Elective C-Section in the morning! Nervous!

[hopeyclay92]

Hi all! Just wondering if anyone is in the same boat as me or if anyone has some nice elective c section stories. I have my C-section booked in for the morning and I am so nervous! This is my third baby but first c section so don't really know what to expect.

Worried about the spinal and Iv in my hand and catheter. Just things I haven't experienced before... how painful are they?? 😶

And just the c section in general. Did everyone else feel so nervous going for their sections??

Wish I could relax a little!!

I was horribly nervous going for my elcs, cried all day (I was last on the list).
It was actually fine! It was all a bit everything at once, so, someone doing BP etc while the anaesthetist did a cannula and someone else did something else. Every one very chatty & friendly.
They also dropped the screen so that I could see her born which was really, really important to me although they said it was an unusual request.
Do prepare yourself for a bit of a wait.

Oh and good luck!

I loved both my C sections, amazing experiences. As someone else has said, everyone is chatty and friendly. I enjoyed it!

Thank you for such a quick reply! Aww that's really good to hear. Iv heard a few people say it's nice and relaxed but I think the more time you have to think about it the more your worry about silly things!
Aww congratulations and good luck for next week!! I don't know about you but I am so ready to get this baby out!!

Thank you everyone for the replies, this is the first time Iv posted so lovely too hear some nice comments! I think that will be a great distraction if everyone is chatting. Hopefully take my mind off things ! Thanks again ladies ☺️

Be prepared for a bit of a wait in case there’s an emergency. Have a big dinner tonight and take reading material. As for everything else, it’s quite intense with the number of people but at the same time very calm. Most importantly you’ll have a new baby tomorrow!!

My DD had an induction followed by an emergency c section for her first DC and she found it pretty traumatic. She opted for an ELCS with DC2 and found the experience to be completely different - calm, unhurried and reassuring. She made a very quick recovery (driving after 3 weeks) and was very happy with the whole experience. Hope yours is as chilled!

After two emergency c sections my elective c section was absolutely lovely. It was so amazing to see my baby straight away and the team who operated kept me laughing and relaxed.... they knew I was absolutely terrified going in!!!

Mine is also tomorrow. Not looking forward to it but my feelings are tainted by an emergency with ds and everyone from the consultant to friends have assured me that electives are totally different.

I have also had two. Both were absolutely fine: everything was very calm and methodical. From memory, I had some local in my hand for the IV (very fine needle) so the actual cannula wasn't too bad at all. You get a local in your spine too so the bigger needle just feels a bit of prodding. Once the surgeon gets going, the baby comes out really quickly and before you know it, you will holding him/her in your arms. Itching is quite a common side effect from one of the drugs (the painkiller I think) but you might be written up for piriton and that deals with it. One wee story to end: when we had our first, we took a taxi to the hospital because we had to be there by 6.30am. It was winter and I had a massive coat on so perhaps the cabbie couldn't tell I was pregnant. Where were we going to, he asked cheerily. My husband replied "We're going to meet our baby". And so it was. Good luck tomorrow and easy for me to say but please try not to worry.

I had a planned section three months ago and I was in here, just like you, the night before.
The cannula is easy. And if it isn't, ask for numbing cream.
The spinal is a sharp scratch, then nothing, the bending over your bump is worse, I think.
The catheter tends to be done when you're numb. For mine they wanted to do it first, I said no. So they did it after, no worries.

I've had 2 - one emergency and one elective. Emergency one left me traumatised for a long time and I was positively dreading going into labour with DS2 however the elective was wonderful. Incredibly calm, barely noticed the spinal, all over and done with in just over an hour. It has put all of the anxieties I held onto with the emergency one to bed.
That said, if it's your first section be prepared for a completely different recovery and please don't try to do it all, accept as much help as you can and take it easy as much as possible :) good luck op, you'll be fine

Yes re - recovery! Do not, I repeat, do not vacuum! For several weeks probably!