C-section alone - any tips/good experiences?

[AbbyandMia]

I'm having a C-section in the morning. Going in alone as we have no family nearby and DH is not well.

I was okay with it at first but now it's the evening before and the nerves are kicking in. Anyone have any tips or good experiences of sections to share to calm my nerves please?

I’d make sure to bring plenty of reading and listening material as you won’t know exactly when you’ll be taken and there can be delays.

Sorry you’re doing it alone. I had a really good experience of having a section and the staff were very good. Hope things go well for you too.

Aww OP it's a shame you'll be doing it alone but you'll get to meet your baby too ❤️
I've had 2 elective sections and they were both really great- calm, relaxed, exciting, a bit scary.
My DH wasn't allowed in to the theatre until the absolute last minute (as in, the first incision) so although I wasn't alone, I didn't have anyone there for about 90% of the day.
You won't feel alone either- I was absolutely shocked by the amount of people in that theatre- there will be a midwife for you and a separate one for the baby the anaesthetist, the surgeon (or two), scrub nurses and more.
You'll be fine and I hope it goes ok for you , good luck!

Is it your first? Take something for the boring wait. Phone, chargers, book etc. Once it’s your turn, the room will be busy, you won’t be alone. And there will be so much for you to do and take in from that point, you won’t have time to feel alone. It will go very quickly and before you know it you’ll have your brand new baby to snuggle. Elective sections are calm, pain free and quick. And you’ll feel pretty good tomorrow evening, and be able to do lots more than you’re probably expecting. And don’t be worried to ring the buzzer for help! Good luck 🤞

Hi OP, I had an ELCS, and they put me second on the list of four, but another emergency went in before me in the end. I went in at about 11am.

I had a great experience, very calm, the staff are all quite jolly and funny. The consultant was running through the list of risks and said ‘no need to worry about any of this, there’s more chance a plane will fly into the building’ 🤣 The midwives and anaesthetists were lovely, really physically supportive and knew that I needed to be treated very gently like a child. They’re very intuitive, and will respond to your mood and emotions.

After the baby is born, I would recommend having lots of sports top water bottles to hand to stay hydrated using one hand. I took a very big packed lunch, as I don’t like hospital food. I was starving after the CS and ate loads immediately afterwards still in the recovery room. So don’t necessarily take the advice of others who say don’t bother taking food into recovery. Make sure to have lots of fruit and fibre for that first poop.

I had the catheter removed at midnight, as they had a 12 hour minimum, and walked to the loo about three hours later. Up, showered and washed hair at 9am. Then v long walk to the car! It’s truly amazing how quickly the body can recover.

The pull up incontinence pants were really comfy and convenient (got a size too big to fit over bump).

Have you thought about when you’d like to leave (all being well)? We said we wanted to leave at the first opportunity, which was 24 hours minimum, and it took a lot of effort to get out anywhere near that. Despite sitting on the bed, completely packed and ready for hours, no one had time to discharge us. We just upped and left in the end.

Also, we needed lots of mini first formula bottles with teats attached, so maybe pack some in case baby can’t latch. In fact, DH had to go out in the middle of the night to get more! We’ll pack loads more for next time, in May 🥰

Also, if you can’t have DH there because he’s ill, is there absolutely no one else? I think I would hire a doula if I was in your boat.

Such a magical time OP, best of luck and congratulations!

I had an ELCS 18 months ago and it was a thoroughly positive experience ✨️

I'm so sorry your husband isn't able to be with you, but the theatre team will support you all the way ❤️ the anaesthetist will likely sit right next to your head and chat to you the whole time, to put you at ease and keep you in the loop as to what's happening. I found that really helped me to stay calm. Before you know it, your beautiful baby will be in your arms.

Like previous posters I recommend plenty of reading material and a good playlist to listen to, so you'll be as occupied as possible while you wait for your turn. I listened to positive birth affirmations and did breathing exercises while I was waiting and I found that really helped me stay calm and relaxed.

Focus on the exciting fact that you'll be meeting your baby TOMORROW! 😊 wishing you all the best, we'll be thinking of you. Please do come back and update us once baby has arrived if you can! Take care and get as much rest as you can tonight x

Aww sending a hand hold, wish I could come in with you! I actually found that during my second csection recently, even though my husband was there I did feel alone. He was so nervous about it all that he literally didn’t say a word, even when I tried asking him pointless questions just for any kind of conversation 🙈 The staff in my first csection were great and chatted nonstop the whole way through it. When my husband went away over to the side with the baby for a few minutes the nurse and anaesthetist were chatting to me so I barely noticed he was away. The second time my husband went to see the baby and no one spoke to me at all. I’m guessing for them they’d already done 3 that day and they probably forget that you’ll feel alone at that point but I think it was the fact you’re numb lying on a bed, can’t move and can’t really see the baby from there, you could just do with someone to talk to to try and distract you.

Both of my csections were amazing experiences though, no drama whatsoever. I went in, sat on the bed, had the cannula put in which was a bit of a nip but nothing terrible, the first time my spinal was really quick and other than the little bit of local anaesthetic that they inject in first, I didn’t feel it going in at all. The second time it took them a bit longer and they were having to ask me what side I could feel it on etc until they got it right. That was the worst bit for me and I think it was only because it had been so quick the first time that I’d kind of expected it to be as easy again!
The actual operation was completely fine, you don’t know when they’ve even started (and if you’re like me you won’t want to know). I asked that they didn’t tell me anything until baby was being born. I just tried to distract myself not to listen to what they were talking about but I don’t think they were even talking about the operation anyway from the bits I heard 😂

First time round baby was out in under 90 seconds from the operation part starting. Second time it felt like it took ages but it still wasn’t that long really. You’ll get baby on your chest if you want them there, it does feel very awkward though and my arm was starting to hurt from having to hold it up. It was a hugely positive experience and I think it is for most people 😊 huge good luck! The tea and toast while you lie there numb and not feeling any pain is the best 😂

Also the waiting about before it is so much worse than the csection, maybe listen to an audiobook or something, I was sitting about for 5/6 hours before I got taken in

And I used the Frida mom csection pants this time for the first time, really really liked them! They felt comfier than pants on the scar and I ended up wearing them for a while after. It was also good knowing I wasn’t having to get my husband to wash bloody underwear 🤦🏼‍♀️

I had 2, the first one was a crash emergency (so they had to give me a general anaesthetic) so knew nothing about it.
Second was a planned C-section, went in at 7.30am, 1st on list, so daughter born at 9.35. So easy and quick.
You won't feel any pain, just a sort of tugging feeling but it doesn't hurt.
I'd say, be patient with the milk coming in. I used an electric pump to get mine going. I also supplemented with formula at first too, as was easier to get them to settle with a full tummy.
I expect this is not advice most people would give, but worked for me. Then I gradually dropped the formula and so I fed just breast milk after a few days.
I would get an electric breast pump though, was a life saver, and allowed me to have a nap while hubby did one of the feeds using my milk.
Also I remember having terrible discomfort after both sections with constipation due to the codeine pain killers they give you. They also give you Laculose to help, but didn't work for me. I'd just be aware so you eat the right things from the start, to keep it moving if you know what I mean.
Good luck and honestly, don't worry it will be fine.

Thank you so much for all the lovely words and stories of your experiences. They've been really comforting to read, and glad to hear it should be calm and not lonely with so many people around.

Am at the hospital waiting...will let you know how it goes!

I had 3 C sections - first emergency under GA so DH wasn't allowed in. Second one emergency but with epidural so he was allowed in. Two days later he went into what I can only think of was 'shock' at seeing the operation (twat looked over the screen and saw what they had to do to me !) and was useless for the first few days of second babys birth. So when #3 came along and I had an elective he was more than happy to disappear off to the waiting room (with his massive bag of food) while I had the epidural and CS. I didn't miss him at all as the midwives and other staff were SO lovely. I'm rather prone to thinking that the 'old' ways of men not being in the delivery room is a great idea!