Elcs on 16th April and petrified

[Villageroses]

I am booked for an elcs on 16th April due to baby being breech. I feel so scared to the point I feel like the fear is taking over! My DH is excited and it makes me feel bad that all I can think about is the fear. Its the medical side of it that worries me the most, the injections and the general unknown.

My DH said to me that I need to be positive and he just doesn't seem to understand just how scared I am. Everyone is just excited and I'm not!

Did anyone feel the same about their elcs?

Well it’s necesaary isn’t it?

To be honest the theatre was rather full of staff with everyone being busy but kind

You can arrange to watch without the barrier if you like, otherwise I watched via the bright shine my lights - but first!!!

It all went ok, but baby was taken away for a bath and clothed and I couldn’t see her although DH was with her as they stitched me up - about 20 mins

It if scary but perhaps you would be scared if you were being induced. Fear of the unknown is normal, don't feel bad! Concentrate on your lovely baby that you'll be seeing very soon. Ask for music to be played etc. With an elective you can call the shots to an extent

In practice though an ELCS takes away an awful lot of the unknowns. That's why they'd prefer you to do that with a breech baby. Going into labour naturally means you don't know when it will happen, how long it will take, what the pain will be like for you, how you'll react to the pain relief, how things will progress, what complications might arise. Not that birth goes badly for most people, and not that there aren't risks with surgery - but it is a very controlled and carefully managed process this way!

I had a sort of ELCS - I was booked in for one for the same reason then my waters broke early, so technically it was classed as an emergency. But it was all very calm and chilled, it doesn't take long and (I say this advisedly, I can only speak about my own experience) it was easy! You just lie back and let them do their thing and within about 45 minutes you have a baby in your arms.

The recovery can vary a lot, I think, but the same is true of a natural birth depending on how that goes. I was out strolling around the park (DH did the pushing of the pram) on day five. It really can be a lovely, trauma-free, straightforward procedure! And I think (although I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong) your odds of a section going to plan are greater than with natural childbirth - again, not that that will always go 'wrong' but there are more unknowns and you sort of have to roll with the situation as it develops, whereas a planned section is very likely to be a textbook procedure.

You have the advantage of knowing exactly what to expect! Good luck.

I have had both an emergency and an ELCS and I can hand on heart say that the ELCS was an absolute dream. We arrived at 7.30am and my DD was born 2 hours later. I was consultant led and the theatre was full but everyone was very kind and smiley and they played calming music.

I was quite anxious and remember kind of going into a bit of a zone whilst the epidural was administered but the anaesthetist was amazing and during the op was talking to me and taking my mind off what was happening.

I can truthfully say that I didn’t have any pain either during the op or after and was able to be discharged late the next day. I am now currently pregnant with my third & am praying that my next experience will be the same!

I hope that my experience will help you feel less nervous and worried.

Good luck and I hope it goes well.

I totally understand where you're coming from. I had a planned section 9 weeks ago and it was great. I had a terrible experience with my first (induction) and I'm so glad I chose this route.

On the morning of my section, everyone came to talk to me. I felt really well informed and the midwife stayed with me practically all morning and was the one who looked after my baby during the procedure.

I really did have a great experience. It was calm and I felt really looked after. (My husband had to leave as he nearly passed out so I was on my own for most of it too!).

Good luck, I hope it all goes well x

I had a planned c-section for the same reason back in August and it was absolutely fine. I was really nervous too but your partner is with you the whole time which really helped calm me and all the doctors etc were so kind. They had the radio on and everyone was calm and relaxed (in a good way).
My recovery was fine also, just make sure you take it easy.
Good luck, you'll be fine though

My planned section was also fantastic! Over in 30mins and honestly less painful/stressful than a dental injection & filling. If you feel nervous beforehand just keep reminding yourself that with each minute you‘re getting closer to meeting your baby. Once you hear the crying (5mins in) you will be so euphoric you won‘t notice or care about what they‘re doing during the rest of the section!

Watch some videos showing positive experiences of C-section.

Research what options you have to exercise choice in the proceedings - eg keeping the baby with you while it's checked, delayed cord clamping, music playing, lights low, minimal people present, wearing an open gown so the baby can be put on your chest, having a blanket that smells of you for baby to be wrapped in...

Get bits you will need for recovery. High-waisted big pants, dried fruit to get digestion going, whatever you can do at home to make it easier to cope without lifting heavy things.

Ultimately you can also say you want to try a natural breech birth. You will probably face opposition but if it's what you want, look into it. You're the one who says what happens with your body, you're not obliged to have a CS just because the hospital says so.

Hope all went well OP!