Im having a caesarean in five hours

[wowbutter]

Can't sleep. Terrified. Anyone out there?

You’ll be grand. I have had two. Both lovely. You are not in pain so you can remember the birth. Just take the painkillers after and wear a pad across the wound. After 3 days I didn’t need round the clock painkillers and mostly fine after 7 days. Both times healed quicker than friends with stitches. Also breastfed both easily if that’s a worry.

Hey! It’s going to be fine, nothing to worry about they do them aaaaaall the time!

It’s not going to be like a scene out of Alien!

Honestly I would relax and enjoy your last few hours of sleep before your baby arrives!!

Lots of luck and drop back and let us know how it went when you have time (in 2024!)

It's complicated by the fact that I ended up with complex ptsd following an obstructed labour and emergency section just over five years ago.
This one is meant to feel different, calm and not scary. But I am scared. Not f the operation, or the pain, but of looking at the baby and feeling terror and ambivalence.

Same here. No problems, no nothing untoward, very straightforward. People say that you're not up and about as quick but as Kosha says above, people with tears etc. can have a much rougher time. I think I only took painkillers for two or three days and then forgot!

How exciting, this time tomorrow you'll have known your LO for ages!

Deep breaths and focus on having a snuggly newborn in your arms very soon! I'm up feeding mine after an emergency c section three weeks ago. A c section is just a means to an end. Other than the 'emergency' aspects, I really didn't find my c section too bad at all. And with regular painkillers afterwards, have had a pretty good recovery! Good luck!

It will be calm and that will make a HUGE difference.

I’ve had 2 and I felt terrified both times. Sorry you’ve been through that.

I hope it all goes well

I'm watching Anna Kendrick movies on nowtv, which is helping, a lot.
I've had a bit of a freak out and called labour ward twice and hung up, to say no, I've changed my mind. The baby can just stay in there. Or better yet, can it just go away. I don't want it to come out. I want it to go away. It's going to hurt and I'm scared I'm going to get ptsd again.
Why didn't I think about this nine months ago?! I've had all the therapy, I'm all cured, why iS this happening?!

Breathe, breathe, is someone there? Who is going with you to the hospital?

wow have you got someone in real life you can talk to? Wake them up - I would want you to call me if I was your mum/partner/friend.

This time will be different - it sounds like last time was very traumatic and scary. It's fine to still be scared, but a planned c section is nothing like an emergency one. You'll have a much smoother introduction to your new child and I'm sure that will make it easier to meet them.

Keep posting on here if you can't sleep, there's plenty of us around to support you.

I can't wake anyone up to freak out at. It's not fair. I have family looking after my children tomorrow, who I have to wake early anyway. And DH is fast asleep.
I'm just scared I'm going to get ptsd again, which is a terrifying prospect. The flashbacks, the terror.
I managed to sleep up until 2am and then BOOM I'm wide awake and terrified.

You need to wake someone up and talk to them.

This will be a totally different experience. You wouldn't even believe how calm an ELCS is and it makes such a difference.

The midwives and HVs are there to help. There's services available that will help after the birth but most of all talk to your partner/mum/ friend about how you feel.

I'm really hungry now too, which is making it easier to stay calm as I have a different physical sensation to focus on.

wow. I had a c section with my twins due to pre-eclampsia. It was very relaxed, my husband was with me, and the staff were laughing and joking (in a nice way). I got to hold my babies afterwards. Seriously the worst bit was feeling really cold afterwards from anaesthetic but they had this lovely 'bear-hugger' whole body hair dryer type thing. It sounds like you had an awful experience last time no wonder you are worried. Give your husband a kick and have a chat.

I had one 4 weeks ago and was so nervous beforehand. It was so easy and other than discomfort afterwards pain free. I wish I hadn’t worried so much. You will be fine and just look forward to bubba!

I meant to say OP mine was elective and was very relaxed. My friends with emergency c sections had different stories.

DH is awake. Half the roads here are closed, we are being told only to travel if essential!

Well I would say having a baby is essential.

I have had 2 - one emergency one planned.

They were very different experiences.
I hope today is s calm experience for you.

Do you know what you are having? Have you chosen a name?
Try to focus on the end result.

But please don't feel afraid to tell the midwife how you are feeling.

Good luck.

I've had two sections, one as an emergency, where everything was a rush and I was in hospital for five days post op.
The second was elective, and it was the best birth I could have wished for. Everything so smooth running and calm. The surgeon talked me through what stage he was at and when to expect baby. When she was put on my chest the midwife held her there so I could look at her and say hi I had her at 10.30am and was up and about going to the loo at 5.30pm.
Everything will be great, just breathe and look forward to baby. So excited for you

I had an ELCS following a traumatic birth and PTSD. I was terrified that it would come back and helpfully, DD decided to start the process early ELCS so I still had waters break and contractions etc.

I’m not going to lie, I had a mild panic attack at one point. But all the team knew what was going on, the consultant midwife made them stop and wait until he and my husband had helped me through the attack and then we were able to proceed. It wasn’t the most pleasant experience but it was ok and soooo much better than the first birthing experience because I told them how I was feeling. They were amazing; so considerate and careful with me.

Most importantly, the PTSD didn’t really come back after DD was born. It didn’t pin itself to her birth or her and the depression that was linked to it hasn’t come back. I still have triggers that I need to use my grounding techniques for but I feel in so much more control. I felt so much better, like this was a fresh start.

You can do this OP, good luck!

Mine was fine and I have a total hospital and needle phobia. You're so focused on them getting your baby out the rest is just a means to an end. Don't overdo it while you're recovering... it's really important to let yourself heal. Good luck

I’ve had 2. One emergency & one planned for placenta praevia. The planned one in spite of the circumstances was so much more relaxed than the emergency. You'll be fine & meeting your baby in a few hours.

I've had an emergency section and later a planned one. I was very scared but it was very different and the recovery was much easier. It's normal to be scared of surgery. Hope it goes well for you x

Had a elcs recently and can totally identify. Kept reading how calm they were for others while I just felt terrified and couldn't sleep.
But, it was so civilised compared to my emcs. I had the head space to enjoy the newborn baby this time because I didn't dwell on the birth. The staff were amazing.
And actually I would love to do it all again.
Good luck

Planned section is much better than emergency section, you'll be fine.