Hi, I just want to let you know, DO NOT listen to anyone who is against you having an elective c section if that is what you want. From what I can tell, when people tell horror stories about c sections to persuade you against having one, they are usually talking about unplanned (ie emergency) c sections. Where you have already begun to labour or give birth, and then are rushed into surgery. At this point you have to be knocked out for the procedure (I think) rather than awake. This is NOT the same as elective c section, where you don’t experience labour at all and you are calm and prepared.
I had an elective c section because my baby was breach. I had toyed with the idea anyway as I was afraid of the pain and complications of natural birth, so I was quite eager when baby’s breach position meant that they offered me a c section. Anyone I spoke to subtly disapproved.
Well I was in and out of the theatre in about twenty minutes (I think), alert and awake the entire time (though of course I felt not pain and didnt see anything gory because of a screen and had my baby sleeping on my chest skin to skin right away. I was up and walking that night, I was not in pain at all, though I felt a bit wobbly and delicate. Due to the section, I ended up in hospital for three nights rather than one or none. Because of this I had breast feeding coaching whenever I needed it and was able to work through the difficulties I had with a midwife at any time of the day or night, rather than struggling alone at home where I am sure I would have given up. Note, I did not have problems due to the section, just difficulty understanding how to get baby to latch, and sore nipples.
I understand I was probably quite lucky but I truly believe c sections have a bad reputation due to people telling stories about their emergency c sections, which afterall happened when things were already going badly wrong. Also, I’m scared to type this...but I think a lot of (not all though ) people also kind of convince themselves your losing out on something by not experiencing childbirth, when in fact they are saying that to convince themselves there was a reason they went through so much trauma. I literally listened to a woman at work go on about how she almost died having her fourth and was very badly affected by all her births. She went on about all her problems she has now downstairs....and then told me I was missing out by having a c section and I would regret it!
Finally, with the fear you have, unless you are successful with hypnonirthing or are able to get Over your fear somehow, chances are you will have a bad experience purely because you are worked up. So speak up for yourself, don’t downplay anything and demand, don’t ask.