C section booked for 9am. Nervous. Please say reassuring things.

[civilfawlty]

As above. In a hosp bed trying to sleep. Feel anxious. Trust my consultant. Having a GA. just feels... Scary. Please tell me positive things. Thank you

You will have a lovely squishy baby in the morning They smell so nice.

I have had a CS with GA, unplanned. Once you are fully awake it will be fine, make sure you have lots of food for when you can start eating again. Cake preferably.

This time tomorrow you'll be holding a beautiful baby in your arms and it will all be over. Plus the painkillers they give you are dreamy :)

You will be fine. Between them the theatre staff will have done hundreds of c-sections and looked after hundreds of mothers. Most of them will be parents and just as caring about the new baby as you are.

They will look after you and when you come round you'll get to see your new baby .

I have had 2 CS. One emergency and the other planned. Both went well and the planned one was so relaxing and lovely!

I had and cs under ga in October and it wss fine. And you get a scrummy new baby at the end! I understand that planned cs are much gentler than emcs. And no labour!

It will be fine - better than fine, it will be great. Stay on top
of your painkillers, ask for peppermint tea/peppermint oil capsules if you get trapped wind, and rest.

I found my CS a strange but very copable-with experience - stiff and slow for the first 2 days and then basically fine.

Keep drinking plenty of water! Good luck
and enjoy.

Oh bless you, I was in hosp five weeks before my little boy was born. They are long and lonely nights! Had placenta previa so had a section too. Although not under ga obviously op the same. Is nerve wracking I know but I saw so many come and go after c sections whilst I was in, they were fine and the drs and teams are amazing. There will be prob about 8 or so people in theatre looking after you and your babe... You're in such good hands. As I was awake I saw how they handled things and they are so organised and calm. When you wake up you'll have the drip for pain relief and just do what they tell you re taking pain relief. You will be sore and in pain so keeping up with the pain relief honestly helps so much and just looking at Your babe will make it all worth While. You'll then have a gorgeous baby to hold feed and love! Take your time in recovery dont expect too much of yourself and enjoy your precious bundle of love. I have five year old and six month old. First normal delivery and second c section. I love both of them so much. Post when you can to let us all know how you are. X

Lovely painkillers PLUS you can do your hair and wear full make up if you want. You can look like the world's most glamorous new mum if you want. If you don't, no one gives a toss.

It's painfree (ish). You aren't going to squeeze your partner's hand and tell him you hate him so there will be no lasting scars as far as he's concerned.

You get a baby. And a new baby when you're not fucking knackered after hours of labour is a brilliant, brilliant thing :)

Squishy baby alert - wow, however baby comes will be lovely to have them here.

Oh those are lovely thoughts and messages. Thank you so much. I can't really believe this wriggling bump is a baby. And it has been such a long wait in hospital it seems extraordinary that this is happening. Anyway- thank you.

(just fending the MWs off from looking at my pubic hair which I shaved earlier!)

You're getting a baby tomorrow - that's fantastic!

I had a planned CS (breech baby) - not at all what I'd wanted, but it was a lovely experience. No problems with breast feeding and I was up and about (slowly) the next day. That's really meant to sound reassuring, rather than smug

The feeling of being anxious is physically very similar to the feeling of being excited, and it's perfectly normal to feel a strong sense of anticipation. So maybe just tell yourself that you're excited.

i had a C section, unexpected but not really an emergency. Expect to not be able to do as much with your little one straight after birth.... and just day dream tonight about your new baby, perfect, soft and lookng up at you :)

Totally natural to be nervous - you'[ve been building up to this for a long time

It can be hard - but it really will be fine and you;ll look back as I am now and smile.

So jealous of you having a baby tomorrow . I had an EMCS and TBH I'll ask for a section again if I'm ever fortunate enough to have another baby. Please don't worry at all, as Meglet said the theatre staff are very capable and caring.
Agree re the peppermint drink, I had a terrible pain in my shoulder next day......turns out it was trapped wind which is very common after a CS. I was up albeit slowly the next day for a shower and driving within three weeks. I found the whole thing a breeze and am sure you will too.
Now try to get some sleep

Its so surreal isn't it... I think when you have a difficult preg in hosp it sometimes doesn't sink in! I was so tied up with weeks of monitoring lying in a hosp bed with my previa that I found it so amazing afterwards. Am typing whilst bf ing my little one, they are such a gift. Take care x

I had my William on 30 Dec. Induction at 39 weeks + 5 days due to low birth weight and low liquid volume.

I ended up with an EMCS due to placenta abruption and foetal distress and lost 1500ml of blood before and during and then 380ml into a drain. I was in hospital for 6 days as William also had emerging problems (jaundice - needed photo therapy and antibiotics due to suspected GBS infection - I only had 1 lot of antibiotic instead of 3 due to emergency and low blood sugar).

ELCS are smoother and recovery quicker than EMCS as far as I know. I have a phobia of needles in my back and if I was to have a second (doubtful - my experience traumatic!) I would insist on an ELCS. I had a uterine tear as well so chances are they'll also suggest it anyhow.

My recovery was prolonged due to the blood loss and tear. BUT the actual section was a breeze. I didn't feel the injection or any tugging sensation. I had to be told to turn to my left so I could see my baby! Overall I actually found it relaxing (afterall the pain had been taken away!). I had staples and dreaded them coming out but honestly find waxing much, much worse. Apart from one staple (near the end where they do their 'pulls and knots' of the internal stitches) I couldn't actually feel them being removed.

The wound itself is neat and really low down. For a few days it is uncomfortable but take paracetamol and diclofenac as they work wonders. My wound wept for a few days on and off but that was due to me over doing it.

C sections are major surgery even though so many are carried out. I'm two weeks post surgery, walking to the shops, bending over, loading and unloading dishwasher and washer, etc, etc. The only thing I'm not doing is the hoovering and driving the car.

Oh and DEFINITELY take peppermint capsules/tea/cordial as trapped wind was a problem for me too.

On the whole, a very smooth experience (the c section that is!).

Hi hope all ok with you civil x

Civil hope it all went well.

I'm sorry I've been so caught up in the baby I havent come back to thank you all for your lovely messages.

It really was the most surreal experience. But the anaesthetists were incredible, and I woke up from my GA to see my dh holding my baby boy. I was very dopey, but I can remember that moment with absolute clarity. And, after a crappy night on labour ward recovery out of my mind on morphine, I went back (having grovelled) to the ante natal ward I had been in before. And we had the most amazing weekend beig looked after by the midwives with whom I had built up relationships over the previous weeks. We had the very best care the nhs has to offer. One in particular brushed my hair and washed my face and made all the things I was so afraid of (catheter removal et al) completely fine. They were amazing about my needle phobia and I can't say strongly enough how safe and calm they made everything.

Since i have been going back daily for tinzaparin injections and they have been an ongoing support.

My ds is now 13 days old and feeding is established and he screams like nothing else when I'm doing his nappy. But apart from that he is calm and so divine. And the back of his neck smells sooo good!

Anyway - thanks again for all the wonderful messages. They got me through the scary night before. I really appreciated them. X

Totally understandable civilfawlty, but thanks for coming back to update us - and congratulations on your baby!

I'm so glad you had a good experience. And you sound so happy! x

Thank you. Actually just posted a thread as all with my ds is great, but my dh is being tricky... But my son is heavenly.

Ah civil I'm so glad that all went well, congratulations on the arrival of your son