Elective section mid May - I am starting to get very nervous, in fact I am TERRIFIED!

[bebespain]

Its starting to dawn on me what lies ahead. I had an emergency CS under GA with DS1. I shall be having an elective this time and its really starting to worry me now.

I just cannot imagine being awake, having to walk/be wheeled into theatre whilst fully aware of what is going on.

I am terrifed I will be able to feel them "rummaging"

Oh I am such a wimp its just not true

Can anyone reassure me a little???

[newgirl]

i would try to give yourself positive messages/thoughts to think about leading up to it, and during eg 'my baby will be safe, and be here soon, and i will recover well' etc etc ' i am doing a brave thing and the most important thing is that we will all be fine and can get on with the rest of our lives' - that sort of thing

practical stuff - take music you like, and take treats to look forward to afterwards eg pate/chocolate - whatever you not been eating during pregnancy?

good luck xxx (i had two and both were fine x)

[Haribosmummy]

When I had my El CS, the anaesthatist man with the drugs (sorry, tis late and I can't be bothered to spell check) stood at my shoulder and told me what I would be feeling and why etc., He kept an eye on how I was feeling / coping so he could administer drugs effectively.

I was scared beforehand, but between him and my DH, it was actually very calm and peaceful.

I forgot about music, but will def. have some for this time.

[bebespain]

Thanks girls

Haribo - No I can´t spell it either!!!

[samsonthecat]

Hi I couldn't feel anything with my elective. It was all over really quickly and I was concentrating on DD2 so I have no idea how long being stitched up took.
I had DD1 under general anasthetic but it was the best thing ever to be awake and see the first moment of DD2's life

[Meglet]

I had an em cs first time then a planned cs with my second. I was exactly the same and worried myself to pieces in the weeks beforehand, I was even going to write a letter to ds in case anything awful happened in theatre. You're right about walking to theatre, I found it scary. But the theatre staff were very calm and reaurring while they got me ready, the midwife held my hand and they talked me through it all as I was terrified. I didn't feel them rummaging, I relaxed once they took dd out and I heard her cry.

You're bound to feel nervous, it is an operation and made scarier by the fact you already have a dc that needs you. The surgeon and the staff will have done hundreds of cs's between them. Ask them about photos, lowering the screen when baby is taken out, seeing the placenta, skin to skin etc to make it a more personal experience.

If it helps, I found the recovery much much quicker than an em cs.

[bebespain]

Hi samson - I keep telling myself how wonderful it will be to see and hear the first moments as I was distraught to have missed that with DS1

Meglet - I really hope the recovery is much quicker for me too. It seemed to take ages last time but I wonder if its just because I´m such a bloody wimp!

[bosch]

Hi - I had an emcs with no 1 and an elective with no 3. Before the elective I was quite nervous and I bought a hypnobirthing cd for caesarean section. I never actually heard the whole thing as I always fell asleep at some point.

During the section, the only time I felt uncertain or nervous was after the epidural had gone in and we were waiting for it to take effect - I guess it was a bit of a point of no return moment. Until I was fully prepared, they wouldn't let my husband in the theatre, but a lovely nurse held my hand and helped me relax until dh was let in.

Tbh the rummaging is a bit odd, I don't know how I could explain how it feels, (typically other people say it's like washing up in your tummy, but its a bit more - vigorous -t than that) but it doesn't last for long.

I am convinced that the hypnobirthing cd helped me - or I was incredibly brave . The bits of the cd I do remember were emphasising that this was part of a natural process and that you'd be in good hands and that you'd soon be seeing your lovely baby. All sounds a bit ?trite? when I write it down, but it helped at the time...

Good luck, you'll be fine

[MrsMattie]

It is utterly bizarre, but I can honestly say, I found both of my sections absolutely fine and pain free.

First one I was petrified, burst into tears before the anaesthatist had even started with the spinal and was shaking with fear throughout - but other than being totally surreal (Kiss FM on in the background, the nurses cracking jokes and making me laugh, all while the surgeon rummaged about inside me!?!), it was completely fine, absolutely no pain etc. The rummaging sensation was weird, but not unpleasant, and lasted only briefly.

Second section, the fear didn't hit me until i walked into the operating theatre, but I can honestly, honestly say it was one of the best days of my life and I felt almost exhilirated throughout the op and especially when my DD was born. I would do it again tomorrow, that's how good it was. I recovered much more quickly second time around, too.

Also, as soon as your baby is born you completely lose interest in what is going on behind the screen, so it all goes incredibly quickly from that point.

Good luck! You'll be fine x

[MrsMattie]

Just to add, I also used a hypnobirthing CD for a few weeks before the event. I was gearing up for a VBAC, so it was all about breathing and relaxing for a vaginal birth, but I do think it helped a bit with my section in the end, anyway. i didn't consciously use the techniques, but I think over the weeks I had gotten used to 'going inside myself' and c coping with the fear a bit better.

[bebespain]

Thanks MrsM - such a lovely and positive post

Thanks to everybody else too - its a big help!!

[suwoo]

I had an elective with DS and am having another one in July. My recovery was much much better than my traumatic vaginal delivery TBH. I came out of hospital on day 4 and was shopping in Manchester city centre with the baby on day 5.

It was honestly fine .

[chipkid]

I had a wonderful experience of an ecs with dd. I like you was scared to death at the thought of what was going to hapen-but I was also excited at the thought of getting my baby. Everyone was really relaxed-I didnot even feel the spinal going in. I had a small moment of nausea but they sorted that quickly. They didn;t tell me that they were about to make an incision-they just did it. I only have happy memories of the experience. Try and concentrate on the fact that you are about to meet your baby-nothing can be more exciting than that xxx

[LittleMissNorty]

I had an Em CS 22 months ago under epidural and it was very traumatic. An elective under spinal 11 weeks ago, and I also was terrified, but it was fine. The drugs man gave me some light sedation and the spinal was GREAT (much better than an epidural). Recovery was fine - even with a 20 month old running about.

Please don't worry - my major concern is that we had had very heavy snow the night before and all I was worried about was whether or not the staff would turn up (they did!)

Good luck

[JumpingJellyfish]

I've had 2 emcs, but the more recent one was slightly more "planned" in that they agreed the night before that it was the best course of action, so I had about 24 hours to get used to the idea (which is of course miles better than a true emergency one).

I have to admit although I was very nervous with the second one, because I had quite a traumatic experience with DC1 coming at 30wks, and I did burst into uncontrollable tears before I went into theatre, the cs itself was great. The doctors, nurses & midwives were just so reassuring, and comforting, and kept making me laugh to take my mind off everything. Yes I did feel some rummaging around/pulling sensations but absolutely no pain- it was not even uncomfortable, just weird! The baby is out so quickly- I think about 5 mins after the op started- that as soon as she was handed/laid on me that took my mind off everything else going on.

Recovery was good (even with a 2yo toddler) and I am now pregnant with DC3 & if all goes well probably having another c-section (my cons doesn't think VBAC will be suitable for me).

Good luck