should be able to take tub baths and resume sexual activities.