Suddenly freaking out about ELCS on friday!

[DownstairsMixUp]

I have been pretty relaxed since I found out my c-section date but now the date is here, I am totally freaking out! I'm due to have section on 29th of august (this friday) so anyone want to share some positive, lovely stories to calm me down?

Also anything REALLY helpful that you packed that I might not have thought of for post section?

Lovely stories & tips please share here to calm this heavily pregnant worrier down!

I've had two of 'em and having third ELCS in 5 wks. The births are really happy memories for me and I was v nervous for the first. Don't worry about the codeine bunging you up as they usually prescribe a laxative to counteract that. Once the spinal wore off I found the day of the section and the day after really sore. BUT the good news is that I found recovery after that super fast! But I imagine it's v subjective. Anyway - I reckon you will be pleasantly surprised! Good luck.

Good luck OP and others with sections coming up. I was terrified before mine a few months ago but the consultants (both the ob and the anaesthetist) and their team made it a very calm experience. Hospitals vary in their protocols, for example, I was encouraged to shave myself beforehand. You should be given lots of info at your preclerking appt, ask if not as it relieves anxiety somewhat to know what to expect. On the day there will be a midwife in theatre for you and for the baby, they should be good emotional support and the anaesthetist will be with you at the head end throughout looking after you, and can talk to you either to distract or inform about what's going on, as you like - let them know what you think will help you. Your baby will be born very quickly as stitching you back up is what tajes the time, so very soon you will have the best possible distraction :-) Lots of hospitals encourage skin to skin in theatre provided the baby is well but it is your choice, in my case I didn't feel able to as I was too shaky and so asked for my husband to hold our baby beside me in theatre, which was also fine. Recovery varies but may not be as bad as you anticipate. Stay on top of your pain relief (I was fine with paracetamol and ibuprofen as long as I stayed topped up but don't be a martyr, ask for the good stuff if you need it). Also, get moving gently as soon as you can. And don't do too much too soon! If you feel better than you expect to this is a temptation, but you need time to heal so staying in your pyjamas once you're home, to remind yourself (and others!) that you just had surgery and need to go easy, is a good tip.

I had an elcs last year, end I July the whole thing is very relaxed.
Tips for you
Big pants as people have said
Slip on shoes as bending down is difficult. I wore crocs as my feet were really swollen in the heat
Take a pillow for leaving the hospital as speed bumps are sore, so hold the pillow close to you
Ask if they have a sidecar cot to clip on your bed in the hospital
Have everything close by, nappies, change of clothes for the baby and another blanket as babies can sick up lots of gunk in the middle of the night
Sports cap water bottles
Drink and eat as soon as you feel ready to help milk if bf, as you won't have had anything for sometime
Also getting your stitches out isn't sore and actually a relief as I found it felt really tight.
Good luck
Also I didn't get the rush of love straight away with the baby as it felt a bit odd. But at 3am, I was howling as I couldn't believe how amazing my baby was. It's obviously different for everyone, but I felt a bit shell shocked as it was very clinically controlled. So don't worry it will come.

downstairs just wanted to say a huge good luck for tomorrow!

Good luck for your section downstairs Not long till newborn cuddles now... look forward to the update

Hope you manage some sleep too

I will be exactly the same tues night! Last time I was a nervous wreck up to point they said we were going in, then I was absolutely fine - the waiting is the worst part!

Goodluck for tomorrow downstairs. My 1 day old son is lying snuffling beside me. The worst part of the day was waiting for my turn as an emergency came first.
The rest was surprisingly quick. Ds was quite 'mucousy' yesterday afternoon but that seems to have cleared up today. I am sore coming up to medication time but its not unmanagable. For us it was most definitly the right decision.

Congratulations on the safe arrival of your little boy!!

So glad you had a pleasant experience and are recovering well.

I'm feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement for mine at the moment...!

So pleased everything went well, congratulations.

Glad it went well. Many congratulations and enjoy the snuggles xx

Had a little girl, Sophie, on Wednesday morning C-section was really relaxed, although I found the whole thing really surreal, I couldn't believe the day had actually come round so couldn't quite believe it was all happening Took away the nerves though!

They'd just introduced delayed cord clamping for c-sections, so that was great and they pulled the screen down so I could see what sex she was, which was amazing.

Currently enjoying cuddles in hospital, off home tomorrow. How are you getting on downstairs?

Glad to hear you're doing well downstairs :) I'm ok, although I've got a sharp pain internally on one side of my scar which is making it really hard to do stuff - has surprised me as didn't have that with last C-section and recovery was really quick for that one. Annoying as I really want to tidy the house as DH is not the best at picking stuff up... he's been great otherwise though which has meant I've been able to get lots of rest.

Otherwise just sleep deprivation as Sophie only wants to sleep on me, just like 2 out of 3 of her siblings did .