ELCS - should I be scared?

[Tea1Sugar]

It's not until April but I'm petrified. I've had two abdo surgeries before, pretty minor ones (appendectomy and laparoscopy) and it took me ages to recover. My body goes into some sort of switch off post surgery.

This is dd2. Dd1 was a 3a perineal tear and I'm confident an elcs is the right choice for me, but it's still 18 weeks away fgs and I'm terrified. Mainly of having a panic attack/fainting with the spinal and of the bleeding after. I'm extremely phobic of blood.

I have a very supportive dp who will be with me every second he can be and dd (3.5) will be looked after my parents whilst I'm in hospital.

Sorry for the long post. I want to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy but the fear is taking over.

Don't be scared. I have had three ELCS and have only lovely memories of them. I am needle phobic and prone to panic attacks too.

In my hospital you take in your own music that is played as the baby is born and there was aromatherapy to help with nerves.

The only bleeding I had was like a heavy period, lighter than after a natural birth. No other blood at all.

Don't be scared, I loved mine! Calm, lovely experience. I even liked the catheter....after months of getting up every hour in the night to wee it was very relaxing!

Only bled lightly for about two weeks afterwards. Cannot recommend it enough.

Here's another one to say that there is very little blood. The surgeons must clean up a lot while they have you open, and there is no bleeding from the incision. So if you can cope with a period, you will cope with post-birth loss. My ELCS was a long time ago and any changes in procedure I'm sure will be improvements, but I have no negative memories. Baby was delivered calmly and quietly. The anaesthetist phoned me at home the night before to talk me through the whole thing and offered the choice of music. No sight of any needles, or anything worrying! You have 18 weeks and it sounds like you want to prepare in a positive way. Please don't let the time be taken up with worry

Thank you all. I know I'm irrational! I have real "white coat syndrome" so all things hospital make me feel really panicked! And the bleeding thing stems from haemorrhaging after dd at the same hospital. Get a grip!

I absolutely loved my ELCS! Nothing to be scared of at all!

The worst parts (if you want the truth) were;

-getting the needle in hand for the drip
-the first time they make you stand up after the operation

I chose a CS after refusing an induction and I also had a very positive experience once in theatre. They expect you to be nervous and will do everything they can to calm you. I was shaking from head to toe as I had planned a home birth but I would highly highly recommend learning hypnosis or natal hypnotherapy techniques as they instantly calmed me down. All the best

Mine was all very serene even though it was a bit of an emergency. Fear not!

You already have an idea of what operations are like.

There is not that much recovery to do from a section I think in terms of other surgery.....

There was hardly any blood, certainly lots less than my natural birth...and no clots like I had with natural birth.

I was concerned about the spinal but not really, it was fine.
My issue was trying to understand why I could still feel things but wouldn't feel them cutting me....yikes! They had to jab me with a needle, so my DH could see and ask me if I could feel it...

It was over soooooo fast, so quickly, compared to hours of un ending pain, getting worse and worse, never knowing when it would end, how it would end....the ELC was a dream compared that pain and un certainty.

I was also worried about catheta, but it didnt hurt, I didnt feel it, and it didnt hurt coming out, nor going for a wee after.