What helped to keep your elective section calm?

[wingingit33]

I'm 34+ weeks now and elective booked for 39. It's my second section but a pretty big gap. I'm really anxious about it and long story short but need to meet anaesthetists well in advance to discuss the actual anaesthetic. But aside from that, I'm trying to make a list of what will calm me and make it as pleasant as possible. What helped you?

Having dh there to do all the talking to staff, dealing with the baby etc so I could “turn inwards” and focus on myself.

The anaesthetic drops my BP so I get the shakes, nausea, dizzyness etc so it takes all my concentration to stay conscious and not throw up. Having dh there meant I could do that.

Otherwise nothing really. It’s not a pleasant experience so just got through it best I could.

Feeling like I was in complete control. My biggest fear was that the anaesthetic wouldn’t work and I’d feel everything. My anaesthetist really took her time to check with me that I was completely numb, explained how it would feel and told me that she had a solution to every single problem I came up with. Things only started when I was happy to do so, everyone was so lovely and explained it as it happened so I was totally at peace.

I’d previously practised going to a happy place in my head that I found calming - this is where I went when the needle was in my back. I also found that keeping talking helps to calm me down, makes me think about what I’m saying rather than spiralling in a WTF IS HAPPENING TO ME panic.

Yes I'm very scared of feeling dizzy etc but also of feeling numb which is the one thing that's unavoidable. I hate that out of control fear. I hope I have a lovely anaesthetist! I'll be gripping my dh's hand for dear life

Hypnobirthing.

For me I loved the fact it was totally painless. I actually asked for a section for this reason. It was brilliant ❤️

The staff were so brilliant. Chatting away like we were having coffee rather than in an operating theatre.
The anaesthetist was fab, let me keep my contacts in and then when o mentioned to my DH I was feeling sick, he overheard and said don't worry I'll sort that and within 5 seconds it had gone.

I had my own playlist (really quite loud) and they lowered the lights in theatre (obvs they had a lamp down the business end) someone took my partners phone to get pictures and video so we didn't have to think about that and they lowered the curtain when he came out and gave him to me quickly. First baby they weighed him and all sorts before I got my hands on him and it felt like forever so I asked them to do that later 2nd time round and it was a much lovelier experience!!

Seriously, look up hypnobirthing. It's not really about hypnotism, it's mostly mindfuless and meditation and positive affirmations, which you can practice beforehand and use on the day. There are phone apps, l used the Gentlebirth one, which guides you through it all.

You can also do hypnobirthing antenatal classes which will introduce you to the above plus lots of other coping mechanisms that you and your partner can both use, and they explain the whole birthing process and what to expect which is helpful too, although I'd say check that they will discuss sections and not just vaginal births.

FWIW, I had an ELCS and it was fab! So relaxed, pain free, and the while team in theatre were so lovely and funny. The atmosphere was great, I suppose surgical procedures don't really get more awesome than an ELCS.

@daisyducky the staff were brilliant in my emergency c-section, chatting away to me like we were having a coffee.

I had a doctor sat next to me the whole time asking how i felt and explaining every step of what was happening.

I got to choose music to play in the background, although it was a blur and i dont actually remember the song my son was born to, just remember it beeing ed sheeran.

It was a very relaxed enviroment and i was not scared one bit, i think my partner had more nerves and was more scared than me!