some reasurrance need elcs booked for friday i sooooooo worried

[mumtolou]

hi every one i have an elective c section booked for friday and i am so worried i have already had one em c section with my first dd and i need another because bubs is breech i am not worried about the operation but the bloody needle stupid or what and as the days go by my nerves are getting worse and i am getting really snappy .has any one got any words of advice plssssssssssss

[alfiesbabe]

You mean the epidural needle? It's fine, honest. I had a csection under epidural as well as two VBs. The csection was painfree. Some weird sensations but honest to god, nothing painful. The spinal injection may take a little while to set up. I remember it feeling cold as it went into my spine, then the docs will spend a while tipping the operating table upwards and downwards and making sure the anaesthetic takes effect. It's an odd sensation feeling numbed up (I didnt have an epidural for my VBs so wasnt used to this). My main worry was that I might not be totally numb and would feel them cutting!! (Don't worry - you WILL be totally numbed!!). The sensation of getting the baby out is weird - lots of pulling and rummaging about. I was surprised at how energetic the docs were - I was bouncing around on the table!!
All in all I found the experience not at all bad. Recovery takes a while, but having had a previous CS you know that already! Good luck!

[pollyblue]

Were you given a quick general for your em section so you weren't really aware of being given the anaesthetic? It takes a little while for the spinal to be set up as alfiesbabe said but it'll all be going on behind you, you won't see anything and it doesn't hurt. The atmosphere for a planned section is very different to an em section,much more relaxed, tell the staff if you're anxious and they will distract you - the radio was on when my dd was born by section, maybe you could take in a favourite cd to help you relax? Ask the hosp if that is possible. Best of luck!

[MamaFormerlyKnownAsGlam]

I too was petrified of the needle before my elcs. But it was fine, really it was. The needle they insert is so fine you can't feel it. I promise it doesn't hurt.
Best of luck!

[mumtolou]

thanks all for your advice i have had an epidural before but cant remember it hurting but i hate needles and the thought of someone doing it sends shivers down my spine lol .and then i think what if doesnt work and i can feel everything .but it will probably be ok thanks for all your kind words

[FrannyandZooey]

Mumtolou I agree with the other posters, it is maybe a strange sensation but nothing terrible at all
I was 9 cm dilated in labour when they set up my epidural and if I could sit still while they did it I am sure it will be straightforward for you - honest

look forward to meeting your baby - not long now

[ChutneyMary]

I have had an em CS and a planned CS and they were both fine. It is a little weird walking stone cold sober into theatre, but they are used to anxious patients and will do everything to put you at your ease. We had the radio going and I was allowed to put on a CD to help distract me. Lucky I had bought some just in case!

The anaesthetic feels slightly strange but not painful. Unlike labour, planned CSs are usually done under spinal, which means that you get one dose and that's it. You have a bit of local in your back (the "sharp scratch" they keep banging on about) then you feel a bit of pressure as the liquid is injected into the epidural space. I then had a warm feeling as it took. Lots of fannying around, tilting tables and putting on leg thngs but not painful. I was paranoid about feeling something but they spent ages (about 15m) spraying me with the cold spray to check.

Once they start, you tend to just chat to your DH and the anaesthetist about nothing while they get on with it. I could feel tugging and pulling but it HONESTLY didn't hurt. They dropped the screen and there she was! Job done.

I too was very apprehensive but the staff were lovely and it was fine. You will be fine too. Take care.

HTH

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

I had an epidural in labour and have since had numerous spinals for back ops.

They will give you local anasthetic in your back to numb the area before the epidural needle. Everytime I've had it done I can remember yelping once and after that it was ok. I have quite a bad needle phobia, I have to lie down if they need to take blood, etc. Try and focus on your breathing, or tell your dh or the m/w to keep talking to you if you think this will help take your mind of it a bit. When I've had my back ops there's always been someone there from the theatre team who will hold my hand and talk to me!

They test you to make sure you are numb by pinching before they make any incision. They won't start until they are happy its effective.

[RedFraggle]

Don't panic, the theatre staff are used to nervous people! I've had an emergency section and an elective. The elective is lovely and calm. You walk into theatre, are helped up onto the bed and they get the spinal ready while they are asking you questions. Then you have to lean forward over your bump and they give you the injection. I just felt a scratch. Then they get you to lie down and as alfiesbabe said they tilt the table around which feels odd. Then after a bit of tugging they produce your baby.
I took in a cd I wanted to have playing as distraction, I also asked for someone to take photos of my DS on the scales etc as I missed out on that as DD's birth was so urgent. I also asked to have one arm free out the top of the screen so that I could touch my baby once he was out.
Good luck! It will be fine

[WowOoo]

I remmeber the needle was my worst fear too. I haven't thought (or have tried not to think) about it since really. But, can remember telling myself to breathe deeply and sit very still so they could do their job properly.
You will have a super lovely baby soon and will forget about it. Best of luck, breathe deeply!