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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Terrified of c-section

42 replies

Bibiboo · 23/09/2004 10:24

First timer here - due in 3 weeks and am terrified of having to have a c-section. I'm a total wuss (cry and faint when blood is taken) and know I could not cope with being awake while someone cut me open. Even seeing operating theatres on tv leaves me cold sometimes. When I think about it I get all panicky but know if I wanted to be put asleep for proceedure (should I have to have it) dh couldn't be there for the birth and I'd like one of us to be there (awake!)
There's nothing to suggest I might have to have one, but don't know what I'll do or how I'll cope if it comes to that during labour.
Just some sympathy and kind words wanted from MNers please

Thanks

OP posts:

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Twiglett · 23/09/2004 10:27

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SoupDragon · 23/09/2004 10:28

I was terrified of C-section too, Bibiboo. I didn't need one with either DS although it was probably close with DS1. If it were to get to that stage, I can assure you that you won't mind at all because all that will be on your mind is your baby and what's best for them. Despite being terrified, had they decided on c-section for DS1 I would have been upset but OK about it despite being a complete coward.

It's only aminority who end up with unwanted c-sections so I don't think you need to worry too much.

Tessiebear · 23/09/2004 10:30

Chances are you WONT have to have one - if you do it will probably all happen so fast and you will find the strength and bravery out of concern for your baby - you will be fine!!! ( I have 2 DS's and was also scared of the prospect of a c-section and both of my deliverys were normal - i too do not like blood tests and have to lay down and look away whilst they are being done!)

nutcracker · 23/09/2004 10:31

Soupy is right, if it comes to it you won't mind if it's best for the baby.

I have had 3 sections and i have to say i really enjoyed every one of them.
I was awake for all and you don't feel a thing, infact you feel lovely and warm, and a bit like someone is washing up in your tummy.

I know it sounds scary but if it comes to that you will be fine honest

KBear · 23/09/2004 10:36

Bibiboo, I have had both an emergency and an elective c-section. I can honestly tell you that I felt no pain either time (although felt a little panicky at one point but was soon reassured by the excellent staff in the theatre (Queen Mary's Sidcup - you know who you are!)
Even recovery afterwards was okay although sitting up unaided was a struggle for a day but I could still get my baby myself to feed etc. I understand your anxiety and I wish I thought about it before I went into labour the first time because a long labour and then an emergency c-section was a bit of a shock! Read what you can about it, speak to your midwife about your concerns, keep calm and positive and with any luck you'll have a normal delivery. If not, rest assured you are in safe hands and they will take care of you. I hope this helps - I hope that "speaking from experience" doesn't come across as being a know-all but I really would like to reassure you that you will be okay. Best of luck. Keep us posted of your news!!

Hulababy · 23/09/2004 10:38

I also had a cs and it was a very very positive experience. I had one as I was induced (post dates) and it didn't work. You don't see anything at all, and there is absolutely no pain during the op at all. DH was there the whle time, holding my hand. And DD was brought to us for a quick look and stroke of face/hands before having her checks. She was then brought back asap and handed to DH to cuddle. Once back in recovery I was given DD to feed. And a MW bathed her for me and helped me to dress her and then more cuddles.

I had the cs at night, and had the drip out next morning, had a shower and used tolet. And was sat having tea and breakfast, with my new baby hae next morning with all my visitors coming to see me.

I was out of hospital by the third lunch time, just taking iron tablets and the occasional pain killer (usually for if I had tried to do too much!).

And there were NO bonding issues at all. I fell in love with DD immediately.

TBH I was scared too before I went in - but I was bervous and scared about the whole thing as giving birth ANY way was new ground for me. By the time I had the cs, I just knew I wantd to do what ever was best for my baby.

jampot · 23/09/2004 10:38

excellent description nutty

i too was so scared I'd skip the chapter on csections in pregnancy books. I had em c/s with dd (under epidural) and like tessiebear said, concern for the baby takes over.

Elective c/s with ds under epidural again.

You honestly can't see a thing and if you have dh there you can chat and before you know it, its over - baby is out in about 5 mins and you wont even notice the team after that !

Good luck

MancMum · 23/09/2004 10:40

I have had 2 and they were fab - totally recommend them and would not consider giving birth any other way - really enjoyed it and had no pain at all after - have ahad far worse periods!!

I think it improves the birthing experience as everything is so calm and peaceful, when you get the baby you are totally relaxed and able to get to bond - if something put me thru childbith levels of pain, I would be tempted to lob it thru a window!!

My best advice would be to talk to someone who has had a section so you are prepared for each stage... but with both of mine, from walking into theatre and leaving with baby and first b/f was less than an hour...

hope it all goes well

Original poster

Bibiboo · 23/09/2004 10:44

Aw guys, thanks. That was just what I needed
Knew I could rely on MNers to give me positive stories and make me feel better. Will print out this thread before my due date and put it in my hospital bag for reading if things get tough.

OP posts:

Marina · 23/09/2004 10:55

Bibiboo, I had two electives and was petrified of both of them. I will be honest and say my experience of them was not as positive as some others on here, but I was a bit unlucky. I CAN say that all the staff were incredibly kind, that nothing hurt at all, that you don't see anything to upset you, and that they are used to women being scared. The anaesthetists especially were so caring and patient in my experience.
Focus on the fact that you will be in the hands of skilled professionals who love helping women deliver healthy babies.
Totally understand your fear. It is major surgery but in this country it is a very safe major operation.

bundle · 23/09/2004 10:57

have had two c/s, and imo it's good to know about them just in case...
first was emergency but with epidural, 2nd a crash c/s with general anaesthetic - far less pleasant but i was still out of hospital in 3 days. tbh all i wanted was healthy babies, which was what i got.

Batters · 23/09/2004 11:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrsflowerpot · 23/09/2004 11:18

Had an elective CS which was scheduled when I was 39 weeks. It was absolutely the last thing I wanted - having got all relaxed and calm about the idea of labour I went into total panic and cried for nearly a week! HOWEVER it really was fine, really and truly. The recovery is the hardest part, and in my case that was because the hospital I was in was understaffed, but I was out in 3 days and once I was home again I was fine. No bonding problems, and I breastfed from 20 mins after the op.

One thing that really helped me was having a CS birth plan. If you are really worried about it, you could have one as a 'plan b', state what worries/frightens you and think of some things that will calm you down. You can have it alongside your own birth plan, and it might help you relax about the whole idea.

Socci · 23/09/2004 11:57

Message withdrawn

zebra · 23/09/2004 12:02

Agree with SoupDragon.

janinlondon · 23/09/2004 13:20

Bibiboo I am a total wuss as well - get woozy about having injections, blood taken etc. I can even work myself up over a smear, but I had a c-section that I can only describe as lovely. Once that screen goes up and the anaesthetic is working, you really don't have a clue what they're doing. There are no awful unexpected noises or smells or anything, you don't see the instruments, you are lying down (so nausea isn't that bad), and your DP is at least be at the "head" end to comfort you. I was wondering when they would be starting the procedure when I heard a cry and the surgeon produced the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen and handed her across the screen to me and DH. You probably won't need one, but if you do, it won't be anywhere near as bad as you are imagining.

suzywong · 23/09/2004 13:25

Bibiboo

If you are reading this a the hospital, the C section, should you need one, takes 40 minutes and that time will vanish like morning dew in the shadow of the magnificent gift that is YOUR NEW BABY

Top Tip, if you have one do not at any time aske anyone what's going on, just look across at your new bub which DH/P will be holding while they fix you up. Bub will be out of there in under four minutes.

You'll be fine

Tetley · 23/09/2004 13:32

Bibiboo - I had an emergency C-section with DS1 - at the end of the day, if you get to that stage you really don't have a choice & just do what's right for the health of the baby (and you).

My epidural was just upped so that I couldn't feel a thing. I certainly couldn't see anything either until they held the baby up, because of the huge screen they put across you. DH was there next to me (& he could see, but he could have turned away if he'd wanted to!)

There's certainly nothing to worry about - worry about the sleepless nights that you'll soon have instead

I'm sorry if I'm repeating what others have already said - but haven't had time to read through the whole thread............

Caribbeanqueen · 23/09/2004 13:48

Hi Bibiboo, another one here who had an emergency cs, after 14 hours of labour (not really really strong contractions though). I hadn't read anything about them as it had never entered my mind that I would need one, for some reason, so I advise you to get as much information as possible. By the time they told me I should have one, I was very ready! No pain during, all goes very quickly and before you know it you'll hear a little cry from your baby behind the screen and that makes it all worthwhile. I did find the recovery quite hard though, more so than I would have thought.

Make sure you are prepared for every eventuality and best of luck!

aloha · 23/09/2004 14:37

Another good experience here. I had no sensation at all - no rummaging! - and could see nothing (I was really curious in fact, but the screen made it impossible). Ds was out in a few minutes and the repair work is over super fast too. Before you know it you are out, feeding your baby and getting the feeling back in your toes. Very civilised indeed! It really is quick and you can chat to your dh or the midwife or whoever to distract yourself if you are nervous.

Ixel · 23/09/2004 14:39

I had an emergency c section. Would prefer to have another one than a visit to the dentist It's really not scary; the staff will all talk to you and explain everything, you can still have your birthing partner with you, and you wont even realise they've started until they tell you! Its a bit harder to get mobile afterwards than a natural birth, but you just do it, because you want to be with your baby.

muminlondon · 23/09/2004 14:54

I also had emergency CS after induced labour and failed ventouse. Had it with a spinal block and didn't feel a thing, apart from a sort of peaceful euphoria. The staff were brilliant and as I'd had a fantastic midwife during labour who'd encouraged me to try lots of positions, I knew I'd done all I could and didn't feel any guilt. I was on such a high that night, it was incredible.

fee77 · 23/09/2004 15:27

Emergancy c-section here too, and my experience was way better than some natural birth stories i heard!
It is scary, but the only thought going through my mind was get the baby out, and i hope it's ok. DH spent the only time crying but i was as high as a kite, and even cracked a few jokes about liposuction whilst they were there!!
Recovery was quite quick as well - i was in hospital 3 nights, but abele to move around freely after 1st night. And once you are home you just get on with it!
My whole approach to pregnancy and birth was that i was in the hands of experts, and i should therefore trust their judgements, so i didn't read up on natural births or c-sections, you just have to go with the flow - if you make too many plans it can only lead to disappointment.
Best of luck!!!

edam · 23/09/2004 15:52

The National Childbirth Trust have a book 'Caesarean birth, your questions answered' which might be useful - £6.50 though www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com

Worth noting that only 1/5 women have a caesarean and half of these were electives; so the chance of any woman having an unplanned caesar is just 1/10.

HTH

Debbiethemum · 23/09/2004 15:53

I had c-sections with both of mine, first was emergency under general, so cannot really comment on that, the second was elective (or as I refer to it pre-emtive, as things were heading the same way).

My second was lovely, I had a c-section birth plan, and dh & I were allowed to find out for ourselves what we had, dd was given straight to me for a cuddle, apgar scores were done just by watching me cuddling her. We cuddled her for hours, dh did keep on asking when they were going to wash her, till I told him that the vernix was really good for moisturising the baby's skin and would all get absorbed. They did the weighing and measuring when she was a couple of hours old while we were all in the recovery room. OK trying to get some food out of them as I was starving took me till 8pm (nothing solid since midnight the day before), but apart from that no complaints and I healed really well and quickly. In fact I pushed the pushchair and buggy board the 1/2 mile to the doctors after 3 weeks and demanded they give me permission to drive the car again!!!

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