C section - terrified

[ohmyfuckinghell]

I'm going in for a section in 48 hours. My first baby was an emergency c section which was a blur and I remember very little of.

The anticipation and knowing all the possible complications this time is sending me into panic. I feel absolutely sick at the thought of it and am wondering how I'm going to walk into hospital without screaming and running away.

I'm terrified of dying during surgery, of huge blood loss or a haemorrhage after and needing more surgery, of the spinal failing and feeling the surgery, of something going wrong with the baby, of the spinal hurting going in. I'm just absolutely petrified.

I have so many thoughts running around and so much to get done before the surgery. I feel like I haven't spent enough time with my eldest and I'm worried if something happens he'll feel overlooked too.

Please calm me down.....

Ok, calm calm calm.

My second section was planned and it was a completely different experience to my first crash section.

Don't be afraid to tell the staff what you need, do you want updates on what they're doing, do you want silence when the baby is lifted out? Can you ask for music to play?

You are safe and this is an operation that's performed multiple times everyday. I understand the nerves but try counting breaths or beats if you feel panicked and it'll be less than half an hour from starting to meeting your child.

Good luck

Take a deep breath in to the count of 4. Hold for 2 seconds and blow out for 8. Repeat.

You have got this. A planned caesarean will be a lovely experience. You're netting your beautiful baby. Thousands of women do this every day. Millions of women have had this procedure and are absolutely fine. The chances of any of the above happening are extremely unlikely. You're in great hands. Perhaps some distraction techniques will help you and lots of positive talk. Listen to some music, talk to your partner about upbeat positive things, take yourself off somewhere in your mind. You have totally got this!! Good luck

I had a c section 12 weeks ago, it was amazing! I will be choosing an elective if I have any more children.
I too was nervous, mostly about the spinal for some reason. I did not feel a single thing other than the canula going into hand which was nothing.
They rubbed what I can only describe as a ice block on my collar bone and then on my leg to see if numbing had work and it was fab how it all worked!
I found out after id lost more blood than they'd have like but I knew nothing about it until the next day so don't worry yourself about things that haven't happened yet.
I'd advise a pillow to hold across tummy for car ride home which was the point were I was most uncomfortable, but you might know that from last time.
Try and think out what you're going to get out of this operation rather than the op itself. They staff do this all the time, everyday. Wishing you a calm and relaxing experience! Maybe do some meditation between now and then?

Try to relax, it will be a totally different birth than you're imagining.
I had Elected CS with DC2, I waddled down to the theatre, flung myself on the operating table and looked forward to a lovely sleep under GA. It was a wonderful experience after the chaotic Emergency CS with DC1.

You are safe and it will all be okay x

It will all be ok. I had a planned section after an emergency one and they were totally different experiences. The spinal doesn’t hurt, you have a local anaesthetic first. If the spinal isn’t working you will be able to tell them before it starts, they check. Complications are possible in any birth but you’ll be in theatre which is the right place for anything unexpected. Enjoy your new baby.

Must echo the fact that a planned section is totally different to a crash section. My first crash section was under GA due to the real ‘crash’ potential of it and my recovery was awful.

I dreaded the second one and refused it until I was way overdue but it was actually a lovely experience. I couldn’t have imagined it would have been so good. My recovery was also a lot better having not been through labour and forceps first.

It really is a different thing altogether. You can’t compare the two.

Good luck!

This was me 14 years ago, awaiting a planned section after an emergency one.
I had a complete panic about all the same things you have mentioned.They sent the consultant anaesthetist to talk to me!

Anyway, it was all completely fine and wonderful, so much so that I did it all again 3 years later.

Put your feet up and enjoy Christmas with your lovely snuggly newborn xx

Calm down! I had an emergency section and then an elective and they couldn't have been more different. The elective was calm, I wasn't tired after being in hospital for 48+ hours and enduring contractions etc. I was up and about within 6 hours, home the next day and within a week I was getting around just fine. Good luck!

I don't have a comparison but I can imagine an EMCS was not a positive experience for you. I had an ELCS 4 weeks ago and it was an amazing experience. So calm and organised. It's scary but you've got this.

An elective section is a much calmer experience than an emergency one. Tell the staff your fears.

Even with a spinal, which will be tested by the anaesthetist before they let the surgeon start, you will feel touch and pressure. This is perfectly normal. It doesn't hurt having the spinal, but the local anaesthetic to numb the area before the spinal injection will sting, but only for a few seconds.

If you bleed, they have many ways of dealing with it including surgical techniques, drugs and blood.

Your baby will be checked over and looked after by the midwife. If they are worried about anything, they will call for the paediatricians (Specialist "baby doctors").

Please try to relax and enjoy the experience of giving birth to your second baby. What an epic Christmas present!

I had an ELCS 9 weeks ago. It was lovely - calm, controlled and pain-free. I too was worried following a horrendous birth with DC1 but none of my fears were realised. I was home the next day. Try to enjoy it and congratulations on your little bundle!

I had a planned section due to a breech dd. Beforehand I felt the same as you. Its natural to worry!

It was actually a lovely calm experience. Please try not to let the thoughts overwhelm you.

I had an ELCS, as I was developing pre-eclampsia.

It was calm, peaceful, etc. I could feel the doctors moving my lower body, but that was it. No pain, couldn't feel and cutting, etc, etc, just movement. Probably because the movement could be felt in my upper body.

Thank you everyone. Having a wee cry at how kind you all are.

Started having contractions a while ago. Am willing them off. I'm tired and the last thing I want to do is head to hospital now.

I had a planned section after having an emergency one with DD1.
It was a completely different experience. Much calmer and a much more positive experience. I felt a lot more in control and sort of knew what to expect sensation wise.
Good luck and please let us know how you got on.

Oh and I went into labour before my booked date and I still had a csection.

If it helps, I had two vaginal deliveries where I almost died so my c-section was honestly a total walk in the park. I personally think c-sections are safer, if anything does go wrong you have at least ten professionals dedicated purely to you.

I have had two planned c-sections and both were wonderful, peaceful experiences.

I've never had an emergency one and can pnly imagine how stressful it must have been so you are understandably nervous but Im sure this one will be a totally different experience.

I had an emergency section for my first and it was horrific, I was terrified. My second section was planned and it was a truly lovely experience compared to the first. For the first I had to be knocked out due to complications and the nature of the emergency but the second one felt like I was more in control - I knew when everything was going to happen, I was awake for it, and I saw my child being born. Recovery was sore but nothing like the emotional/mental torment of the first time. Best of luck, I really hope you have a much better experience this time and that everything goes well x

Hope you're ok op?

@loutypips I'm going in soon. Absolutely bricking it. If you've seen that episode of The Simpsons where Marge is running up and down the plane screaming let me off let me off - that's me!!

No no no! Think positive thoughts. Really - this is completely different to an emergency c section. The surgeon might even have the radio on - some nice Xmas music! And - baby! - very soon!

And a recommendation for almonds, licorice allsorts and peppermint capsules afterwards.

I feel you big time! I had all of these feelings when I was going in for a c section.. all planned too! I was petrified. Shaking. Anxious! I wasn't mostly keen on the spinal but it wasn't painful at all, just extremely uncomfortable! I'm pleased to say all went absolutely fine and the care during and afterwards was just outstanding.. you're going to be absolutely fine. Will not be long til you meet your beautiful new baby. You've got this ((hugs)).