Sedation and CS

[Honte]

I am being treated for PTSD after an incredibly traumatic EMCS in 2009. I am pregnant again, and very anxious about both VBAC and ELCS. I'm thinking ELCS is more likely. I had a thought today, would it be possible to sedate me a little, so that I won't panic? Would this affect the baby? I'd like to still be awake and I don't want the baby to be ill or really sleepy, but the thought of the needle and the operation keeps making me cry (thought of vaginal birth even worse tbh.)

Any experience or advice?

I have had 2 ELCSs and was convinced I'd panic on the operating table but in reality they were such calm experiences and DH held my hand throughout and the theatre staff were fantastic. Baby is out in the first 5-10 minutes and to be honest once he/she is lying on your chest having a cuddle I couldn't have cared less what they were doing to me for the half hour or so it took to put me back together. Good luck.

The thing is, my EMCS was just like an elective (I knew the night before I'd have to have it) so I know what it will be like, and last time I did panic. Massively. I can't go through that again, but this baby needs to get out somehow.

Maybe try hypnotherapy? I did Natal Hypnotherapy during my pregnancy and it was amazing when I ended up needing a cs after failed induction, esp as there were issues getting the spinal in. We had my relaxation music playing in theatre and the staff respected my attitude that basic questions should be relayed through dh so I wasn't interrupted more than needed so i could concentrate on my breathing and visualisation. I was so calm and still they kept asking dh if i was okay - I was just really well under!

Just a thought, and I know that you are having treatment for PTSD, but would it be worth asking to have a debrief with an aneasthetist who can talk through any concerns arising from last time, help you make sense of the problems and and also discuss options for sedation?

I mention this because, it was actually (during my panicky section) the anaestetist who (having seen it all before) kept me and a nervous, tearful registrar together.
And I agree that considering hypnotherapy might be a good option too (although, as a psychologist, I would recommend using a qualified hypnotherapist, rather than just soemone who teaches hypnobirthing, if you already have PTSD, they would really need to know what they are doing.

Best of luck :)