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Childbirth

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

Elective c section.

21 replies

Jamaisy82 · 16/08/2022 19:08

Hi I am 35+5 weeks and I am getting a elcs at 39 weeks. My first birth was 22 years ago and that ended up with a emcs after a long labour and baby in distress at 42 weeks. I was put under general anesthesia with my emergency so can't remember surgery. Thing is I'm petrified of being awake during the elcs this time round. I'm not scared of the epidural or anything else just mainly the surgery and knowing what they are doing as I'm very squeamish. I'm so scared of freaking out on the table. Any tips on keeping me calm? Thanks.

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Dyra · 16/08/2022 19:36

Honestly, you're so numb you won't have a clue what they're doing.

I've seen more than a few hundred C-sections, so I know what's going on. But I wouldn't have been able to tell you what stage they were at during my own. If you don't want to know what's going on, they won't tell you. They'll let you know when baby is about to make their grand entrance naturally.

The oddest/weirdest part is just before baby is out, when the surgeons have to manoeuvre baby's head through the incision. It's a lot of pushing on the part of the surgeons. We describe it as 'a rummaging sensation'. It's an odd one for sure, but not painful or unpleasant. It's accompanied by the sound of the suction, which you will hear on and off throughout the whole operation. It sounds dreadful, but be assured it is almost entirely amniotic fluid being sucked up. After that, I was more interested in looking at my baby, than caring what was going on.

Other ways of keeping calm will be to focus on DH/P. Having relaxing music on. I find singing along to a song distracts me very well. If you haven't tried hypnobirthing, maybe look into it. I've not done it myself, but many people recommend it, and you might find the relaxation techniques useful. Have DH/P have something smelling of lavender, or another nice smell you like.

Best of luck for in a few weeks!

Jamaisy82 · 16/08/2022 19:47

Thanks dyra that's very informative and really helps. I think its worse in my mind and thats what's making me so anxious, baby is also still breech so another reason why getting an elcs. I know the recovery can be hard but already been through that before its just the being awake during it all that's freaking me out but the way you have described it has calmed me. Thanks.

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Nejnej2 · 16/08/2022 19:51

@Jamaisy82 I know you won't remember the operation at all, but it would probably have been quite frantic beforehand - whereas for an elective it's a much calmer atmosphere, which will help keep you calmer

Grananger · 16/08/2022 19:52

I have had 2 eLCS and both are my “happy place” I go to when I’m sad - that’s how calm and lovely they were. There was NO pain beyond siting the cannula etc. nothing. It was over before it had even begun. Lots of rummaging about and then they were popped on my chest.

The recovery was fine too. I felt like I had done eleven million sit ups but that was it.

Suzi888 · 16/08/2022 20:00

Let them know you are very squeamish- I’m the same. I wish I had asked not to see the tray of surgical implements- which had been popped by the side for me to view and I stupidly asked what they were for. (Can’t help myself!)

If you don’t want to know what’s going on then tell them or they sort of take you through what they are doing step by step.
You can watch the op I believe🤢 so if you don’t want to let them know, they’ll ask if you want baby cleaned before being handed to you and where you want baby placed. I asked for baby to go to DH (I did regret this though and asked for her once I was wheeled out).

Elective is much calmer, so they’ll ask you what you want to do. You can listen to music too if you want to.

The recovery is not too bad, it’s uncomfortable but you will be fine, just take it easy/as easy as possible. They’ll get you up and moving around very quickly and you can cuddle your baby.

Jamaisy82 · 16/08/2022 20:00

@Nejnej2 thanks for that I honestly feel better.

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Jamaisy82 · 16/08/2022 20:02

@Grananger thanks thats great to know its your happy place. I hope it can become mine.

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Jamaisy82 · 16/08/2022 20:05

@Suzi888 ha I will definitely not be asking them what the instruments are for, I can take a wild guess. I will also ask them not to tell me what's going on, ignorance is bliss. I definitely don't want to see what they are doing. Yes I'd love to hold the baby first and that will take my mind off the stitching etc. Thanks for the info, I'm feeling much better from people's responses.

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eatyourcrustspls · 16/08/2022 20:16

I had an elective nearly two years ago now. It was honestly the best experience of my life. The only thing I felt a bit funny over was the rummaging around after baby was born but to be honest I was so in awe of her being born I didn't focus on it too much. Good luck 😊

Jamaisy82 · 16/08/2022 20:20

@eatyourcrustspls thanks so much.
I'm feeling alot less anxious now.

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TheWayTheLightFalls · 16/08/2022 20:24

I was really dreading mine (breech twins) for the same reasons as you but it was truly fine. I did lots of calm deep breathing and had the loveliest anesthetist right next to my head giving me exactly the level of information I wanted, with DH on my other side. And then it's over and you're done. Totally fine.

Twizbe · 16/08/2022 20:25

You know you can ask for another general if it would help you.

My friend had one section under a general and another awake. She preferred the general. She found it much harder being awake for the operation and wasn't that comfortable with it.

Jamaisy82 · 16/08/2022 20:43

@TheWayTheLightFalls I will feel alot better with my partner by my side. If you can handle it with twin's then I can handle one. Just gotta think positive. Thanks so much.

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Jamaisy82 · 16/08/2022 20:45

@Twizbe yes I did think about this. Just seems everyone goes for being awake. I suppose I miss out on baby being born like I did first time round. I know I would feel calmer under GA. I know the recovery and coming round is meant to be harder that way though as felt terrible first time.

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Twizbe · 16/08/2022 21:34

From what my friend said, the recovery was on a parr. She isn't a fan of medical procedures in general and ignorance was bliss for her.

That said I've had 2 GAs and they can be rough for a few days after.

hampsteadmum · 16/08/2022 21:45

Electives are usually very calm experiences. Focus on your DH/DP, have a chat, ask if they can play your favourite music in the background. Honestly, I had 2 elective c-sections and they are very fond memories! I didn't see or feel anything unpleasant, the anaesthetist was telling jokes... Recovery was also a breeze. I was up after a few hours, had no problem lifting the baby or getting around the house. Best of luck and enjoy the day!

Goodnewsday · 17/08/2022 00:09

I worried every second of every day prior to mine last year. It turned out to be my favourite day ever! For some reason I decided before it that the spinal and cannula were my biggest fears though rather than the operation. In my head it was a case of not needing to ‘do’ anything after they were done and the operation part was nothing to do with me so not my business what was going on down there.

I was so surprised how unaware of what’s actually happening you are. They did the spinal but I could still feel touch when they were testing me. They said this was fine as I wasn’t able to feel a sharp pin. I was so worrying that would mean I could feel the operation but when they started I had no idea. I could feel what I thought was someone’s hand resting along where the incision was, it turned out to be them doing the operation. I didn’t get any of the ‘washing up’ feeling I’ve heard people saying about. Mine was so quick, he said they had started, there were a few seconds before they lifted him out where they were doing the sort of CPR pushes to get him lower down but it was completely painless, I was just half laughing saying ‘oh god’ as it was an odd feeling. The whole thing took 90 seconds from starting to seeing him! The stitching up part I couldn’t have cared less about as I was so distracted by him.

I would just try to think of it as, you didn’t go to medical school and learn how to do operations so it’s not your job to be involved with that. I found the maybe baby podcast with Anna Williamson as a guest really useful, I listened to it a lot before it, it takes you through the day step by step and was really accurate to how mine went in the end up.

Im the biggest scaredy cat on earth and even made such a fuss about the cannula that he put local anaesthetic in first! If I can do it and say it was not only fine but actually quite an enjoyable day, then you will be absolutely fine!

Jamaisy82 · 17/08/2022 10:35

@hampsteadmum thanks I really hope my experience is like this.

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Jamaisy82 · 17/08/2022 10:36

@Goodnewsday thanks for the detailed explanation. I'm really glad you enjoyed your experience.

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mewkins · 17/08/2022 10:42

It is really quite a calm feeling. I'm sure you can ask them not to share too much detail but just let you know when your baby is out safely. Mine was 8 years ago! But I had a lovely nurse by my side talking to me and it was a great distraction. You're also laid flat out so you can't really see anything much.

Jamaisy82 · 17/08/2022 11:15

@mewkins great thanks for reply. I am definitely going to say I dont want to know whats going on.

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