AIBU to be terrified?!

[Pregasaurusrex]

C section tomorrow. First baby, am so terrified, I feel I might faint. Can anyone reassure me?! I'm worried about the operation and that I might not like the baby . Anything I should be doing?

[ExitPursuedByABear]

I shouted 'This is absolute shite' during mine. Staring at the theatre lights whilst someone rummaged in my innards was not what the N C T ad prepared me for. At all. The anaesthetist reminded me of it the next day .

It was fine, really.

[redpinkblue]

Had an emergency section and it was fine.

Recovery was far easier than I expected and, brucie bonus, I liked my DC

It's normal to worry so just take a few deep breaths and let what's worrying you come right to the front of your mind and talk rationally to yourself.

This time tomorrow you will be on cloud 9.

Best of luck OP.

Please come back and tell us how it goes

[toffeeboffin]

Of course you can give the baby to someone else to hold so you can nap!

I had an EMCS and it was great. BUT if I'd have been told in advance that I needed a section, I would have driven myself loopy worrying and googling, panicking about everything.

These people are experts. It's their day job. It may seem huge to you but this is what the surgeon and team do every bloody day. It's routine. They could do it in their sleep!

[5minutestobed]

I had my second section 7 weeks ago. (first one emergency,second planned) it was fantastic! I want to do it all again, it was such a lovely experience. It will feel a bit surreal but once you are looking down at that little face you will know they are yours. Don't worry it will be fine.
Also the newborn bit is hard and tiring but it is lovely as well, especially your first. Of course you can give the baby to someone else to sleep btw!

[ricketytickety]

I would say you're freaking because you know when you are going to deliver and possibly think you should be feeling happy about that. You don't have to feel any way other than the way you are feeling. Does that make sense? What I'm saying is, feeling unprepared, not ready, unable to imagine holding baby in your arms when right now they're in your belly are totally normal feelings. You don't have to feel like an elated, excited mum to be when you've got bigger emotions to deal with.

Good luck and tomorrow you'll start to get to know your baby. It might not be love at first sight but it will grow and grow day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year. You'll start off with a protective feeling and perhaps thinking is this real? Then you'll start to get to know them for who they are as they reveal their little personality to you.

[Littlegreyauditor]

Breathe. There will be staff there to help you and chat to you. My first section was unplanned so all a bit blurred, but my second was planned due to health issues. It was a pleasant experience, definitely.

I honestly felt very relaxed and pain free. There was a slight rummaging sensation, and at one point they got a hefty med student to lean on my stomach as DD tried to retreat, but no discomfort at all. I spent most of the time chatting to the anaesthetist about Zelda the computer game (because one of the theatre nurses was called Zelda) and my loathing for Michael Gove, which he shared.

I found the whole thing very calm and orderly. Everything was pre arranged and it felt under control. A friend also had a planned section and was sick with nerves. They let her DH into the theatre with her for the pre op stuff to help her stay calm (normally birth partners stay outside until everyone's ready), so that's worth considering. They also gave her gas and air.

Focus on breathing and don't be afraid to ask staff any questions you have. They will have seen it all before. In the unlikely event of something out of the ordinary happening they will shift into high gear and try to sort it out.
I worked out that in the room with me, directly dealing with me was a combination of over 50 years training, and over 100 years experience. This is what they do.

I am also almost certain that you will like your baby. With both of mine it was like I had finally met an old friend. Kind of a " there you are" feeling.

Good luck OP!

[MeLittleDuckie]

Congratulations for tomorrow! You are bound to be terrified, a huge (but amazing) thing is about to happen in your life! I don't know you but I'm excited for you! Re: the knowing s/he's yours thing... I watched him being born so I knew he was mine, but I was sort of in amazement about him. He wasn't like any other baby, I could just stare and stare at him, I couldn't believe I had created such a beautiful thing. I still stare in awe at him a year later. I can't wait to meet my next one (not even started ttc yet)!

[NedStarksHead]

You'll be fine, I know everyone is saying you'll love your baby instantly etc but I wanted to throw my tuppence in just incase.

I didn't get a rush of love, I didn't feel instantly like she was mine. I was confused, I knew I had to look after her and I very much wanted to, the instinct to make sure she was okay was very strong but I didn't feel like I loved her, that took a few weeks to roll in.

So please don't feel abnormal if you don't get a rush of love, it's totally normal :)

Also, your c-section will be totally fine

[Headofthehive55]

I felt nothing whatsoever for my baby after a csection. She could have been someone else's. However even if that does happen, after a few weeks, she became mine if that makes sense. So don't worry! It will be fine in the end!

[Headofthehive55]

If I had another I'd have a general anaesthetic. Didn't enjoy being awake at all.

[signedsealeddelivered]

I can honestly say it was amazing! The bits I didn't like but didn't even come close to making a tiny dent in my day were:

• the big canula they put in your hand. Pregnant women get the biggest ones and it's just a pain to have this thing stuck in you for a few days.
  
• they didn't take the epidural out quickly enough for me. I wanted to be up and about.
  

That's it...

[stubbornstains]

I must admit, after DS2 was born, I was a bit "Blimey, do I know you?" for several hours. He was quite big, and looked pretty much like a King Edward potato (vaginal birth, hence quite battered looking), whereas DS1 was small and cute from the off. It only took me a few hours to get besotted though.

In the first few weeks, the baby sleeps loads, so you'll also have the opportunity to nap together in the daytime. Or there's that all important Daddy bonding time (if you have a partner).

[autumnboys]

I've had three sections. My top tips would be:

If you're having a spinal, when they're checking it has worked, ask them to use a high pressure cold water spray. I had it sprayed in my shoulder (where all sensation was normal), then on my stomach. It was incredibly reassuring, because I could feel the sensation of the spray, but not the cold. (I had a general first time round because of confusion over this)

Extra strong mints. These will help with post-section wind. I remember lying in bed after DS1 pushing the wind round in my tummy - it sounded like a drain!

Your OH can still cut the cord, if they'd like to. You can ask to see your placenta, if that interests you. You might just need to be a bit more insistent.

Good luck - sleep well!

[Pregasaurusrex]

How bad will I feel after? Am fit and healthy, only stopped going to the gym a week ago and wasn't overweight before I was pregnant. Will any of this make a difference?

[Pregasaurusrex]

I want the tubes and catheter out after six hours so am up for a challenge. Any chance do you think?

[Claireshh]

I've had two sections. The first was an emergency. Very positive experience,

Second was a planned section. I was nervous but it was so calm.

I walked into the anaesthetists room. They talked to me. There were four people in the rather little room. They put in the cannula and then put the spinal anaesthetic in. I hated this bit. It wasn't that sore I just felt nervous.

Next I lay down and was covered in blankets.

I was wheeled into theatre and they then checked I was fully numb by spraying cold air all over. I couldn't feel a thing. Oh the screen was up at this point. My husband was at one side, the anaesthetist was at the other. They started and a few minutes later I heard 'wah wah wah' and they left led our son do I could see him. A few seconds later he was brought round to me. I guess I was being stitched up then but I can't remember. I was then wheeled into recovery for skin to skin and his first feed. It was perfect. Not a 'natural' birth but it was his birth and was everything I could have wished for.

Rest BIG time for the first week and you'll recover so much faster. Do nothing when you get home except feed the baby. If you do that I promise you'll feel so much better by the second week. Don't be brave and try not to take the painkillers. I think I took them for around five to seven days.

Good luck and enjoy those newborn cuddles. There is nothing quite like them. Xx

[KnottedAnchorChief]

Main thing to remember is rest up afterwards. If you are like me and very active then it's easy to overdo it too early.
I felt absolutely fine afterwards and then decided to do a 4 mile walk pushing pram in the first week and realised I probably shouldn't have done! Ouch!
You will get lots of mega pain killers so you'll be fine on that score. I felt a bit stiff getting up and about but no pain at all.

[Headofthehive55]

I felt like I'd been hit by a bus. Don't expect too much of yourself. I found it difficult and tiring to walk pushing the pram even after three weeks. By about six months I was much better. It hit me hard. In no way am I delicate - given birth without any painkillers but a csection seems to take away all my strength. I was surprised just how hard I found it to recover and kept saying "you'd think I'd feel better by now" .

[JessaHanna]

I had an emergency section and I can honestly say that I will never forget how lovely the team were to me and my partner.

The anaesthetist talked me through everything she was doing and the surgeon, obstaetrician etc all introduced themselves and explained their roles. I felt in very safe hands. Got to hold my baby after she was checked over and was very special moment. In the end it didn't matter to me how she got here. I have said to DP that next time (if we are lucky enough) that I would go for an elective Caesarian and straight to formula; I felt a lot of stress trying to breast feed and not being able to.

After EMC I was out after two days, and although took it easy I was surprised how quickly I was out and about. Two tips - try to get your husband to stay in hospital with you if possible at night (I didn't and felt absolutely exhausted) and roll up a towel to sort of lean against your tummy when you laugh. You will feel tender and sore but I found this little tip from my godmother did help relieve the pressure. I didn't drive back then though so not sure about that.

Good luck - and enjoy meeting your little baby. Enjoy the experience as much as you can - we often talk about when our daughter was lifted out and presented to us. It was such a special moment.

[CraftyPenguin]

Sorry to be a bit gloomy, but I didn't know if I liked my baby when she was born. I was bewildered by it all and I certainly didn't know she was mine as she didn't look like me at all. So IF (big if) you don't feel a rush of love tomorrow then that's ok!!

Recovery wise: take it easy and keep on top of your painkillers for the first few days. C sections really aren't as bad as they have been made out to be in the past. I actually was walking around the ward the next day quite well. Good luck, and I hope you have a wonderful experience meeting your baby

[Headofthehive55]

Just be kind to yourself. It's surgery. You will recover and all the more excuse to sit on the sofa and stare at baby!

[splendide]

Thinking of you today - hope all goes well!

[Mia1415]

Good luck today. I had a planned c section (DS was breech) & I can honestly say without a doubt it was the best day of my life!!! I'd never been in hospital before, never even held a baby, it was an unplanned pregnancy (discovered at 26 weeks!) & I was a / am a single mum so was also scared.

I'll never forget that feeling of seeing DS for the first time. Amazing. The team were great and I didn't feel a thing. Id say just to relax & go with it.

My recovery was really quick. I was up walking the next day & climbing on furniture to hang Christmas cards a week later (which I wouldn't recommend lol).

You'll be fine. Good luck & congratulations

[MerilwenRose]

Good luck! I had an EMCS (after being in labour for the better part of a week) and it was really good - I was nervous but the one thing that really helped was keeping an eye on the time, the doctor told me it would take about an hour, and I told myself anyone could do anything for an hour! I focused on my breathing anytime I felt a bit worried. The weirdest sensations were the rummaging as they got the baby out, and not being able to cough (it was really odd). I had a bit of a shaky reaction to the anaesthetic which apparently is fairly normal, but it certainly wasn't unbearable! The surgical team were lovely and I felt we were both in really good hands. The worst part, for me, was when they read you the long list of things that can go wrong which you have to consent to before the surgery - it was the only point I cried! Remind yourself that although it's surgery it's a routine and very safe procedure :) I'll be asking for an ELCS for my next baby, and I imagine that would be quite calm and planned.

And you will definitely like the baby :)